What characters have been RUINED by sequels? SPOILERS

[JohnnyDelRay]

Maybe not quite the same protagonist, but in every iteration of Assassin's Creed I liked them less and less. The last one I played was AC3, and Connor was just a dead piece of wood, who had a lot of potential given the period and circumstances he was in. At least the surrounding factors made the game more interesting, if you like American history that is. Altair was still the best by far. And yeah I'm not even going to mention Desmond, I had hopes for him but they went nowhere. His portions of the game at least got a little more interesting, but he's dryer than a dead leaf.

Next one's so obvious I'm surprised no one mentioned it, (probably because it's TOO obvious to haters), but I DO NOT like emo Dante (Devil May Cry). I even liked Nero, who was a bit of an emo compared to original Dante, but the new style anti-hero rough guy seems a little too forced. Maybe that was the bad boy attitude they were going for, but I didn't like it. Old Dante was just so, I dunno effortless couldn't give a shit badass. Emo Dante is just emo for the sake of being emo or something I dunno.

 

[Nixou]

Anders in Dragon Age. The first game he was this really funny charismatic Han Solo/ Malcolm Renalds like character. In Dragon Age 2 was whinny, never shut up about being oppressed by the templars (in the first he loved making fools of the Templars), and i usally never call characters whinny as i find its often over used to describe any male character who shows emotion other than rage but dear god did I have Anders in Dragon Age 2.

Anders was always intended to go bad as his banter with Justice [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V1Xvzt300A] in Awakening foreshadows:

Justice: I understand that you struggle against your oppression, mage.
Anders: I avoid my oppression. That's not quite the same thing, is it?
Justice: Why do you not strike a blow against your oppressors? Ensure they can do this to no one else?
Anders: Because it sounds difficult?
Justice: Apathy is a weakness.
Anders: So is death. I'm just saying.

Justice: I believe you have a responsibility to your fellow mages.
Anders: That bit of self-righteousness is directed at me?
Justice: You have seen oppression and are now free. You must act to free those who remain oppressed.
Anders: Or I could mind my business, in case the Chantry comes knocking.
Justice: But this is not right. You have an obligation.
Anders: Yes, well... welcome to the world, spirit.

When Bioware screwed up its games' backstories by always allowing the player-controlled-protagonist to Kung-Fu-Jesus the plot at the end, their audience didn't mind the plot-holes because they got their triumphalist power-fantasies. Now that they actually try to write games with coherent plots consistent with their backstory and put the extra effort to hint at the twists in advance.... The very same people who didn't mind the plot-holes now get their panties in a twist because the writers deny them their triumphalist power-fantasies.

The great irony is that the Origin/Awakening storyline, especially if one go for the golden endings, do portrait the PC as a Kung-Fu-Andraste whose victory hinges on his/her grotesque strength (and later on the reputation of invincibility said strength engenders). The difference is that unlike most games, its sequel takes the time to show the unintended (and catastrophic) consequences of the original protagonists existence.

 

[Phoenix1213]

The Overmind: I seriously hope that Tassadar was lying when he said that The Overmind was just misunderstood. Before StarCraft II, we were to understand that he was originally a tool of the Xel Naga until he grew tired of taking their orders and freed himself. Now we're to understand that he was a victim all along. Lame.

Of all the ones mentioned, The Overmind is clearly the biggest kicker here. This is a retcon of monumental proportions, as not once in the original Starcraft did The Overmind ever express any remorse or grief over his actions. Honestly, I'd probably put most of the Starcraft II cast on this list, since at least half the time they seem to be holding the Idiot Ball.

"Tychus is stuck in a walking deathtrap you say? Let's not check to see if we can take it off of him! He always was kind of an ass."

