Lurker > rwlh

Another Friday appearance! We'll be back full-time on January 1.

Choro Q2 - Middle Size Circuit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9BCmesLoaE
Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest - https://youtu.be/0YfIHieP30g
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 - Pac Madness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLiQOdtBPs4

Hello I am still here helping to run this! Superb does a lot of the day-to-day stuff now, including posting in this topic, but feel free to ask me any questions if you run into me in the cyberwebs.

Also: we are taking a break from 12/13 to 1/1. We will still post songs on 12/13, 12/20, and 12/27 (all Fridays). You are more than welcome to use this break to catch up on songs if you want (though, as always, you don't have to catch up). We'll be back in the new year!

Those first two are unclaimed. Thanks!

@Underleveled, Normal Duel was already nominated, so you can swap it out for something else if you'd like.

Nominations are closed!

Thank you so much to everyone who nominated. I look forward to diving in!

@Place, feel free to pick two new songs.

Fair enough!

@TheArkOfTurus also might want to participate.

Noms will close at 5pm eastern, in a little less than three hours.

Tagging some people who did well in my last ranking topic:
@Raetsel_Lapin
@Fluttershy_Pony
@Calintares
@Snake5555555555
@Place
@PSI_NESS

Wow, this filled up fast.

By my count we're at 114 songs. I'll leave it open until sometime later today, in case anyone else wants to nominate.

@XIII_rocks, BW Ending is up for grabs if you want to nominate it again (I saw you still have a fourth slot open).

Zigzagoon posted...

Im not even home for 2 hours

Don't worry - I won't close nominations as soon as we hit 100 if other people still want to nominate.

Nominations from DireKrow:
Pokmon Sun and Moon - Battle (Gladion)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3R_4d1s6CA

Pokmon Diamond and Pearl - Mt. Coronet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhmygATFpLI

Pokmon Sword and Shield - Battle! (Zacian / Zamazenta)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdovMMgDGec

Pokmon Gold and Silver - National Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XjouKSkSeM

I like to think of myself as knowledgeable about video game music, but one area of VGM I'm very ill-informed on is the Pokemon series. I have never particularly cared about these games or their music, to the point where I've often written off the appeal as more based on nostalgia than quality. I know, however, that there are a lot - like seriously a lot - of vocal fans of Pokemon music. So I want to give it a try.

Rules:
- Maximum of four songs per person. I'll cap it at 100 songs total, maybe a little more if more people want to nominate.
- Songs must be from official Pokemon games (Red/Blue, Sword/Shield, etc.) or spinoffs (Mystery Dungeon, Pokken Tournament, etc.). Super Smash Bros. remixes of Pokemon songs are also fine. Basically I don't want any fangames or unofficial games - I'd like to experience the best this series has to "officially" offer.
- Please include a Youtube link with each nom, you know the drill.

Give me some good stuff, please and thank you!

Up again.

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Super Paper Mario touches on some pretty interesting themes for a Mario game, that's for sure.

And again.

Sending this up in case anyone missed it.

There have been a lot of songs I really like that have been eliminated. But there are a lot of songs still in that I also love! What an amazing franchise for music.

The intro to Aqua Planet Zone is really funny.

I love Sonic CD (USA) - Stardust Speedway. Great track, one of my favorites from CD.

Thank you! Normally I'm not a big horror/creepy guy, but Daniella really struck me as someone worth paying attention to.

And that's it! I hope you enjoyed the list and the writeups. Thanks for nominating such interesting characters for me. See you later!

1. Martin Walker (Spec Ops: The Line)
Nominated by Drakeryn
There is a thin red line between hope and darkness. -tagline


Spec Ops: The Line is one of those rare games that dares to put the player in the uncomfortable position of playing a character who makes bad choices. Like, terrible choices. This is the game where I first heard people use the argument of turning the game off is a choice. You will do awful things to innocent people in this game, all for absolutely nothing. But nothing is forcing you to keep playing. Nothing except yourself.

