15 Video Game Characters That Showed Us What It Means to Be a Hero This Year
Heroes. Now more than ever.
Justin Carter
|
Published: Dec 12, 2016 05:10 pm
Marcus (Watch Dogs) Lucio Boy & Trico Nathan Drake Elena Fischer Ratchet & Clank Kait Diaz (Gears 4) Noctis (FFXV) Doom Marine Emily Kaldwin BT (Titanfall 2) Lincoln Clay (Mafia III) Yarny (Unravel) Lillie Geralt
No one in gaming likeTeam ICO excels at making players bond with the NPCs, and the same holds true for Last Guardian. Above all else, the dynamic between the tiny Boy and the giant, fluffy Trico is what sells the game, and the two properly convey their relationship without words needed.
Some heroes save the world because of a higher calling, others for personal reasons. Geralt just does it because it’s his job, and he’s damn good at it. Going to Toussaint may not have the grand scope of the base game, but it’s more than a worthy send off for the silver-haired monster hunter after nearly a decade of adventures. The bond between man and machine is an often explored one in gaming, but Titanfall 2 used this trope to give life to its hulking hunks of metal. BT and Jack’s bond makes the game, with the Titan becoming more and more endearing as the campaign goes on and delivering surprisingly funny dialogue with his Pilot.
The excellent gaming remake from earlier this year gave new life to the sci-fi heroes. Even with changes to the canon, the two are still the best of friends that travel the galaxy together, and it’s nice to see old friends get together under a refreshing new context. Okay, yes, there’s no denying that of the four heroes of Final Fantasy XV, he’s the weakest. But Prompto is a nice counterpoint to Noctis’ stick in the mud attitude, providing much needed levity for the dudes during their journey, even as he wrestles with his own self doubt. Plus, he takes some really good selfies.
Recommended Videos
Geralt of Rivia (Witcher 3: Blood and Wine)
Some heroes save the world because of a higher calling, others for personal reasons. Geralt just does it because it's his job, and he's damn good at it. Going to Toussaint may not have the grand scope of the base game, but it's more than a worthy send off for the silver-haired monster hunter after nearly a decade of adventures and shows that he's the best there is at what he does.
Lincoln Clay (Mafia III)
The US government may think he's a force of nature, but Lincoln's just a simple guy. A guy who goes around shooting and stabbing any racist he sees, but a simple guy nonetheless who just wants justice.
Yarny (Unravel)
A lack of a mouth and his white eyes may make him seem creepy, but don't be fooled, Yarny's adorable. It's hard not to get charmed by the little guy as you play through Unravel, helped by the cute media blitz he got prior to release.
Adam Jensen (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided)
He may not have asked for his new abilities, but he's making the best of them. Jensen's choices may be up to the player, but at his core, he's still a good man devoted to uncovering the conspiracies of the Illuminati and making the world a better place. After he stabs some dudes with his arm blades, of course.
Zara Ghufran (Battlefield 1)
The Bedouin Rebel may be consumed with revenge, but she's also able to use it to her advantage. She's determined and loyal to T.E. Lawrence's cause, and she takes down a train all on her own, which is pretty awesome.
Doom Marine (Doom)
It's been a long time since the Marine has been seen, but he's back, and more of a badass than ever. Sure, he doesn't have much to say, but communicating through his fists and pulling off some nasty Glory Kills is enough to make up for that. Never been more fun to kill demons from Hell than with this guy.
Fareeha "Pharah" Amari (Overwatch)
Growing up surrounded by heroes made the young Amari want to be one herself, and she certainly succeeded at that. Whether it's with her rocket launcher or her combat suit, she always makes sure that justice rains from above.
Prompto Argentum (Final Fantasy XV)
Okay, yes, there's no denying that of the four heroes of Final Fantasy XV, he's the weakest. But Prompto is a nice counterpoint to Noctis' stick in the mud attitude, providing much needed levity for the dudes during their journey, even as he wrestles with his own self doubt. Plus, he takes some really good selfies.
Emily Kaldwin (Dishonored 2)
Even though you can also play as her father, Dishonored 2 is clearly Emily's story above all else. The Empress turned assassin has more on the line, and her extended escape to Karnaca leaves an effect on her that'll change the way she runs Dunwall. Plus, she can turn into a shadow creature, and that's just awesome. Way better than rats.
Kait Diaz (Gears of War 4)
The Gears are supposed to fight for the good of the people, but Kait doesn't care about any of that. All she cares about is saving her people and her mom, and in doing so provides the emotional weight for the new entry in the series. Her relationship with JD and Del feels real, and it's through her that the game earns its ending.
Boy & Trico (The Last Guardian)
Team ICO excels at making players bond with the NPCs, and the same holds true for Last Guardian. Above all else, the dynamic between the tiny Boy and the giant, fluffy Trico is what sells the game, and the two properly convey their relationship without words needed.
Nathan Drake
He may have the worst communication problems (seriously dude, TALK TO YOUR WIFE), but Drake has still got it. Not even his bad luck can stop him from helping his long lost brother, who even makes him realize the dangers of being so single minded.
Marcus Holloway (Watch Dogs 2)
The new hacker with a heart of gold in Ubisoft's open world series is a much better fit than Aiden was the first time around. With him, the series delved into a more playful side that gave fun gameplay opportunities and offered plenty of great dialogue between him and the other members of the DedSec crew.
Ratchet & Clank
The excellent remake from earlier this year gave new life to the sci-fi heroes. Even with changes to the canon, the two are still the best of friends that travel the galaxy together, and it's nice to see old friends get together under a refreshing new context.
BT-7274 (Titanfall 2)
The bond between man and machine is an often explored one, but Titanfall 2 used this trope to give life to its hulking hunks of metal. BT and Jack's bond makes the game, with the Titan becoming more and more endearing as the campaign goes on and delivering surprisingly funny dialogue with his Pilot.
Twinfinite is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
Justin was a former Staff Writer for Twinfinite between 2014 and 2017 who specialized in writing lists and covering news across the entire video games industry. Sometimes a writer, always a dork. When he isn't staring in front of a screen for hours, he's probably reading comics or eating Hot Pockets. So many of them.
