Summary
It’s typical forvideo game enemiesto come off as one-note or cheesy just to incite hatred from players controlling the hero. However, there are some instances in which seemingly evil characters have a lot more to them than players might’ve assumed. These characters may start off as antagonists, but as the story of their respective games progresses, that changes.
Whether it’s a children’s game villain who isn’t really all that bad after all, or an anti-hero who becomes a partner-in-crime for the heroes, these video game enemies have come a long way from where they started. These ten characters may not always save the day, but they helped out when it was most needed, and they’re all the more lovable for it.
It’s hard to call any character in theKirbyuniverse a “villain,” considering how cute and cuddly even Kirby’s arch-nemesis is.King Dededeand Kirby have often been at odds in the franchise, with the King notably commanding his army of Waddle Dees to enact his decrees on the citizens of Dream Land. However, one game proved Dedede’s motives were much more altruistic.
In the Game Boy Advance titleKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Dedede initially seems like a bad guy like he usually is, until it’s revealed that he’s actually trying to protect Dream Land from the even more villainous Nightmare. This began a trend of Dedede helping Kirby in games despite their combative relationship, and hewas even playable inReturn to Dream Land.
Most ofShovel Knightis a gauntlet of bosseswho end up being much more friendly to the titular hero than they initially appear. WhileBlack Knightis set up as a longtime rival of Shovel Knight, later fights against him reveal that his defense of the Enchantress is actually because the big bad is Shovel Knight’s long-lost love, Shield Knight.
After being defeated one last time by Shovel Knight, Black Knight steps aside to let Shovel Knight save his former partner whom he thought was gone for good. At the very end of the game, Black Knight even rescues Shovel Knight from the Enchantress, though the two’s rivalry is still alive and well inShovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon.
Kid Icarus: Uprisinghas no shortage of foes for Pit and Palutena’s Army to face, but few’s allegiances are as dubious as the one withViridi. The Goddess of Nature is introduced in the second half of the game as a threat to humankind in the middle of Palutena’s war against Hades, serving as a temporary arc as Pit is charged with stopping the detonation of her Reset Bombs.
However, Viridi joins forces with Palutena’s Army, first to help Pit and Hades' army battle the Aurum invasion, and later to aid in freeing Palutena from the control of the Chaos Kin, and is ultimately an integral part of Palutena’s defeat of Hades at the end of the game. Still, she insists that their troubles are far from over, making her a begrudging ally…for now.
Fire Emblem Fatesis divisive among fans of the strategy RPG series, but it features some of the most interesting musings on what it means to be a hero or a villain. The game centers on Corrin, who is caught between two warring families and must choose a side. While the Hoshido are honorable, the Nohr kingdom is notably darker and more territorial.
Camilla, inFates, is Corrin’s adopted older sister, who is an ally throughoutFire Emblem Fates: Conquestbut is battled several times inBirthright. However, it’s eventually revealed that her anger towards Corrin is more because of the pain of being betrayed by her adopted brother, and she stands down so Corrin can broker peace between the two kingdoms.
It can be tough to figure out who to trustin the world ofUncharted. The 2009 titleUncharted 2: Among Thievesintroduces a former flame of Nathan Drake’s, Chloe Frazer, who nearly leaves him to die in the Himalayas in search of the Cintamani Stone. However, Nathan re-earns her trust later on by saving her from a Guardian.
While she appears in later games as an ally of Nathan Drake, it’s her first appearance that set her up as a potential longtime rival of her former lover. However, she nevertheless proves herself to be capable of learning from Drake instead of always being selfish. It doesn’t change the fact that, in her first introduction to the series, a lot of players probably hated her.
Speaking of characters who are immediately hateable,Groosedoes quick work of playing a stereotypical bully in the early moments ofThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. From his iconic theme to his overt pompadour, it’s a surprise Groose has any heart in him, though he’s capable of some complexity, as it’s revealed he’s just jealous of Link’s friendship with Zelda.
This jealousy results in Groose following Link to the Sacred Grounds with the hopes of finding Zelda first. Groose eventually becomes a big help to Link, inventing a device to help fight The Imprisoned, and he even saves Zelda’s body when Demise casts off her soulless form. He might not be the best or most noble hero, but his help shouldn’t be forgotten.
Nwill probably go down as one of the most fascinating characters inPokemonhistory. This mysterious trainer is battlednumerous times inPokemon Black & Whitebefore his true identity is revealed as the king of Team Plasma, the team looking to separate people from their Pokemon. N plans to go about this scheme by controlling either Reshiram or Zekrom.
N is later confronted at his castle, after he becomes the Champion, and is battled by the player, and only then does he begin to second-guess his mindset. Nevertheless, Team Plasma’s Ghetsis (N’s father) is battled as the true final boss, and N even returns inBlack 2 & White 2to help the player stop Ghetsis from taking control of Kyurem.
While all the characters on this list are villains turned allies, whether players like it or not,Magusis the exception. BecauseChrono Triggercan have so many endings, players can complete the entire game without recruiting the villainous Magus as their ally. Players must first acquire the Epoch, then go visit Magus in 12,000 BC on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
Instead of fighting him, Magus will ask to join Crono’s party, no questions asked. According to the game’s lore, this is the canonical ending for Magus, who ends up spared for all his wrongdoings by joining the party and helping defeat Lavos. However, in the New Game Plus,defeating Lavos before fighting Maguswill unlock a cutscene where Magus fights Frog.
The mysterious voice echoing through the test chambers of Aperture Science inPortalis eventually revealed to be an A.I. robot known asGLaDOS, who is responsible for killing all the Aperture scientists after going rogue. However, the player, Chell, deactivates GLaDOS at the end of the game. Then GLaDOS returns inPortal 2after being awoken by the dim-witted Wheatley.
Unfortunately, fighting GLaDOS inPortal 2results in Wheatley taking control of her operating system, turning him evil and sending Chell and GLaDOS scampering through the underground ruins of Aperture’s past. This version of GLaDOS, confined to a potato battery, ends up becoming a companion and ally to Chell, and decides to spare her in the end.
Shadow the Hedgehogwas introduced as the ultimate anti-hero in theSonicfranchise.Making his debut inSonic Adventure 2, Shadow was created by Dr. Eggman’s grandfather in search of the “ultimate lifeform,” and it’s his release by Eggman that triggers the events of the game. However, Shadow’s backstory shows he’s much more sympathetic than you’d expect.
Although Shadow partners with Eggman to seek vengeance on the world for the death of his friend Maria Robotnik, he eventually betrays the mad scientist upon learning Dr. Eggman’s true plans for world domination. Since then, he and Sonic have transitioned from enemies to allies to rivals between games, acting as evenly matched adversaries that can also make a great team.
