[Franky Family]

This would normally entail characters with a complex background, but not always. I can see some Nintendo characters being mentioned, such as maybe Samus Aran, Kirby perhaps

But to me, the most interesting character of all time is probably a battle between Princess Zelda and Cloud Strife. Couldn't tell ya who would take it, I'd have to think long and hard about that one

But for the sake of the thread title, I'll force it down to one. Princess Zelda (to me) is the most interesting character in all of gaming

 

[HariSeldon]

Mad Professor Mariarti. What led him to go mad? Why did he build those labs full of violent joysticks, disks, cabbages and venus fly traps? What pain is he hiding behind his permanent grimace? Why do his glasses keep fogging up so he has to clean them so often? So many questions...

 

[Franky Family]

I would say that many of the Resident Evil characters are high on the list as well

 

[GreyHorace]

It's Arthur Morgan of Red Dead Redemption 2 for me.

There is so much depth to his character beyond being the stereotypical outlaw cowboy. Hints of his background are peppered throughout the game but nothing is outright stated beyond the missions that feature people from his past, such as his former love Mary Gillis. He also mentions later that he had a wife and son that died but beyond that nothing more is mentioned.

And I like that the game allows you to play him as an honorable man or an outright villain and neither path feels out of character for him. Arthur's morality is complex and at times contradictory, but it nonetheless feels true to the setting and the time he lived in. He's the greatest protagonist to be featured in a Rockstar Games title and I'm afraid he'll never be topped.

 

[Optimus]

I have always wondered about Princess Peach Toadstool. In a land populated by sentient mushrooms (toads and goombas) and various turtles/turtle dragons, who is this woman who is ruling over this kingdom? Is she really human? Who or what are/were her parents? We've seen various other humanoids in that world, as well, and they're also mysterious, but Peach easily takes the cake. Have we even seen any other humanoids in her castle or kingdom besides the Mario brothers? It just doesn't make sense...

I will admit there was a time in my childhood when I would have liked to have hit that for a few hundred 1-ups. Summer days during that awkward phase were pretty lonely, though.

 

[mcz117chief]

To me it is Kainé from NieR. All things that maker her truly interesting would be a massive spoiler.

To see Kainé's basic story in a non-spoiler way, then watch "Pure Hills" from NieR Reincarnation on YouTube.

 

[Nobel 6]

Senua and her descent into madness.

 

[HE1NZ]

It's Arthur Morgan of Red Dead Redemption 2 for me.

There is so much depth to his character beyond being the stereotypical outlaw cowboy. Hints of his background are peppered throughout the game but nothing is outright stated beyond the missions that feature people from his past, such as his former love Mary Gillis. He also mentions later that he had a wife and son that died but beyond that nothing more is mentioned.

And I like that the game allows you to play him as an honorable man or an outright villain and neither path feels out of character for him. Arthur's morality is complex and at times contradictory, but it nonetheless feels true to the setting and the time he lived in. He's the greatest protagonist to be featured in a Rockstar Games title and I'm afraid he'll never be topped.

Uh he seemed interesting at first, but he continues following Dutch into every death trap for no good reason, including after Dutch tries to kill him.
He has no purpose of his own, simps for women but asexual. He's switches from being a cynical mass murderer to a sad repentant "good guy" back and forth. I think he's never out of character because he has no character. Even after he dies (pointlessly) the game follow John Marston as if he was a real protagonist all along.

 

[O-N-E]

Either John Marston from Red Dead Redemption.

Or Tobi from Okami.

 

[Zefah]

Definitely Super Mario

 

[Phunkydiabetic]

It's Arthur Morgan of Red Dead Redemption 2 for me.

There is so much depth to his character beyond being the stereotypical outlaw cowboy. Hints of his background are peppered throughout the game but nothing is outright stated beyond the missions that feature people from his past, such as his former love Mary Gillis. He also mentions later that he had a wife and son that died but beyond that nothing more is mentioned.

And I like that the game allows you to play him as an honorable man or an outright villain and neither path feels out of character for him. Arthur's morality is complex and at times contradictory, but it nonetheless feels true to the setting and the time he lived in. He's the greatest protagonist to be featured in a Rockstar Games title and I'm afraid he'll never be topped.

I think I agree tbh. RDRII is an absolute masterpiece

 

[bork]

So many serious answers. Come on Lame Os.

 

[Snes nes]

Sonic the hedgehog.

 

[miona's shoulder monkey]

Birdo

 

[lock2k]

This would normally entail characters with a complex background, but not always. I can see some Nintendo characters being mentioned, such as maybe Samus Aran, Kirby perhaps

But to me, the most interesting character of all time is probably a battle between Princess Zelda and Cloud Strife. Couldn't tell ya who would take it, I'd have to think long and hard about that one

But for the sake of the thread title, I'll force it down to one. Princess Zelda (to me) is the most interesting character in all of gaming

 

[Snes nes]

What a bizarre game lol.

