Land of the Living

Well it's Halloween so here's an obligatory post about monsters and scary .....shit.

So lets return to that old chestnut the zombie game. Now I've been critical of this zombie fascination and it's enduring popularity doesn't look, in any way, to diminish. Thus I see no reason to stop now.

It seems anything with zombies in it will guarantee immediate sales and instant interest from the pundits - which I find quite ironic since one of the keystones of zombies is seeing how people retain their identity and intelligence even when faced against a mindless, unrelenting horde.
So it makes me wonder if any game developers have the gall to try and do something different with their product. You know, proclaiming a gem has zombies will automatically generate sales so how about doing something different? How about grabbing one's attention and then saying something of your own?

So with that in mind, along with my continued interest with challenging that bond between game and gamer, here's a little synopsis I came up with:

This game centers around a protagonist named ....Barry. Barry is the survivor of a zombie apocalypse and couldn't be happier. He's seen countless zombie films and knows pretty much everything that needs to know. Thus every day involves him running for his life, blowing away zombies with shotguns and living out his fantasies.

However, as the game progresses things take a dark tone: There are audio logs to pick up but they all seem to address Barry directly - some even suggest he get a real job and stop watching zombie movies. In between attacks, Barry is haunted by images of a particular room and familiar faces. There are radio support transmissions coming from, presumably, the outside world but Barry doesn't heed to them. And eventually the zombies get surprisingly aggressive through actually picking up guns and using them.

And then in the last act, the rug is pulled from underneath the player: the entire scenario is fabricated. The zombie apocalypse isn't happening - it's just exists in Barry's head. Thus, all Barry has been doing (not to mention YOU the player) has been running in the real world and gunning down innocent civilians based on the paranoid delusions/fantasies that have been existing in his head.
So in a nutshell, this game is based on a mentally damaged guy living out a zombie fantasy - when in reality he's just gunning down genuine, real-life, no-bullshit, people for no better reason.

Heavy stuff but I want to see a game like that made - not just to challenge the gamer's perceptions and to give them something to think about once they put down the controller but to give the zombie fascination the slap in the face it needs.

Happy Halloween

Open Your Heart of the Swarm

Well what have we got here? Well golly me, if it isn't the trailer for the next installment of Starcraft 2!



Whilst I've never played Wings of Liberty (call it due to having a shit computer), I am aware of what happens in that Raynor is set out to retrieve Kerrigan's humanity and revert her from her infested state. And, by the end of the campaign, he achieves some degree of success.
However, judging from the above trailer, it seems that such effort has all been for naught as Sarah is gone forever and Infested Kerrigan is pretty much here to stay. Again, going from this trailer, this revelation would come about in one of the Terran labs as the game progresses.

But there is something about this that doesn't sit well with me. Whilst I may have criticized the ending of Starcraft before, I have to make a concession in that Kerrigan was actually a nasty villain. In the Zerg campaign in Brood War, I wasn't seeing Kerrigan's actions as part of a quest for vengeance - and as such, my perception of her changed into that of a sadist - doing all these terrible things just seemingly for the hell of it. And that indeed raised up the intimidation factor, indeed necessary for any villain, and left a greater impact.
That being said, this element of tragedy doesn't work for me at all. The story of Kerrigan's past doesn't mean anything at all as it diminishes the nastiness Infested Kerrigan eventually led to (and the fact that was established outside the game). As such the tragic element stinks of a cop-out.
Now there have been some tragic baddies in film, books and Shakespearean plays but they are all pre-planned stories and the audience has to sit and watch them play out - Whereas video games are more interactive and the demand participation from someone who has a say in how things flow. Thus, I don't support the idea of video game baddies being tragic: They are they to be mean, nasty, and give a sense of a goal worth working towards. By way of example, I don't give two shits about Sephiroth's background - his stabbing of Aerith is a good enough excuse to go and smash him in the face.

So do I think I could do better? Why yes I do. If I were in charge I would've done it differently in that Raynor eventually succeeds in restoring Sarah and eventually takes part in integrating her back to humanity. BUT! The memories of being an infested haven't been extinguished and subsequently haunt Sarah. HOWEVER! After witnessing the memories of what she did as an Infested, Sarah actually enjoys what she did. This, along with perceiving being a human as a worthless pursuit, prompts Kerrigan to actively go out to return herself to her Infested state thus ultimately undoing all Raynor's efforts and retaining her self-proclaimed status as Queen Bitch of the Universe.

Of course, this is all just speculation - based on a trailer.
How it effects the game, or course, remains to be seen....

That's Un-Possible

Earlier this year I made a post criticizing the end of the Commodore 64 game Impossible Mission 2 and describing how puzzling and abrupt it was.

Since then, I've managed to come across the original manual (you really can find anything on the 'net so it would seem!) which sheds some light on the matter: Apparently the baddie Dr. Elvin Atombender had a full arsenal of weapons ready to destroy civilization leaving the agent to infiltrate his base, find the right computer and shut it down (hence the three computers in the final room). From there, the agent was to be picked up from the roof of the base via helicopter.

