Your favorite "Good guy" characters

[Leemaster777]

So, there are alot of deep, complex characters in fiction. Tragic figures, deeply flawed personalities, and main characters with questionable motives.

This thread isn't about them. Nope, this topic is about those characters that can broadly be described as "good guys". Some say those kind of characters are boring, but this thread is intended to disprove that.

No Punishers, no Vegetas, no Clouds, none of those kinds of guys. I'm talking about your Optimus Primes, your Supermans, your Gokus, etc.

Now, to be clear, I don't mean that the character can't have ANY complexities. I just mean that overall, they can best be described as a "good guy", with little moral grey area.

As for me, I've got three:

First up is Sora, from Kingdom Hearts:

Now, when I first started the Kingdom Hearts series, I liked Sora, but I'd never have described him as my favorite character ever. But in the most recent game, Dream Drop Distance, Sora did something that really cemented him as one of my favorites: (Dream Drop Distance spoilers)

Spoiler

Near the end of the game, there's a scene where Xigbar confronts Sora, and basically tells him outright that the Keyblade never chose him, and that he's only the hero because Riku turned bad.

And Sora responds with the greatest thing ever: I know, but I don't care, I'm still gonna kick your ass. (Paraphrasing, of course)

In so many Square RPGs, this kind of revelation would have turned the main character into a mopey emo mess. But Sora? He just shrugs it off, and just keeps doing what he does best: Being an awesome guy.

Second up is the Flash. Specifically, the Flash from the DC Animated Universe:

Now, when he's first introduced, he's really just a cocky almost-jerk. But during Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, he really shows that, deep down, he might just be the most heroic and big-hearted member of the team.

I think everything I like about the Flash can easily be summed up by the episode "Flash and Substance". He just shows how much he truly cares about people, and how much he wants to help everyone. From treating his enemies like actual human beings, to something as simple as painting someone's fence, he's all about being a nice guy.

And last, but not least, there's Captain America, specifically from the Captain America movie:

I'd go into detail about why I like this guy so much, but I think MovieBob's review of it sums him up nicely.

I guess, to put it bluntly, he's the kind of guy I WISH I was. I think of myself as a good guy, but this is the kind of good guy I would LOVE to be.

And I guess that's why I like him so much. He's kinda a role model to me.

 

[Glongpre]

Batman. Why? Well I am glad you asked....because he is Batman. I bet you saw that coming.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Hmm, thats pretty tough, most of the "good guy" characters I can think of that I like have at least a "bad" history. I guess I'll go with Himura Kenshin, he may have the "dark past" think, but as for his current character there really aren't that many that pull off crazy badass and completely non-lethal and pacifist quite so well.

 

[Dinwatr]

Hank Rearden. Forget the money; the man started off in an iron mine. He had a goal, and moved towards it his entire life. And, to be blunt, his family never understood what he was doing, what it cost him, or why he would bother. He did it all, standing in all essential aspects alone. A hero carrying three ungrateful bastards on his back (no, I'm not saying that helping people is wrong--I'm saying that THOSE PARTICULAR PEOPLE were ungrateful bastards).

Second, Allen Grant. The man gave my ilk an icon, someone to point to and an archetype to live up to. Yes, I would stop in the way of a flocking herd of dinosaurs to comment on their movements.

Third, Cimorene. I have to admit, I have a soft spot for women who can hold a line. But I also like the fact that when she has a problem, she does something about it. Her parents set her up with a moron (seriously, who can't tell if the ballance of a blade is off?), so she took up employment with a dragon. She doesn't want to be burned, so she learns a spell to stop it. She is not, however, the character I relate to most--that's Telemain. I've been threatened with a crossbow for discussing epistemological philosophy, and been physically attacked multiple times for using technical jargon. I point that out to emphasize that I'm divorcing the concepts of favorite good-guy characters from the concept of characters I relate to the most.

Also, I'd like to point out that the dichotomy between "the good guys" and "complex characters" is entirely false. Good guys can be incredibly complex. The reason they're good is that they have what was, in my youth, called integrity. They have their code, and they stick to it no matter what. Allen Grant is a perfect example. The desert imposes a code on you; the necessities of day-to-day survival require you to stick together. Grant does that--he gets the kids out alive, despite the fact that he must put his life at risk at times for it. The rational is every bit as complex as that of any anti-hero emo piece of trash (I'm speaking from experience here, so before you argue, spend some time in a desert relying on others for basic "I want to see the sunrise" survival). Similarly, for a young adult book Cimorene was very well-developed. She doesn't get whiny when things don't go her way. She has a tendancy to melt the problem instead. Her reasons make sense, but in the end you feel as though you've actually met a real person. I've met a huge number of people in real life with far less depth than that princess.

