RPGFan May Editorial - Where did the RPG villains go?

[Khuutra]

Rei said:

Neoraf said:
If you want a bad-ass with real motivations, take a look at Saren in Mass Effect.

The RPGs are evolving. It's a very good thing.
No more kiddie rpgs like in the past (Good versus bad, black and white situations). Gray zones FTW!

More mature plots and moral choices.
Bioware, the leader in next-generation RPGs.

    Ehh .. no. Saren is boring and predictable, there is nothing intriguing nor interesting behind his actions. A very straightforward type of villain, he is. 

   Bioware is capable of creating great villains, but Saren is just not the case. A good example of great villain in western-developed RPG would be Aribeth from original NWN (developed by Bioware). But overall, I really cant think of many great villains in western developed RPGs, even older ones. I guess western devs never concentrated on that.

Chris Avellone writes masterful villains. I mean, the main antagonist from Knights of the Old Republic II alone is probably the greatest villain in the history of the medium.