Victim? Remorse? Was it implied that the overmind wasn't in control of himself? Obviously on a base level he wasn't, but everything done in StarCraft 1 was done out of rebellion, free will and the long term in mind. Why else would he be so obsessed with Kerrigan and ordering all his cerebrates to leave her alone? And why else would he create a physical form for himself on the one place where he knew it would galvanize the protoss, forcing them to work together and allow the dark templar to kill him? If anything, I'd say the Overmind twist was the only time StarCraft II improved a character. Instead of being a calculated mind obsessed with his original purpose of absorbing and becoming the very best organism, he is instead a calculated, manipulative, forward thinking martyr who is willing to sacrifice himself and trick his allies and enemies into doing exactly how he wished... The alternative is just your generic hyper intelligent all consuming muck monster.

 

[kilenem]

Magma from X-men Legends. She was the main Character in the first game didn't even see her in the second.

 

[Dragonlayer]

Huh....I don't particularly recall any instances from Dead Space 3 where Ellie was "damseled" or needed help beyond anyone else, but it's a while since I played so maybe her character was assassinated. And while there was more of a romantic direction to the interactions between Issac and Ellie (to the point where me and my co-op chum were betting on whose jealousy would screw everything up first), he's still determined to destroy the Markers above all else, eventually convincing even death-seeker Carver to make a meaningful sacrifice instead of just finding a bunch of Necromorphs to martyr himself with over the loss of his family.

I've always believed that Guerilla Games - being Dutch - were shocked and appalled by the positive fan reaction to such Nazi-like enemies in Killzone and so went out of their way on each sequel to make them more and more pointlessly evil. It really beggars belief when you consider the first game's Helghast - ruthlessly efficient invading army with little care for collateral damage - compared to the third game's - chuckling ultra-Nazis who love to test weapons on prisoners, hunt escaped prisoners through deadly swamps for a laugh and broadcast live executions with experimental weaponry. Not to mention the degradation of the ISA into a hopelessly incompetent mess of idiots with no respect for the chain of command; prime example being motherfucking Sergeant Rico who was the typical but inoffensive "heavy weapons guy" in 1, disrespectful black gangsta in 2 and brain-dead twat who never gets called out on his fucking atrocious conduct (in either moral or practical terms)in 3.

 

[solemnwar]

OT: Pretty much all my picks have been said. To be fair to Anders, David Gaider has mentioned that had he continued to be in charge of Anders' character he would have made the transition a little more gradual so it made more sense, but it was always something that was a part of his character (if you look at his dialogue in Awakening, you can see hints of it here and there. He's always been very bitter, but he used to be more self-serving and just looking out for number one).

I still doubt he'd be able to do Anders Justice (pun very intended) since Anders wasn't the only thing Gaider failed to write competently. Funny story, DA2 was originally going to have Velanna instead of Anders be a companion and merged with Justice. It would actually make a lot more sense too since Velanna had always been a fairly angry individual and had absolutely no love for the Chantry so it would have made Vengeance's motivations and corruption a lot more believable. They probably would have had to drop Merril though, having two female Dalish mages isn't exactly a lot of variety.

Nooooo she wasn't. This is something else that has been explained by Mr. Gaider, when it's been asked. It was an idea put forth as just that, an idea, but scrapped very early on because there was no reason for it to work. Velanna didn't CARE about the plight of the mages, she cared about the plight of the Dalish. There was no reason for her to join with Justice, or be in Kirkwall, or ANYTHING that would have her involvement in the events of DA2 make any sort of sense. She has 0 motivation. None. No. It would've been a terrible idea and they KNOW that.

Here's a link to his blog post about it: http://tinyurl.com/njwkhk7

 

[Nixou]

It was an idea put forth as just that, an idea, but scrapped very early on because there was no reason for it to work. Velanna didn't CARE about the plight of the mages, she cared about the plight of the Dalish

And frankly, Merrill was a much more interesting and likable character, so it's much better that they didn't scrap her to give more screen-time to Zathrian-lite

 

[Akiraking]

