Child character you LIKED

[hermes]

I have exactly 2 awesome child characters.
1)Clementine from The Walking Dead. She is brave, capable, smart, saves your life at some point, and serves as a moral compass for player. But, at the same time, she is still a child. She's naive, kind and does some silly child things, like licking salt block.
2)Nanako from Persona 4. If Clementine is some sort of daughter character for player, then Nanako is certainly a little sister. Just like Clementine, despite her age, she is very independent, skillful and smart. At age of 6 she manages to keep her whole house in order while her father is away at his job. But at the same time she is such a kid! She's so sweet and caring and naive. She sings her favorite tune whenever advertisement plays on TV, she gets genuinely happy whenever her big brother helps her with homework and she provides unconditional support to anyone who needs it.
And when she gets kidnapped, you, as a person, can feel just how personal it is now
So, both Clementine and Nanako are awesome because they exhibit some mature traits, but at the same time, they are still ultimately just kids.
Also, check out that early Nanako's concept and tell me who she reminds you of.
<img src=http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090105120324/megamitensei/images/3/31/Nanako-Concept2.jpg>

Yeah, those are two strong child characters in the first post.
I have no one else. Clementine and Nanako are the only ones I can think that are definitely children (and not some short teenager), and are written as a lot more than plot devices.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Clemen- Oh. Never mind.

Kid Princess Nina from Breath of Fire 3. She is the tough one to Kid Ryu's crybaby and is capable of fooling gangsters about four times her height into doing something they didn't mean to. When they get an actual adult (well a teenage scientist) on the team Nina is still the most focused until Garr joins. Despite this she still has some childish moments, such as her 'eyelid pull taunt' animation used to tease people and initially being trusting to a fault. Her only real problem is the typical fragility of a spellcaster.

 

[Gizmo1990]

I have to go with this guy. Hand down the only child character that I am not either indifferent towards or outright hate.

Spoiler

 

[silver wolf009]

I liked Bumble from Little Lamplight in Fallout 3.

Spoiler: Blast off Pajamas!

She was actually cute and funny.

"Why are you called Bumble?"

"Not my fault that a lot of stuff breaks when I'm around."

Plus, if you're evil, you can enslave her. But you wouldn't do that to Bumble... Right?

 

[scorptatious]

Not sure if he counts but...

Vivi from Final Fantasy IX.

Spoiler

I mean yeah, technically, he's not a human child, but he exhibits traits of one. He's curious, a bit naive, gets excited about windmills, cries a lot, ect.

As the game goes on, he grows as a character and a lot of his negative traits, such as his fearfulness, his shyness, and his lack of confidence go away.

I have to go with this guy. Hand down the only child character that I am not either indifferent towards or outright hate.

Spoiler

FUCK. Ninja'd.

EDIT: I guess I could also throw in Laharl from the Disgaea series as well. I guess he's more of a pre-teen than a child, but he was a pretty enjoyable character. Yes, he was obnoxious, full of himself, and was kind of an asshole to everyone, but there's something about him that makes it all endearing rather then annoying.

 

[Veldel]

I liked Bumble from Little Lamplight in Fallout 3.


Plus, if you're evil, you can enslave her. But you wouldn't do that to Bumble... Right?

I got this nice Necklace for her she just needs to put it on im sure it will fit.




OT: Have to say Clem also I loved her char she was one of the only children I wanted to not die in a game and Im hoping to see her in Season 2 of Talltales game.

If Ellie counts then id add her as well I really enjoyed her as a char and she didnt feel like some bland you need to protect me and im helpless char. (looking at you Ashley)

 

[AT God]

I really liked those kids who chased the rat around Freeside in New Vegas, it was always amusing to watch them run around Benny Hill style after that rat.

However, don't kill the rat for them, then it becomes a depressing commentary on poverty in the fictional world of Fallout, I always assumed they were just like Tom and Jerry and would setup an elaborate dinner feast and the rat would escape before being cooked. That is not the case.

And Clementine is the only child that is actually likable I have found in a game where age matters, I liked all the characters in Psychonauts but it doesn't really mean anything because most characters, including Raz, are children. However I will never play Walking Dead again unless my I feel my life is going pretty well because I don't want to become depressed again, Walking Dead was like the Mass Effect 3 ending for 6 hours straight. I hope Season 2 doesn't go on sale for cheap next Christmas Steam sale, that's how they got me the first time.

