As a long-time enthusiast and follower of these intriguing narratives, I must say that the evolution of these characters has been nothing short of captivating. It’s fascinating to see how their allegiances shift, often driven by complex motives or simply pragmatism.
Essential for numerous video game genres, the convention of the villain plays a crucial role. This storytelling staple, traced back to ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, often involves a character who aligns themselves with the protagonists instead of opposing them.
One frequently observed trait in this type of narrative is a tendency to portray women as potential turncoats more often than men. This may be due to outdated beliefs that associate women with greater morality or wisdom, and also because the writers are predominantly male. However, it’s important to note that the reasons female characters switch allegiances can differ significantly. Let me share some instances of female villains who eventually allied with the good guys as examples.
5 Trish
Devil May Cry Series
In a twist of events, Trish – who shares an uncanny resemblance with the mother of characters Eva, Dante, and Vergil – initially encounters Dante at his named organization. She aggressively attacks him upon their first meeting. However, she later pretends to ally with Dante, asking for his aid, which is later exposed as a deception. In truth, Trish is a demon crafted by Mundus, aiming to lure Dante out. Despite knowing this, Dante feels an urge to shield Trish, making her endearing to the half-demon protagonist. Trish bravely attempts to give up herself for Dante’s safety, only to be viciously attacked by Mundus in what appears to be a fatal encounter. Miraculously, she survives and assists Dante in defeating her former master.
After that point, Trish has consistently stood by the virtuous path. She has collaborated with Dante in two subsequent installments of the Devil May Cry series, and has been featured in various other media associated with the franchise, portraying a character who is mostly lighthearted and free-spirited but fundamentally heroic. It was Dante’s ongoing kindness towards her, despite her past wickedness, that prompted her to adopt a good persona.
4 Franziska Von Karma
Ace Attorney Series
Franziska Von Karma is a prosecutor who’s been on the job since her teenage years, and all her appearances in the Ace Attorney series are during this period. She shares a family connection with two main prosecutors from the first game – she is Manfred Von Karma’s daughter and can be considered Edgeworth’s quasi-sister. Following Manfred’s disgraceful demise after being revealed as a murderer, and Edgeworth’s apparent suicide note and departure from the country, Franziska aims to defeat Phoenix Wright, essentially seeking retribution against Edgeworth for abandoning her.
She tends to be extremely harsh and disrespectful towards most people she encounters, often resorting to insults or even physical punishment if they annoy her sufficiently. During her initial trial with Phoenix, she violated evidence law by presenting a damning photograph. Her second trial against Wright ended in defeat when the guilty party brought the murder weapon into court, which had been concealed beneath his wheelchair. These trials demonstrated her unyielding determination to win any court case, a trait stemming from the upbringing she and Miles shared. Similar to Miles, Franziska did not care if an innocent defendant was wrongly convicted, as long as she secured a court victory. Unfortunately, Franziska was scheduled to prosecute against Wright in the final trial of “Justice For All,” but was assassinated before it took place.
This outcome was orchestrated by Matt Engarde, Phoenix’s defendant, who secretly hired Shelly De Killer to murder his rival, Juan Corrida, and manipulate the trial in his favor. De Killer abducted Maya Fey with the intention of pressuring Wright into securing an acquittal for Engarde. Working together with Edgeworth, they delayed the trial until evidence emerged that incriminated De Killer, causing Engarde to plead guilty. Wright’s unexpected loss left Franziska perplexed and caused her to question her reasons for pursuing justice in the first place.
In summary, Franziska persisted in her role as a prosecutor, making an appearance in the concluding chapter of “Trials and Tribulations,” where she assisted in the investigation of Misty Fey’s murder, temporarily taking over the case upon Edgeworth’s request, who surprisingly served as a defense attorney. In other works like “Investigations” and its sequel, Franziska is a secondary character, frequently engaging in debates with Miles about ongoing cases and providing assistance during various investigations. Despite some aspects of her personality remaining constant, she has grown more resolute in her ethical beliefs and remains unwavering in her convictions. She has also reached an acceptance of her father’s transgressions, despite his substantial impact on her life.
3 Katarina
Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem
The recent revamps of the Fire Emblem series stand out due to new characters who didn’t appear in the initial releases of their respective games. One such character is Katarina, a sage. Originally named Reese, Katarina was an abused orphan who was trained into an assassin by Eremiya, a corrupted bishop manipulated by the malevolent sorcerer, Gharnef. Under Eremiya’s care, orphans were subjected to rigorous training with the aim of turning them into assassins.
