That's what the argument is based on? A poor choice, indeed. Though there are a few bad ass characters, most of those people aren't terribly bad ass. People like Sam Fisher (Though SC: Conviction looks to prove me wrong and I hope it does!), Jack Carver, James Earl Cash, Alex Mercer (super powers do not equal bad ass) and even Johnny Gatt (though he JUST misses the cut-off, much like Sam) aren't terribly bad ass compared to characters like Kratos, Master Chief and Duke Nukem. Let's review:
Kratos- He fights Gods. He fights Mythology. He's practically the next Gilgamesh with all the treasures he collects. And he does it all without flinching. Badass check mark!
Master Chief- He fights the army of an alliance of FOUR (One. Two. Three. FOUR!) races. He destroys two super weapons that could wipe out humanity. He even adds a fifth race of parasitical beings which means he has to double-kill every person he kills. He even gets some good one-liners (who else mixes it up by shooting their way out?). Badass check mark!
Duke Nukem- Honestly. If you don't know why he's badass, you fail, but we'll review anyways. He has amazing one-liners that have become almost staple in quoting badasses. He's just a dude that picked up a rocket launcher after the world went crazy and threw a bunch of crazy back at it. He smokes cigars and gets all the hot babes. Badass check mark.
People that SHOULD be on this list:
The Doom marine- Pretty much on the same level as The Duke. He fights Hell itself and at its front doors no less. The sheer horrors this guy willingly puts himself against just so they don't leave Mars is amazing. The first real badass and worth of a badass check mark.
John Shepard- Now, most people have been saying Wrex, but I don't see why. Wrex is cool and uncaring and rips shit up, but that's it. Shepard not only does that, but is the only human to be cool enough to be above galactic law, is a commander of some of the most elite soldiers, bionics and techies in known space AND gets the ladies admist a war. Badass check mark.
Dante- Need anything be said? He has the "I could care less" disposition about almost anything, including gettign stabbed through the chest. He can perform dazzling moves both in combat to destroy demons, or with the ladies to seduce them with his charm. He even has snarky one-liners. Badass check mark.
Samus Aran- Yes, a woman, but still a badass. She's one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy. She fights space pirates, energy sucking aliens and various other hideous monsters trapped deep beneath the depths of planets unknown. Not to mention the aersenal of weapons she totes, including her Aerial Suit. Badass check mark.
Ryu Hyabusa- He's THE ninja. He runs around beating a ninja clan that has compitant members instead of inept flunkies. He hangs around and even proteges hot women with huge knockers and molds them into kick ass ninja to fight in martial arts tournaments and volley ball matches. He regularly runs into various demons summoned to reap his soul. And all in the name of avenging his father, Joe.
But there's only one who has done absolutely everything...
Gabriel Angelos- THE space marine of space marines. He's faced down his best friend turned greater demon. He's fought the advancing armies of The Warp, Orkz, Tyranids and other unimaginable horrors that plague humanity without a second thought. He inspires his men to great feats of strength and has some inspiring and epic words to give throughout what we see of him. And to top it all off: he's flown through The Warp (their version of Hell), gotten trapped, kicked ass and took names against things The God Emperor only knows of (for all we know he played fisticuffs with Khorne himself) and then mysteriously comes out the other end and immediately teleports down to his home planet and goes one on one with a Hive Tyrant. BAD. ASS. CHECK. MARK!