Anti-heroes are lazy. Ask anyone who's ever studied for the GRE--taking the con side of any argument allows one to make a more compelling argument more easily. Anti-heroes are just that in literary form. A truly great author can make a paladin every bit as real and powerful as any of the psychotic characters offered up under the guise of "compelling" characters.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

Samus Aran
Locke Cole
Cyan Garamonde
Patricia Wagon
Kirby
Hershel Layton
Link
Solaire of Astora
Naruto Uzumaki
Mega Man

Samwise Gamgee
Taran
Eilonwy
Gurgi
Gwydion

 

[Jux]

Luke Skywalker is probably my favorite, especially when you look at his character through the lenses of the expanded universe. Captain Marvel[footnote]The Carol Danvers incarnation, not Monica Rambeau.[/footnote] is another one. If Batman counts, put him there too. I suppose it depends on what version of Batman. We'll go with Batman: TES for this one.

 

[Leemaster777]

Batman. Why? Well I am glad you asked....because he is Batman. I bet you saw that coming.

If Batman counts, put him there too. I suppose it depends on what version of Batman. We'll go with Batman: TES for this one.

Eh... I'm not really sure Batman qualifies as a straight-up "good guy". I mean, sure, he doesn't kill, but depending on the story, he's done some pretty morally grey things.

I'm not saying "No", but I think that for Batman to count, you need to specify which version you mean, and perhaps expand upon that.

Personally, I wouldn't really put Batman in the "Good Guy" pile like I would Superman.

To utterly misquote Zangief: "Batman, you are good guy. But that does not mean you are "Good Guy"."

 

[cojo965]

The Arisen: Dragon's Dogma

Picture this: a massive red dragon has attacked your humble fishing village, the soldiers stationed there have all fled, leaving your home at the mercy of the dragon, what do you do? Well if you're the Arisen, you pick up one of the dropped swords and engage the monster yourself, losing your heart as a result. The main story really does set the Arisen up as something of a paragon of virtue, despite not speaking at all during the game. You may call that weak justification him/her being here, but the Arisen really does have more personality than most shooter protagonists. I'll show you what I mean:

Spoiler

After the arc with Grigori the dragon of the game is resolved the Arisen returns to the capital city Gran Soren to look over things as news had been coming in about terrible happenings there. He/she arrives to find a massive crater where the city square and shopping district used to be, the sky is blacked out, and duke Edmun Dragonsbane is a frail, white haired, old man. Not only that, but he blames the Arisen for all of it. The look of surprise on the Arisen's face shows that though he/she may be a paragon of virtue, he/she is somewhat naïve because of it, namely, they were so determined to end the terror of Grigori they didn't think of what repercussions it would have. Also, after defeating God in every way but name, the Arisen opts to end the cycle that brings Grigori upon the world to begin with; by killing him/herself after taking the throne of God.

I hope that justifies the Arisen's place here.

 

[IllumInaTIma]

Kazuki Takemura, the protagonist of Front Mission 3.
What I really like about him is that he is... well, an idiot. 80% of the time he is straight up typical good guy. He's skillful, friendly, forgives and trusts very easily etc. However, there are couple little things that trigger his full-on moron mode. Mainly it's his adopted younger sister. In one scenario that guy is willing to break into a military base just because he THINKS that his sister might be in trouble. His best friend, Ryogo even says "You better let him do whatever he wants when he's angry".
Also, despite the fact the he's mostly a good guy, he's not above *****-slapping young girl who betrayed him and simply killing his enemy. One of the strongest scenes in a game is Kazuki witnessing main villain killing his father. Kazuki doesn't scream, doesn't rage, as he would usually do, he just says "No Mercy".
Very well written and one of my favorite characters. And he's also really stylish.
<img src=http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-20/art/fm3-kazuki-takemura.jpg>

 

[Johanthemonster666]

Shuzo "Shu" Matsutan from the most depressing anime I've ever watched "Now and Then, Here and There". He is almost a case of a primary character being trapped in the wrong story/genre due to how idealistic, optimistic, unrelenting, unselfish, heroic (even if he's kind of of an idiot about it) and compassionate he is surrounded by war (wagged by child soldiers), murder, pillaging, rape and everything else unpleasant about the human experience.

I'm not saying he's Jesus or the redeemer of the terrible stuff that happens in this anime, he doesn't really have much control over what happens but always does the most just and humane thing inspite of everything.

