In this day and age having a game console is just as commonplace as having a television. There is no denying that video games are a staple in our society and not just a pop culture glitch. From Atari, to Sega, to the gaming giant Nintendo, these are the top ten video game characters of all time. Please note that these selections were made by brand value and recognition, not necessarily by personal affinities.
The top ten video game characters in no particular order are as follows:
Mario and Luigi: Nintendo’s marketing gurus have made these characters as identifiable as a cousin or maybe even a great aunt. Mario and Luigi have evolved throughout the past few decades going from 8 bit to 3D rendering and have yet to be forgotten. From Super Mario, to Mario Kart for the Wii Mario and Luigi are video game legends.
Link: This almost angelic elfin character is known from the “Legend of Zelda” franchise. Link has been rendered in different age ranges based upon the game’s needs and has been a good sport about it all. In addition to the Legend of Zelda appearances, Link has also starred in comic books and cartoons. Link was immortalized in video game history on the Walk of Game in 2005 alongside other video game characters worthy of icon status.
Pac Man: Originally named “Puck Man” prior to his unveiling in the United States, Pac Man is legendary. Although he resembles a pie with a slice missing everyone knows just who Pac Man is. He is just as recognizable as the Statue of Liberty or the American Flag. In fact, video game developers are in the process of reworking the classic Atari game as we speak.
Sonic the Hedgehog: The only appearance on the top ten video game character list by a Sega Genesis star is Sonic the Hedgehog. In the tradition of games like Super Mario, Sonic was skillfully rendered but unlike the Nintendo blockbuster franchise, STH always fell flat. Sonic is proof that a company’s success cannot be measured by cuteness alone, though he has had success on the Playstation platform.
Donkey Kong: The classic game featuring a raged gorilla throwing barrels was Nintendo’s first baby. It was the original DK game that first introduced us to Mario.
Lara Croft: This buxom gal is synonymous with video game history. Her very presence garners the attention of male gamers the world over.
Mega Man: Also known as”Rockman” in Japan, this video game character has been through 4 consoles and approximately 30 games.
Kirby: This cute Nintendo video game character has almost 20 games under his belt since 1992.
Cloud Strife: While not as cute and cuddly as his peers, this video game character is from the infamous Final Fantasy franchise.
Master Chief: By far the most recognizable of recent console video game characters is Master Chief of the Halo series. Halo is the highest selling franchise for the Xbox to date.
These video game characters embody brand value, recognition, and capture our attention on a day to day basis. They have seen their ups and downs and have been rendered time and time again all in hopes of keeping our attention. These are the most iconic of video game characters throughout the history of gaming.
I’d have loved to see Tommy Vercetti here, from GTA Vice City. Oh, the gangster mesmerised me, all the way.
Comment by SooRAJ — March 23, 2009 @ 11:26 am