Welcome Back to the Stage of History: Talking Time's Top 60 Video Game Characters Smashdown

[Issun]

 

[spines]

hahaha. feels appropriate, i was a little surprised how much of the top ten were mascot-type characters because very few of them really crossed my mind for my list. but vivi has it both ways, taking one of the most iconic designs of final fantasy and giving him a name and a central role in ff9's themes and story. though he wasn't personally my vote from ff9, i can't complain

and this voting happened before he got banned from magic the gathering!!! he's too powerful

 

[RT-55J]

very nice. not at all who i would have expected to top this list.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Here are my thoughts about my #1 pick:

I like Vivi's story and journey in the narrative. When he first showed up in Final Fantasy 9 Vivi seemed like a shy young boy whose curiousity drove him to explore the world. He was cute and endearing. As the story progresses he learned more about who and what he was. He also gained the courage to fight for his "people" and for & with his friends - all while coming to terms with the true nature of his existence and his mortality. In the end he sadly wasn't around for a long time but it was a good time.

Mechanically he isn't that much different from any other Black Mage (or offensive spellcaster ) in the series but he doesn't really need to be - he's exactly what the game design needed him to be.

His physical design evokes the classic look of Final Fantasy Black Mages but builds upon it and changes it enough to make him distinct.

All in all, I like him because he's just a cool little guy who tried to do his best.

(I shared this with Issun so long ago.)

 

[Issun]

Once again, sorry for forgetting over the break that people sent me blurbs. I decided after it was brought to my attention the first time that it would be more fair to just forego them for the remainder rather than suddenly starting them up again, since that would have been unfair to the people whose characters showed up in the interim.

But I am glad that people have been sharing them in their responses.

Vivi was my #4.

 

[WildcatJF]

Just wanted to say thank you to Issun for the invite to provide art for his contest! I had a lot of fun and in a lot of ways this helped me heal from the last contest I ran that I had to stop due to my cat Finn's passing. Having him appear here was a deliberate choice to celebrate his involvement with these contests and give me a moment to emotionally release that grief. I hope you all enjoyed my portion, and with that, we conclude the Top Video Game Characters list!

 

[Issun]

Thanks to everyone who participated, and a very special thanks to WildcatJF, who elevated this list a lot. It was really fun collaborating on the ending based on someone randomly posting that Pac Man gif.

 

[Kirin]

Hah, Vivi is *so* unassuming, I’d actually forgotten I had him up at #4 on my list as well until I went and checked it! Such a good lil guy.

Great list guys!

… where the heck are those creepy-ass Pac sprites from anyway? Why do they exist?

 

[WildcatJF]

… where the heck are those creepy-ass Pac sprites from anyway? Why do they exist?

Namco released Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures for the SNES in 1994, with the gimmick being that Pac-Man is mostly autonomous and the player essentially acts as both a camera and occasional motivator for his actions. You have to "direct" him through the game with a slingshot to make him notice things or guide him to the objectives across Pac-Land, and he is a very emotional creature who will hyper overreact to certain situations. The sprites I pulled are of him in his extreme SMUG expressions. You can see a playthrough here:

It's a misguided but charming game that is a fantastic game to watch people stream because Pac doesn't really listen to your prompts and the game forces you to have him hit key emotional states to progress, so if you piss him off enough he may not do what you need him to.

 

[WildcatJF]

Here is my list (bolded made the list):

1. Samus Aran (Metroid)
2. Vyse (Skies of Arcadia)
3. Jade (Beyond Good & Evil)
4. Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)
5. Strider Hiryu (Strider)
6. Lyn (Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade)
7. Gris (Gris)
8. Petra (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
9. Proto Man (Mega Man)
10. Kyle Hyde (Hotel Dusk/Last Window)
11. Soma Cruz (Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow/Dawn of Sorrow)
12. Marina (Splatoon)
13. Yangus (Dragon Quest VIII)
14. Franziska von Karma (Ace Attorney)
15. Iori Yagami (King of Fighters)
16. Midna (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess/Hyrule Warriors)
17. Leona Heidern (King of Fighters)
18. Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 2/4)
19. Vega (Street Fighter II)
20. Edie Burret (Elevator Action Returns)
21. Madeline (Celeste)
22. Claude (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
23. Ashley Mizuki Robbins (Another Code/Trace Memory)
24. Aika (Skies of Arcadia)
25. Sly Cooper (Sly Cooper)

 

[Peklo]

The list, with ranked in bold.

