These Games Have Character

Gamers frequently discuss their favorite player characters in video games. It makes sense, considering those are the characters the player actually embodies and, most likely, identifes with. Of course, many games have non-player characters that are as memorable, or moreso, than their protagonist counterparts. Keith Stuart at The Guardian listed a few of his favorite NPCs, including Tracer Tong from Deus Ex (PC), Barry Burton from Resident Evil (PS1), Nozomi Harasaki from Shenmue (DC), and Alyx Vance from Half-Life 2 (PC).

Tracer Tong - Deus Ex Ultra helpful Hong Kong-based tech geek from the Deus Ex series, supposedly based on the character Dr X from Neil Stephenson's influential sci-fi opus, The Diamond Age. How many other NPCs are based on cult literary figures, eh?

Of course, the general state of writing in games could use some work, but there have been plenty of good characters over the years. Who are your favorites? Myself, I'd have to go with Barney from Half-Life 1 and 2, somewhat because I love his transformation from faceless NPC to fully fledged plot-driving character over the course of the franchise; Maureen from Full Throttle (PC), a rare example of a strong female character who is actually unique and well-developed rather than simply another video game badass; The King of All Cosmos from Katamari Damacy (PS2), and really, who can't admire a guy like that; and LeChuck from the first two Monkey Island (PC) games, because for one thing he's an undead pirate (come on), and also for his role in the ending of Monkey Island 2, which I won't spoil for those of you who haven't seen it.