20 Greatest Video Game Heroes Of 2012

By Todd Eisenhauer / December 28, 2012

19. Asura(Asura's Wrath)

Asura is this year's Kratos. Betrayed by his fellow demi-gods, his wife murdered and his daughter missing, he goes on a rage fueled warpath that involves enormous battles with even more enormous enemies and titillating quick time events that lead to the craziest and most absurd screen covering events. it might sound familiar, but this isn't a bad thing at all. Once he punches a planet-sized god's finger, not much else needs to be done to make us like him. But Asura doesn't stop there: he is well-versed enough that he can also fight like he's in a fighting game, and fling bolts like he's in a rail shooter. It's strange, crazy and really, really awesome.

18. The Pomeranian( Tokyo Jungle)

Now, hear me out - Tokyo Jungle was one of the strangest and best games of the year, and the fact that it actually made it Stateside is a small miracle, but we are all better for it. That little guy you see above is maybe the bravest hero of our favourite medium for the past year. Being abandoned in a large city filled with large and dangerous animals, that also happens to be pouring toxic rain down on you, would be enough to make even the toughest space marine wimper. But that dog makes it work: scrounging for food, starting a family and picking fights with a particularly fat cat, he's got spirit like no other. And just look at him: all of it done with a smile - how many other protagonists can say that?