10 Times Video Game Villains Spared You

10. Jetstream Sam - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Starting off the list is Samuel Rodrigues, better known as Jetstream Sam from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Serving as Raiden's primary rival throughout the story, Sam is a master of Brazilian swordplay and a member of the Desperado PMC faction.

He first appears in Africa, looking to assassinate its prime minister N'Mani. Challenging Raiden to a duel, Sam severed the protagonist’s arm and left him in a pool of blood on a train. Raiden - and by extension, the player - would hold a grudge against Sam afterwards, aiming to take revenge on the disciplined warrior.

Jetstream Sam was an incredibly skilled and worthy opponent for Raiden, one whose skills were honed not through technological enhancement, but mainly through pure study and discipline. Aside from his strength-enhancing exoskeleton, he had few cybernetic enhancements to speak of. He was also an expert in reading his foe's tactics and personalities, often using them to throw them off balance in combat.

Raiden and Sam would eventually battle a second time in a barren field, where the former would prove himself the greater swordsman. But, our protagonist gained a new respect for Sam, and went on to use his high frequency blade in the ultimate confrontation.