Villains who deserve empathy.

[SwimmingRock]

I felt really bad for Albedo at the end of Xenosaga Episode 2, but that was pretty much the whole point and his villain status from the first game is intentionally pulled into question.

Regarding the whole Watchmen debate (apologies to OP if you feel this is getting out of hand), I side with Rorshach myself, but used to agree with Ozy (back when I first read the comic 8 years ago). It's not so much a matter of disagreeing with Ozymandias, because his goal is undoubtedly good, but it comes down to the method. I don't think tricking people into peace can work in the long run.

Sooner or later, the trick will be revealed and the whole thing will come crashing down. Rorshachs honesty may not be an obvious route to peace (as Xanadu sort of pointed out), but an honest peace at some undefined point in the future seems to me a better idea than tricking people into burying (rather than working out) their hatred for each other. Basically, Ozymandias went for the quick fix and those never work.

 

[MurderousToaster]

I have to go with Wallace Breen. He was only doing what he presumed to be the best course of action for humanity (even if it did involve murder and enslavement)

 

[AmayaOnnaOtaku]

Dammit I was going to say Irenicus too!

 

[Blatherscythe]

In Watchmen, I would say that Rorschach is the pinnicle. Never mind Ozy, I say that at the end, there's no doubt that he was the good guy all along. Rorschach is just plain evil, even if he is well intentioned deep, deep...deep down. But I always found that the point of the character was to show that even someone as crazy and evil as him could be seen in a cool, heroic light.

I think that all villains, no matter how evil or debased, are deserving of empathy, assuming that it is practical to do so without endangering others. They are always worth moral consideration, but no more moral consideration then an individual that they might potentially endanger.

He was the _only_ Superhero, amongst them. The rest were too caught up with their own fuckin character flaws. I was angry when he died. I disagree though, he wasn't evil, he was justice in a time when everyone makes excuses to do anything BUT justice. That conversation he had with the black laywer, just before he got put into General Population, was brilliantly written, and really explains it well.

He really didn't need to die, who was going to listen to Rorschach anyway? He was deemed insane by even his partner Daniel, the only threat to Ozzy's peace was his journal and even then it was his, who would pay attention to it? Really it was his fixed morals (wouldn't compromise with injustice) that killed him, what Ozzy did was for the best, the cost was extreamly high but it prevented WW3. Ozzy is a villain for the murder of the millions in New York but he saved the billions that would have died if the nukes started flying.

 

[A random person]

Spoiler: The Wolkenritter.

...OK, fine, that was cheating.

Spoiler: How about Precia?

...oh, now I can't put her because you say she's a complete monster? Screw you, she just snapped because her daughter died!

 

[Aptspire]

GLaDOS

Spoiler

She forces you to free her, but the only way she can do that is by putting your life in danger

 

[zyoto12]

Darth Vader. Yeah he was a terrible man that did terrible things so that the one he loved could live. But he used his power to save his son and defeat the evil that lied to him for so long

actually, I'm surprised it took so long to mention this.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

Headcrabs from Half-Life totally.

 

[AkJay]

Dexter Morgan

 

[Spiner909]

I thought the humans in Avatar the movie were the good guys all along. Stupid Na'vi.

 

[TheRocketeer]

Dagoth Ur of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

Spoiler: The gist

He was abandoned by his closest friends, who murdered your former self and abused unholy artifacts to be worshiped as gods. Then they set Dagoth Ur up as a villain to be despised and hated by everyone. He eventually became the madman they claimed he was, but even until the end he retained much of his ideals and humanity. Fighting him is like putting down Old Yeller, if he had wanted to take revenge on the world as a deity.

I thought the humans in Avatar the movie were the good guys all along. Stupid Na'vi.

Think of it this way: in less than a decade, a fleet that will darken the sky will fall from the heavens and strike each and every last living Na'vi on Pandora with the fist of an angry god. I guaran-fucking-tee it.

 

[Souplex]

I would have to say Kirby. Sure he goes on giant cannibalistic killing sprees, and usually ends up "accidentally" releasing world ending creatures, but he's so damn cute.
He's like a dolphin: So cute you can ignore all the evil.

 

[Cherry Cola]

In Watchmen, I would say that Rorschach is the pinnicle. Never mind Ozy, I say that at the end, there's no doubt that he was the good guy all along. Rorschach is just plain evil, even if he is well intentioned deep, deep...deep down. But I always found that the point of the character was to show that even someone as crazy and evil as him could be seen in a cool, heroic light.

I think that all villains, no matter how evil or debased, are deserving of empathy, assuming that it is practical to do so without endangering others. They are always worth moral consideration, but no more moral consideration then an individual that they might potentially endanger.

Rorschach is in no way evil. Sure, he is very cruel, but not evil. He knows that the only way to fight with monsters is to become one, and therefore he is almost emotionless and will stop at nothing to punish those who do evil.

He isn't even seen in a heroic light at all. Everyone hates him, nobody supports him, everyone calls him a sociopath. Yet he is the only one who fully believes in justice. Hence "Never compromise, even in the face of armageddon"

 

[Zersy]

The Elites in Halo.

They were at heart an honourable that even questioned the prophets to why they should kill humans. then again they were seriously brutal and tortured and killed pretty much everyone (Like the Locust in Gears of War)

I'd go with Kratos, Then again for the kind of things he does you question if maybe your the bad guy ...... (Killing Gods is cool, but arn't gods supposed to maintain order ?)

I'm gonna Say. Ben Yahtzee Crowshaw. (No explanation required)

 

[Cherry Cola]

In Watchmen, I would say that Rorschach is the pinnicle. Never mind Ozy, I say that at the end, there's no doubt that he was the good guy all along. Rorschach is just plain evil, even if he is well intentioned deep, deep...deep down. But I always found that the point of the character was to show that even someone as crazy and evil as him could be seen in a cool, heroic light.

I think that all villains, no matter how evil or debased, are deserving of empathy, assuming that it is practical to do so without endangering others. They are always worth moral consideration, but no more moral consideration then an individual that they might potentially endanger.

He was the _only_ Superhero, amongst them. The rest were too caught up with their own fuckin character flaws. I was angry when he died. I disagree though, he wasn't evil, he was justice in a time when everyone makes excuses to do anything BUT justice. That conversation he had with the black laywer, just before he got put into General Population, was brilliantly written, and really explains it well.

He really didn't need to die, who was going to listen to Rorschach anyway? He was deemed insane by even his partner Daniel, the only threat to Ozzy's peace was his journal and even then it was his, who would pay attention to it? Really it was his fixed morals (wouldn't compromise with injustice) that killed him, what Ozzy did was for the best, the cost was extreamly high but it prevented WW3. Ozzy is a villain for the murder of the millions in New York but he saved the billions that would have died if the nukes started flying.

That's what made him a Superhero above all others though, the rest of them moved on and busied themselves with their lives, 'Hiding in plain sight' as it were. Rorshach never stopped, never compromised, never waivered. When mercy was warranted...you lived. When it wasn't, you didn't. I don't think it prevented WW3, I think it merely pushed it back a few extra years...possibly making it an even WORSE conflict, when it does occur. (This is of course, all highly hypothetical lol)

Hence what Dr. Manhattan said at the end: "Nothing ever ends"

 

[ArchAngelKira]

Everyone that was killed in Organization XIII.

 

[Lemon Of Life]

I reckon Oblivion's Daedra were just asylum seekers. They only got angry because the Imperial Guard start shooting at them as soon as they leave the gates.