GameCentral readers discuss their favourite video game bad guys, from the iconic Ganon and Pyramid Head to the Ghost Pirate LeChuck.
The subject for this weekends Inbox was suggested by reader Cranston, who asked what bad guy do you love to hate the most? It can be anyone from the main villain of the story to a cannon fodder grunt, but who makes the biggest impression through the storyline or the gameplay?
We had plenty of good suggestions, including classics like GLaDOS and Bowser, as well as at least two Far Cry bad guys and less obvious choices like Undertales Flowey.
Love to hate
Its got to be GLaDOS, hasnt it? Its almost depressing how much better Portal 1 and 2 are written than almost any other game and GLaDOS is the absolute best of any of it. She is completely evil and while theres an explanation of sorts for why, and she does a few things that arent entirely selfish, you cant trust her one little bit.
But for someone (something?) thats presumably responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent men, women, and children you cant help but laugh at her razor sharp wit and amazing voice-acting. Thats the sign of a great villain to me, a literal love to hate situation where you cant stop yourself liking the bad guy and hoping they stick around.
Why shes only reduced to cameos now and they dont make a third game I will never understand. Id say Valve were weird but compared to everything thats going on with Epic Games Store at the moment Id say that PC gaming in general is weird. Which makes GLaDOS the perfect avatar for the whole thing.
Gingster
Real actor
I dont know if hes the best exactly but the first villain I remember actively enjoying for his contribution to the story, rather than just being a boss or something is Kane from Command & Conquer. He was ultra cheesy (apparently the actor was an acting coach?!) but this was back in the day when live action cut scenes were still new and he really did add a lot of personality to game that was about directing tiny little tanks around on-screen.
Ive no idea what his bad guy goal was or why he was always so happy (I remember him as always laughing, for some reason) but I used to look forward to those cut scenes to see what nonsense hed be up to next time. Back then a cut scene seemed like a reward for beating a level, whereas now theyve been turned into a punishment that stops you playing the game.
Obviously live action is almost pointless nowadays, given how graphics have improved, but I imagine the actor is getting on a bit now anyway so Id like to see him come back in virtual form if they ever do a new Command & Conquer. And I realise thats a fairly big if.
Propter
Say nothing
Nintendo are always good at villains, probably because they usually bring them back for multiple games rather than trying to reinvent the wheel each time. Thats allowed most of the big ones like Bowser and Ganon to evolve in some surprising ways over the year. But my favourite is Ridley the… whatever he is. Giant space pterodactyl?
The fact that its never really explained what he is or even how intelligent he is makes him all the more interesting to me. The worst thing modern games and movies do is explain everything and I prefer things be left more to your imagination. Ive seen some Japanese manga where he talks but that just adds nothing as far as Im concerned.
All he needs is his theme tune and the fact that hes a rock hard boss. When that music comes on and you realise a battle has started theres real fear but also a sense of welcome familiarity. A return bout thats worth waiting decades for (whether you like it or not). Cant wait to see him in Metroid Prime 4.
Cantwell
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Surprise villain
As far as Im concerned theres only one answer to this and its super obvious: Flowey from Undertale. Anyone thats played the game will immediately know what Im talking about, while those that havent will think he just looks like a stupid flower with rubbish graphics.
What he actually is though is one of the best villains in all fiction. An evil monster with enormous power whose abilities and goals you only gradually become aware of through the course of the game. The way he breaks the fourth wall and uses your own save information against you is amazing.
But the best bit is that its also possible to feel some sort of sympathy for him. Theres a reason the way he is and you can even try to redeem him if you want. Which to me is always the sign of a great villain.
Ross88
Illusive charm
I really liked the Illusive Man in Mass Effect as a villain. Greatly performed by Martin Sheen and always made me pay attention when he popped up in a cut scene smoking like a chimney, and the fact that he was just observing from afar for a lot of his time in the games made him even more compelling.
The real-life aspects of his beliefs and aims also worked to give him a greater impact as a bad guy, and make him seem more real. He also he has the classic element of he thinks what hes doing is genuinely right. Not exactly an antagonist until Mass Effect 3 but even in Mass Effect 2, when he was technically supporting you, you knew at some point youd be squaring off in the future.
Lance Vance in GTA: Vice City gave me my first real you son of a- moment in video games, so I certainly enjoyed putting him down (and of course they followed that up with Big Smoke et al. in San Andreas). And Id say an honourable mention should go to The Joker from the Batman: Arkham series who, while he isnt an exclusively a video game-based villain, was one of the most enjoyable to play against, particularly when he was nought but a figment of your (characters) mind in Arkham Knight.
NL
Funny choice
My favourite villain is Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2. I think he is the most villainous villain who ever practiced villainy in any game I have ever played and I think hes wonderful because he is so funny. Some of the things he says are so daft theyre hilarious.
I would love to give examples of his sheer sarcastic awfulness but Im sorry I couldnt do him justice. To fully appreciate it you have to be there as the saying goes and that means playing the game, which I highly recommend.
Believe me Handsome Jack is sRead More – Source
