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[ProgenitorCastle]

Hey GAF, what are some of the best character arcs in gaming?

I'm a big fan of how Groose in Skyward Sword was a bully at first but much later in the game he became a hero helping Link out it's such a feel-good character arc imo. So what say you GAF, what are some of the best character arcs in gaming?

 

[Banjo64]

Abbie’s arc is pretty solid.

 

[Spaceman292]

Abbie’s arc is pretty solid.

I was trying to think of something funny but no one's gonna top this. May as well close the thread.

 

[Happosai]

Any number of the characters in the first 3 MGS games. It was a fast arc unless you're reading Grey Fox or Otacon.

 

[remember_spinal]

 

[TintoConCasera]

Shinada's arc in Yakuza 5 was one of my favorite sections of that game. It was both fun and kino at the same time, and I loved how it all ended for him.

 

[tommib]

Shinada's arc in Yakuza 5 was one of my favorite sections of that game.

Good pick. Yakuza games have some of the best character development writing you could hope for. They embarrass most of the western games.

 

[HYDE]

Kena BS all the main characters are cursed until defeated, and then it’s lifted and their spirits are freed.

 

[Dontkidyourselfjimmy]

 

[adamsapple]

Both Kain and Raziel have incredible, full, arcs through out the franchise.

Logical beginnings and conclusions.

 

[Beer Baelly]

Berserk and the band of the Hawk

 

[Kupfer]

MGS5 wasn't the best MGS but Quiete is still one of my favourite and most interesting side characters in a game ever.

Also Death Stranding : the thread.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Gex, in Gex: enter the Gecko

 

[Aion002]

Luke Fon Fabre from Tales of Abyss.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Kate Walker went From Mild Mannered lawyer to world hopping adventurer.

Movie voice guy FTW

 

[SirTerry-T]

All of the 13 Sentinels????

 

[The Tourmaline Gorilla]

Quiet from MGSV The Phantom Pain

And, (at the top) probably my favourite protagonist of all time, Senua from Hellblade. Senua is a brilliant character, that undergoes such a transformation of bravery and acceptance by the end of the game, while still retaining her "demons". Not only that, but she epitomises the ideal of "a strong female lead." No pink or purple hair. Not butch. Not masculine. Not physically strong. Not unafraid of everything. She remains feminine, through and through, but her strength is shown in her humanity. Her ability to be deathly afraid, but still push through, despite the fear, doubt and uncertainty - THAT is what bravery is... Her feet and hands trembling, yet she presses on.

Senua is fncking brilliant! One of the best developed characters in video game history.

 

[SirTerry-T]

Quiet from MGSV The Phantom Pain

And, (at the top) probably my favourite protagonist of all time, Senua from Hellblade. Senua is a brilliant character, that undergoes such a transformation of bravery and acceptance by the end of the game, while still retaining her "demons". Not only that, but she epitomises the ideal of "a strong female lead." No pink or purple hair. Not butch. Not masculine. Not physically strong. Not unafraid of everything. She remains feminine, through and through, but her strength is shown in her humanity. Her ability to be deathly afraid, but still push through, despite the fear, doubt and uncertainty - THAT is what bravery is... Her feet and hands trembling, yet she presses on.

Senua is fncking brilliant! One of the best developed characters in video game history.

Yeah..but...she don't half go on don't her.
Gave me right earache she did.

And now I'll stop talking like a street kid from a 1950's English movie.

 

[kunonabi]

Cecil from Final Fantasy IV is THE arc as far as I'm concerned.

Heather from Silent Hill 3 is also up there.

 

[March Climber]

 

[GymWolf]

Goro majima in yakuza 0.

Who played the game know what's what.

 

[Fredrik]

Samus Aran in Metroid Dread was a mind twister.

Ori over the two games was something too.

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

1. Ludwig the Holyblade
2. Abby
3. Kratos
4. Clementine
5.Arthur Morgan
6. Thor GOW

 

[Zug]

I liked Dak'kon's story in Planescape Torment, how he evolves through *knowing* the teachings of Zerthimon,and how then it relates to the main story.

