Saturday, April 2, 2011

My Top 10 Supporting Characters


We all know the main characters and heroes of v
ideo games but what about the guy that helps our hero out? Whether it be for comic relief or actual help a video hero’s supporting cast can be crucial to the success of the mission. Here are my 10 favorite supporting characters. Note: A supporting character is any character that you don't usually play as, sometimes in multiplayer you will play as another character but I'm defining supporting character as anyone who isn't the main guy.

10. Elena Fisher- Uncharted 1 and 2Elena is one of those characters that seems like she could be a real person, she is ambitious, loyal, and capable but in a way that is believable. Sometimes she can’t do some of the physical feats that Drake does (but let’s be honest, who could? The man puts Olympic gymnasts to shame) and she shows real emotions that you can relate to. Her relationship with Drake influences a lot of his decisions and it seems that he is better for having her around.

9. Yoshi- Mario Games (a lot of them)
Yoshi is a huge asset to Mario as he tries to save Princess Peach. When Mario gets to Yoshi he can ride him like a horse, letting Mario move faster. Yoshi can also swallow enemies and spit them out at other enemies. Yoshi is the vehicle in Mario’s world and he makes it much easier to navigate the sea of baddies.

8. Fawkes- Fallout 3
A super mutant who can talk? Cool. One who isn’t out to kill you? Great. One who has a gatling laser that will obliterate anything in its path? Freaking awesome! Fawkes is definitely the best follower you can have in Fallout 3, he will almost never get knocked out, has a weapon that will annihilate enemies, and if you are low on health you can just stick back while he tears them apart. Having him on your team makes everything much easier.

7. Augustus Cole- Gears of War 1 and 2
The “Cole Train” is one of my favorite supporting characters because he brings the pain and the comedy to the game. Whenever Cole is around you know you’ll get a good laugh and he’ll actually be helpful in your mission. His entrance in Gears of War 2 should tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a wrecking ball with a sense of humor and for that he deserves to be on this list.

6. Barry Wheeler- Alan Wake


When trying to fight off demons and poltergeists at night in the woods it helps to have a friend who can lighten the mood. Barry does just that for Alan Wake, his sense of humor and slight help throughout the game keeps Alan from going completely insane with fear. Barry is there when Alan needs him with his “flaming light of mordor” and is a true friend.

5. Canderous Ordo- Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2(as Mandalore)
Canderous is one of those characters that you love to have on your side in a fight but don’t necessarily enjoy knowing. He’s a Mandalorian who has done some terrible things in war (he’s seriously trump anyone at Nuremberg) but begins to regret his actions and change his ways as the game progresses. He is loyal, capable, and can spin a good yarn about his younger days. All of these traits make him fun and useful to have around. Just don’t piss him off.

4. Alyx Vance- Half Life 2


Where would Gordon Freeman be without Alyx? Who knows but he wouldn’t have been able to pull off what he did quite as well if not for her help. Alyx is Eli Vance’s daughter and a huge asset to Gordon over the course of the game. Alyx helps Gordon navigate military bases, hold off alien invaders, and do just about everything else that happens in the game.

3. Knuckles- Sonic Franchise
Knuckles is one of those supporting characters who puts the main character to shame. Knuckles can glide, climb walls, and bust through barriers that Sonic can’t. He starts as an adversary to Sonic but they eventually realize that they are on the same side. Knuckles is technically a supporting character but he could probably beat Sonic in a fight, just saying...

2. Cortana- Halo 1,2 and 3


The Master Chief is one of the coolest characters in video games but he would be almost nowhere without the help of Cortana, the Pillar of Autumn’s AI. She marks nav points for him, strategizes for him, and interfaces with computer systems when needed. She is the classic “brains” of the operation to the Master Chief’s “brawn.”

1. Dominic Santiago- Gears of War 1 and 2

Dominic, or Dom for short, is Marcus Fenix’s best friend and ally in the war against the Locust and despite being a supporting character he has a surprising amount of character development. Gears of War 2 could easily have been Dominic’s story and not Marcus’. His search for his wife is some of the most emotional and deep stuff that the franchise offers and his constant aid to Marcus is crucial for their survival.

Those are my favorite, who are yours?

PS: Sorry about the changes in text size, I don't know why it's doing that and I can't fix it.


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