Author Topic: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most  (Read 9421 times)

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Offline Lorric

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Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
This thread was inspired by this OP here:

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=83668.0

And I quote:

“All I know is that there's never been a videogame writer and story that meant as much to me as Ragnar Tornquist and The Longest Journey games have. There's never been a character in any story I've ever read, played, or watched that I cared about more than April Ryan. There are stories you love, and then there are stories that become so personally important to you that it becomes existentially vital that you know what happens next. This is one of those stories.”

I want to hear more about characters that moved you. And I’ll start with my own standout favourite.

I’ve wanted to start this thread for many days, but there’s been a couple of obstacles. The first, my favourite video game character of all time, MUST NOT BE GOOGLED. Unless you don’t care about huge spoilers. I’m serious, she just doesn’t come spoiler free. So now I have to explain why I love her, and I really can’t do it justice. To be fair, none of the spoiler-ridden stuff can either. You have to play the game. But anyway I’ll give it a go.

Quite possibly just like above, she is my most cared about character from any form of entertainment with the possible exception of Hermione from Harry Potter. I am talking about the wonderful Nanami from Suikoden II.

The game puts you in the main character’s shoes. And Nanami is your sister. Though your character is adopted, so there’s no blood there. And she loves you. Like a brother, not romantic. They do such a good job with her, she’s utterly fearless for her own safety, but afraid for yours. She has a pure heart and a cheerful nature, but she’s also very tomboyish and in her own adorable way will simply basically put her head down and charge into anything that tries to harm you. But she is still young, like you, I believe both you and she are 16 in the game, and the pressures of what you get thrust into get on top of her too, and her reactions to the things that happen in the game are very endearing.

I also love her theme song, it’s one of my favourite pieces of video game music ever, which I’ll link you up to here. You’ll want to stay away from the comments section to avoid spoilers. Though I’ve plucked a comment out for you to read, and I quote:

“Nanami has got to be one of my favourite game characters ever!! she's cheerful, determined, can always see the good side of things...
also she is SUCH a badass. >:)

Here's the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5jac7guTK0&fmt=18

It’s a simple formula really, you (or at least I) come to care about her so much because she cares about you so much. She’s a lovely girl, but she has her flaws, like a short temper, acting without thinking, and her horrible, repulsive cooking :)

I also like that she’s not today’s kind of RPG game girl, you know, a skinny girl with more flesh showing than is covered up, and probably large breasts. This isn't just a preference, it makes her so much more believable than some little girl running around in a bikini swinging an enormous sword would. Nanami dresses normally and while she is fairly pretty, she’s just a normal-looking girl, and played as legitimately tough, as both you and she are trained well in the martial arts. It’s even played up in the game that she trains harder than all the soldiers. Here’s her picture:



And her little sprite and face picture:



Often when you go to bed in the game, she will be there to wake you up in the morning and say something nice and cheerful, which is likely the reasoning behind the name of her theme song. I love Nanami. I’ve never been more fond of a character in a game or cared more about what happens to them. I’m getting all nostalgic just thinking about her. Lovely, strong, caring girl… So, it’s over to you now…
« Last Edit: March 29, 2013, 07:26:44 pm by Lorric »

  

Offline An4ximandros

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Christopher Snipes, he was such an awesome badass. He would always follow the directions, even if they were a piece of junk.

 

Offline Spoon

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Aaah Suikoden II
Such a good game.

I'll be honest though, Nanami started to sort of get on my nerves after a while. There was even this moment where she was all like "I'm coming with you!" and you get one of Suikoden's infamous fake choice moments. I told her 'No' to which she replied "I'm coming with you anyway!" There's a fine line between caring and clingy.
***** PLEASE. I have 108 characters in my castle and you've been hogging up one space in my party for over half the game. Could you KINDLY allow me some choice in who to take with me.
Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 

Offline Lorric

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Christopher Snipes, he was such an awesome badass. He would always follow the directions, even if they were a piece of junk.

Snipes is invincible though. Kinda takes away from his badassness  :D

Aaah Suikoden II
Such a good game.

I'll be honest though, Nanami started to sort of get on my nerves after a while. There was even this moment where she was all like "I'm coming with you!" and you get one of Suikoden's infamous fake choice moments. I told her 'No' to which she replied "I'm coming with you anyway!" There's a fine line between caring and clingy.
***** PLEASE. I have 108 characters in my castle and you've been hogging up one space in my party for over half the game. Could you KINDLY allow me some choice in who to take with me.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I'm always happy to have Nanami in my party though, she is extremely effective for me. So I was happy to take her along that time. But then my friend played the game, and he tried to keep her at home, so that's how I know about it. But they didn't need to do that, they could have let you put her in the convoy. I never felt Nanami crossed over into clingy personally. I am very fond of her though, who knows, perhaps if I hadn't warmed to her so much I wouldn't feel that way, since I like having her around the whole game anyway.