I suppose that does explain a lot. It may also account for the white shape being Atombender who, it seems, would rather commit suicide than admitting defeat. And whilst I welcome this revelation after years of bafflement it is still far from satisfying. It doesn't help that Atombender may look like the agent and share the same scream (most likely through the limitations of the hardware) and it still doesn't explain why the whole event is being viewed through a computer screen.

But then again why I am complaining about this game? It wasn't as good as the original anyway.

Shocked to the Heart! And You're to Blame!

Recently I’ve been having a shot at Bioshock. Last week, I finally completed it so what do I come away from it?
Well to begin with, much like Portal, much has been written about this game – And in Bioshock’s case, the deconstruction of free will in the video games and the usage of the objectivist philosophies of Ayn Rand. But that’s where the similarities end for whereas Portal inspired the meme’s that ultimately ruined the game and drove it into the ground, Bioshock has managed to avoid such a fate – okay so yes I may have heard the phrase ‘Would You Kindly…’ before but somehow, it didn’t diminish the impact of how those words were put into use.
And somehow the game is even better for it: Word of mouth is a powerful tool that can make or break any new IP – whilst exposure is nice it also runs the risk of destroying much of what the game is trying to get across and ruining a lot of the mystique of the original. And seeing as the makers of Bioshock have something to say and are getting it across in their game, so much hinges on a game being discovered on the player’s own terms – not those of some douche who thinks quoting a video game makes him look cool (personally I’m still waiting for the voice quotes from Impossible Mission to make a comeback via meme but what are the chances of that happening?).

As for the game itself well I’m quite impressed by the creativity and inventiveness that’s gone into it. I’ve often been fascinated by steampunk – in that how many elaborate devices can be produced via steam power and this is a shining example of that principle. Seeing as shooters thrive on current firearms and some bizarre novelty weapons, it is welcome change to see some obsolete firearms being put to use – also pleasing is the designs of the weaponry once they’ve been put through the upgrades.
And keeping with the steampunk theme, I liked how the splicers talked with British accents, the use of the gun turrets (even though it is puzzling how they could identify friendlies from foes) and how everything is available through vending machines. I even enjoyed the hacking mechanic which involved the pipes! Yes even when no one else seemed to!!!
Indeed, it should be noted that I'm not a big fan of shooters - personally I think they're a dime a dozen and the shooters I've enjoyed are the old ones where you could go desperado against an army of dudes (ie Doom and Duke 3D). So to see someone else do something different with the genre is indeed a treat.
I also enjoyed the idea of exploring the city of Rapture. The setting looked fantastic with the place being lived in and once glorious in its day - but now succumbing to ruin and abandonment. I liked the idea of venturing into the place as the residents have descended into madness. I also found Andrew Ryan to be a compelling villain who is still hanging on even when his idea of a utopia has all but crumbled away.

So yes, I liked Bioshock for it’s great writing, it’s inventiveness, the creativity involved and it’s willingness to go beyond the conventions both shooters and games in general. However to does leave one question:
Why the hell does the sequel exist? Must be a bit hard seeing as Rapture crumbled and the villains of the piece are kind of.....dead....and wet.....

Suit yourself

As I was working on my list of My Favorite Gaming Heroes I heard that the Leisure Suit Larry IP has been dusted off and is set to make a return. And unlike the debacles that were Magna Cum Laude and Box Office Bust, Larry creator Al Lowe has returned and in full creative control.

And whilst I would rather new IPs being developed I do find something to like in the way that this is going: With the man who created Larry in charge it seems a welcome opportunity to erase the aforementioned duds from history. The idea that Larry is back in the hands of the man who made him and away from the people who made the terrible games is also a triumph of IP everywhere.
In addition to this announcement comes the news that the previous Larry titles will be remade and a new Larry title will be on it's way. Now normally, I would frown at the idea of remakes but here I don't mind... just as long as they:
a) take the opportunity to fix some of the errors and problems from the originals
b) maintain a degree of graphical/animation quality akin to LSL7 and
c) retain the LSL4 joke.

But there does arise a potential problem: Larry is essentially a product of his time. In the late eighties and the early nineties, anyone who was going out of their way to get laid was seen as creepy, pitiful, pathetic and a loser. Thus much of the fun from the games stemmed from Larry's efforts failing in various ways and the character himself getting his just desserts.
Nowadays, that idea has been challenged with both the arrival of the nerd/geek subculture and the notion that anyone trying to get laid isn't a loser but more along the lines of a diamond in the rough (ie American Pie). Thus the Larry of yesterday is going to come across as being completely unlikable in the era of today.
There may be a way around this problem with Larry being rewritten from a smarmy perv to a lovable, luckless, 'tomorrow's another day'-esque character. But will it work? How much can one tamper with a workable formula before the potential buyers start smelling BS?

Personally I would like to see what becomes of this plan: I can hope that some of the flaws in the original games be fixed (seriously, some of the puzzles tend to kill the gameplay horribly) but it would be interesting to see a character get a new lease of life in an industry where such things are rare. Has there ever been a character from a previous generation go under a dramatic revamp and work in a completely new generation?


















