Ok, so I saw the worst protagonist thread and there were some good ones on there so lets see who we love and not who we hate. I think this is a more difficult question because being mean is just so damn easy.

My gut reaction to this is Gordon Freemen; being the mute legend he is and all but I think I would probably have to go with Kain from the Legacy of Kain Series. They may not be thet best set of games but Kain is just so damn calm and suave about everything.

Chech:
Ok, so I saw the worst protagonist thread and there were some good ones on there so lets see who we love and not who we hate. I think this is a more difficult question because being mean is just so damn easy.

My gut reaction to this is Gordon Freemen; being the mute legend he is and all but I think I would probably have to go with Kain from the Legacy of Kain Series. They may not be thet best set of games but Kain is just so damn calm and suave about everything.

Meh

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I'm not a huge Gordon Freeman fan.

Just me.

As for the best character...

Well, there's Duke Nukem, obviously.

Most recently it's Serph from the Digital Devil Saga games. His backstory is completely, collossally mental. As is the story he goes through, in fact.

I've also got a soft spot for Fox McCloud from the Starfox series, and Link from Zelda: Wind Waker.

I personally think Tassadar (SC) is a beast of many kinds. Does he count as a protagonist, or a secondary... i'm not sure. Either way he's awesome.

What about Crash Bandicoot? He is about as much a mute (that sentence might sound wrong) as Gordon Freeman, only he is shorter, more hairy, and he screams out "woah" anytime he dies ....
or anytime Tiny butt-fucks him, that horny bastard *giggles*
Of course Crash Bandicoot is seen throughout the whole game, and he makes atleast one noice, whereas Freeman is never seen and he never speeks, wich pretty much explains the whole faceless voiceless dork concept, in wich you can't say Crash Bandicoot is exactly, so forget the whole Crash Bandicoot Gordon Freeman comparison.
But any of you who have played the game as a kid or still plays it to get all those fucking gems that you were too lasy to get before (i'm speaking for myself here), must agree with me that Crash is a nice but simple character who deserves an honorable mention.

Now, Solid Snake is one of my favorite characters. He has a great voice, an astonishing though interesting backstory, and he has a tranquilizer gun that knocks out people straight away if you play on very easy.... (i know the last one could go up the arse but i couldn't think of anymore valid points)

**EDIT**

Oh yea, I forgot to mention that i was not talking about the newer Crash Bandicoot games from Vivendi where he looks like someone who just sniffed a big bane of cocaine. Although that's mostly in Crash Twinsanity he looks like that. In Crash Of The Titans (worst game i own on the Wii) he talks like that, like someone you'd meet at a trauma center. Or Cammie Dunaway.

I second crash Bandicoot for the following reason.

He kills people with his stomach. It doesn't matter who you are, you are not as hardcore as the guy that can kill a man with just his bare abs.

Ryu Hayabusa. The law of conservation of ninjitsu states that there is nothing more dangerous than a single ninja.

Revan - Because he can be jesus or a walking monster.

I really liked Shadow of the Colossus' nameless protagonist (I think the internets refers to him as "Wanderer?"). He was just so... human. His agility and overall coordination was at best humble compared to the talents of other video game characters, but he still achieves some marvelous feats. While someone like Mario could leap right over a wide ravine with ease, Wanderer would need to gather a running start, grab the edge on the other side and scramble back up on his feet. But by damn he made it to the other side. Whatever he lacked in natural ability, he'd make up for it with sheer effort. I can't even begin to describe how awe-inspiring that is. And I'm just talking about getting from place to place, let alone scaling the towering Colossi.

There's more, but I think I should just stop here.

Rodney. Because he's not super or bad-ass like most characters.

And you can have a metaphorical cookie if you know what game Rodney is from.

Jim Raynor from starcraft?

It's a tie between Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell or Garrett from Thief for me. Sam because he's a total hard-arse, lethal war-machine but still has a heart and is devoted to his daughter. Garrett because he is a sneaky, sarcastic loner, but 100% deadly as well

I also have a soft spot for Jack from Bioshock because I empathise with him in a way.

Alice from American McGee's Alice is quite fun in a post-breakdown kind of way.

Serious Sam is fun in a Croatian kind of way.

I want to say the Exile from KOTOR2, but I can't mention him/her without bringing up Mira and T3M4 whom you also play as at various points, and who are also awesome. Atton less so, for he is a fool.

-Nick

Shepard from Mass Effect was pretty cool, considering he would speak based on your dialog options. Some of the harsher comments you could direct toward the Council made him very likable (though it was annoying when an option like "Go to hell!" appeared and he instead thought that "Leave me alone!" would be a better option).

The Bandit:
Shepard from Mass Effect was pretty cool, considering he would speak based on your dialog options. Some of the harsher comments you could direct toward the Council made him very likable (though it was annoying when an option like "Go to hell!" appeared and he instead thought that "Leave me alone!" would be a better option).

The conversation wheel failed period.

Bulletinmybrain:
Revan - Because he can be jesus or a walking monster.

Revan FTW!!!!!!!

The nameless one from Torment. Great story, great dialogue, character developemnt, etc.

