Oh no, they’re the bad guy!
Ronald Tobias lists revenge as one of the 20 master plots, and William Shakespeare had more betrayal than a Survivor marathon, and so too in gaming, are you incredibly likely to be double-crossed at least once or twice. It’s a useful trope that probably isn’t going away anytime soon, but a trope all the same.
The list of Judases is long, and in any title where narrative is a heavy element, you’ll no doubt be questioning the motives of your allies along the way, whether it’s Portal 2’s delightful Wheatley, or Fire Emblem Fates’ snot-nosed little brat Anthony.
A more interesting twist occurs when you get the double turn – a character who you assumed to have been deceptive ends up saving the day at the last moment. Harry Potter thought so much of Severus Snape’s sacrifice, he honored him by naming his son after him. Never mind the fact that Harry straight-up loathed Snape the whole time he knew him, it was still a nice gesture. Unless he really hates his son.
