Top 10 Computer Game NPCs

Kane isn't nice, many of them arn't nice.
I'm sorry but I find Alyx actually a rather poor shallow character and can't get why everybody thinks she's so great. GlaDOS beats her let alone the mighty SHODAN.

Hmm @ Alyx, she might be fit, but she is no way #1 :)

Originally Posted by pimlicosound
2. Max Payne 2. Mona was a superb supporting character, well presented, and whose relationship with Max is fabulously complex. Not to mention the pain or elation of the two possible game endings.

there were two endings? oh god i'm gonna hafta go back and replay this again...shame on me

Originally Posted by sotu1
there were two endings? oh god i'm gonna hafta go back and replay this again...shame on me

You have to beat the final stager *very* quickly. The resulting ending will lift your spirits.

Tip: if you just want to get the ending, use some cheats to rush the level!

Kane is number 1. ;) I agree that Darth Malak would probably feature in my top five too... if not him, then HK-47. That droid rocked. :)

ok ok

GLADOS? how the hell isn't she/it on there?!
And why isn't the most bad ass mo-fo of them all, Sephiroth?
And Navi was definately worth a mention

Originally Posted by Jordan Wise
And why isn't the most bad ass mo-fo of them all, Sephiroth?

Actually, valid point. It can't even be said that it wasn't on the PC, as both VII and VIII have PC ports. And if the excuse 'it's a port' is used... then Bioshock shouldn't be on there either, as that smacked of console port too.

Originally Posted by pimlicosound
Three important games are missing from this list, I think:

1. Star Wars: KOTOR. Darth Malek was one of the best villains ever, and HK-47 was patently hilarious.

2. Max Payne 2. Mona was a superb supporting character, well presented, and whose relationship with Max is fabulously complex. Not to mention the pain or elation of the two possible game endings.

They both almost got a mention actually and Mona was on the list until the last minute, as was HK-47.

Could have guessed she'd get first place. Shame. I'm not a fan. It's just too obvious. She's not even pretty.

Dear mister CardJoe,

I can't believe you forgot MORTE from Planescape: Torment! Morte is the most hilarious companion in a RPG EVER!
He is ur guide as you awake on the mortuary, a simple floating skull. Some quotes from the other disenbodied fellow:

"Women were the reason I became a monk - and, ah, the reason I switched back... "

"Nordom: Attention; Morte. I have a question. Do you have a destiny? A purpose?
Morte: Is Annah still wearing clothes?
Nordom: Affirmatory.
Morte: Then the answer is yes.
"

"Morte: Hey Nordom, knock-knock.
Nordom: Why do you persist in addressing me as a door?
Morte: It's a joke, you stupid polygon! You're supposed to answer "Who's there?"
Nordom: I know who is there. It is you. Why would I ask a question when I already know the answer?
Morte: Just forget it.
"

"C'mon, Chief! We're in a building with some of the sexiest chits this side of the multiverse, and you're stopping to talk to *modrons*? "

"Oh sure. I'll just swing it with my arms." (When trying to equip him with any weapons. Remember, he is just a skull)

"Come on! Let's shake a leg... Well... YOU shake a leg..."

"We should get some female zombies to join our party, right chief?"

"I am both happy and miserable, without the happy part!"

"Graaaace... you wanna put ME in your inventory?" (Fall-from-grace, or just Grace, is an angel that joins your party)

"This place is locked up tighter than a chastity belt!" - My favorite. He say that when you're trying to scape the first level of the game.

"That beauty sleep didn't help much." - When Nameless One awakens after being killed. The main goal in the game is to discover a "cure" to your immortality. Everytime u die, (in the plot, not in the game) u arise without memories and with a different personality.

Ravel: Life swallowed you and spit you out!
Morte: It swallowed him, but I don't know if he came out of THAT end!

Remember that it is morte that first read "the nameless one's" back to give him the first directions. As he can't use any weapons, you equip him with "teeth"

For RPGyers: you may have played Mass Effect, Oblivion, FallOut, Ultima (my favorite) and even Baldurs Gate. But NO GAME IN THE WORLD has a better history than Planescape: Torment! There's a .PDF (or .DOC) in the internet arranged so that the whole plot of the game is written as a book. Not as good as playing the game, but a nice start.

And you all can wiki it. It worths the shot :D

I have to play more PC games...

I don't know half of these characters...

Originally Posted by Paradigm Shifter

Actually, valid point. It can't even be said that it wasn't on the PC, as both VII and VIII have PC ports. And if the excuse 'it's a port' is used... then Bioshock shouldn't be on there either, as that smacked of console port too.

i didn't know it was just pc games. And for all you lot saying Mona Sax- she was a playable character, and so doesn't qualify

Am I the only person who has never heard of Kane?

