Character Development. [UPDATED]

Gino

While Playing Hotel Dusk I was struck by how excellent the character development is. Each character has it's own personality and Idiosyncrasies. Each is developed over time and eventually you grow to love each of them for different reasons.

I'm wondering what other games people have played where this stands out to you.

NOTE: I've changed the thread title and first post due to poor wording originally.

Esh

LCDXX

Who's the hottie in the black coat?

Esh

LCDXX wrote:

Who's the hottie in the black coat?

April Fucking Ryan. Ala The Longest Journey and Dreamfall.

Gino

Esh wrote:

LCDXX wrote:

Who's the hottie in the black coat?

April Fucking Ryan. Ala The Longest Journey and Dreamfall.

Never played it, but have wanted to. It's an adventure game correct? Did you play Dusk?

Meiz

SSJGoku bazillion.

Seriously, this is a terrible idea for a thread.

NickTheNewbie

Kyle Fucking Hyde wrote:

I'm still looking for anything that will lead me to bradley but...


...nothing's stopping me from taking out the trash along the way

Indie Winter

Esh wrote:

LCDXX wrote:

Who's the hottie in the black coat?

April Fucking Ryan. Ala The Longest Journey and Dreamfall.

FUCK DREAMFALL

WHERE'S THE OTHER HALF OF MY GAME FUNCOM

WHERE'S THE GODDAMN POINT AND CLICK INTERFACE

WHY IS THERE A CRAPPY BROKEN FIGHTING SYSTEM IN AN ADVENTURE GAME

WHERE IS MY CHILDHOOD, YOU HEARTLESS BASTARDS




TLJ was awesome though.

Indie Winter

Also

Gino

Meiz wrote:

SSJGoku bazillion.

Seriously, this is a terrible idea for a thread.

Maybe if people came in to discuss character development in games instead of derailing it.

Renzo

Gino wrote:

I have a thinly veiled agenda. Here is my holy grail of characters. Do you want to try and challenge my opinion?

At least try to hide what you're really after.

on-topic: I just bought TLJ and Dreamfall. Woo. I'm glad people like the characters. Here's hoping it's good.

Indie Winter

Renzo wrote:

Gino wrote:

I have a thinly veiled agenda. Here is my holy grail of characters. Do you want to try and challenge my opinion?

At least try to hide what you're really after.

on-topic: I just bought TLJ and Dreamfall. Woo. I'm glad people like the characters. Here's hoping it's good.

ok, listen to me now. I'm serious. This isn't just fanboy rave, I'm telling you this one person to another. Do not play Dreamfall. It'll set you up wonderfully only to stab you in the back with its razorblades covered penis later. Trust me on this.

bruin

KOTOR had great characters. Especially...



and

Gino

Renzo wrote:

Gino wrote:

I have a thinly veiled agenda. Here is my holy grail of characters. Do you want to try and challenge my opinion?

At least try to hide what you're really after.

on-topic: I just bought TLJ and Dreamfall. Woo. I'm glad people like the characters. Here's hoping it's good.

Actually I just wanted to talk about Character development in games. Hotel dusk is just the game that stands out to me. I probably wrote the first post poorly, which is causing all of this.

Renzo

Gino wrote:

Renzo wrote:

Gino wrote:

I have a thinly veiled agenda. Here is my holy grail of characters. Do you want to try and challenge my opinion?

At least try to hide what you're really after.

on-topic: I just bought TLJ and Dreamfall. Woo. I'm glad people like the characters. Here's hoping it's good.

Actually I just wanted to talk about Character development in games. Hotel dusk is just the game that stands out to me. I probably wrote the first post poorly, which is causing all of this.

My criticism was harsh and poorly-worded, but yeah, that's what I was getting at. I am interested in this sort of thing, but starting off the topic and naming the title like that aren't the greatest ways to spark discussion.

Cokomon

Isn't this just a poll thread?

cj iwakura

(Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne's Yuko Takao)

I thought she was awesome just upon seeing her artwork, but she's still a plenty interesting character beyond that.

Takes a while to unravel the mysteries, though.

[spoiler:4bc86d3459]She's also the only Reasonist whose path makes any moral sense. Well, aside from the whole Aradia lunacy.[/spoiler:4bc86d3459]

Renzo

I.H.N.I.W.T.R. wrote:

Renzo wrote:

Gino wrote:

I have a thinly veiled agenda. Here is my holy grail of characters. Do you want to try and challenge my opinion?

At least try to hide what you're really after.

on-topic: I just bought TLJ and Dreamfall. Woo. I'm glad people like the characters. Here's hoping it's good.

ok, listen to me now. I'm serious. This isn't just fanboy rave, I'm telling you this one person to another. Do not play Dreamfall. It'll set you up wonderfully only to stab you in the back with its razorblades covered penis later. Trust me on this.