You play as Captain Martin Walker, a man sent to Dubai to evacuate Colonel Konrad (name symbolism to the novel Heart of Darkness and the movie Apocalypse Now clearly intentional), when a devastating sandstorm forces you and your men down. Then youre shooting at people and killing them without a clear purpose. You just want to find Konrad, your hero. Youre in too deep. You have to rescue your men. If that means killing a bunch of people, thats what youll have to do. White phosphorus will be used.

In the end, it turns out Konrad has been for a while, and youve been hallucinating him the whole time. You can choose to surrender, leave with whats left of the troop, or kill yourself. Or you can turn the game off.

Im fascinated by games that actually mix up the standard fighting/killing enemies setup that gaming has long been dominated by. While theres definitely plenty of fighting and killing in Spec Ops: The Line, its purposeful and used to prove a point. You keep progressing further and further and the game subverts tropes by giving your actions weight; the people youre killing arent faceless grunts, sometimes theyre unarmed civilians and you need to kill them to progress. Or you can turn the game off.

Ive barely mentioned Walker himself in this I keep referring to him as you throughout the writeup, because this game is designed to put you directly in Walkers shoes. Walkers journey into hell is meant to elucidate a point about war, but it also serves as a critique of the gaming industry. Watch this man unravel before your eyes and maybe youll come undone too. If you dont, maybe youll walk away feeling differently about your life.

Or you can turn the game off.

Whichever.

2. Monika (Doki Doki Literature Club)
Nominated by Shonen_Bat
"Sometimes you'll find yourself facing a difficult decision... When that happens, don't forget to save your game! You never know when you might change your mind... ..or when something unexpected may happen! Wait...is this tip even about writing? What am I even talking about? Ahaha! ...That's my advice for today! Thanks for listening~"


Warning: heavy spoiler tag central approaching.

Monika is a character in a game who has become aware that shes in a game. At first she appears as just another girl in the Literature Club, specifically the president, but later on we see that shes not only aware of her fictional status, she can alter the aspects of the other girls. And alter them she does, to horrifying and graphic effect. Monika wants you not the main character, but you, the player to reciprocate her feelings of love. Its a tragedy.

You can talk to Monika for hours after she kills off the other three girls. Youll get to hear her takes on everything from writing to depression to God. Shes patient. She knows youre not going anywhere.

Doki Doki Literature Club is metafictional in a similar way to Undertale, but DDLC takes it a few steps farther and makes the metafictional conceit a huge aspect of the story, and of Monikas character. Its very unique. Despite all the horrible things she did, I really felt for Monika. What would you do in her situation?

Also, Your Reality is a great song, I dont care what anyone says.

3. Susie (Deltarune)
Nominated by Mycro
Heh, score for the BAD GUYS!


When we first meet Susie, shes a bully, feared throughout school as someone not to cross. (This might be because she threatens to eat peoples faces.) Upon her arrival in the Dark World alongside Kris, Susie shows little interest in saving the world she even says the end of the world could be fun and she allies with the bad guys, claiming she finally feels like somebody understands her. Over the course of the game, she undergoes gradual character development, to the point where she chooses to ACT instead of mindlessly destroying everything, and works to resolve conflicts non-violently. By the end, shes more at peace with herself and the world around her, and one gets the sense that shes not going to eat peoples faces anymore.

One of the things I love about Susie is her arc is more subtle. Yes, we all know from the start that the big mean bully is going to be redeemed, but toby fox handles it in such a way that it feels organic, not forced. Susies journey is powerful. I was, and still am, invested in her character.

Also shes hilarious. As with Undertale, the characters of Deltarune are generally very funny. There is literally a mechanic where your party members have to prevent Susie your ally! from harming the enemies. You warn them about her. And Susie has plenty of quips to say all throughout.

