You know how I said there would be spoilers? Well, this is the page that has the most of them. You’ve been warned.
What makes a hero? Is it someone that will answer the call of duty no matter how many foes are in the way? Perhaps one that’s, despite a smaller stature, can stand up to enemies many times their size? Perhaps a hero needs to blaze their own path and build their own character. Or maybe, it needs you to help build it for them.
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BEST HERO |
These are the nominees…
- Zael (The Last Story)
A kind-hearted soul with the fire to protect those around him, Zael is a prototypical hero. He fights to save those around him, for a better future for himself, and for the sake of the one he loves. Sure, it’s not the most original script but it’s the spirit of Zael that makes him so appealing to us. His drive to help others is what gets him on this list.
- Pit (Kid Icarus: Uprising)
Pit shows no fear in the face of danger. With the help of the goddess Palutena, no matter what the situation is, he is ready for anything. His unending loyalty to Palutena and his willingness to protect the world from danger is the fire that keeps him going.
- Lee Everett (The Walking Dead)
A unique choice for this list, Lee makes the list not for his physical prowess or for showing kindness but for making difficult choices in a difficult time. He needs to navigate the zombie apocalypse, make split-second choices that will have dire consequences either way, and survive not just the zombies but the companions he’s come across. All this to help an 8-year old girl reunite with her parents.
- Dust (Dust: An Elysian Tail)
A fated swordbearer, Dust’s character is that of a charismatic warrior who prefers to be reserved. His character comes complete with two souls that influence his actions: Cassius, combatant with amazing power, and Jin, a compassionate soul that gives him his strong will.
- Riki (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Why are you laughing? The Heropon deserves every right to be on this list. He’s not a natural-born warrior nor is he the most charismatic. He even gets blackmailed into being a warrior so that he can pay off his debts. But what he lacks in natural ability (or even size) he makes up for in heart. He wants to help, whether we as the player let him or not. And he is willing to keep doing this if it means that his kids get to eat, just like a good Papa-pon would do.
AND THE WINNER IS…
Lee Everett
Although, if you want to, you could easily say that this goes to two characters: Lee and Clementine. It’s his willingness to help Clementine out that becomes his driving force throughout the game. He teaches her how to survive this new reality and prepares her for the day where he might not be around anymore; a learning process that goes right to the last moments of the game. It’s because of this that Lee is our Hero of the Year.
But what is a hero without a good villain? Would Batman still have the same impact on our culture if he didn’t have The Joker to thwart? What would Superman be without Lex Luther trying to take him down in size? What would Aquaman… okay, forget about Aquaman. But you get my point.
Now, the heroes previous each had their own villains they had to take down, even Lee. But whereas Lee’s fight was more philosophical, these villains here are very much real and a threat to the player.
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BEST VILLAIN |
The nominees are…
- Zero III (Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward)
Zero III is an artificial intelligence that oversees the Nonary Game. He will mock the players as they move through the game and withhold information from them. He will also cycle through a number of voices, from the comical to the demented, making the player feel uneasy. The perfect mascot for a game that will kill someone… possibly.
- Hades (Kid Icarus: Uprising)
“Next to me, little Medusa’s going to look like a sweet, cuddly bunny!” This is how Hades, the true antagonist of the game, describes himself compared to Pit’s returning foil, Medusa. And what’s more, Hades reveals that he was the mastermind behind all previous attacks, going all the way back to the original game (that bastard).
- Dickson (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Not necessarily the biggest twist in the game but one of the biggest, the reveal of Dickson as a villain was a shock as he took out Shulk from behind. “Rescuing” Shulk when he found him near the Monado, gaining the trust of the Homs and all those around the Bionis, and leading the charge against the Mechons made the change all the more painful for the characters and memorable for the players.
- Skullmageddon (Double Dragon Neon)
The main antagonist from Double Dragon Neon, Skullmageddon is at it says: Your worst nightmare. That is, assuming that your worst nightmare is a campy villain who will occasionally spout off his weakness to you. He’ll even mock you for pausing the game, saying that you’re going to the internet to figure out how to beat him. How can you hate a boss like that?
- Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3)
Whatever your genre or game of choice is, I’m sure most of you, if not all, know about Vaas’ insanity speech from E3 2011 (or in the game). Vaas is one of the most charismatic – and disturbed – personalities you will ever meet. He will not only try to kill the main character, but do so in some of the most interesting and over-the-top ways possible. It doesn’t matter if he’s just an underling, we like him the best in this game.
AND THE BEST VILLAIN IS…
Vaas Montenegro
Those of you that have played Far Cry 3 probably would easily agree with this choice. However, this category has possibly been the most bizarre in voting. The way they are listed is how they finished in preliminary voting. So, how did Vaas find his way all the way to the top of the list?
I am convinced that Vaas got his men to take the voters that went against him, as well as his competition, and buried them up to their necks in sand. How else can you explain such a jump from the Prelims to the Finals? Well, whatever happened, Vaas left enough of a mark to be our Villain of the Year.
This is all for right now but there is plenty more to come. Tomorrow, we continue with awards for Music, Story, and Best Wii Game. On Friday, the flagship consoles come out to play and we name our Game of the Year. We’ll see you tomorrow.
Special thanks to Steve Baltimore and Charlotte Buckingham for helping with the categories for this part and to Crystal Baltimore for help on the Awards logo.
