Playing the bad guy in video games

[PanzerJaeger]

I've always been drawn to the 'bad guys' in fictional and historical media, whether it be film, literature, or video games. Tincow is right, though. Evil is too often one dimensional. Such characters are much more interesting when their motivations are complex and even relatable.

[TinCow]

I've always been drawn to the 'bad guys' in fictional and historical media, whether it be film, literature, or video games. Tincow is right, though. Evil is too often one dimensional. Such characters are much more interesting when their motivations are complex and even relatable.

Well-written evil characters can be seen in Baldur's Gate 2. In that game, there are several evil NPCs with fully fleshed out back stories and personas. Some are a bit superficial, but there are also characters like Edwin and Viconia. Edwin is evil in that he is entirely selfish, loves power, and thinks he's superior to pretty much everyone in the world. However, he's not a fool. He gets involved with major criminal organizations and gains power through manipulation and intellect. He uses his power to kill when necessary to achieve his goals, but he's not a murderer. Edwin's character also changes over the course of the game, when he has to begrudgingly admit that perhaps he's not superior to the PC, who turns into a demigod. Viconia is evil in that she does not value the lives of others and believes that many people deserve death, but she also doesn't murder for the sake of death alone. She has very strong reasons for acting the way she does, namely a great deal of experience with racism and abuse. Those characters were both extremely interesting and fun to play with. Why can't we have evil paths for main characters written like that?

[Craterus]

Agree with most of the comments about evil being too one-dimensional.

The other thing that has always bothered me is that most characters seem to be good guys by default. The best example that comes to mind is Red Dead Redemption. You could spend all your off-time killing civilians but, in the missions, John Marston always came off as pretty decent guy. So, even if you were to take the cartoonishly evil route while free-roaming, it always felt like a break from reality because you'd be back to helping farmers round up their lost cows by the next mission.

[Major Robert Dump]

I was really hoping for people to tell me I am Jesus returned. Guess not

[Beskar]

Being Evil =/= Being a complete immoral . Neither is coming up with the most plans saying one-liners like "Complete Global Saturation"

Sometimes in games like Mass Effect 3, the Renegade action "works" and is logical. But outside of that, I have never been "evil". Like some guy crying about the world is going to end and isn't going to save his family. Punch him in the face then family saved.

[Ironside]

Well-written evil characters can be seen in Baldur's Gate 2. In that game, there are several evil NPCs with fully fleshed out back stories and personas. Some are a bit superficial, but there are also characters like Edwin and Viconia. Edwin is evil in that he is entirely selfish, loves power, and thinks he's superior to pretty much everyone in the world. However, he's not a fool. He gets involved with major criminal organizations and gains power through manipulation and intellect. He uses his power to kill when necessary to achieve his goals, but he's not a murderer. Edwin's character also changes over the course of the game, when he has to begrudgingly admit that perhaps he's not superior to the PC, who turns into a demigod. Viconia is evil in that she does not value the lives of others and believes that many people deserve death, but she also doesn't murder for the sake of death alone. She has very strong reasons for acting the way she does, namely a great deal of experience with racism and abuse. Those characters were both extremely interesting and fun to play with. Why can't we have evil paths for main characters written like that?

Agreed, even if I belong to the "can't really play evil" camp normally. Not during my first playthrough. Maybe later, to play all versions and often when getting more gamey and less personal. Did enjoy Dungeon Keeper a long time ago though, so some evil works.

I would also find a game where being good is it's own reward would be interesting to play, in particulatr the tough version. Normally a more real life type of good and evil would be gratitude and hatred, with a few being able to repay in kind later on.

But the tough version would be that most NPC are "racist jerks" (as in activly downplaying your good actions because of some irrelevant reason). Now the interesting question is, can you keep up being good in such an environment, or will you stop caring or worse after a while?

[Fragony]

Being good could use some ambiguity as well. It would be cool if 'good' decisions have horrible consequences, you know it but you 'feed' on being good and are ultimately too selfish to do a little bit of evil for the greater good. These morality systems could never really satisfy me (haven't played Mass Effect). Kotor 2 tried I'll give them that.

[rajpoot]

Being good could use some ambiguity as well. It would be cool if 'good' decisions have horrible consequences, you know it but you 'feed' on being good and are ultimately too selfish to do a little bit of evil for the greater good. These morality systems could never really satisfy me (haven't played Mass Effect). Kotor 2 tried I'll give them that.

That's actually one my gripes with the morality system in games. It is predictable. Doing good always results in good outcomes. Never has it happened that doing something good came back and bit me in butt.

Then again I doubt that many people would be happy if they got nasty surprises where their well intended actions had unexpected outcomes.

[Beskar]

Then again I doubt that many people would be happy if they got nasty surprises where their well intended actions had unexpected outcomes.

I am sure I have played a game where that happens... but my memory is too fuzzy.

[Montmorency]

Jade Empire?