Video Game Anti-Heroes: When Edgy Turns to Distasteful

Summary

Duke Nukem’s extreme misogyny didn’t evolve with the times, losing its edge and becoming distasteful.
Shane from Haze shifts from the rebels to a dark path, showcasing a messy narrative and disconnect with players.
Trevor Philips pushes the limits with his unreasonable and off-the-rails behavior in Grand Theft Auto 5.

As a gamer, I appreciate how anti-heroes bring an edge of intrigue and depth to the characters we play. Yet, there’s a thin line between an engaging anti-hero and a full-blown villain or one who loses our support. It’s not that these characters are inherently bad, but when they cross over into excessive anti-heroism, they start to lose their charm. They become so morally ambiguous that it becomes hard to root for them anymore.

Consequently, several players may experience a sense of detachment. This could have been intentional on the developers’ part, or perhaps they intended to create something clever but ended up with something more disturbing than thought-provoking. However, some individuals appreciate the grotesque and transgressive, so these characters might appeal to them.

8. Duke Nukem (Duke Nukem Forever)

Outdated Gameplay And Outdated Humor

Duke Nukem Forever, much anticipated after more than a decade in development, made its appearance amidst high expectations as a worthy successor to the legendary Duke Nukem 3D of yesteryears. However, it’s not the gameplay that earns Duke a spot on this list. Rather, it is his unchanging character traits from the 1990s that have garnered attention. His overt misogyny, which teetered on poor taste in the late ’90s, stood out starkly in 2011 as an anachronism.

Individuals who once may have found the character Duke Nukem appealing in Duke Nukem 3D, if they are fifteen years older now, would likely have matured in their humor. While some might still find the behavior of being a flirt appealing, it’s important to note that the way Duke Nukem objectifies women is problematic and unacceptable as it reduces them solely to sexual objects.

7. Shane Carpenter (Haze)

Joins The Rebels, Who End Up Being Just As Bad

Haze’s campaign can be divided into two clear segments. In the initial stage, the main character, Shane Carpenter, engages in combat while serving for the Mantel corporation, which is supposedly intervening in a South American nation to free it from brutal rebel forces accused of genocide. However, it’s important to note that all Mantel soldiers are affected by the game’s fictional substance, Nectar, during this time.

In the end, Shane uncovers the deception and aligns with the rebels. It was Mantel’s intention to eliminate the Nectar plants not under Mantel’s control. The game concludes as Shane and the rebels force the company out of the country. Before the closing credits, the rebel leader discloses his plan to utilize Nectar for their own forces, stating it will be used for good now that it is in trustworthy hands. Shane witnessed the corrupt side of Nectar. Rather than destroying it, he allowed it to pass into new ownership.

Haze was not a success, so sequels never let players know how the story unfolded afterward.

6. Kane (Kane And Lynch)

A Bad Person Doing Bad Things To Bad People

In the game “Kane & Lynch,” the main characters, unlike some anti-heroes, aren’t driven by a higher cause. Instead, they act solely for their own interests. The scenario often involves villains shooting at other villains, disregarding any innocent bystanders who might get caught in the line of fire.

In the following story, Kane’s actions lead to his wife’s demise and place his daughter in grave danger. In the subsequent installment titled “Dog Days“, Kane and his partner, Lynch, engage in a violent chase through Thailand after a business transaction turns sour. It is regrettable that such individuals as Kane and Lynch roam this earth.

5. Trevor Philips (Grand Theft Auto 5)

The Loosest Cannon In A World Of Loose Cannons

In the world of Grand Theft Auto, each primary character embodies a criminal persona – that’s just how the game unfolds. However, Trevor Philips from Grand Theft Auto V stands out as exceptionally ruthless. He doesn’t abide by conventional norms, sets his own rules, and appears to find enjoyment in the destruction he causes.

Other key characters appear to be rational and maintain friendships. However, Trevor seems to have lost his bearings significantly. He subjected an innocent person to cruel treatment, intruded upon an acquaintance’s residence with the intention of staying permanently, and there are hints that he may be a potential cannibal.

4. Jacket (Hotline Miami)

Killing For Almost No Reason

Hotline Miami centers around a nameless hero, known as “Jacket,” who brutally eliminates drug dealers and other unsavory characters in gruesome fashion. This is done following mysterious calls that reveal the criminals’ whereabouts. Despite the pixelated graphics which might seem out of place, they actually heighten the disturbing nature of the violence. Although the individuals he kills are clearly evil, his lack of apparent motivation and unfazed demeanor during these acts makes him a character to watch. This unnerving aspect is indeed one of the game’s main themes.

In the hidden conclusion, players learn that the calls were not what they seemed. Meanwhile, the standard ending suggests that the main characters are more driven by a pretense than a genuine desire for revenge or justification of their actions.

3. Cole McGrath (Infamous)

An Evil Path That’s Just Too Obviously Evil

In the game “Infamous”, players are given options that influence whether the character Cole is perceived as a hero or a villain. This aspect was a significant attraction during its release due to the success of games such as “Mass Effect”. Regrettably, the decisions in “Infamous” lack intrigue and moral complexity, despite the gameplay always being enjoyable.

If players opt for Cole to act immorally and choose the morally ambiguous paths, he becomes more akin to an outright villain. This simplifies the character, making him less intriguing, and reduces the complexity of the choices players must make. As a result, they don’t have to weigh the potential outcomes of their actions, and typically know which choice to select without much deliberation.

2. The Boss (Saints Row)

He Turns His Back On The Saints’ Original Goal

In the gritty world of “Saints Row”, a group called the Saints was established with a noble mission: to put an end to rampant gang violence. Your character, a newcomer, is unluckily caught in crossfire as an innocent bystander and later recruited into the gang. The debut game concludes dramatically as your character nearly perishes in an explosion.

In the second round of play, it’s exposed that Julius Little is betraying the saints. As the Boss and Julius meet, the former admits he believes the head of the gang has strayed from his path and forgotten the reason the Saints were founded in the beginning. The brutal criminal actions players take in the second game, such as deceiving a rival gang leader into accidentally killing their girlfriend, demonstrate that the Boss cares little about halting street violence.

1. Ellie (The Last Of Us Part 2)

Losing Everything Just To Get Revenge

It’s uncertain whether fans will agree that Joel Miller acts as a villain following his actions at the end of the first game, and the sequel maintains this moral uncertainty by exploring themes of revenge and the cycle of violence. If anyone were in Ellie’s position, they would likely seek revenge against the group responsible for harming their father figure. She manages to eliminate most of those involved in the act, but initially struggles to kill Abby, who was responsible for Joel’s death.

Fans can’t decide if Joel is a villain from the first game’s ending, and the sequel keeps things gray with its story about revenge and violence cycles. Ellie would want revenge on those who hurt her father figure, and she targets most of them, but she initially can’t bring herself to kill Abby, who killed Joel.

By the finale, she almost sacrifices everything to seek retribution, a move Joel likely wouldn’t approve. The burden of what she relinquished for vengeance is poignantly depicted by her severed fingers. Regrettably, she can no longer play the guitar proficiently, a talent she acquired from Joel.

2025-02-16 05:37