1. Erika Yaegaki from Flowers
2. Uta Komagawa from Blue Reflection: Second Light
3. Seiga Kaku from Touhou Project
4. Ayane from Dead or Alive
5. Heather Mason from Silent Hill 3
6. Maribel from Dragon Quest VII
7. Gin Noto from The Caligula Effect 2
8. Charlotte from Trials of Mana
9. Valkyrie from Valkyrie
10. Exdeath from Final Fantasy V
11. Junko from Touhou Project
12. Sif from Romancing SaGa
13. Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII
14. Yunica Tovah from Ys Origin
15. Ringo from Soul Hackers 2
16. Okina Matara from Touhou Project
17. Asellus from SaGa Frontier
18. Chris Lightfellow from Suikoden III
19. Missy from Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City
20. Kanako Yasaka from Touhou Project
21. Hubert von Vestra from Fire Emblem: Three Houses
22. Dela Delon from Brandish
23. Wolfgang Krauser from Fatal Fury
24. Eloise from The Legend of Legacy
25. Keiki Haniyasushin from Touhou Project

Checked out after a point from following the thread but thanks to Issun, WildcatJF and Pac-Man for the hosting duties.

 

[Issun]

When I saw that the list could be a nice, round 60 with everyone's #1s making it in, I figured why not? I think we all got to find out about characters and games that might not have otherwise hit our radar. I never knew about Erika Yaegaki, for instance, and it was pretty cool learning about her and her game.

Anyways, Torzelbaum's Sandwich Nomination Thread is open until the end of the year. Please vote, won't you?

 

[nataeryn]

I had Vivi at #16 on my list. If it weren't for Felix's thread about playing through the whole FF series, I probably wouldn't have even known how good FF9 is.

I really enjoyed this list and the diversity in it. Its nice to see a surprise at the number one spot.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

1. King (Tekken)
2. Mike Haggar
3. HK-47
4. Poison (Final Fight)
5. Bowser
6. Little Mac
7. Drageaux (RingFit Adventure)
8. Kirby
9. Birdo
10. Ultros
11. Blathers (Animal Crossing)
12. G.La.D.O.S.
13. Luigi
14. Dog (Duck Hunt)
15. Um Jammer Lammy
16. Kefka
17. Stan (Okage: Shadow King)
18. Zangeif
19. Donkey Kong
20. Parappa the Rappa
21. Wario
22. Doc Louis
23. Shy Guy
24. Funky Kong
25. Tim Curry

 

[Kirin]

Haha, Tim Curry is an excellent #25.

Here's my full list. Had kind of a lot of hits for something like this!

*01. Celes Chere (FFVI)
02. Lucca (Chrono Trigger)
03. Balthier (FFXII)
*04. Vivi (FFIX)
05. Durandal (Marathon)
*06. Magus (Chrono Trigger)
07. Terra Branford (FFVI)
*08. Rydia of Mist (FFIV)
*09. Tron Bonne (MML & MoTB)
10. Tifa Lockheart (FFVII)
*11. Chris Lightfellow (Suikoden III)
*12. The King of All Cosmos (Katamari)
13. Ashley Riot (Vagrant Story)
*14. Zelda
*15. Samus Aran
*16. Bowser
17. Shanoa (Castlevania OOE)
18. Rocket (Rocket Slime)
19. Amaterasu (Okami)
*20. Ezio Auditore (Assassin's Creeds)
*21. Mega Man Volnutt (MML)
22. Fang (FFXIII)
23. Agrias Oaks (FFT)
*24. Alucard (Castlevania)
25. Lucky Dan (Chrono Cross)

 

[Violentvixen]

My list:

Commander Shepard (Mass Effect): This series was the first time that I really felt like the protagonist was mine. The character editor, my decisions shaping the galaxy, relationships… it was so cool and there was so much we got to do together.
GLaDOS (Portal series): I'm not gonna lie. Being uploaded to an AI framework and permanently running experiments while being snark and sarcastic about it might be my supervillain arc.
Mitsuru (Persona 3): A capable badass. My favourite Persona series character. I will always love the smug "it's special" response in FES to why her motorcycle works during the dark hour.
Garrus (Mass Effect): I know vigilante arcs have fallen out of fashion but Garrus is just so well-written and interesting. Also I dated him and damn do I love that voice.
Ezio (Assassin's Creed)
Lucina (Fire Emblem Awakening)
Cortana (Halo series)
Carmen Sandiego
Akihiko (Persona 3)
Tails
Riesz/Lise (SD3/Trials of Mana)
Zelda
Aloy (Horizon series)
Bowser
Ike (Fire Emblem series)
Ignis Scientia (FF15)
Missile (Ghost Trick)
Robin (Stardew Valley)
Professor Layton
Phoenix Wright
Curly (Cave Story)
Lightning (FF13)
Princess Peach
Wii Fit Trainer
J'zargo (Skyrim)