 

[Mr Hyde]

Artorias in Dark Souls
Barrett in FF7
Joel and Ellie in TLoU
Francis York and Zach in Deadly Premonition

 

[Danjin44]

Mercedes from Odin Sphere, she starts out spoil who doesn’t know much about the world but she has the most bitter sweet ending among all other characters.

 

[kanjobazooie]

Steiner in Final Fantasy 9.

 

[Ev1L AuRoN]

Joel - The Last of Us Part I is definitely the most memorable.
Honorable mentions:

Vivi - Final Fantasy IX.
Janus - Chrono Trigger.
Big Boss - Metal Gear 3: Snake Eater.
Clementine - The Walking Dead

 

[RaduN]

Naked Snake - fall from grace done absolutelly masterful.

Sam Porter / Cliff Unger - i don't want to spoil it, but these two are some of the best, most touching arcs you'll ever witness.

 

[Grildon Tundy]

Goro majima in yakuza 0.

Who played the game know what's what.

Goro's introduction in that game is wonderful. Video games don't get scenes that would be classics if they were in a movie very often, and his intro is one.

 

[rogr rogr]

A Vader-like tragedy of an arc.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Luke from Tales of the Abyss

Went from an annoying brat to someone that I was able to root for to succeed

 

[VAVA Mk2]

 

[radewagon]

1. Ludwig the Holyblade
2. Abby
3. Kratos
4. Clementine
5.Arthur Morgan
6. Thor GOW

I LOVE Abby's arc. It is so perfectly done. There is a cruelty in the way it is laid out, too, that I really respect. Over the course of her narrative, we see Abby become a good person.

Spoiler

We see her cease to be the single-minded monster that killed Joel and yet none of that growth can change the fact that vengeance is still coming for her. This further informs us about the futility of Ellie's goals as well. Ellie's vengeance rings hollow for us, not just because her vengeance can't bring Joel back but also because the Abby that Ellie wants to hurt, in many ways, doesn't exist any more.

I like TLOU part 1 much more than 2, but I believe through and through that TLOU2 is the better game.

 

[KungFucius]

Abbie’s arc is pretty solid.

As solid as the wood I got watching that muscular ass slide across my screen as I played her. That said, her arc aint got shit against Mario's arc in SMB. Dude went to 8 fucking castles to rescue the princess. 8 fucking castles.

 

[Sub_Level]

Gex, particularly in the second game which thematically encapsulates the human condition brilliantly.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

As solid as the wood I got watching that muscular ass slide across my screen as I played her. That said, her arc aint got shit against Mario's arc in SMB. Dude went to 8 fucking castles to rescue the princess. 8 fucking castles.

She most likely fucked Bowser. Where do you think all of King Koopa kids come from? Mario is the ultimate cuck

 

[March Climber]

Also Link from the old Zelda comics who learned how much power corrupted him:

 

[TheGreatMusashi]

 

[Zuo]

Probably Tales of the Abyss. Not the development itself but with all the surrounding characters and writing.

 

[Black_Stride]

Joel - The Last of Us Part I is definitely the most memorable.

Whats his character arc?

 

[alabtrosMyster]

Mario, went from simple plumber stomping mushrooms and turtles to saving a princess!

 

[NightmareFarm]

Dante's character arc in DMC3

 

[alabtrosMyster]

She most likely fucked Bowser. Where do you think all of King Koopa kids come from? Mario is the ultimate cuck

Cucks don't attack those who please their lady!

 

[Holammer]

I liked Dak'kon's story in Planescape Torment, how he evolves through *knowing* the teachings of Zerthimon,and how then it relates to the main story.

My man, one of the best parts of the game is when the Nameless one and Dak'kon study the circles. One reason to have a high INT build.
Mitch Pileggi's stoic delivery was perfect VA casting.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Nameless One from Planescape:Torment

Spoiler

lived untold lives, became great conqueror, powerful mage, founded his own religion, etc.

 

[Markio128]

Arc the lad?

 

[BouncyFrag]

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

Issun from Okami

Harry from Dragon Quest 5

 

[Neff]

Whats his character arc?

He goes from being a selfish, murderous jerk to being a selfish, murderous jerk