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BEST HERO |
| 2012 Winner: Lee Everett (The Walking Dead) | |
JEFF: Last year, we had some unique heroes compete for our first Best Hero award, with Lee Everett winning. While I can’t say our nominees this year have to deal with choices as complicated as the former professor did, I can say that they are every bit as heroic. The nominees are…
Wonder Red (The Wonderful 101)
The young leader of The Wonderful 100, Wonder Red is just in his first major combat experience during The Wonderful 101. But what this teacher-by-day (seems like a bit of a theme we have) lacks in experience he makes up for with an abundance of enthusiasm. He is a great hero you’d be willing to give a helping hand to.
Raiden (Metal Gear Rising: Revengence)
Perhaps a bit controversial of a pick, given the character’s history amongst gamers. However, we believe Raiden is a worthy candidate. This year alone, the swordsman was able to stop a terrorist group as well as keep a corrupt bureaucrat from creating his own war—all in a day’s work for this guy.
Oliver (Ni no Kuni)
Easily the youngest character up for any award this year, Oliver is also one of the most endearing characters we’ve come across. Saddened by the loss of his mother, Oliver befriends a fairy named Drippy, who takes him on an adventure to another world. During his travels, Oliver helps those who are brokenhearted while also learning the history of his mother, a great sage named Alicia.
Chrom (Fire Emblem: Awakening)
The Prince—and eventual Exalt—of Ylisse, Chrom is the idealistic leader of the Shepherds, a militia group that protects the citizens of the Halidom. He is willing to charge into battle to fight for what he believes in and for those who are in need, traits I’m sure he hopes to pass on to his infant daughter Lucina.
Lucina (Fire Emblem: Awakening)
The future Exalt of Ylisse, the grown-up Lucina we grow to know is actually Chrom’s daughter who traveled back in time. Originally known as “Marth” to the other characters, Lucina traveled to the past with the help of the Divine Dragon Naga in order to prevent the world from falling to the Fell Dragon Grima as well as save her father from a cruel fate.
AND THE HEROIC WINNER IS…
Lucina
Arguably the most popular character of Fire Emblem: Awakening, Lucina’s tale drove many a gamer to not only save the present, but the future, as well.
And, of course, we can’t celebrate heroes without giving proper due to the villains they come across. After all, Batman without the Joker just wouldn’t feel the same. Returning to present the award for Best Villain is Review Manager Josh Speer.
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BEST VILLAIN |
| 2012 Winner: Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3) | |
JOSH: Drumroll please! And the nastiest, meanest villains are…
Validar (Fire Emblem: Awakening)
Though he starts out as a creepy, mysterious robed figure, Validar turns out to be much more than a common cliché. Starting with the attempted assassination of Emmeryn, he proves what a ruthless and shady bastard he is. Though it seems his story will end there, he is instead saved by dark forces to fight another day, eventually taking control of Plegia and causing all sorts of mischief. What perhaps makes him one of the best choices for top villain is how willing Validar is to use his own child as nothing more than a tool of destruction. Neither morality nor compassion guides the sinister sorcerer, and he gleefully ruins lives in the shadow of the Grimleal. Though he isn’t the final foe in Fire Emblem: Awakening, he is a great one and a memorable page in the history of the series.
The Black Samurai (Shin Megami Tensei IV)
Even having played through much of Shin Megami Tensei IV, the Black Samurai is still something of a mystery to me. Starting out as a masked enigma, the Black Samurai’s intentions at first seem venerable. Passing out literature and spreading wisdom are always good things, right? Wrong. Those who read from the literature are turned into demons, much to the dismay of Flynn and his friends.
It seems the Samurai’s story is over once apprehended until the unmasking reveals that the Samurai is a woman with a familiar face. Somehow, the Black Samurai and a nun named Gabby are practically twins. Worse, when she is executed, her corpse gets right back up and heads to Tokyo. Upon investigating this anomaly, it is discovered that the Samurai is much more than human and is really Lilith. Given the moral ambiguity the series is famous for, it is unclear whether the demon is a force for good or evil. Either way, the shape-shifting demoness is a compelling villain.
Vijounne (The Wonderful 101)
What can I say about Vijounne? I mean, she is from the crazily inventive The Wonderful 101, so that itself is saying something. Perhaps she’s not the most villainous character, but she is far from being a good guy. She’s a seriously vain femme fatale trying to steal Earth for her new home. She’s also the only lady in GEATHJERK, and she has no qualms about manipulating everyone toward her goals. Plus, she has a strong aversion to other women. Worst of all, Vijounne was responsible for the death of Blue’s brother, perhaps her most heinous act. While she may not be as overtly evil as some of the other contenders, she’s a very naughty girl in her own right.
Yuga (The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds)
Oh Yuga. There’s so much to love about you as a villain! You’re obsessed with beauty despite looking like a cross-dressing Ganondorf clone. You have enough magic to nuke a small country, and you use it to capture Sages in paintings like trading cards. Best of all, you quickly manage to overwhelm poor Link, then use the combined power of the Sages to meld with Ganondorf himself, turning into a dreadlock-wearing pig man! Hell, you even almost manage to do what Ganon never could: beat Link and achieve your sinister goals. If you had more backstory, you probably would have been higher on my list as a villain than Ganon himself. That’s saying a lot. You may look like a clone, Yuga, but you’re a villain all your own.
Lysandre (Pokémon X & Y)
Lysandre is perhaps my favorite villain in Pokémon. He starts out seeming like a kind, generous, and beauty-focused man. He’s friends with Prof. Sycamore and invented many of the Poké tools you use in the game! How could he be bad? Well, unfortunately, Lysandre is a bit too obsessed with beauty. Seeing how mankind has polluted the beautiful planet and use Pokémon as tools, his goal is to commit Poké-genocide to ensure only the chosen few of Team Flare and their Pokémon survive. Only by wiping the slate clean can he find a way to make the world better, and it is this mad fixation that turns a good man into a monster. I especially love how very close the lion-haired villain gets to his ambition. That sort of drama frankly almost never happens in the series, and I hope more of the same will be shown in the future!
AND THE BLACKHEARTED WINNER IS…
The Black Samurai
Or should I say Lilith?
Either way, our staff voted her over Lysandre by a small margin, but just enough to win. Too bad, ’cause this is likely the only time a Pokémon villain will be on a list. Still, I can’t help but be impressed by the moral complexity and devious ways of the Black Samurai. You know you’ll never be disappointed by the baddies from Shin Megami Tensei.
Well, that’s all that we have today. Join us tomorrow, when we hand out awards for game aesthetics as well as reveal the first ever oprainfall Readers’ Game of the Year.
