Favorite Playable Game Character of All time?

At first glance, this might seem like the favorite game category rehashed, but I don't think so. This question eliminates considerations like Tetris, Gran Tourismo and even Pacman (I don't know if Pacman speaks in the new game, but on the old 2d, he's just a yellow pie eating dots). I think that in order to qualify for favorite character, the character in question must have a personality. For example, Jimmy Patterson in Medal of Honor: Frontline, has basically no personality. We see his entire world from over the top of a gun barrel. We don't know if he's happy, sad, frightened, macho or wimpy. He has no personality. Does this mean you can't select an FPS character? No, I'd argue that the Master Chief in Halo has a personality. Not well defined, but we know he's macho and fearless.
The same lack of personality can be said of the character you play in Grand Theft Auto or Morrowind. We never hear these characters speak, or see them react to things. Does the guy in GTA care that he's been ordered to go kill a lot of people he doesn't know? Does the character in Morrowind feel guilty for stealing things? These are questions we don't know the answer to. We never even see so much as a facial reaction. So I'd like to elimate all the non-characters out there. No Ice Climbers, or Grand Theft auto thugs, or Jimmy Patterson.
So long as the character has a personality, either gained through dialogue or reaction, it's a valid choice.
Last, the question is about playable characters. So Cid from Final Fantasy VII is valid, but Sephiroth would not be (yes, Sephiroth is in a flashback battle, but really, not a playable character).

 

Mario of any Mario Brothers game.

 

Crono from Chrono Trigger, best video game ever made.

 

Kyle Katarn

 

Guybrush Threepwood, without a doubt.

 

the swaggering outlaw biker Ben from Full Throttle.

 

Well, probably Manny Calavera...

 

Link in any of The Legend of Zelda games.

 

Duke Nukem of course

 

Gotta go with the entire playable cast of Chrono Trigger.


Does the guy in GTA care that he's been ordered to go kill a lot of people he doesn't know?

If he isn't actively happy, he's at least content, I'd say.


By the way, I'd say Max Payne probably has a certain amount of personality.

 

Well, now that we've had a few answers, I'll share the character I was thinking of when I put up the thread. My favorite is probably Raziel.

I think he's the most interesting character in games. His story is a little strange, given the events in Soul Reaver 2, but what a concept. He evolves faster than his "brothers," and is cast out for it. Revived by a god to serve as a pawn, he seeks out his brothers to strike them down and gain their powers. And all the while, we're treated to his interaction with the elder god, Kain and all sorts of other types. Raziel never takes his role as a pawn well, and becomes his own entity, at one point even defying the god that created him in this form. And I won't spoil the ending of Soul Reaver 2 (which wasn't a great game, but had a great story), but it's odd to say the least. I also think he has the best look for a character, sort of a tattered avenger.

Edit: I asked my wife for her pick, and she said Yoshi for the following reasons: He's always happy, he'll give you a ride if you need, and if you make him mad, he licks you.

 

My Jester from Baldurs Gate II/Throne Of Bhaal. Now that guy had personality from his own custom voice set to Biowares character development that you experiance while playing the game.

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Fei from Xenogears.
Solid Snake from MGS.

 

Gorden Freemen form Half-Life, always in the wrong place at the wrong time!

 

Yeah, I'd definitely say Mr. Freeman is one of the top choices. Probably because you felt that you were him, fighting for your life.

JC Denton from Deus Ex was also a badass character. Kyle Katarn and Duke Nukem also get mentions.

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Dante from Devil May Cry.

MARIO!!

Edgar and Sabin from FFVI

 

Guybrush all the way baby.

"That's the second biggest duck I've ever had in my pants."

 

Anakin Skywalker.

 

A lot of people said some of my favorites so I'll add...

Cate Archer from The Operative: No One Lives Forever.

 

Sam or max

 

Solid Snake from the Metal Gear games and from Metal Gear Solid One and Two
for the Playstation game consoles.

If you want a character you can actually see with a solid personality then Solid
Snake is your character. I think Solid Snake has a lot more heart and soul than
most other video game characters out there today. Pain, hope, loss, respect,
diginity and fighting for a noble cause is what Solid Snake seems to be all about.
His character and personality shines a lot more in Metal Gear Solid for the
playstation one, pretty much because he is'nt the main character for most of
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

 

Konoko, the gutsy karate kicking manga lass in Oni. The way she goes through all the emotional turmoil, especially with Shinatama getting blown to bits, finding her uncle and then coping with Griffin turning tail on her.

Or PAL 18 from Anachronox, 'You wanna see my batteries?' .

JC Denton was too much of a hard arse for my tastes, waaaaay to unemotional, then again, with all the implants in him, He's probably more machine now than man.

 

Sonic the Hedgehog.

 

Jake Logan from Tachyon was alright.

Ace Azzameen (X-Wing Alliance) had some personality too

 

Gotta go with Sonic.