Personally, I figure that Western RPG characters are neutralized; nothing against them, because I love being able to customize my own character, but I think the spirit of this thread are for protagonists that are created FOR us to play.

Immediate impulses go to humour characters Roger Wilco, Guybrush Threepwood, and Phoenix Wright.

I'm almost reluctant to say this because of how cliche the love for this game has become, but I can't deny that Rasputin from Psychonauts is also very well defined.

Nostalgic favouritism goes to Laura Bow of The Colonel's Bequest and The Dagger of Amon Ra.

I'll go with that for now and give more if I think of anything.

The_Serpentine_Poet:
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.

Sadly not.

I would say Kane from Kane and Lynch (stands back for flaming) because all he cares about is his daughter and all that emotional crap

and Niko from gta4 very funny script writing

Master Chief for all the predictable reasons, ie, he's the fucking lone ranger only probably wicked ugly underneath the helmet
Niko Bellic is amazingly realistic, which makes a change from Mute, Poor Man's Al Pacino, and Poncey Ponce Blackington Black Esquire In The Hood G, some of his dialogue is fantastic.
Manny Cavalera.
Both Longest Journey girls.
Kain of the Legacy of Kain series.

Lewton from Discworld Noir, for being a hillarious black tongued and totally miserable parody of the totally miserable hard bitten private detective of the world of film noir.

Hmm, I love characters that can really talk, like the nameless one from torment, and Solid Snake. Surprised the snake hasn;t been mentioned more.

For me by far the best mute is Amaterasu, and her partner Issun is brilliant as a cheeky sidekick.

Solid Snake.

for me its a toss up between the ledgendary mute Gordan Freeman (Half Life Series) and the eternal badass Duke Nukem (Duke Nukem Series)

but i must give mention to JC Denton (Deus Ex) for obvious reasons
and Chrono from the Chrono Trigger series

I would say Solid Snake. To be fair he probably is the most developed video game character ever and you really get an in-depth picture of him. I thought he was great in the last one especially because all the other characters seemed to have become amazingly skilled and powerful (Raiden and Meryl) and Snake was just older and senile, but still as determined. That awesome final fight on top of outer haven also helped to represent his awesomeness.

Jim Raynor is a close second (if he counts). He had that whole Western-type smartass thing and was mean in combat, but you felt sorry for him cause everyone else in the game has some grand scheme and he gets screwed over by most of them, despite only being a Planetary Marshal. And his friends and loved ones are always dying.

"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town". Also known as 'Red'.

Or Kirby =)

Maverick_M:
"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town". Also known as 'Red'.

Or Kirby =)

Sorry to be a pedant, but Red is not Ash, Ash was based on Red. Also while I find Ash annoying (but still lovable) Red is just plain awesome.

Nariko and Kai. There was something about them that made me *spoiler* gasp and say no when Flying Fox lynched Kai, and when the Sword ended up killing Nariko just before the final fight. */spoilers*. I really do think they should make a second Heavenly Sword, and release it as episodic content.

Samus Aran. Somehow, even without speaking or showing her face, she manages to have a personality all of her own. She definitely gets the award for best female mute.

Agent 47. Except for those cutscenes where he just wastes someone for no reason. Those completely go out of character.

And of course Kratos. The only way he could be better is if he just started adding the word bitch after every sentence. That would make the game that much more awesome. Think about it.
"I didn't come back for you, bitch."
"You succeeded, bitch"
"I would rather die, bitch"

And of course Kratos. The only way he could be better is if he just started adding the word bitch after every sentence. That would make the game that much more awesome. Think about it. "I didn't come back for you, bitch."
"You succeeded, bitch"
"I would rather die, bitch"

I have to agree with that one. I thought of another kick ass protagonist as well. Gregor Hakha from Killzone. He see's more than the others and is really intelligent and I love the way he doesn't take any shit from Rico Velasquez... the big black dude with the chaingun.

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.

A man's weapon of choice says a lot about his character, and anyone who uses a crossbow that fire full automated insects and squirrels is a good man in my book.