Okay, apart from this guy....

Weekend Edition

Last weekend I was at a friends place with some other friends - much of this time was spent around a PS3. Now whilst this isn't my first time using a PS3 (that story is something I may come back to in the future), this was an opportunity to have a quick bash at some of games that are only available on the Playstation.

So what got played? Well....

Marvel vs Capcom 3
Always good for a laugh. I will admit to being familiar with this series but I've never actually took the time to play it. But I did enjoy playing this game: Maybe it's one of those games that need the right atmosphere to get the most out of (ie played with a group of other people). I used a team of Wolverine, Morrigan (Darkstalkers) and Amaterasu (Okami) and did rather well. Sure it was odd to see Amaterasu present but there is indeed some amusement value in seeing her, a wolf god, trump the thunder god Thor....

Little Big Planet
One of the bigger hits to spawn from the PS3, Little Big Planet is something that left me with mixed feelings. I do like both the inventive graphics and the four-player malarkey (whilst being very reminiscent of New Super Mario Bros) but other times, the controls aren't really that welcoming - as I found out, it's hard to try and work out how to do things when the more experienced players are screaming ahead of you and taking the rest of the screen with them, leaving little time to work within! Still, Little Big Planet has some degree of charm and for that I give it props.

Dark Souls
What a reputation this game comes with - being perhaps the most fiendishly difficult RPG ever made. No pause button, a stacking of unbelievable odds and the sense the game is taunting the player with every step. And that reputation isn't kidding: I saw my com-padres each getting slaughtered by the same monster and it certainly made for a frustrating sight. Also notable is seeing announcements declared in large lettering and the many, many cheap deaths. Now normally I would hate a game for doing that but in the time I spent playing Dark Souls I can say it some elements going for it with the great skeleton animations and setting.

Ico / Shadow of the Colossus in HD
Well I've been singing the praises for these games many times before on this blog so there's not much to add. However, I'm astonished by the HD remake and how everything looks so much better - so much so it's near impossible to go back to the original PS2 incarnations. Also, there is indeed a sweet satisfaction to play games you thought only you knew about and seeing other people showing an interest.

Apocalypse Then

Last year I made a post commenting about a lack of games in a proper post- apocalyptic setting. In that time I have yet to see a game that does this setting justice. And NO: Having a post-apocalyptic setting just as an excuse to throw some zombies is a HALF-ARSED effort and DOESN’T FUCKING COUNT!!!!

So how would I like to see a post-apocalypse game handled? In the vain hope that someone important is listening (shyeah right), I’ll tell you: I think a post-apocalypse game may be best suited to an adventure game in the Legend of Zelda genre. In fact, the more I think about it, there are elements that have already shown up in the Legend of Zelda series that could work very well with the setting.

It’d just a matter of seeing what will work – so here are some points I’ve noticed through the games I’ve played in the Zelda series:
• One of the touchstones of the Legend of Zelda series is the ideal of exploring – which is what a post-apocalypse essentially should do. How cool would it be to walk through a destroyed world, trying to find something and/or discovering relics of civilisation?
• Another key ingredient in the Legend of Zelda series is to find items and using them to overcome the various problems that lay ahead. Not only would this work in a post-apocalypse setting but it will also raise the stakes somewhat: With civilisation on the collapse, any workable item requires a lot of locating and cherished upon discovery – because it’ll be the only way to win.
• Essentially the world should be a wasteland – a barren land devoid of colour and vegetation. I thought the original Legend of Zelda on the NES was actually surprising in that it presented Hyrule as wasteland with lots of rocks and drab colours. What, am I rescuing a princess of an empty and decrepit kingdom? Now THERE'S an idea…
• The world presented in a post-apocalypse needs to convey a sense of loneliness: like the player is all alone in the world. That way, when enemies show up, it is sudden and the player is kept on their toes. I’ve lost count how many times I’ll be wandering through the Great Field in Ocarina of Time at night only to set upon by those undead critters that come out of nowhere.
• Likewise any potential allies would come in the form of fellow survivors – thus seeing another face in an empty, dangerous world would provoke a feeling of relief and stress the importance of NPCs. I always found it old that the Hyrule in Link to the Past was presented as a bright and colourful world when really there were so few actual residents in the kingdom itself.

I doubt if any big shot game developers will take heed but I’m not too bothered – after all, it’s my money they want.

Under the sea! Under the Sea! There'll be no accusations Just friendly crustaceans...

Recently I've been having a crack at Bioshock. Now this is one game I've been putting off a lot but it's same old argument: I prefer to encounter games in my own time as playing a game with an open mind and zero expectations makes for a experience I can truly call my own. And, pretenses aside, I've been burnt out by games before through going in with expectations high to the point of ridiculous.
Now this may seem odd seeing that I've spoken about Bioshock in the past but that was from the perspective of being on the outside looking in. And, unlike the memes that made/destroyed Portal, my knowledge of Bioshock is rather minimal - apart from the references to objectivism and the works of Ayn Rand scattered throughout the game itself.

But in any case, I went into Bioshock with an open mind as I'm ever going to get so how's it looking so far?

