Gordon Freeman voted best video game character by Empire Magazine

  • 100 results
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for Arach666
Arach666

23285

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -1

User Lists: 0

#1 Arach666
Member since 2009 • 23285 Posts

Empire selected Gordon Freeman as the best video game character in a list that also includes Mario,SHODAN,The Nameless One and Manny Calavera,among many others.(Top-50)

link

What do you think of this list? Do you agree or disagree with the choices?

Who do you feel that should have been there but isn´t?

Who would lead your own list?

Top-15

1.Gordon Freeman
2.Super Mario
3.SHODAN
4.The Nameless One
5.Lara Croft
6.Link
7.Guybrush Threepwood
8.Master Chief
9.Lemmings
10.Sephiroth
11.Minsc & Boo
12.GLaDOS
13.Cloud Strife
14.Sonic
15.Kratos

Avatar image for deactivated-5b19214ec908b
deactivated-5b19214ec908b

25072

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#2 deactivated-5b19214ec908b
Member since 2007 • 25072 Posts

Saying Freeman is the best character ever is like saying a blank piece of paper is the best book ever

Avatar image for dream431ca
dream431ca

10165

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#3 dream431ca
Member since 2003 • 10165 Posts

Interesting choice. I'm just thankful they didn't choose Mario or Master Chief or Kratos. Gordon Freeman is the personification of you. That's why he's so great.

Avatar image for dream431ca
dream431ca

10165

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#4 dream431ca
Member since 2003 • 10165 Posts

Saying Freeman is the best character ever is like saying a blank piece of paper is the best book ever

toast_burner

And for some people and blank piece of paper speaks louder than a worded paper. That was a failure trying to be witty on my part. Ignore what I said, I mean typed.

Avatar image for Filthybastrd
Filthybastrd

7124

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#5 Filthybastrd
Member since 2009 • 7124 Posts

Can't say I agree with Freeman. There's practically no character to speak of in him.

In before "DUh, that's because YOU are Freeman".... Yeah... No.

Avatar image for YankeeDan345
YankeeDan345

1430

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

#6 YankeeDan345
Member since 2005 • 1430 Posts

The term "Greatest" is to vague IMO. What makes them great? They should make a list of "the most influential" and "the most popular."

Avatar image for longtonguecat
longtonguecat

2558

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#7 longtonguecat
Member since 2008 • 2558 Posts

Moderately good list, but the people voting down characters like Shodan and the Nameless One by like 89% is stupid...

Avatar image for locopatho
locopatho

24300

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#8 locopatho
Member since 2003 • 24300 Posts
God....DAMMIT! Freeman is not a character in any way! BLARGH!!!
Avatar image for SparkyProtocol
SparkyProtocol

7680

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 76

User Lists: 0

#9 SparkyProtocol
Member since 2009 • 7680 Posts

Interesting choice. I'm just thankful they didn't choose Mario or Master Chief or Kratos. Gordon Freeman is the personification of you. That's why he's so great.

dream431ca
I'm pretty sure Gordon Freeman is Gordon Freeman. Nothing is different if I play Half Life opposed to you playing Half Life. I think Ryu is the best game character. :P (street fighter)
Avatar image for dream431ca
dream431ca

10165

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#10 dream431ca
Member since 2003 • 10165 Posts

[QUOTE="dream431ca"]

Interesting choice. I'm just thankful they didn't choose Mario or Master Chief or Kratos. Gordon Freeman is the personification of you. That's why he's so great.

SparkyProtocol

I'm pretty sure Gordon Freeman is Gordon Freeman. Nothing is different if I play Half Life opposed to you playing Half Life. I think Ryu is the best game character. :P

He is still Gorden Freeman, but he doesn't speak and you never really see his face in game so I can see that having some appeal to people.

If I had to choose the best videogame character it would have to be the main character from the Yakuza series, which I forget his name and too lazy too look it up, but be he is the best character I have seen in a long time.

Avatar image for Arach666
Arach666

23285

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -1

User Lists: 0

#11 Arach666
Member since 2009 • 23285 Posts

Moderately good list, but the people voting down characters like Shodan and the Nameless One by like 89% is stupid...

longtonguecat
Indeed,that is a damn shame.
Avatar image for jasonharris48
jasonharris48

21441

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#12 jasonharris48
Member since 2006 • 21441 Posts

The Nameless One should of won.

