Support NeoGAF

[Arsic]

Recently I made a thread about the mt. Rushmore of bad ass lead characters in games. We had the usual suspects like Snake, Leon, Ryu Hyabusa, Kratos, etc etc.

Which sparked me to make this thread. When was the last iconic, bad ass, franchise figure face character introduced?

It feels like that died long long ago. In some respects it may be Bayonetta, but even she isn’t necessarily super bad ass. Moreso iconic.

Are we overdue for a new lead giga chad male?

Edit: I should clarify. There is still one off cool characters, but rarely are they :

-Iconic
-In multiple games
-generally though of as cool

 

[wipeout364]

I think some pictures would have been in order to make this an interesting thread.

Edit: now we are rolling!!

 

[Big Baller]

 

[Arsic]

Did he spark franchises and become iconic on top? Feels like a one and done from suda. Travis is more iconic and bad ass than him with 4 games under his belt.

 

[diffusionx]

Uhhh sweaty, times have changed. Gaming isn't for you anymore, chud.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Dies, comes back to life every time, sparked franchises, merch, movies, spinoffs, food(s), theme parks, worldwide mindshare, decades in the game.
On top of that Iconic Frosting.

 

[Larxia]

In "recent" games maybe Arthur in RDR2?

 

[Big Baller]

Did he spark franchises and become iconic on top? Feels like a one and done from suda. Travis is more iconic and bad ass than him with 4 games under his belt.

Were getting a remaster 10 years later.

 

[StereoVsn]

Uhhh sweaty, times have changed. Gaming isn't for you anymore, chud.

I think that’s a wrong take. There is space for all kinds of different leads including 80s-90s action movie type MCs.

There is certainly an audience for above and devs are leaving money on the table.

 

[Arsic]

Dies, comes back to life every time, sparked franchises, merch, movies, spinoffs, food(s), theme parks, worldwide mindshare, decades in the game.

Idk that Mario constitutes as a most recent iconic bad ass character. Your argument would be he’s a staple.

I’m trying to determine why we don’t get franchise face bad asses anymore, and when did this die off. Who was the last one?

 

[Arsic]

In "recent" games maybe Arthur in RDR2?

I’d think this may be right. Unfortunately he too is a one and done.

We aren’t getting a face to franchise bad ass to carry sequels on end like Marcus Fenix, Chief, Nathan Drake, etc.

 

[mortal]

There are probably fewer because the market has changed. More games now feature light RPG elements and character creation where players can customize the look of the protagonist. So less iconic character designs in general, even badass ones.

 

[jufonuk]

Doom guy is back.

 

[Arsic]

Doom guy is back.

This actually may be the right answer. Since this Doom guy is now the doom slayer and has had two games so far with a third potentially on the horizon.

Doom Slayer is holding down the fort solo.

 

[Denton]

I am literally just playing Ghost of Tsushima and Jin Sakai is pretty bad ass.

Henry from Kingdom Come starts as iliterate peasant and goes through events that make him a bad ass knight.

V in Cyberpunk is pretty bad ass, putting aside the whole terminal ilness from an implant kind of thing.

And let's not forget, the biggest pair of bad asses that have ever bad assed

 

[diffusionx]

In "recent" games maybe Arthur in RDR2?

 

[Arsic]

I am literally just playing Ghost of Tsushima and Jin Sakai is pretty bad ass.

Henry from Kingdom Come starts as iliterate peasant and goes through events that make him a bad ass knight.

V in Cyberpunk is pretty bad ass, putting aside the whole terminal ilness from an implant kind of thing.

And let's not forget, the biggest pair of bad asses that have ever bad assed

All of these right now are one offs.

Jin has the potential if a sequel hits to be that dude.

We will need to see what happens to Henry in part 2.

I love disco to death but cmon lol.

Cyberpunk is a one off make your own character for V.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Underrated but male V for me is just awesome. I wanna play as him again in the next Cyberpunk and since the DLC adds a new ending that changes things, there may be a chance.

 

[Nankatsu]

Deacon St. John. Rest his soul.