Father grigori(HL2) was a really amazing secondary character because i really felt for him and stayed with him for an hour while he asked me to move on. (theres also freeman but do I even have to say it?)

And Kerrigan and raynor were awesome characters and made a good impression on me(I think starcraft is the first game I bought and played)

And Crash(the second game I bought), he was king until those asses at vivendi...

Agent 47 from the Hitman Games. Or Riddick from Escape from Butcher bay.
Or even (how retro is this) Lewton from Discworld Noir..

Yes Lewton is my vote.

i always was a fan of raziel from the kain series,no matter how confused i was by his storyline.

The Remote from KOTOR2, when you play that little mini-quest at the end. Also, T3-M4, in those minor missions where you have to play as him.

Garret from Thief.

Max Payne from... Max Payne.

Kyle Katarn from Jedi Knight.

Honourable mention goes to Jack Carver. I know people will disagree with me about this, but he was a nice change from other protagonists. When you need to nuke something, other protagonists seem to think it's something you do every second day but Jack begins bitching about it.

Bioshock guy.

Why?

Because he can shoot bees from his hands.

Barring that, Sam Fisher, if only because Michael Ironside's voice makes me gay.

end_boss:
Personally, I figure that Western RPG characters are neutralized; nothing against them, because I love being able to customize my own character, but I think the spirit of this thread are for protagonists that are created FOR us to play.

I get what you're saying, but the protagonists of the KOTOR games have their own backstories which are easily as deep as the likes of Solid Snake or Master Chief.

KOTOR1

Chech:

I have to agree with that one. I thought of another kick ass protagonist as well. Gregor Hakha from Killzone. He see's more than the others and is really intelligent and I love the way he doesn't take any shit from Rico Velasquez... the big black dude with the chaingun.

Hakha was a great character. I loved Killzone for just that reason; the characters were actually that, characters that had personality and qualities that made you care about them and like them. This is something severely lacking from most FPS's

As for the best I might have to agree with some of the others here and say Solid Snake.

Master Cheif. He actually has reasons for being an unstoppable one man army against the Covenant (recharging shield armor - genetically and chemically modified super soldier) other than being the main character of the game. Also he's one of the only video game characters that genuinely inspires fear in the Covenant as well as brings hope to the marines in game-play.

Snake is a badass even when he is 80. He proves once and for all smoking IS for cool people.

Can't go wrong with him.

my list would be something like

Solid Snake
Max Payne
King Arthas
Duke "im gonna kick ur ass" Nukem

honorable mentions to Razputin, Prince Ephraim (Fire emblem 8, he's what motivated me to finish the game) and Manuel Calavera (grim fandango)

Solid Snake is an excellent lead character.

Personal Favorite... Yuri Bolt Hyuga from Shadow Hearts 1 and 2, kicks serious ass.

I also really liked Commander Shepard, in the sense that he/she was a character with a past and a personality that you could "edit" but not all together change.

PedroSteckecilo:
Solid Snake is an excellent lead character.

Personal Favorite... Yuri Bolt Hyuga from Shadow Hearts 1 and 2, kicks serious ass.

I also really liked Commander Shepard, in the sense that he/she was a character with a past and a personality that you could "edit" but not all together change.

Is the second one any good? I remember playing the 1st one and liking it but I ditched my ps2(just got ps3) soon after. SH: Covenant got great reviews(for what its worth).

Commander Keen ftw!1"!!!

nah, but seriously.. Link would be my pick, mainly because I've grown up with Ocarina of Time :)

Raziel from Soul Reaver. He's just badass.

Also, Max Payne

Kratos

Ultrajoe:
Solid Snake.

[/win]

Ah it's too hard. Everytime I go away I think of a better one. I should just sit down and think of a list.

Either Link (the Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess one) or Dante from DMC (particularly from that opening scene in DMC3 when he fights the demons whilst eating pizza).

Barney Calhoun
ratchet

Naked Snake, as he's the only one who can go up against Jacks magical bee shooting hand and win (using the Pain camoflauge)