Best Written Videogame Character

[nin_ninja]

Notice how the title doesn't say Favourite Videogame Character. Mine is Yuri from Shadow Hearts 2, but I don't think he's one of the best written characters out there.

In my opinion, Kriea is the best written character in a videogame (that I have played).

No matter what your opinions on Star Wars, Obsidian, or even KoTOR II, I think that having a character who challenged most Good/Evil views in games was well done. Not only did she stand up as a great character on her own, but she even made Revan a deeper character through her discussion of him with the Exile. Also the fact that the writers left hints about her past name and life, yet never point it out means that they believe that they trusted their writing enough to leave her character a mystery to most people who play the game.

SPOILERS if you've never played the game: http://lparchive.org/Knights-of-the-Old-Republic-II/Update%2058/

I have heard comparisons between KoTOR II and Planescape: Torment, but having never played the game I can't comment on that. I will admit that because of all the cut content (which was re-added in the above LP) her character (and the others) lose some closure and that her boss fight and ending is probably one of the worst unfinished events in videogame history.

So, what do you guys think are the best written characters?

EDIT: Also, most Bioware characters I love. No reason for this, just want to show what a whore I am for them.

 

[hazabaza1]

Most of the characters from Persona 3+4 are wonderfully written. Really, the only one who I've found that I don't really like is... Yumi? Yuki? The drama girl in Persona 4. God she annoyed me.
Nier seems to be very well written too. Weiss' voice acting in particular really works with his character.

 

[MightyRabbit]

Shu Takumi's characters in Ace Attorney and Ghost Trick are often incredible characters. Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth, Missile. Even the ones that aren't complex, sympathetic, unique and likeable they're probably charming through sheer eccentricity and humour.

 

[Irridium]

Yeah, I'd go with Kriea as well. Pretty much for the reasons you described. In fact, that character made me re-think my own thoughts on morality. It was a "finding myself" moment.

Also Morte from Planescape: Torment. I love the conversations you have with him.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

I think Cole Phelps was a very well written character.
I've never felt so conflicted about a character before till playing L.A. Noire.

 

[scnj]

Kreia was amazing, right up until they removed all the mystery surrounding her.

 

[Galaxy Roll]

I think Cole Phelps was a very well written character.
I've never felt so conflicted about a character before till playing L.A. Noire.

For some reason my brain replaced Cole with Michael. Odd expressions ensued.

I'll say FFVI. What's that? That's an entire game and not a character? Shows what I think about the game.

 

[AlternatePFG]

Kreia was very well written, she really just deconstructed and tore apart the whole basic concept of the Force and the Jedi. Also the LP you linked to is probably one of the best I've ever read, good choice.

 

[Raika]

John Marston comes immediately to mind, as does Yuna.

 

[York_Beckett]

I'm gonna go with Francis York Morgan from Deadly Premonition.

 

[Samurai Silhouette]

Alyx Vance from Half Life
Just about every important character from Mass Effect
and maybe Cortana from Halo

But I'd have to go with Alyx Vance.

 

[The Madman]

April Ryan from The Longest Journey is the character I always make a point of holding up as a perfect example of characterization and fluid dialogue in a game. It really is brilliantly told in terms of writing, so much so that despite the gameplay which ranges from mediocre to terrible I still consider The Longest Journey one of my absolute favourite games ever made.

For a more broad experience Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is absolutely brilliant in the way it introduces characters and how they interact with the player. Rock Paper Shotgun wrote a lengthy article about how VTMB was unique like that and how it's one of the best in the industry in regards to its cast of characters. I very much agree!

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Kreia was amazing, right up until they removed all the mystery surrounding her.

Have to go with Kreia as well. Brilliant Character. As for why I'm quoting you in particular, I felt that the removal of the mystery was just the next logical step. Did you feel underwhelmed by it? Because I feel that was the point: you travel the whole game searching for answers to questions you already knew. It was less about her and more about yourself.

The journey is what mattered, not the revelation. Stripping away the mystery left the truth, and you just had to live with it, whatever it turns out to be.

 

[legendp]

Pretty much all the characters in mass effect 2, Tali probably overal

 

[Mister Shield]

Hm... Cole from Infamous series.

Don't get me wrong, the game has its up and downs.

But having to fight yourself as the bad guy? His dialogue and way of dealing things makes him one of the more grounded characters...

Oh, and he can project emotion, true is always pissed or tired. But that is just from dialogue and voice acting. Which is more than I can say for a lot of others characters.

 

[NickCaligo42]

Three words:

[image src="http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5809/1291767-agent_morgan_super.jpg" alt="My coffee warned me about him..." /]

Francis. York. Morgan.

Wouldn't you agree, Zach?

 

[Last Hugh Alive]

I think Cole Phelps was a very well written character.
I've never felt so conflicted about a character before till playing L.A. Noire.

I have to agree. The more I reflected on the game and the character after playing, the more I dwelled on Cole's morals and flaws. Cole is a character who, despite his optimism and determination to redeem himself and clean society, is also a hypocrite. He was a very strong character surrounded by people and circumstances that made him walk the tightrope of his own ethics.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

John Marston. One of the only characters who I actually sympathized with and loved playing. He was a brute, but a charming, charismatic brute with a silver tongue and a generally good soul.

Spoiler

Plus, the first and only time I got choked up at a video game was at his death. Good job, Rockstar.

 

[LordRoyal]

Kreia was amazing, right up until they removed all the mystery surrounding her.

I still found a lot of Kreia mysterious, even towards the end. But I found the best part of her character was how you thought she was a stock mysterious old lady at the beginning but she was revealed to be a master manipulator toward the end.

Anyway my vote goes to Kain from Blood Omen. Simply because his dialogue is very witty and cynical, and how he develops gradually throughout the storyline as a fledgeling vampire looking for a cure to his curse, to a megalomaniacal demigod relishing in slaughter.

I would put down Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher but he was in the Witcher novels beforehand.