Summary
The concept of a “hero” in storytelling tends to go hand-in-hand with that of aprotagonist, the central character. Usually, this is someone the audience is expected to root for, or at least sympathize with. Usually, the audience wants to see the hero come out on top. The concept of a “villain”, on the other hand, with a handful of exceptions, is usually interchangeable with that of an antagonist. That is, their job is to oppose the hero by creating obstacles that need to be overcome. Many video gamesthrive on the clash between heroes and villains. Having solid chemistry between opposing characters can drive a compelling story, but sometimes, things can change in unexpected ways. The fact is, even the most well-intentioned heroes can’t achieve their goals without making a few enemies, and the price of heroism can be high. Sometimes dangerously so.
Sometimes,heroics don’t go as planned. Something that seemed like a good idea might have unexpected consequences. Sometimes the hero lacks important information, or fail to anticipate a crucial detail. Sometimes, a new perspective can reveal their actions didn’t do quite as much good as they initially seemed to. Sometimes, the hero’s struggle just pushes them too far, and changes them for the worse. Whatever the reason might be, a seemingly optimistic ending for one game can turn around in the sequel. AsThe Dark Knightfamously said: “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” When this happens, it can lead to a curious dynamic wherethe hero of one game becomes a villain in the next.
When the Hero Is the Root of the Problem
Prototype
You are the Prototype, Alex Mercer, a man without memory armed with amazing shape-shifting abilities, hunting your way to the heart of the conspiracy which created you; making those responsible pay.Fast & Deadly Shape-Shifting Combat:Reconfigure your body to the situation at hand. From Claws to Blades to Hammers to Whips, choose the right weapon for the situation. Change to a shield or armor for defense, or use advanced sensory powers (thermal vision, infected vision) to track your enemiesOver-the-Top Locomotion & Agility:Seamlessly and fluidly bound from building to building, run up walls, bounce off cars and everything in your path. Adaptive parkour lets you move freely through the open-world environments of New York City.Unique Disguising Abilities:Consume anyone at anytime, take on their appearances and assume their memories and special abilities.Deep, Conspiracy-Driven Storyline:Wake up with no memory of the past…just mysterious powers and a link to a town in Idaho. Delve into the mysteries of your origin, the true nature of your power and your part in a conspiracy 40 years in the making.
Prototypecentered onAlex Mercer, an amnesiac man who wakes up in the middle of an epidemic and discovers he has superpowers. Over the course of the game, he tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the Blacklight Virus' origins and his own past. Unfortunately, his efforts to stop the Blacklight disease end up coming back to bite him in the sequel.
One Virus. Three weeks. Millions dead. And I was there. My name was Alex Mercer, and my work is almost done.
This time around, U.S. Marine James Heller discovers that his family has been lost to a resurgence of the virus, aresurgence that was entirely the fault of Alex Mercer. Revenge becomes Heller’s main goal, and the player gets to see how their efforts at doing good in the first game might not have been as successful as they initially appeared. Ironically, this creates a narrative structure where theplayer is seeking revenge against themselvesfor their own actions in the previous game.
The Last of Uscenters around the relationship between protagonists Joel andEllieas they journey through a post-apocalyptic America. Moral ambiguity, and the way extreme circumstances easily break down the line between heroes and villains, were big themes of the game. So, naturally, the sequel escalated things a bit.
I can make it quick or I can make it so much worse!
The first half concerns a revenge quest where Ellie pursues Abby, another survivor who is responsible for killing Joel. That is until about halfway in when the perspective gets flipped. Suddenly,Abby is the protagonist, and the game reveals the entire first half from her perspective.This effectively turns Ellie into the villain, especially once the player starts to sympathize with several of the people they just went out of their way to kill. Although the player returns to controlling Ellie in the final act, it still shows both characters to be equally capable of cruelty.
She was Originally PLAYABLE!?
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!
LAUNCH INTO THE BORDERLANDS UNIVERSE AND SHOOT ‘N’ LOOT YOUR WAY THROUGH A BRAND NEW ADVENTURE THAT ROCKETS YOU ONTO PANDORA’S MOON IN BORDERLANDS: THE PRE-SEQUEL!Discover the story behind Borderlands 2 villain, Handsome Jack, and his rise to power. Taking place between the original Borderlands and Borderlands 2, the Pre-Sequel gives you a whole lotta new gameplay featuring the genre blending fusion of shooter and RPG mechanics that players have come to love.Float through the air with each low gravity jump while taking enemies down from above using new ice and laser weapons. Catch-a-ride and explore the lunar landscape with new vehicles allowing for more levels of destructive mayhem.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelhad an interesting selection of playable characters, all of whom had ties to either the first or second mainline game. Although the games already loved antiheroes and took place in a world where murder is pretty much an everyday occurrence, this one included a total of six playable characters, many of whom were genuinely terrible people. Two of them had previously been antagonists inBorderlands 2.Then there wasAurelia, the derangedsister of Sir Hammerlock (a recurring ally in the series). Calling her a “hero” would be using the term very loosely. Even when she’s a playable lead in the Pre-Sequel, she is a total psychopath with a history of abusing her brother, not to mention she helped put the main antagonist, Handsome Jack, in power.