He's the answer to anyone who's ever said "I've lost faith in humanity" along with other characters like Sis, which is what the anime is all about really.

Spoiler

 

[lacktheknack]

Atrus in Myst. He spends YEARS trying to keep one island ecosystem alive until all the inhabitants could get out. He attempts to free his terrible awful sons after years of imprisonment despite the fact that one of them is CLEARLY out to get him. And most stunningly of all, he's forced to give up a civilization restoration effort... so he goes off and starts it all over again from the ground up, and succeeds!

Yeah, he's a tortured character, but he's tortured by his situation rather than his actions.

Also, I love the hell out of Chun-Li and Cammy from Street Fighter, and I swear that I'm not a legs person. They just... they work as a team and they're cool, OK?!

 

[lord canti]

I'm going have to say Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece. He's someone who will always stand up for those weaker than him,genuinely cares about his crew, and he never wants to be treated as a hero.

 

[The Harkinator]

I know you've already said it but Superman. He's just a really good guy who wants to use his powers to save people. He's just a boy scout trying to do right and his enemies can't understand that. They think it is all a ploy for attention, fame or power. They cannot comprehend that Superman does not want to rule people by force.

I haven't read it but I've seen the Justice League episode For The Man Who Has Everything. Superman's deepest desire is to have Krypton back and have a family. Mongol cannot understand this and assumes Superman is dreaming of conquest and rule.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzc2410F1J1qbn3hqo1_400.png

Knight Solaire.

Awesome good guy, weird fella, reliable and well versed in the art of battle, gone too soon.

 

[FPLOON]

Although some of my more favorite good guys have been mentioned already in some way, shape or form... somehow... I'll go with two that (probably) haven't even been mentioned just yet...


Tenchi Masaki

He's one of those good guys that you never do expect to do something that would make him a good guy... or a bad guy... or just be someone of importance... However, when the situation calls it, he's willing to put himself on the line...

Edward Elric

All he wanted was for him and his brother, Alphonse, to get their original bodies back after failing to bring back their mother... and ended up becoming part of a secret military conspiracy that is more connected to their goals than they first realize...

(I also have more obscure favorites, but they end up falling under the category of either Tenchi or Edward in terms of "good guy" drives...)

 

[Casual Shinji]

Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke.

Banished from his people, slowly dying of a curse, and caught in a war between two sides that have an equal right to exist and thrive, yet don't intend to give the other an inch. It would be so easy for him to simply choose a side and condemn the other, and at certain moments he does get tempted, but he retains a clear judgment and suffers for his ideal that a peace can be achieved. A foolhardy notion perhaps.

Still, a truly noble hero through and through.

 

[Neverhoodian]

*Captain America/Steve Rogers from the Captain America movie. He embodies not only what I think a good man should be, but also what America itself should be (even if it doesn't always follow that ideal).

*Captain Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Definitely a more intellectual hero than the other ones on my list, but a hero nonetheless. His sanctity for life in all its forms is truly admirable. Also, his warnings about the dangers of infringing upon civil liberties are even more pertinent today than when the show first aired.
(Also, it's freaking Patrick Stewart)

*Optimus Primal from Beast Wars. He exemplifies all the qualities you'd want in a good leader. He's strong, yet compassionate. He's understanding, yet doesn't hesitate to be stern when he has to be. To top it all off, he's got a great voice. If he has one failing, it's not pressing the advantage during the times that he has Megatron on the ropes. I know you want to take the honorable route and give your enemy a chance to surrender, but it's freaking Megatron. He's just going to use the breather to shoot you when you aren't looking.

 

[Lieju]

Well, there are nice characters I like, but for this I have to go with

because he is a video-game protagonist who is actually a genuinely nice person. Video-games tend to have the tendency for violence (for understandable reasons), and even nice characters (or who we are told are nice) will beat up people or worse.

But since Ace Attorney has all the action be non-physical, that's not a problem.

Plus when threatened with violence Phoenix will most likely just run away. There's a part in the first game where a suspect punches him and he just stands there shocked.

Also Phoenix is just all-around enjoyable and funny character.

 

[ShipofFools]

Super Mario is the ultimate nice guy. He puts up with his girlfriends frequent idiocies, he cheerfully murders an army of evil fungi to get her back, takes good care of his retarded brother and he doesn't do drugs (except the ones he grows himself).

 

[SuperFrankieLampard]

Zeke in Infamous 2, but not in Infamous 1. In the 1st game he was nothing but an annoying and selfish idiot who nearly killed thousands but in the second game his redemption through sidekickness was a really well done sub-plot. Also he makes the bad ending really emotional.