That seals it then. I'm definitely playing it. With few exceptions, I take most recommendations from this board in the opposite direction. If people like it, I generally don't; if people dislike it, I often do. It's something I've gotten used to.

Plus, I had already made up my mind.

Gino

Well I've changed the thread title and first post Hopefully this will heal this thread before it is completely dead.

Lunker

Gino wrote:

While Playing Hotel Dusk I was struck by how excellent the character development is. Each character has it's own personality and Idiosyncrasies. Each is developed over time and eventually you grow to love each of them for different reasons.

I'm wondering what other games people have played where this stands out to you.

NOTE: I've changed the thread title and first post due to poor wording originally.

Honestly, while I loved Hotel Dusk, I don't think I'd consider Kyle as a good example of strong character development. He's pretty much a by-the-books, hard-boiled ex-cop. A pretty static character -- a very cool and likable one (at least from a gamer's perspective), but there's little sense of development there.

ChopperDave

Maybe this is just because I just beat Zelda: TP, but:



Best helper character ever. The first time I died as a wolf and she just shook her head in disgust, I thought, "Awesome". Also, one of her various gibberish sounds when you talk to her is a petulant "I'm bored!", which is equally hilarious.

Gino

ChopperDave wrote:

Maybe this is just because I just beat Zelda: TP, but:



Best helper character ever. The first time I died as a wolf and she just shook her head in disgust, I thought, "Awesome". Also, one of her various gibberish sounds when you talk to her is a petulant "I'm bored!", which is equally hilarious.

You know I forgot about Midna. She really was quite excellent, and she defiantly developed as you played the game.

GSM

Anachronox. Because the cast is crazy/random, but they manage to tug at your heartstrings none-the-less.

[spoiler:f090a9936b]Paco rescuing the little girl from the military base.
Fatima upset that the man she loved still doesn't love her after her death, but keeps her around as a digital assistant.
And it goes on and on...[/spoiler:f090a9936b]

Renzo

Yeah, Midna surprised me. I ended up liking her character quite a bit.

bruin

Lunker wrote:

Gino wrote:

While Playing Hotel Dusk I was struck by how excellent the character development is. Each character has it's own personality and Idiosyncrasies. Each is developed over time and eventually you grow to love each of them for different reasons.

I'm wondering what other games people have played where this stands out to you.

NOTE: I've changed the thread title and first post due to poor wording originally.

Honestly, while I loved Hotel Dusk, I don't think I'd consider Kyle as a good example of strong character development. He's pretty much a by-the-books, hard-boiled ex-cop. A pretty static character -- a very cool and likable one (at least from a gamer's perspective), but there's little sense of development there.

[spoiler:39e24218f3]He does get softer as the game goes on. Hell, he even says so himself during the Christmas party scene. He's clearly a different person after that night is over.[/spoiler:39e24218f3]

Renzo

I try to play through Max Payne 2 once a year or so, if only for the back-and-forth chemistry between Max and Mona. Seeing them develop in conflict with each other is excellent stuff.

I play it for other reasons too, but the story and characters are the main reason.

AAAAAARGGGHHHH

GSM wrote:

Anachronox. Because the cast is crazy/random, but they manage to tug at your heartstrings none-the-less.

[spoiler:b7a6aa3802]Paco rescuing the little girl from the military base.
Fatima upset that the man she loved still doesn't love her after her death, but keeps her around as a digital assistant.
And it goes on and on...[/spoiler:b7a6aa3802]

Hell yeah, Anachronox doesn't get enough love. If you get past the clunky Final Fantasy clone exterior, their is a shiny, beautiful core of excellent character development and storytelling.

That scene with [spoiler:b7a6aa3802]Paco[/spoiler:b7a6aa3802] is incredibly touching and the "drifting in space" scene has got to be the funniest thing I've ever seen in a game.

flamebroiledchicken

Alyx Vance- Half Life 2/ HL2 Episode 1

Especially Episode 1.

LockeCole

AAAAAARGGGHHHH wrote:

GSM wrote:

Anachronox. Because the cast is crazy/random, but they manage to tug at your heartstrings none-the-less.

[spoiler:bb3d536fca]Paco rescuing the little girl from the military base.
Fatima upset that the man she loved still doesn't love her after her death, but keeps her around as a digital assistant.
And it goes on and on...[/spoiler:bb3d536fca]

Hell yeah, Anachronox doesn't get enough love. If you get past the clunky Final Fantasy clone exterior, their is a shiny, beautiful core of excellent character development and storytelling.

That scene with [spoiler:bb3d536fca]Paco[/spoiler:bb3d536fca] is incredibly touching and the "drifting in space" scene has got to be the funniest thing I've ever seen in a game.