 

[CarlsonAndPeeters]

The Zelda series actually has a couple great ones. Its a little unclear whether you can call them all "kids," but the Skull Kid from Majora's Mask, Mido from Ocarina of Time, and Colin from Twilight Princess are all surprisingly deep and interesting characters for a Zelda game (my favorite franchise but admittedly the stories are pretty shallow). Though the best child character is unquestionably...

Spoiler: This guy

Clementine's pretty solid too, but I don't see her running a business empire.

 

[Quazimofo]

Link was pretty cool in Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time. Barely makes a sound and is very good at what he does.

On another note, the president of Lamplight in fallout 3 (and the other service-providers. Knick-knack, whatever the kid who was the teacher was named, the medic etc). If you have child at heart or otherwise earn his trust, I can respect the kid. He truly understands what he as a leader needs to do, and all of them are evidently effective at maintaining the necessities while still letting the kids enjoy their childhood, and are very helpful in their various ways (once they are convinced you won't try to kill them).

 

[Gizmo1990]

Snip

Every time my answer to a thread question is Vivi I am always Ninja'd but finaly today was my day!

 

[IFS]

All of Little Lamplight.



...because I had the Child at Heart perk. Suddenly, all the kids (except Princess) were more than happy to show me around the town, trade with me, give me extra quests, and find me an alternate way in to the vault. And the insane survival system they had working was utterly awesome, the location was cool, and the kids were nice (except freaking Princess).

Since I always take the Child At Heart perk, I'm always confused when people say they hate Little Lamplight.

The reason why it's hated is because (like much of Fallout 3's story) it makes zero sense, and (again like in much of Fallout 3) you aren't allowed to take actions that would make sense as a response to the place. Not to mention the mayor (and some of the other kids, like Princess and the Mayor) are complete assholes to you for no reason, and as seems to have become Bethesda tradition the most annoying characters are the ones you aren't allowed to kill. This is not to say I didn't enjoy FO3 (the hundred or so hours I put into it certainly say otherwise) but Little Lamplight is practically a distillation of all the problems with the games writing.

Anyways to answer the OP I will second Clementine for the Walking Dead (I would also give an honorable mention to Duck from the same series, who was a bit obnoxious at first but grows on you). Other than that I also like all the characters in Psychonauts.

 

[lacktheknack]

All of Little Lamplight.



...because I had the Child at Heart perk. Suddenly, all the kids (except Princess) were more than happy to show me around the town, trade with me, give me extra quests, and find me an alternate way in to the vault. And the insane survival system they had working was utterly awesome, the location was cool, and the kids were nice (except freaking Princess).

Since I always take the Child At Heart perk, I'm always confused when people say they hate Little Lamplight.

The reason why it's hated is because (like much of Fallout 3's story) it makes zero sense, and (again like in much of Fallout 3) you aren't allowed to take actions that would make sense as a response to the place. Not to mention the mayor (and some of the other kids, like Princess and the Mayor) are complete assholes to you for no reason, and as seems to have become Bethesda tradition the most annoying characters are the ones you aren't allowed to kill. This is not to say I didn't enjoy FO3 (the hundred or so hours I put into it certainly say otherwise) but Little Lamplight is practically a distillation of all the problems with the games writing.

How does it make zero sense? Adult-hating child survivors doesn't seem out of line to me.

What actions can you not take? Are you telling me that it "makes sense" to crack all the kids' skulls?

The kids are assholes to you because you're an adult... which they hate. And they're actually all really helpful and pleasant if you have the Child At Heart perk.

I don't understand WHY the place is regarded as "problematic writing". Everyone tells me it's terrible, but they never actually explain why beyond "I was annoyed".

 

[DirgeNovak]

Pretty much all my answers were already mentioned: Clementine, Nanako, Ellie, Vivi, most of the Psychonauts kids...
I would add Cody from Dexter. (But not Astor. Fuck Astor.)

 

[Winthrop]

Clementine from Walking Dead, Link/Tetra from Wind Waker, and Recette/Cailou from Recettear.

They all act like children, but they still contribute and still show signs of heroism despite the fact that they are still children. Having child characters act exactly like adults doesn't work and having children with no personality doesn't work either.

 

[IFS]

How does it make zero sense? Adult-hating child survivors doesn't seem out of line to me.

