(missed reply button)

arbiter from halo 2.

Gordon "muteface" Freeman

anyone NOT Rikimaru from the Tenchu series.

I know im about to get hated on a little for this, but i gotta defend a few guys here. Master Chief *dodges the rotten tomatoes*, and Gordon Freeman.

Yeah i know the chief is considered too much of a super badass to be realistic or whatever, but if you read the backstory from the books, you find out a lot about it. and dont say that you dont have time for the books, those of you who played every single one of the final fantasys. theres two books tha really add on to the story from the halo series: Fall of Reach, and First Strike. i will agree that halo 2 sucked balls, because there were many problems with the story, and they shoved the arbiter on you in the middle of the game. while the arbiter had more speaking parts and was a religious nutcase for most of the game (very appealing to some of you im sure), he was a horrible character. he makes me think of the americans in Call of Duty 4. he so stuck up on his belief that hes gods messenger ready to destroy all nonbelievers, that he chokes when he learns hes being played. not to mention he learns this "horrible truth" from the enemy and instantly believes it.

gordon freeman. no speaking at all. backstory shrouded in mystery. somehow unstoppable main character. all things you seem to not like in a protagonist. but thats how his character is supposed to be. and his role in the story helps you care a lot for the other characters too. sorry. im not a good speaker, so im probably missing all the points i want to get across any way. this is all the defense i have for gordon right now.

what are the spects that define a bad protaganist? if we could set up guidelines for what one is, then it might be easier for everyone to come to an agreement.

Why does everyone hate Tidus so much, I actually thought the way he grew as a character throughout the game was endearing.

Also attacking "silent" protagonists is a cheap shot, they're not meant to be characters, but rather as a window for you to experience the game on your own terms. Not that your entirely wrong about it not being the best way to make a protagonist, it's just, as stated, a cheap shot.

Ethan watabe (? can't remeber last name) from Phantasy star universe.
he's dull, meh voice acting, and the character never realy gives you a reason to like him.

Shadow (the hedgehog) while probably not the worst, is up there.

I was one of the few that, while dispointed with raiden, didn't
go into a frenzy that it wasn't snake as the main in Mgs2. Figured kojima knows
what he is doing kind of thing.

mario

Altair from Assassin's Creed.
Somewhat cardboard cut-outty...

mechsword42:
Here's an easy one: Raiden from MGS2. Possibly one of the worst protagonists ever.

I thought Raiden was alright. then again, MGS 2 was the first MGS I played. I can see Snake's appeal as being better, but Raiden was by no means that bad.

Worst protaganist probably goes to Pariah. Ok, so I'm a Doctor whose transporting this weird psychic chic, but wait, oh no, I'm gonna hand her over to these other weirdos. And top myself. It had a cool ending, one of the coolest endings in a game I'd say. But the character himself had no appeal through 95% of the game, and the game itself was a Halo clone.

while I wholeheartedly agree that nero was a whiney dildo in all DMC4s cutscenes, I enjoyed playing him so much that I can't consider him a bad character. He's no dante though :)

I would submit Buffy, from either of the two equally awful Buffy games. That quip wasn't funny the first time, ms summers. It remains unfunny the 1000th.

Necromaniacal:
Worst protagonist ever for me is undoubtebly Lara Croft.

She serves no purpose than to look like a lad.

Simple test of a bad protagonist, replace them with the complete oposite, but with the same abilities.

I.e Lara croft replaced with a Rugged athletic man, the game would still work perfectly.

Strange lads where you live. Also, wouldn't the opposite of Lara be fat, not athletic?

TheRealLastDance:
I signed up to this website just for this.....and i cant believe NO1 has mentioned this douche bag yet.........

Desmond miles from assassins creed...what a stupid whining weak little girl. He cops all this crap from some old dude for no reason and just takes it like a beaten wife. I think he is the WEAKEST protagonist of all time....I believe he cant be beaten.

He's dull he's boring and the guy doing the voice acting was weak in his delivery and barely believable(the writing for his character didnt help).

yeah!and he looks like adam sandler.

Necromaniacal:
Worst protagonist ever for me is undoubtebly Lara Croft.

She serves no purpose than to look like a lad.

Simple test of a bad protagonist, replace them with the complete oposite, but with the same abilities.

I.e Lara croft replaced with a Rugged athletic man, the game would still work perfectly.