Oh hell yeah, Anachronox has some awesome character development (and humor). Also visiting the red light district for the first time has a pretty funny cutsences too. Pity the combat sucked.

Pajama_Man

Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven



Tommy, Sam, Paulie, Frank and Don Saliari, etc.

Mafia in my opinion is one of the most under praised games of recent. It's story, narative and voice acting is among if not the best I have ever played.

It made me cry...

PS: If your planning on playing this, please, please get the PC version.

Silpheed

AAAAAARGGGHHHH wrote:

GSM wrote:

Anachronox. Because the cast is crazy/random, but they manage to tug at your heartstrings none-the-less.

[spoiler:33e7ee5668]Paco rescuing the little girl from the military base.
Fatima upset that the man she loved still doesn't love her after her death, but keeps her around as a digital assistant.
And it goes on and on...[/spoiler:33e7ee5668]

Hell yeah, Anachronox doesn't get enough love. If you get past the clunky Final Fantasy clone exterior, their is a shiny, beautiful core of excellent character development and storytelling.

That scene with [spoiler:33e7ee5668]Paco[/spoiler:33e7ee5668] is incredibly touching and the "drifting in space" scene has got to be the funniest thing I've ever seen in a game.

Eat it! EAT IT!!!

Blackjack

LockeCole

Silpheed wrote:

AAAAAARGGGHHHH wrote:

GSM wrote:

Anachronox. Because the cast is crazy/random, but they manage to tug at your heartstrings none-the-less.

[spoiler:91d82095d2]Paco rescuing the little girl from the military base.
Fatima upset that the man she loved still doesn't love her after her death, but keeps her around as a digital assistant.
And it goes on and on...[/spoiler:91d82095d2]

Hell yeah, Anachronox doesn't get enough love. If you get past the clunky Final Fantasy clone exterior, their is a shiny, beautiful core of excellent character development and storytelling.

That scene with [spoiler:91d82095d2]Paco[/spoiler:91d82095d2] is incredibly touching and the "drifting in space" scene has got to be the funniest thing I've ever seen in a game.

Eat it! EAT IT!!!

Sums up pretty much the whole game.

Steel Angel

I can't believe I'm the first to mention this.

Coming across your exploits in the past, especially evil you, was often chilling. Especially when you remembered how you treated some of your companions like shit. The memory of hammering Morte repeatedly against a table for not living up to your expectations while he was calmly talking to you in the present almost brought me to tears.

Cowbomb

Xagarath

LockeCole wrote:

AAAAAARGGGHHHH wrote:

GSM wrote:

Anachronox. Because the cast is crazy/random, but they manage to tug at your heartstrings none-the-less.

[spoiler:1a640e12e7]Paco rescuing the little girl from the military base.
Fatima upset that the man she loved still doesn't love her after her death, but keeps her around as a digital assistant.
And it goes on and on...[/spoiler:1a640e12e7]

Hell yeah, Anachronox doesn't get enough love. If you get past the clunky Final Fantasy clone exterior, their is a shiny, beautiful core of excellent character development and storytelling.

That scene with [spoiler:1a640e12e7]Paco[/spoiler:1a640e12e7] is incredibly touching and the "drifting in space" scene has got to be the funniest thing I've ever seen in a game.

Oh hell yeah, Anachronox has some awesome character development (and humor). Also visiting the red light district for the first time has a pretty funny cutsences too. Pity the combat sucked.

Good thing it was combat-light, really.

Anyways, seconded on Planescape: Torment.
Thread, however, lacks Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, which still boasts some of the finest NPC interaction anywhere, ever.

Shadow Hearts ain't a bad example, either.

Lindsay Lohan

I know alot of people weren't crazy about it, but I really liked the character development in Trace Memory. I played through it in like 2 days just because I really wanted to know the truth of what was happening. It was an extremely interesting storyline, but the characters really made the game complete.

Steel Angel

Xagarath wrote:

Anyways, seconded on Planescape: Torment.
Thread, however, lacks Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, which still boasts Jon Irenicus

Fixed.

While Minsc and the other followers you could get were great, Irenicus steals the show as one of the best villains in a game and almost certainly the best voice acting for a villain in a game.

He made things personal by kidnapping your friend and ripping out a part of your soul. And then he taunts you in your dreams. It's not enough for him to screw with you, he gets inside of your head!

Zephos

Phoenix wright had good, memorable characters, but no character development really.

they were all pretty transparent, and any arc they did follow was pretty archetypal. Most of them you could tell what they were like judging just by appearance.

Blitz Rawket

Final Fantasy VI.

And it's probably the only example of the series that I would say this for.

Tingle

Mortal Kombat characters always have nice backstory and development.

Seriously.