[Bloth]

YES! Masterful synopsis of what a true protagonist can achieve in a game,

It's also to me a moral lesson. Kain keeps fighting, despite his fatalism and foreknowledge, he struggles against what he see's as wrong and throws off the shackles of fate. Where all too many modern games seem to preach a defeatist attitude of bending the knee before destiny and embracing it, Kain spurns this idea and will reshape all reality to make the world a place fit to his likings. Self determination over slavery.

Compare his crusade to the pathetic destiny trailer of Dragon Age 2, which speaks of Biowares reprehensible take on what a hero is:

[slimgrin]

Blothulfur said:

Compare his crusade to the pathetic destiny trailer of Dragon Age 2, which speaks of Biowares reprehensible take on what a hero is:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=jlACgYHtWCI ›››

A politically correct snark dispenser?

[KnightofPhoenix]

I don't mind playing a victim of Fate. Raziel kinda is. So long as they don't sit down and take it, or worse sit down and not do anything for 6 years.

But yes, Kain is amazing. One of the greatest magnificent bastards too. To be able to screw up the omniscient Time Streamer is no small feat.

[Bloth]

It's just so unusual in games, to see the pawn of prophecy renounce his alloted role and ask why? Kain questions while Raziel seeks the answers. I can't help but be ecstatic that there is such a protagonist out there at last, wish there were more.

[gryphonosiris]

SystemShock7 said:

2. Gabriel Knight from Sins of Our Fathers and The Beast Within
3. Manny Calavera from Grim Fandango (si!)
4. Garret from the Thief series.
6. Tex Murphy
›››

4 Levels of win, but you need Guybrush Threepwood...

[KnightofPhoenix]

A fellow Levantine, fellow nihilist and a kindred spirit, Altair Ibn-La'Ahad earns the second spot.

[KnightofPhoenix]

So finally, we come to my favorite set protagonist.
The Prince himself, Ezio Auditore.

In the new year, I will start a list of my favorite 10 antagonists!

[Bloth]

Can't wait for the antagonists, i'm going to have to get Asscreed off GOG and have a gander at it.

[slimgrin]

The little I know of your top two...I'm, well, surprised. I find few if any action games have the depth of character RPG's do. But it's been an educational list to read.

[KnightofPhoenix]

I don't know if it's a good of bad thing, but I've noticed that non-RPGs are making good stories more and more, while RPGs overall are in a steady decline in that department.

@ Bloth
I have to warn you though that AC2 and Brotherhood's plot is evidently rushed at the end, and both have crappy antagonists. Also these 2 games are very much scarce when it comes to the ideological conflict between Templars and Assassins.

But ubisoft learned from its mistakes, and restored the ideological conflict in Revelations and apparently AC3.

They are not brilliant games by any means, but if you could get them cheaply, I think they are worth the shot.

[Sanctus91]

1.Raziel - Legacy of Kain
2.Geralt - The Witcher
3.Ezio Auditore - Assassin's Creed
4.Kain - Legacy of Kain
5.Arthas - Warcraft
6.Altair - Assassin's Creed
7.Garrus - Mass Effect
8.Haytham Kenway -Assassin's Creed 3
9.Lord Woolsack - Stronghold
10.Miranda - Mass Effect (10/10 looks )

[Luc0s]

Sanctus91 said:

1.Raziel - Legacy of Kain
2.Geralt - The Witcher
3.Ezio Auditore - Assassin's Creed
4.Kain - Legacy of Kain
5.Arthas - Warcraft
6.Altair - Assassin's Creed
7.Garrus - Mass Effect
8.Haytham Kenway -Assassin's Creed 3
9.Lord Woolsack - Stronghold
10.Miranda - Mass Effect (10/10 looks /> ) ›››

Miranda on the 10th place? Why? Miranda sucks.

Halso, Haytham Kenway, although an awesome character, is not a protagonist, but an antagonist. Garrus isn't a protagonist either, but a side-character.


My top 10 protagonists:


1. Link (young version) - The Legend of Zelda series (technically not just 1 character but multiple)
2. Geralt of Rivia - The Witcher series
3. Adam Jensen - Deus Ex: Human Revolution
4. Ezio Auditore - Assassin's Creed II
5. Ethan Mars - Heavy Rain
6. Connor Kenway - Assassin's Creed III
7. Norman Jayden - Heavy Rain
8. JC Denton - Deus Ex
9. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad - Assassin's Creed
10. Lara Croft - Tomb Raider series


I probably have the strangest number 1 on my list ever. I'm willing to explain it, but it will be a longgggggggg post I think. I have to admit that my nostalgia and personal fandom for Zelda did play a role in my decision. I'm a bit of a Zelda fanboy, so my list of obviously biased. That doesn't mean I can't justify my decision to put Link on the first place though.

[KnightofPhoenix]

I want to make a list of top 10 antagonists, but I am waiting till I re-play Kotor 2 with restored content (bought off steam, 2.5$ ) and I want to play AC3 as well.

So in the mean time, I think I'll make an irregular list of my favorite magnificent bastards (those who aren't in the protagonist or antagonist list) in all mediums, without any ranking or anything. I might miss a few, so if you people know any people you think I might like, please share!

My definition of a "magnificent bastard" is broader than the tvtrope one, though similar. For me, a magnificent bastard has the capability of a chessmaster (manipulating events) and a manipulator (emotional manipulation), and a certain flair, a sense of style.

[Costin Moroianu]

Well I hope you won't bore us with details about their gameplay skills, seriously that's the only thing I dislike about your top 10 protagonists.

And Cao Cao with Sima Yi better be on that fucking list.

[KnightofPhoenix]

No I will not talk about their gameplay skills, something I also won't do with antagonists, as I realize I may have given too many details for protagonists.

And no, they will not be there, as they are historical figures. I will only put fictional ones.

[Costin Moroianu]

Fair enough and I hope your number 1 is who I think he is.

[KnightofPhoenix]

I am not ranking them, and there won't be a specific number. I'll keep adding them as I feel like it.

[Costin Moroianu]

So I'll take an educated guess then.

Master Li.
Letho
Jacques
Tywin
Menendez ( maybe I guess )
Thorton
Radovid
Bhelen?

Anyway that's what I think you might include. Though I will say it's heresy to NOT watch Spartacus Blood and Sand for Ashur. He is a bloody master and no he's not historical.

I was thinking about naming Aetius, but since you decided to not use historical figures then nvm.

Still "It doesn't matter, it's just good politics" remains epic to this day.

[Pangaea]

After noticing "all mediums", I'm 99.9% sure Tywin will be in there. Heisenberg too probably. I'd also like to make the case for the Count of Monte Cristo. His transformation is quite wonderful, and I'd certainly say he is a good "chess player".

Without saying anything concrete about what happens in book 3 of A Song of Ice and Fire, as I'm sure many in here has not read them but are watching the TV series, I hope they treat season 3's big moments better than they did season 2's.

[KnightofPhoenix]

@ Costin
A lot of the people you mentioned will be in my antagonists list, so I won't put them there, but I'll of course demonstrate their magnificence.

Tywin will definitely be there he's my favorite ASoIaF character