Poll: Why does everyone hate Rochelle? (L4D2 Question)

Recommended Videos

Hat of Controversy

New member
Nov 11, 2009
312
0
0
Well, I've had L4D2 for about a month now, and even though my laptop can barely handle the game, its still fun to play from time to time. But there's been one VERY consistent theme concerning the game.

Everyone hates Rochelle.


The thing is, I can't understand why. From a "design" point-of-view, she definitely works. Her color scheme and figure definitely help to differentiate her from the rest of the L4D2 gang. And she also fits in well enough with the others to not stand out like a sore thumb (other than being "the girl" I suppose).

I also don't see how any of the more common reasons for hating a character could apply (i.e. - Irritating voice, terrible dialogue, annoying personality, offensive beliefs, etc.) considering that we never delve too deeply into ANY of the characters. We see and learn just enough about them to get an idea of who they are and what they're about, and then we get right to the zombie killing.

Admittedly, she does have some cheesy lines here and there ("AXE" me a question, I dare you!"), but then, so does just about every other character, and like I said earlier, its not as if we're having loads of back story dumped on to us about these characters or anything.

And of course there's nothing to hate about her from a gameplay stand-point, considering that every character plays exactly the same. Valve could have had us playing as a group of mobile-gun-toting-cardboard boxes and it wouldn't of made any difference in the gameplay. But, fortunately, they decided to add some flavor and personality to our characters, so yay.


I also don't want to think that it's because she's black, and also happens to be replacing a somewhat generic white-female-video-game-protagonist from the previous game. I definitely think we're better than that.

You could say that she's hated because she's nothing more than "the girl", but then again so was Zoey.

But ah well, I was just curious is all. If you don't mind, why not share the reasons behind your hatred? Enlighten me!

P.S. The reason why the poll is worded all funny is because it's referencing to this funny little video here. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc9f-VVQK3k]

Also - Moar LULZ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9nAbL3TzQo]
 

Awexsome

Were it so easy
Mar 25, 2009
1,549
0
0
I don't think it's hate, just a lack of love compared to everyone else.

There isn't a whole lot of character development in any of the games so what little we do get from the characters is all we have to go on. Every other character has got a little quirk or funny/awesome side. Rochelle... just isn't interesting.
 

scotth266

Wait when did I get a sub
Jan 10, 2009
5,201
0
0
She has one good line.

"SWEET LINCOLN'S MULLET!"

And that's all. Everyone else is full of personality: she has all the character of a cardboard box.
 

Spiner909

New member
Dec 3, 2009
1,699
0
0
I pretty much agree with the argument "Rochelle isn't Zoey". Zoey was very likeable, Rochelle isn't.
And you can't just deny racism in this account. It does play a part, even if some people do not consciously know it.
 

Twilight_guy

Sight, Sound, and Mind
Nov 24, 2008
7,131
0
0
She doesn't have as much personality. Now most of the characters are fairly bland but she is blander. The character usually have some running gag or phrase that defines them but Rochelle has none. She's ever more of cardboard box.
 

feather240

New member
Jul 16, 2009
1,921
0
0
dra0502 said:
I love Rochelle. I choose her over anyone else. I love the dialogue of all 4 survivors and how they talk together. "We don't have time for this Ellis." - Coach
Kiddie Land!

/end thread

(Yes, I know it's the part about Craw-fish.)

Ellis is awesome, he's just so awesome in his awesomeness that it lacks subjectivity to any level. He transcends to a purely objective awesomeness because he's so awesome. Circle logic for the win.
 

Yokai

New member
Oct 31, 2008
1,981
0
0
She's just such a bland character next to Coach's pissed-off yelling, Nick's wisecracking slickness, and Ellis...being Ellis. Not a bad character per se, just not one of the best-written.
 

Meggiepants

Not a pigeon roost
Jan 19, 2010
2,536
0
0
Rochelle is okay. She's not great, but she's okay. She's doesn't have as many good lines, that much is true. Ellis gets most of the good lines. He's a riot.