I'm not sure if I buy into this theory. I don't see Half-Life being negatively affected if they chose Gordon Freeman to be a female protagonist instead.

I despise Dante from Devil May Cry. He's like that guy who loves to show off his big muscles and six-pack. He is that guy. And there's this other guy who is also that guy, who everyone seems to love: I'm sure I'm missing something with Solid Snake, but I've never wanted a protagonist to succeed less than I did him in Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes.

Hi, I'm Snake. I talk like Ken Kaniff from those old Eminem skits. I'm meant to be trying to stop terrorists launching a nuclear weapon but I've got time to flirt with this chick with a bangin' body and make a reference to "the battleferrrlllld" every other sentence. You're meant to identify with me.

This coupled with the fact that I generally like Link (whose character did develop in Wind Waker, at the very least, even though he wasn't able to give an "I have developed my character!" speech) means my tastes in protagonists must be inverted.

I do believe that the correct answer to this is: every FF protagonist except Cecil and every GTA character except Niko.

the protaginist:

TheRealLastDance:
I signed up to this website just for this.....and i cant believe NO1 has mentioned this douche bag yet.........

Desmond miles from assassins creed...what a stupid whining weak little girl. He cops all this crap from some old dude for no reason and just takes it like a beaten wife. I think he is the WEAKEST protagonist of all time....I believe he cant be beaten.

He's dull he's boring and the guy doing the voice acting was weak in his delivery and barely believable(the writing for his character didnt help).

yeah!and he looks like adam sandler.

I didn't mind Desmond. I always assumed the reason he hung around was because he was just as curious as the Templar dude. Altair was ok in his own way too, from arrogant twat to more humble murderer. I can name tonnes worse.
I always thought Link was ok too (although I haven't played Twilight Princess) Just like Gordon Freeman, he fits his purpose rather than being a mouthy twat.
As for Master Chief, he's not a bad character, they just leave a lot out. Why do we need to know? He's a genetically modified super soldier with a cool husky voice capable of killing wave upon wave of strange pointy people from another planet. Again, he fits his purpose.

However, I'd have to say one of the best characters ever (I know, kinda off topic) is Max Payne. That dude is fucked up.

Also, CJ, whilst annoyingly gangster, did prove entertaining. He wasn't portrayed as a genius or anything (as proven by being Catalina's bitch), but he did have some interesting character development. I'd say Tommy Vercetti was more annoying occasionaly, because of constant "I did your wife, ya poor bastard". Ok the first time, but after a few weeks play, its enough to make you want to ring his filthy neck

A silent protagonist is not a bad protagonist. The reason Link and Pokemon trainer don't speak is that they are supposed to be YOU. You're supposed to fill in his thoughts and dialog as you go. Same with Gordon Freeman. He's YOU, and you are him. Developers know that any break in that connection often changes it from feeling like living an experience to feeling like watching TV show. In my mind, my favorite protagonists are those that never speak, but just let me immerse myself in their situation. A bad protagonist is usually one who does speak, and does have a personality, but it's so bland and run-of-the-mill that it's not even close to being as interesting as a well-written movie character, let alone the living, breathing and thinking person who's playing the game.

jebussaves88:
I always thought Link was ok too (although I haven't played Twilight Princess) Just like Gordon Freeman, he fits his purpose rather than being a mouthy twat.

Twilight Princess did a strange thing where Midna's really the main character over Link. Most of the time, anyway: in the scenes with Zelda she's too busy talking with Midna to acknowledge your existence, and during the climax the final boss starts off addressing Midna alone. Perhaps this is isn't really what they intended, though, but just the way I saw it; I kept thinking "I'm the one sticking a sword in you, you bastard, so talk to ME!"

Marche from Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced.

SPOILERS!

Marche ends up in a new world thanks to a magic book. He becomes convinced that wanting it to stay that way is a sign of immaturity, and rounds up a group of natives (who don't have counterparts in "the Real World") to change it back and kick the butts of his recalcitrant friends. But don't worry! He's sure that there will be a copy of Ivalice the World for the natives after he destroys this one to change back for himself. It's fake for him and his friends, but real for everyone else. Am I the only one who looked at the ending and thought, WTF?!!!

Everyone is happier in the book world than in the real one, (One of the characters can even WALK there!) and he's trying to destroy it all for no real good reason! The native inhabitants are begging him not to destroy their world. And he's the HERO!