Avatar image for jg4xchamp
jg4xchamp

64057

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 0

#13 jg4xchamp
Member since 2006 • 64057 Posts
Freeman maybe a great videogame device, but get the **** out of here with him being a great character. He's not much of a character at all to be honest. What he actually is more of a link between the player and the game into one singular immersive experience. He does that nicely with the surrounding world giving him a lore and backstory. Other than that though? he's not much of a character though. Hell if they wanted to with a Half Life 2 character it should have been G-man, or Alyx Vance, or Eli. Much better options than Gordan for what a "great character" is.
Avatar image for anshul89
anshul89

5705

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#14 anshul89
Member since 2006 • 5705 Posts

For me it's Brucie and Yusuf Amir :)

Avatar image for GeneralShowzer
GeneralShowzer

11598

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 0

#15 GeneralShowzer
Member since 2010 • 11598 Posts
Hell yea, i agree with this. Gamespot users voted him the best too.
Avatar image for SgtKevali
SgtKevali

5763

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#16 SgtKevali
Member since 2009 • 5763 Posts

Freeman is no better than any other silent character. They're all blank pieces of paper.

Avatar image for skrat_01
skrat_01

33767

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#17 skrat_01
Member since 2007 • 33767 Posts
Irony is he is a character who lacks any actual character. Rather a piece of narrative design. Saying that, I'd rather something interesting in that regard, then a bland shell like Master Chief. The Lemmings have more character than the two combined multiplied tenfold. - Aside from that it is a particularly good list. I am very, very pleased to see SHODAN so high up, followed by The Nameless One, GLaDOS, Minsc, Guybrush - even Lara Croft and the Lemmings; the others placement is certainly fine (even Kratos). Props go to Empire. Surprisingly decent indeed.
Avatar image for Yangire
Yangire

8795

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#18 Yangire
Member since 2010 • 8795 Posts

You know what? This guy:

is the best video game character, ever.

Why you might ask, well he is clearly the embodiment of the average working man, pitted against the odds and over coming challenges. He might have no dialog or personality but I see MYSELF AS the character, I'm the person facing the challenges instead of him. While, I can clearly see this man does not look like me, I CAN control him and choose how he jumps and how he gets past situations.

This guy is the best video game character ever.

Avatar image for Valiant_Rebel
Valiant_Rebel

4197

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#19 Valiant_Rebel
Member since 2009 • 4197 Posts

Just as with any best video game *insert attribute here* list, I have to disagree.

First of all, do not get me wrong. I like Gordon Freeman and I like Half-Life, but to say he is number one for character is really bad. Character consists of features that distinguish a person from other people. I know Gordon is supposed to represent "you", but he does not exactly have personality of his own.

This can also be applied to other games as well. Let us use Master Chief and Mario for example. I like both Halo and Mario games, but I do not see either protagonist having excellent character. Master Chief is somewhat bland. He is not exactly bursting with an emotion of some kind. Mario on the other hand is just there. He is not excited, pumped-up, conceited, or aloof. He is just there doing what he always does.

One main problem with this list is that it seems more like a popularity vote rather than a measure for something. It also does not give a standard for what character is or how it is measured because there is not really any set standard for character. It would be very difficult to have a standard because there isn't a way to have "wrong" character.

The last problem is that it tries to choose 50 characters out of the possible thousands that exist today. This is going to automatically cause upset. "Where is X!? Why didn't you put Y in that list? How the hell is A #28 but B is #46!? How could you forget about C when C did this!?" You have characters that people are oversaturated with over characters people do not know or ever heard of. Good chances are that with any list, you are going to see the former constantly.

I wouldn't say this is the worst list ever because there are very terrible lists that make this list look amazing. I would say it's mediocre; it's "alright", but it's not superb at the same time.

I could not give you an opinion on who should be number one or who should be on the list. I have played a lot of games, but I know I have missed some gems. Good chances are that the games I missed have video game characters with better character versus the characters in the games I have played. I have not played enough games to give a solid choice.

Avatar image for Filthybastrd
Filthybastrd

7124

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#20 Filthybastrd
Member since 2009 • 7124 Posts

As far as character goes, Freeman is more or less on level with DOOM guy.

That's because YOU are Doom guy. It's YOU who traverse Mars (later hell).

Seriously, Freeman does'nt have much but a name to his character.

