Watching a bad character turn good is something that everyone likes to watch, but I feel that watching a good character turn evil is even more powerful when done right. However, these things are raaaaaare. I'm not talking some kind of mind control/brainwash/genetic mutation, or something like Lex Luthor getting his hair burned off making him hate Superman forever. I'm talking an actual story arc, a long fall from grace as the splendors of evil lustily call him over. I have 2 examples: Arthas Anakin Skywalker (though this was done poorly, it counts). Two-Face I guess Wander kind of counts...
Anyone got any others they can think of? I'm just curious, since I feel it's done so rarely.
Man, the only one I can recall clearly is one you stated - Arthas.
There are three that I'm thinking of, but I'm not sure if they would qualify. I seriously doubt it, since they're each pretty much playing you from the start. Anyway, Lance Vance, Ryder, and Big Smoke. But like I said, I don't think they count.
The Arthas story line was one of the most awesome things blizzard has ever made, those campaigns for warcraft 3 were the shit, if WoW had focused on the story it would have been a whole different beast.
didn't the protagonist in that game become the bad guy, or a bad guy, in the second?
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I'm not sure if that counts, as he got possessed. Essentially his body got taken over, so it wasn't him that was evil. But the Diabo universe is full of good guys turning evil.
@armaan8014: That jackass never even played the game. I know someone who finished the game before Giant Bomb started the endurance run and she told me what happens.
i'm relieved as well. some punk did the same over sony's GDC livestream chat where everyone could read for the gow3 ending. hopefully what this guy said about DP is actually wrong.
Im always peeved that writers feel the need to redeem the good guy turned bad guy later. Why not just have a good guy go evil, and stay full on evil? Its so trite for them to have a second change of heart at the end. So boring.
But it's incorrect in many cases, as there are characters that were evil to begin with, just played the good guy to achieve some goal, like Al Mualim, in AC.
Also the case of illidan Stormrage and Jetch, was interesting. Neither of them were evil to begin with, though flawed.
But it's incorrect in many cases, as there are characters that were evil to begin with, just played the good guy to achieve some goal, like Al Mualim from AC. Also the case of illidan Stormrage and Jetch, was interesting. Neither of them were evil to begin with, though flawed. "
" Thanks for the spoilers, I really appreciate it. "
@LeetBalla said:
" @armaan8014: That jackass never even played the game. I know someone who finished the game before Giant Bomb started the endurance run and she told me what happens.
i'm relieved as well. some punk did the same over sony's GDC livestream chat where everyone could read for the gow3 ending. hopefully what this guy said about DP is actually wrong. "
Yeah I made it up on the spot. Just wanted to point out how regrettable viewing a thread like this could be.
That guy from Grandia 2? Forgot his name, the guy with the horn
@ryanwho said:
" Im always peeved that writers feel the need to redeem the good guy turned bad guy later. Why not just have a good guy go evil, and stay full on evil? Its so trite for them to have a second change of heart at the end. So boring. "
It happens in comic books more often. I'm sure the folks over at Comic Vine could list a lot of characters who went to the dark side for some reason. But, a few years later it turned out to be some sort of evil scheme after all. I remember Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) was evil for a while.
I'm not counting a lot of these because a lot of them are people who were bad from the start but acted like your friends, or had someone possess/brainwash them. I'm putting Sarah Kerrigan in that category, I don't think she counts.
Agent Smith, within his obtuse definition of the universe (given he was an arguably simplistic program to begin with). He first fashioned himself the hero and later acknowledged and succumbed to outright villainy.
I've heard it argued Harold Incandenza, though I still haven't finished Infinite Jest so I can't comment.
Sauron, though petty and jealous, wasn't always evil.
Darth Vader, of course.
If you play the character right, Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 2. Go interactive story telling in games.
Teth Adam/Black Adam (for you comics nerds). Champion of his people, regrettable anti hero, then outright mass murderer, all without ever really changing.
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