Video Games Where the Player is NOT the Hero
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VOICE OVER: Dave Thibault
WRITTEN BY: Caitlin Johnson
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today, we're looking at games where the main character isn't the player, because you're not always the center of attention.
The character at the forefront of the story and who drives the plot isn't always the point-of-view character on the other end of our controller. Viewer beware, there are major plot spoilers ahead.
The character at the forefront of the story and who drives the plot isn't always the point-of-view character on the other end of our controller. Viewer beware, there are major plot spoilers ahead.
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today, we’re looking at games where the main character isn’t the player, because you’re not always the center of attention.
The character at the forefront of the story and who drives the plot isn’t always the point-of-view character on the other end of our controller. Viewer beware, there are major plot spoilers ahead.
“Dragon Age II” (2011)
As the Blight that took up the entire plot of “Dragon Age: Origins” rages through Ferelden, Hawke and their family have to escape the conflict to get to the Free Marches. Hawke’s definitely an enjoyable character to play as depending on what personality you give them, but they’re not the one risking their neck to destroy the Archdemon as it makes a move on Denerim. Instead, Hawke finds themselves tagging along on the first expedition to discover the deadly red lyrium, right in the middle of political turmoil that focuses on Kirkwall’s First Enchanter and Knight Commander. All Hawke is really the champion of is being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and they’re incapable of preventing the destruction of the chantry that triggers the Inquisitor’s story.
“The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” (2006)
You’re just minding your own business being imprisoned when the Emperor shows up to use your cell as an escape route, with his prompt death triggering an invasion of Daedra throughout Cyrodiil. It turns out that the only way to stop this is to find someone of royal blood to take the throne, and it turns out that for once in an RPG, this special chosen one isn’t you at all. Rather, it’s a priest named Martin, an illegitimate heir, and now it’s your job to help him close the gates to Oblivion. While you’re still an important character for the game’s many side-quests, as far as the main one is concerned, you’re just a secondary character in Martin’s big story.
“Gone Home” (2013)
You’re playing as Katie Greenbriar, the oldest daughter of a tumultuous family who comes home after travelling. Throughout, you’re led to believe that the house may contain a supernatural mystery, but this is far from the truth, and in fact, Katie’s probably the least important character in the whole game. The real main character is her younger sister Sam who, by the time the game begins, has run away to join her girlfriend Lonnie as her disapproving parents give chase. The entire story is actually about Sam coming to terms with her sexuality, and not Katie discovering the aftermath of an angry ghost coming out of the woodwork.
“Command & Conquer” (1995)
In charge of the frontlines of a vast, global conflict, you take on the role of a nameless, faceless commander, constantly battling with the opposite faction and getting orders from characters you don’t really care about. That is, until the mysterious and powerful Kane starts chirping in your ear during the Brotherhood of Nod campaign. The only character to be played by an actual, professional actor during the 1995 game’s live-action segments, Kane is a mythic and powerful figure who wants all the Tiberium he can get his hands on. While we never find out much about him personally, it’s his organization who start the Tiberium Wars that occupy most of the franchise, and their cold wars always turn hot when Kane is back on the scene.
“Final Fantasy X” (2001)
Yuna is the one who launches her long-running pilgrimage to gather the aeons and defeat Sin, the monster threatening to destroy the world. All Tidus really wants to do is play blitzball and deal with his daddy issues; it takes a lot of pushing to get him to actually join her and go fight Sin. Tidus might be a vital part of the team, but it’s all about Yuna, and she’s the one who makes the commitment to try and rebuild the world. This trend continued in “Final Fantasy XII”; late in development, the protagonist was switched from Basch to Vaan, though Basch remains the more interesting character.
“BioShock Infinite” (2013)
One thing and one thing only drives the plot of “BioShock Infinite”: Elizabeth. Although you play as Booker Dewitt, a man sent to retrieve Elizabeth from Columbia to wipe out his debts, as you further progress through the story it turns out that he isn’t exactly the hero you think he is. Elizabeth is the person everybody wants control of, the most powerful character in the franchise capable of opening doors to other dimensions, and is the heart of the story. This was finally acknowledged when she did become the player character in “Burial at Sea: Episode 2”, where we find out she was responsible for helping Atlas retrieve Jack from the surface, enabling the events of the very first game.
“Portal” (2007) & “Portal 2” (2011)
In both games, the player takes on the role of Chell, the last remaining test subject at Aperture Science and the only one who consistently masters the “tests” she’s put through. But Chell never says a word and is only ever seen if the player does some interesting portal placements. In actuality, GLaDOS is the more compelling character. She has the backstory, the motivations, and the personality, and she even becomes a very entertaining ally for much of the second game. She might be a killer robot, but the story of her downfall, resurrection, and second downfall, are what make “Portal” more than just a puzzle game.
“Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty” (2001)
A former child soldier turned FOXHOUND recruit, Raiden is a compelling character who’s conflict with Solidus Snake certainly had us invested. But it wouldn’t be “Metal Gear” without Snake, who remains at the center of the story regardless of who the player is. While you’re initially led to believe that the true Solid Snake is dead, and then later that he’s become a terrorist, it turns out that one of Raiden’s SEAL allies has been Snake all along. Even though Raiden is the one who ultimately defeats Solidus Snake, the hero baton is handed off to Solid Snake, as he and Otacon take it upon themselves to hunt down Liquid Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid 4.
