Ugly Protagonists

[Soviet Heavy]

Ever get sick of games with idealistic muscle builders with chiseled faces and larger pecks than the Governator? Had enough of the bishonen pretty boys and the laid back Nathan Drakes?

How do you feel about ugly protagonists, or less than ideal lookers? I'm asking because while playing The Witcher 2, I've noticed a lot of people seem to dislike Geralt's appearance. I'm not saying they're wrong, he isn't the most spritely looking fellow. But I feel that Geralt's weathered features actually add to his character.

Not the nicest looking dude huh? But it comes with being a mutant, and his off putting appearance is appropriate considering how uncomfortable he makes people feel in the game anyways.
So Discussion question: Can you provide any more unattractive protagonists? Bonus points if you give a reason for why they work.

 

[ChupathingyX]

What about Crypto from Destroy All Humans!?

Then again he is an alien so I don't know if it counts, but I like him because he's a wise-cracking, pop-culture referencing, pessimistic, sexually obssessed, sarcastic, condescending asshole who has barely any respect for superiors and prefers to always do things the explosive way.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

John Marston. I wouldn't say he was "ugly" per se, but he isn't the handsomest cowboy around. It does add to his character, the scars on his face, the constant look of him being a tired old man just wanting to be at piece. It really adds to his character, and to why Red Dead Redemption is one of the best games ever in my opinion.

Good example. Yeah, his scars do show experience. I'd just like him a tiny bit more if he cut his hair. It's awfully greasy. But still, Marston does fit the criteria.

 

[wolas3214]

I agree, he wouldnt be the man he was if he wasnt a scarred, grizzled and greasy as he is now. Though come to think of it. i cant think of a single ugly protagonist that was human.

 

[Beautiful End]

Stubbs the zombie.

Enough said.

(No, seriously. How do you beat a dead, rotten guy?)

 

[SwimmingRock]

Raziel and Kain, but that was kind of the point. I'd say they work, because they're not supposed to look human anymore and that's integral to the plot and their character development. Also, they just look really damn cool.

 

[Neuromaster]

The moment I saw Geralt topless I immediately thought "underwear model". Granted, a pretty beat-up underwear model with cat eyes, but a model nonetheless.

Cole McGrath strikes me as pretty average, as is the cast of co-op games L4D/2 and Borderlands (with the smokin-hot exception of Lilith). Oh, and TF2.

There're plenty of Leon S. Kennedys and Dantes out there, but not everyone is on the bandwagon.

 

[Archangel768]

While I can't think of more ugly protagonist.

In my personal opinion, while Geralt is 'ugly' I found him to look really cool for some reason. I quite like the promotional pictures for The Witcher 2 that feature him.

 

[GartarkMusik]

Not sure if this counts, cause it's a customization, but my first Commander Shepard in Mass Effect. I was just fooling with the customization and I made some really ugly ass dude, which made the romance conversations with Liara pretty damn funny. XD

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

Any game where the player is allowed to customize their character.

'nuff said.

 

[geK0]

Ive yet to play the game, but I think this guy looks pretty bad ass. I think I prefer a rugged experienced protagonist to a snobby pretty boy any day.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Any game where the player is allowed to customize their character.

'nuff said.

That face beats the Derp Shepard from the Bioware Valve matchup in last year's March Madness.

 

[Kahunaburger]

The classic. Apparently part of the reason Planescape: Torment didn't sell well was that this dude's face was all over the box art.

I think it works perfectly for the character - he's lived lifetimes upon lifetimes and died death after death, so it make sense he'd be a leathery mass of scar tissue. And it immediately tells the player that this RPG is about to do stuff you haven't seen before.

And yeah, I think it's great that Geralt is uglier than your average protagonist. However, as some people mentioned, he's not The Nameless One ugly. He's conventionally attractive under the scars and mutations. Good character design, though.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

And yeah, I think it's great that Geralt is uglier than your average protagonist. However, as some people mentioned, he's not The Nameless One ugly. He's conventionally attractive under the scars and mutations. Good character design, though.

I think you hit the nail on the head there: Character Design. Compare Geralt to any number of muscle bound gearheads or Nathan Drakes. What do they look like? One is a slab of meat, and the other is a skinny white dude. Nothing really stands out about them.

With someone like Geralt, he stands out. Stark white hair in a ponytail, pale skin, glowing eyes. Those are features that stand out, and give someone character. While The Witcher lags with facial animations, the character design is intricate and engaging without being overwhelming.

Conversely, we can look at the characterization of Team Fortress 2 characters. Simpler style, but great animations that give the class all the character it needs. The lumbering Heavy with glee filled eyes as he mows people down immediately tells you everything about the character.

I guess it isn't so much about being ugly as visually interesting.

 

[LarenzoAOG]

Any game where the player is allowed to customize their character.

'nuff said.

I find that to be quite amusing.

OT: I agree with the above statments about John Marston.

 

[InsomniJack]

Marcus Phoenix from Gears Of War.

Seriously, though, EVERYONE from Gears of War is pretty ugly. Probably because their entire bodies are made with the same mass as a Turducken.

 

[LongAndShort]

Aside from RDR's John Marston and Geralt, I can't think of anyone. Maybe Soap and Captain Price from CoD:MW(2). They're not exactly ugly, but they're sure as hell not pretty either. Anyone think of any ugly female protagonists?