The thing I love the most about Susie is probably her portrayal of someone who just doesnt belong in society. In her case, shes so angry all the time, shes a danger to other people. I love the exploration of what one does in that situation, how one copes with societys rejection. By the end, Id like to think Susie has a greater understanding of these questions, of her role in the world. I think some of the people who got to know her, both in the game and in the real world, have a greater understanding too.

4. Daniella (Haunting Ground)
Nominated by Snake
I am incomplete.


Okay, I definitely asked for interesting characters. Be careful what you wish for.

Daniella is a resident of and the only maid of Belli Castle. At first she appears merely creepy to Fiona, the games protagonist, speaking in a flat affect and invading Fionas personal space. She makes Fiona ten bowls of soup, possibly to point out how pampered Fiona is, and possibly with uh human meat and hair as a secret ingredient. Eventually she freaks out and wants to literally carve out Fionas womb and implant it in herself; shes infertile, and she feels incomplete. Its some sort of alchemy thing. Daniella flips to high heaven when she sees her own reflection, cuts herself to try to feel pain, and perhaps strangest of all she wears purple lipstick I mean come on now who does that.

The Clock Tower Wiki (apparently Haunting Ground is in that series) has a laundry list of mental and physical disorders Daniella may or may not have (the wiki helpfully adds that it is not a substitute for a medical professional). Its like the makers of this game ticked off everything that sounded interesting. Body dysmorphic disorder, schizophrenia, psychopathy, etc.

What Im really surprised at is that it all seems to work pretty well! Snakes writeup made me a little concerned, but the wiki really outlines a level of consistency in Daniellas character everything seems to serve a purpose and is consistent. Her backstory matches her personality/mental makeup, and that matches her in-game behavior. Some of it might be a little excessive (like uh orgasming when dismembering Fionas corpse) but no one would accuse her of being uninteresting, thats for sure.

HERE WE GO

5. Nagito Komaeda (Danganronpa 2)
Nominated by Zyxyz
I love everyone here. That's why I want to be of good use to them. I love all of the Ultimates...and I admire them for being symbols of hope. That's right... In the name of hope, I love everyone's talents from the bottom of my heart. That's why... I don't want them to lose against something like killing. I want them to prove to me that hope will never lose, no matter how daunting the despair they face may seem. I want everyone to prove to me that "hope will never lose to despair"! See, isn't it typical that if you face a strong enemy, you will become even stronger yourself...? Which means...the stronger the despair you face, the stronger everyone's hope will become, right? I...want to see that brightness. And in order to see it, I'm going to become everybody's stepping stone. I want to make your hopes shine... It's as simple as that...


Nagito is a very peculiar type of character: He is a character that could only exist in fiction. Most characters we like, from all kinds of media, share human traits and act in ways we recognize. Nagito, however, is purely driven by one thing in a way no real person could ever be. His entire fictional existence revolves around his obsession with hope. All his non-brainwashed actions are fueled by it. Its not a bad thing I found it fascinating its just a unique facet of his character.

So Nagito is the Ultimate Lucky Student. Unlike Makoto from the first game, Nagito actually has some sort of luck power, enabling him to navigate crises in his life. Unfortunately, luck is like a pendulum, and bad luck always seems to come in large proportions as well.

Nagito at first appears to be Hajimes trusted companion, willing to help the Ultimates manage the Killing Game, because the Ultimates are symbols of humanitys hope. This turns into a perversion of those ideals, as Nagito facilitates murders so Hajime and his friends can solve them and become stronger, culminating in his own gruesome murder. Nagito retains his cordial personality all throughout...until he finds out the Ulimates are actually the opposite of symbols of hope they failed and became Junkos slaves.

I asked for interesting characters, and Nagitos about as interesting as they come. So thanks!

PIayer_0 posted...

This has been a pleasure to read. Hope we get some lengthy write-ups for the top 5!

Glad you're enjoying the topic! Writeups will be a tad longer for the top five, yeah.