Revan from KoTOR. Pretty sure thats self explanatory.

Lyn, Fire emblem. Normally when someone finds out they're nobility in a fantasy game, they're pussies about it, but Lyn focused on what was important, saving her grandparent and other various innocents.

Hector, also fire emblem. His determination to remain true to his beliefs and not the expectations of his position were admirable. That, and hearing the *tink sound as weapons failed against his armor was oh so satisfying.

Jackie whats his face from The Darkness. Up until his first run in with his uncle and the police cheif, because
*SPOILER

anyone who just stands there and lets his girlfriend get shot like that needs to be tentacle raped.

/SPOLIER

Serph from the Digital Devil Saga games. With everything that has happened to him and his tribe, Serph still manages to lead to lead the Embryon even if the world they live in is messed up beyond belief. And seriously, there is no world more messed up then Digital Devil Saga's.

My DMC fanboy is rearing its head. Dante, I don't know why but I always loved him, weather its his cocky attitude or awesome style. You don't get any better than Dante.

Joanna Dark from the original Perfect Dark was good.

The one Free Man.

He brought a galactic empire too its knees. Well, not really, just a small portion. But still, that man has the Jesus thing going on. Crowbar away!

Jann Lee. I only played the fourth DOA, but I found myself playing as him in 60% of my ranked matches. He's sort of like a twisted version of Bruce Lee with a bad childhood, insane fighting style (one of his taunts is a counter), a saxophone, and a unchanging mean facial expression.
Dante is cool, too.
The protagonist from Bioshock was cool, but he wasn't really a character.
I liked Arthas for some reason... maybe because everyone else hated him.

Master Chief! What else would I pick.

PurpleRain:
The one Free Man.

He brought a galactic empire too its knees.

So did Master Chief, but he sucks.

I'm gonna go ahead and put Ratchet and Clank up there. For obvious reasons to anyone who's a fan of the series.

Kratos

Kayevcee:
I want to say the Exile from KOTOR2, but I can't mention him/her without bringing up Mira and T3M4 whom you also play as at various points, and who are also awesome. Atton less so, for he is a fool.

-Nick

What you say? Atton makes KOTOR 2, he's like a twisted version of Han Solo, but still retains all of Solo's humor and charm with the ladies.

I agree with whoever said the dude from Shadow of the Colossus. He's a normal guy who does incredible things, you see him struggling but he always gets through because of his sheer will power.

gejsiv:
The nameless one from Torment. Great story, great dialogue, character developemnt, etc.

Jackie whats his face from The Darkness. Up until his first run in with his uncle and the police cheif, because
*SPOILER

anyone who just stands there and lets his girlfriend get shot like that needs to be tentacle raped.

/SPOLIER

Jackie was being conrtolled by the darkness. He WANTED to help his girlfriend, but the Darkness physically restrained him, then killed him for coming close to disobeying The Darkness. He's still cool cause

SPOILER ALERT (not that anyone cares cause everyone says the game sucked)

He sided with the old Mafiosi instead of the disrespectful young punks

End of SPOILER ALERT

and thats kool.

Stranger from Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath.

He bags outlaws with a charismatic flair and style, and then saves a dying civilization with just as much style (I won't spoil anything), and he keeps what is probably one of the most shocking secrets in games.

Play the game and succumb to his aura of pure win. Too bad only a few did.

liquidious-fleshbag:
Stranger from Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath.

He bags outlaws with a charismatic flair and style, and then saves a dying civilization with just as much style (I won't spoil anything), and he keeps what is probably one of the most shocking secrets in games.

Play the game and succumb to his aura of pure win. Too bad only a few did.

Also stranger uses furry creatures to the advantage.

im gonna go with CJ from GTA san anderas i just felt he was a perfect as an anti hero.

Solid Snake? That man is a legend. Infiltrating a ship filled with special forces and not getting killed is something very impressive.

Prozoquel:

Kayevcee:
I want to say the Exile from KOTOR2, but I can't mention him/her without bringing up Mira and T3M4 whom you also play as at various points, and who are also awesome. Atton less so, for he is a fool.

-Nick

What you say? Atton makes KOTOR 2, he's like a twisted version of Han Solo, but still retains all of Solo's humor and charm with the ladies.

I agree with whoever said the dude from Shadow of the Colossus. He's a normal guy who does incredible things, you see him struggling but he always gets through because of his sheer will power.

I second that comment on Atton, especially if the Exile is a woman.

As for myself, I like Sgt. Matt Baker from Brothers In Arms. He's very emotional and deep thinking, as well as concerned for his men even though he was reluctant to become a sergeant. Still none of that seems to stop him from being a competent leader, and a bit of a badass if I may say so.

Though I hated the overall game, Kane from Kane&Lynch is interesting. He's not your typical hero or even anti-hero, given how much he screws up.

Another mute emotionless mastermind: Commander "[you]" from Red Alert. That person is a brilliant strategist!

Sam Fisher. He is tough as nails, has a dark sense of humour and also cares for his daughter. He changes through the series

Atton Rand, simply because him and Han Solo have a lot in common like their hair and they both hit on a main character. (Assuming the Exile is a woman.)