Well so far so good: The plot is gripping, the action intense and it's interesting to see Rapture and explore it it as a city on the verge of collapse. The steampunk setting is great and I particularly like the use of antiqued firearms in a shooter and how they're designed. Sure the turret system is puzzling as apparently steam power can identify the difference between friend and foe but so far everything else seems rather well done. Andrew Ryan makes for a fascinating character and the details of how Rapture came to it's present state are compelling enough.

Of course this is partway into the game - things may change ahead but for now I guess it;s safe to say that all the adulation lauded onto Bioshock came for good reason.

True Heroes Live Forever

Here's something that came to my attention recently:



Although I'm still nursing the wounds of betrayal from Sony, I have to admit that this ad is pretty impressive. It's a clever idea to have various video game characters congregate in a bar, sharing stories of their adventures only to salute the man, the player, who went with them every step of the way.

Now I must admit I have gotten attached to characters I play in games - Even I've caught myself playing Legend of Zelda and saying, to Link, 'Come on little Buddy, we can do this!' because really, video gaming is, unlike movies or books, an interactive medium. It makes sense for the player to go on a journey with the dudes on the TV screen and guide their actions every step of the way against near insurmountable odds - only the emerge triumphant bloodied but unbeaten.

And this ad knows this which is why it works so well.

Redeemed

Another game has been cast down from my Hall of Shame: On your horse Red Dead Redemption, you're outta here!

Now what can I say about it? Well the ending was a kick in the teeth to say the least: Our protagonist John Marston is conned into helping the government clean up their dirty and he in turn is screwed over - Mind you, when I got round to playing through the final mission, the in-game weather took a turn for the worse and the entire thing occurred in the pouring rain. A coincidence but one that, IMHO, actually the scene better and more poignant.

But what of the game itself? Well I've never been a big fan of the open world games but here it works - Not sure why though: Maybe it has a lot to do with the setting as the Old West is a far more volatile and violent place than the cities of the present (the same could also be said for that other sandbox game I love Sid Meier's Pirates!). Maybe there is a lot to do and never once does the game get boring. Maybe the world, the setting and landscapes are so well realized to the point of jaw-dropping. Maybe it'd the influence of watching Unforgiven, the Wild Bunch and the Good the Bad and the Ugly during my college years. Maybe it's the implementation of an excellent morale system. Maybe it's the very well-written story and the fascinating character of John Marston.
Or maybe Red Dead Redemption is a damn good game. Yeah let's go with that.

You know I've heard people say bad things about this game but you know what? Fuck them. This game is great and I was glad to have played it. I invested over twenty hours in the game but it felt like much longer which to me is mark of something special.
Still have no idea what's the point of the Undead Nightmare though....

Going Backwards

These past few console generations have had success with reverse compatibility. And it makes sense: No one would buy a new console only to have nothing to use it so to use the same software from the last console on the new console is a smart move. Thus, through reverse compatibility, the PS2 was able to steam ahead of the Dreamcast (among other reasons) and Gamecube games still get some mileage on the Wii.

But here's what I want to know: Is any of the business people in the gaming industry, soulless bastards that they are, taking any notice? Sure it may ensure that people automatically upgrade to the new console without question (a smart business move to be sure) but it does place the rather awkward position that no one will be interested in the new stuff because they're attention is focused on the old stuff. Thus, both Sony's insistence on the PS3 being non-backwards compatible and Nintendo's dwindling interest for the Virtual Console makes sense. Now I've said time and time again that the Virtual Console really was a good idea but people like me who bought a Wii just for the Virtual Console may not sit well with Nintendo who, in the end, are trying to run a company.

There is indeed wisdom in the notion that a great game shall forever remain a great game: One only needs to see the 3D revamp of Ocarina of Time and the various HD reworkings that found their way onto the PS3. Thus it becomes clear that people will still gladly play the same thing again or, in my case, come across it for the very first time. So are the right people paying attention?

But the point I'm trying laboriously to get to is this matter of what will happen to the backwards compatibility. The ruthlessness in how the PS3 shuns it seems to a sign of things to come in that video game companies aren't really the type to dwell on the past.
However I do like the idea of games from obsolete consoles being available for download with the PSN, XBLA and the Virtual Console - this serves as a great method for both preservation and making them readily available. And this does seem to have lasting power - why even the Virtual Console has been announced to be workable with the Wii-2 and have Gamecube games on the way.
Of course, whilst a downloadable service is a good idea it does not mean every game will be considered. By way of example, I've enjoyed Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic but it does not seem available yet on XBLA - and whilst it may work on the 360, there is always the nagging thought that it may not for Microsoft's next console.

Ultimately, I like having these 'old' games being within easy reach but, if history has taught us anything, the technology is always moving at such an absurd pace that it is all-too easy for ideas to get discarded and forgotten.
So it would be interesting to see if the XBLA/PSN/VC, let alone it's contents, will have the power to last well into the future.

Can anyone imagine Halo, a decade-old game, being downloaded off the XBLA and enjoyed ten years from now?

