-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
-
We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.
Worst non silent protagonist you have seen?
- Thread starter Oscarzx n
- Start date
Without a doubt Lara Croft in Tomb Raider/Rise of the TR.
The voice acting, the writing... good lord what a shitfest lol
Yeah, my first impression of Asbel was that he was too naive, and I actually really liked Tales of Graces during the first act when everything around Asbel was crumbling until he had very little left. I though that this has the making of an interesting protagonist, somewhat similar to Luke.
Everything after the first act I had no idea how to follow. He doubled down on his dumb decisions and somehow creates a vortex that takes the games' plot with it.
Best star ocean mechanically. Worst star ocean character-wise. Yikes.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is on PS+ so I checked it out and I strongly dislike Lara. It's both the way the character is written and the way her performance is delivered. She was just as bad in the first game (never played the second one). I don't think she has any redeemable qualities and can only hope the series goes away for a while and gets a fresh start without her.
I thought Corrin was OK since he/she simply tried to find the best solution without harming anyone even if it was dumb that they would still try to please the evil father... But I only played Conquest so maybe it's just that the character was handled better there?
--
My choice would be this guy for sure. I don't have a problem with selfish characters played for laughs since I like Wario, but this guy was sexist, manipulative and just made everyone around him miserable without any hint of redemption. The first game was OK, but by the second one I couldn't stand him. One of the few game characters that managed to make me angry.
I'm guessing they probably set him up being a horrible person so he could redeem himself by the third entry, but the way the second one ended didn't make it seem like he was worth it.
Last edited:
If you think that's bad, play Conquest. Birthright is the least bad route in terms of plot.
This is what I mean though. Dude/tte is leading an invasion for evil king into a peaceful country for no reason, but the game has to justify it somehow because Corrin is supposed to be the player, so it goes... no one was actually killed! The enemy soldiers just "fainted"!
Top that off with how Corrin laments how the mean Hoshidans just don't understand he's conquering them for their own good or something.
Top that off with how Corrin laments how the mean Hoshidans just don't understand he's conquering them for their own good or something.
I got all three - started with Birthright literally two days ago lol
I'm not worried about the story but moreso about the description of Conquest where it says there's less chances of character development compared to Birthright....does that mean I cant train/grind as much or there's less interactions in between chapters?
I dont doubt that lol
Oh god why did I rewatch this. I forgot that those character models didn't emote at ALL. Creepy dolls.
'Edgy'
Graaahhh!!!
Watch_Dogs is the worst superhero origin story ever told. That the game expects you to cheer and clap for Aiden as "The Vigilante" and root for his appearance in a sequel is too much to handle. The ending is a cliffhanger that would imply the sequels to continue his adventure, but he was such a failure that absolutely no one was surprised when Watch_Dogs 2 went a completely different direction.
He was neither a pony,
dragons dogma protagonist.
walks around like an oaf who's experiencing everything for the first time
walks around like an oaf who's experiencing everything for the first time
At least Altair had an arc, you can argue if it was a good one, yet he went from being an A-hole to someone that softened during the course of the game and actually grew a fair bit. Aiden is just an A-hole thou.
The Fallout 4 protagonist. Game got significantly more playable by installing a silent protagonist mod, not that it fixed the shit dialogue system.
Well said. I don't LIKE Cole Phelps, but not because he's a poorly-written character. But rather, because he's a scumbag in a pretty understandable way.
I would've LOVED to see a sequel starring Kelso as a solo private eye.
Yeah, resources are limited in Conquest. Not TOO limited, but not infinite like in Birthright and Revelation. Unless you use the DLC maps for it. Then it's infinite again.
Also speaking of Corrin, I think they work the best for Revelation.
Basically, Corrin embraces being the lovable idiot that they are.
Starts off by flipping off both armies, follows Azura blindly as she suggests diving into a bottomless hole. Begins beating up both sides to recruit both sets of siblings and convince THEM to jump into that bottomless pit.
The trip to Valla goes like this. "Hi, I'm a new character and will totally not backstab you." They do. Ryoma and Xander laugh it off and basically tell Corrin that they're totally on board with being stupid since it's working. "We may have a mole." says Gunther out of nowhere. It's Gunther. Then you fight a dragon and everything is awesome.