Avatar image for locopatho
locopatho

24300

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#22 locopatho
Member since 2003 • 24300 Posts
[QUOTE="skrat_01"]Irony is he is a character who lacks any actual character. Rather a piece of narrative design. Saying that, I'd rather something interesting in that regard, then a bland shell like Master Chief. The Lemmings have more character than the two combined multiplied tenfold. - Aside from that it is a particularly good list. I am very, very pleased to see SHODAN so high up, followed by The Nameless One, GLaDOS, Minsc, Guybrush - even Lara Croft and the Lemmings; the others placement is certainly fine (even Kratos). Props go to Empire. Surprisingly decent indeed.

Empire are actually really good for game related stuff. Well, better than the usual non gaming magazines that just give 10s to COD and Mario and ignore everything else...
Avatar image for R3FURBISHED
R3FURBISHED

12408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

#23 R3FURBISHED
Member since 2008 • 12408 Posts

Gordon Freeman is a terrible character, the remaining cast is just so well done and so relatable that he (Mr. Freeman) comes off as being well done. The player is constantly reminded that they[Gordon Freeman] are great because Freeman does things that an MIT grad shouldn't normally be doing i.e. saving the world.

Avatar image for Krayzie_3334
Krayzie_3334

1303

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#24 Krayzie_3334
Member since 2006 • 1303 Posts

An okay list I guess, Though Minsc & Boo defiantly should've be higher.:P

Also, reminds me of another contest.;)

[spoiler] [/spoiler]

Avatar image for Arach666
Arach666

23285

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -1

User Lists: 0

#25 Arach666
Member since 2009 • 23285 Posts

An okay list I guess, Though Minsic & Boo defiantly should've be higher.:P

Krayzie_3334

Very true;)

Avatar image for Twin-Blade
Twin-Blade

6806

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#26 Twin-Blade
Member since 2005 • 6806 Posts

Manny is awesome. Tim from Braid is pretty interesting after completing everything & learning the whole story. John Marston is pretty cool thus far in RDR. Some others I like include Sahz from FF13, Kaim from LO, Delta Squad (Yeah, I like them), but my favourite character would have to be Kratos. A simple man, I like that. No emotions & complicated background to follow, just the one emotion. Rage! And he is the definition of bad***.

Edit: Psychonauts cast, forgot about them. From the little I played of BG2, Minsc bugged me. :(

Avatar image for FrozenLiquid
FrozenLiquid

13555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

#27 FrozenLiquid
Member since 2007 • 13555 Posts

Saying that, I'd rather something interesting in that regard, then a bland shell like Master Chief. skrat_01

They're both the same thing, it's just that one of them has to talk during cutscenes when you're not playing. You're a budding game designer, I thought you would've known this?

Avatar image for WAIW
WAIW

5000

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 21

User Lists: 0

#28 WAIW
Member since 2008 • 5000 Posts

.. He doesn't have a character...

Avatar image for Zerocrossings
Zerocrossings

7988

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

#29 Zerocrossings
Member since 2006 • 7988 Posts

The list is lousy. Freeman, Link, Lemmings, and Mario.. they dont even have a character.

Avatar image for Miroku32
Miroku32

8666

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 43

User Lists: 0

#30 Miroku32
Member since 2006 • 8666 Posts
Oh man, why people are still choosing Freeman? Freeman is you, that guy doesn't has any personality at all.
Avatar image for ethanradd
ethanradd

654

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#31 ethanradd
Member since 2009 • 654 Posts

Freeman, best video game character? Cant say I disagree with that...

Avatar image for skrat_01
skrat_01

33767

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#32 skrat_01
Member since 2007 • 33767 Posts

[QUOTE="skrat_01"]Saying that, I'd rather something interesting in that regard, then a bland shell like Master Chief. FrozenLiquid

They're both the same thing, it's just that one of them has to talk during cutscenes when you're not playing. You're a budding game designer, I thought you would've known this?

Difference is Gordon has zero character, he was never intended to have any. He is a slate for you to portray yourself in game.

Master Chief is given a character, you indeed see that during the cut-scenes over the course of the games. Difference is there is a complete separation of character in and out of gameplay; it can be argued it ruins (or improves, as I am guessing it was intended) player agency.)

In that regard they are incredibly different, Gordon has no preset personality or characterization (aside from the box cover), Master Chief does.

I would say on a character basis by the games, they are both as dull as each other. But hey we are still trying to work out what makes a great character in a video game anyway.