Wooden Spoon

Whew, what a job writing that Best Gaming Heroes post was. That folks, was the end result of hours of effort: Deciding what to say, reaching into the heart to say it and agonizing who will make the cut and who wouldn't. It wasn't an easy job - and indeed it was a lot harder than writing the Best Gaming Heroines list but it's finally done! And I'm really pleased with the end result.

So were there any characters that didn't make the cut? Funny you should ask: One of the more challenging decisions was Leisure Suit Larry. Whilst his more recent games have been total crap I did have fond memories of planning his previous games but there did lie the question of whether he belonged in the list. Sure I liked him but not exactly for the right reasons. And I clearly stated that this was, more or less, the dudes I'd call when trouble rears it's ugly head - thus it became increasingly clear that Larry was terribly out of place.

Eventually I gave in and dropped Larry from the list (thus making way for Leon) - it was, more or less, a twelfth hour decision and not one taken lightly. I did however a write up about Larry planned so what the hey: May as well give it a home here:

10 - Leisure Suit Larry (Leisure Suit Larry series)
These days, protagonists in games are usually out for killing a large number of dudes. Sure they claim they’re fighting for freedom/preventing global destruction/saving some clueless wench but really they’re not fooling anyone: They’re only in the game to have a big gun and kill anything dumb enough to get in their way. That being said, the Leisure Suit Larry games in this day still remain a shining beacon in a sea of blood.
I played these games when I was a kid (didn’t we all?) and some of them still hold up years later. Primarily because Larry has one goal: Getting laid. He’s not hiding it and he’s prepared to go to bizarre lengths to make it happen. But the way the narrative is written that makes it a treat: Larry is a pathetic loser whom nothing seems to go right for and endlessly mocked by an unseen narrator commenting on his miserable life. And thus Larry is an everyman: Someone defying the odds stacked against him even when he is an obnoxious prat who deserves all the disasters and misfortune lumped upon him.
Indeed, it is the lengths that Larry is prepared to go to get laid that still maintains appeal to me (Wander has nothing on this guy!) – In a way he’s kind of like Kratos. But whereas the latter is determined to undo his mistakes at any cost, Larry wants to get laid and will stop at nothing to do so. Sure Larry is, at the end of the day, a jerk but very few game heroes can boast getting caught in comedic situations that would do Benny Hill proud.
In fact you know what? Forget Lara Croft – Larry is one game character that needs his own movie series.

Favourite Gaming Heroes

Well who would've thunk it? I've hit two hundred posts in this blog! Yay me! Well any feat is as good as any so to acknowledge this milestone, something special.
Last year I posted a length post about my favourite gaming heroines. Since then it’s become my most popular post on this blog. So what the hell – I may as well do a long post about the other side of the coin: My Favourite Gaming Heroes!
Admittedly, taking up this task is a lot harder than coming up with a list of favourite heroines – purely because there are a lot more candidates. Nevertheless, I eventually settled on heroes that I liked, were unique in their own way or established some sort of connection with. That being said, there may be some glaring exclusions (well at least in someone else's eyes) but in that case either a) the missing hero didn't make that much of an impression or b) I haven't played (or have yet to play) the game in question.

So here we go: My favourite gaming heroes. If I ever needed to get some people together to form a posse, these are the dudes I’ll call:

11 – Kratos (God of War)
I love this guy. At a time when Playstation games were defined by pretty-boy types (ie Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts) along comes a protagonist who’s completely different: Ugly, muscular and violent in a brutal unflinching method. Of course, such qualities would make anyone a detestable character but here it works: I don’t know why though - maybe it’s the fear that arguing with Kratos would probably result in one getting their head caved in.
Of course, part of the appeal is that the original God of War game benefited from great writing. Seeing the lead character commit suicide at the very beginning is a strong opening move and commands attention. And as the story progressed, decent motivation was supplied in the form of revenge. In addition, the fact that it was pretty much all Kratos’ stupid fault and the extraordinary lengths he had to go to undo it all made the narrative ever the more epic and compelling.
Sadly, in the subsequent sequels, Kratos has become less interesting. Without a decent motivation, Kratos now comes across as being a violent jerk just for the sake of it. Suddenly the striking first image we see of him (plummeting to his death) is forgotten and Kratos comes across as being a parody of himself: Being a kill-crazy, revenge-obsessed psychotic because that’s pretty much all he’s good at. But that isn’t true and, as a result, Kratos claims the lowly position on this list.
Still, if you need something big and ugly dead, this is the man to call.


