Antagonists
- Thread starter Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon
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I like villains who don't see themselves as evil, they genuinely believe they are doing the right thing.
Clever evil. Evil for the sake of evil is boring and stupid evil is too easily stopped. Clever evil has motivations, could have originally been good, etc.
Oh, these too. These are some of the scariest villains just because of that.WorldCritic said:
Personally, I like the scientist archetype. Unethical experiments, conducted not out of spite, but curiosity.
I really like Harry Lime, he's almost alexithymic in the way he distances himself from the deaths that he's caused for his own profit. He's so cold and calculating completely steeling the show despite getting roughly 10 minutes of screen time, 'the cukoo clock' speech and the ferris wheel scenes are a couple of my favourite moments in cinema. Also, on an unrelented note, 100 posts! Whooo!
Ghaleon from LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete. He definitely falls into WorldCritic's likeable view of villians, which is the same view I share.
However, there's an exception to this, and that honor goes to none other than Lavos from Chrono Trigger. Lavos came to Earth with the intention of draining its energy so that it could produce genetically enhanced spawn, which would then continue the cycle on other planets. It is also mentioned that Lavos directly influenced all technology and life on the planet, evolving the planet's life forms to cultivate it, and make itself stronger. (taken from the chrono.wikia page)
Now, some people might argue that Lavos was just a parasite and didn't have sentient thought. I have to argue, however, that influencing the evolution of everything just to harvest it and make yourself stronger...well...I don't think you could have a more awesome, yet disturbingly powerful, antagonist, ever. Lavos takes the cake...and then destruction rains from the heavens.
However, there's an exception to this, and that honor goes to none other than Lavos from Chrono Trigger. Lavos came to Earth with the intention of draining its energy so that it could produce genetically enhanced spawn, which would then continue the cycle on other planets. It is also mentioned that Lavos directly influenced all technology and life on the planet, evolving the planet's life forms to cultivate it, and make itself stronger. (taken from the chrono.wikia page)
Now, some people might argue that Lavos was just a parasite and didn't have sentient thought. I have to argue, however, that influencing the evolution of everything just to harvest it and make yourself stronger...well...I don't think you could have a more awesome, yet disturbingly powerful, antagonist, ever. Lavos takes the cake...and then destruction rains from the heavens.
Misguided heroes are always fun, but I think I'd like to see someone who is just plain insane, not like Joker insane, but insane to the point where they aren't even aware that they're destroying a city with their mind.
And they have to be screaming the entire time.
And they have to be screaming the entire time.
Having a villain with no reason to be a jerk other than taking over the world or just because makes it a lot easier to smash their faces in. When it's for a good personal reason I want to help them find a way to accomplish their goal without being a "villain", i.e. the kitten example, if they want to kill all kittens because they killed their family, I'd suggest they only kill the kittens that did it, etc.
Well, you can go into evil guys and la-de-da. It's a neat way to categorize your antagonist, but an antagonist does not have to be the bad guy; just as the protagonist is not the good guy. They are forces set in opposition to one another. The simplest way to voice this conflict is the age-old, entertaining. Good V. Evil. It does not need to be this, however. My favorite example in modern video games (it trumps even Saren in my book) is Loagain Mac Tyre from Dragon Age: Origins. Is he evil? No. Did he do what he deemed required to protect his country? Yes. He's not a villain, he is a force that opposes you as the Grey Warden. You yourself are able to commit several greater acts of what some would say evil.
That's good 'ole ambiguity. Even in Dragon Age 2. You can still be what some would say an evil bastard/***** (never let it be said that I wasn't an equal opportunist) but is it really evil to imprison a group of people who are dangerous to themselves and others, and can be true vessels of evil demons? This is what makes games which do this great. You're only limited by what you/your character thinks is evil.
That's good 'ole ambiguity. Even in Dragon Age 2. You can still be what some would say an evil bastard/***** (never let it be said that I wasn't an equal opportunist) but is it really evil to imprison a group of people who are dangerous to themselves and others, and can be true vessels of evil demons? This is what makes games which do this great. You're only limited by what you/your character thinks is evil.
I would not say that antagonists are the most interesting characters. Good ones are certainly interesting, but not the most interesting. My favorite kind of antagonist is pure evil who somehow manages to believe his own bullshit.Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon said:
Then again, he was indoctrinated by Sovereign, and seems to be aware that what he is doing is wrong.MellowFellow said:
If you have high enough Paragon or Renegade, you can after all even convince him what he's doing his wrong, and he'll kill himself in the end-fight, which furthers the point that Saren doesn't truly believe he's doing the right thing, nor even wants it himself, he is simply being mind-controlled.
My favorite antagonist would be guys Lelouch from the anime Code Geass.
Anti-heroes.
He is the main character, has good intension, but... does it the wrong way. Like going with the "the end justifies the means" philosophy. If you watched Code Geass, you will know what I'm talking about.
Anti-Villain type II & III.
Anti-heroes.
He is the main character, has good intension, but... does it the wrong way. Like going with the "the end justifies the means" philosophy. If you watched Code Geass, you will know what I'm talking about.
Anti-Villain type II & III.
Light from Death Note is one of my favourites. he wants to get rid of criminals at the start. at the end he goes bat-shit jesus-brained fuck-everyone insane.
He wouldn't be an Antagonist though. An antagonist is someone opposed to the protagonist (The main character). The Antagonist in Code Geass is The Emperor.BiH-Kira said:
Then Schneizel after The Emperor is killed.