411’s Top 50 Video Game Heroes of All Time (#10-#1)

Posted by Adam Larck on 10.03.2011

From Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid's Solid Snake to Mario, Link, Samus from Metroid and more, the 411 staff completes their journey to name the top 50 video game heroes of all-time! Check out the full article to see who made the top 10!

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to 411Mania's Top 50 Heroes of all times. In almost every game you play, there's always some type of hero to control. However, what makes the best hero? Is it who they're willing to help, or why they help, or even how they help?

To compile this list, each writer was asked to submit a list of heroes that came to mind. After getting their heroes, they were judged based on what they do, how they help, who they help, motives and personal choice. Keep in mind that, even using this criterion, some of the heroes you may have on your list may be lower on our list, or not on at all. Just remember that a list can't, and won't, appease everyone. However, let us know your own top heroes below.

Before we get to the final 10, let's do a quick recap.

The List So Far:

No. 50: Kratos – God of War
No. 49: Jim – Earthworm Jim
No. 48: Frank West – Dead Rising
No. 47: Ryu Hayabusa – Ninja Gaiden
No. 46: Conker – Conker's Bad Fur Day
No. 45: Duke Nukem – Duke Nukem 3D
No. 44: Dante – Devil May Cry
No. 43: The Prince – Prince of Persia
No. 42: Joe – Viewtiful Joe
No. 41: Banjo-Kazooie – Banjo-Kazooie
No. 40: Crash Bandicoot – Crash Bandicoot
No. 39: Ryo Hazuki – Shenmue
No. 38: Donkey Kong – Donkey Kong Country
No. 37: Squall – Final Fantasy VIII
No. 36: Luigi – Super Mario Bros.
No. 35: Arthur – Ghouls'n Ghosts
No. 34: Razputin – Psychonauts
No. 33: Jack – BioShock
No. 32: NiGHTS – NiGHTS
No. 31: Sam Fisher – Splinter Cell
No. 30: Jak and Daxter – Jak and Daxter
No. 29: Ico – Ico
No. 28: Chris Redfield – Resident Evil
No. 27: Zelda – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
No. 26: Spyro – Spyro the Dragon
No. 25: The Wanderer – Shadow of the Colossus
No. 24: Ratchet and Clank – Ratchet and Clank
No. 23: Guybrush Threepwood – The Secrets of Monkey Island
No. 22: Sora – Kingdom Hearts
No. 21: Simon Belmont – Castlevania
No. 20: Crono – Chrono Trigger
No. 19: John Marston – Red Dead Redemption
No. 18: Ezio/Altair – Assassin's Creed
No. 17: Mike Haggar – Final Fight
No. 16: Amaterasu – Okami
No. 15: Fox McCloud – Star Fox
No. 14: Mega Man/X – Mega Man/X
No. 13: Marcus Fenix – Gears of War
No. 12: Sonic – Sonic the Hedgehog
No. 11: Kirby – Kirby's Adventure

No 10.: Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)



Jordan Williams - Commander [Place First Name Here] Shepard. He is the baddest man in the galaxy. Don't believe me? Then say it to his face after he gets throw kicking the ever loving shit out of any alien race that dares to step to him. He might've started out at someone who was just thrown into a situation that he initially had no control over but he quickly turned out to be heroic enough that he became the first human Spectre. Which is essentially a space cop that has NO LIMITS. Think about that for a second. Out of the 6.8 Billion people on Earth (probably more at that point) he is the first and so far ONLY human to assume that rank. He can talk his way out of any situation but if he needs to he can bust a galactic cap in a Batarian ass. But you don't have to take my word on why Shepard is one of the best heroes. Just look at the fact that a company paid 4 BILLION credits and spent 2 years rebuilding him from dust because he is the only person that can save the galaxy. How's that?

No. 9: Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)



Lee Price - Cloud Strife often takes a lot of stick these days for being the character that started the trend towards RPG heroes being broody, angsty man-boys who didn't seem to have any real problems. However this does the character a huge disservice. In Final Fantasy VII, Cloud is established as one of the most complex characters in gaming.