10 - Auron (Final Fantasy X)
The Final Fantasy games have no shortage of heroes so choosing from them is a daunting task. So after much consideration, I eventually decided to go with Auron – I mean I could’ve gone with Cloud but that seemed too obvious.
Final Fantasy X may have Tidus as the main character and Yuna’s quest as the focal point, but it is still Auron who steals the show. And who can blame him? A hard-bitten veteran warrior carrying a blade as big as himself, a man of mystery and wisdom about the alien world that is Spira, a modern-day samurai who carries with him a huge bottle of grog and perhaps the only sane one in the entire party. What’s not to like?
Whilst there have been warriors of the noble/tragic vein in previous Final Fantasy games (Freya Crescent being one such example), Auron is perhaps the accumulation of them all – He is the sole survivor of Lord Braska’s party and taking the uncompleted mission onto the next generation through a promise made to both Braska and Jecht. He bares the burden of being a man out of time and one who won’t go until his uncompleted task is finally done. But with the task left undone, Auron has left a terrible trail in his wake: He openly defied a system and ended up being cursed and restless for his trouble. Whilst this is familiar fare for the ‘veteran warrior’ archetype, Auron pulls it off in away that is all his own. Not sure how he does it though: Is it his cool head in times of crisis? Is it his connection with Tidus that makes him the likely target to find what the hell’s going on? Is because his VA actually did a good job?!
Or maybe it’s because he can cleave through the monsters like a hot knife through butter.


9 - Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil 4)
I came into the Resident Evil games rather late: Although I knew of them, I never actually played them (although, admittedly, it wasn’t hard to identify Jill Valentine in her RE3 incarnation). Therefore, like a whole lot of other people, I only got interested in the Resident Evil series through RE4. So whilst Leon may have appeared in RE2 I honestly don’t care: No.4 is where he made an impression on me and that’s where he comes in with this list.
One of the golden rules for writing a story is never make things easy for one’s protagonist. And boy does Leon go through a whole lot of hell: Sure he starts off having to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter but what he ends up doing is dealing with psychotic villagers, dealing with psychotic monks and then psychotic pirates. He has to contend with a potential love interest who knows more then she’s letting on, grotesque monsters that just won’t lay down and die, so many people who want to see him dead and, worst of all, a shrill little bitch who can’t do jack except whining and getting kidnapped. It’s a succession of increasing disaster that would break a lesser man but not Leon.
Thus I give credit to Leon: He’s a cop turned government agent. He carries around a case of guns and ammo that miraculously halt everything when he needs to change weapons. And he still goes through hell only to come out the other side still standing. Leon’s a hero worth cheering for every step of the way and definitely someone you’d want watching your back.


8 - The Prince (Prince of Persia Sands of Time)
As an aspiring writer, I can tell you one of the rules of writing a compelling character is something called a ‘resurrection’. The story begins with a character being presented but as the story progresses they go through various trials and tribulations – thus by the end they came out the other end as someone completely different and unable to return to the person they once were. Whilst there have been several gaming characters to undergo this process, the one I feel works best is the Prince from the Sands of Time.
At the beginning, I didn’t like the Prince at all. But as the game progressed, I found him growing on me. Through the progress of the game, it’s interesting to see how the Prince hardens through the various obstacles that come his way and how, as character, he evolves from a snobby prick. He is a capable fighter, an excellent story teller and, by the end, the journey really feels worth it. I particularly like the ending, how he is pretty much the only left who knew exactly what happened and he leaves Farah in a state of bewilderment.
Ultimately, I hold the Prince as a fine example of character development done right and perhaps the best example of the resurrection theory. Now if only other game developers will catch on….


7 - Armakuni (Last Ninja series)
I can imagine some of you young pups might be saying “Who?” at this point so allow me to explain: My gaming days began when I was a kid on the eighties with the Commodore 64 – and if you had a Commodore 64 you had the Last Ninja games. It was that essential game one needed (the Halo of it's day if you will) and for good reason. At the time (late eighties), it provided a then innovative mixture of action and adventure where a ninja traversed through a 3d isometric environment collecting items and weapons, fighting bad guys, solving problems and going through fiendishly difficult jumping sections all accompanied by a rockin’ soundtrack involving a C64 SID chip being pushed to the limit. Although mostly forgotten now, it’s hard to imagine many games existing without it (Tomb Raider comes to mind).
Which brings me to Armakuni, the titular character. The game manual revealed quite a lot about his motivations: His ninja clan defied the tyrannical shogun Kunitoki who responded by having then all killed in massacre at a sacred temple. Armakuni was the survivor (through not being at the temple for some reason) and he takes it upon himself to go out for revenge. And Armakuni must be extremely pissed off to do so. Why? His vengeance-filled eyes became the box art (see above), informing that this is a ninja who isn’t fucking around - and subsequently providing one of the most unforgettable images in gaming history.
And in the sequel things started getting weird with Armakuni and Kunitoki somehow being transported through time to modern day New York (?!?) where the ninja finds himself running the gauntlet with psychotic cops, homicidal motorcyclists and the dangers of the modern world.
Growing up with the Commodore 64, Armakuni was one of my heroes – he was smart, a capable fighter and his quest for vengeance was one worth following through with. The time-travel plot was odd to say the least but it was indeed compelling to see a warrior from the feudal era adapt to a completely alien environment. And hey, anyone who can make nunchucks out of the flusher chains found in women’s toilets (yes you read that right) deserves some credit.