 

Offline watsisname

Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
CHARACTERS I CARE ABOUT







 



In my world of sleepers, everything will be erased.
I'll be your religion, your only endless ideal.
Slowly we crawl in the dark.
Swallowed by the seductive night.

 

Offline Spoon

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Of all the things, why a Mycon?
Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 

Offline An4ximandros

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Snip
We must not allow our soil to be claimed by the Jeb.

 To add something useful to this thread...

 I must admit, I have trouble relating to characters in video games in general, but usually I feel for those who have been 'properly' developed. Properly as in... I have no idea, some characters just 'click' with me, so to speak. It's difficult to put into words.

 

Offline watsisname

Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Of all the things, why a Mycon?

I love that adorable fungus!  Lives underground by the warmth of magma; dreams of spreading its spores throughout the stars to fulfill the wishes of Juffo-Wup.  And it's so polite and eloquent in speech! <3

But fine, maybe you're one of those people, who would prefer to hug a Zoq!  Well, now that I  think about it, they do have damn sexy curves.
In my world of sleepers, everything will be erased.
I'll be your religion, your only endless ideal.
Slowly we crawl in the dark.
Swallowed by the seductive night.

 

Offline Apollo

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
I'm torn between Admiral Calder from WiH and General Tor from Iji. Both of them earn my sympathy, though for very different reasons.
Current Project - Eos: The Coward's Blade. Coming Soon (hopefully.)

 

Offline BloodEagle

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
There's no way this will be accurate, but....

Game Characters That I Care About (in no particular order):
  • Fwiffo (SC2/UQM)
  • Katana / Tanaka (SC2/UQM)
  • Vivi (FFIX)
  • Steiner (FFIX)
  • Freya (FFIX)
  • Sis (AP)
  • Zulf (Bastion)
  • Flute Boy (TLoZ:ALttP)
  • Curly Brace (Cave Story (The original version, not the crappy port))
  • Sue Sakamoto (Cave Story (The original version, not the crappy port))
  • Toroko (Cave Story (The original version, not the crappy port))
  • Gygas
    Spoiler:
    / Pokey (Mother - Mother 3): I choose to believe they're the same person.
  • Iji (Iji)
  • That one alien girl who starts helping you whose name I can't remember (Iji)
  • Aken H. Bosch (guess)
  • Tali (ME, Not the rest of 'em)
  • Wrex (ME, Not the rest of 'em)
  • Stanley (The Stanley Parable)
  • The Vance (HL2 - HL2:E2): And yes, I know that I'm being manipulated.  I just don't care.
  • GLaDOS (Portal (But not Portal 2))

And that's all I can remember without thumbing through my entire game archive.

And out of all of those, I think my most favorite would have to be... Iji.

 

Offline The E

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Elizabeth, Bioshock Infinite
BSI could have been one giant escort mission from hell. It isn't. Elizabeth soon establishes herself as an integral part of the gameplay, and when you're separated, your first priority will be to get back together with her.

The entire supporting cast of Dragon Age 2
While there are characters in there that I don't particularly like, there's never a point where I wouldn't want to have them around.

Garrus, Legion and Javik, Mass Effect series
Garrus is my Shepard's second in command. He's always there when the bullets start flying, and has never let me down. Legion and Javik bring in completely alien perspectives on what is happening, and are supremely well written.

Sand, Neverwinter Nights 2
A snarky elf wizard. What's not to love?

HK-47, Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2
For obvious reasons.
If I'm just aching this can't go on
I came from chasing dreams to feel alone
There must be changes, miss to feel strong
I really need lifе to touch me
--Evergrey, Where August Mourns

 
Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Celes - Final Fantasy VI
Cecil - FFIV
Johnny - To the Moon
Nephenee - Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance/Radiant Dawn
Gaz - CoD4:MW
Zeratul - StarCraft 1 and BW

That's weird. I would have thought there'd have been a lot more. But most of the characters I grew attached to were my player characters in various RPGs and MMOs. I don't suppose they count? Also most silent protagonists: Link, Gordon Freeman, Chrono.

 

Offline Klaustrophobia

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Game characters I care about:




I don't get emotionally attached to games.  Unless fear counts.  There's been a game or two that almost made me **** myself.
I like to stare at the sun.