Revelation Corrin is best Corrin is what I'm saying. Weaponizing their naivite and doing stupid things on purpose because, well, it worked once already, so why not keep at it? If Corin doesn't know what they're doing, they can't be predicted!
Starts off by flipping off both armies, follows Azura blindly as she suggests diving into a bottomless hole. Begins beating up both sides to recruit both sets of siblings and convince THEM to jump into that bottomless pit.
The trip to Valla goes like this. "Hi, I'm a new character and will totally not backstab you." They do. Ryoma and Xander laugh it off and basically tell Corrin that they're totally on board with being stupid since it's working. "We may have a mole." says Gunther out of nowhere. It's Gunther. Then you fight a dragon and everything is awesome.
Revelation Corrin is best Corrin is what I'm saying. Weaponizing their naivite and doing stupid things on purpose because, well, it worked once already, so why not keep at it? If Corin doesn't know what they're doing, they can't be predicted!
Spoilers for L.A. Noire and Touch of Evil.
I feel L.A. Noire tried a lot but failed, especially with Cole Phelps. My issue isn't that Cole is unlikable, or a bad person - so are Kratos and Joel, frankly - but he is a bad character, or at least one who was badly executed. It's been pretty much 10 years since I played it, so please do apologise for my possibly faulty recollection of the story.
I don't agree with the point that Cole is a great character because everything happens off-screen, I'd call that bad writing tbh. Cole is presented to the player as an over-ambitious goody two-shoes. Before his cheating, his only known flaw is his hunger for fame. We even see him calling out his peers for their adulterous behaviour, or for being crooked, and he makes it a point to position himself as the perfect detective.
Him getting with Elsa thus seems like a massive curveball; a twist for a twist's sake. His subsequent attempt at redemption, while indeed shocking, therefore seemed even less consequential as it was similary inconsistent with the character that we were presented. The off-screen, especially in that short of a time-period, is a stasis. Your character shouldn't change much, unless your world changes with them. We got none of that. What we got is a Daenerys: "actually they were bad all along", which fine, but your character didn't earn it. Cole's adultery and sacrifice, much like Dany's snap, just seemed lazy and rushed, instead of impactful.
Like I recently rewatched Touch of Evil: Orson Welles' character, even though an undoubtedly a shit crooked cop, earned his death, as he ultimately had good intentions. We feel for him, even though we shouldn't. Cole had the opposite effect.
Again, I don't mind the premise of a character who's nice from the inside, but ugly from the outside, I just feel like it was very poorly done. For a more recent example we have RDR's Dutch, who is similar that way. Or the guy from Spec Ops: The Line if we're talking protagonists.
I dont think he grew anything in his original game, theres a supposed arc, but its badly accomplished and comes too late in the game, a game that has a mediocre ending, its every game after, starting from the flashbacks in AC2 (that are actually flashforwards for altair) the ones that showed Altair as a better character.
Last edited:
It's been 12 + years since I play it yet there was a difference between who he was at the start and then who he became at the end of the first AC. Again you can argue if it worked but it's what the game want you to believe and as far as I remember it worked on me.
Hmm, well there's a lot of games so it's hard to decide.
On the JRPG side yeah as others suggested Itsuki in TMS is pretty bad, although did he actually have any lines in the game. I thought he was a silent protag?
If he did have lines then i've erased them from my memory.
Also the game pulled a shit bait and switch by showing the main girl in all the ads and the first cutscene of the game; then suddenly it's like "lol she's a side piece".
On the JRPG side yeah as others suggested Itsuki in TMS is pretty bad, although did he actually have any lines in the game. I thought he was a silent protag?
If he did have lines then i've erased them from my memory.
Also the game pulled a shit bait and switch by showing the main girl in all the ads and the first cutscene of the game; then suddenly it's like "lol she's a side piece".
Um... Wang (?) from Shadow Warrior doesn't really do it for me
the new Tomb Raider thing too. Couldn't believe how brutally, bizarrely bad the voice acting, writing and cutscene direction were
the new Tomb Raider thing too. Couldn't believe how brutally, bizarrely bad the voice acting, writing and cutscene direction were
Rush Sykes from the Last Remnant.
