Top 10 Immortal Video Game Characters
Top 10, Watchmojo, Video Games, Castlevania, Symphony of the Night, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Command and Conquer, Mortal Kombat, Final Fantasy VII, The Legend of Zelda, Planescape Torment, Legacy of Kain, Metal Gear Solid, Halo,
Script written by Kurt Hvorp
Some people have all the staying power. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 Immortal Video Game Characters.
For this list we'll be taking a look at the characters who best encapsulate the time-honoured tradition of eternal life. Whether they're long-lived warriors, sheltered loners or lovable oddballs, we've found a place for them here. As usual, one character per franchise – and we're specifically focused on the long life aspect, rather than invulnerability.
#10: Gravemind
We knew something felt off about this thing. This massive tentacled creature acts as the intelligent overseer of the parasitic Flood, boasting omniscience and the power to control all that it sees. However, the scariest part about the Gravemind might be its lifespan; it's said to have lived at least one hundred thousand years, sporting the ability to transfer its consciousness to a new body when in danger. So in that sense, this malevolent beast is unstoppable. And we thought the Flood were terrifying enough.
#9: Vamp
Equal parts creepy and impressive, this monster has quite the gift. As part of the rogue special operations unit Dead Cell, it would be fair to assume that Vamp brings something unique to the table. That “something” turns out to be superhuman speed and reflexes, a mastery of knives, and a resistance to fatal injury. As the ongoing storyline progresses, it's revealed that Vamp has nanomachines in his bloodstream that boost his healing capabilities. Unfortunately, this knowledge doesn't prevent the loss of innocent lives at Vamp's hand, or his narrow escape from death.
#8: Kain
Now for a real vampire. Meet Kain, a nobleman killed by assassins and brought back thanks to a curse. His dilemma, besides seeking vengeance against his killers, comes down to one question: would he sacrifice eternal life to save humanity? As the series progresses, Kain finds his answer... by conquering the realm and using his vampiric power to rule over all. Still, given that his enemies are malevolent gods and beings even crueler than him, Kain's not so bad for an undead despot.
#7: The Nameless One
Throw the dice and see where they land. In “Planescape: Torment”, a game based on Dungeons and Dragons, you take on the role of The Nameless One, a once-human warrior who was made immortal long ago. However, there's a catch: he can still die, but resurrects soon afterwards at the cost of his current personality, his memory, and an innocent life sacrificed for his own. Based on player choice, The Nameless One can be a wise philosopher, a cunning strategist or an intimidating brute – yet no matter what, he's always curious about his circumstance.
#6: Ganondorf
A constant fixture of the franchise, and an unceasing thorn in the heroes' side. Back in the original game, this evil wizard – and occasional giant pig – acted as the hero Link's arch-nemesis. From then on, Ganon has endured mortal injury after mortal injury, only to return and deliver retribution. The source of Ganondorf's immortality is often disputed; some say it's because of his mastery of magic, while others claim that possessing the Triforce of Power grants him reprieve from death. Regardless, it's safe to say that Ganon can stand the test of time.
#5: Vincent Valentine
Eternal life comes at a cost for some. For Vincent Valentine, a Turk in the wrong place at the wrong time, this defines much of his existence. While arguing for the life of Lucrecia, a woman he loved, Vincent was mortally wounded. However, the young man was put through experiments that left him immortal and superhuman, but also severely violated. From that point onward, Vincent's motivation is vengeance; even after 30 years and a long slumber, he's driven to punish the perpetrator of his suffering. We can't honestly blame him.
#4: Shang Tsung
Seems that sorcery powers have their benefits. At least, we think that's the case with Shang Tsung, the magically-inclined right-hand man to villainous overlord Shao Khan. Besides overseeing the titular Mortal Kombat tournament and maintaining a decadent persona, Shang Tsung is keen on staying young – which he ensures by absorbing the souls of his foes. On top of immortality, this also means the sorcerer can use his enemies' abilities and even their appearance via shape-shifting.
#3: Kane
You can't kill the Messiah,You really can’t. Introduced in 1995's “Command & Conquer” as the leader of the Brotherhood of Nod, Kane has the unique honour of being viewed as a holy saviour... and he milks it for all it's worth. Yet his aloof nature hides a more genuine survival instinct; whether zapped by an ion cannon or impaled with metallic debris, Kane always comes back with a vengeance. The implication that he may be the Biblical Cain is not lost on us.
#2: Talion
Being banished from death seems both awful and incredible. This former Ranger of Gondor certainly understands that, after being resurrected in the wake of his own execution. What makes Talion's predicament interesting is the circumstance: he's bonded to the elven wraith Celebrimbor, which grants him mystical powers and allows him to revive in case of mortal injury. Even when he is killed, he just comes right on back, much to the chagrin of the orcs who did the deed. While we can't say if Talion's ultimate trajectory is benevolent in nature, it's certainly entertaining to see what he does with his given powers.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Shadow the Hedgehog
“Sonic Adventure 2” (2001)
Zasalamel
“Soul Calibur III” (2005)
The Chosen One
“Dark Souls” (2011)
Pokey “Porky” Minch
“Mother” series (1995-2006)
Meat Boy
“Super Meat Boy” (2010)
#1: Alucard
As the son of the famed vampire Dracula, Alucard has quite the legacy to live up to. Fortunately he's got a trick up his sleeve: he has his father's power of eternal life. Alucard began as a challenging foe for the Belmont clan, before revealing that he shares their goal – to kill Dracula and liberate the world from evil. Driven by his mother's love of humanity, Alucard uses his gifts not to oppress but to aid the innocent. Despite his heritage, there's no doubt that Alucard has the makings of an eternal hero.
Do you agree with our list? What immortal game characters catch your eye? For more lively Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
Top 10 Immortal Video Game Characters
Some people have all the staying power. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 Immortal Video Game Characters.