Avatar image for FrozenLiquid
FrozenLiquid

13555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

#33 FrozenLiquid
Member since 2007 • 13555 Posts

Difference is Gordon has zero character, he was never intended to have any. He is a slate for you to portray yourself in game. Master Chief is given a character, you indeed see that during the cut-scenes over the course of the games. Difference is there is a complete separation of character in and out of gameplay; it can be argued it ruins (or improves, as I am guessing it was intended) player agency.) In that regard they are incredibly different, Gordon has no personality or characterization (aside from the box cover), Master Chief does. I would say on a character basis by the games, they are both as dull as each other. But hey we are still trying to work out what makes a great character in a video game anyway. skrat_01

How is Master Chief a given character? Is it simply because he's presented in a cutscene? Does that automatically constitute a 'given' character? When Eli, Alyx, or whatever address the 'slate' as "Freeman", doesn't it mean that Gordon Freeman is also a 'given character'? Those were all rhetorical questions by the way. I think a little thinking outside the square needs to be happening.

Think about what happens during gameplay in Halo. Does the Chief ever speak? He's given ample opportunity when marines or Cortana speak to him directly during gameplay. So why doesn't he ever talk?

And what of him in the cutscenes? Does he ever take his helmet off, and if so, can you see his mug? What of his lines? Can you remember any line the Master Chief gives that isn't a directive e.g "I need a weapon" or "I thought I was gonna shoot my way out of here". Everything he says (except in two instances: "Don't get any funny ideas" in Halo: CE and "You told me there wouldn't be any cameras" in Halo 2, both incidentally the two lines people cite as the 'best' characterization of the Chief in the games) is related to the plot, and references the player interacting with the world. Nothing he says is to serve him or his characterization, because he serves the exact same purpose as Gordon Freeman.

Whether you believe it to be less effective than the other is another argument altogether. The fact of the matter is, the Master Chief is a character in the exact way Gordon Freeman is a character.

Avatar image for Pug-Nasty
Pug-Nasty

8508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#34 Pug-Nasty
Member since 2009 • 8508 Posts

Saying Freeman is the best character ever is like saying a blank piece of paper is the best book ever

toast_burner

:lol:, no kidding. In fact, most of those "characters" are little more than blobs of color with a gameplay hook.

Avatar image for DraugenCP
DraugenCP

8486

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 69

User Lists: 0

#35 DraugenCP
Member since 2006 • 8486 Posts

It appears to me that these lists are always more like 'list the protagonists of your favourite franchises'. Protagonists are often meant to be a link between the player and the game (hence why Zelda's protagonist is called Link), which means they have a blank personality: a tabula rasa which the player can fill with his own imagination. Moreover, protagonists are often archetypes of goodness and nobility, which is why they are rarely anything interesting as they don't have many interesting/darker personality traits. This goes for virtually all protagonists of major franchises: Mario, Link, Gordon Freeman, Master Chief, etc.

If I were to decide on a list of best video game characters, they would probably include, for example, Conker, the Rabbids, or Bowser as he appears in the Mario RPGs (playing as him in Super Paper Mario made the game more hilarious than it already was). Not that I'm saying that I have knowledge of the absolute truth, but it's obvious that people obviously don't put a lot of time in these lists as they're basically listing video game characters as the representatives of their respective franchises, rather than them actually having a noteworthy personality.

Avatar image for FrozenLiquid
FrozenLiquid

13555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

#36 FrozenLiquid
Member since 2007 • 13555 Posts

But hey we are still trying to work out what makes a great character in a video game anyway.

skrat_01

For one, I don't think characters worthy of films of literature are going to be good video game characters. I honestly believe Gordon Freeman to be one of the greatest video game characters of all time. The term 'character' is a misnomer in the realm of games, simply because in trying to characterize someone in a game, you're inevitably going to distance the character away from the player. That's not what you want to do. If people want to look for characters worthy of film and literature, some of the top two are Kane and Lynch. But no one's going to be running in to say that they are some of video game's greatest characters. It's just not right in videogamedom.

Guybrush Threepwood is my personal favourite character of all time. He's able to marry the player's actions and connect them within the pirate cartoon world Ron Gilbert created. Like if you try to solve a puzzle with the wrong or ridiculous items, he'll make some witty comment, and his observations about games are just incredibly hilarious and on point.

Avatar image for padaporra
padaporra

3508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#37 padaporra
Member since 2005 • 3508 Posts

If I remember right there was a poll here on gamespot some time ago about the best videogame character of all time or something like that and GF won, am I right? Can someone get me the list if that's the case.
.
So, It's not surprising that he is top1 in another list...
.
I also like to see Lara Croft in the top5, I was re-playing tomb raider this days and remembered how awesome she is.

