Do you have afavorite video game character, someone you connect with or simply enjoy playing as? Attaching yourself to a protagonist makes the experience more entertaining and memorable. However, there are characters who display little to no emotions throughout their games, yet still manage to captivate us.
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Admittedly, we all love the mysterious aura that stoic characters exude. It is a whole part of their charm, and makes you curious to learn more about their story and what’s hiding beneath their tough exterior. In light of this, we’ve rounded up the most iconic stoic characters in video games.
7Claude - Grand Theft Auto 3
Claude is the type of person that lets his actions do the talking. He never says a word throughout the game. Instead, he shows up and gets the job done, end of story. In an open world filled with criminal organizations, keeping your emotions and opinions to yourself is for the best.
For this reason, not much is known about Claude’s background and personality, leaving him with that silent and mysterious image. However, one thing we do know from playingGrand Theft Auto 3is that he is no doubt a reliable gunman for hire.
6Ryu Hayabusa - Ninja Gaiden
Traditionally, ninjas are known for being cool and calm individuals, and Ryu Hayabusa is no exception. He was born into the famous Hayabusa ninja clan and trained his entire life to follow their path. The rigorous training and dangerous lifestyle of being a ninja forced Ryu to bury his emotions and discipline himself to become the ultimate warrior. He may not express himself much, but the handful of times he does, he makes sure you remember.
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Using his expert ninja skills and the extremely powerful dragon sword he wields, there’s no stopping Ryu from protecting his loved ones and saving the world from evil forces threatening to take over. Do not underestimate him.
5Kazuma Kiryu - Yakuza
Kazuma Kiryu, also known as the Dragon of Dojima, has walked through a rough path from an early age, joining theYakuza, and later on being wrongfully imprisoned for the death of his former boss. Despite leading a criminal life, Kiryu remains a kind-hearted and friendly man who only resorts to violence when justified.
He may appear quiet and reserved, but he isn’t one to mess with, as his combat abilities are unmatched, making him one of the most feared individuals in the underworld. While he is known for his stoic nature, he does get emotional at times, especially when tragedy strikes a loved one. Showing that even gangsters are capable of having feelings.
4Geralt - The Witcher
There have been countless debates about whether Geralt has emotions or not. His calm, cold, and cynical demeanor explains why many people believe that witchers like Geralt are emotionless killing machines who only care about making money. However, in reality, Geralt is just naturally adept at controlling his emotions, as he was genetically mutated to be that way – It makes his job as a monster hunter a lot easier.
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Although people often disrespect him for being a witcher, many also fear him because of his superhuman abilities that allow him to take on monsters ten times his size. On the other hand, as tough and heartless as he seems, Geralt does have a soft spot, particularly for Ciri, his adoptive daughter, wherein he occasionally displays during his journey to rescue her inThe Witcher 3. This just proves that Geralt indeed has emotions, but only chooses when to express them.
3Solid Snake - Metal Gear
Solid Snakehas left a mark not only in theMetal Gearseries but also in video game history. He was born as a result of the government’s attempt to clone the greatest soldier ever known, genetically engineering his DNA to possess remarkable battle skills and intelligence. Sounds pretty cool right? Well, yes and no.
Solid Snake being raised and used as a war machine pretty much his entire life led him to become the infamous detached, soulless snake. Well, you’re able to’t really blame the guy. Just imagine finding out you are a genetic clone created solely to serve as a weapon, your perspective in life will certainly change then. Despite all the lies, betrayals, and messed up situations Solid Snake suffered through, his military exploits to save the world have turned him into the legendary soldier he is today.
2Cloud Strife - Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy 7’sbeloved socially awkward protagonist, Cloud Strife, has easily become a crowd favorite due to his superb looks, perfectly spiked hair, and oddly attractive standoffish personality. However, he secretly cares about his friends. And let’s not forget the incredibly large sword he wields that makes him look like the ultimate mercenary.
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While he sounds like the picture-perfect fantasy hero, Cloud actually has one of the most tragic backstories – from watching his hometown burn to the ground to being betrayed by the one person he looked up to and losing several loved ones along the way. This caused him to develop intense trauma that tampered with his true memories. Behind Cloud’s cool exterior is a lonely boy who lost his dreams, hoping to find his true self.
1Gordon Freeman - Half-Life
Gordon Freeman is thesilent protagonistof the popular first-person shooter game,Half-Life, and when we say silent, we mean it in the most literal sense. You will never hear him speak, giving you room to create Gordon’s personality based on your actions. His stolid characteristic will leave you wondering whether he agrees or disagrees with what you do. It is all up to your imagination. Although there is one thing you can’t change about him – his reputation for arriving late to work.
The scientific genius turned alien killer sets out on an adventure to restore balance by finding a way to close the rift between Earth and Xen, a super planet filled with hostile creatures. Let’s just hope Gordon’s iconic orange protective suit and crowbar are powerful enough to stop the alien invasion.
