Best video game protagonist?

**Rusty Catapult** · May 17, 2005, 09:58 PM

We had a best villain thread, but I don't think we had a best protagonist one. At least, I haven't seen any. What are your favorite main character(s)? What made them so special? This is basicly the same type of discussion we had in the villains' post.

The first (and only one) that comes to my mind is Garrett, from the Thief games. There are many bada$$ type of main characters in video games, but Garrett just seemed to have this authencity, this original feel that makes him unique. His cynical and egoistic attitude acts as a pure charm, and it all seems much more natural in his portrait than in any other self-styled bada$$ protagonists in other games (but I'm not saying there isn't any other cool bada$$ characters in other games). What fascinated me the most is that he is not the ordinay hack-and-slash hero, on the contrary he sort of slams the ultimate insult in the face of everyone by robbing them blind in their backs. That's the sort of thought that provided me with a rare delight. He is not either the sort of character that 'learns' to become a good person. He is self-centered from the beginning of the first game to the end of the last one.

Is there any other Thief fans that had the same impression?
Or, to bring back the main question, which character(s) had a great effect on you?

**Gelatinous Cube** · May 17, 2005, 10:04 PM

I'm torn, truly, between Big Boss in MGS3, or Solid Snake in earlier MG games (MG, MG2, MGS1). They're really the only protaganists in a video game that i've really cared about. Too many of them these days are either silent, have no personality, or are just plain annoying (See: Tidus from FFX and Raiden from MGS2, namely).

**Sidus Preclarum** · May 17, 2005, 10:42 PM

nameless one, nuff said .
Gareth has class, so has JC Denton .

**barbarion horde** · May 17, 2005, 10:58 PM

Solid Snake from the MGS series, he is a well thought out and developed character which I believe to be the best video game protagonist ever.

**God-Emperor of Mankind** · May 18, 2005, 05:58 AM

Garrett, Max Payne and the Postal Dude
Garrett because he is cool is more human then most main characters(being selfish).
And Max because you feel sorry for this tortured man.
He had everything going for himself and one night everything is smashed.
And the Postal Dude, well he rocks.

**Peachy Carnehan** · May 18, 2005, 07:44 AM

Originally posted by TB666@May 18 2005, 05:58 AM
the Postal Dude
[...]
And the Postal Dude, well he rocks.

Hehe....nice choice. I love that game.

Aside from that character, I would pick Minsc, from Baldur's Gate. I just love that character.

**Stalins Ghost** · May 18, 2005, 09:41 AM

Garret, of course. I would say more but Rusty got it spot on. He's not a character that tries to make you like him, he just has this style which draws the player to him.

**lila-laune-bär** · May 18, 2005, 11:28 AM

Very good characters have already been mentioned, I just want to add two more:

Serious Sam. Remember: "Double your gun, double your fun." :cool

Victor Troska. Poor guy who doesn't want to fight again gains an important role in the resistance to repulse the Russkies from Nogova. The story has a very poor ending :sad

**Fatigue** · May 18, 2005, 11:33 AM

nameless one, nuff said .

Heh, pretty much all the characters from Torment were awesome, specially Morte, that jabbering skulls spats with Annah were hilarious. Hmm speaking of skulls, anyone remember Murray (sp?) from the Monkey Island series? "Stride through the Gates of Hell?" "Alright, ROLL, ROLL through the gates of hell!" :lol

Anyways, (with adventure games in mind) I'll nominate Manny Calavera from Grim Fandango...geeze it's been ages since I played that game, have to see if it's still stuffed in my 'old games' box. Uhh who else, definitely Minsc (and Boo of course&#33

from the BG series...ooh, and for memorably I'd have to say the G-Man (need I say any more?) not a protagonist (could be an antagonist for some), but still a main character that'll stick in my mind for years to come(lets face it; he's awesome and you all know it *tongue*). Can't think of anyone else at the moment (beyond the usual suspects; aka Gordan Freeman, the Master Chief and JC Denton)...apart from one character, who's name escapes me, from Aliens vs Predator 2 - I remember him because of this line: "Oh God that better be a boot, tell me that is a boot....Heeyyy it's a boot!" :lol Cracked me up first time I heard it, temporarily distracting me from all the spooky noises and dark corners.

**Faenaris** · May 18, 2005, 12:56 PM

I loved Max Payne. The sarcasm, the torment, the "I-don't-give-a-damn"-routine. Respect!

**Gelatinous Cube** · May 18, 2005, 01:10 PM

Indeed, how could I forget. Max Payne trumps em all. :shocked

**Kanaric** · May 18, 2005, 01:40 PM

Irenicus from Baldur's Gate 2
or
Albedo from Xenosaga

Most villians on games now a days are wattered down or dry now since devlopers are making them for kiddies and the fact that PC RPGs are practically a dead genre. They usually had very good villians

**Peachy Carnehan** · May 18, 2005, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by Kanaric@May 18 2005, 01:40 PM
Irenicus from Baldur's Gate 2
or
Albedo from Xenosaga

Most villians on games now a days are wattered down or dry now since devlopers are making them for kiddies and the fact that PC RPGs are practically a dead genre. They usually had very good villians

Iranicus is a good villian....but then shouldn't he go in a different thread?

**Jesus The Inane** · May 22, 2005, 11:48 AM

Yeah, I would say Max Payne because he has a human personality. He has a way of showing how he feels even when he is doing a mission. And he never seems to forget what troubles him (his wife's demise), which really makes him a special character. He is also complex, just like a human being.

**MoROmeTe** · May 22, 2005, 12:12 PM

Good guys: Max Payne
Bad guys: Baron Harkonnen in Emperor: Battle for Dune

**Rusty Catapult** · May 23, 2005, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by barbarion horde@May 17 2005, 10:58 PM
Solid Snake from the MGS series, he is a well thought out and developed character which I believe to be the best video game protagonist ever.

Right on.
I also like Snake a lot. He looks like the standard kind of video game hero, but he is simply better presented than most (if not all) others.