When side characters are better written than the heroes.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 So when you're talking about complex video game characters, all of the love tends to
00:03 go towards the protagonist.
00:05 However, a good story rarely only includes one character.
00:08 And just like Robin to your Batman, NPCs – short for Non-Player Characters – rarely get the
00:13 love that they deserve.
00:14 So let's take a look at them today, as I'm Jules, this is WhatCulture.com, and these
00:18 are the 10 Most Complex NPCs in Video Games.
00:21 10.
00:22 The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim, Cicero
00:25 Found alongside his broken-down cart just north of Whiterun, Cicero is dressed as a
00:30 jester, transporting the remains of his mother.
00:33 Upon first meeting, all seems relatively normal, if maybe a little eccentric, as Cicero asks
00:39 you to speak to a nearby farmer to help get his cart back up and running so that he can
00:42 bury his "mother" in a new crypt.
00:45 If the player chooses to steer clear of the Dark Brotherhood, this will be the extent
00:49 of your interacting with ol' Cicero here, and it will be little more than just a weird
00:52 encounter.
00:53 However, if you join the Dark Brotherhood, or choose to take them down, you will gain
00:57 access to the Sanctuary, and with that, Cicero's journals.
01:00 Chronicled Within is the story of another Sanctuary, and the death of its head listener.
01:04 It becomes apparent upon reading that Cicero has well and truly gone mad following his
01:08 final kill, from whom the assassin adopted various personality traits from, as well as
01:13 his appearance.
01:14 The eccentric killer appointed himself the "Keeper of the Night Mother", and decided
01:18 to transport her to Skyrim, which explains the encounter with him near Whiterun.
01:22 It's deliciously mad, in all the right ways.
01:25 9.
01:26 Persona 5 - Sojiro Sakura
01:28 Initially cold and somewhat authoritarian, this ladies' man eventually becomes one
01:32 of the most intriguing characters in all of Persona 5.
01:36 Following the arrival of your player character in Tokyo after a mysterious event gets you
01:39 in trouble back in your hometown, Sakura takes you in to live in the loft above his coffee
01:43 shop.
01:44 At first, the smooth-talking character comes across as somewhat of a bit of a jerk, as
01:48 he keeps treating you with caution due to your previous troubles.
01:52 However, as the story unfolds and he begins to place more and more trust in you, his paternal
01:56 qualities emerge, and he becomes a genuine guardian to the merry band of phantom thieves
02:01 that hang out in his coffee shop.
02:02 He also has some demons of his own, as he blames himself for the death of his one true
02:06 love and mother to his adoptive daughter.
02:09 He seeks your help in persuading his daughter to leave the house, during which you learn
02:12 more about him, as well as the truth behind his love's death.
02:16 This leads to some genuine character development that results in him becoming one of the most
02:19 complex and memorable characters in all of Persona 5.
02:23 Trust me, that's an already stacked roster.
02:25 8.
02:26 Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater – The Boss
02:29 Initially set up as the main antagonist to Naked Snake, the Boss turns out to be so much
02:33 more complex than the defector that she's first painted out to be.
02:37 Snake's former mentor and mother figure turned her back on the US, to instead serve
02:41 the Soviet Union alongside her band of merry misfits, the Cobra Unit, and human lightning
02:46 rod Colonel Volgin.
02:48 Following the final battle, where she's defeated by Snake, it's revealed that her
02:51 mission was actually to infiltrate the Soviet Union in order to obtain the Philosopher's
02:55 legacy from the Colonel.
02:57 It was a surprise that most didn't see coming at the time, and painted the Boss as a character
03:00 willing to sacrifice herself to avoid conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.
03:06 With a number of complex characters in the Metal Gear series, it's tough to stand out
03:09 from the crowd.
03:10 However, the Boss is a complex character without requiring any over-the-top gimmicks to make
03:15 her interesting.
03:16 She was a strong female leader that was willing to be labelled a defector to her country in
03:20 order to save it from war.
03:21 If that's not true patriotism, then I don't know what is.
03:25 7.
03:26 Bioshock Infinite – Elizabeth
03:28 Imprisoned in the floating city of Columbia, Elizabeth looks to be the classic damsel in
03:32 distress before you then realise that she in fact possesses a great deal of power.
03:37 The so-called Lamb of Columbia has the ability to create holes in space and time, and even
03:41 travel through them, which ultimately resulted in her presence in the floating city of Columbia.
