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So what does make a game character so memorable? There are hundreds of games characters who are easily forgotten about, yet then we have the famous ones like Mario, Solid Snake and Sonic at the forefront of our memories. Why is this?
Firstly, in my view, a memorable character normally has a trait which he/she/it takes to the extreme. We all remember Sonic for his demon speed, profanity for Conker and damn right stupidity for Crash Bandicoot. Its these traits which stick out in peoples minds.
I think that Solid Snake and Kain are remembered for different reasons. They both have a certain “bad guy” feel to them, which certainly surpasses any other wannabe bad guys in games. Especially Snake. You know he’s cool, you know he’s tough, you know he’s ruthless and you know what athletic capabilities he possesses. So I think for these two characters it’s not just a single stand-out quality, it’s a combination of at least three.
However I think it’s a completely different tale in the case of Nintendo’s pin-up Mario. It’s the fun of the game for him which makes him so memorable. Super Mario Bros was a great success in the arcades, and since then the Mario series fans have enjoyed every splash, jump and splat that have come there way in some form. Mario has just been expanding on that winning formula, and has something which other gaming icons would kill for. A winning history. The same can be applied for sonic the Hedgehog really. Years after breaking out on the mega-drive he’s gone from strength to strength and now is as popular as ever with gaming fans.
Such character success is rare these days. There are so many “One hit wonders” nowadays, such as the Red Ace from Tekken Tag Tournament. That’s twigged your memory hasn’t it? After his 15 minutes of fame, where did he go? What was missing? Simple, the winning formula.
The key aspect which makes a character so unforgettable is there models, and small features. Most of the notable game charactors have a distinctive look about them. Here are just three examples:
Mario: Who’s going to forget a character that looks more suited to plumbing than eating mushrooms and jumping on turtles? The distinctive Italian accent and the famous moustache make him so hard to forget.
Solid Snake: Who’s going to forget a tough guy character with a seventies looking mullet? Or how about his voice acting?
Kain: Being the bad guy and his sheer ugliness made him famous.
These are just three examples of how dependant games characters are on looks and models to become popular. But is that what the creators set out to do when they first place a new character into a game? I think not. We all have our personal favourites, and im sure in the future we’ll have another *new* Mario.
I think that another reason behind the success of Solid Snake and such like is simply just because of the quality of the game itself. All the examples of popular characters have come out of big money games like Metal Gear solid and the Sonic series.
Most importantly, what do *you* think? Do you have a personal favourite for a particular reason? Is it a combination of reasons? Or for no reason at all?
Cheers for reading,
Quinty
Firstly, in my view, a memorable character normally has a trait which he/she/it takes to the extreme. We all remember Sonic for his demon speed, profanity for Conker and damn right stupidity for Crash Bandicoot. Its these traits which stick out in peoples minds.
I think that Solid Snake and Kain are remembered for different reasons. They both have a certain “bad guy” feel to them, which certainly surpasses any other wannabe bad guys in games. Especially Snake. You know he’s cool, you know he’s tough, you know he’s ruthless and you know what athletic capabilities he possesses. So I think for these two characters it’s not just a single stand-out quality, it’s a combination of at least three.
However I think it’s a completely different tale in the case of Nintendo’s pin-up Mario. It’s the fun of the game for him which makes him so memorable. Super Mario Bros was a great success in the arcades, and since then the Mario series fans have enjoyed every splash, jump and splat that have come there way in some form. Mario has just been expanding on that winning formula, and has something which other gaming icons would kill for. A winning history. The same can be applied for sonic the Hedgehog really. Years after breaking out on the mega-drive he’s gone from strength to strength and now is as popular as ever with gaming fans.
Such character success is rare these days. There are so many “One hit wonders” nowadays, such as the Red Ace from Tekken Tag Tournament. That’s twigged your memory hasn’t it? After his 15 minutes of fame, where did he go? What was missing? Simple, the winning formula.
The key aspect which makes a character so unforgettable is there models, and small features. Most of the notable game charactors have a distinctive look about them. Here are just three examples:
Mario: Who’s going to forget a character that looks more suited to plumbing than eating mushrooms and jumping on turtles? The distinctive Italian accent and the famous moustache make him so hard to forget.
Solid Snake: Who’s going to forget a tough guy character with a seventies looking mullet? Or how about his voice acting?
Kain: Being the bad guy and his sheer ugliness made him famous.
These are just three examples of how dependant games characters are on looks and models to become popular. But is that what the creators set out to do when they first place a new character into a game? I think not. We all have our personal favourites, and im sure in the future we’ll have another *new* Mario.
I think that another reason behind the success of Solid Snake and such like is simply just because of the quality of the game itself. All the examples of popular characters have come out of big money games like Metal Gear solid and the Sonic series.
Most importantly, what do *you* think? Do you have a personal favourite for a particular reason? Is it a combination of reasons? Or for no reason at all?
Cheers for reading,
Quinty
My favourite character?
Mario.
A short, tubby, loveable, high-pitched-sounding Italian with outstanding athletic capabilities, this Brooklyn-based plumber still cheers me up even now, when he's starred in his 50-odd something game. The little sweetheart :D He's a magical character, because his games are so damn good. His games are not depressing, or boring. They are lively, fun and interesting - just like Mario. I can't see Mario 'growing up'. Can you imagine Mario starring in a game with the graphical drubness of Metal Gear 2, when his bright red and blue dungarees are no longer as bright and cheerful as before? And, instead of his usual "Hup-ah!" as he jumps, all you hear is a grunt, that sounds as if it's more suited to a 50 year old hippy? No? Well then, that's why Mario sticks out in my mind. :D
Mario.