What actions can you not take? Are you telling me that it "makes sense" to crack all the kids' skulls?

The kids are assholes to you because you're an adult... which they hate. And they're actually all really helpful and pleasant if you have the Child At Heart perk.

I don't understand WHY the place is regarded as "problematic writing". Everyone tells me it's terrible, but they never actually explain why beyond "I was annoyed".

I wasn't referring to not being able to kill them as something that should be available as an action, the simple fact that the game puts a piece of plywood (as that is what the gate is made out of) in your way and forces you to either waste a perk or trek halfway across the wasteland to open it is not exactly providing the most sensible solutions. As for how it doesn't make sense there are a number of reasons, the kids do not have an adequate food supply, the settlement is implied to have started just after the bombs fell, and somehow is still only kids 200 years later, their settlement connects directly to super mutant central, yet they too are apparently unable to overcome a plywood door, additionally how the hell did a bunch of kids construct all the buildings/gates you see there? Sure some probably existed before the bombs but a bunch of kids wouldn't know the first thing about maintaining them. I could go on about how the settlement doesn't make any sense, but hopefully that gives you an idea of what I'm talking about (and yes I am aware that for a few of those there are explanations given in the game, they are just rather poor ones that don't hold up to scrutiny very well).

 

[lacktheknack]

How does it make zero sense? Adult-hating child survivors doesn't seem out of line to me.

What actions can you not take? Are you telling me that it "makes sense" to crack all the kids' skulls?

The kids are assholes to you because you're an adult... which they hate. And they're actually all really helpful and pleasant if you have the Child At Heart perk.

I don't understand WHY the place is regarded as "problematic writing". Everyone tells me it's terrible, but they never actually explain why beyond "I was annoyed".

I wasn't referring to not being able to kill them as something that should be available as an action, the simple fact that the game puts a piece of plywood (as that is what the gate is made out of) in your way and forces you to either waste a perk or trek halfway across the wasteland to open it is not exactly providing the most sensible solutions. As for how it doesn't make sense there are a number of reasons, the kids do not have an adequate food supply, the settlement is implied to have started just after the bombs fell, and somehow is still only kids 200 years later, their settlement connects directly to super mutant central, yet they too are apparently unable to overcome a plywood door, additionally how the hell did a bunch of kids construct all the buildings/gates you see there? Sure some probably existed before the bombs but a bunch of kids wouldn't know the first thing about maintaining them. I could go on about how the settlement doesn't make any sense, but hopefully that gives you an idea of what I'm talking about (and yes I am aware that for a few of those there are explanations given in the game, they are just rather poor ones that don't hold up to scrutiny very well).

Food: Yes they do. You even get a quest to help them grow more food if you have the Child at Heart perk.

Still Kids: You watch them throw a teen out of the town.

Plywood door: I'll give you that one.

Kids Not Knowing How to Build/Maintain: Yeah, they do. Again, they talk about it if you have Child at Heart.

These Explanations Not Holding Up To Scrutiny: I didn't find problems with them, so my original question raises its head again.

 

[Mikeyfell]

Toph from Avatar The Last Airbender
She's my favorite character of anything and she just so happens to be 12 years old... so she counts!
She has such a great sense of humor about her dissibility (Which is blindness in case you haven't seen TLA yet) She never lets it get in her way or slow her down at all, she's the most efficient and effective character in the whole show

Sweetie Belle. From My Little Pony [sub]come at me[/sub]
She's like the voice of reason for all the CMC episodes without ever coming off as a "small adult" which is what most reasonably smart child characters come across as.

And Clementine from Walking Dead
She's awesome, But she's probably on this list 100 times by now, so it kinda goes without saying right?

Gene and Louise from Bob's Burgers.
Have you seen Bob's Burgers? Watch Bob's Burgers...

Beyond that I'd have to start getting into teenage characters
Tina from Bob's Burgers
Ellie from Last of Us
Rita from Tales of Vesperia
Katara and Sokka from Avatar TLA
But when you start spreading the age range that's a slippery slope. I mean does Fyuria count? She's 86 out of a 1000+ year life span? Does she count as a child?

 

[JediMB]

From The Walking Dead; my darlin' Clementine.

Not sure if there's anything left to say, since she's a popular choice, but I do oh-so look forward to Season 2.

 

[bossfight1]

Of course, Clementine deserves first mention. And I dunno if this counts, since she's 13, but I don't care...