6 - Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy 9)
Well there’s always room for another Final Fantasy character.
Selecting Zidane for this list is more drawn from my own experience: of all the Final Fantasy games I’ve played, Zidane was the one who I had the greatest connection with. But I’m still not sure why this is so: Was he a character who’s actually likable? Did he win me over with his womanising and his humour? Was his romance with Garnet one of those rare gaming romances that’s actually compelling? Or was he a welcome change of pace following after the cheerlessness of Cloud and Squall?
No matter: I liked Zidane a lot and I found his adventures across Final Fantasy IX compelling enough to follow all the way to the end. Even for an old, grumpy gamer like myself I couldn’t help but like the thief and his chipper/plucky/never-say-die outlook on life. In the game itself, Zidane is the representation of Virtue. And whilst virtue is usually a formula for a wimpy, so-good-it’s-sickening type character, Zidane pulls it off so well you can’t help but cheer him on. It also helps that Zidane’s cheerfulness is balanced out with him bearing the burden of loneliness and the knowledge of what his purpose is. All of this makes for a fascinating character.
I think his character description in the game manual said it all: “You don’t need a reason to help people.” It’s a philosophy that many a game character may have followed but, IMHO, Zidane is the one who embodies it fully. Go the monkey boy!


5 - James Raynor (Starcraft)
As much as I resent the narrative of Starcraft I have must give at least some credit to the writers at Blizzard: They managed to create a universe and populate it with three very different races. Each one with their own personality, motivations and colourful characters who each have their own unique voice in the game.
That being said, out of the characters in the game, James Raynor has to be the most human - an obvious statement true but still an impressive feat in a game populated by hostile aliens. He is the guy who's giving it his all but all he does is come out the other side empty-handed. And that’s what makes him so fascinating. He tries to do the best for the human colonies but he’s persecuted for doing so. He sides with an idealistic revolutionary (Arcturus) who ultimately turns out to be a power-hungry prick no better than those in the Confederacy. He has an attraction towards Kerrigan who in turn gets corrupted by the Zerg and stabs Raynor in the back (multiple times). Raynor then sides with the Protoss only to get caught up in a civil war. He then joins the fight back against the Zerg and the UED only to have those he called friends and allies dropping like flies. And because of his past failures, he ends up hitting the bottle and being surrounded by various people who try to influence his line of thinking.
Yet in the end, it’s an impressive feat that Raynor manages to stay standing. Whereas any lesser man would’ve buckled and gone nuts, Jimmy Raynor somehow staggers onward. And give him credit: When the rest of the universe goes insane and everyone’s out for themselves, at least there’s someone putting himself on the line for so many others – more so when it yields little in return.
So yes Raynor works for me as a classic example of the thankless hero – and hey, if I saw him in a bar I’d buy him a beer ;)


4 - Vyse (Skies of Arcadia)
Back in 2000, when everyone was intent on arguing on whether or not Cloud could out-emo Squall, along came a breath of fresh air: Vyse, the star of the ace RPG Skies of Arcadia. Now I will admit that I have a soft spot for this guy. And how could I not? He certainly has a lot going for him: He’s courageous, witty and certainly able to keep a cool head in any crisis situation. He is hardly one to back down from a challenge – when faced with the impossible Vyse wouldn’t run – in fact seeing it as impossible would be more than enough reason to try it himself. In addition, Vyse has an adventurous spirit, and is an able commander of his own ship who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and lead from the front.
But what I get the most out of Vyse is indicated by the opening sentence to that last paragraph: It seems he was made out to be an open defiance to the moody anti-heroes popularised by SquareEnix. When trouble arose, Vyse wasn’t the type to sit around moaning or grumbling – no way, he was too busy taking a stand and finding his own path. When placed in a group of companions, Vyse didn’t act resentful or anything – no he made every effort to inspire his crewmates. And when he was deemed a criminal by the opposing tyrannical empire, Vyse was laughing every step of the way.
In short, whilst Vyse may not be as well-known as other JRPGs leads but there certainly is a lot to like about him. So much so, it made his journey through Skies of Arcadia one worth taking. And for me, Vyse is a strong enough lead to make good reason to hang onto my Dreamcast and Skies of Arcadia - I'm not one to replay JRPG's but Skies of Arcadia is a rare exception.
So yeah, Vyse certainly a captain I would follow – and anyone who can fight with a blade in each hand is a winner in my book.