 

[Yer Da]

Eric Cantona has been in FIFA. So let's say Eric Cantona.

 

[synchronicity]

I love subtlety and mystery more than endless exposition that saps my curiosity, so for me it's someone like:

 

[Stifler's Mom]

 

[Grinchy]

Big Boss from the Metal Gear Solid franchise sticks out for me. That's one bizarre life, including a body double of himself who didn't even realize he was a body double and thought he was the actual guy lol. Seems to fit the interesting label.

 

[Grumpy Karen]

 

[DonDonDonPata]

Jon Irenicus from Baldur's Gate 2. Big Boss from MGS is another.

Both villains have fleshed-out reasons for doing what they do but they're hardly naive or misguided. They both understand the seriousness of the undertaking, it's not a whimsical "I will save the kingdom and be a hero!" plot.

 

[Catphish]

Arthur Morgan would probably be #1, but for reasons I can't even explain, since I haven't played the game in a decade, my brain is telling me to say Nico Bellic as #2.

 

[lock2k]

What is Evilore doing here?

 

[Snes nes]

In the tetris lore they was the character that played the most important role in the whole story arc. their role in the finale still gives me chills to this day.

 

[p_banned]

To me it is Kainé from NieR. All things that maker her truly interesting would be a massive spoiler.

To see Kainé's basic story in a non-spoiler way, then watch "Pure Hills" from NieR Reincarnation on YouTube.

You got the Daredevil Trophy didn't you.

 

[mcz117chief]

You got the Daredevil Trophy didn't you.

I never played the remake

 

[Franky Family]

Nico Bellic

I liked Niko Bellic, he was a strong protagonist. But I wouldn't call him interesting. From what I can remember, he was just a helping hand. Don't get me wrong, his character was more complex than that, but it seemed like he's more or less just a no-nonsense criminal. Take the job, do the job, get out. Repeat. He did well for himself, hell of a fucking goon. Like the heist he pulled off with the McReary brothers, Niko wasn't the brains of the operation but you could say that Niko and Patrick were the main reason most of them got out alive after a stunt like that

 

[Boss Mog]

Sylens is the only interesting character in the Horizon series for me. He was what kept me going through the ridiculous story in both games.

 

[HE1NZ]

Kane is pretty interesting. His background was never fully explained. Between his constantly changing looks, appearance in Red Alert and hints at being present in ancient Egypt, fans have been speculating endlessly of what he really is. At the same time he's an entertaining hammy villain and C&C mascot.

 

[regawdless]

I'm quoting @Whitesnake from the best videogame butts thread:

Widowmaker from Overwatch

VERY interesting character.

 

[Relativ9]

I looove characters like Andrew Ryan in Bioshock, characters that embody philosophies and slavishly devote their lives to maximising said philosophy. It doesn't even have to be all that deep or faithfully represented, but I find big ideas way more interesting then individuals and their quirks, traits or emotional baggage.

Not a game character by Captain America is/used to be a great example of the same thing (in his case moral absolutism).

 

[teezzy]

Geralt of Rivia

Feels like you could write a bunch of novels and a Netflix series about that guy

 

[quickwhips]

Before gears shit on everyone I would have said Marcus, Baird or Cole train. Some of books were fun reads. Based on just games though I'm not sure.

 

[zebraStraw]

I'm quoting @Whitesnake from the best videogame butts thread:



VERY interesting character.

Those are pancakes brah.

 

[Sejan]

Its gotta be Mario. When he isn't moonlighting as a boxing referee, he rescues the local princess with a disturbing amount of regularity. Even then, he has time to race as a professional driver, play the most extreme version of every sport known to man, and still had time to finish med school. All this while presumably keeping a plumbing business afloat. No other game character has accomplished half as much as Mario.

 

[Neil Young]

And this fucking guy….

 

[Hinedorf]

Easy answer is Arthur Morgan but for me you can't have a great game without a great adversary and I had to throw a shout out to the bad guys.

 

[Ascend]

That's a hard pick.

I'm gonna pick Noble Five, i.e. Jorge-052. We don't know much about him, which is exactly what makes him interesting to me.

 

[QuantumZebra]

Jon Irenicus from Baldur's Gate 2. Big Boss from MGS is another.

Both villains have fleshed-out reasons for doing what they do but they're hardly naive or misguided. They both understand the seriousness of the undertaking, it's not a whimsical "I will save the kingdom and be a hero!" plot.

^^^^^^

I'd throw Revan from KoTOR in the mix. One of the best character arcs/twists I've seen, gaming or otherwise.

Bioware/Black Isle were gods of character and story design. Minsc is another one from BG2 (all of the main chars, really) that stands out.