A short, tubby, loveable, high-pitched-sounding Italian with outstanding athletic capabilities, this Brooklyn-based plumber still cheers me up even now, when he's starred in his 50-odd something game. The little sweetheart :D He's a magical character, because his games are so damn good. His games are not depressing, or boring. They are lively, fun and interesting - just like Mario. I can't see Mario 'growing up'. Can you imagine Mario starring in a game with the graphical drubness of Metal Gear 2, when his bright red and blue dungarees are no longer as bright and cheerful as before? And, instead of his usual "Hup-ah!" as he jumps, all you hear is a grunt, that sounds as if it's more suited to a 50 year old hippy? No? Well then, that's why Mario sticks out in my mind. :D
Good post there my friend. I think what makes a game character so memorable is if the games are really good, and the looks of him. Again good post :)
So what does make a game character so memorable? There are hundreds of games characters who are easily forgotten about, yet then we have the famous ones like Mario, Solid Snake and Sonic at the forefront of our memories. Why is this?
Firstly, in my view, a memorable character normally has a trait which he/she/it takes to the extreme. We all remember Sonic for his demon speed, profanity for Conker and damn right stupidity for Crash Bandicoot. Its these traits which stick out in peoples minds.
I think that Solid Snake and Kain are remembered for different reasons. They both have a certain “bad guy” feel to them, which certainly surpasses any other wannabe bad guys in games. Especially Snake. You know he’s cool, you know he’s tough, you know he’s ruthless and you know what athletic capabilities he possesses. So I think for these two characters it’s not just a single stand-out quality, it’s a combination of at least three.
However I think it’s a completely different tale in the case of Nintendo’s pin-up Mario. It’s the fun of the game for him which makes him so memorable. Super Mario Bros was a great success in the arcades, and since then the Mario series fans have enjoyed every splash, jump and splat that have come there way in some form. Mario has just been expanding on that winning formula, and has something which other gaming icons would kill for. A winning history. The same can be applied for sonic the Hedgehog really. Years after breaking out on the mega-drive he’s gone from strength to strength and now is as popular as ever with gaming fans.
Such character success is rare these days. There are so many “One hit wonders” nowadays, such as the Red Ace from Tekken Tag Tournament. That’s twigged your memory hasn’t it? After his 15 minutes of fame, where did he go? What was missing? Simple, the winning formula.
The key aspect which makes a character so unforgettable is there models, and small features. Most of the notable game charactors have a distinctive look about them. Here are just three examples:
Mario: Who’s going to forget a character that looks more suited to plumbing than eating mushrooms and jumping on turtles? The distinctive Italian accent and the famous moustache make him so hard to forget.
Solid Snake: Who’s going to forget a tough guy character with a seventies looking mullet? Or how about his voice acting?
Kain: Being the bad guy and his sheer ugliness made him famous.
These are just three examples of how dependant games characters are on looks and models to become popular. But is that what the creators set out to do when they first place a new character into a game? I think not. We all have our personal favourites, and im sure in the future we’ll have another *new* Mario.
I think that another reason behind the success of Solid Snake and such like is simply just because of the quality of the game itself. All the examples of popular characters have come out of big money games like Metal Gear solid and the Sonic series.
Most importantly, what do *you* think? Do you have a personal favourite for a particular reason? Is it a combination of reasons? Or for no reason at all?
Cheers for reading,
Quinty
Firstly, in my view, a memorable character normally has a trait which he/she/it takes to the extreme. We all remember Sonic for his demon speed, profanity for Conker and damn right stupidity for Crash Bandicoot. Its these traits which stick out in peoples minds.
I think that Solid Snake and Kain are remembered for different reasons. They both have a certain “bad guy” feel to them, which certainly surpasses any other wannabe bad guys in games. Especially Snake. You know he’s cool, you know he’s tough, you know he’s ruthless and you know what athletic capabilities he possesses. So I think for these two characters it’s not just a single stand-out quality, it’s a combination of at least three.
However I think it’s a completely different tale in the case of Nintendo’s pin-up Mario. It’s the fun of the game for him which makes him so memorable. Super Mario Bros was a great success in the arcades, and since then the Mario series fans have enjoyed every splash, jump and splat that have come there way in some form. Mario has just been expanding on that winning formula, and has something which other gaming icons would kill for. A winning history. The same can be applied for sonic the Hedgehog really. Years after breaking out on the mega-drive he’s gone from strength to strength and now is as popular as ever with gaming fans.
Such character success is rare these days. There are so many “One hit wonders” nowadays, such as the Red Ace from Tekken Tag Tournament. That’s twigged your memory hasn’t it? After his 15 minutes of fame, where did he go? What was missing? Simple, the winning formula.
The key aspect which makes a character so unforgettable is there models, and small features. Most of the notable game charactors have a distinctive look about them. Here are just three examples:
Mario: Who’s going to forget a character that looks more suited to plumbing than eating mushrooms and jumping on turtles? The distinctive Italian accent and the famous moustache make him so hard to forget.
Solid Snake: Who’s going to forget a tough guy character with a seventies looking mullet? Or how about his voice acting?
Kain: Being the bad guy and his sheer ugliness made him famous.
These are just three examples of how dependant games characters are on looks and models to become popular. But is that what the creators set out to do when they first place a new character into a game? I think not. We all have our personal favourites, and im sure in the future we’ll have another *new* Mario.
I think that another reason behind the success of Solid Snake and such like is simply just because of the quality of the game itself. All the examples of popular characters have come out of big money games like Metal Gear solid and the Sonic series.
Most importantly, what do *you* think? Do you have a personal favourite for a particular reason? Is it a combination of reasons? Or for no reason at all?
Cheers for reading,
Quinty