READ BEFORE POSTING COMMENTS!
This list consists of characters who are NOT about fame, NOT about being kickass, NOT about being cool or stylish, and NOT about being popular.
It is about characters that possess INSPIRING qualities.
An inspiring character is simply someone who beats the enormous odds presented in his or her situation and creates a wave of impact. Basically, he or she is someone who touches the hearts and minds of people who are lucky enough to witness their impossible battles, their overwhelming sacrifice, and their stone-cold heart and determination. He or she is also oftentimes a hero who would willingly be considered as the villain by society in order to achieve a greater good.
And again, we're NOT talking about the coolest, most badass, or most popular character out there. We're talking about INSPIRING (i can't stress this enough..).
Here are my top 10 most inspiring characters in video games (well top 11 now since the edit LOL). I only list characters that i've actually experienced, and thus my list will be devoid of some great characters... so write your list too!
(The most inspiring character is below, at #1 :P)
11.) Jowy (Suikoden 2) - He turns his back on his best friend and goes to war with everyone he has ever loved in order to stop the fighting quickly. Quite paradoxical methodology, but it worked. He was considered a traitorous snake, but he took the blow and went on with his business of realizing peace between the nations.
10.) Mobius 1 (Ace Combat 4) - The conditions of the war were bleak, with his country losing the war, but through his efforts and skill he was able to almost single-handedly turn the tide of the battle to their favor. "Mobius 1 shot another one down" became a very common theme among the other pilots, and his exploits gave the entire country hope and passion for them to win the war.
9.) Tirion Fordring (World of Warcraft) - This guy appears in the Eastern Plaguelands as an old man with a hammer and a horse, only wishing for someone to hear his stories and help him clean up some garbage. Later revealed is the real reason for his seclusion being that his regrets about his past, especially concerning his family. As his resolve is restored, he goes on to reuinite with his son, who gets killed by the fanatics within the organization. What sets Tirion apart from the rest is what he did after this heartbreaking event, taking up the standard of the then already dead Knights of the Silver Hand, and vowed to take it back to its former glory.
8.) Kratos (God of War) - This ultimate agent of chaos shows us that there is no need to follow one's destiny as preordained by merciless fate, death, and gods. He shows us, instead, that we should fight to make our own course through life, and get rid of the shackles that these celestial beings attempt to impose on us.. His struggle was basically as Jean Paul Sartre would say, we are free, and ourselves freedom!
7.) Mario (Super Mario Brothers) - He's just a plumber trying to save a princess in a surreal world. He takes on seemingly unreasonable tasks just to be disappointed at every world's end with the message that "the princess has been taken to another castle"... yet he keeps following her. That's determination.
6.) Big Boss (Metal Gear Series) - The heart of the entire Metal Gear plotline is and will always be the guy who was too stubborn to just cooperate with the Patriots. His denial of their rule, wanting to create a state of pure freedom, sparked the enigmatic series of events that culminated in the end of their reign, and the restoration of Liberty. Aside from that, the idea of 'the perfect soldier' will always make him stand out.
5.) Ocelot (Metal Gear Series) - From the beginning, he lied, betrayed, backstabbed, and stole for a single-minded purpose: to rescue Big Boss and put an end to the Patriots. Sure, people will see that he was a foul and distrustful person who kept turning back on his comrades. What some people fail to understand is, however, that that was all an act, in which he was prepared to die for, in order to achieve the greater good of true liberty. Basically, he sacrificed his own persona, rather, he didn't mind being considered the villain, in order that the future would be rid of the shackles of the Patriots. A true hero is sometimes one who willingly accepts the role of the villain.
4.) Aeris (Final Fantasy 7) - A girl with a heart the size of Midgar. Before embarking on the mission to save the planet, this flower girl was serving as elder sister and mother to orphans in the slum areas of the city. She had a single-minded purpose to rid the evil, even going off on her own in hopes of summoning the Holy, which resulted in her untimely death.. but lest you forget, even after she died, her spirit carried on her wishes in life, and ultimately her will prevailed over the Meteor threatening the planet.
3.) Little Mac (Mike Tyson's Punch Out) - The closest anyone can get to Rocky Balboa himself. We see a really short guy on screen knocking out these giant muscle bound freaks not through power or skill (he has to jump just to punch his opponent), but through pure iron will to succeed. Little Mac is the epitomy of the fighting underdog who will never give up even if the odds are simply unbeatable on paper. Think of a lightweight insisting on fighting in the heavyweight division just for the hell of it..
2.) Wander (Shadow of the Colossus) - Wander is a quiet little guy going off into an adventure of metaphysical proportions, only armed with his glow in the dark sword and a bow, in a hope to bring his love back to life. It sounds like the stuff of dreams, and it really is. I just don't know any other person who would take on 300 foot creature after 300 foot creature in the name of love.
1.) Tassadar (StarCraft) - "I shall steer the Ganthritor into the heart of the Overmind..." were among the last words of this proud Protoss warrior who was not afraid to break every law in order to save his people, even accepting trial and persecution just like Socrates did in antiquity, even in the face of injustice. In his final act of bravery, he smashed his ship into the ancient evil tormenting his race, thereby ending its tyranny and saving the existence of his people, at the cost of his own life given willingly without a hint of hesitation. "En Taro Tassadar", later says Artanis and the rest of his people in homage.
(EDITED, made it 11 characters :P)
Join the Prediction League 