6. Futaba Sakura (Persona 5)
Nominated by pyresword
I just hope I can change little by little...like everyone else does.


For years Futaba Sakura hasnt gone outside. She doesnt attend school. She sleeps for days at a time. She spends all her life crammed into her room. Futaba was traumatized by the death of her mother, and this is how she copes, by withdrawing herself into a protective cocoon. Incredibly intelligent, Futaba has nevertheless developed an (anonymous) reputation as a hacker. Its through this skill that she comes to the attention of the Phantom Thieves. Thus begins her journey out of her room and into her life.

The concept of hikikomori is a real one in Japan: people, usually young, who are so gripped with anxiety they find themselves incapable of leaving home. I see evidence of this phenomenon in the West too, with all societys pressures being thrown at young people today. What better way to cope than to completely retreat, to give up?

Futaba eventually comes to terms with her past and opens up more. She makes friends. She cracks jokes. Shes still a bit blunt, but her edge is dulled somewhat through her newfound friends. She provides inspiration to those young people who suffer from the pain of an anxious heart, of an encroaching world, and reminds us there is, indeed, a life outside our room.

7. King Harkinian (Zelda: Wand of Gamelon/Link: The Faces of Evil)
Nominated by MoonRunes
After youve scrubbed all the floors in Hyrule, then we can talk about mercy!


I dont normally love memes. I often find them forced and unfunny. But theres something genuinely pleasing about the Zelda CD-i games, something almost pure, that makes them universally hilarious to me. King Harkinian is the recipient of many of the greatest moments in CD-i lore, from MAH BOI to the extended laugh with Zelda. Is this the mark of a great character? Probably not. But the king is certainly interesting. Hes filled my life with more interest than many could claim.

Whether or not you agree with me, Ive said my piece. And after all, this piece is what all true warriors strive for.

8. Henry (Firewatch)
Nominated by kaonashi


Firewatch is a game without monsters, zombies, lasers, space ships, powerups, or energy blasts. Its a game about humans without supernatural powers struggling to handle the responsibilities life has doled to them. Henry, the main character, has abandoned his wife, who has early-onset dementia, and taken a job in the firewatch of a park. Here, his only responsibilities are to inform people of smoke. The only communication he has is with Delilah, a woman in another tower, and they only communicate via walkie-talkie.

The promise of conspiracies is brought up as mysteries unfold, but the game isnt about those mysteries and indeed they wind up not being mysteries at all. Its about the humanness, the flaws of Henry and the people around him. Henry is running away from his life, from his duty to his wife and the responsibilities therein. By the end of the game, does he confront those responsibilities? Its open to interpretation.

Many players found the ending to Firewatch unsatisfactory. Perhaps they expected fare more typical of a video game, like some sort of actual conspiracy, or a paranormal bent. Instead the game offers a more challenging ending, a sort of anticlimax. One of the comments I read suggested this was the exact reason gamers struggled with Firewatch: people often play games to escape, and they dont want to be reminded of that fact, or to play a game that encourages them to essentially stop dicking around and get back to real life. But as games expand as a medium, I would argue there is room for stories like this that make us question the very act of playing. Henry is flawed, perhaps a mirror of some of us, and while that may make us uncomfortable, thats all the more reason to gaze into it.

9. GLaDOS (Portal)
Nominated by Mycro
Okay, look: We both said a lot of things that you're going to regret, but I think we can put our differences behind us; for science... you monster.


The big personality of Portal comes from GLaDOS. Shes this all-seeing computerized voice that instructs you through these puzzle rooms. Shes snarky and sarcastic. As you go through the testing chambers, it soon becomes clear that GLaDOS has her own agenda and that agenda involves your death. In Portal 2, she plays a somewhat different role, acting as a reluctant ally to Chell, though still with her own agenda.

