Gordon Freeman wins the Gamespot "Greatest Video Game Hero"

[The Rockerfly]

You know I never understand why Kratos from God Of War never gets the best video game hero

Gordon is a mute for Christ sake, yeah the games maybe good but that doesn't make him a good hero.

Kratos on the other hand has some of the most epic lines in video gaming history, he kills Gods and gets health from having sex with two women and God of War has an amazing (maybe the best) combat engine ever made in a action game

 

[MikeyW]

You know I never understand why Kratos from God Of War never gets the best video game hero

Gordon is a mute for Christ sake, yeah the games maybe good but that doesn't make him a good hero.

Kratos on the other hand has some of the most epic lines in video gaming history, he kills Gods and gets health from having sex with two women and God of War has an amazing (maybe the best) combat engine ever made in a action game

Because Kratos isn't a hero per se. he never did anything to save the world or anyone really. Just got cranky at Ares and Zeus.

 

[lord canti]

As much as I love the half life series my vote would have gone for snake.

 

[NBSRDan]

The Half-Life games are true first-person games: At no point does Gordon Freeman say or do anything that you didn't tell to him do through the controller(s), and at no point does the camera change perspective to reminder you that you are not really Gordon. A vote for Freeman is a vote for yourself.

Short answer: GameSpot users are narcissists.

 

[similar.squirrel]

That was a puzzling choice. But I guess it was democratic.

 

[Kilo24]

In "Best Character" contests like these characterization isn't a noticeable factor (namely because most games don't have significant characterization.) Popularity of the games they're in is by far the most important element to winning.

So, no, I disagree that Gordon Freeman is a great video game character. He's a mediocre whiteboard for putting your motivations into a game that doesn't technically need it (as with any linear game.) It's a good design decision for Valve, though.
April Ryan has my vote for greatest game hero as one of the few characters in gaming that actually has a character defined as more than just being some variety of excessively cool and stylish badass.

 

[SnakeF]

I freakin hate half life games and the character has nothing going for him other than a camp looking suit (with zero head protection i might add, in a game where dozens of crab monsters attack YOUR FACE)

Best character IMO has gotta be Minsc from Baldurs Gate

*looks at avatar* I totally agree with you on that last point, although Jan Jansen may come a close second, Freeman has nothing on those two.

 

[RelexCryo]

So Gamespot does their annual match up where people vote on their favorite heroes from video games. And Gordon Freeman wins yet another such contest. Does anyone else think this is bullshit since Gordon Freeman isn't even really a character? He has almost zero characterization, limited dialogue, and a one-dimensional personality. His achievements are...well...surviving some fucked up experiments, I guess?

So what makes Freeman the "Greatest Video Game Hero"? Please enlighten me because I'm stupefied.

His actions speak louder than words. He goes to a dark, depressing, police future...and throws a soda can at the police officer's head.

That said, people like what Gordon Freeman represents: Freedom, a refusal to give into to tyranny, fear, or oppression, and above all else, a nerd who beats the crap out of jerky jocks by the hundreds.

 

[Dadutchman]

You guys do realize that gordon only won because Valve plastered "GO VOTE FOR GORDON ON GAMESPOT AND WE'LL GIVE YOU DISCOUNTS ON STUFF WITH HIM IN IT!!" all over steam right? Before valve started bribing people to go vote for him the gamespot community was going to vote the Mario Bros in as greatest game heroes. Or so I've read in the steam forums after the dust settled.

By a very long shot he's not the greatest game hero, and fer f's sake its gamespot just another website in millions running a giant poll that no one really cares about.

Mario Bros as game heroes? That's incredibly sad. You gotta love the character development and story involved with two plumbers that jump over stuff and go down pipes. Not knocking on Mario Bros as not being incredibly influential games that help shape a fledgling industry, but they do not at all belong in this conversation.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So what makes Freeman the "Greatest Video Game Hero"? Please enlighten me because I'm stupefied.

Like most "heroes" he's survived a situation by the skin of his teeth, he's detailed enough to be memorable, but can be everyman. On expert level, he does most things realistically.

