Games have evolved tremendously over the past decades. Among the various amazing things gaming has created, one of it’s creations are the characters. Some of them are cute, others are cool, while a few of them… are badass.
What exactly does it mean to be badass? How about going on a rampage, destroying everything you see? Or getting a bullet to the head and feeling nothing? Or dying and coming back to life and dying again and coming back as a remnant? Those are only a few of the things that contribute to the bad-ass-edness.
Here is a list of the top 5 badass characters in video game history.
5. Max Payne
Payne made his first appearance in 2001 for the Microsoft Windows. Though it seemed like a regular third-person shooter, it wasn’t. Max Payne was the first game to introduce the bullet time mechanic, and it was a huge hit. But we aren’t here to talk about the game. We’re here to talk about the character himself. After killing numerous thugs, Max was still smiling. Although the fact that his expression could not change was due to the limit of the graphics of that time, but it still gives him a badass look. He smiled all the way as he killed his enemies, never feeling any remorse.
The best part about Max was his ability to simply take a painkiller and feel a lot better. No matter how hurt he was, a painkiller would do a superb job. Max gets shot in the head? Take a painkiller, wait 3 seconds, and boom, he’s all better again. Now that is badass.
Although Max was great in the game’s sequel as well, maintaining his great personality. And now, in his most recent game, he’s better than ever. Getting drunk, shaving his head, killing ruthlessly without a care in the world… Yeah, that’s really badass.
4. Solid Snake/Big Boss
Solid Snake was a clone of Big Boss, so both of them practically have the same measure of badass-edness. Snake is a one-man army. He could sneak past, and even kill a whole army of genetically advanced soldiers. He’s trained to use all kinds of weaponry, and is an expert at CQC. What else could a person want? And to top it all off, Snake is voiced by David Hayter – the guy with the greatest badass voice. Men would die for a voice like that.
Not only did Snake fight all throughout his life, but he smoked too. Although smoking is bad for your health (a warning like this was also given during the game), it looks absolutely badass. Especially when Snake did, despite the fact that he knew he was dying. This was his way of not giving a fu**.
3. Dante
I first saw Dante in the Devil May Cry anime, a few years back. I still remember the first episode: Dante comes into a bar and asks for a strawberry sundae, which was not given to him. Then as the people behind him turn into demons, he simply takes care of all them without feeling even a little bit of exhaustion. Eventually, he walks away, smiling, although he had been hurt on his arm. His last comment was “Make sure you have a strawberry sundae next time”. Those 5 minutes were the most badass 5 minutes ever.
And as expected, Dante is very badass in the games as well. He never feels any pain and always his cool composure. Heck, Lady shot him in the head, and he didn’t feel a thing.
And you certainly do not want to come between him and his food. A large number of demons have paid the price for that already.
2. Sephiroth
Personally, I believe Sephiroth to be the greatest badass character, but evidence speaks against me and Kratos takes the cake. Nonetheless, Sephiroth is pretty badass. Those of you who have played FFVII will obviously agree with me. Sephiroth was born due to a horrible experiment tested on him. He was a great SOLDIER, but turned bad after he discovered the truth, after which he tried to destroy the planet.
Sephiroth is unanimously agreed to be one of the best villains ever. His looks give off an aura of badass-edness, and his exceptionally long sword contributes to it.
He burned down a village, betrayed his friends, summoned a meteor to destroy the planet and even killed Aerith! Not only that, but he didn’t even die at the end of the game. He came back in Advent Children, and caused some severe damage to Cloud. His vicious stabs in the Complete version caused me to twitch excessively. And even when he was defeated, he showed no signs of regret or sadness. He simply maintained his badass aura and faded away.
Sephiroth’s badass-edness is too complicated for words to explain. The way he spoke in the games, the way he carried out his revenge… it can only be fully understood if the player plays the game himself.
1. Kratos
A mortal given powers by the God of War, a mortal who killed the same God of War who gave him his powers, a mortal turned into a god, a god turned into a mortal and killed and revived and then given the powers to kill a god. And finally, a mortal who killed his own family, ultimately killing his own father, Zeus. Could anything get more badass than this?
Kratos is brutal, ruthless and possibly the strongest video game character. His rage is too powerful for even himself to control. He’s slain titans and gods alike, and even thrown the world into utter chaos. His strength, will and thirst for revenge are unmatchable. He feels no sympathy, and will do anything to meet his goal.
The way he kills is inspiring. Ripping heads off, cutting off feet just to get someone’s shoes, pulling eyes out and stabbing to your hearts content. And you know the most badass thing? He was able to resist the temptations of the Goddess of Sex, Aphrodite. No mere mortal could do that.
Did you agree with the list? Let us know in the comments below.