"I ever tell you about the time my buddy Keith and I were on the top of a burnin' building, and we had to fight our way down like five floors of zombies an - hey, wait a second...I guess that was you guys. Oh shit, man, I can't wait to tell Keith about that one!"
 

Contun

New member
Mar 28, 2009
1,591
0
0
I don't hate her, just prefer Nick and Ellis....

Ohoho, the shenanghins those two go through...
 

hazabaza1

Want Skyrim. Want. Do want.
Nov 26, 2008
9,608
0
0
She just has no personality. I imagine in The Passing, Bill and Ellis could have some funny lines. My two favourite chracters, as it is.
 

Kasawd

New member
Jun 1, 2009
1,504
0
0
I was unaware of this hate.

Ah, well, Nick is my favourite, anyway.

Pararaptor said:
HG131 said:
Pararaptor said:
I certainly like her better than Nick.
[sub]What a fucking ****...[/sub]
Hey, Nick is my favorite. He's the only murderer out of the 4 of them.
Be that as it may, he's still so damn unlikeable. And God-damn it, those fucking sleeves always obscuring my vision.
Except for the sleeves.
 
Feb 13, 2008
19,429
0
0
Minimal personality, Irritating voice, Constant screaming, the Louis/Rochelle bots seem to be by far the stupidest, minimal backstory. She just screams "token".

Quick: What's Rochelle's defined profession? Where was she born? Has she any family? What are her feelings towards the zombies? Where did she live? What is her favourite anything?

All the other 7 can be answered easily. Her defining facets seem to be Depeche Mode, Oprah and Tick-style puns.

Although, for second worst: It has to be Nick. His ass-insertion comments get old real fast.
 

John Funk

U.N. Owen Was Him?
Dec 20, 2005
20,364
0
0
I like Rochelle just fine. She doesn't have the memorable lines of the others though.

She interests me more than Zoey.

Quick: What's Rochelle's defined profession? Where was she born? Has she any family? What are her feelings towards the zombies? Where did she live? What is her favourite anything?
She's a reporter from Columbus, Ohio, who came down looking for a scoop on the outbreak.
 

IamQ

New member
Mar 29, 2009
5,223
0
0
I just hate her voice. Plus, her appearance doesn't fit her role.

Ellis looks only a little like a mechanic, which he is supposed to be. He makes up for this though for acting like a hillbilly, which he (in my opinion) totally looks like.

Coach...well...he looks like a football coach.

Nick is a gambler, acts like a gambler, and dresses like a gambler.

Rochelle on the other hand. She is supposed to be a reporter, but she looks more like some kind of hillbilly to join in with ellis. I would've expected her to wear like a uniform, like those they wear during news broadcasts, only a little bit torn appart of course.
 

RheynbowDash

New member
Jan 26, 2009
1,386
0
0
I like Rochelle better than any other L4D character. Even Zoey.
IMHO, Rochelle was far more interesting. Zoey was the bland one, created just so the fanfiction nerds would have something to fantasize about.
Ugh. Makes me cringe.
 

The DSM

New member
Apr 18, 2009
2,065
0
0
Its just that Coach, Nick and Ellis are so much better than her.

Shes just meh, not the intresting or funny.

Also WUBUBUBU.
 

MrPokeylope

New member
Apr 16, 2009
46
0
0
Rochelle is actually my favourite...well, I say 'favourite', she's the one I hate the least. I don't know what it is but I find it hard to like any of the L4D2 characters.
 

TheZapper

New member
Jul 11, 2009
721
0
0
It's not that she's hated, she's just bland, and it become very noticeable next to 3 much more interesting characters.

BTW where's the I don't hate vests option?
 

reg42

New member
Mar 18, 2009
5,389
0
0
She's just really bland. All the other characters have something kind of special about them; not Rochelle.