I love exploring AI tropes in fiction. Video games seem particularly well-equipped to handle this sort of subject. GLaDOS is a malevolent AI who wants you dead (but now she only wants you gone), but shes not humorless; shes quick with one-liners and deadpan snark. The whole memey bit about cake comes from GLaDOS. She sings one of gamings very first and still probably biggest meme songs. Shes an enduring cultural icon for a reason. The voice acting is perfect, the gradual reveal of the extent of her personality is perfect, and she even undergoes real character development. Shes great.

TOP TEN LET'S GO

10. Julianne Stingray (Vahalla)
Nominated by Prody Parrot
Time to mix drinks and change lives.


Julianne Jill Stingray is the bartender at VA-11 Hall-A. She is reserved some might say detached from the people around her. This may be a consequence of the world she inhabits, a dystopian future where humanity is oppressed by corporations. Jill makes do fixing drinks for interesting clients, listening to their stories as she works. She has extended conversations with her cat. Shes bisexual, in a nice show of inclusivity. Shes a very interesting character, partially because of the society shes in, partially because of her circumstances, and partially because of her personality; all of those factors bump up against each other in fascinating ways.

Also I love her design. Something about her unsmiling face and jet black hair. Its a winning combination.

11. Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
Nominated by Anagram
...a Hind D?


As I said in Ocelots writeup, I have a hard time placing the tone of the Metal Gear series. However, Snakes a little clearer for me because hes not a total goofball like many of the villains. Hes a pretty serious man on a mission, a soldier they send in when nobody else can get the job done. Hes a pawn of the system, forced to live in service to people who need him to save the day. And hes doomed, doomed to a life with an early end if the battlefield doesnt kill him, FOXDIE surely will.

Snakes interesting to me because hes so steadfast. But its not just that. Like, Master Chief is steadfast, but who gives a shit about Master Chief? Snake is steadfast with personality. Through codec calls, in-game interaction, and other cutscenes, we see a picture of a man whos had it pretty rough but still perserveres through grit, determination, and sheer skill. He overcomes all obstacles, only to walk off into the sunset just to die. When I think of Metal Gear, I think of Snake.

Hes a rampant smoker, which is interesting. Im surprised Konami didnt censor that in the States, give how many kids would likely be playing the game. Hes a smoker and while he gets lectured for it, he still does it. I suppose thats part of his antihero traits.

I also absolutely love the Brawl trailer reveal where he pops out of the cardboard box and they have the MGS fanfare and he yells SHOWTIMAH in this thick Japanese accent. Moments like that give me strength.

12. Carmen Sandiego (Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?)
Nominated by Zyxyz
All these people want to know...
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?


Is there an educational game series more popular than Carmen Sandiego? The series has spawned multiple TV shows in addition to a bevy of games. At the center of every installment is Carmen herself, a classy gentlewoman thief who steals a variety of artifacts across the United States, the world, and even time itself. She always eludes capture. Her motives change across different incarnations, but she is frequently only in it for the thrill of the hunt; she doesnt actually want to cause anybody harm.

Carmen Sandiego is a great example of projecting image over depth. What do we know about her backstory? Not much, and the little we do know is constantly changing. Yet shes such a fun character. I suspect this is partially because of the massive fedora and red trenchcoat she oozes style. Also, the fact that most of the time, its all a game to her that endears her to gamers, particularly children.

Carmen is confident, playful, and smart and she does it all without being a gross sex object. Also apparently shes a big Hispanic icon, which is neat to see.

13. Kirby (Kirby)
Nominated by MetalmindStats
Hiiiii~!


What is there to say about Kirby? Hes among the cutest anything in the history of ever. Hes a glutton. He floats. He can absorb powers and get cool abilities (and hats!). His games are deceptively easy, shockingly dark at times, and impeccably well-composed. He can turn into a Thwomp in Smash. Hes pink. He can ride a Warp Star faster than Sonic and an Arwing.

Everybody loves Kirby. Hitler would love Kirby. They should pass out Kirby plushies at protests to calm people down. Instead of shooting bullets, soldiers should shoot little Kirby dolls. The world would be a better place.

