6 Video Game Heroes Who Became Villains In Other Games

The idea of a “hero” in storytelling tends to go hand-in-hand with that of a protagonist, the central character. Often, that is somebody the viewers is anticipated to root for, or a minimum of sympathize with. Often, the viewers needs to see the hero come out on prime. The idea of a “villain”, alternatively, with a handful of exceptions, is normally interchangeable with that of an antagonist. That’s, their job is to oppose the hero by creating obstacles that should be overcome. Many video video games thrive on the conflict between heroes and villains. Having strong chemistry between opposing characters can drive a compelling story, however typically, issues can change in surprising methods. The very fact is, even essentially the most well-intentioned heroes cannot obtain their objectives with out making a number of enemies, and the value of heroism might be excessive. Typically dangerously so.

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Typically, heroics do not go as deliberate. One thing that appeared like a good suggestion might need surprising penalties. Typically the hero lacks essential info, or fail to anticipate a vital element. Typically, a brand new perspective can reveal their actions did not do fairly as a lot good as they initially appeared to. Typically, the hero’s battle simply pushes them too far, and modifications them for the more severe. Regardless of the purpose is likely to be, a seemingly optimistic ending for one sport can flip round within the sequel. As The Darkish Knight famously stated: “You both die a hero, or reside lengthy sufficient to see your self turn out to be the villain.” When this occurs, it could result in a curious dynamic the place the hero of 1 sport turns into a villain within the subsequent.

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6

Alex Mercer (Prototype)

When the Hero Is the Root of the Downside

Prototype centered on Alex Mercer, an amnesiac man who wakes up in the course of an epidemic and discovers he has superpowers. Over the course of the sport, he tries to uncover the thriller surrounding the Blacklight Virus’ origins and his personal previous. Sadly, his efforts to cease the Blacklight illness find yourself coming again to chew him within the sequel.

This time round, U.S. Marine James Heller discovers that his household has been misplaced to a resurgence of the virus, a resurgence that was totally the fault of Alex Mercer. Revenge turns into Heller’s fundamental objective, and the participant will get to see how their efforts at doing good within the first sport may not have been as profitable as they initially appeared. Paradoxically, this creates a story construction the place the participant is in search of revenge in opposition to themselves for their very own actions within the earlier sport.

5

Ellie Williams

When Being the Hero Of One Story Makes You The Villain Of One other

The Final of Us facilities across the relationship between protagonists Joel and Ellie as they journey via a post-apocalyptic America. Ethical ambiguity, and the way in which excessive circumstances simply break down the road between heroes and villains, had been massive themes of the sport. So, naturally, the sequel escalated issues a bit.

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The primary half issues a revenge quest the place Ellie pursues Abby, one other survivor who’s answerable for killing Joel. That’s till about midway in, when the attitude will get flipped. All of the sudden, Abby is the protagonist, and the sport reveals your complete first half from her perspective. This successfully turns Ellie into the villain, particularly as soon as the participant begins to sympathize with a number of of the folks they only went out of their technique to kill. Though the participant returns to controlling Ellie within the closing act, it nonetheless exhibits each characters to be equally able to cruelty.

4

Woman Aurelia Hammerlock

She was Initially PLAYABLE!?

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel had an fascinating choice of playable characters, all of whom had ties to both the primary or second mainline sport. Though the video games already liked antiheroes, and came about in a world the place homicide is just about an on a regular basis prevalence, this one included a complete of six playable characters, lots of whom had been genuinely horrible folks. Two of them had beforehand been antagonists in Borderlands 2. Then there was Aurelia, the deranged sister of Sir Hammerlock (a recurring ally within the sequence). Calling her a “hero” could be utilizing the time period very loosely. Even when she’s a playable lead within the Pre-Sequel, she is a complete psychopath with a historical past of abusing her brother, to not point out she helped put fundamental antagonist Good-looking Jack in energy.

So it ought to hardly be shocking that, very similar to Nisha and Wilhelm, Aurelia would change roles in her subsequent look. Borderlands 3 casts her as an outright villain, shamelessly promoting herself out to the principle antagonists and getting her personal boss battle because of this. This time, gamers get to witness much more of her cruelty, making it arduous to think about she was ever a playable “hero” character.

3

Kain

Cursed With Vampirism, He Finally Conquers The World

The title character in Legacy of Kain was initially an anti-hero who goes down a darkish path when he’s cursed with vampirism and in the end decides to embrace it. By the sequel, he has taken over the world and constructed himself an empire. Whereas the circumstances that began Kain’s journey could have been relatable, his eventual destiny of turning into a tyrant simply lends itself to a change in narrative roles. ​​​​​​​

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The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver sees that occur when he faces a rival vampire named Raziel, who has various causes to hate him. Seems, Kain might need killed Raziel’s household, and subjecting him to humiliation would not assist their relationship. Raziel spends the remainder of the sport attempting to carry down Kain, even when issues get a bit extra sophisticated within the sequels.

2

Mario

The Traditional Hero Wasn’t All the time So Heroic

Nintendo’s iconic Italian plumber is normally regarded as a hero in the present day, however issues had been a bit extra nuanced in his earlier appearances. Mario first appeared because the protagonist of the 1981 arcade sport Donkey Kong, which had a fairly easy setup: Mario has to avoid wasting his girlfriend, who has been taken hostage by the titular ape. Nevertheless, whereas Mario was the participant character, the official backstory for the sport made Donkey Kong extra sympathetic, because it claimed he was merely retaliating in opposition to Mario’s abuse.

This concept grew to become the idea for a sequel, Donkey Kong Jr., launched a 12 months later. This time, the protagonist was Donkey Kong’s son, who needed to free Donkey Kong from Mario. So sure, Mario, who spent so many video games releasing damsels in misery, truly as soon as took on the position of captor himself.

1

Soul Of Cinder

When You Turn out to be The Closing Boss

The unique Darkish Souls centered round a hero generally known as the Chosen Undead, who travels via a dying world searching for the First Flame, which may put it aside. After coping with some brutal challenges, the Chosen Undead ultimately finds the Flame has to choose. Re-igniting the flame is an act of self-sacrifice which restores the world. Extinguishing the flame dooms the world, however permits the hero to outlive and rule what stays.

The previous alternative is acknowledged as canon within the sequels, and looks like a fairly heroic act. Quick-forward to Darkish Souls 3, and a brand new hero, the Ashen One, is confronted with a closing boss generally known as the Soul of Cinder. This might finest be described as a sort of spectral amalgamation of everybody who went via the cycle of selecting to re-ignite the primary flame; together with the Chosen Undead many centuries earlier than.

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