Video games have the ability to leave a lasting impact on us through a variety of means.
One of those ways is through the overall story and, by extension, the characters involved in those stories. This impact can be for better or for worse.
For example, a well-written character with good voice acting, when applicable, has the power to make us feel emotionally invested. On the flip side, a poorly-written character can take us out of the overall experience.
A good, memorable character doesn’t only fall into this category. One can also be memorable through its design and overall personality, such as goofier characters.
There are a host of other reasons why a character may stick with us long after we’ve stopped playing a game, including one being so relatable that it just speaks to us.
So, which video game character is the most memorable for you?
I’ve seen several over the years, but one that is more recent for me is Aerith Gainsborough from the original Final Fantasy VII.
Cloud Strife meets Aerith in the most unique of circumstances. He falls through a roof of a church where she is planting flowers though the player does come across her in Midgar prior to this encounter.
As you learn more about her history and what she means to the overall story, you begin to feel emotionally invested in her character. This leads to an emotional encounter with antagonist Sephiroth that truly left me shocked on my first playthrough.
Aerith’s impact on Final Fantasy VII was so strong and her character was such a memorable one. I still find myself thinking about her impact on the game and just how well the developers had me invested in her story.
Another memorable character for me is Midna from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Full disclosure: This game is my personal favorite Zelda game and I have played it numerous times. What makes Midna so memorable is her character development throughout the game.
Link first meets her in a jail cell in the Twilight Realm and she comes across as someone only interested in her end goal. By the end of the game, you truly come to care for her and her plight.
There is a moment around the middle of the game that you realize just how far you’ve come to care about Midna as you race to Hyrule Castle to take her to Princess Zelda.
There are many memorable characters for me that aren’t necessarily centered on their overall impact on the story. These ones tend to lean toward the goofier side.
Both Waluigi from the Mario series and Beedle from The Legend of Zelda series are so goofy that I don’t think I’ll ever forget either.
For me, one of my favorite aspects of video games is storytelling. This includes character work, whether that be impactful or just a memorable person.
Either way, characters lend a lot to games and, for me, help enhance the overall experience.
So what about you? Which character in video games is most memorable to you? Let us know in the comments below or by heading over to our Discord channel.
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The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, LeRon, Stephanie, Edward, and their friends from around the internet come together to talk their week in games, entertainment, and more while also bringing topics for conversation, answer listener and community questions, and cover major news and events happening in the video game industry. Watch The Boss Rush Podcast live on Wednesday Nights on Twitch at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT or on Monday mornings at 7 a.m. ET on YouTube and podcast services everywhere. Thanks for listening! You can also get this episode one week early on Patreon.
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