Kirby is life. Kirby is love. Kirby is free. Be the Kirby you wish to see in the world.

<(^_^)>

14. The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
Nominated by hombad46
Look at this scar. This is proof that I was once a mother. I gave up my body and my child for my country. There is nothing left inside me now. Nothing at all. No hatred, not even regret. And yet sometimes at night I can still feel the pain creeping up inside me. Slithering through my body like a snake.


So heres an interesting character. The Boss is the mentor to Naked Snake, aka Big Boss. In Metal Gear Solid 3, the Boss turns traitor to America and becomes Snakes main antagonist. She appears throughout the game in boss fights and cutscenes, always one step ahead of Snake. He fights her in a climactic showdown in a memorable fight, only to learn that she never defected at all, and it was all, in true MGS fashion, an elaborate plot. So she dies, destined to be forever reviled as a traitor, with only Snake knowing the truth.

The Boss is the most feared character in the game. Her skills as a soldier are far beyond everyone elses. As the writeup hombad46 linked me to says, even the supernatural freaks she commands defer to her. Its evident that she loves Snake as a mentor, and in this massive conspiracy hes found himself in, shes still testing him, giving him his final exam.

Its nice to see a female character whos quite the I hate this word but Ill use it here badass. Shes not really sexualized at all either. Shes a professional, and shes got a job to do, and woe to anyone who stands in her way.

15. Katrina (Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness)
Nominated by azuarc


When the hero awakes in a tooth-mouthed cave, Katrina waits for him. Mysterious, reticent, and alluring, she shadows the heros progress, at times hard on him and at times coy and affectionate. It turns out shes a vampire out to use the hero for her own purposes, but alas shes grown fond of him, and in the crucial moment against the games true antagonist, she stands her ground and is killed in the process.

I like this sort of doomed love Katrina has for the hero. She has to know it can never work, given that theyre at cross purposes, but the heart wants what it wants, doesnt it? In Quest for Glory V, you can restore Katrina to life and properly romance her, serving as a nice full circle arc for her, but I like the idea of ending on the tragedy, the love that could never be.

Shame its wasted on a silent protagonist though.

16. Ushiromiya Kinzo (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)
Nominated by Drakeryn
In order to get what you want, you should pay all sacrifices, become as covetous, as greedy as possible! The goddess of luck smiles upon the greedy.


So this dude. This dude is the head of a wealthy family. He amassed his fortune through questionable means but clung to it with clenched fists. He seemed to love his family only in so much as they could provide him more money. The only person it seems he is capable of loving is Beatrice, his old lover, to the point where he devotes all of his time to trying to resurrect the child he had with her which is largely motivated by guilt because he literally raped her because she looked like her mom. He creates the epitaph, this riddle for who inherits the fortune when he dies, solely so he can, through a roundabout way, make peace with the horrible things hes done.

Drakeryn gave me an interesting puzzle here. Kinzo is often hilarious. The refrain of I wouldnt put it past Father for all the wacky shenanigans he might be up to is pretty great. Hes quite the scene-stealing presence, yelling up at the rain, spinning the ROULETTE. But hes also a real piece of shit (see spoiler for details). Still, I like that. I like his complexity. I dont like the things hes done, but we dont always have to like everything characters do to find them interesting, otherwise serial killers like Hannibal Lecter and the Joker wouldnt be as beloved in the public eye. Kinzo is one of the best parts of Umineko. His actions are reprehensible, but they make him seem less magical and more human.

17. Brad Armstrong (LISA)
Nominated by TheArkOfTurus
No. You don't understand. I've been dead for 35 years. Today is the day I live.


In a post-apocalyptic world where monsters run amok and women have long since disappeared, Brad Armstrong tries to protect his adopted daughter Buddy from the horrors around them. But Brads type of protection is unhealthy, shaped by the traumas from his own childhood. A joyless man (no pun intended), Brad seems like a deconstruction of the patriarchal badass type, fighting to stave off his own demons as much as protect those he loves. This is a man who would sooner doom the human race than part with a girl he wants to act protective of...but he fails all the same.

