Summary
One of the most important facets of a video game’s story is its characters, and watching their journey play out across the time players spend with them is a big reason certain games are so beloved. There’s always beena fascination with the bad guy, often becoming more popular than the protagonist in certain cases.
Many characters who start off being bad end up finding redemption through their actions, whether after learning the truth about those they serve, seeing the error of their ways, or befriending those they thought were always the enemy. Regardless of the reasons, redemption arcs exist in different forms and enrich the story they are a part of.
Star Warshas plenty of redemption arcs across its rich history, but one such character that stands above them all is Revan. Once a Jedi Knight, Revan turns to the dark side after war changes him, forming an army to battle both the Jedi and the Galactic Republic.
After being reprogrammed by the Jedi, players control Revan with no memory of his dark past inStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. While he may not have chosen to see the light again, he remembers who he is and becomes instrumental in destroying the dark armies he once created.
Sonic the Hedgehog wasn’t always friends withKnuckles the Echidna. Believing Sonic was behind the theft of the Master Emerald inSonic the Hedgehog 3, Knuckles' manipulation at the hands of Doctor Robotnik sees him fight his former blue enemy multiple times.
Realizing he had been lied to by Eggman, Knuckles teams up with Sonic to stop him, and the rest, as they say, is history. From there on out, the two become good friends, but there are seldom redemption arcs as iconic as the one belonging to Knuckles.
Before 2018’sGod of War, Kratos was a man who wouldn’t think twice about killing his enemies, becoming twisted by all the violence, a slave to the blood on his hands, and the actions he so willingly performs, regardless of caring what the outcome would be.
Now with a son to care for and the weight of the world on his shoulders, Kratos starts to care for others while trying to do everything he can tomake up for his past mistakes. The biggest moment of realization comes when he reflects on his past in the closing moments ofGod of War Ragnarök.
While Sora is the antithesis of good, Riku was always more of the anti-hero of theKingdom Heartsseries. He wants to explore the worlds that exist outside his home and become a Keyblade Master, and when the Darkness comes along, he embraces it to try and use it for his own desires.
Riku develops into an enemy of Sora, but after fighting with his inner demons, he eventually fights back against them, being someone who retains some of that darkness to mold him into the hero he ends up becoming and sacrificing himself to save his friends.
Few games hold the emotional heft thatRed Dead Redemption 2does, and it is mainly down to the redemption arc Arthur Morgan goes through. In the beginning, he’s an outlaw who commits crimes without little thought to anyone else or the repercussions of his actions.
As the story progresses, players see Arthur start toshow how big his heart is, whether teaching Jack how to fish or taking Lenny out for drinks to calm him down. His big moment comes when he sacrifices himself so that John Marston can live on, bringing many players to tears.
InPortal, GlaDOS is evil to Chell, tormenting her through various puzzles, and deliveringcomically menacing linesas the protagonist tries to escape the Aperture Science facility. She hates Chell, and despite being likable, she seems far beyond redemption.
When Wheatley, another rogue AI takes over inPortal 2, GlaDOS becomes an ally to Chell, even warming to her former enemy. By the end of the game, she saves Chell, and in her own twisted way, decides to spare her life because she isn’t worth the hassle of killing.
The journey Thel ‘Vadam goes on is nothing short of legendary. Once a sworn enemy of humanity, he was the Supreme Commander of the Covenant, assisting in the deaths of billions throughout the war against humans, as well as the fall of the UNSC world of Reach.
After having his eyes opened to the true intentions of the Covenant, he ends up teaming with Master Chief inHalo 3to wipe out both the Covenant and the Flood, helping to save billions of lives in the process and redeeming himself in the eyes of humanity.
Once a member of Vladamir Makarov’s ultranationalists, Yuri saw his leader kill over 30,000 people in a nuclear detonation. After failing to stop the infamous airport massacre fromCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,he defects to those hellbent on stopping Makarov.
He eventually teams with Captain Price and Captain “Soap” MacTavish to help end World War 3. Going from an accomplice of a war criminal to a hero, Yuri’s redemption comes full circle when he is forgiven by Price, highlighting his journey throughout the series.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashedgave us one of themost powerful characters to ever exist within theStar Warsuniversein Galen Marek. An assassin who took orders without question from Darth Vader, ended up being betrayed by his master.
Eventually teaming up with the Rebel Alliance, Marek is given a chance to fight back against those who utilized him as a tool of war, making amends for his past transgressions by sacrificing himself to save the Republic in the game’s final moments.
The Last of Us Part 1introduced players to Joel and Ellie, and by the time it ended, many players had fallen in love with the game’s protagonists. Watching Joel die at the hands of Abby at the beginning ofThe Last of Us Part 2made everyone feel a deep dislike of her, and rightly so.
What follows is the story of why she killed Joel, and that she was just seeking revenge for the death of her father, helping others while struggling with her own demons. In thefinal moments of the story, it is easy to see Ellie as the villain and Abby as a misunderstood hero, with Naughty Dog creating something truly special.