I'd agree with yemerich that Morte seems a good candidate. And another vote for Barney and GlaDOS.

Also I don't see how you could miss Liara from Mass Effect - it's the least she deserves for putting out for us.


Edit:
Also, what about a list of the Top 10 most pointless, useless and unfulfilling NPCs. Mass Effect has Navigator Pressly and Doctor Chakwas who are available to talk to the entire game but have sweet FA to say to you beyond the first conversation.

Originally Posted by cjmUK
Am I the only person who has never heard of Kane?

yes.... yes you are

Originally Posted by Jordan Wise

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjmUK
Am I the only person who has never heard of Kane?

yes.... yes you are

Jordan... You are so wise.

Originally Posted by Jordan Wise
i didn't know it was just pc games. And for all you lot saying Mona Sax- she was a playable character, and so doesn't qualify

From the 2nd paragraph in the article:

"The only rules we imposed on ourselves are that entrants cannot be the main playable character of a game".

Originally Posted by pimlicosound
Three important games are missing from this list, I think:

1. Star Wars: KOTOR. Darth Malek was one of the best villains ever, and HK-47 was patently hilarious.

2. Max Payne 2. Mona was a superb supporting character, well presented, and whose relationship with Max is fabulously complex. Not to mention the pain or elation of the two possible game endings.

3. Mass Effect. Saren was a very well written antagonist - a hero/villain who bit off more than he could chew, and had to see things through to the bitter end.

I completely agree with this. And I don't really like alyx, gman is way cooler! The best NPC ever though HAS to be GLADOS. How was she left out?!? (I spose cause she falls under the HL universe and alyx took her spot?)

Originally Posted by p3n
Wheres the MMO love?

Ragnaros and Major Domo "TOO SOON" will probably be up there for alot of people... (then again wow is probably 50% people who never saw this NPC these days.. :<)

Or what about all the classic Lucas Arts adventure games .. Broken Sword, Full Throttle, DOtT!

lol, was thinking both WoW and broken sword needed some representation. Nico for being the typical sidekick who gets caught, the beginning of broken sword 2 is brilliant.

Kane should be number 2, but alyx definately for number 1, love the part in episode 1 (i think it is?) where you go down into some building without any lights, and if you turn off your flashlight you hear some noises like the zombie guys, turn it back on and she starts laughing and says 'got ya' XD

Hmm nice list wish I could say that I knew half of them but I can't :(

Anyway I agree that Kane should higher up on the list..

Also although i never finished the game, what about that spooky girl that keeps popping up in F.E.A.R ?

Dugg for horned reaper.

I mean... wait, wrong website. But still, those things are pure awesome (though like all characters in DK, they're only semi-NPCs)

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove
Also although i never finished the game, what about that spooky girl that keeps popping up in F.E.A.R ?

Good call! Alma was terrific. It was sickening as the truth about her was revealed (Wade being her father and all, and still subjecting her to the tests). Marvellous storytelling there, and one of the most genuinely creepy villains in a videogame, if you can really call her a villain.

If the topic were open to console video games, Roman from GTA4 would definitely have to be a part of this list. Like Alyx, he's one of the most real and well-rounded characters in a game. The dialogue and characterisation made GTA4 one of the most powerful gaming experiences of my life.

Originally Posted by Panos
Another voice here regarding Kane. :)

He should be at least No 2, if not No 1.

The ultimate character.

Here too!! Number 2 though!

Originally Posted by cjmUK
Am I the only person who has never heard of Kane?

Man, I've never even played any C&C games (shame on me, I know), and even I know who Kane is. There was an expansion pack titled - as in pasted in big letters across the front of the box - "Kane's Wrath." If you were anywhere near a retail game section during the year-ish it was on shelves you'd at least recognize the name...

Anyway, nice list, I think, with a couple exceptions...

1) You put in SHODAN and left out GLaDOS? Really?

2) I've heard a lot of people mention HK-47, and now that I think of it he *really* should be on this list, but he's not even the biggest omission to me. Why is Kreia (KOTOR II) not in here? The best written NPC in any RPG ever and it doesn't make this list? Okay, the game doesn't have an ending and Kreia's the NPC who drew the shortest straw over it, but that's really not Obsidian's fault. If you find the time, read through the KOTOR II walkthrough at http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2472531 - the analysis of her role in events, her motivations, her character[s] itself (and the cut content) is quite thorough. Leaving her out is somewhat disappointing.

Other than that, though, nice work. It certainly is good to see someone else try and appreciate the other characters in a game - especially since they're there because *the player isn't supposed to be the only influence on the world.* Excellent top choice, too. ;)

- Diosjenin -

Go on admit it, you put her at no 1 because you all fancy her dont you........