10 Amazing Video Game Villains Hiding In Terrible Games
2. Germain - Assassin's Creed Unity
It's hard to imagine a world where Ubisoft aren't desperately pumping out an Assassin's Creed title every year but, in 2014, it looked as though one game was doing all it could to put the series in the ground.
Panned for some of the most immersion-breaking and game-wrecking bugs and glitches upon release, Unity's reception forced Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat to issue a public apology, dish out a load of freebies to players, and reevaluate how their quality control going forward.
With that being said, buried underneath all the technical issues were a number of genuinely impressive achievements in the game - none moreso than the characters and storyline. Alongside the captivating French Revolution setting, players are introduced to François-Thomas Germain, Sage, Silversmith and Grand Master of the French Templars.
Not only does Germain carry the perfect blend of unhinged radicalism with an undeniable charm, but his achievements as a baddie are some of the most impressive in the series. Exploiting the chaos of the Revolution, he is able to frame and then execute the Monarchy, introduce Robespierre's Reign of Terror and even kill Élise, protagonist Arno's lover. His own relationship with Arno also provides some stellar moments of chemistry that the franchise hasn't always found easy to come by.
Of course, no good villain is complete without a memorable send-off and, even in his dying moments, Germain is able to warn players that his plan for reshaping society is already complete.