Avatar image for FrozenLiquid
FrozenLiquid

13555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

#38 FrozenLiquid
Member since 2007 • 13555 Posts

It appears to me that these lists are always more like 'list the protagonists of your favourite franchises'. Protagonists are often meant to be a link between the player and the game (hence why Zelda's protagonist is called Link), which means they have a blank personality: a tabula rasa which the player can fill with his own imagination. Moreover, protagonists are often archetypes of goodness and nobility, which is why they are rarely anything interesting as they don't have many interesting/darker personality traits. This goes for virtually all protagonists of major franchises: Mario, Link, Gordon Freeman, Master Chief, etc.

If I were to decide on a list of best video game characters, they would probably include, for example, Conker, the Rabbids, or Bowser as he appears in the Mario RPGs (playing as him in Super Paper Mario made the game more hilarious than it already was). Not that I'm saying that I have knowledge of the absolute truth, but it's obvious that people obviously don't put a lot of time in these lists as they're basically listing video game characters as the representatives of their respective franchises, rather than them actually having a noteworthy personality.

DraugenCP

On the contrary, I think that's what many publications are gunning for. The question posed for us gamers is not if the character is a blank sheet, but just how well that blank sheet is used. Many games have elaborately detailed characters, and yet half the time they go under the radar. April Ryan? Kate Walker? George Stobbart? They'll never get mentioned. Why's Shodan on the list? It's a villain that was cunningly used as a reflection of the blank paper. Why is the Nameless One usually high on the list? He goes hand-in-hand with how the game functions. Revan and Malak? Same deal.

Avatar image for FrozenLiquid
FrozenLiquid

13555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

#40 FrozenLiquid
Member since 2007 • 13555 Posts

If I remember right there was a poll here on gamespot some time ago about the best videogame character of all time or something like that and GF won, am I right? Can someone get me the list if that's the case.
.
So, It's not surprising that he is top1 in another list...
.
I also like to see Lara Croft in the top5, I was re-playing tomb raider this days and remembered how awesome she is.

padaporra

While Lara is a personal favourite of mine, she'll never be that high. Her character is too self-serving. It's like, here's her game, but her personality exists outside the game. Many great characters in games are like that, so they won't really enter high on the list.

Avatar image for AdobeArtist
AdobeArtist

25184

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#41 AdobeArtist  Moderator
Member since 2006 • 25184 Posts

Freeman maybe a great videogame device, but get the **** out of here with him being a great character. He's not much of a character at all to be honest. What he actually is more of a link between the player and the game into one singular immersive experience. He does that nicely with the surrounding world giving him a lore and backstory. Other than that though? he's not much of a character though. Hell if they wanted to with a Half Life 2 character it should have been G-man, or Alyx Vance, or Eli. Much better options than Gordan for what a "great character" is.jg4xchamp

I have to agree. Freeman, like any other silent protagonist, is really just an avatar for the player themselves, their conduit into the game world. It's not like other characters who display personailtes and attituedes through interactions with the people and world around them. In cinematics, you have a lens for seeing into the characters psyhcological makeup, basically what kind of a person he/she is.

But you've never seen Freeman kiss Alyx, or yell at Dr Kline for being a dousche, or threaten the G-man, or tell Eli that the combine have their own side to the war. There is nothing to gaugue his "character" by any positive or negative traits, one way or another.

When people talk about Freeman being badass, cool, dedicated, heroic or what have you, being that he's the avatar-conduit as I noted before, they're simply imbuing him the attributes they want to see in him. And being a blank slate enables that transferrence of qualities they desire in the protagonist.

Avatar image for DraugenCP
DraugenCP

8486

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 69

User Lists: 0

#42 DraugenCP
Member since 2006 • 8486 Posts

[QUOTE="DraugenCP"]

It appears to me that these lists are always more like 'list the protagonists of your favourite franchises'. Protagonists are often meant to be a link between the player and the game (hence why Zelda's protagonist is called Link), which means they have a blank personality: a tabula rasa which the player can fill with his own imagination. Moreover, protagonists are often archetypes of goodness and nobility, which is why they are rarely anything interesting as they don't have many interesting/darker personality traits. This goes for virtually all protagonists of major franchises: Mario, Link, Gordon Freeman, Master Chief, etc.