 

[spines]

1​	Reimu Hakurei	Touhou
2​	Morrigan Aensland	Darkstalkers
3​	Asellus	Saga Frontier
4​	Gustave XIII	Saga Frontier 2
5​	Yuri Lowell	Tales of Vesperia
6​	Lenneth Valkyrie	Valkyrie Profile/tri-Ace
7​	Iris	1000xResist
8​	Jill Valentine	Resident Evil
9​	Patches	Souls/From Software
10​	Jie Zhang	Shenzhen I/O
11​	Barrett	Final Fantasy VII
12​	Mai Shiranui	Fatal Fury
13​	Iori Yagami	King of Fighters
14​	Freya Crescent	Final Fantasy IX
15​	Nakoruru	Samurai Shodown
16​	Marina Lightyears	Mischief Makers
17​	Alucard	Castlevania
18​	Bomberman	Bomberman
19​	Zero	Mega Man X/Z
20​	Jenna Angel	Digital Devil Saga
21​	Lillie	Void Stranger
22​	Aoko Aozaki	Witch on the Holy Night/Type-Moon
23​	Nights	(...Into Dreams)
24​	Justice	Guilty Gear
25​	Flammie	Secret of Mana

bomberman is my favorite game mascot. jie reminds me of my dad. i will play any fighting game with morrigan in it

• Seiga Kaku from Touhou Project

love this pick for favorite touhou character...all the others too, but she especially is way up there for me. valkyrie is also a great pick, i feel like that's an oversight on my part. hahaha. hubert is also a character i think is extremely entertaining in a cast i think is decent

 

[Torzelbaum]

Thanks for doing this, Issun & WildcatJF

Here's my list:

1. Vivi - Final Fantasy 9 ✔
2. Alucard - Castlevania ✔
3. Magus - Chrono Trigger ✔
4. Ryu Hayabusa - Ninja Gaiden
5. Faris - Final Fantasy 5
6. Deis - Breath of Fire
7. Dekar - Lufia 2
8. Mega Man ✔
9. Ralph - Rampage
10. Princess Pitch
11. Little Mac - Punch Out ✔
12. Kirby ✔
13. Pac Man ✔
14. The Guardian - The Guardian Legend
15. Torneko Taloon - Dragon Quest 4
16. Zangetsu - Bloodstained
17. Lunais - Timespinner
18. Samus Aran - Metroid ✔
19. Mike Haggar ✔
20. Balrog - Cave Story
21. Strider Hiryu ✔
22. Dirk the Daring - Dragon's Lair
23. Sparkster - Rocket Knight Adventures
24. Nei - Phantasy Star
25. Prinny

9 out of 25. I guess that's not too bad.

Anyways, Torzelbaum's Sandwich Nomination Thread is open until the end of the year. Please vote, won't you?

I think most of the people I see commenting here have already sent me lists. (Thanks again to all of you.)

I currently have 46-47 sandwiches which have more than 1 vote so I still need just a few more matches to get an actual Top 50. If you want to participate and haven't sent in a list then please do so. Thanks.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Kirby

Kirby was #8!

04. Vivi (FFIX)

Vivi was #1

 

[Peklo]

love this pick for favorite touhou character...all the others too, but she especially is way up there for me.

It's good to keep Seiga's example close at heart this time of year, as she's so thoroughly embodied the holiday spirit in the past.

Aoko's a good shout... Melty Blood's still my only context for her, but I've been taken with the punch and kick-laser magic since I was a teenager. That and the casualwear.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Kirby was #8!

Oops. Fixed that in my post.

 

[WildcatJF]

How many can you name / identify?

Well, if you want to actually play this, here's the answers, haha:

Spoiler: ANSWERS

From left:
Damnd and Jessica (Final Fight)
Ryoko (Fighter's History)
Medusa (Kid Icarus)
Cisty (Dungeon Magic/Lightbringer)
Oolong/Lee (Yie Ar Kung Fu)
The Guardian/Miria (The Guardian Legend/Guardic Gaiden)
Blade (Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja)
Wildcat Chef (Breath of Fire II)
Adon (Street Fighter)
M.U.L.E. (M.U.L.E.)
Baby Metroid (Super Metroid)
Alex Kidd (self-titled series)
Medusa Head (Castlevania)
Allen O'Neil (Metal Slug)

 

[Kirin]

Vivi was #1

Lol, yes, I did my copy-paste before my final edit and forgot to fix it.

