What makes a gaming character iconic?

[AznKhmerBoi]

anybody got anything to say about Ryo from Shenmue?

Hes pretty iconic for having lame voiceover and some of the cheesiest line in video game history.

For me i think hes iconic because the game was great back in its time.
He seems very matured and a ladies man. Everyone in Town knew his name and his gf Nazomi is hott!.

He have a good height, cool jacket, and bad ass hair style like Yakuza Kiri.

[GSZX1337]

What make some of gamings biggest icons so memorable?

The game they were in.

That's probably the simplest way of saying it. These characters are considered iconic because their games changed the way we think of video games. Half-Life had a unique way of presenting the story. Super Mario Bros. perfected the platformer. Does it make sense? Not really, but that's how it happened.

You hardly even saw Gordon Freeman, and people love the guy.

Gordon Freeman is an interesting case as you learn about him from the other characters. You never hear Gordon say he got his education from MIT, you hear about it from one of Barney's jokes.

Characters like Jade, Kratos, or Solid Snake have some personality

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Gamerforlife]

I'm thinking that the criteria for being "iconic" in a game might be different than for movies, music, or other media. The areas of style and distinct physical attributes still apply, but I think in games it is important that the character controls "fit like a glove" when you play them. In some cases, like Samus Aran, the icon is even arguably ruined by imposing a personality on a character that was once silent, as was done in Metroid: Other M. I've really felt a strong connection with characters like Samus Aran or Wander from Shadow of the Colossus because I was on this lonely quest with them/as them. It was better that they didn't say anything.

Gordon Freeman was a little strange though. I could never figure out why other characters in the game were always so excited to see him.

The problem with Gordon for me is that I couldn't understand how no one found it odd that this person never answers anything that they say. In real life, you would be weirded out by that or you would think that this person is ignoring you cause they don't like you or that they are just being a dick. It would be fine if the Half Life games didn't take themselves seriously and so this wouldn't seem weird....but they DID take themselves seriously

I understand the appeal of blank slate characters for people who wish to immerse themselves in a game, but people in Half Life 2 were having actual conversations with my character......who was basically just ignoring them. This became most grating to me when they starting created a romance between Gordon and Alex. Imagine a rom com where the male never speaks a word throughout the movie

Actually, now that I think about it I bet a lot of women would consider him the perfect guy

"He just smiles and nods and agrees with me on everything!"

[Breetai]

What makes a gaming character iconic?

GUNS

[BRIK]

The simpler the better.
Example: Primary colours.
Characters like Mario and Pac Man; Mario is just plain red and blue and Pac Man is just simply yellow. Most of the reason for this is based on when they were made as thats all that could be done, but since they're so simple it made them really memorable.

[AznKhmerBoi]

then how you explain the success of Belmont from castlvania...or kid icarus.


I think NES characters were successful because they were the first of kind that had great gameplay.

The simpler the better.
Example: Primary colours.
Characters like Mario and Pac Man; Mario is just plain red and blue and Pac Man is just simply yellow. Most of the reason for this is based on when they were made as thats all that could be done, but since they're so simple it made them really memorable.

[the7k]

Blank slates are only iconic when done right. An interesting personality can make a character just as iconic. Just look at SNK. Their most iconic characters (Terry Bogard, Iori Yagami, Yuri Sakazaki) are anything BUT blank slates. They have very well defined personalities.

And keep in mind that in some areas of Central and South America, Terry Bogard is more well known than Mario. (From what I've heard, anyway. I definitely know that Hispanics love King of Fighters from my time working at GameStop.) This has a lot to do with the affordability of Neo Geo arcades in those parts, though.

[Bradtemple87]

The tough adventure a character endures makes them memorable to me. Nobody in my mind fits this better than

MEGA MAN

[BRIK]

then how you explain the success of Belmont from castlvania...or kid icarus.


I think NES characters were successful because they were the first of kind that had great gameplay.

The simpler the better.
Example: Primary colours.
Characters like Mario and Pac Man; Mario is just plain red and blue and Pac Man is just simply yellow. Most of the reason for this is based on when they were made as thats all that could be done, but since they're so simple it made them really memorable.

I think my theory might just be a small part of what makes a character iconic. There isn't just one deciding factor.

[ilovesega]

Yep, blank slates, bright colors and that their world seems to rotate around them. Mastercheif, Mario, Sonic.. well hes got some personality but still he has 1000+ friends that all admire him. I think we get fooled into loving the character sometimes cause everyone ingame does as well. Works for just about every JRPG that way.