The Best Video Game Enemies Who Were Secretly Allies

Key Takeaways

Villains in video games can turn into allies, helping out the heroes in unexpected ways.
Characters like King Dedede and Shadow the Hedgehog have complex motives beyond being “bad.”
These former foes become lovable allies, adding depth to the game’s storytelling.

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating through the digital realms of these iconic games, I must say, it’s always fascinating to witness the transformation of villains into allies. These characters’ journeys often reflect our own experiences, where we start off on one side of the fence, but circumstances and growth lead us to the other.

Video game adversaries are often portrayed as flat or over-the-top to provoke anger in players controlling the protagonist. However, there are occasions when seemingly villainous characters have deeper layers than initially perceived by players. Initially appearing as antagonists, they may evolve into something more complex as the plot of their respective games unfolds.

From being simple antagonists in childhood games to complex anti-heroes aiding our heroes, video game enemies have undergone a remarkable transformation over time. These ten characters might not always be the saviors, but their timely assistance when it mattered most makes them even more endearing.

10 King Dedede

Kirby’s Longtime Nemesis Is Sometimes A Good King

The Best Video Game Enemies Who Were Secretly Allies

In the world of Kirby, it’s challenging to label any character as a true “villain,” given how adorable and endearing even Kirby’s longtime adversary, King Dedede, appears. Though King Dedede and Kirby frequently find themselves on opposite sides in the franchise, with Dedede ordering his troops of Waddle Dees to carry out his directives among the inhabitants of Dream Land, one game revealed that Dedede’s intentions were actually quite noble.

In the game “Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land” for Game Boy Advance, King Dedede initially comes off as a typical antagonist. However, it’s later revealed that he’s actually working to safeguard Dream Land from the truly malevolent Nightmare. This marked a shift in their dynamic where Dedede would assist Kirby in subsequent games, despite their often hostile interactions. In fact, Dedede became a playable character in “Return to Dream Land”.

9 Black Knight

Shovel Knight’s Rival Has Good Intentions

In the game called Shovel Knight, most of it consists of a series of boss battles. Initially, these bosses seem hostile towards the main character, but as the story unfolds, they turn out to be less adversaries and more allies. For instance, Black Knight, who appears to be a longstanding adversary of Shovel Knight, is eventually revealed to be protecting the Enchantress. Interestingly, it’s uncovered that the true villain is actually Shovel Knight’s long-lost love, Shield Knight.

Following their final confrontation with Shovel Knight, the Black Knight reluctantly yields, allowing Shovel Knight to rescue his believed lost comrade. In the game’s finale, an unexpected turn of events sees the Black Knight himself saving Shovel Knight from the Enchantress. Despite this, their longstanding rivalry persists in the sequel Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon.

8 Viridi

This Goddess Prioritizes Nature Over Humans

In the game Kid Icarus: Uprising, there’s no scarcity of enemies for Pit and Palutena’s Army to combat, yet the loyalty of few is as questionable as that of Viridi. The Goddess of Nature makes her appearance in the second half of the game, emerging as a potential threat to humanity amidst Palutena’s conflict with Hades. For a while, she becomes an obstacle in Palutena’s war against Hades, and Pit is tasked with preventing the detonation of her Reset Bombs during this temporary storyline.

Initially, Viridi teams up with Palutena’s army to assist Pit and Hades’ forces in fending off the Aurum invasion. Later, they work together to rescue Palutena from the grip of the Chaos Kin. In the end, Viridi plays a crucial role in Palutena’s victory over Hades. Despite this, she cautions that their struggles are far from finished, making her a reluctant ally – at least for the time being.

7 Camilla

A Troubled Sister Takes Some Time To Change

Fire Emblem Fates sparks debate among enthusiasts of strategy RPGs, as it offers thought-provoking reflections on heroism and villainy. The narrative revolves around Corrin, a character torn between two feuding families, requiring them to pick a side. Whilst the Hoshido are characterized by honor, the Nohr kingdom exhibits a darker, more territorial nature.

As a gamer, I find myself in the world of Fire Emblem Fates, where I embody Camilla, the sisterly figure to Corrin. In Conquest, I stand by my brother’s side as an ally, but in Birthright, our relationship takes a turn for the worse, leading to several confrontations. However, it turns out that Camilla’s animosity towards Corrin stems from the deep-rooted pain of betrayal by her adopted brother. In the end, I, Camilla, relent so that Corrin can facilitate peace between our two kingdoms.