But I tell you what makes Gordon Freeman a hero, more than anything else:

The crowbar.

Never before has one weapon caused such a mixture of awe, wonder and playfulness than this piece of metal. Without it, you're struggling to regain it. With it, you're hitting everything just to hear those clunks and clanks.

Minsc suffered a little in his translation to BG2 where the writers tried to give him intellectualism for his quotes, they worked far better when he was just a soundbite character.

 

[Kstreitenfeld]

I followed the Gamespot forums during this, and I have to say all of the fanboy tears crying when their favorite hero lost was priceless. I've never seen so many "Who the hell is Gordan Freeman anyway", and "I can't believe X lost to this nobody!" threads in my life.

It was a blast.

 

[Daedalus1942]

So Gamespot does their annual match up where people vote on their favorite heroes from video games. And Gordon Freeman wins yet another such contest. Does anyone else think this is bullshit since Gordon Freeman isn't even really a character? He has almost zero characterization, limited dialogue, and a one-dimensional personality. His achievements are...well...surviving some fucked up experiments, I guess?

So what makes Freeman the "Greatest Video Game Hero"? Please enlighten me because I'm stupefied.

I hate you.. you destroyed the idea for a thread that I had.
But unlike you, I'm not bitching about him winning. But, thanks to your thread, no-one will even look at mine, even though mine's more thorough, and asks a question from a different standpoint and concept. But, thank you for menialising my thread.

 

[DazZ.]

You guys do realize that gordon only won because Valve plastered "GO VOTE FOR GORDON ON GAMESPOT AND WE'LL GIVE YOU DISCOUNTS ON STUFF WITH HIM IN IT!!" all over steam right?

Wrong, no discounts were mentioned, so it wasn't bribery.

 

[sms_117b]

Meh.

Honestly, I can't find much else to say but that, it happened, don't like it, then forget it, do like it then enjoy it.

Lets be honest, he's a FPS player character, none have any personality, the ones that do have personality are from RPG's normally, and they tend to be called angsty characters for one reason or another.

Once again, Meh.

 

[Vlane]

The only reason he won is because of the Steam message.

 

[jacobschndr]

Freemans the closest thing to a real life gamer, thats why people love him so much.
Others like Master Chief, Kratos, Soap MacTavish, etc., they all have personalities that only a certain group of people can appreciate. I.E. the Master Chief-is liked by military guys and Frat Boys, Kratos-Thesbian types, and Soap-...other...military guys and frat boys.

My point is Gordans silent, strong, nerdy, smart, and still manages to get the attention of chicks (Alyx) without saying a word! Which is what every geeky gamer wants to be like HA!

P.S. Eddie Riggs is probably the game character I would want to be if I were a game character, just cause his love for METAL is as big as mine.

 

[Christemo]

You know I never understand why Kratos from God Of War never gets the best video game hero

Gordon is a mute for Christ sake, yeah the games maybe good but that doesn't make him a good hero.

Kratos on the other hand has some of the most epic lines in video gaming history, he kills Gods and gets health from having sex with two women and God of War has an amazing (maybe the best) combat engine ever made in a action game

DING DING DING DING. WE HAVE A WINNER. a stash of cookies and a cookie monster T-shirt for you, Rockerfly.

i gotta say, i agree on your argument.

 

[Ryuk2]

Nobody likes Freeman, they just like the games. How can you like a mute, invisible hero who throws bottles and other things at NPS's with his gravity gun?
Why can't they vote for a character? There is no reason at all. Voting for a name with a picture makes no sense.

 

[Kiutu]

I think Link deserves it more. Certainly the most constant hero.
Gordan: 2 1/2
Link: ....Hell lot more than 2 1/2

 

[Grand_Pamplemousse]

Why would anyone vote for the mario bros.

They're plumbers who try and save the same girl over and over again.
Also they're pretty much mute.

At least Gordan Freeman actually does stuff..

Also WHY WASN'T MINSC AND BOO THERE?