If I were to decide on a list of best video game characters, they would probably include, for example, Conker, the Rabbids, or Bowser as he appears in the Mario RPGs (playing as him in Super Paper Mario made the game more hilarious than it already was). Not that I'm saying that I have knowledge of the absolute truth, but it's obvious that people obviously don't put a lot of time in these lists as they're basically listing video game characters as the representatives of their respective franchises, rather than them actually having a noteworthy personality.

FrozenLiquid

On the contrary, I think that's what many publications are gunning for. The question posed for us gamers is not if the character is a blank sheet, but just how well that blank sheet is used. Many games have elaborately detailed characters, and yet half the time they go under the radar. April Ryan? Kate Walker? George Stobbart? They'll never get mentioned. Why's Shodan on the list? It's a villain that was cunningly used as a reflection of the blank paper. Why is the Nameless One usually high on the list? He goes hand-in-hand with how the game functions. Revan and Malak? Same deal.

I still find it dubious, though, to name them great characters just because they fit well into the game. Appropiate characters, sure, but I think a lot of it just comes down to being iconic representations of franchises, which has more to do with the popularity of their respective franchises than with the merits of that character. I couldn't find any other explanation for such an inherently bland and mediocre character such as Master Chief being so high in those lists. It's not what he is, but what he represents, in which case a list of most 'iconic' or 'recognisable' video game characters would be more appropiate.

Avatar image for Mr_Alexander
Mr_Alexander

1686

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

#43 Mr_Alexander
Member since 2007 • 1686 Posts

Saying Freeman is the best character ever is like saying a blank piece of paper is the best book ever

toast_burner

My thoughts exactly.

Avatar image for FrozenLiquid
FrozenLiquid

13555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

#44 FrozenLiquid
Member since 2007 • 13555 Posts

[QUOTE="FrozenLiquid"]

[QUOTE="DraugenCP"]

It appears to me that these lists are always more like 'list the protagonists of your favourite franchises'. Protagonists are often meant to be a link between the player and the game (hence why Zelda's protagonist is called Link), which means they have a blank personality: a tabula rasa which the player can fill with his own imagination. Moreover, protagonists are often archetypes of goodness and nobility, which is why they are rarely anything interesting as they don't have many interesting/darker personality traits. This goes for virtually all protagonists of major franchises: Mario, Link, Gordon Freeman, Master Chief, etc.

If I were to decide on a list of best video game characters, they would probably include, for example, Conker, the Rabbids, or Bowser as he appears in the Mario RPGs (playing as him in Super Paper Mario made the game more hilarious than it already was). Not that I'm saying that I have knowledge of the absolute truth, but it's obvious that people obviously don't put a lot of time in these lists as they're basically listing video game characters as the representatives of their respective franchises, rather than them actually having a noteworthy personality.

DraugenCP

On the contrary, I think that's what many publications are gunning for. The question posed for us gamers is not if the character is a blank sheet, but just how well that blank sheet is used. Many games have elaborately detailed characters, and yet half the time they go under the radar. April Ryan? Kate Walker? George Stobbart? They'll never get mentioned. Why's Shodan on the list? It's a villain that was cunningly used as a reflection of the blank paper. Why is the Nameless One usually high on the list? He goes hand-in-hand with how the game functions. Revan and Malak? Same deal.

I still find it dubious, though, to name them great characters just because they fit well into the game. Appropiate characters, sure, but I think a lot of it just comes down to being iconic representations of franchises, which has more to do with the popularity of their respective franchises than with the merits of that character. I couldn't find any other explanation for such an inherently bland and mediocre character such as Master Chief being so high in those lists. It's not what he is, but what he represents, in which case a list of most 'iconic' or 'recognisable' video game characters would be more appropiate.

There's always going to be one or two on the list that people raise a brow at. The merits of a character should always be tied with a game, or gameplay at least.. Popularity isn't so much an issue a tell-tale of a particular game. Master Chief shouldn't be on the list, sure, but with all the other characters on that list, it's not too far off to be honest.

Avatar image for deactivated-5ac102a4472fe
deactivated-5ac102a4472fe

7431

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#45 deactivated-5ac102a4472fe
Member since 2007 • 7431 Posts

I generally like that list, altho I would have preferred if SHODAN or The Nameless one won.

As long as it was not "wisecracking clone nr. 52" or " angry man nr. 5000".