 

Offline Lorric

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
Time for me to add some more.

The entire main cast of Grandia II, but four favourites stand out: Mareg, Elena, Skye and Ryudo.

Mareg is legitamately wise. I don't think any character has made me think more than he has, and want to adopt the things he says. And he's kind as well. I love the way he just flies in the face of the stereotypes you'd attach to his outward appearance: a massive beastman. You'd assume he was just a dumb brute, and he's the exact opposite. He's probably my favourite of the bunch.

Elena you get to watch evolve from a nice, but very naive, deeply religious, helpless girl to a strong, wise, courageous and kind girl who you grow to love.

Skye, he just sits well with me, and is another wise head.

Ryudo also grows to love Elena and grows as a character. He goes from a cynical, snarky, unkind rough diamond type to the hero who comes to believe in people. You watch Ryudo and Elena grow close and it feels right and you want to protect them, while I usually really don't like video game romance.

Those descriptions really don't do those characters justice, but it's way too long since I played that game. But I pretty much put that game into the PS2 (shut up, Dreamcast fanboys!  :lol:) and it pretty much stayed there until the game was completed. I probably will have played soething else inbetween, but basically I went right through that game, and I've never done that with any other RPG, it normally takes me months to complete an RPG. Even Suikoden II didn't get that.

If I ever finish the first Grandia, it may have the same effect on me.

 

Offline TrashMan

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
And her little sprite and face picture:



nyaahhh

The height of literary art.

15 year old girl in an JRPG is your fav character?

Ok... I admit, I'm skeptical whenever someone mentions a JRPG character... they usually the the depth of a puddle and the IQ of a rock.
Nobody dies as a virgin - the life ****s us all!

You're a wrongularity from which no right can escape!

 

Offline Lorric

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
And her little sprite and face picture:



nyaahhh

The height of literary art.

15 year old girl in an JRPG is your fav character?

Ok... I admit, I'm skeptical whenever someone mentions a JRPG character... they usually the the depth of a puddle and the IQ of a rock.

16.

Intelligence is not a strong point of Nanami.

And I thought that was a great picture to use, because it spoils nothing.

Grandia II is where to go for depthy characters. Suikoden II is a very highly regarded game though.

 

Offline Pred the Penguin

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
I have played many games that were emotional experiences for me, but I can't think of any character that I had a real attachment to, at least not that I can think of at this moment. I'll have to look up the games I've played and see if anything sticks out, but this is really surprising to me. I am way more attached to literary characters and some in film.

 

Offline BloodEagle

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
The entire main cast of Grandia II, but four favourites stand out: Mareg, Elena, Skye and Ryudo.

I had serious trouble getting into to this game's story, if only because of the voice acting.  It wasn't bad (except for the prince, seriously, I hate that kid's voice), per se, it just didn't fit at all.  I wish it had come with a 'subbed' version, as it were.

Awesome gameplay mechanics, though.  Right up there with Star Ocean 2 and Lunar 2 in terms of 'WE NEED MORE OF THESE GAMES'.

 

Offline Lorric

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
The entire main cast of Grandia II, but four favourites stand out: Mareg, Elena, Skye and Ryudo.

I had serious trouble getting into to this game's story, if only because of the voice acting.  It wasn't bad (except for the prince, seriously, I hate that kid's voice), per se, it just didn't fit at all.  I wish it had come with a 'subbed' version, as it were.

Awesome gameplay mechanics, though.  Right up there with Star Ocean 2 and Lunar 2 in terms of 'WE NEED MORE OF THESE GAMES'.

I can see why you might not like Roan's voice. I was okay with the voice acting though, and in places liked it a lot. But yes, best battle system in an RPG easily for me. Never seen anything get remotely close.

 

Offline Veers

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Re: Video Game Character/s you cared about the most
I always developed some weird attachments at times.. sometimes always different depending on my mindset/character mindset on a play through. Mainly:

Bastila - KOTOR
Random FreeSpace pilots (I sometimes felt very attached to my generic wingpersons. At one point I was always ordering them to depart so they would not die. Bad habit)
Whole heap of nameless soldiers in Close Combat series etc.
Tali'Zorah vas Normandy (Hothothothothothothothot)


Nothing special.

But I always try to immurse myself into the character/location that I am playing in. So if the character has an attachment to x and x is killed off, by design or luck. I will be affected by it, unless that character had been designed horribly.
Current Activities/Projects: Ideas and some storyline completed.

ArmA 2&3 Mission Designer and player.


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