Well, as my butler was eaten alive hours ago, I suppose I shall introduce myself. Lady Aurelia Hammerlock, a pleasure.
So, it should hardly be surprising that, much like Nisha and Wilhelm, Aurelia would switch roles in her next appearance.Borderlands 3casts her as an outright villain, shamelessly selling herself out to the main antagonists and getting her own boss fight as a result. This time, players get to witness a lot more of her cruelty, making it hard to imagine she was ever a playable “hero” character.
Cursed With Vampirism, He Eventually Conquers The World
Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver
As Raziel, stalk the shadows of Nosgoth preying upon your former vampire brethren in your quest to destroy your creator- Kain. After being betrayed and executed by Kain, return to Nosgoth on an epic mission of revenge. A milestone in 3D adventure.Feed on the souls of your enemiesExplore the vast 3D world of Nosgoth packed with 60 hours of gameplayShift real-time between the material and the spectral planesHunt 5 different tribes of murderous vampires with an arsenal of deadly hand-to-hand, projectile and environmental weapons.Over 100 cinematics with 45 minutes of voice over deliver a dark, gothic story
The title character inLegacy of Kainis complex right from his first appearance, which happens in the fantasticBlood Omen. After meeting an untimely and gruesome end, Kain is granted a new life as a vampire, with his “savior” assigning him the mission of destroying nine guardians who are corrupting the world in exchange for a cure. He is initially fueled by a desire to get revenge on his original killers, which is understandable but not heroic.
As the story progresses, Kain’s remaining humanity slowly strips away, which surprisingly results in him becoming more of an anti-hero as he starts to prioritize Nosgoth as a whole rather than just his desires. The canon ending sees Kain effectively rise to Nosgoth’s throne, which is “evil” when compared to the other option (a heroic sacrifice); however, it is more of a gray choice than purely bad.
Conscience…? You dare to speak to me of conscience? Only when you have felt the full gravity of choice should you dare question my judgment!
Soul Reaverintroduces Raziel as a playable character, with Kain serving as the main villain. FollowingBlood Omen’s canon ending, Kain becomes a tyrant, going so far as to kill Raziel out of fear that he might challenge his power. Like everything in this franchise, describing Kain as just a villain is a disservice to the writing’s quality and nuance, and his motives are well explained. InBlood Omen, Kain spends most of the story as The Dark Entity’s unwitting puppet, and this circumstance drives most of his future actions as he seeks to grasp full control of his destiny.
The Classic Hero Wasn’t Always So Heroic
Donkey Kong Jr.
Avoid enemies while going up and down the cranes, take the keys, and rescue Donkey Kong!“DONKEY KONG JR.” is an action game released by Nintendo in 1982.Donkey Kong has been captured and caged in his latest encounter with Mario. Donkey Kong Jr. is on his way to set him free!Skillfully utilize jumps and the cranes to avoid enemies, get to the top, and steal the cage’s key from Mario.
Nintendo’s iconic Italian plumber is usually thought of as a hero today, but things were a bit more nuanced in his earlier appearances.Mariofirst appeared as the protagonist of the 1981 arcade gameDonkey Kong, which had a pretty simple setup: Mario has to save his girlfriend, who has been taken hostage by the titular ape. However, while Mario was the player character, the official backstory for the gamemade Donkey Kong more sympathetic, as it claimed he was merelyretaliating against Mario’s abuse.
It’s-a me, Mario! I’ve been on fire lately, but I’m-a hope you challenge me!
This idea became the basis for a sequel,Donkey Kong Jr., released a year later. This time, the protagonist is Donkey Kong’s son, who has to freeDonkey KongfromMario. So yes, Mario, who spent so many games freeing damsels in distress, actually oncetook on the role of captor himself.
The originalDark Soulscentered around a hero known as the Chosen Undead, who travels through a dying world in search of the First Flame, which can save it. After dealing with some brutal challenges, the Chosen Undead eventually finds the Flame and has to make a choice. Re-igniting the flame is an act of self-sacrifice which restores the world. Extinguishing the flame dooms the world but allows the hero to survive and rule what remains.
Thou who art Undead, art chosen… In thine exodus from the Undead Asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the land of Ancient Lords… When thou ringeth the Bell of Awakening, the fate of the Undead thou shalt know.
The former choice is recognized as canon in the sequels and seems like a pretty heroic act. Fast-forward toDark Souls 3, and a new hero, the Ashen One, isfaced with a final bossknown as theSoul of Cinder. This could best be described as a kind of spectral amalgamation of everyone who went through the cycle of choosing to re-ignite the first flame;includingthe Chosen Undead many centuries before.