Sure, he has his moments of angsting. However considering the river of crap he wades through during the course of the game, we can forgive him that. What is important about the Cloud character in Final Fantasy VII is that he actually develops. As the game progresses, Cloud becomes more steeled and determined, willing to accept his many faults and, more importantly, willing to accept his friends and comrades. It is that progression from brooding loner into competent team leader that singles Cloud out from the host of failed copycats that came later. Starring in one of the best games of the PlayStation era certainly helps as well of course.

No. 8: Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)



Derek Robbins - Solid Snake is a one-man army. His games emphasize his ability to sneak around military complexes while remaining un-seen, but when up against the craziest of cronies, Snake rises to the occasion and prevails. I mean, would a normal man last even a second against Laughing Octopus or Vulcan Raven? I don't think so. Snake, despite being a warrior hardened by war, appears to be a caring person. He shows compassion to both his friends and foes, and during his quest in Metal Gear Solid 4, it's clear that he has a lot of people who care about him. He is not simply a tool for war, he is also a person, and Kojima has done a good job of conveying that.

No. 7: Master Chief (Halo)



Lee Price - Back when Microsoft first entered the console race, the big debate centered on how they were going to be able to pries a share of the console gaming market away from Sony and Nintendo. What was certain was that they were going to need a killer app and in Halo they found it. However, in Master Chief they also found the character that would essentially become the Microsoft icon in the same way that Sonic had been for SEGA and Mario had been for Nintendo.

Since the first Halo Master Chief has gone on to star in two more games, building up a legion of fans in the process. The character himself isn't all that complex. He's a nigh invulnerable super soldier, and 80's action movie hero thrown into a war between Earth and an evil race of aliens. However he has starred in some of the best FPS games in recent memory and his casual feats of daring and throwaway one-liners has helped entrench him into the hearts of many a gamer.

No. 6: Phoenix Wright (Phoenix Wright)



Derek Robbins - Phoenix is just a lovable, goofy guy. He has a pretty rabid fanbase, so much so that Capcom is placing him in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 despite Mr. Wright not exactly being a combat specialist. This can be credited to his character, a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to uncover the truth and prove his clients innocent of whatever crimes are levied against them. He doesn't go out of his way to break the rules like his rival Miles Edgeworth, but he appears to have a soul, which is something people of his profession are accused of not having. Combined with Wright's sleuthing skills, which rival Professor Layton's, making their team-up game a "No duh!" sort of thing, Mr. Wright is certainly a hero. I can't wait for him to be the Dan of MvC!

Justin Weinblatt - Have you ever taken a look around and thought, "my god, I'm surrounded by morons"? If so, you probably know how Phoenix Wright feels. Good ol' Phoenix, Nick to his friends, is a lawyer in his self-titled series. Practicing law is difficult in the real world. In the world of Phoenix Wright, things are even harder. The police force is staffed with buffoons who overlook key evidence, the judge is as gullible as a child, every single witness has something to hide, and the prosecution fights with very little regard for truth. The odds are stacked against poor Phoenix, but he uses his undying loyalty to his clients, his sharp legal mind, and a dose of luck to make sure that truth always prevails.

Phoenix is the ultimate straight man. He's part Atticus Finch and part Charlie Brown. He's a serious enough character to ground the courtroom drama around him, but goofy enough to play off of his offbeat supporting cast. I can't imagine the wacky Phoenix Wright series gaining the popularity it has without Phoenix at the helm, and indeed the series has suffered as it strayed away from its star.

The success of the Phoenix Wright series has helped Phoenix branch out. He's set to appear in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as a playable character, and he'll match wits with Professor Layton in a crossover which is currently only slated for a Japanese release. Hopefully, his passionate fanbase can ensure a US release, because America needs more Phoenix Wright.

No. 5: Mario (Super Mario Bros.)



Justin Weinblatt - Let's be honest here. Mario is not a particularly well-developed character. He doesn't have particularly deep motivations, he doesn't have any character flaws, he never does anything unexpected, and he's never expressed anything that could be considered a coherent thought. While he has had his moments in various RPG games, most of those are due to his supporting cast. Mario is nearly as generic as can be. So why is he on this list?

I'm not going to BS you and pretend that there is a deep character under Mario's simplistic exterior. There isn't. What Mario does have, is a catalog of gaming excellence which will probably never be matched. A great game can turn a boring character into a superstar, and Mario has been in several of the greatest games of all time. I'm sure you guys will think of several more rounded characters that should have been on this list, but the most nuanced character in a shitty game will never be as beloved as a mediocre character in an amazing game. So Mario, keep on being silent and rescuing princesses with mindless determination. As long as you keep churning out the good stuff, we'll still love you.

