Best Written Videogame Character

[NickCaligo42]

as does Yuna.

From Final Fantasy X? You mean the submissive doormat who apologizes for getting kidnapped (at least three times, mind you) and agrees to marry the poor excuse for a main villain JUST to have the chance to try to TALK HIM OUT of being evil?

Don't get me wrong, there's MILLIONS of much worse female characters in games than Yuna. She certainly strikes an emotional chord that's rare to find, and she genuinely comes off as modest and likeable in addition to being actually genuinely a girl as opposed to a dude with boobs. But I wouldn't put her forth in a debate on "best-written" characters, either, just because there's too many stupid, illogical plot points in Final Fantasy X.

 

[lovest harding]

Three words:

[image src="http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5809/1291767-agent_morgan_super.jpg" alt="Wouldn't you agree, Zach?" /]

Francis. York. Morgan.

Wouldn't you agree, Zach?

-jealous that I couldn't be first-
I second this.

Also, Zach.
That ending left me speechless (outside of the battle).

 

[Babitz]

Every character from Planescape: Torment

/thread

 

[scnj]

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.

I guess it wasn't so much that they revealed it, it was the nature of the revelation that I was underwhelmed by. It seemed like the least interesting possibility.

 

[Saltyk]

Morrigan from Dragon Age comes to mind. Yes, she was an evil *****, but she was a great evil *****. I took her with me on the way to enter the Mage Tower and the guard wouldn't let you pass, but then implies he might let you pass if he could spend some time with the "dark eyed temptress". Morrigan responded by getting excited about what she would do to him and the next thing you knew he just wanted you gone. I loved that small little scene so much. I just loved her sarcastic remarks. And, personally, I always found her to be the most interesting character in that game by far.

 

[Raika]

as does Yuna.

From Final Fantasy X? You mean the submissive doormat who apologizes for getting kidnapped (at least three times, mind you) and agrees to marry the poor excuse for a main villain JUST to have the chance to try to TALK HIM OUT of being evil?

Don't get me wrong, there's MILLIONS of much worse female characters in games than Yuna. She certainly strikes an emotional chord that's rare to find, and she genuinely comes off as modest and likeable in addition to being actually genuinely a girl as opposed to a dude with boobs. But I wouldn't put her forth in a debate on "best-written" characters, either, just because there's too many stupid, illogical plot points in Final Fantasy X.

I'm referring to Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2, actually; an ambitious yet unsure young woman who, after getting a second chance at a life she expected to never have, must adapt to a rapidly changing world and forge an identity for herself as society rips apart at the seams. The way she's handled in that game is great. Most things about that game are great, although don't tell that to most series diehards; they'll bite your head off.

 

[Norix596]

I say that John Marston, if not the most interesting or nuanced character, was very well written in that his cutscenes make sense whether you're doing a good or bad playthrough and he still ends up having some personality.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

John Marston, you wild man, you. He is truely my favorite character with spoken dialoge in a game ever.

 

[ScrubberDucky]

I was originally going to give the award to Commander Shepard, since I'm such a disgustingly predictable fanboy, but after replaying GTA IV the other day, I have to give the award to Niko Bellic. Such a fantastically written character.. tragic, badass.. it's hard to describe him, but anyone who remembers Niko should know what I'm talking about. He's one of the most memorable and realistic characters in any form of media I've ever seen.

Honorable mention to John Marston, who is, and let's be fair, more or less the same character.

As for a runner up, I'd have to agree with OP. Kreia wasn't only complex and intriguing, she was amazingly well-written. It was the way she was woven into the story that added that finishing touch into the already amazing atmosphere and immersion of the game.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Like originally from a video game? Probably the cast of Psychonauts, Grim Fandango, or insert-Tim-Schafer-game-here.

 

[falafax]

GLaDOS. Hands down.

 

[NickCaligo42]

as does Yuna.

From Final Fantasy X? You mean the submissive doormat who apologizes for getting kidnapped (at least three times, mind you) and agrees to marry the poor excuse for a main villain JUST to have the chance to try to TALK HIM OUT of being evil?

Don't get me wrong, there's MILLIONS of much worse female characters in games than Yuna. She certainly strikes an emotional chord that's rare to find, and she genuinely comes off as modest and likeable in addition to being actually genuinely a girl as opposed to a dude with boobs. But I wouldn't put her forth in a debate on "best-written" characters, either, just because there's too many stupid, illogical plot points in Final Fantasy X.

I'm referring to Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2, actually; an ambitious yet unsure young woman who, after getting a second chance at a life she expected to never have, must adapt to a rapidly changing world and forge an identity for herself as society rips apart at the seams. The way she's handled in that game is great. Most things about that game are great, although don't tell that to most series diehards; they'll bite your head off.

... Okay, I'll KIND OF give you that. It's interesting to see how she synthesized her new identity from those of the people around her. I thought THAT was handled well. I don't buy the sphere hunting thing (most of them are empty shots with nothing but static; how did they make money off this crud? And how does that radar work??), or a lot of the other crud going on in FFX-2, but THOSE faults I can't pin to her characterization, so I'll definitely let you have this one.

 

[Crimson_Dragoon]

I'll go with Wrex, from Mass Effect 1. Oh sure, he has the tough-guy, badass exterior in spades, but underneath is a conflicted man/person/alien who cares deeply for the plight of his race, but is unable to do anything to stop it. I never expected to care about his character as much as I did.

 

[Raika]

I don't buy the sphere hunting thing (most of them are empty shots with nothing but static; how did they make money off this crud? And how does that radar work??), or a lot of the other crud going on in FFX-2

What's kind of sad is that I could actually explain all of this to you because of how much I've played that game and how much I know about it. =_=

 

[Timzilla]

I say that John Marston, if not the most interesting or nuanced character, was very well written in that his cutscenes make sense whether you're doing a good or bad playthrough and he still ends up having some personality.

I'd have to respectfuly disagree.While a honerable palythrough works, the outlaw playthrough doesn't really make sense, since John is looking for redemption for causing chaos by making more chaos. Plus, he seems a little more honerably in the cutscenses. Thats just my opinion though.

OT: Contray to popular opinion, I actually like the way Jack from Mass Effect 2 arcs as a charater, especially if you romance her. She starts out as some crazy bad ass psycho, but as you learn more about her,

Spoiler

You find out that shes only like that because she was basicly trained to be a boitic killer, suffers from survivors guilt, and also discover why she is so untrusting and caustious when a romance is offered.

Maybe not the best written charater, but definitely up there.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

I'd say Travis Touchdown from No More Heroes. In the first game, he's just a nerd with a lightsaber who just wants to bone someone he would never have a chance with. But at the end of the first game and throughout the second he turns into a noble, samurai-esque warrior who learns the value of a human life and becomes disgusted with the assassination scene. His strongest scene in terms of writing is his rant after the battle with the 2nd rank, Alice Twilight, in the second game (4:37 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMl3Mlsjhzc). This turn around is a powerful move for such a crazy and campy series, especially one made by Suda 51 who is famous for making stuff like this by the crateload.

 

[Lawlhat]

Ezio from Assassin's Creed, but that might just be because you go through a lot with that guy. He sure changes a lot from beginning of AC2 to the end of Brotherhood.

 

[RoyalSorceress]

Like originally from a video game? Probably the cast of Psychonauts, Grim Fandango, or insert-Tim-Schafer-game-here.

Awww, you ninja'd me.

Can't think of another choice.