In the GTA series the main characters are more like anti-heros. Likeable but working outside the rules of society.Havzad said:Actually in most rockstar games your the good guy but your working outside the law.Smertnik said:You should play Stubbs the Zombie.
Come to think of it, you're technically a villain in pretty much every Rockstar game.
its exactly the point being made in this forum, your a complete asshole but your still saving the world/making it a better place. the best examples of those are probably bully and San andreas.
The reason we don't have villains in movies and games is because villains are meant to lose. Because of this they have unlikable traits that wouldn't work for the main character.
Most stories in western games and movies have 'lawful' characters, that preserve the rules of society. I think Hollywood has had a big influence on this since the 50's. European games and movies tend to be more liberal in this aspect, having heroes that are shady in some aspects. Gerald in The Witcher is a good example of the way Europeans more often like to see their heroes. Deep down he is probably a good guy, but theres a lot of layers hiding it. The roles of Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's Westerns is a similar example.
Mass Effect is quite opposite. Shephard always represents society and stability even if he/she may have to take some detours. The player can make him/her into a dick while doing it, but never strays from the path of the good guy/gal.
Good or bad depends on perspective, but for a hero there must be some likeable traits.