So, as a stereotypical 'games-are-art', 'plot-beats-gameplay', retro-PC-gaming ****** (just beating everyone else to the insults), I grew up on games with interesting, sympathetic characters. The old PC adventure games (e.g. Grim Fandango, Sam & Max, Monkey Island, Discworld, etc.), while not exactly on the cutting edge of interactive gameplay, did feature three things that have declined in the modern gaming industry: well written plots, humorous and witty dialogue, and main characters that players can actually sympathize with. They had actual human flaws and limitations, and were able to portray emotions other than macho, devil-may-care, aloofness. Now, I know there have been a few modern video games that have had good leading men and women (e.g. Gordon Freeman from Half-Life), the most have struck me as rather bland. If anyone can tell me about some recent releases with realistic, well-rounded main characters, that'd be great.
