Original game characters

[War Penguin]

In games, many protagonists usually fall into the category of super soldier, emo super soldier, super soldier that needs to shave, or Master Chief wannabe (happens to be super soldier). That's only a few examples of character stereo types in games. Most are unoriginal and almost all are generic. Why is it that we have such boring and watered down characters? Are we running out of ideas? Come on, people. We can do better than this.

We can make more original characters now, can't we? Surely, some of us here have got some good character ideas, right? I have a good character idea that I haven't seen yet.

My original character is a cute, blue, foul-mouthed, alien who works at a junk yard with an abnormally and hilariously large robo arm.
Wasn't that hard (Maybe I just got lucky that time. I'm sure it's harder in reality).

Think about why we have such repeated characters in games and make some yourself that might suit this current generation of games.

 

[Souplex]

A guy who suplexes gods out of boredom. Summer of 06 would have been really boring otherwise.

 

[Harold Donchee]

You forgot the mute with no personality hero.

 

[grimsprice]

an 8 year old boy who's mom replaced him with a robo-timmy. he must destroy the corporate headquarters sending commands to the robo-timmy hulk smash style. epic ''i want my cornetto'' driven character.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

An extraordinarly angry marmoset with the ability to fold and throw razor-edged paper planes rapidly. As in, nine or ten every second.

His name is Winston.

 

[Imat]

In games, many protagonists usually fall into the category of super soldier, emo super soldier, super soldier that needs to shave, or Master Chief wannabe (happens to be super soldier).

Ummm..."Master Chief Wannabe?" Since when was Master Chief the/an original character? He looks like an updated (graphically) Doom soldier and has less personality (The Doom character has expressions, I saw them in a little bar on the bottom of the screen. Mr. Halo has nothing...).

And we do have original characters. All the time. You just play the big titles which are all in the same space marine rut right now (Halo, Gears, etc.). Go out and play something different. Find a game you haven't heard of and try it out. Ever heard of Dokapon Kingdom? Probably not. It has unique protagonists, albeit mostly user-made. Play Warcraft or Starcraft, they have good protagonists. Play DotA or LoL or any of the other RPG/RTS hybrids, they have plenty of unique characters. Look past the media and you'll find what you're looking for.

 

[NeutralDrow]

My original character is a cute, blue, foul-mouthed, alien who works at a junk yard with an abnormally and hilariously large robo arm.
Wasn't that hard (Maybe I just got lucky that time. I'm sure it's harder in reality).

Write something about them. Just because they're original doesn't mean they can't be a crappy character.

Think about why we have such repeated characters in games and make some yourself that might suit this current generation of games.

No. I refuse to associate character archetypes with cliche and originality to automatic quality.

 

[Nils]

In games, many protagonists usually fall into the category of super soldier, emo super soldier, super soldier that needs to shave, or Master Chief wannabe (happens to be super soldier).

I assume you're speaking chiefly about FPS games? 'Cause that's the main genre that I see this archetype being abused in. I suggest playing a different type of game if you're hurting for originality. It doesn't have to be an RPG. A platformer would probably be your best bet at finding something new.

If it absolutely has to involve shooting something, then I have two words for you: Ratchet and Clank.

 

[SebZero]

I've always wanted to see a JRPG with a healer/white mage who doesn't give a crap about the rest of the party members.

And smokes.

 

[BolognaBaloney]

A midget lumberjack, who fights hitler to regain his lost stash of pancakes, he uses toasters to fight the nazi scourge.

 

[goatzilla8463]

Rayman was pretty cool. Even if he didn't say anything...

 

[Sketchy]

A protagonist with no head, or a head in a REALLY obscure spot on his body.

I don't know why either.

 

[El Camarado]

A person wearing a suit of armor that covers their entire body and has energy shielding, who slaughters wave after wave of enemies, even if the enemies are retreating, even if the enemies have already surrendered, even if the enemies are on his/her side, even if the "good guys" are slaughtering people, enslaving people, and just being completely evil.

Also, you forgot the "average everyday soldier that can take a few dozen bullets, and fought against the nazis in the World War, wait, what do you mean World War II? There was a World War in the 1910's? Oh, come on, now you are just making stuff up, there isn't even a country called Prussia." type character. I will save the rest of that rant for another time, however.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

A motherfreaking ghost. Who happens to have psychotic episodes and attempts to communicate with the living and goes on a quest of self-discovery.

 

[PrototypeExKrow]

In games, many protagonists usually fall into the category of super soldier, emo super soldier, super soldier that needs to shave, or Master Chief wannabe (happens to be super soldier)

Of course these are mainly abused in shooters what are you gonna put a pansy as the main character umm no cause he would die and if he didnt meaning he was just some lucky super soldier and didnt freaking know it!!!

 

[Fr331anc3r]

Everyone is going for the body type/archtype, why so? There can be plenty of good character types that are the superhero/villain body type, Kratos is one that comes to mind (God of War). Yes, FPS and TPS games tend towards the "strong, silent type" but that allows for the player to put themselves in their position, as soon as you put a voice to that mute, it becomes personified. Also, this "God" archtype is mainly because creators of games believe that they must make their main character invincible, because if the player dies, and their character looks whimpy the player is more likely to blame the company than their own inept play style (S.T.A.L.K.E.R. either game).

 

[Dr_Baron_von_Evilsatan]

I'm fine with the armored space marine, but I think it would be kind of nice if it happened to be a woman. Make her not super-attractive, half naked, a complete b*tch or airhead. Let's also leave out the overdosing on 'roids and anger.

 

[Fr331anc3r]

I'm fine with the armored space marine, but I think it would be kind of nice if it happened to be a woman. Make her not super-attractive, half naked, a complete b*tch or airhead. Let's also leave out the overdosing on 'roids and anger.

And the size Q breasts on a 13" waist is also unnecessary.... that's pretty archtypal of female characters. No 36-24-36 here..... more of 63-14-30.......... seriously, that's not even slightly real, yes, it appearantly appeals to the most depraved of us (DoA Extreme 2 anyone?) But if I have a leading female character I want her to be a total bad ass without massive breasts keeping her from holding a gun properly.

 

[LilGherkin]

You play the first zombie to try to spread the pandemic. There, original character.

EDIT: Turns out there's a game like that, but hey at least he's not overused.