 

[Daikaiju]

1. Luigi
2. Daisy
3. Samus
4. Zelda
5. Megaman
6. Professor Layton
7. Vivi
8. Cecil
9. Y'shtola Rule
10. Mike Jones
11. Bently
12. Sly Cooper
13. Daxter
14. Maximo
15. Zagreus
16. Darkest Dungeon narrator
17. Bowser
18. Urbosa
19. Mr. Resetti
20. Mario
21. Phoenix Wright
22. Stiener
23. Pac-Man
24. The King of all Cosmos
25. Beedle

One of my better showings.

 

[RT-55J]

Looking back at my list I'm not sure what was going through my brain back in February, but whatever. I'd probably have made a lot of different picks if I made this list today. I think I prioritized lesser known characters in my ordering, and tried to limit myself to 1 or 2 per series.

1. Samus Aran (Metroid) - Some weird nerd who does things in space (idk).
2. Marin (Zelda: Link's Awakening) - Fly free, sister.
3. Squall Leonhart (FF8) - "I dreamt I was a moron." Me too, bud. Me too.
4. Tessie (Earthbound) - He's just a silly lake monster that you ride a couple times, but whenever his theme plays I feel the urge to stand up and salute our friend in blue (few characters are able to rouse such emotions in me).
5. Steve Hermann (Shatterhand) - I like the ending art where he's walking away from the burning building, but in retrospect I don't understand why I put this meathead this high other than a love of the game.
6. "Barbuta" (UFO 50)
7. Mr. Domino (No One Can Stop Mr. Domino!)
8. Junko (Junkoid) - oops I'm friends with the author here does this violate any impartiality clause??
9. Miyu (Star Fox 2) - The Star Fox 64 crew has better lines, but Miyu has the best drip.
10. Sarah Kerrigan (StarCraft)
11. Dr. Wily (Mega Man)
12. Luigi (Mario) - It's the year of Luigi again.
13. The ZZT Bandit (Town of ZZT and City of ZZT by Epic MegaGames) - Wanted for unlawful syntax error.
14. Waluigi (Mario) - We are all Waluigi.
15. Zero (Mega Man X/Zero) - Godspeed, edgeboy.
16. Alpha (UFO 50) - I like a good not-Samus.
17. Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog)
18. Sakuya Izayoi (Touhou)
19. Kirby (Kirby)
20. Penny (Pokemon S/V)
21. Captain Falcon (F-Zero) - "When myopic confusion threatens your lunch, Falcon will be unleashing a Falcon Punch."
22. Papyrus (Undertale)
23. Cecil Harvey (FF4) - Oops I played a Final Fantasy when I was like 13 or 14. I promise it won't happen again.
24. RT-55J (Mega Man X1/2) - This is what people thought I meant when I said I'd vote for myself.
25. Samantha Arantes (some ZZT games I made) - Did you know that if YOU make a videogame that nobody can stop you from just adding whatever cringeworthy self-insert Original the Character () you want to it?

 

[Violentvixen]

Papyrus (Undertale)

I had a few Undertale characters on my long list and cut them because I assumed they'd be getting a lot of other votes, whoops.

 

[Issun]

Muh list

1. Max Caulfield (Life is Strange)
2. Chloe Price (Life is Strange)
3. GLaDOS (Portal)
4. Vivi Orinitier (Final Fantasy IX)
5. 2B (NieR: Automata)
6. Samus Aran (Metroid)
7. Ozzie (Animal Crossing)
8. Luigi (Mario)
9. Rydia (Final Fantasy IV)
10. Elhaym Van Houten (Xenogears)
11. Mega Man
12. Marin (Link's Awakening)
13. Mae Borowski (Night in the Woods)
14. Miriam (Bloodstained)
15. Garl (Sea of Stars)
16. Ravio (Link Between Worlds)
17. Nathan Drake (Uncharted)
18. Alexandra Roivas (Eternal Darkness)
19. Solid Snake
20. Atul (Spiritfarer)
21. Marle (Chrono Trigger)
22. Madeline (Celeste)
23. Missile (Ghost Trick)
24. Commander Shephard (Mass Effect)
25. Nanami (Suikoden II)