3. Link (Legend of Zelda series)
Link! He come to town! Come to SAVE! The Princess Zel-Dah! Ganon took her away, now the children don’t play, but they will when Link saves the day – HALLUJEAH!!!!
*ahem* Well what can I say about Link that hasn’t been said before?
Well for one thing, Nintendo seem to be very good at building an everyman figure: The hero whom the player can latch onto and serve as their avatar in a world that’s waiting to be explored. Like stable-mate Mario, Link is an ordinary Joe who gets thrust into some world-spanning adventures and ultimately ends up saving the day. And it is indeed important to build such a connection between player and character - something a lot of game designers these days seem to forget.
Also kind of cool is that Link is something of pioneer: the child/youthful character who goes on an epic quest to save the world (or something). Along the way, he goes through various trials and tribulations but he doesn’t seem at all bothered at all – all he knows is that his quest is a noble one and worth seeing all the way to the end. Such a metaphor is taken to a literal sense in Ocarina of Time as Link starts as a child but ends as a young adult. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine the likes of Sora (Kingdom Hearts), Ico, that kid from Limbo, or even both the afore-mentioned Zidane and Vyse without Link.
Granted it’s a bit annoying that Link is a silent character – He has a face and a name so from the perspective of being a player avatar, as opposed to a character, it is kind of off-putting. As such I’ve often wondered what Link really felt being hailed as the Hero of Time and constantly being roped into doing various small tasks from one end of Hyrule to the other. He’s described as being humble in this adulation but to me he strikes me as being caught up in something whether he likes it or not. One has to wonder if Link ever stops and wonders ‘Do I have to do EVERYTHING?!?!?!?’ (or is it my job as the player to do so?).
But from a personal level, Link is my bridge to the world that is Hyrule: Through countless hours of exploring and adventuring, I actually felt a connection to the character like no other. I went with him on an adventure and I felt every blow, the delight of finding something new and the relief of solving a baffling problem. For a silent character he certainly has loads of personality than his more talkative brethren. In a way, Link is my buddy and a guy worth traveling with.
That being said, I like Link a lot and he still claims the number three position on this list. The fact that I’m willing to cosplay as this guy does indeed say a lot (pun not intended).


2. Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
Snaaaaake! Snaaake! Oooooh it’s a snnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!!!!! (okay I’ll stop that now)
Those who’ve been following this blog will know that I’ve talked about Metal Gear Solid, Solid Snake and the emotional impact the game had on me so what more can I add? Well Snake is a capable fighter, intelligent and the best in the infiltration/sneaking business. He is the reluctant hero – one who knows all about doing right but being far from willing to actually do it. He may save the day true but mostly because he’s got nothing better to do.
But most importantly of all, much like the Prince, the Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid 1 is another fine example of the character resurrection. He starts out without direction and in a state of resignation but by the end he comes out a completely different person determined to make his limited time on earth count – but whilst it may sound cheesy in text, in the game itself it’s pulled off in a manner that seems genuine, believable and not in any way that could considered false.
Really, the mark of a great character is when they leave an emotional resonance on you, the audience, or this case the participant. The only difference is whereas in a book or a movie the audience are watching a group of characters run through a course of pre-determined actions and events, a game presents a situation where the audience becomes an active participant and has a say in the way things proceed. Therefore, the participant can become more of an accomplice to the character, the journey they take and the actions they do. Whilst I may have built up such a connection with Link on several occasions, Solid Snake however is in a class of his own. His journey is much less saving the world than it is saving himself – and we went along with the whole odyssey to a point where it rubbed off on myself, the player.
So much so that in the days since whenever I’ve faced a problem or difficult decision there have been times when I’ve caught myself wondering: What Would Snake do? It may sound daft in theory but really if a character has made such an impression then you know you’ve done something right.


And my number one favourite gaming hero is….

1. John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)

Why? Because he’s John fucking Marston. That’s why.
Okay now let’s get serious: A relative newcomer to this list, John Marston still charges through to the top. So what makes him so special? Oh where do I begin? John Marston has to rank as one of the most compelling and well-realised characters ever in the history of gaming –a tough call considering his game was only released last year but damn, I have never seen a character make such an impression on me – and I doubt that I ever will.
Firstly, when gaming these days seemed confined to a rigid good/bad, black/white system, John Marston is a true grey: In his hands is a much wider and diverse morality system and enables to do has many goods things as bad things. Such a wide offer of options shapes his character and forms him into a compelling character. He may have moments where he’s a ruthless killer but other times he’s trying to do some good after so much time spent doing wrong – it’s that clash of personality that makes for a fascinating character.
Secondly, John has a substantial motivation: He’s trying to put his violent past behind him and try to be a decent father to his son Jack in raising him in a better world than John knew. But no matter how hard he tries, John can’t really bury the secrets of his past, no matter his assertions that anyone can change.
Thirdly, John is man out of time: His era of the Wild West is coming to an end and far too often is he comes across as an anachronism. Through the game, we see the world through John’s eyes and there is a whole lotta bad people and bizarre shit going on – thus challenging the idea whether or not the world is worth living in and whether John truly has a place in it.
Fourthly, this is a genuine adult character. Yes this is a father who’s trying to do the right thing by his son and wife but this is game that will be played by adults. And for the designers to realise that and take it seriously is a credit to them. I feel like I’m being taken seriously and the developers are using this canvas to say what they want. I mean, if I were to do type this out ten/eleven years ago, when I was in my late teens, the youthful characters, Link, Zidane and Vyse would’ve ranked higher. Instead they lose out to Mr. Marston.
And finally, John Marston strikes me as the type who doesn’t take shit from anyone. And I like that.
So hats off to John Marston. He may have only had one shot at making an impression but what an impression it was.

And that's my list of eleven best gaming heroes - the one's who've made their mark on me and for good reason. Hope you've enjoyed reading this list and a big thank you to everyone who has ever visited this blog over it's lifespan so far.
So here's 200 posts in this worthless corner of cyberspace!!!