 

[kiphalfton]

Amazed nobody has posted:

 

[TGO]

Don't people want more representation?
I know I don't relate to the modern characters these days but they're representative of some beta male and ignored insecure woman out there.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

The most recent that I would give a shit about is probably Isaac, from Dead Space.
Franchise Unlocked(3 games that got progressively worse, thank you EA), got a remake in HD, successful in my eyes but since it's EA, they demolish studios for barely moving an eyelash. EA ruined the series, not the other way around. Otherwise, every other character I can think of, aside from maybe Max Payne can get fucked; unless someone here reminds me of someone I hadn't thought of, that's actually worth mentioning.

Ugh, I just went on a mini rant. I'm goin' to work.

 

[Chuck Berry]

 

[TintoConCasera]

 

[adamsapple]

 

[j0hnnix]

We got Alloy.

Spoiler

 

[rodrigolfp]

Coward stealth character badass?

 

[Rran]

How about Anton from AntonBlast? He’s like Wario but constantly furious.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Just play any boomer shooter and you get that.

 

[ungalo]

"badass" was never a badass term to begin with i think, things started to go downhill from there.

 

[Aion002]

Modern ones:

The Wolf from Sekiro (dude kills everything and everyone to save his master, because he wants to).

Pinocchio from Lies of P (a robot that gains humanity, kills zombies, other robots, crazy alchemists and his creator, because he choose to).

Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima: "Honor died on the beach, I will poison those fuckers and win!"

 

[Danjin44]

 

[Arsic]

"badass" was never a badass term to begin with i think, things started to go downhill from there.

Put whatever word you want on it but basically :
-Iconic
-In multiple games
-Generally thought of as a cool character

The cover box character. Chief, Ryu, Kratos, Dante, Snake, etc.

It does feel like Doom Slayer is currently it.

Maybe Cal from Respawns Jedi games?

 

[TintoConCasera]

Maybe Cal from Respawns Jedi games?

Nah, doesn't hold a candle when compared to Kyle Katarn.

 

[Nankatsu]

Nah, doesn't hold a candle when compared to Kyle Katarn.

 

[Arsic]

Nah, doesn't hold a candle when compared to Kyle Katarn.

Star killer was better. Change my mind.

 

[Randall365]

Eve counts surely.

Probably best described as a greatass though.

 

[Fake]

 

[Danjin44]

In older games he was but his newer game even Norn sisters make fun of him, "you still kill gods but now you sad about it" and his obnoxiously trying give life lesson to everyone.

 

[Fess]

This thread is pissing me off right now. Why aren’t any devs doing cool MALE main characters anymore?!!

 

[TintoConCasera]

Star killer was better. Change my mind.

Haven't played his games! But I'll try.

Kyle Katarn: beard
Star Killer: no beard

Check mate.

 

[MagiusNecros]

Nah, doesn't hold a candle when compared to Kyle Katarn.

Or Dash Rendar. Can't get enough of the iconic SotE theme too.

 

[Danjin44]

 

[Arsic]

Haven't played his games! But I'll try.

Kyle Katarn: beard
Star Killer: no beard

Check mate.

Who needs a beard when you got a helmet?

 

[TintoConCasera]

Hell yeah.
Best anime I've ever played.
Or best game I've ever watched?

Doesn't matter, this shit was amazing from start to finish. A bit shit to have the story ending behind a DLC, but still, can't recommend this one enough.

 

[ChoosableOne]

Op is right. Nathan Drake was cool though, if you count him as new.

 

[Trilobit]

Hunted by the cops and even starts dating one of the cops.
Very cool with vibes of George Clooney.
In several games, equally cool in each. Beats bad guys with his strength and wicked agility!

 

[Danjin44]

Hell yeah.
Best anime I've ever played.
Or best game I've ever watched?

Doesn't matter, this shit was amazing from start to finish. A bit shit to have the story ending behind a DLC, but still, can't recommend this one enough.

I really, REALLY want Capcom remake this game, or even simple remaster I would be fine with it.

 

[MagiusNecros]

Hell yeah.
Best anime I've ever played.
Or best game I've ever watched?

Doesn't matter, this shit was amazing from start to finish. A bit shit to have the story ending behind a DLC, but still, can't recommend this one enough.

Nah. Still like this one better. I did appreciate the DBZ style cutscenes though in Asura's Wrath.

 

[Darkmakaimura]

I was thinking this too but it also applies for movies and other entertainment.

Like as an example, remember when some Star Wars characters used to be pretty cool?

Now you don't get a badass and cool male character anymore and I don't think we need to explain why that is.