Top 10 fictional characters in videogames in recent years (Part 2)
This article is a continuation of the article https://medium.com/@altair.baruah.pb/top-10-fictional-characters-in-videogames-in-recent-years-part-1-f3012fcf1c69
Most of the memorable characters in recent times were covered in that article. The ones that remained yet left quite a mark on me are shared here in Part 2. So without further ado, here goes the rest:
- Peter Parker
In Part 1, we mentioned Miles Morales. It wouldn’t have been fair without mentioning where he gets his source and inspiration from. The perfect mentor and friend that Miles could ever imagine came in the form of Peter Parker, the OG Spider-Man. And of course, no introduction is needed. Peter Parker Spider-Man has been a household name for decades. Even in the world of video games, dozens of portrayals of Spider-Man have already happened. But it is worth mentioning that none of them gets it quite as perfectly as the Insomniac Games Spider-Man does. Not only did they do justice to him as a character but this game had a mind-blowing plot. Even the support characters had tremendous depth to them with each of the characters given adequate detail and backstory.
It has been confirmed that this version of Spider-Man will be giving his first appearance on the big screen with the upcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse movie. I personally can’t wait to see him along with the other Spider-Men.
2. The Cat
This may come as quite a far cry from the other protagonists listed in the two articles. But one of the characters who really moved me was the charming and loving Cat from Stray. The cat is an unlikely protagonist for a video game, which makes it all the more compelling. The cat’s perspective and movements are unlike any human character, which creates a fresh and exciting gameplay experience.
The cat is undeniably cute, which immediately endears players to the character. Additionally, the cat’s behaviors and mannerisms are reminiscent of real-life cats, which makes the character relatable and familiar. The cat’s abilities, such as jumping, climbing, and squeezing through tight spaces, make for a fun and interactive gameplay experience. The player must use the cat’s unique skills to navigate the environment and solve puzzles, which creates a sense of immersion and engagement. The cat doesn’t speak or communicate in a traditional sense, which makes the character’s interactions with other characters and the environment all the more interesting. The player must use visual cues and the cat’s body language to understand its thoughts and emotions.
The cat’s journey through the futuristic city in Stray is full of mystery and intrigue. As the player progresses through the game, they uncover the secrets of the world and the cat’s role in it, which creates a compelling and engaging storyline.
3. Peter Quill (Star-Lord)
The Star-Lord from the Guardians of the Galaxy game was a surprisingly good character for the game. This game exceeded all expectations and really captured the essence of the team. Star-Lord’s leadership qualities are a central part of his character. He’s quick-witted, confident, and charismatic, which makes him a natural leader for the Guardians of the Galaxy. His ability to rally the team and navigate challenging situations is a key part of the game’s narrative.
Star-Lord is known for his humor and wit, which is showcased in the game’s dialogue and interactions with other characters. He’s quick with a quip or a sarcastic comment, which adds levity to the game’s often tense and dramatic moments. While Star-Lord’s humor and wit make him a fun and entertaining character, he’s also shown to have emotional depth and vulnerability. His past and his relationship with his mother are explored throughout the game, which adds depth and complexity to his character.
Star-Lord’s abilities, including his jet boots and elemental guns, create a unique gameplay experience. The player must use these abilities strategically in combat and puzzle-solving, which adds a layer of depth and engagement to the game. Over the course of the game, Star-Lord’s character undergoes significant development. The player’s choices and actions influence his relationships with the other Guardians and shape his personality and outlook on life.
4. Eric Leblanc
One character that shook me to my core was Eric Leblanc from the Forest. Stranded on an island inhabited by cannibals Eric was shoved to man up and fight back when a cannibal kidnaps his son. Eric’s motivation for the entire game is to find his missing son, Timmy. This provides a compelling reason for the player to explore the game’s world and drives the game’s narrative forward. Eric’s reactions to the game’s events are realistic and believable. He’s not an invincible hero, and his vulnerability and fear add a layer of realism to the game’s horror elements. Eric becomes a skilled survivalist who is able to adapt to the game’s challenging environment. He’s able to craft weapons and build structures to aid in his survival, which makes him a capable and resourceful character.
Eric’s backstory, including his relationship with his son and his past work as a photographer, is explored throughout the game. This adds depth and complexity to his character and provides a reason for the player to care about his journey. The player’s choices in the game impact Eric’s character development and the game’s multiple endings. This adds a layer of player agency to Eric’s character and makes the game’s narrative feel more personalized.
Personally, I feel that the developers really did a great job in putting us in the shoes of someone stranded with no help coming. There are moments of despair within the game when you can relate with him as he is injured and hungry with no help coming. Nevertheless, he comes out on top and goes the extra mile for his son. Toward the end of the game, it is the cannibals who are afraid.
5. You
Yes, that’s right. It is your character in Hogwarts Legacy. I’m truly awestruck by the level of detail in the game. Everything feels so refined and in place with everything in a magical world that you just have to take a minute every now and then to marvel at how beautiful the whole game is.
The original story for this game involves never seen before Ancient Magic which provides the plate for compelling and engaging storytelling. Apart from this, the player is given full control of what he wishes to do in Hogwarts and what kind of person he/she wants to be. You can be as dark as you want, spewing Unforgivable curses all over the place or you can choose to not learn dark magic.
The character progression is shown beautifully with the character gradually growing stronger and making more friends as well as enemies in the process. Although our 5th-year student's character is way stronger than an average OWL student. He wrestles with trolls on a regular basis and uses Protego in the fire-breathing mouth of dragons. If the golden trio had our character on their side, Voldemort would’ve been no match.
The appearance of the character is fully customizable with a variety of clothes and accessories at our disposal. All in all Hogwarts Legacy is definitely the best Harry Potter game to have ever come out and the character is easily one of the best in the magical universe.