03:47 Once rescued from her prison on Monument Island, Elizabeth will accompany you on your adventures
03:51 throughout Columbia, often gazing in childlike wonder at parts of the world that she's
03:55 been excluded from all of these years.
03:57 The way that she comments on the game's world often provides another layer of context
04:01 that's usually in stark contrast to that of protagonist Booker DeWitt.
04:04 In the Burial at Sea DLC for Bioshock Infinite, her abilities and story are explored further,
04:09 giving an even deeper insight into her character and her relationship with Booker.
04:14 Elizabeth is also pretty handy in a battle as well, as she'll use her powers to tear
04:18 holes in reality, often giving the player some additional options in combat.
04:21 She'll even throw you ammo, health, and salts, which are used to power your vigour
04:25 abilities if she senses that you're running low.
04:28 6.
04:29 Red Dead Redemption 2 – Dutch Vanderlinde
04:31 Starting out as a Robin Hood-esque outlaw with morals, Dutch begins to descend into
04:36 a remorseless, narcissistic criminal throughout the course of Rockstar's Wild West epic.
04:40 Corrupted by fellow antagonist Micah Bell, Dutch's descent into full-blown bad guy
04:45 takes place right in front of the player and lead protagonist Arthur Morgan's eyes.
04:49 A one-time mentor to Arthur, as well as first-game protagonist John Marston, the outlaw head
04:54 honcho begins to unravel as his plans to leave the life behind him are dashed at every turn.
04:59 As plans go wrong and his merry band of outlaws begins to lose faith, Dutch continues to turn
05:03 to more drastic and nefarious means to regain control of the group.
05:07 As Dutch's actions grow more erratic throughout the story, it culminates perfectly when some
05:11 of the group find themselves stranded on an island, and we see his dark side reach new
05:15 levels when he kills an old lady in cold blood.
05:18 It's at this point that the player, as well as Arthur, realises that there's no going
05:21 back now for Dutch, and he must be stopped.
05:24 Here Rockstar truly delivered in showing the downfall of the once-beloved Dutch.
05:28 5.
05:29 Fallout 4 – Nick Valentine
05:32 A film noir detective in a post-apocalyptic Boston, Nick Valentine should pique your interest
05:37 even before it's revealed that he's in actual fact a unique prototype synthetic human
05:41 created by the Institute that managed to escape.
05:43 Following his escape from the Institute, the robotic synth took up the persona of Nick
05:47 Valentine and set himself up as a private detective operating out of Diamond City.
05:52 Almost the most human character in the entire game, despite being a synth, Nick often imparts
05:56 insightful comments on the player's situations and actions, even displaying emotional responses
06:01 to moments throughout the course of your adventures.
06:04 Nick often feels less like a companion just following you around, and much more like a
06:07 partner that will help in your investigations to find your lost son.
06:11 It's great, then, that Fallout 4's Far Harbor DLC features everyone's favourite
06:15 trench coat and Trilby hat-wearing robot detective in good measure, as you assist Nick in one
06:19 of his missing person cases.
06:21 With a much darker tone than the main campaign, Nick's input and poetic responses to conversations
06:26 really shine through, and his character is a highlight in what is a standout expansion
06:30 to the main game.
06:32 4.
06:33 The Last of Us - Ellie
06:34 On the surface, Ellie is just a kid growing up in a very messed up world.
06:38 However, the character goes much deeper than that, as she represents hope for humankind
06:42 against the Cordyceps virus and, at least according to the Fireflies, will serve an
06:46 important role in the survival of the entire species.
06:49 Naughty Dog masterfully crafted a character that managed to chip away at the bleakness
06:53 and hopelessness of The Last of Us' setting and story.
06:56 Witnessing Ellie gaze in childlike wonder at a family of giraffes, or get excited about
07:00 finding another issue of her favourite comic book, contrasts perfectly with the grave story
07:04 that this game tells.
07:06 Over the course of this narrative, Ellie not only gives protagonist Joel hope and moments
07:10 of happiness, but she also gives that to the player.
07:12 Besides being a complex character within the narrative, Ellie is also a handy companion
07:16 in combat.
07:17 She will look to grab enemies where possible, giving Joel a free hit, as well as give the
07:21 player ammo when needed.
07:23 Naughty Dog explained that they wanted to create a companion that wasn't a burden
07:26 and would not be blamed by players if something went wrong, and you know what?
07:30 They surely succeeded with that.
07:32 3.