Brad can lose one or both of his arms in the game. Perhaps its symbolic of the fact that his struggles are primarily internal that these losses dont seem to slow him down much.

LISA explores parental bonds and childhood trauma through a fantastical lens. At one point Buddy has a hallucination of Brad, and eventually he just tries hugging and healing her. Eventually he starts sobbing. He is also addicted to drugs. One wonders if he deserves the title of hero, or if everything hes done has been for selfish reasons and if so, does that even matter?

18. Samantha Greenbriar (Gone Home)
Nominated by kaonashi
I used to tell you everything, and if I can't do it in person because you're off gallivanting around who-knows-where, I'll just tell it to this journal. Just like I was talking to you.


Sam is an ordinary teenager who moves into a house with a...troubled past. Lonely without her big sister Katie to provide emotional support, Sam writes journal entries to simulate the experience of talking with her. Through these journal entries, we learn of Sams struggle to make friends at first until she meets Lonnie, an outspoken punk girl. We see Sam and Lonnie take their friendship into a romantic relationship that must stay hidden, because this is the mid-90s and people just dont talk about that sort of thing. And we see Sams heartbreak over Lonnies decision to enlist in the army and her happiness at the prospect of starting a new life together.

Sams troubles are normal things every kid goes through at some point: making friends, fitting in, worrying about being cool, getting along with parents. For Sam, these are all compounded because of her homosexuality and the time period she lives in. Her journal entries portray her as someone players can relate to and root for.

19. Magilou (Tales of Berseria)
Nominated by pyresword


Magilou is a witch who escapes from prison and joins the party. Always quick with a non sequitur (and a rhyme), she clearly enjoys her time with Velvet and co, often at their expense. Shes a great trollish character, often going on tangents the rest of the party has trouble following. And like some of the best cloud cuckoolanders, she dazzles everyone with occasional afflictions of insight.

Im a sucker for characters like this. Shes a lot of fun. Shes out to enjoy herself, full stop, and nobodys getting in the way of her good time.

And we have reached the top twen-er, I mean, the top nineteen. Right. Totally intentional.

Here's who's left:
Brad Armstrong (LISA)
Carmen Sandiego (Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?)
Daniella (Haunting Ground)
Futaba Sakura (Persona 5)
GLaDOS (Portal)
Henry (Firewatch)
Julianne Stingray (Vahalla)
Katrina (Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness)
King Harkinian (Zelda: Wand of Gamelon/Link: The Faces of Evil)
Kirby (Kirby)
Magilou (Tales of Berseria)
Martin Walker (Spec Ops: The Line)
Monika (Doki Doki Literature Club)
Nagito Komaeda (Danganronpa 2)
Samantha Greenbriar (Gone Home)
Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
Susie (Deltarune)
The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
Ushiromiya Kinzo (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)

Any predictions? Anyone you're surprised is still in, or conversely, anyone you're shocked is out already?

Whoops, just realized I skipped one. Bleck should be 20 and Chiaki should be 21. And this dude should be 22!

22. Davey Wreden (The Beginner's Guide)
Nominated by Place


Davey Wreden is a literal unreliable narrator in The Beginners Guide, a work of metafiction he made after the success of The Stanley Parable. Davey as the narrator tells the tale of Coda, a mysterious, reclusive game designer who left behind many unfinished works; Davey has recovered the assets from these games and narrates facts about Coda, himself, and theories on game design and fame.

Much of the interest here stems from Davey and the information he presents. The setup in the game is fiction, but how should we interpret things? Is Coda real? How much does Davey lie or project? What can we truly believe? The unreliable narrator trope is tough to pull off in video games, which often rely on the player as the POV character, but were left to put the clues together ourselves. The truth is a slippery thing, and perhaps thats the overall message Davey presents, whether he means to or not.