End SPOILERS!

windfish:
In my mind, my favorite protagonists are those that never speak, but just let me immerse myself in their situation. A bad protagonist is usually one who does speak, and does have a personality, but it's so bland and run-of-the-mill that it's not even close to being as interesting as a well-written movie character, let alone the living, breathing and thinking person who's playing the game.

True. Gordon Freeman, Link and Master Chief (who is practically silent) are amongst my favourite characters. Then again, Max Payne and Sam Fisher are amongst the best speaking characters. Possibly the Far Cry: Instincts incarnation of Jack Carver too.

I want to say Nero but....then theres CJ...TOO MUCH HATRED!

EDIT: I just remebered the american bastard from COD4 and noname from Crysis! I hate them.

I'd say Sonic the Hedgehog. Not the old one, who didn't talk and only kicked ass to save his animal friends, but the arrogant cocksucker that Sonic has turned into. And SEGA wonders why all their Sonic games have sucked for the past 6 years.

gotta agree with the chief comment. he's a tool you control to trudge through a meaningless plot.

windfish:
A silent protagonist is not a bad protagonist. The reason Link and Pokemon trainer don't speak is that they are supposed to be YOU. You're supposed to fill in his thoughts and dialog as you go. Same with Gordon Freeman. He's YOU, and you are him. Developers know that any break in that connection often changes it from feeling like living an experience to feeling like watching TV show.

well, not true with freeman. he has a name a personality (allbeit cardboard), and a backstory. pokemon trainer and people like the Pros from jade empire and other games like that are different because you name them and make up your own sh!t about them.

marcus fenix. he's just so full of sh1t.

oh and racing game protagonists suck too-- hell, they're barely silhouettes in their drivers' side windows, and give little information as to why they do anything.

I forgot about sonic, silly me.

I try to ignore the furries as best I can, but holy crap, the entire cast of that series, from sonic to shadow to silver (and all of the other non hedgehog furfags I'm forgetting about) all have about as much personality as adam sandler in any movie he's ever made. It's like someone flipped a switch when the series went 3D and suddenly shit started piling over every aspect, and because no-one ever unflipped it the little puddle of shit that started with big the cat has now spread all over all of the other characters and their gameplay. it all culminates in the creepy interspecies relationships in the last game and I can only assume it will get worse from there.

Also, Mario is a played out whore who really needs to roll over and die and let another character take his place. ITS BEEN OVER TWENTY FUCKING YEARS AND THERE HAVE BEEN 8 TIMES AS MANY GAMES WITH HIS NAME ON THEM. GIVE IT A FUCKING REST!

Why do so many people hate Raiden? MGSII was the first in the series I played, and I didn't see a poor protagonist at all. I naturally assumed that he was the main character in the prequel too. All this anger toward him just comes from the fact that they didn't use Snake as the main character. You should be mad at the developers, not Raiden...

I must admit though, having a gay little lovers tiff with the woman on the phone in the midst of being SHOT AT was sort of pathetic.

Anyway, back on subject. The character I hate the most is Master Chief. Even the most die-hard Halo fan will have to admit, Microsoft took a lot of their inspiration for Master Chief from Nintendo's Samus Aran, of Metroid. The one thing they did wrong, however, was not give him a personality. Samus Aran has a deep background story, decent dialogue, and a huge personality in the Metroid Prime series, whereas Master Chief is just a dull, poorly developed character.

Many of you have given your views on the best protagonist, so I may aswell follow. I think that Link is the best video game protagonist. He has an amazing back-story, most of which you have gotten to play, and even though he has never spoken, he has more personality than most characters put together.

But that's just my view :)

xtreme_phoenix:
I forgot about sonic, silly me.

I try to ignore the furries as best I can, but holy crap, the entire cast of that series, from sonic to shadow to silver (and all of the other non hedgehog furfags I'm forgetting about) all have about as much personality as adam sandler in any movie he's ever made. It's like someone flipped a switch when the series went 3D and suddenly shit started piling over every aspect, and because no-one ever unflipped it the little puddle of shit that started with big the cat has now spread all over all of the other characters and their gameplay. it all culminates in the creepy interspecies relationships in the last game and I can only assume it will get worse from there.

Also, Mario is a played out whore who really needs to roll over and die and let another character take his place. ITS BEEN OVER TWENTY FUCKING YEARS AND THERE HAVE BEEN 8 TIMES AS MANY GAMES WITH HIS NAME ON THEM. GIVE IT A FUCKING REST!

