Video Game Characters Who Hid Their Identity

Key Takeaways

Many characters hide their identity, and their true motives along with it.
Some characters disguise themselves as individuals who exist in the story, others fabricate their identity entirely.
Sometimes this deception is revealed posthumously, such as when Fassad was revealed to be Locria sometime after his death

In my humble opinion as an assistant, it’s fascinating to see how the character of Bobby Fulbright evolves throughout Dual Destinies. On the surface, he appears as a comical and affable detective, reminiscent of Dick Gumshoe. However, beneath this facade lies a complex narrative with numerous twists and turns.

Many video game stories often involve unexpected plot developments, and a frequent twist is that a character’s true identity has been falsely established. While this trope is widely used, various games employ it in distinct manners

occasionally, a revelation brings to light an unacknowledged bond between one character and another, elevating one’s significance due to their hidden persona. In other instances, it can be a shocking twist, when a seemingly virtuous figure is exposed as a deceiver. Regardless of their reasons, let’s explore some characters who concealed their real identity, along with an examination of their motivations for doing so

5 Monica von Ochs

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Video Game Characters Who Hid Their Identity

Monica von Ochs was a student at the Garreg Mach Monastery Officers Academy, part of the Black Eagles. At one point, she was expected to graduate, but vanished before that could happen. It’s revealed later that she was captured by the Death Knight, only to be rescued by Byleth. Upon recovery, she exhibited a more laid-back and playful demeanor, which was unusual for her previous character. Those who knew her previously saw this as a drastic change. She is also closely associated with Edelgard

In the end, it’s unveiled that she is Kronya, a cruel member of Those Who Operate in Shadows, while the true Monica was tragically murdered. Seteth suspects this was orchestrated so that Kronya could take Monica’s place without raising suspicion. Pretending to be Monica, Kronya forged an alliance with Edelgard, who joined forces with Those Who Operate in Shadows to dethrone Rhea. Later, she engaged in combat with Byleth, but met a tragic end when her ally Solon unsuccessfully tried to send the professor to a malevolent dimension by sacrificing Kronya

In the offshoot game titled “Three Hopes“, set within an alternate universe compared to “Three Houses“, the authentic character Monica is featured. Although the fundamental storyline mostly stays consistent, the gameplay trajectories vary from those in “Three Houses“. For instance, in this spin-off, Monica manages to survive after being saved by Shez and Jeritza during their assault on bandit leader Kostas’ fortress. A dedicated admirer of Edelgard, Monica employs her exceptional memory to meticulously record her idol’s life. Regardless of the decisions made by the player, Monica remains steadfast in her devotion to Edelgard throughout the narrative

4 Fassad

Mother 3

Fassad is a well-known antagonist in the game Mother 3. He is a ruthless exploiter who works for the Pigmask Army, and his goal is to introduce commercialism to the people of Tazmily under the guise of happiness. Throughout the game, he poses a threat to Lucas and his allies. After being defeated, Fassad transforms into a cyborg, requiring an interpreter due to his horn-covered mouth. Once players defeat his final form, Miracle Fassad, he falls into the sewers, presumably meeting his end

In the course of events, it’s unveiled that Fassad belongs to a mystical community, where members don’t identify strictly as male or female, but rather embody characteristics from both. These beings are inherently benevolent and bound by duty to seven artifacts known as the Seven Needles, which significantly impact their lives. There is a legend foretelling an entity who will extract these needles to invoke the Dark Dragon when its might is required

Among the Seven Tribal Members, or Needles, as they’re referred to, only six are encountered face-to-face: Aeolia, Doria, Lydia, Phrygia, Mixolydia, and Ionia. The seventh member, Locria, remains unseen throughout the story. However, upon reaching Locria’s residence, it becomes evident that Fassad was actually Locria. This is hinted by the presence of horns, bananas, and peels scattered around, items associated with Locria. This twist is particularly intriguing because the character’s true identity is unveiled posthumously, and not explicitly stated during the narrative

3 Perseus

Warriors Orochi 4

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel thrilled at the thought of my favorite Greek hero, Perseus, joining the ranks in Warriors Orochi 4. This game seems to have continued the exploration of Greek mythology within its series, following the portrayal of Achilles in Warriors: Legends of Troy in the previous installment. Interestingly, despite his divine lineage, Perseus finds himself at odds with Zeus and his allies. However, he aligns with the Coalition Army and forms a bond with Yukimura Sanada