For this list we'll be taking a look at the characters who best encapsulate the time-honoured tradition of eternal life. Whether they're long-lived warriors, sheltered loners or lovable oddballs, we've found a place for them here. As usual, one character per franchise – and we're specifically focused on the long life aspect, rather than invulnerability.
#10: Gravemind
“Halo” series (2001-)
We knew something felt off about this thing. This massive tentacled creature acts as the intelligent overseer of the parasitic Flood, boasting omniscience and the power to control all that it sees. However, the scariest part about the Gravemind might be its lifespan; it's said to have lived at least one hundred thousand years, sporting the ability to transfer its consciousness to a new body when in danger. So in that sense, this malevolent beast is unstoppable. And we thought the Flood were terrifying enough.#9: Vamp
“Metal Gear Solid” series (1998-)
Equal parts creepy and impressive, this monster has quite the gift. As part of the rogue special operations unit Dead Cell, it would be fair to assume that Vamp brings something unique to the table. That “something” turns out to be superhuman speed and reflexes, a mastery of knives, and a resistance to fatal injury. As the ongoing storyline progresses, it's revealed that Vamp has nanomachines in his bloodstream that boost his healing capabilities. Unfortunately, this knowledge doesn't prevent the loss of innocent lives at Vamp's hand, or his narrow escape from death.#8: Kain
“Legacy of Kain” series (1996-)
Now for a real vampire. Meet Kain, a nobleman killed by assassins and brought back thanks to a curse. His dilemma, besides seeking vengeance against his killers, comes down to one question: would he sacrifice eternal life to save humanity? As the series progresses, Kain finds his answer... by conquering the realm and using his vampiric power to rule over all. Still, given that his enemies are malevolent gods and beings even crueler than him, Kain's not so bad for an undead despot.#7: The Nameless One
“Planescape: Torment” (1999)
Throw the dice and see where they land. In “Planescape: Torment”, a game based on Dungeons and Dragons, you take on the role of The Nameless One, a once-human warrior who was made immortal long ago. However, there's a catch: he can still die, but resurrects soon afterwards at the cost of his current personality, his memory, and an innocent life sacrificed for his own. Based on player choice, The Nameless One can be a wise philosopher, a cunning strategist or an intimidating brute – yet no matter what, he's always curious about his circumstance. #6: Ganondorf
“The Legend of Zelda” series (1986-)
A constant fixture of the franchise, and an unceasing thorn in the heroes' side. Back in the original game, this evil wizard – and occasional giant pig – acted as the hero Link's arch-nemesis. From then on, Ganon has endured mortal injury after mortal injury, only to return and deliver retribution. The source of Ganondorf's immortality is often disputed; some say it's because of his mastery of magic, while others claim that possessing the Triforce of Power grants him reprieve from death. Regardless, it's safe to say that Ganon can stand the test of time.#5: Vincent Valentine
“Final Fantasy VII” (1997)
Eternal life comes at a cost for some. For Vincent Valentine, a Turk in the wrong place at the wrong time, this defines much of his existence. While arguing for the life of Lucrecia, a woman he loved, Vincent was mortally wounded. However, the young man was put through experiments that left him immortal and superhuman, but also severely violated. From that point onward, Vincent's motivation is vengeance; even after 30 years and a long slumber, he's driven to punish the perpetrator of his suffering. We can't honestly blame him.#4: Shang Tsung
“Mortal Kombat” series(1992-)
Seems that sorcery powers have their benefits. At least, we think that's the case with Shang Tsung, the magically-inclined right-hand man to villainous overlord Shao Khan. Besides overseeing the titular Mortal Kombat tournament and maintaining a decadent persona, Shang Tsung is keen on staying young – which he ensures by absorbing the souls of his foes. On top of immortality, this also means the sorcerer can use his enemies' abilities and even their appearance via shape-shifting. #3: Kane
“Command & Conquer” series (1995-)
You can't kill the Messiah,You really can’t. Introduced in 1995's “Command & Conquer” as the leader of the Brotherhood of Nod, Kane has the unique honour of being viewed as a holy saviour... and he milks it for all it's worth. Yet his aloof nature hides a more genuine survival instinct; whether zapped by an ion cannon or impaled with metallic debris, Kane always comes back with a vengeance. The implication that he may be the Biblical Cain is not lost on us.#2: Talion
“Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor” (2014)
Being banished from death seems both awful and incredible. This former Ranger of Gondor certainly understands that, after being resurrected in the wake of his own execution. What makes Talion's predicament interesting is the circumstance: he's bonded to the elven wraith Celebrimbor, which grants him mystical powers and allows him to revive in case of mortal injury. Even when he is killed, he just comes right on back, much to the chagrin of the orcs who did the deed. While we can't say if Talion's ultimate trajectory is benevolent in nature, it's certainly entertaining to see what he does with his given powers. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Shadow the Hedgehog
“Sonic Adventure 2” (2001)
Zasalamel
“Soul Calibur III” (2005)
The Chosen One
“Dark Souls” (2011)
Pokey “Porky” Minch
“Mother” series (1995-2006)
Meat Boy
“Super Meat Boy” (2010)
#1: Alucard
“Castlevania” series (1989-)
As the son of the famed vampire Dracula, Alucard has quite the legacy to live up to. Fortunately he's got a trick up his sleeve: he has his father's power of eternal life. Alucard began as a challenging foe for the Belmont clan, before revealing that he shares their goal – to kill Dracula and liberate the world from evil. Driven by his mother's love of humanity, Alucard uses his gifts not to oppress but to aid the innocent. Despite his heritage, there's no doubt that Alucard has the makings of an eternal hero.Do you agree with our list? What immortal game characters catch your eye? For more lively Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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