21. Count Bleck (Super Paper Mario)
Nominated by Shonen_Bat
Of all things, you defend the heart?! Nothing could be more worthless...


The Mario series isnt really known for storyline experimentation, except for its RPGs. Super Paper Mario (which isnt technically an RPG so shhh) gives us Count Bleck, a tragic villain (!). Dedicated to extinguishing life on a multiversal level, Count Bleck possesses a tragic past thats telegraphed a ton but still has a few emotional gut punches. Blecks minions genuinely respect, admire, and love him (except Dimentio, but thats a whole different story). As Blecks grand scheme unfolds, and as he realizes the woman he loved might still be alive, he actually hopes the heroes defeat him. This guy is not a typical Mario villain at all. He also sports a stylish, starry cape and top hat, which is just extra icing on the cake.

22. Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa 2)
Nominated by hombad46
No matter what kind of future it is... As long as you guys move toward it, I will never disappear. Everything that happened here...it won't be meaningless...


Chiaki is one of the most memorable students in Danganronpa 2. Surrounded by boisterous personalities and even a superpower or two, Chiaki holds it down as the Ultimate Gamer. Shes a friend and confidante to Hajime, offering wisdom in her typical calm, detached style. And she may be calm and detached, but shes passionate, and shell do anything to help Hajime out and help the rest of the students escape the killing game.

Thats why the truth about her is such a gut punch: shes an AI created by a character from the first Danganronpa, and shes revealed as the traitor and executed. Nevertheless, she returns to help Hajime when he needs her most. A true friend.

DR2 had some clunkers of characters, and Im not even sure Id remember all of them without a list. But Chiaki has always stuck with me. Shes proof that loyalty, curiosity, and friendship can triumph against despair.

23. The Nameless One (Planescape: Torment)
Nominated by TheArkOfTurus
What can change the nature of a man?


The Nameless One is an immortal being who is cursed to awaken every tme he dies with no memory of his prior lives. He has a committed a grave sin and wronged many people in his past incarnations. How he specifically plays out is up to the player, but he goes on a quest to truly find himself and seek redemption.

The Nameless One is an unconventional character. He is not attractive. Hes not a blank slate for character creation. Hes flawed in many ways. He certainly fits the bill for an interesting character. Planescape: Torment is a game with a script longer than some books, so there is ample time for the Nameless One and his companions to interact with the immersive worlds they encounter.

He really should get some better fashion sense though. Animal skins and bones are so last millennium. One would hed become, like, The Fashionista Incarnation at some point.

24. Francis York Morgan (Deadly Premonition)
Nominated by banshiryuu
Did you see that, Zach? Clear as a crisp spring morning. FK...in the coffee!


Please, call him York. Everyone does.

Francis York Morgan is a special agent for the FBI who specializes in bizarre crimes. His work takes him to the small town of Greenvale, where he encounters an odd assortment of characters. He attempts to track down the mysterious Raincoat Killer, whos been leaving a trail of bodies behind. York is decidedly quirky: he has frequent conversations with an entity called Zach, for one thing, and he is also prone to tangents about punk rock and coffee. York has a habit of making those around him uncomfortable, though theyre sort of forced to put up with him because, well, he gets results.

York has a rather complicated backstory. When he was a child, he witnessed his father murder his mother and then commit suicide. The resulting trauma allowed an imaginary personality York to take over his initial personality Zach. He doesnt remember this until the end of the game.

Deadly Premonition is full of homages to Twin Peaks. York is presumably a send-up of Dale Cooper, who also loved his coffee. But York is an interesting beast. Not derivative, he offers a flavor of weird thats all his own. The clunky/janky graphics of the original game help with that, as York often gestures wildly and grins creepily. It also helps that, despite his idiosynchrasies, York is a fundnamentally good person, willing to put himself at great risk to protect people, socially awkward as he may be.