Even though you’re the hero of almost every game you play, you’re usually accompanied by at least one supporting character who’s helping you out, or in some cases, actively working against you. Sometimes, the supporting characters actually turn out to be be so interesting that you wonder what it would be like to play as them instead. These eight NPCs fit that bill, so let’s get them their own game.
Got a personal favorite that isn’t on the list? Tell us in the comments!
Victor Sullivan (Uncharted series)
Nathan Drake’s mentor is a really interesting character in his own right. He’s witty, kind of a hardass, and gets around awfully well for an old guy. Watching him in the three Uncharted games, you find yourself wondering just what his life was like before Drake came along. That’s the game I want to play. It would be Uncharted-like, only funnier and less serious. Touching on Sully’s life from when he was in the Navy all the way up to his first run-in with Drake, there would be a lot more straddling of the line between good and bad than in the Uncharted games. That would make a Sully spin-off a really good time indeed.
Revolver Ocelot (Metal Gear series)
He might be a bad guy, but Revolver Ocelot is one of the most intriguing characters in the Metal Gear series. He’s got an appealing personality, he’s both cunning and devious, and he’s developed throughout the series into a really complex character. He’s not just a psychopath; he’s a well-trained, driven antagonist. It would be very interesting to play a game focused on Ocelot, mostly because his background is so varied. It include time working at the NSA, the GRU, and the KGB, as well as the time he spent with Big Boss and other nefarious types. Exploring that history through a new game would definitely be a great way for Konami to continue the Metal Gear series without being bound to another game about Snake.
Alyx Vance (Half-Life 2)
Dr. Eli Vance’s daughter quickly goes from escort to major supporting character in Half-Life 2. She can hold her own in a gunfight, hack into most anything, and help Gordon find his way to just anout anywhere he needs to be. She’s an invaluable companion throughout Half-Life 2, and since she’s been working with the Resistance in City 17 since she was old enough to do so, her story has got to be an interesting one. A game with Alyx as the main character would not only focus on her story, but on her childhood and growing up around Dr. Vance and Dr. Kleiner. It would also seriously flesh out the Half-Life universe.
Kane (Command and Conquer series)
The shadowy power behind the Brotherhood of Nod, Kane seems to be all but indestructible. He seems to never age, and the storyline of the Command and Conquer series says that both the Brotherhood of Nod and Kane are thousands of years old. As the Brotherhood has gone through each of its iterations, Kane has been a constant. A game focused on Kane would tell the story of the formation of the Brotherhood, as well as the origin and background of the man himself. It would also explore the Brotherhood’s ability to return from seeming destruction on a regular basis. Heck, it could even just be a new spinoff from the Command and Conquer series. I’d take it.
Dr Harleen “Harley Quinn” Quinzel (Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City)
Appearing in the Arkham games as a sidekick for the Joker and a nemesis for Batman, Harley Quinn shows her potential as a character. She’s the one who takes control of Arkham Asylum, and she’s the one who sets the Joker free. Originally the psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, Quinn falls for the Joker and becomes his sidekick. Imagine a Harley Quinn game that required you to manage Quinn’s sanity, or have her go increasingly uncontrollable rampages, often fueled by the Joker himself.
Princess Zelda (The Legend of Zelda series)
It’s about time that Zelda was more than a damsel in distress. After all, despite the series bearing her name, it’s mostly the story of Link saving Hyrule. Zelda’s been relegated to the role either a support character, or an objective for Link’s quest. Hyrule Warriors is a great place to draw inspiration for a badass Zelda, as she uses her rapier and light arrows to great effect. Let’s have a game about Hyrule in jeopardy where Zelda just says, “Screw it, I got this,” and proceeds to kick some ass.
HK-47 (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)
A droid as a main character? Am I crazy? Absolutely not! HK-47 is one of the best characters to ever appear in a Bioware game. There are plenty of comic relief characters in Bioware’s history, but none are quite so mean-spirited and yet amusing as HK-47. He was built by Revan, who used the droid to kill people that he thought weakened the galaxy. Think of the potential HK-47 game as an intentionally hilarious Hitman, where you play as the titular droid assassin.
Garrus Vakarian (Mass Effect series)
Garrus is probably one of the most popular sidekicks in video game history. The Turian starts out as a member of Citadel Security, but his desire to change the world leads him to join Shepard’s crew. Later we learn that Garrus was one of many selected for a chance to become a Spectre, but his father blocked his candidacy. In fact, we know relatively little about Garrus’ past prior to joining C-Sec, leaving very fertile ground for a new game to explore. Garrus’ popularity and his relatively untold story would make for a very entertaining Mass Effect spinoff.
