10 Ridiculously Macho Video Game Characters

By Austin Wood /

10. Sam Gideon - Vanquish

It isn't easy to push one's masculinity beyond that of a hulking cyborg whose catch-all answer to any dilemma is "a bigger gun", but Sam Gideon does so with flying colors. In keeping with the overarching design theme of Vanquish - a theme probably dating back to the vacuums of Tom & Jerry that go berserk when damaged - Sam is both heavily stylized and completely absurd. Clad in a jet-propelled synthesis of science and testosterone, Sam regularly foregoes a virtually infinite arsenal of guns in favor of punching deathbots in the face. This is a man who can find no better time for a smoke break than when ducking behind cover to avoid heavy enemy fire. And let's not forget the collection of trophies atop his fireplace mantle, most notably "Saved the Girl", "Beat the Russians", and, presumably, "Arm-Wrestled a Bear".