Empire magazine is traditionally a film publication, but this month decided to list the 50 greatest videogame characters ever. Fair enough, I guess. And no, the winner isn’t in the picture above.
Instead, the mag opted for one of several videogame heroes who are also mute . Valve’s very own Gordon Freeman, the entirely silent hero of the sublime Half-Life series, is Empire ‘s ultimate videogame character. While my own choice for top spot is at #12 , I’d say Gordon’s a worthy winner.
Just behind the crowbar-wielding theoretical physicist is – of course – Mario, and again it’s hard to argue. From there, the list’s compilers make some impressively unpredictable choices, with characters from System Shock (which, shamefully, I never tried) and Planescape: Torment (which I have played, and it’s bleedin’ ace) in third and fourth.
You can start your tour of the top 50 here , though if you can’t be arsed clicking through fifty pages, here’s the top ten:
1. Gordon Freeman ( Half-Life series) 2. Mario ( Mario series) 3. Shodan ( System Shock series) 4. The Nameless One ( Planescape: Torment ) 5. Lara Croft ( Tomb Raider ) 6. Link ( Zelda series) 7. Guybrush Threepwood ( Monkey Island series) 8. Master Chief ( Halo series) 9. The Lemmings ( Lemmings series) 10. Sephiroth ( Final Fantasy VII )