The character at the forefront of the story and who drives the plot isn’t always the point-of-view character on the other end of our controller. Viewer beware, there are major plot spoilers ahead.
“Dragon Age II” (2011)
As the Blight that took up the entire plot of “Dragon Age: Origins” rages through Ferelden, Hawke and their family have to escape the conflict to get to the Free Marches. Hawke’s definitely an enjoyable character to play as depending on what personality you give them, but they’re not the one risking their neck to destroy the Archdemon as it makes a move on Denerim. Instead, Hawke finds themselves tagging along on the first expedition to discover the deadly red lyrium, right in the middle of political turmoil that focuses on Kirkwall’s First Enchanter and Knight Commander. All Hawke is really the champion of is being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and they’re incapable of preventing the destruction of the chantry that triggers the Inquisitor’s story.
“The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” (2006)
You’re just minding your own business being imprisoned when the Emperor shows up to use your cell as an escape route, with his prompt death triggering an invasion of Daedra throughout Cyrodiil. It turns out that the only way to stop this is to find someone of royal blood to take the throne, and it turns out that for once in an RPG, this special chosen one isn’t you at all. Rather, it’s a priest named Martin, an illegitimate heir, and now it’s your job to help him close the gates to Oblivion. While you’re still an important character for the game’s many side-quests, as far as the main one is concerned, you’re just a secondary character in Martin’s big story.
“Gone Home” (2013)
You’re playing as Katie Greenbriar, the oldest daughter of a tumultuous family who comes home after travelling. Throughout, you’re led to believe that the house may contain a supernatural mystery, but this is far from the truth, and in fact, Katie’s probably the least important character in the whole game. The real main character is her younger sister Sam who, by the time the game begins, has run away to join her girlfriend Lonnie as her disapproving parents give chase. The entire story is actually about Sam coming to terms with her sexuality, and not Katie discovering the aftermath of an angry ghost coming out of the woodwork.
“Command & Conquer” (1995)
In charge of the frontlines of a vast, global conflict, you take on the role of a nameless, faceless commander, constantly battling with the opposite faction and getting orders from characters you don’t really care about. That is, until the mysterious and powerful Kane starts chirping in your ear during the Brotherhood of Nod campaign. The only character to be played by an actual, professional actor during the 1995 game’s live-action segments, Kane is a mythic and powerful figure who wants all the Tiberium he can get his hands on. While we never find out much about him personally, it’s his organization who start the Tiberium Wars that occupy most of the franchise, and their cold wars always turn hot when Kane is back on the scene.
“Final Fantasy X” (2001)
Yuna is the one who launches her long-running pilgrimage to gather the aeons and defeat Sin, the monster threatening to destroy the world. All Tidus really wants to do is play blitzball and deal with his daddy issues; it takes a lot of pushing to get him to actually join her and go fight Sin. Tidus might be a vital part of the team, but it’s all about Yuna, and she’s the one who makes the commitment to try and rebuild the world. This trend continued in “Final Fantasy XII”; late in development, the protagonist was switched from Basch to Vaan, though Basch remains the more interesting character.
“BioShock Infinite” (2013)
One thing and one thing only drives the plot of “BioShock Infinite”: Elizabeth. Although you play as Booker Dewitt, a man sent to retrieve Elizabeth from Columbia to wipe out his debts, as you further progress through the story it turns out that he isn’t exactly the hero you think he is. Elizabeth is the person everybody wants control of, the most powerful character in the franchise capable of opening doors to other dimensions, and is the heart of the story. This was finally acknowledged when she did become the player character in “Burial at Sea: Episode 2”, where we find out she was responsible for helping Atlas retrieve Jack from the surface, enabling the events of the very first game.
“Portal” (2007) & “Portal 2” (2011)
In both games, the player takes on the role of Chell, the last remaining test subject at Aperture Science and the only one who consistently masters the “tests” she’s put through. But Chell never says a word and is only ever seen if the player does some interesting portal placements. In actuality, GLaDOS is the more compelling character. She has the backstory, the motivations, and the personality, and she even becomes a very entertaining ally for much of the second game. She might be a killer robot, but the story of her downfall, resurrection, and second downfall, are what make “Portal” more than just a puzzle game.
“Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty” (2001)
A former child soldier turned FOXHOUND recruit, Raiden is a compelling character who’s conflict with Solidus Snake certainly had us invested. But it wouldn’t be “Metal Gear” without Snake, who remains at the center of the story regardless of who the player is. While you’re initially led to believe that the true Solid Snake is dead, and then later that he’s become a terrorist, it turns out that one of Raiden’s SEAL allies has been Snake all along. Even though Raiden is the one who ultimately defeats Solidus Snake, the hero baton is handed off to Solid Snake, as he and Otacon take it upon themselves to hunt down Liquid Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid 4.