Initially, Katarina meets Kris (the player’s character) and Marth’s most loyal ally, Kris, under a deceitful pretext. They are both part of one of several units aiming to join forces with the Altean army. Katarina falsely claims she is not a combatant but seeks to serve as a strategist. Later, using their platoon’s success, Katarina tries to get close to Marth and assassinate him in his own palace, but fails. However, this was not the last time Marth and his allies heard about assassins. Other members of the organization, such as Legion (a group acting like a single individual) and Clarisse (an overconfident sniper who uses battle confusion to her advantage), also encounter Marth. Yet, each encounter results in the assassins being vanquished, ultimately leading to their demise.
After another encounter with Katarina, it requires considerable persuasion from Kris for her to change allegiances. At first, Katarina pretends not to care about Kris, dismissing their past as insignificant. However, her tears betray her true emotions. Despite initial reluctance due to feeling her actions are unforgivable, she is eventually persuaded by Marth to make amends with her life. This commitment continues post-War of Shadows.
2 Sindel
Mortal Kombat Series
Sindel is the queen of the land Edenia, known for its inhabitants who live long lives. In older Mortal Kombat games, she was portrayed as the reluctant wife of Shao Kahn, who took her own life following Kahn’s conquest of Edenia. Later, Kahn brought Sindel back to life on Earth, aiming to dominate it. Initially, Sindel obeyed Kahn in her resurrected state, using her hair and sound waves for his purposes. However, her daughter Kitana managed to make her remember their past truths. Since then, she has mostly fought for the good, though she sometimes loses control over herself. This pattern is noticeable even in the initial game reboot, where she was controlled by brainwashing for most of the time.
In a twist by Mortal Kombat 11, her change of allegiance from villainous to heroic was rewritten, portraying it as a tactical move to preserve Edenian loyalty instead. Now, she is presented as Shao Kahn’s willing accomplice, appreciating his thirst for power and seeking to seize it herself. This alteration didn’t sit well with some fans, who felt it contradicted her previously established character traits.
In the fresh start of Mortal Kombat 1, I step into the role of a benevolent queen hailing from Edenia, untied to Shao Kahn’s schemes. Aligning myself with the forces of good, I find myself somewhat detached when it comes to grasping the challenges my people face day-to-day. As the story unfolds, it’s uncertain what direction this character will take, but one thing is clear: she appears far less malevolent than her previous iteration turned out to be.
1 Saya
Project X Zone
In some instances, a character’s apparent change in allegiance or behavior, known as a “face-turn,” may stem purely from practical considerations. For example, Saya, the main antagonist in the game Namco X Capcom, demonstrates this when she reappears. Saya is a werefox who works for Ouma, an organization that aims to integrate different realms. She and Reiji Arisu, an agent from Shinra, another organization maintaining order, have a long-standing enmity. This animosity is deeply personal as Saya was responsible for killing Reiji’s father, a former Shinra operative, many years ago.
Although she’s generally associated with chaos, she occasionally aligns herself with the good guys. She debuted as a secondary character in Endless Frontier: EXCEED, which could be seen as a spin-off of Namco X Capcom. In Project X Zone, a sequel to Namco X Capcom that also includes characters from Sega, Saya assists Ouma and the group known as Oros Phlox. However, upon learning that Oros Phlox had deceived her about the true purpose of certain units, she turned against them, remaining with the heroes for the rest of the game. This is unusual because it’s not a change of ideals driving this alliance, but rather mutual benefits. Interestingly, in the context of Project X Zone, this isn’t uncommon, as characters like Heihachi Mishima from Tekken, Juri Han from Street Fighter, and T-elos from Xenosaga, who are clearly villainous, also join the heroes.
In “Project X Zone 2,” the narrative is strongly influenced by the game “Namco X Capcom.” In this installment, Saya takes on a significant antagonistic role, while characters T-elos and Juri become adversaries you cannot control. This shift in character dynamics was probably implemented to differentiate the rosters of the two games, with additional key characters introduced in the sequel. However, Saya meets her end in this game, sacrificing herself to protect Ouma’s ambition of unifying the worlds. If she reappears in future installments, it might be as an evil character once more, but there’s a chance that compelling circumstances could lead her to momentarily switch sides again.
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2024-09-21 08:34