Amazing to think that our generation goes through so many video games without actually appreciating the depicted heroines heroic qualities, had he or she been real. Theoretically speaking, the world would be a much safer place. So, I present to you the countdown of the top 10 video game heroes, heroines, saviours, bad asses, or whatever else you'd like to call them, of all time. Enjoy.
Leon Kennedy
Forever depicted as a slightly homosexual, long haired rookie police officer for the Raccoon City Police, Leon Kennedy was never really seen as much of a hero until Resident Evil 4. Defending a small girl from three villages full of rampaging, insane Spanish villagers is simply no easy task (I know, I've tried) and Leon pulls it off with a simple, savage flair and awesome cool-ness to boot. With one liners and quips, moronic comebacks and idiotic, irrelevant comments (Buckle up!), Leon represents the "average Joe" hero, the everyman, and that's why he's become so well loved. Plus he's got a cool new look, with a weird devil lock hairstyle, and suddenly gigantic biceps and forearms. That aside, Leon still slides it at our number 10.
Mario
I think if somebody told you thirty years ago that a short, fat, balding Italian American plumber would have been one of the most awesome video game heroes of all time, you probably would have shattered that persons head with the blunt end of a stiletto shoe. Still, Mario has it all. Entertaining us for more than 20 years, Mario is the embodiment of entertainment. First appearing with Donkey Kong and some obscure ass princess, Mario was the first dynamic character any child got involved with. Back then it was all about the Mario-man. How could you not love a man, whose sole objective in life is to dive into tall green pipes, collecting coins, and smiting the oddly turtle-like beast of Bowser? (Who, oddly enough, is probably a simple drain blockage?)
Raiden
The first entry from Mortal Kombat, Raiden was the original bad boy of video game fighting arcades. First appearing alongside Liu Kang, Kano and Scorpion, Raiden laid down the law as the Jujitsu learned, ass kicking God of lightning that nobody would mess with. Although changing shape and form over many a now failed MK series, Raiden has always stood strong as the hero, the main shining beacon of hope in MK's otherwise grainy, dark and utterly hopeless world.
Master Chief
Oh, don't act surprised, he was hardly going to make it into the top three, was he? Saying that, Master Chief is the embodiment of the no-nonsense badass soldier, happily clubbing and smiting shrieking aliens to death with a squadron of entirely useless "buddies". The mystery of never knowing his real identity adds good quality to the character, but then again, dehumanizes him, really basically limiting your relationship you can have with a faceless super soldier. All we really know about him is that he's a superior super soldier with no face, and is amazing at killing. Just like Grandma. However, he's powerful, smart, experienced and a great fighter, Master Chief manages to club his faceless way into number 7.
Captain Price
The no-nonsense, Walrus moustached, British bravado embodiment of Captain Price is enough to make this guy awesome. Happily jogging around a raging battlefield in a stupid fishing hat and a gun that could just about take on a baby deer, Captain Price looks useless at first. And he is. Never really providing much support except for the occasional bark of orders and dragging your deaf and bleeding body to a "safer spot" (which always happens to be two or three feet directly up the road from where you first received your mortar blast to the face) Although essential to the story, Captain Price is makes it into our top 10 because of not only his attitude, but the way he finally leads Britain (somehow) to a victory in the Call of Duty series.
Naked Snake (Big Boss)
Yep, you guessed it, Big Boss himself, as a young man, slides in at a cool number 5. Whether disguising himself as a scientist or slinking through the undergrowth in some leafy pyjamas, Naked Snake is simply awesome. Father of Solid Snake and Liquid (and Solidus, technically). Taking down the elite Cobra unit, the saviours of World War II, is no easy task, yet Big Boss has it handled in the third instalment of Metal Gear Solid. Becoming the greatest warrior of the 20th century, there can be little argument that Big Boss isn't a bad ass. And if you disagree with me, I'll CQC your ass.
Mega Man
It's a man with a cannon for an arm. Little more can be said for awesomeness. Being a cool side scrolling little man, firing blue balls of seemingly white hot something out of your gaping arm cavity absolutely qualifies you for being a great hero, and no one could disagree. This versatile boy scout of the video gaming world was always ready for everything, and I think it's probably time to put the hero to rest.
