The Top 10 Video Game Heroes

What are video games without heroes? Its the essence of why we play in the first place. We WANT to be someone great, and what better way to satisfy that need than by taking control of a vengeant killing machine, a one man army, a broken or tortured anti-hero seeking redemption, or any other imaginable storyline. These are the characters that make video games epic. These are the Top 10 Video Game Heroes.


10. Kratos (God of War series)
Kratos is one of the best anti-heroes of the last decade and the character Sony once called "the face of the PS2". That is a bold statement seeing as Nintendo and Microsoft have their own heroes that they identify their product with. Since the inglorious demise of Crash Bandicoot, Sony hasn't really had a character with which to present their face to the market. Kratos is definitely a decent candidate. He is a ruthless war-machine covered in the ashes of his dead family for whom he seeks vengeance. His signature weapon, The Blades of Chaos, are permanently attached to his arms, making him all the more lethal. The best part about Kratos is how far he is willing to go to achieve his goal: He has to kill a GOD! Yea, that takes some serious brass ones downstairs, ladies and gentlemen.

9. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic series)
The console war between Sega and Nintendo was getting tense with the release of the Sega Genesis. The early 90's was an exciting time to be a young gamer and Sega's mascot, that was to rival Mario for VG supremecy, was Sonic the Hedgehog. Largely forgotten by today's young gamers, Sonic was hot shit back in the day. He was every bit as popular as Megaman or Mario, and even Link, who had a poor showing in his sequel. It seemed for a while that Sonic might actually dethrone the red plumber and become the new face of gaming in the nineties. This just wasn't to be, however, as Mario exploded in one of the best titles of all-time with Super Mario Bros. 3. Sonic's popularity began to wane follwing Sonic 3, and although he had a popular run in the comics and went 1 for 2 on television (one show was really great, the other was a puke-covered dog turd with chili dogs, an overly effeminent Tails, and bad guys that made The Three Stooges look like Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, and Wernher von Braun), Sonic never appeared in another really great game that held the produced the same excitement and gameplay experience as Sonic 1 and 2. Oh well, he's still our favorite blue hedgehog that saves nature from the ever-increasing threat of expanding industry.

8. Ratchet and Clank (Ratchet and Clank series)
Saving the universe in style, over and over again. Even time travel can't keep these two from forging ahead and cleaning up planet after planet from the scum of the galaxy and dastardly masterminds. They do all this with a genuinely great, albeit innocent, sense of humor. The games are fun and funny, and the heroes banter just never gets old. Sony may want Kratos to be their heroic face, but I think many would conclude that Ratchet and Clank truly hold the distinction as Sony's loveable mascots. They are seven games into the series and we can't wait for the next one.

7. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy series)
Ok, we all know how this works. Cloud is actually not the MOST heroic Final Fantasy hero, but he is the FACE of Final Fantasy. His story is emo and convuluted at times, but he does defeat one of the most badass villains ever conceived on three seperate occasions. Taking down the most notorious blade-wielder in the world THAT many times speaks volumes to his fighting spirit, even if he is a bit confused at times. So what if in retrospective we realize that he was sort of a poon? You know you loved him the first time you played FF7, and his returning in many other games is proof that people have not forgotten that he is an iconic hero.

6. Master Chief (Halo series)
Halo took us all by suprise. What a game! Really, that's all there is to say about it. Playing as the one-man-army that is Master Chief really made us feel like a true hero. We were proficient with weapons, human and alien alike, as well brutally agile and strong. The play control left no faults other than the player's ability, which meant that you could be as badass as you felt like training to become. While Chief has gotten a break in the last two installments, the allure of playing as a genetically enhanced Spartan has us all addicted to the Halo phenomenon. Covenant, Flood, it makes no difference; they all fall before the merciless onslaught that is Master Chief, humanity's last hope.

5. Samus Aran (Metroid series)
Before there was Dead Space, the terrifying menace of outer-space were the dreaded Metroids. Our only hope of survival lay with Samus Aran, the armor-clad hottie with a myriad of weapons at her disposal. Anyone who knows video games should know at this point that no Metroid game has ever recieved less than a 9.5 from any reviewer...ever. Now that's pretty serious business in the gaming industry. Some of the best franchises in history have completely flopped every now and then. But, not Samus. She never lets us down. Great story + great music + great hero= great series. Plus, who knew we were playing as a chic the whole time? Innovative and entertaining...ok I'm gonna shut up now, sorry I have an affinity for Samus. (She's awesome)

4. Big Boss/Solid Snake (Metal Gear series)
Either as Naked(Big Boss) or Solid Snake, no one can deny that he is one of the most badass heroes ever designed. He's the perfect mix of super-agent and soldier.One part James Bond and one part Rambo. He is also the only hero on here that is intended to bring death silently. He gets the job done as efficiently as possible. What's great about Snake is that he is also very human. We see him get injured, get captured, and get used by "friends" and his own government. While we have to admit that the line is blurred between hero and villain at times, as long as we are playing as Snake and really believe that we are the hero, it has to count. Snake, the modern day tragic hero.

3. Megaman/X (Megaman and Megaman X series)
So they are technically two different characters, but spiritually they are the same. We all know Megaman by this point. They are great games with great soundtracks and full of nostalgia. Many people don't realize, however, that while Mario has starred in over 200 games, Megaman is second on the all-time list with 189 appearances. The legendary Blue Bomber slides into the number 3 spot on my list for the many years of entertainment and robot ass-kickery.

2. Mario (like you really don't know? series)
The undisputed face of video gaming, Mario has starred in over 200 titles. One friend put it as, " more people in the world recognize Mario than they do Jesus". I have to agree, the red plumber is everywhere, and although his story is the simple "save the damsel-in-distress from the monster", it just never seems to get old. Endless entertainment from a series that may make no damn sense when we think about it, but if it wasn't around could the industry have survived? For being a hero to the Princess and to the industry, Mario settles in at number 2.

1. Link (The Legend of Zelda series)
The original epic hero. Link, in all his incarnations,has battled the evil Ganon (in all HIS incarnations) throughout the most confusing, but entertaining franchise in gaming history. If you have never played a Zelda game, then why the hell are you reading this list? Epic, Legendary, Mind-blowing, any of the terms will suffice. Aside from the two lousy CD-i games, and the less than flattering depiction in the cartoon, Link will always be number 1 in the hearts of gamers who are in search of a true hero.