I think I was like 12 when I got the first game, so, uh, middle school? But yeah, can't not vote for Samus. I had her in the middle of my list but only that low because I knew she wouldn't need help making the list.
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Welcome Back to the Stage of History: Talking Time's Top 60 Video Game Characters Smashdown
- Thread starter Issun
- Start date
I had Samus at #18.
I love Samus so much. She's someone I've written A LOT on. I'll let this piece stand as my feelings (altho this version doesn't touch on Dread):
jfieldsted.wordpress.com
Opinions: My Favorite Women in Video Games – Samus Aran (Metroid)
Samus Aran (Metroid, Nintendo) Samus is second on my list of favorite women in all of games, and is arguably my favorite overall character design in the entire industry. Her armor encapsulates exce…
jfieldsted.wordpress.com
I had an effortpost lined up for Samus, but I wasn't sure what to say. After far too much hemming-and-hawing over it, I've decide to just post what I have:
samus is so cool. when i grow up i want to be as cool as her.
Samus is one of those primordial, archetypical characters who, due to being thinly-sketched at the outset and rarely elaborated on, fans show a high degree of individual ownership over. Interpretations can vary wildly between fans, and are often at odds with the supposed Canon. Having spent far more of my digital life in the metroid fandom than is wise, I've seen more than enough petty squabbles and debates over the character: "Oh, she's too talky in Fusion." "No, she was too quiet in Dread." "She's too floaty in Super." "No, she's too smooth in Zero Mission." "Let's make her hunt bounties for cash." "No, she doesn't do it for money." "They made her too subservient in Other M." "Yeah, but they also made her too badass there too." "She's 6 foot 3." "No, that's just in the suit." "Your fanart is too horny." "Why did you draw her ugly?" etc. etc. etc.
(Being constantly hounded to meet all of these contradictory demands, if nothing else, proves that Samus is a real woman.)
As for myself, this myriad of ambiguities, contradictions, and uncertainties is what makes her interesting. She can appear to be one thing in one context, and another thing in another context, and it's entirely possible for neither thing to be wrong -- they just hint at deeper aspects of more complicated and unseen whole, always in a struggle to harmonize with itself and the outside world.
I like how these pages from the Zero Mission manga put it:
Samus Aran is not just the woman under the armor. She is both the woman and the armor.
samus is so cool. when i grow up i want to be as cool as her.
Issun
(He/Him)
#3
Mega Man
177 Points, 6 Votes, Highest Vote: #2 (4-So)
Smash Potential: You'd best start believing in Megamas, Talking Time. Yer in it!
Mega Man
177 Points, 6 Votes, Highest Vote: #2 (4-So)
We all love the blue bomber mega boy here. It would be shocking if he weren't in the top 5. He fights for everlasting piece! He foils the plans of Dr. Wily! He has a cool dog named Rush, a cool sister named Roll, and a cool bro named Protoman! He asks Bass whymustwefightwearenotenemies!
Celebrate Megamas and zap some Robot Masters today!
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Megaman was one of my favourite franchises as a kid. I loved just designing my own robot masters.
One of them was Oilman. He was a big oil drum with arms and legs
Years later I found out there WAS an oilman.
Um... I think this is a very bad design. I would not recommend looking this up.
Anyway, Megaman is cool.
One of them was Oilman. He was a big oil drum with arms and legs
Years later I found out there WAS an oilman.
Um... I think this is a very bad design. I would not recommend looking this up.
Anyway, Megaman is cool.
Issun
(He/Him)
#2
Princess Zelda
191 Points, 6 Votes, Highest Vote: #1 (nataeryn), Special Votes: Tetra (nataeryn), BOTW Zelda (Baudshaw)
Smash Potential: She's our only hope.
Princess Zelda
191 Points, 6 Votes, Highest Vote: #1 (nataeryn), Special Votes: Tetra (nataeryn), BOTW Zelda (Baudshaw)
Few characters in the medium have evolved the way Zelda has. She started out as just another maiden to be rescued, but in Link to the Past she took on a more helpful role. It wasn't until 1998's Ocarina of Time (you may have heard of it) that she became a full fledged character in her own right, actually plotting with link and being an integral part of the final battle. Wind Waker saw her evolving even further, spending most of the game as sassy pirate Tetra. She had some agency in Skyward Sword as well, and then in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom she became nearly coequal with link as a character. In 2024 she finally got her very own game and got to take down various beasties her own damn self.
Zelda has a storied history in gaming, so it's no surprise she's taking silver. But who will be in fir...
Finally someone let me out of my cage
Now time for me is nothin', 'cause I'm countin' no age
Now I couldn't be there, now you shouldn't be scared
I'm good at repairs, and I'm under each snare
Intangible, bet you didn't think
So I command you to, panoramic view
Look, I'll make it all manageable
Pick and choose, sit and lose all you different crews
Chicks and dudes, who you think is really kicking tunes?
Picture you getting down in a picture tube
Like you lit the fuse, you think it's fictional? Mystical? Maybe
Spiritual hero who appears on you to clear your view
When you're too crazy
I see destruction and demise
Corruption in the skies
From this fucking enterprise, now I'm sucked into your lies
Through Ultros, not his muscles
But percussion he provides
For me as a guide, y'all can see me now
'Cause you don't see with your eye
You perceive with your mind, that's the inner
So I'mma stick around with Link and be a mentor
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How many can you name / identify?
Issun
(He/Him)
#1
Vivi Ornitier (Final Fantasy IX)
210 Points, 7 Votes, Highest Vote: #1 (Torzelbaum)
Smash Potential: You just saw it.
Vivi Ornitier (Final Fantasy IX)
210 Points, 7 Votes, Highest Vote: #1 (Torzelbaum)
Well here we are. Talking Time's favorite video game character. Vivi isn't flashy. He's not snarky or strong or suave. He's a fairly subdues little guy, actually. And yet, somehow, he has been one of the most compelling characters in the Final Fantasy franchise for twenty-five years now. That's because, despite being a little black mage construct boy, he feels real. His becoming aware of his mortality and beginning to fear and ponder it mirrors the experience of every one of us. But instead of letting it consume him, he grows because of it. He resolves to spend the time he has left helping his family. Vivi is the best because he is the best in all of us, and so it's no surprise he landed at the top.
My memories will be part of the sky...