6 Chloe Frazer

Nathan’s Love Interest Has Been A Bad Friend

It can sometimes be challenging to determine whom to rely on in the universe of Uncharted. In the game Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (released in 2009), Nate Drake’s ex-love, Chloe Frazer, appears and seemingly abandons him during their quest for the Cintamani Stone in the Himalayas. However, as events unfold, Nate manages to regain her trust by rescuing her from a Guardian.

Initially, when she debuted in the game series, she seemed more like a potential long-term rival for Nathan Drake, who was once her lover. However, contrary to initial impressions, she demonstrates growth and learns from Drake rather than solely focusing on personal gain. Despite this transformation, it’s likely that many players initially disliked her when they first encountered her.

5 Groose

Link’s Biggest Bully Becomes A Solid Companion

As a gamer, let me tell you about the character who instantly makes you want to roll your eyes – Groose from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. From his boisterous theme song to his flamboyant hairstyle, it’s hard to believe there’s any goodness in him at all. But as the game progresses, you start to see a bit more depth to his character; turns out, he’s just green with envy over my friendship with Zelda.

This jealousy results in Groose following Link to the Sacred Grounds with the hopes of finding Zelda first. Groose eventually becomes a big help to Link, inventing a device to help fight The Imprisoned, and he even saves Zelda’s body when Demise casts off her soulless form. He might not be the best or most noble hero, but his help shouldn’t be forgotten.

4 N

Team Plasma’s King Reconsiders His Values

It’s likely that the character N will be remembered as one of the most intriguing figures in the annals of Pokemon. In the games Pokemon Black & White, this enigmatic trainer is encountered many times before his hidden connection to Team Plasma, a group aiming to separate humans from their Pokemon, is unveiled. As the king of Team Plasma, N intends to carry out his agenda by manipulating either Reshiram or Zekrom.

Later on, once N has claimed the Champion title, he encounters a challenge at his castle by the player. It’s only after this battle that doubts start creeping into his thoughts. However, it is Team Plasma’s Ghetsis (N’s father) who emerges as the ultimate adversary, and in the end, N appears again in the games Black 2 & White 2, joining forces with the player to thwart Ghetsis’ attempt to seize control over Kyurem.

3 Magus

Players Can Join Forces With An Iconic Boss

In contrast to all other characters on this list who transition from being villains to allies, Magus stands alone as an exception. It’s possible for players to finish the entire game without having Magus as their ally due to the numerous endings in Chrono Trigger. To recruit Magus, players must first acquire the Epoch and then make a trip to visit him on a cliff overlooking the ocean in 12,000 BC.

Instead of engaging him in battle, Magus chooses to request membership in Crono’s group without any conditions. In keeping with the game’s storyline, this is the standard ending for Magus, who is forgiven for his misdeeds by joining the party and aiding in the defeat of Lavos. But in New Game Plus, if you vanquish Lavos before confronting Magus, a special cutscene emerges where Magus battles Frog instead.

2 GLaDOS

Getting Stuck In A Potato Changes Her

In the labyrinthine test chambers of Aperture Science within the game ‘Portal’, a voice that initially seemed enigmatic turns out to be an artificially intelligent robot named GLaDOS. This robot, having turned rogue, was responsible for the demise of all Aperture scientists. However, at the conclusion of the first game, Chell, the player character, manages to shut down GLaDOS. In ‘Portal 2’, GLaDOS reawakens following the bungling of Wheatley, a less-than-bright AI.

Unfortunately, when you confront GLaDOS in Portal 2, it leads to Wheatley seizing control of her system, transforming into an antagonist, and causing chaos that forces both Chell and GLaDOS to flee through Aperture’s subterranean remains from the past. In this predicament, a weakened GLaDOS, relegated to a potato battery, develops into an ally for Chell and ultimately chooses to spare her at the end.

1 Shadow The Hedgehog

Sonic’s Mortal Enemy Turned Frenemy

In the Sonic series, Shadow the Hedgehog, originally presented as an ultimate anti-hero, was first introduced in Sonic Adventure 2. This character was brought to life by Dr. Eggman’s grandfather with the intention of finding the “ideal lifeform.” It’s when Eggman sets him free that the game’s events unfold. However, Shadow’s background reveals a more compassionate side than one might initially assume.

Shadow initially teams up with Dr. Eggman to retaliate against the world following Maria Robotnik’s demise. However, upon discovering Dr. Eggman’s actual ambition for global conquest, Shadow turns against him. Over time and across various games, Shadow shifts from being Sonic’s foe to becoming an ally, and eventually, they become equally formidable adversaries who can sometimes work together.

2024-09-08 05:34