It is also true that Gordon Freeman never talks, or shows anythign himself, he is blank, however people usually discount that the surroundings of Freeman does not see that, you are told more about freeman by his surroundings then you are told from him.

I kind of Like Gordon, he was a geek to begin with, not som guntoating overly insane muppet, just an average scientist who were in the "fight or die" situation. You know that he is a king od nice guy when looking about what other people say to and about him.

And you know that he (in that universe) is one of the few remaining hopes left of mankind, and seen as a liberator, altho he really is not, he is more of an unwilling puppet led by forces beyond that people rarely see, so he is trapped by the persona they created, with hopes that are too much for him to lift?

Then again, when Freeman fights things ends up dying ;)

I do not consider him the best character tho, but a character does not need to be told or shown through cutscenes, or monologues. or even dialogues.

How Freeman feels about his situation is up to the player afterall, his personality was ment to be filled by the players.

I generally think that it is a really good list, that just should be shuffled around a bit ^^

Avatar image for skrat_01
skrat_01

33767

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#46 skrat_01
Member since 2007 • 33767 Posts

How is Master Chief a given character? Is it simply because he's presented in a cutscene? Does that automatically constitute a 'given' character? When Eli, Alyx, or whatever address the 'slate' as "Freeman", doesn't it mean that Gordon Freeman is also a 'given character'? Those were all rhetorical questions by the way. I think a little thinking outside the square needs to be happening.

Think about what happens during gameplay in Halo. Does the Chief ever speak? He's given ample opportunity when marines or Cortana speak to him directly during gameplay. So why doesn't he ever talk?

And what of him in the cutscenes? Does he ever take his helmet off, and if so, can you see his mug? What of his lines? Can you remember any line the Master Chief gives that isn't a directive e.g "I need a weapon" or "I thought I was gonna shoot my way out of here". Everything he says (except in two instances: "Don't get any funny ideas" in Halo: CE and "You told me there wouldn't be any cameras" in Halo 2, both incidentally the two lines people cite as the 'best' characterization of the Chief in the games) is related to the plot, and references the player interacting with the world. Nothing he says is to serve him or his characterization, because he serves the exact same purpose as Gordon Freeman.

Whether you believe it to be less effective than the other is another argument altogether. The fact of the matter is, the Master Chief is a character in the exact way Gordon Freeman is a character.

FrozenLiquid

Yes, yes it does.

Gordon Freeman is ultimatley transparent, there is no presence of his character in the game; essentially removing barriers between the characters actions outside the players input (fitting with the scripted sequences designed to create a sense of place and narrative that is compelling).

Master Chief's character in Halo is not transparent. He does things outside of gameplay - be it action or not, he talks to characters; his presence as someone independant, from the players control is there and active in the gameworld.

Doesn't matter if Chief doesn't speak during gameplay, there is a break in player agency there; a massive difference to Valve's method.

Its almost a reverse to Left 4 Dead's characters.

For one, I don't think characters worthy of films of literature are going to be good video game characters. I honestly believe Gordon Freeman to be one of the greatest video game characters of all time. The term 'character' is a misnomer in the realm of games, simply because in trying to characterize someone in a game, you're inevitably going to distance the character away from the player. That's not what you want to do. If people want to look for characters worthy of film and literature, some of the top two are Kane and Lynch. But no one's going to be running in to say that they are some of video game's greatest characters. It's just not right in videogamedom.

Guybrush Threepwood is my personal favourite character of all time. He's able to marry the player's actions and connect them within the pirate cartoon world Ron Gilbert created. Like if you try to solve a puzzle with the wrong or ridiculous items, he'll make some witty comment, and his observations about games are just incredibly hilarious and on point.

FrozenLiquid

Can't disagree with you, good points; in that respect even non playable characters are some of the best or most important gaming characters.

Avatar image for positivebalance
positivebalance

2352

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#47 positivebalance
Member since 2010 • 2352 Posts

Saying Freeman is the best character ever is like saying a blank piece of paper is the best book ever

toast_burner



you're right. gordon freeman is an empty vessel, who is supposed to be void of personality. i love HL, but how he won is beyond me.

Avatar image for FrozenLiquid
FrozenLiquid

13555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

#48 FrozenLiquid
Member since 2007 • 13555 Posts

Yes, yes it does.

Gordon Freeman is ultimatley transparent, there is no presence of his character in the game; essentially removing barriers between the characters actions outside the players input (fitting with the scripted sequences designed to create a sense of place and narrative that is compelling).