No. 4: Samus (Metroid)



Justin Weinblatt - It's hard to think of anything to say about Samus Aran that hasn't been said before. Samus broke gaming's glass ceiling in the original Metroid, when she shocked the world. An ass kicking female protagonist was unheard of in those days. To date, few characters, male or female, can hold a candle to Samus.

As one of the few survivors of a destroyed planet, it's only natural that Samus would go on an epic quest for revenge. Armed with alien DNA, extensive training, and a suit that would make Iron Man green with envy, Samus sought out revenge against the Space Pirates who destroyed her home and killed her family. Along the way, Samus became one of the most respected and lethal bounty hunters in the galaxy.

Of all of the heroes on this list, Samus easily sports one of the best gaming catalogs. Samus was the star of Super Metroid, a game which is regarded by many as the greatest of all time. After this epic adventure, Samus took a leave of absence. She returned in Metroid Prime, another game that is deservedly considered one of the best. She starred in several other adventures, including one of the best portable games of all time, Metroid Fusion, and the original Metroid. Games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the more recent Shadow Complex has drawn inspiration from Samus' adventures.

Throughout the Metroid series, Samus has been somewhat of a mystery. In early Metroid games her story was revealed through brief cutscenes with limited dialogue. In later entries of the series, information came to players via Samus' visor. These strategies allowed gamers to discover Samus' backstory while maintaining an air of mystery. Most of our knowledge about Samus' personality comes from her actions on the battlefield.

Too bad that Samus' most recent game has somewhat diminished her reputation. Metroid Other M was an effort led by Team Ninja. Whoever thought entrusting one of gaming's most respected female characters to the team that created jiggle physics must have been hitting the pipe pretty hard. While Team Ninja didn't augment Samus to ridiculous proportions, they did make her seem like a whiny teenage girl in power suit. Samus fans have raged across the internet, but there isn't much reason for concern. Samus is one of our industry's true icons, and it will take more than one misstep to change that.

No. 3: Link (The Legend of Zelda)



Derek Robbins - Ah, the legendary hero, the hero of time, the hero of winds, the hero of…well, I guess he's just a hero. It's really hard to make a list of heroes and leave out Link. Time and time again different reincarnations of Link have fought their way through increasingly complex dungeons in order to save the world. Sure, sometimes Zelda is on the line too, but to limit Link to a Mario-esque hero always chasing after tail is an insult to Link's ambitions. Without Link to combat Ganon, the world always turns into a poor place. He may not have a line of dialogue, but his actions speak for themselves. Also his grunts. Sure, figuring out the timeline might be equivalent to taking a class in advanced calculus, but no matter the age, Link is a true hero.

No. 2: Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)



Lee Price - If this were a list of the greatest silent protagonists of all time, Freeman would only be facing competition from Link. As it stands it isn't but Gordon Freeman is still an icon of gaming. He starred in two games that both redefined the FPS genre and he did it all without saying a word. His skill with a crowbar is matched only by his innate ability to flat out murder everything that attempts to stand against him.

On top of that the guy is a bonafide genius who has been specifically created to allow gamers to essentially project themselves onto him. Half Life creator Gabe Newell has gone on record as stating that they never gave in-game Gordon a face or voice pretty much for this purpose. Yet despite that the character has still managed to become iconic. That takes some doing.

No. 1: Jade(Beyond Good and Evil)



Adam Larck - In what may be an unexpected No. 1 pick, we have Jade from Beyond Good & Evil at the top spot. Jade's story is an interesting one. She originally starts photographing species for money, before being recruited by the IRIS Network for a story about the Alpha Sections. Sure, she could have simply reported the story, got her money and gone home. Instead, she helps start a revolution against the DomZ, rescuing her friend and strangers in the process. She doesn't even do this for a reward, just because it's the right thing to do for a world. In the process, she helps save the citizens from being taken over and used by the DomZ. This is what exemplifies a hero, and is why she's No. 1.


Thanks for checking out our Top 50 Heroes. Leave us your thoughts below.