Finishing anadventurewith your favorite video game protagonist is always abittersweet feeling, like you’re parting ways with a dear friend.You’ve been through so much together, and now it’s time to say goodbye and hello to a new adventure.
And that’s just how life is—until that old friend returns and you have to fight them.Unfortunately for you, you know just how strong they are because you’ve wiped out scores of foes with them. Now you’re on the receiving end, and they’re here to ruin your day.
13 Games Where Melee Combat Is Best
You might be out of ammo, but you’re never out of options.
Fighting a former protagonist always brings about mixed feelings.You’re happy to see them again but scared of what they’re about to do to you, along with a slight twinge of betrayal.
Spoiler Warning: There will be heavy spoilers because we’ll be discussing how these former protagonists fit into the narrative.
10Prototype 2
Mercer Completes His Villain Arc
Prototype 2
As ananti-heroand protagonist ofPrototype,Alex Mercer has gone through a lot, transforming into something more than humanever since the events of the first game. The late-2000s dark and edgy tone inPrototypewas everything to 11-year-old me.
And then comesPrototype 2, whereMercer fully embraces villainy and becomesresponsible for the new Blacklight virus outbreak, kickstartingHeller’s quest for vengeance against Mercer, who fights tooth and nail to rescue his daughter from Mercer’s clutches.
The level of progression is empowering throughout the game—you first encounter Mercer and struggle helplessly against an invincible foe, but by the end of the game you’re going toe-to-toe with Mercer himself in afinal fight that puts everything you’ve learned to the test in an epic boss battle.
Supposedly,Mercer turned full villain inPrototype 2because developer Radical Entertainment didn’t know how to proceedwith Mercer’s character arc after the events in the first game and make him start over, as he was way too powerful tobegin as the protagonist of a new game.
9Mega Man ZX Advent
Double Mega Merge!
Mega Man ZX Advent
A new game often means a new generation of protagonists, and the young and spunky protagonists ofMega Man ZX, Aile and Vent, return inMega Man ZX Adventas far more experienced Maverick hunters and crucial allies toAdventprotagonists Grey and Ashe. They grow up so fast.
But before they become allies and mentors, they’re encountered as boss fights, as they believe that you’re working for the bad guys.The former protagonist you face in Advent also depends on the character you’ve picked— Ashe fights Vent, and Grey fights Aile.
There’s a pretty dope Double Mega Merge transformation sequence that plays before the boss fight, too. The boss fight is surprisingly tough, as Aile and Vent are just as mobile as you and can even charge their attacks the same way you can.
Eventually,defeating the former protagonist gives you a copy of their Model ZX abilities, where you can use the Z-Saber and X’s Buster Shot to demolish your enemies. Model ZX is easily my favorite transformation inAdvent, and it plays just like it did in the previous game.
8A Way Out
The World Was Wide Enough
Hazelight is responsible for some of themost unique split-screen co-op gameslikeIt Takes TwoandSplit Fiction, which are masterclasses in co-op gameplay.
As games created by Hazelight, it’s safe to say that both owe their success toA Way Out,a more grounded predecessor that hasyou and your partner play as Leo and Vincent, two unlikely friends who attempt to break out of prison.
This is probably one of the only few games here where you can fight a former protagonist in the same game. In ashocking plot twist, Vincent reveals thathe has been an undercover FBI agent this whole time,triggering a chase scene that completely transforms the game from co-op to PvP.
In this high-octane chase, you and your (former) partner must compete against each other in a tragic clash between former friends.Whoever wins this section gets to decide the end of the story, as either Leo or Vincent must shoot the other for them to survive. At least in real life, you can make up afterwards.
7Dark Souls 3
Rekindle The First Flame Again
Dark Souls 3
Fextralife Wiki
The stories of all threeDark Soulsgames are told in a minimalist format and are treasure troves for lore enthusiasts.The First Flame is a bonfire responsible for keeping the world from falling into darkness,maintaining stability in a dying world.
To prevent the terrifying and unknown Age of Dark from descending upon the world, people calledLords of Cinder are chosen to link with the First Flame and sacrifice their souls to keep the flame burning,and inDark Souls 3, you, as the Ashen One, are tasked with keeping the status quo by finding all the Lords of Cinder to rekindle the flame.
Once you arrive at the Kiln of the First Flame, you face thefinal boss,the Soul of Cinder, an amalgamation of all the former Lords of Cinder. That includes the player character from the first Dark Souls game, who, depending on your choices, linked their soul to the First Flame to keep the fire going.
6Grand Theft Auto 5
Are You Heartless Enough To Betray Michael And Trevor?
Grand Theft Auto 5
InGrand Theft Auto 5,you play as Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. While all three are main characters, theactual main protagonistof GTA5 is undeniably Franklin, whose involvement has a significant impact on the outcome of the game’s endings.
By late game,the three have already gotten themselves tangled in a bloody mess involving organized crime, the feds, and a pissed-off billionaire.As the only somewhat neutral third-party, Franklin is propositioned by Agent Haines and billionaire Devin to kill Trevor and Michael, respectively.
11 Most Unhinged Video Game Characters
Crazy? I was crazy once, they locked me in a room, a rubber room…
It really isn’t a tough choice to make, because14-year-old me didn’t hesitate to pick the third option and go on a suicide mission to save both of them.I don’t think anybody has opted to kill Michael or Trevor unless it’s for an achievement or pure curiosity.