Loki/Thor from the marvel movies. Probably an unpopular opinion but I really liked the ending of Thor and I was looking forward to the sequel to develop the brothers as Thor tried to get back to Jane on earth but also find his brother trapped in the darkness. Instead Loki became the villain for the Avengers. I am not saying he was bad in it but Thor got a throw away line about his dad using his magic power to bring him to earth and Loki was just evil and wanted to conquer the world because he liked power. The sequel I felt suffered for it because it was obsessed with just showing Loki and Thor hang out because everyone likes Loki. I won't speak to know the character that well (the comic version) but I felt like Avengers made him go from lost confused guy to pure evil asshole who wanted to take over earth just because he wanted to take it over. He wanted to prove himself to his father at the end of Thor and fell into the void at his lowest point. It is a great ending and it really annoys me I don't get to see Loki continue to grow. He is now just there to be an enjoyable evil villain. Nothing wrong with that but he could have been so much more. Thor at least is somewhat developing though his end scene in the first movie of being separated from his love is ruined since he can go back easily in Thor 2.

 

[Foe-Hunter]

It's not a video game...

But the Way Karen Travesty has tried to assisnate Dr Halsey from the Halo books is annoying, it hasn't really worked (all it did was make me like Halsey more) But Travesty did her best to change the fairly badass scientist lady into a pathetic pile of stupid.

It carried on a bit into Halo 4, tbh by the end of the Sparten Ops stuff all I did was feel she was justified in what she was doing.

But yeah, I hated they way they TRIED to ruin her... But they didn't actually ruin her.

That counts right?

Right??

 

[RealRT]

And for what it's worth Mordin and Kaiden were the only characters who didn't get completely ruined by Mass Effect 3 (Until the Citadel DLC anyway but we're not talking about that)

Care to elaborate a bit?

OT: Design wise, Ashley Williams. She was fine in ME 1 & 2 (aside from the whole 'she's the girl, so her armor is pink' thing), but dear god, in ME3 her default armor is a dress, makeup, and long well prepped hair. And it's been established in the previous games that she isn't into 'girly' things, but now they've made her up as Miranda 2.0.

Meh, I don't care about the looks, they fucked her character up BIG TIME in 2 and 3. She turned from a loyal, if untrusting to aliens and terrorists, companion and friend into a whiny "U WORK(ED) WITH CERBERUSSS NEVAR FORGIVE" *****. When she was doubting whether it's me telling the truth or UDINA (of all fucking people!), that was the last drop. I didn't kill her, but I didn't accept her into the party. Fuck. Her.

 

[RealRT]

As to ruined characters...

Miranda Lawson - She was cold and calculating... but by ME3, she was sort of scared, out numbered, and nearly a victim waiting to happen in which it seems she had lost all of her control and was a shell of her former self.

Eh, I don't think that's wrong. She was cold and calculating in 2 because she had entire Cerberus to back her up. In 3 she was more scared and desperate because she was on her own, on the run from Cerberus, authorities, everyone. I think that actually makes her better.

Now Ash... She really pissed me the fuck off.

 

[hermes]

Kratos and his downpath to flanderization by part 3.

In the first game he was a troubled character at the mercy of the gods. Still not the kind of people you would want at your side, but more haunted than angry. He is then given a massive quest to get rid of his curse, so he takes it. When he discovers that not even the gods can redeem him, he despairs and tries to kill himself... All and all, a classic example of Greek tragedy.

With each game he was loosing more and more on the side of motivation, relatability and simple rationalization, and gaining more and more on the side of irrational anger, so at 3 he is just a big baby having a tantrum... irrational, selfish, destructive and annoying. I guess I wouldn't have such a bad time with the changes if the designers weren't trying so hard at the end of 3 for me to give a damn about his redemption.

Kratos, you pointlessly and remorselessly killed millions of people, including the father of the girl you are trying to find redemption through, one of the few people that tried to help you, right after fucking his wife in an epic orgy... you don't get to be redeemed. You are worst than the big bad guy. Your entire quest is a tantrum with the world as a collateral.

Daisy Fitzroy, the rebellion leader from Bioshock Infinate:

Spoiler

they retconned her in the DLC, so she was actually manipulated to have Elizabeth kill her, because god help us if we have a black leader who doesn't fit the Magical Negro trope and is *gasp* kind of a dick

Yeah, that was kind of pointless too.

I guess Irrational took at heart the people that thought the game was racist, completely forgetting the fist half of the game...

Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan, because god forbids if we have a female character that is sort of hot and it doesn't end up as a love interest to the main male character. Also, she can be cured by the power of love, or something... Seriously, this is the sort of changes I would expect from fan fiction.

 

[Grach]

Just like some people in this thread, I'm going to go with Adam Malkovich and Samus in Other M.

So, you have a character that was literally the only person that Samus respected (a badass bounty-hunter that likes to do things her way). The way Samus reminisces about Adam in Fusion sounds like he was reasonable, if rather snarky, commanding officer. This was a pretty good groundwork for a character, one that could be exploited into a nice relationship for one of the most beloved female protagonists.

INSTEAD of doing all that, we get a completely cold officer devoid of any care or apparent feeling for Samus, seeing her as a expendable soldier, which doesn't even make sense by the way. If you were cold enough to see people just as assets, it STILL wouldn't make sense because of Samus's incredible survivability and firepower. So not only do we get a supposedly beloved person who's actually a total asshole to Samus, we get a completely shitty CO too.

Of course, Adam wouldn't have been much of a disappointment if Samus hadn't been expanded into a closed off and emotionally distant robot with a fetish for abusive relationships. How is it possible that a person who has destroyed planets and equally powerful clones of herself be this needy and emotionally wrecked? This chick that appears in Other M is not the same person that appears in Zero Mission's ending pictures. You know, the ones where she's in a bar with a smile on her face resting after a finishing a mission? I mean, I'm not saying her character should have been some badass ice queen devoid of any emotion, fuck, I'm not even saying she shouldn't have issues, but come on, this is ridiculous! I'm pretty sure the Chozo would've taught her some sort of meditation technique or at least raise her into an adult capable of coping with life's tribulations. It's not like the Chozo were extremely spiritual and advanced!
And, excuse my french but, fuck the excuse that she acts like that because of the Metroid larva (not the fucking baby by the way). All this bullshit about her having motherly feelings for it is emptier than vacuum. She left it at the hands of scientists that were going to keep it for experimentation; you know, like a loving mother(?).

In the end, two characters absolutely ruined by the game that they appear in.

 

[Rayce Archer]

I kind of didn't like Adria being evil in Diablo III. I liked the idea that she's an outcast because of her powers but still fighting the good fight, and the reveal that NO WITCH=EVIL seems weird in a game where crossbow wielding dark sorcerers wearing cloaks of living demon flesh team up with witch doctors who practice human sacrifice and summon the undead to fight the BAD guys.

 

[TrulyBritish]

This might be a bit of an odd one I guess, but mine (at least mine that was not mentioned otherwhere on the list, I mean fuck Bioware for what happened to the geth in ME3) is Dr Yi Suchong from Bioshock. In the first game Dr Suchong comes across as one of the great pioneers of Rapture (as well as a cautionary tale of science without ethics), being by an large the main man behind both plasmid and Big Daddy research, with only really Dr Tenembaum being around as influential in Rapture's advancement. In Bioshock 2 we do get Gilbert Alexander, apparently also in on the research but that wasn't too bad.
But then in Bioshock Infinite and over the course of Burial at Sea we have:

Spoiler: Spoiler just in case someone would get annoyed by this. I guess it does contain plot points from Infinite and BaS.

{Fink almost completely one-upping Suchong in almost everyway, notably in stealing Suchong work then making it available in a drinkable form rather than through injection, as well as designing Songbird (pretty much superior to the Big Daddies) while I don't recall Suchong really taking much in return. In fact, I think there's a point in Burial at Sea: Episode 2 where Fink even questions why he needs Suchong at all. We also go on to find out in Episode 2 that Suchong completely fails at getting Big Daddies to imprint on Little Sisters, with Elizabeth in fact being behind the first imprinting (although that presumably means this takes place in a universe where Bioshock 2 is non-cannon, considering no mention of Subject Delta is made). }

So yeah, I guess it's not too bad and there wasn't a huge amount of hard evidence that Suchong was really brilliant, but it just annoyed me how what was a particularly chilling character in some sense basically became more useless. Or maybe I'm just angry and Infinite and Burial at Sea in general.