Stupid name, constantly does dumb stuff, and he doesn't really fit in well with the tone and style of the rest of the cast. Lead character should have been the prince dude or something. He's like a Tales side character (think Karol from Vesperia) as a lead in an Ivalice style Final Fantasy story.
Stupid name, constantly does dumb stuff, and he doesn't really fit in well with the tone and style of the rest of the cast. Lead character should have been the prince dude or something. He's like a Tales side character (think Karol from Vesperia) as a lead in an Ivalice style Final Fantasy story.
Must...resist....must...not...get...triggered.... lol
Corrin Fire Emblem. Just awful. You can't have a morally questionable protagonist that's also a vehicle for player worship, because what happens is the plot implodes on itself trying to justify everything they do even when it's clearly wrong.
I'm currently playing Final Fantasy 7 remake and I don't necessarily think he's the worst EVER, but just want to say that Cloud is really rubbing me the wrong way. I'm 7 hours in and incredibly tired of his "too cool for school" bullshit. Every single remark feels like a repeat of the last. At first I was just "oh he's a complete dork who thinks he's a badass" but it is now actually getting annoying.
I have no history with the game or any of its characters (only played a few hours of the original) so I'm not sure if he's less or more annoying in the remake, but I'm hoping he turns into someone I actually care about along the way. We'll see.
Deacon from Days Gone starts off as incredibly unlikable but the more you play the more you either get used to it, or he changes. I'm not sure which. But yeah, whoever mentioned that his in-game attitude is different from the story cutscenes is dead on. It's weird.
I have no history with the game or any of its characters (only played a few hours of the original) so I'm not sure if he's less or more annoying in the remake, but I'm hoping he turns into someone I actually care about along the way. We'll see.
Deacon from Days Gone starts off as incredibly unlikable but the more you play the more you either get used to it, or he changes. I'm not sure which. But yeah, whoever mentioned that his in-game attitude is different from the story cutscenes is dead on. It's weird.
Yep. A wooden chair had more personalty and charisma.
Aiden Pearce from Watch_Dogs
Rex from Xenoblade 2, the game tried so much to make me think he's a hero and someone important but it felt so fake. He's like a random anime/light novel protagonist whose relationship with other is only defined by "that's how this character should interact with a main character".
Cole Phelps is a fantstic character that deserves a game with a better main plot.
All his idealising and lecturing tends to fall flat when actually pushed on something. If you're the sort of person who needs a character to be quippy and fun then I can understand not liking him but that's the point. He's a realistic person. His faults are realistic and something a lot of people who consider themselves perfect have inside them.
He is one of my favourite game characters though I have a different opinion on LA Noirs story and execution as a whole.
+1 Corrin is absolutely insufferable (along with the writing being shite) and why I don't think I could ever give Fates another chance.
Corrin Fire Emblem. Just awful. You can't have a morally questionable protagonist that's also a vehicle for player worship, because what happens is the plot implodes on itself trying to justify everything they do even when it's clearly wrong.
My worst three non-silent protagonists:
Ben Paul (The Walking Dead)... I've never wanted someone eliminated out of my party so badly in a game before.
~~~~~
Rico Velasquez (Killzone 2)... To this day, the worst end boss fight I've endured was in this game listening to my sidekick's Rico's mouth the entire time.
~~~~~
Negan Smith (Tekken 7)... Can you please just shut up? Please?
Ben Paul (The Walking Dead)... I've never wanted someone eliminated out of my party so badly in a game before.
~~~~~
Rico Velasquez (Killzone 2)... To this day, the worst end boss fight I've endured was in this game listening to my sidekick's Rico's mouth the entire time.
~~~~~
Negan Smith (Tekken 7)... Can you please just shut up? Please?
I also downloaded Shadow of the Tomb Raider as part of PS Plus this month. Even though I'm enjoying it, I agree that Lara isn't a great character. She doesn't come across as human or have any distinguishable traits besides her dedication to the mission.
Diablo 3, if it counts, every line had a mix of arrogance, sociopathy and lack of compassion. And you're supposed to be the good guy!
The one that immediately pops into my mind is Deacon from Days Gone. Holy shit, I've never been so annoyed by a protagonist. He's just constantly talking to himself, psyching himself up, yelling at everyone and everything all the damn time. Every time he opened his mouth I just thought...