Master Chief's character in Halo is not transparent. He does things outside of gameplay - be it action or not, he talks to characters; his presence as someone independant, from the players control is there and active in the gameworld.

Doesn't matter if Chief doesn't speak during gameplay, there is a break in player agency there; a massive difference to Valve's method.

Its almost a reverse to Left 4 Dead's characters.skrat_01

The character's in Half-Life specifically refer to you as Gordon, Freeman, Dr. Freeman whatever, so no, he's very present in the game. Master Chief is not as transparent as Gordon Freeman, that I will agree with you. Bungie however, have taken exact methods in keeping the Chief as transparent as possible despite the use of cutscenes, and they are gunning for the very same idea Valve had with Gordon. He doesn't "talk" to characters, semantically speaking, he "responds" to them. There is no backstory you have to trudge through, no ulterior motives you have to investigate into his character (in fact, Gordon's backstory is elaborated in the games more so than the Chief in Halo), it's as simple as him and a gun, and you're shooting things with it. I've provided you specific examples in the lines the Chief has, only there to essentially speak on your behalf when there is a cutscene. He never goes out of the way to characterize himself in the way you cannot characterize while you play him, save those couple of examples I've given you. This is the exact reason the novels are jarring (and utterly ridiculous) because the Chief actually has a personality that's self-serving in the novels.

If you can cite significant examples in which the Chief has a self-serving bias, I will have to concede my argument. Saying the game has cutscenes and therefore the Chief is not transparent is about as relevant as saying Gordon Freeman is a white caucasian on the box and therefore is not a true vessel.

As it stands, the Chief does the exact same things that Freeman and Link do. It's what the security officer from Marathon did, it's what the Rookie in Halo: ODST does and it's what Noble 6 in Halo: Reach is already doing given the footage we have. They're all characters in context for the player to control without any overbearing personality. Unfortunately, I'm not politically correct, I do believe in one objective truth, so there's no room to 'agree to disagree' here :P.

Despite the prejudice, I think it's actually worth noting what Bungie did here. They had to be very careful of what they allowed the Chief to do outside of gameplay because one wrong move and it could alienate players. Go on YouTube and watch several minutes of Halo cutscenes. Then watch several minutes of Crysis Warhead cutscenes. You will see a massive difference in how the protagonists are approached during non-gameplay moments. It's why I'm saying it's not as easy as stating "The Chief appears outside of gameplay. Therefore, he's his own character."

Now if you're debating with me to say that Freeman deserves a nod, whereas the Chief deserves a kick in the backside, then you shouldn't be riled up at all. Master Chief as a video game character doesn't even rate for me. Unlike you and several other guys, I'm pretty damn proud to say that Gordon Freeman would be in my top five video game characters ever, and I'll gladly defend his honour. I have no shame in defending Gordon Freeman at all. It irks me when people try to defend him from the pretentious snobs when they say "well, he's just a vessel, so he's different". Don't treat him like a retard He's a very effective video game character, period.

Can't disagree with you, good points; in that respect even non playable characters are some of the best or most important gaming characters.

FrozenLiquid

That's what I'm trying to get away from :P. People here seem to think that because NPCs are free from direct player intervention, they have better room to grow, and therefore are better characters. Not necessarily the case. Why is Shodan an awesome character? Or Glados? Kefka and Malak? They're all awesome because both player and NPC are directly communicating with each other that can only be achieved when the player is playing the game. It may sound weird, but switch the game off, and those NPCs turn off too. Those NPCs need you to interact with the world for them to function effectively.

It all begins with the player/protagonist. This is why I keep saying games should not be like film or literature, because they are seriously their own thing.

-

EDIT: Now stop arguing with me and check your inbox. I sent you a PM ages ago. Why? I think we can do one better than just constantly moaning about how crap games are on forums.

Avatar image for Rahnyc4
Rahnyc4

6660

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#49 Rahnyc4
Member since 2005 • 6660 Posts
might sound cliche but that goes to mario. hes the hardest working video game character in the industry. gordan freeman is hardly consistent. theres hardly been much game by him, being a half life fan that i am. .
Avatar image for Rahnyc4
Rahnyc4

6660

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#50 Rahnyc4
Member since 2005 • 6660 Posts
Hell yea, i agree with this. Gamespot users voted him the best too.GeneralShowzer
i think you mean steam users voted him the best on gamespot ;)