Over at thegamereviews.com, Stew Shearer has a list of “Top 5 Heroes You Wouldn’t Want To Be”. Having read the list (though not played any of the games), I have to agree.
Of course, these are all characters that come pre-created, with histories of their own. Exactly the sort of thing I’ve never cared for in games. Because then it’s all about “their” stories and not “mine”.
This was the problem I had, for example, with Planescape: Torment. As a game, I didn’t enjoy it all that much. The story of Nameless wasn’t my story. As a novel, however, it would have been first class (some people think it’s novel anyway ;).
Looking over Stew’s list, there isn’t one of those titles I’d want to play. The protagonists seem not so much heroes as “screwed over” pawns. Perhaps that makes for a good tale, but not anything I’d care to experience myself.
Yeah, there are some heroes whose shoes you wouldn’t want to step into. Be really heroic. Stay yourself.
Scorpia, did the hero in Ultima VIII have a name?
I don’t think the hero in any of the Ultimas ever had a name.
As to the number one character (Solid Snake), I played one of the Metal Gears (#1 or #2) and I thought the world was dreary and depressing. The main character needed anti-depressants. A lot of Freudian stuff in that series.
Yeah, I had that impression just from reading the entry on Stew’s list. Maybe that’s why the MG series is famous (or infamous) for the many video scenes they have.
But, Scorpia, if you’re given a choice of which game to play, would you reather play Ultima VIII, Metal Gears 1, Metal Gears 2, Ultima IX, or M&M IX?
Link deserves his spot on the list. I have lost count of how many times he has rescued Princess Zelda yet never gets the hero’s reward.
The characters I really wouldn’t want to play are the ones that go against my grain, think Manhunt or Bully. Surprisingly enough I didn’t mind playing Nico Bellic in GTA4. Sure you have to do some contract hits, but I really don’t see the difference in that and the Dark Brotherhood quests in Obilvion. The behaviour that grabs the headlines such as the killing of innocents is completely optional so I didn’t indulge in it. I couldn’t bring myself to kill the Little Sisters in Bioshock either.
Presto, I’d rather read a book than play any the games you mentioned ;)
Xian, I wouldn’t consider the Brotherhood nice people myself. Not the sort of organization I want to be part of. In the same way, I wouldn’t want to play GTA IV.
Didn’t Mario have much the same problem as Link?