Pac-Man may be the first iconic video game character that came out of the 80s. There were other icons before, but Pac-Man changed gaming forever. From there, video games kept making mascots for a while to tie their brands to, as that’s just how gaming worked in the 80s and early 90s. As the industry evolved, mascots became more well-rounded characters with epic stories attached to them.
These characters became more than icons thanks to their adventures. If they stood in reality, it would be hard to bask in their glow due to their accomplishments. These characters aren’t necessarily THE best characters ever written, but they are some of the most legendary video game characters that everyone knows and who have been through the ringer more than once. Whether they speak or not doesn’t matter, as actions speak louder than words.
Cloud Strife
Amnesia Can’t Hold Him Back
Of all the Final Fantasy characters out there, Cloud best represents the franchise. Cloud is the main character from Final Fantasy 7, who was part of a legendary soldier group within the Shinra organization, aptly called SOLDIER. He left due to moral differences and became an eco-terrorist within the AVALANCHE organization to help save the planet.
With his spiked blonde hair, nonchalant attitude, and giant sword, Cloud is an iconic hero who is flawed yet has extensive experience in the field. He also has a kind souls, even if its buried deep beneath his angst. These traits are only the tip of the RPG iceberg.
Kratos
Killer Of Gods
Kratos became a top soldier for the Greek gods in the God of War series. However, as they often do in fables, Kratos was betrayed by the gods and tricked into killing his own wife and daughter. He was then cursed to wear their ashes as a sort of badge to remember what he was fighting for: revenge.
Through each God of War entry, Kratos was unrelenting in his savagery against the gods, leaving no stone unturned until he reached godhood himself and used it to eliminate the pantheon of Olympus. Who could possibly be more legendary than a god killer?
Master Chief
Finisher Of Fights
Master Chief was part of the Spartan program in the Halo series. Spartans are super soldiers, raised from childhood to be the best of the best with rigorous training, enhancement drugs, and powerful armor.
Unfortunately, after the fall of Reach, a planet besieged by the Covenant of aliens, Master Chief became the sole surviving Spartan and thus became the one true hope for humanity in the war against the Covenant. Battle after battle, it always seemed like Master Chief was done for, but he kept getting up to finish the fight.
Link
A Silent Hero
The Legend of Zelda
Link is typically the main hero in The Legend of Zelda games. There are some games with continuity between sequels. Link is the same character in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for example. But essentially, most Links in the Zelda games are different versions of the character.
They look and behave similarly; they’re all brave heroes who rarely speak beyond muttering. Armed with various tools and the Master Sword, Link is always ready to put evil back in its place, and even though he can’t talk, his actions speak louder than words.
Mario
From Plumbing To Galaxy Running
Mario is easily the most recognizable video game character of all time, debuting before, but becoming popular in 1985 with Super Mario Bros. He is essentially Nintendo’s mascot and breadwinner, and has served as a hero in dozens of titles, not counting the various RPG and sports spinoffs.
Along with his brother Luigi and sometimes other friends, Mario is constantly tasked with going after his rival, Bowser, who either kidnaps Princess Peach or finds some artifact to make him a powerful villain. Even though Mario is technically just a plumber, he is not one to back down from an adventure.
Sonic The Hedgehog
Gotta Go Fast
Sonic is like Mario’s counterpart, the mascot of Sega who debuted in Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991. Sonic has more recognizable abilities than Mario, as his schtick is super speed, and he doesn’t need a mushroom or other power enhancement to make his feet lightning fast.
Typically, Sonic has to stop Dr. Robotnik from kidnapping animals and turning them into mechanized villains, but that story can change between games. Sonic’s demeanor can also change between iterations, including in cartoons and movies, but he always shows a kind spirit towards his friends, and his sense of justice is unmatched.
Samus Aran
A Galaxy-Wide Bounty Hunter
Samus is another hero of few words who also sports a fancy set of armor like Master Chief. Unlike Master Chief, though, Samus is a bounty hunter who goes after aliens who are essentially space pirates. Most Metroid entries find Samus alone in one location, alone, traversing through ancient ruins looking for her bounties.
Even though she is flying solo on cold, distant planets, Samus is dedicated to her mission to stop the galaxy’s worst from wreaking havoc. It has become a trope between sequels that Samus always gets powered down from her last adventure, but she still marches on in a weakened state. That’s just how cool she is.
Big Boss
The Legendary Soldier
Big Boss is called the “Legendary Soldier,” among other names, in the Metal Gear series. He first came to prominence after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, where he went from Naked Snake to Big Boss, earning the title because of the harrowing events he survived. While he works with the American government on several more missions, eventually Big Boss starts a mercenary group as a haven for all soldiers to gather in one place, called Outer Heaven.
His legacy was carried on by his cloned sons, each thought to be his successor, but Solid Snake is the one who became the dominant hero to rival his father, Big Boss. Like the Metal Gear series in general, it’s a long story, but Big Boss has certainly seen it all.
Leon S. Kennedy
From Rookie Beginnings
Leon is not the longest-serving hero in the Resident Evil franchise, as he first became a protagonist in Resident Evil 2. He was just a rookie cop then, who was transferred to a new department when a zombie outbreak occurred in Raccoon City. Along with Claire Redfield, Leon survives and saves as many people as he can.
His career jumps ahead in Resident Evil 4, where he becomes a special agent. RE4 is the most legendary entry in the franchise, which in turn helped Leon become the franchise’s most legendary protagonist. From fighting zombies to tentacled villagers, Leon has done it all and survived every time.
Lara Croft
The Tomb Raider
Lara Croft became an icon during the PS1 era as an icon for female protagonists everywhere. Even though Samus preceded her, Lara had a more “in your face” attitude that was charming and cheeky all at once. Like the name of her Tomb Raider series hints at, Lara is an archaeologist/adventurer who goes on daring Indiana Jones-like adventures to find precious artifacts.
Armed with various tools and her iconic dual pistols, Lara has struggled through ancient tombs and fallen cities on her own. While the character has been rebooted several times, one thing remains true: Lara is an agile performer who should not be underestimated.