Besides, why would you want to face the pain of betraying a beloved character you once played? Just because the choices are there doesn’t mean you have to choose them. Both Michael and Trevor are flawed yet lovable characters, and it’s hard not to choose to save them.
5NieR: Automata
Final Show[D]own
NieR: Automata
NieR Automatatells a tragic,existential storyaboutthe never-ending cycle of violence and the unanswerable question of free will,and it will remain one of my favorite games of all time.
As the story unravels after Endings A and B, the third playthrough begins with the tragic loss of2B, as she is infected by the logic virus that warps her mind.
We’re also formally introduced to A2,a third playableYorHa androidwith a bit of a hot head and a foul mouth.A dying 2Basks A2 to take her place and mercy-kill her. In a tragic turn of events, 9S witnesses this and believes A2 murdered 2B, and goes mad from the grief and pain.
Fast-forward much later in the story, and things start to really unravel for our protagonists. Eventually,9S and A2 face off at the end of the third playthrough in a final, somber showdown.
Both were playable protagonists, and choosing either one unlocks a unique ending, though you need both to unlockEnding E, which is one of the most tearjerkingly bittersweet momentsin gaming that’ll make anybody bawl their eyes out.
4Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Hero Of Yokohama vs. Dragon Of Dojima
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Kasuga Ichiban’s infectious optimism and determination make him an instantly lovable protagonistinYakuza: Like A Dragon. It’s thanks to Ichiban that RGG Studios deviated from the tried-and-true beat ‘em up formula inthe franchisefor a much riskier turn-based JRPG style.
The best part about the interconnected stories of theLike A Dragonfranchise is that,no matter where you go, you’re bound to run into a former protagonistwho returns as an NPC orboss fight.
There are boss fights withreturning protagoniststhat make kick your ass just to prove a point, and then there’s Kiryu whose legendary status makes him not an obstacle to be overcome, but a force of nature to weather against.
TheMajima/Saejimafight had already given many players (including myself) a hard time, butfighting Kiryu himself was another level of terrifying,as the Dragon of Dojima is resistant to almost all types of damage and has a ton of health.
He’s one of the toughest bosses in the game, andIchiban’s overimaginative mind even sees Kiryu as an actual dragon.
3Devil May Cry 4
Family Feud: Sparda Edition
Devil May Cry 4
You know the Halo ODST meme that goes, “Objective: Survive”?Fighting Dantefeels exactly like that.
Surviving an overpowered former protagonist is a gaming trope that never gets old.While you fight Dante as Vergil inDMC5’s Special Edition, which isarguably the best gamein thefranchise,it’s technically not a canon fight. Instead, we’ll be taking a look atDMC4, where you play as Nero, a much younger, hotheaded newcomer.
At the beginning of the game, the story sets up Dante as an antagonist by having him burst into Nero’s church and kill indiscriminately, triggering a clash between the two.Imagine the shock and betrayal that people felt when they first saw their beloved Devil Hunter acting as the villain.
Sometimes, we forget how strong Dante is, because we’re so used to playing as him throughout the games, having a blast while styling on demons. That is, until he’s the enemy, and both boss fights in the game turn him into an absolute monster.
At this point in the timeline,Dante is at his peak as an experienced Devil Hunter and fighter.The power gap between him and Nero is so wide that we only get to win because Dante lets us.
2The Last Of Us Part 2
Look Her In The Eyes While You Kill Her
The Last of Us Part 2
People have grown to love Ellie and Joel since the events of the first game, and manyunderstandably hated Abbyfor killing a beloved protagonist in such a brutal fashion inThe Last of Us 2.
Except the story becomes more complicated than expected, because after a few chapters,the game switches to Abby’s perspective, who, in turn, hunts down Ellie for murdering her friends on her bloody crusade.I was once on the Abby hate train until I played the game in its entirety and saw the nuances of the conflict.
A tense, inevitable confrontation erupts into a boss fight, and for the first time,you get a taste of what it feels like to have an enemy like Ellie.
Oh, and how the tables have turned. Ellie’s stealthiness and the weapons that you’ve taken for granted are now used against you,as she can easily hunt you down and one-shot you.you’re able to really feel the sense of urgency in this savage boss fight as the two try desperately to kill each other, and trying to out-sneak Ellie is a lot harder than you’d think.
1Pokémon Gold And Silver
Better Than Ash
Pokemon Gold and Silver
Pokémongames have always been a staple for many gamers’ childhoods. No matter where you begin your journey to become a Champion, one of the most intense moments in any game is fighting an incredibly strong trainer with an equally powerful team.
Battling Red is probably one of the biggest shocks for many gamersduring their childhood while playingPokémon Gold and Silver,as fighting against a previous protagonist was still a fairly new concept in gaming.
Red is probably one of the most difficult characters to fight, andhis stoic and silent demeanor makes him a much more intimidating foe than CynthiainPokémon Diamond and Pearl. He has an incredibly diverse team, including his iconic Pikachu and all three Kanto starter Pokémon.
Combined with a remixed version of the exhilarating Champion theme, this is an unforgettable fight. I remember fighting his team for the first time inHeartGold and SoulSilver, even though I was a few levels higher thanks to hours upon hours of grinding, he didn’t go down without a fight.
You also get to fight him much, much later inPokémon Sun and Moon,where he’s all grown up and seems to have mellowed out quite a bit. Still, I don’t think Red inSun and Moonfeels as intimidating as fighting him for the first time inGold and Silver.