If it sells, why bother to give it a rest? Mario is one of those staples of gaming that will never die. Also, speaking of the horrible new Sonic games, they have announced recently that a new Sonic game will have Sonic involved in a mideval theme, with him swinging a sword around in a first-person perspective. And yes, it is as gay as it sounds.

Ago Iterum:
Samus Aran has a deep background story, decent dialogue, and a huge personality in the Metroid Prime series, whereas Master Chief is just a dull, poorly developed character.

Samus has dialogue?

as much as i like link, i'm sick of every story starting out as he got shipwrecked/abducted/exploded/barbecued/etc-- and waking up in a bed. i don't really understand the storyline. i mean, i can understand the SL of a single game, but not the series. coz sometimes its in hyrule, sometimes its in hyrule but completely flooded, sometimes its not there at all! there are very few constants more than you wear a green nightcap, you can learn a spin attack, you can dig up a hookshot, you have to save the world from gannon (or some variant of such), and you have to deal with that annoying d!ckhole, Tingle. i would honestly like someone to explain it to me, because there doesn't seem to be any real story progression other than in windwaker *SPOILER*, that hyrule got bible-flooded and only the mountaintops exist, but at islands.

windfish:
A silent protagonist is not a bad protagonist. The reason Link and Pokemon trainer don't speak is that they are supposed to be YOU. You're supposed to fill in his thoughts and dialog as you go. Same with Gordon Freeman. He's YOU, and you are him. Developers know that any break in that connection often changes it from feeling like living an experience to feeling like watching TV show. In my mind, my favorite protagonists are those that never speak, but just let me immerse myself in their situation. A bad protagonist is usually one who does speak, and does have a personality, but it's so bland and run-of-the-mill that it's not even close to being as interesting as a well-written movie character, let alone the living, breathing and thinking person who's playing the game.

This is very true, I agree with that.

jebussaves88:
[quote=the protaginist][quote=TheRealLastDance]I signed up to this website just for this.....and i cant believe NO1 has mentioned this douche bag yet.........

Desmond miles from assassins creed...what a stupid whining weak little girl. He cops all this crap from some old dude for no reason and just takes it like a beaten wife. I think he is the WEAKEST protagonist of all time....I believe he cant be beaten.

He's dull he's boring and the guy doing the voice acting was weak in his delivery and barely believable(the writing for his character didnt help).

Umm, did you even pay attention to the backstory? They would kill him if he tried to leave.

This should explain everything...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassins_Creed#Plot

Also, worst character is Sora from Kingdom Hearts. Whining annoying little brat.

SteinFaust:
as much as i like link, i'm sick of every story starting out as he got shipwrecked/abducted/exploded/barbecued/etc-- and waking up in a bed. i don't really understand the storyline. i mean, i can understand the SL of a single game, but not the series. coz sometimes its in hyrule, sometimes its in hyrule but completely flooded, sometimes its not there at all! there are very few constants more than you wear a green nightcap, you can learn a spin attack, you can dig up a hookshot, you have to save the world from gannon (or some variant of such), and you have to deal with that annoying d!ckhole, Tingle. i would honestly like someone to explain it to me, because there doesn't seem to be any real story progression other than in windwaker *SPOILER*, that hyrule got bible-flooded and only the mountaintops exist, but at islands.

The thing is that all Zelda games are independant from each other as far as the story is concerned. The only two Zelda games that are connected like that are Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

Lara Croft. shudder

So annoying, esp. when compared to good female protagonists such as Jade from Beyond Good and Evil and... what's her name from Syberia. Walker. Something Walker. Cool stuff.

laikenf:
The thing is that all Zelda games are independant from each other as far as the story is concerned. The only two Zelda games that are connected like that are Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

really? so.... it's been the opportunity to play the same c0cking game over and over again? that seems a bit cheap. may as well start throwing balls at the NPC woodland creatures and call the game ZeldaMon.

hayashi38:
but I do agree, Link, Cloud, Master Chief, and Marcus Fenix need to be killed off and incinerated to make way for originality's sake.

I agree with u. Once I'd played FFVII about 8 times, watched Advent Children several more and then bought and completed Crisis Core twice I still had to read wikipedia to understand what the fuck was going on.
And once you finally do know and understand the story back to front, you realise that Cloud is just a cunt that in any sensible society would be in jail for identity theft.