Does a Protagonist have to be likable?

[wellhereiam]

It's all well and good to have anti-heroes as main characters, but there are some protagonists that just piss me off. I really like Tales of the Abyss but the main character is such a whiny, childish, jackass that it makes the beginning of the game very difficult to sit through. The main characters from the Devil May Cry games are also pretty insufferably annoying. The games may still be good but the protagonists really detract from the overall experience for me. Overall I don't think it's absolutely necessary for them to be likeable, but it definitely helps.

 

[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.

Erm... overlord?

The Overlord felt more like a blank slate. Kind of like Fallout 3, without any of the good Karma options.

 

[SnipErlite]

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart, anyone?

No? I can't imagine many people know it, but yeah. The eponymous brothers are complete evil bastards.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Let us see..*looks at mass effect, god of war, modern warfare, naruto.* No.

 

[Raijha]

If you're talking about good characters that you can hate, definitely, well, almost anybody from the newest Star Ocean game. Seriously.

If you're talking bad guys you can love, Kefka from FF6. That guy was just pure evil and absolutely insane, and everybody loved him for it.

And if you're talking "good" guys that do what seem to be insanely bad things, I would have to go with the old guy from Saw. The original jigsaw. He saw everything he did, which we would all consider completely evil and sadistic, as the exact opposite. He felt he was helping the people he captured, or if not them, then the rest of humanity, and went to even his death, believing in his heart that he had done good works.
A perfect example of a main character, in his own mind, trying to be incredibly good by doing incredibly evil sadistic and terrible things.

 

[comadorcrack]

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.

Hmmm Perhaps. But then we;re getting onto a whole new basis if phycology. One I'd rather leave untapped ....

 

[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.

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.

Killing them halfway through is a bit silly (though I've seen it done fairly well; can't remember exactly where) but at the end? It doesn't matter if they die, but they still rarely do.
Sometimes it would help the story if the final battle killed them. Sometimes it would make more sense.

 

[Meggiepants]

I think they just need to be interesting. Obviously it helps to be likable in some way if you want people to become that character. But if you are just trying to tell a story about a particular character, so long as they have a compelling story, I think people would play the game.

 

[Hobo Joe]

I think generally if we're meant to keep playing and eventually value our protagonists they must be likable.

 

[Woodsey]

They should be relatable in some way, but likability is not a necessity. I don't particularly like Alan Wake, but I can understand his motivations and relate to his temper.

 

[Acier]

Kira from Death Note is reprehensible in my eyes, but others love him.
That's what makes a great protagonist or character. One who is multifaceted to the point that opinion are polarized.

 

[lacktheknack]

See Duke Nukem. Misogynistic pompous bull. Two undeniable classic games (Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem 3D).

 

[Reveras]

I will bring up The Postal Dude for the answer. He's an asshole, that 1 week of the entire Postal 2 prooves it and I will bring up a few things he does for no reason: Murders Gary Coleman for a book, pisses on people, sticks weapon barels in cat's asses so he can use them as a balistic missile, dresses in a cop and goes "someone stole my donuts and now you're all gonna pay!". Need I say more ? And at the end of the week, a catpocalipse ensues and our dude blasts his way home through the entire city. (play the game if u haven't, it's one of the funniest games ever made ever, and most violent)

 

[theSovietConnection]

No, they don't have to be likeable, but it helps if they are. There is a big difference between "likeable" and "evil", though. I think what you're asking is more can a protaganist be evil, assuming I read the OP right.

 

[HeySeansOnline]

I've pimped this before but take The Bard's Tale, you play an egotistical, murderous, self centered, bastard, yet you still want to see him keep up his adventure. But yes, while the character can still be a bastard you have to at least like them, or else you simply won't care about what they do since you'll hate them, even In this example you still "like" the Bard, hes a dick, but still a cool character.

 

[Yarpie]

Not necessarily likable, but their actions "must" be justifiable. Even if they are complete dicks, their reasoning can be justified at some level at least. If not, then they are just assholes, and assholes are hard to relate to or root for.

 

[Crimson_Dragoon]

Not at all. Look at Evangelion. Shinji is not a likable character, and he's not meant to be, but he makes a great protagonist for the series.

And look at most tragedies. They feature flawed, unlikable characters, but that's what works best for that kind of story.

Edit: And being a "dick" doesn't equal unlikable. I present Cartman, Dr. Cox, and House as prime examples of this.

 

[Grubnar]

No, not at all.

Sometimes it can make things alot more interesting is the main character is a real bastard.

Or a coward, or a drunk, or stupid, or ... you get the picture.

One of the most interesting characters I have seen in a video game ever was Mark Bannon in the RTS game World in Conflict. You will not like Mark Bannon, he has a long list of character flaws. But then you get to see a little bit of what goes on in his head, and in the end ... well, I dont wanna spoil it for you.

 

[Icaray]

Tommy Vercetti. Uncensored badassery at it's finest.