Games of a scoundrel-ish nature

[NickCaligo42]

I'm looking for some games where the player character is of a decidedly scoundrel-ish nature; taking the Han Solo path over the usual Luke Skywalker, if that makes sense. Someone who's in business for themselves more than for others.

I can think of a couple: Devil May Cry and Privateer. I suppose you can name the Saints Row or Grand Theft Auto games, too, but those are more "organized street criminal" in flavor to me than "scoundrel." Well, if you can call Saints Row "organized."

Someone's probably going to bring up the whole "renegade" interpretation of Shepard in Mass Effect, or the various ways you could choose to play Fallout: New Vegas. Much as I do appreciate this sort of thing, I'm looking for something with a more explicit sense of characterization to the experience.

So, anybody know any games barking up this particular tree?

 

[The Madman]

The Witcher series. Geralt is a bit of a mercenary as well as a dog when it comes to women, still in the end he always tries to stay true to his conscience and do the right thing plus in true scoundrel fashion he of course prefers to work alone.

I actually quite like the character after having read what few books have been translated to English.

 

[darth.pixie]

'The Bard' and his quest for coin and cleavage?

He sounds and acts pretty 'scoundrel-ish' to me.

 

[NickCaligo42]

'The Bard' and his quest for coin and cleavage?

He sounds and acts pretty 'scoundrel-ish' to me.

From "The Bard's Tale?"

The Witcher series. Geralt is a bit of a mercenary as well as a dog when it comes to women, still in the end he always tries to stay true to his conscience and do the right thing plus in true scoundrel fashion he of course prefers to work alone.

I actually quite like the character after having read what few books have been translated to English.

That's actually an excellent suggestion. I can't believe it didn't cross my mind. I still haven't finished The Witcher 2, I'll need to re-visit it.

Another one I just thought of, can't believe it didn't occur to me either--Ezio, Assassin's Creed 2. He's the very image of a swashbuckling, womanizing scoundrel if I ever did see one.

 

[darth.pixie]

'The Bard' and his quest for coin and cleavage?

He sounds and acts pretty 'scoundrel-ish' to me.

From "The Bard's Tale?"

Yep. Not the 1980's one.

The Bard is pretty much a scoundrel both if you pick the nice and mean options...but sometimes it pays more to be snarky. There's a Let's Play here [http://lparchive.org/The-Bards-Tale/] if you don't want to go to it blind. He's voiced by Cary Elwes, so of course he sounds scoundrel-like.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Destroy All Humans! and Destroy All Humans! 2.

You play as an alien called Crypto and he isn't exactly the nicest guy, or one who cares much for the lives of others. In the first game he is on a mission but in the second game, without giving away the story, is much more personal.

 

[Scrustle]

What about Travis Touchdown in No More Heroes? He doesn't care about doing the right thing or being the good guy, he just wants to be the best and have as much fun as possible getting there. He loves violence for violence's sake and has a cavalier attitude towards everything.

 

[Ultress]

Sly Cooper and co. especially in Sly 3 where some of the plans are downright murderous and deceitful.