Does a Protagonist have to be likable?

[Azure-Supernova]

I've read a lot of books and a few manga. I've played a lot of games and seen my fair share of movies. Everytime I see a thread about 'Favourite character from 'X'' or 'Most likable character', there always seems to be one or two people claiming that a character is too unlikable to be enjoyed or liked.

I may sound like I'm not making much sense, so let me clarify.
Does a character have to be thoroughly likeable and wholesome to be good? Characters like Kratos and Alex Mercer act like complete assholes, but have their reasons for doing so. Do they have to have redeeming qualities?

Can you see an anime where the main character is a cold, ruthless, heartless fiend without a soul? Do they have to be the inevitable 'badass goes good guy' stereotype, to name a few who follow a similar formula I'll name InuYasha, Vegeta or Tao Ren? Or could a series be formed around someone who is pure evil? Could Cell or Frieza have their own Dragon Ball spin off where we actually want them to win? How about if Star Wars had a Sith protagonist instead of a Jedi (I've never delved into the expanded universe, so correct me if wrong).

Please, share your thoughts.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

It's called an Anti-Hero. See God of War.

Also i think both Squall and Titus proved they don't HAVE to be but it helps if you don't wish painfull painfull death on them.

But what I'm talking about here, isn't someone like Kratos. He's got a past that explains his assholery, I'm talking about someone born evil, raised evil and just pure evil.

 

[manythings]

Name a truly evil character you can view positively? Dexter, the serial killer, is a character that is morally reprehensible but at least he hunts and kills serial killers. If a character is wholly bad then you can only like them in snippets; Boba Fett is a good example. He is a bad guy but the sheer lack of any info regarding him beyond the fact that he was clearly a bounty hunter so bad ass even Darth Vader considered him worth respecting made him an icon. Post clone wars I can only see him as a douche.

 

[Je Suis Ubermonkey]

It doesn't matter who the protagonist is; whether good or evil wins; how likeable characters are so long as whatever it is (books, games etc.) is enjoyable.

Also, isn't it interesting that 'the good guy/girl' always wins, but often the slightly less good guys/girls die in droves? Killing the main character is some kind of taboo seemingly, but the less important (yet usually more likeable) characters are fair game, and actually create a great emotional response by dying.

 

[Breaker deGodot]

No, not at all. See Jake LaMotta for movies, and The Postal Dude for games.

 

[Twilight_guy]

No, protagonists do not have to be likable or good. Some stories are actually about unlikable assholes and make the reader root for everyone else.

 

[manythings]

It doesn't matter who the protagonist is; whether good or evil wins; how likeable characters are so long as whatever it is (books, games etc.) is enjoyable.

Also, isn't it interesting that 'the good guy/girl' always wins, but often the slightly less good guys/girls die in droves? Killing the main character is some kind of taboo seemingly, but the less important (yet usually more likeable) characters are fair game, and actually create a great emotional response by dying.

The hero is the person you are meant to be most invested in with regard to the story, if the person you are meant to be rooting for the most is killed then it just seems kind of cheap like a jump scare. Add to that you now have to create a new hero for the viewer/reader to follow and they'll spend the rest of the book looking for the death of this character.

 

[C117]

Yes, as long as the antagonist is a bit more evil than the protagonist, I think it would be really good.

 

[comadorcrack]

How about if Star Wars had a Sith protagonist instead of a Jedi (I've never delved into the expanded universe, so correct me if wrong).

See, Force Unleashed, KoTor 1/2 as well as the upcoming MMO.

OT. Well Yes they Kinda do. Even Anti-Heroes should be likeable. This boots more in games than in Movies Because you take direct control of the hero so you have to really want them to succeed.

 

[tomtom94]

Rorschach's journal. October 12th. Tonight, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why.
Er-hem.
No, the protagonist doesn't HAVE to be completely likable and relatable.
In fact, a non-sympathetic protagonist presents an interesting dilemma, and can improve a film nicely.

Most protagonists in action films are likable and relatable though, because that's what the public generally tends to want.

And you don't get female protagonists often because Hollywood is misogynistic.
[sub]And even when they do, they get shouted down for other reasons...[/sub]

 

[rossable]

i prefer relate-able to likable. Darth Maul is one of the most highly loved Sith characters because of his raw hatred and overarching mystique. Until the failure that was the prequels, Vader was awe-inspiring! Bobba Fett!? the key is to make the audience want more. my favorite Star Wars character of all time is Kyle Katarn, a character that was created and evolved from a video game and the frenzy of fan support that followed. Most of the draw with Kyle's character was his constant toeing the line with the dark side, sometimes crossing said line and then struggling to redeem himself. an inherently neutral character he was made real by the identifiability of the struggle of consequence vs destiny.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Name a truly evil character you can view positively?

That's what I'm talking about though... someone you aren't supposed to view positively. You're supposed to be shocked and appalled by their actions. I don't know about you, but when I play as a good guy, I usually get sick of their do-goodery. It gets sickly sweet and pisses me off, in the end I'm hoping they get offed (which is what happened in Harry Potter and Eragon).

The exact opposite is something I'd hope would happen in a series where the character is the bad guy. You'd start off seeing nothing but a sadistic prick, doing pricky things. By the end of the game/movie/book, you'll be wanting to see what they're going to do next, wether out of a newfound sadism or simply to find out what the fuck they'll do next.

 

[klakkat]

A protagonist doesn't have to be GOOD, but he does have to be likable. Perhaps not someone you want to meet (again, Kratos is a good example there) but they have to be relateable in some way, and be interesting enough to carry the story. One thing game writers need to keep in mind is that the protagonist gets the most screen time, so if they're uninteresting or annoying, then the entire game will be too.

 

[Adamc-mh]

not always but they got to have a purpose and substance not a lifeless drone

 

[Vampire cat]

I always found Sam Fisher to be one evil dude. He just goes about killing people because some people in his ear tell him to. And he kills quite a few of them in some quite uncomfortable ways.

Personally I found him to be a cold SOB, his daughters "death" only encouraged more senseless murder on his part. It's like if you give a kid a spiked baseball bat and tell him to go kill some dogs and he goes "ok!"

 

[HotFezz8]

up to a point, no.

that said have you wondered why there have been no games about himmler?

 

[Jaxs]

What about Alucard from Hellsing?

 

[Azure-Supernova]

A protagonist doesn't have to be GOOD, but he does have to be likable. Perhaps not someone you want to meet (again, Kratos is a good example there) but they have to be relateable in some way, and be interesting enough to carry the story. One thing game writers need to keep in mind is that the protagonist gets the most screen time, so if they're uninteresting or annoying, then the entire game will be too.

But why do they have to be relatable? Cell is a popular DBZ character, but I doubt anyone can really relate to him. As stated above, Darth Maul is very popular, but again who can relate to the Sith lord? People seem to like them because they're mysterious and interesting, not necessarily relatable.

How about if Star Wars had a Sith protagonist instead of a Jedi (I've never delved into the expanded universe, so correct me if wrong).

See, Force Unleashed, KoTor 1/2 as well as the upcoming MMO.

OT. Well Yes they Kinda do. Even Anti-Heroes should be likeable. This boots more in games than in Movies Because you take direct control of the hero so you have to really want them to succeed.

But that's because we're used to stories with protagonists like this, no? If someone were to make a game where you're a dick, with the sole motive of satisfying a sadistic thirst (Overlord tried this and almost pulled it off), could it not be possible to make it work? The player stills wants them to succeed, but for different reasons. You might start off regretting the evil things you must do, but I think in time you can come to share in the protags sadistic delight.