07:33 Mass Effect 2 - Thane
07:35 Thane is very much the quintessential anti-hero, a deadly spiritualistic assassin with a conscience
07:40 that is living on borrowed time due to a terminal disease.
07:43 One of the standout characters from a series that has produced so many of them, the drell
07:47 hitman has an incredible aptitude for violence and killing, yet is incredibly self-aware,
07:52 often bemoaning his past actions and even going so far as to display genuine remorse.
07:57 He agrees to join Commander Shepard's gang of misfits on their suicide mission against
08:01 the Collectors in the hopes that he will find redemption for his past final mission.
08:05 Throughout the time that Thane is part of the Normandy's crew, he will slowly open
08:08 up to the player before seeking his help in reconciling with his son, who is now also
08:13 on a dark path of his own, despite his father's attempts to steer him away.
08:17 Beneath the surface, Thane is a highly complex character, showing surprising levels of emotion
08:21 that belie the assassin tropes that are often displayed in video games.
08:25 He is a refreshing take on the gun-for-hire character that we've seen so often in the
08:29 medium, and therefore is a standout character in Mass Effect.
08:33 2.
08:34 The Witcher 3 - Wild Hunt - Gaunter O'Dimm
08:37 The world of The Witcher contains a plethora of complex characters that would all be worthy
08:41 of an entry on this list.
08:43 However, none are quite as complex and memorable as the antagonist from the Hearts of Stone
08:47 expansion, Gaunter O'Dimm.
08:50 The so-called 'Master Mirror' is first encountered right at the beginning of the
08:53 game in White Orchard.
08:55 Something seems off right from the start, although you'll need to wait to find out
08:58 what that is, as this is the last that you'll see of him until the Hearts of Stone DLC.
09:03 Described as 'Evil Incarnate', O'Dimm is an ominous being who will grant individuals
09:07 wishes in exchange for their soul, much like the Devil is known to do in folklore, leading
09:11 fan theorists to speculate that O'Dimm is indeed the Devil.
09:15 His motivations are unclear, only adding to his mystique, although you can be sure that
09:19 these motivations are rather sinister.
09:22 If that's not creepy enough for you, then it's been noticed that in various cutscenes
09:25 throughout the expansion's story, O'Dimm can be spotted in disguise as other characters
09:29 in the background.
09:30 Which is rather spooky indeed.
09:32 1.
09:33 Disco Elysium - Kim Kitsuragi
09:35 Thrust in as protagonist Harry Dubois' partner as they attempt to solve a mysterious
09:40 murder, Lieutenant Kim emerges as one of the best sidekicks in all of gaming by the time
09:45 all is said and done on Disco Elysium's stellar story.
09:48 In a game world where every character is impeccably written and has more layers than an onion,
09:52 it speaks volumes that your calm and professional sidekick is the standout of the bunch.
09:57 Lieutenant Kim starts the game cold and stoic, but as your investigation goes on, he opens
10:02 up and displays some moments of genuine emotion and compassion.
10:05 His steadfast professionalism and judgemental nature are also more than just character traits,
10:10 as it becomes more of a gameplay feature as you find yourself basing your decisions on
10:14 whether or not it will disappoint your rather lovable partner.
10:17 Kim is an incredibly rich character that is more than just a virtual voice of reason.
10:22 He loves speed metal, although will never admit it, and abhors pinball despite being
10:26 a former pinball champion.
10:28 Hats off to the developers here for crafting one of the most human characters in all of
10:32 gaming.
10:33 So there we go my friends, those are the 10 most complex NPCs in video games.
10:37 Let me know what you thought about it down in the comments section below, as well as
10:40 any other options or choices that you think I may have missed from this list, as I'd
10:44 love to cover more in a future video.
10:46 But if you want to chat to me further in the meantime, you can do so over on Twitter @RetroJWithA0,
10:50 or you can swing by Live and Let's Dice, where I do all of my streaming outside of
10:54 work, and it'd be great to see you over there my friends.
10:56 But before I go, I just want to say one thing.
10:58 Hope you're treating yourself with love, and respect my friend because you deserve
11:01 all of the best things in life like love, happiness and success.
11:05 And don't let anything or anyone else tell you otherwise, alright?
11:08 We're all rather complex human beings, and all of us deserve to be kind to ourselves,
11:12 alright?
11:13 So big love to you my friend, now go out there and smash your life goals today.
11:16 I believe in ya.
11:17 As always I've been Jules, you have been awesome, never forget that, and I'll speak
11:20 to you soon.