Contrary to popular belief, Perseus isn’t the character we know from Greek mythology; instead, he is a disguised Loki, the Norse trickster god working for Odin. His goal, hidden beneath the Perseus persona, was to instigate conflicts between the Olympians and the Coalition, with Odin aiming to defeat both parties. However, Perseus eventually sided with the coalition in the main game. The extended version of the game, titled Ultimate, reveals an earlier defection by Perseus. This edition also delves into the friendship between Loki and Perseus. They were supposed to spy for Gaia, but Odin forced them into a battle royale to test their loyalty. In the end, Perseus allowed Loki to kill him so that his friend could survive

In the Ultimate version, the character can retrieve pieces of Perseus that enable him to be revived. If a player manages to collect these fragments, it unveils the genuine ending of the game. This finale shows Perseus exposing Hades’ plans, who aimed to capitalize on the chaos Odin instigated

2 DiZ

Kingdom Hearts

In the game “Chain of Memories,” this enigmatic figure initially appears disguised as Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, overseeing Sora, Riku, and Naminé. Throughout the story, DiZ has many schemes, particularly in “Kingdom Hearts II,” but they are unsuccessful due to his struggles with understanding human emotions. After being assaulted by Heartless and Nobodies within Organization XIII’s castle, DiZ is saved by Mickey, at which point he reveals his true identity as Ansem the Wise

His reasons for assuming a disguise stemmed from his sense of duty towards joining Organization XIII, led by Xemnas – a Nobody derived from his former pupil, Xehanort. Previously, Ansem was the monarch of Radiant Garden; however, his apprehension about darkness overtaking the garden drove him to execute extreme actions and conduct questionable research projects. Xehanort covertly pursued these experiments long after Ansem had ceased doing so

Initially, Ansem adopted the pseudonym DiZ (short for ‘Darkness in Zero’) following his imprisonment in the Dark World by his previous followers, Xehanort and their allies. Upon escaping from the Dark World, he decided to conceal his identity. Although his crusade against Organization XIII was unsuccessful, Ansem managed to rectify certain past mistakes, and he even collaborated with some of his repentant former disciples once more

1 Bobby Fulbright

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies

In simpler terms, “Dual Destinies” was the debut of the 3D “Ace Attorney” mainline game. It introduced many new characters, some replacing established ones in the series. One example is Bobby Fulbright, the third detective character. Partnered with Simon Blackquill, a prosecutor often seen in court wearing handcuffs, Fulbright is generally more affable than his partner. He assists during investigations and testifies for the prosecution in court. This role resembles previous characters like Dick Gumshoe. The established characters engage in friendly banter with the defense attorney. Despite his light-hearted demeanor, Fulbright is a competent detective who often stands by his idea of “justice,” even if it’s not beneficial to the prosecution

In a fresh twist for this classic storyline, it’s unveiled that Detective Fulbright is actually the ghost, a global spy believed to have murdered the genuine Bobby Fulbright and assumed his identity. This shadowy figure is linked to horrendous acts surpassing those of typical Ace Attorney villains, such as a bombing in a courtroom. Operating under the orders of an unidentified organization, he has been monitoring Blackquill, who was wrongfully jailed for a murder the ghost committed. When Miles Edgeworth discloses that the real Fulbright’s corpse has been found, the ghost demonstrates his disguise skills and technology, trying to pass as a spy hunting down the ghost. However, Athena Cykes detects his fear of being exposed, leading to the ghost’s capture and imprisonment

In the world of Ace Attorney, impostors are quite prevalent. The revelation that Fulbright is actually a phantom character adds an intriguing twist, challenging established patterns within Ace Attorney to make players initially trust him before his unmasking. Notably, he plays a role in every case of the game, including the additional content episode, Turnabout Reclaimed. Ordinarily, the real culprits are often exposed within the same episode they’re introduced. However, there are subtle hints suggesting Fulbright’s true identity before his unveiling, which are later reinforced in court proceedings

2024-09-05 01:36