10 Best Sci-Fi Video Game Characters Of All Time
4. Samus Aran - Metroid
It's easy to note that Samus Aran --protagonist of the esteemed Metroid franchise-- is great because she leads the charge of fully-realised, iconic female protagonists in gaming. This is true, but it's also selling the character short, as Samus' place in gaming royalty is solidified thanks to her seasoned sci-fi resume, bad-ass abilities, and iconic appearance.
Samus' humble beginnings on the Nintendo Entertainment System means there were restrictions on character development due to restrictions in console power. Great stories are few in number on the system, so forging great characters through dialogue was, sadly, a near-impossible feat.
Like others on this list, Samus lets her actions do all the talking, and this is easy when said actions are super-agility in the form of a roly-poly ball and a no-nonsense arm cannon to blast her way through baddies.
Fifteen Metroid games as well as a main-stay inclusion in Smash Bros (and Prime 4 on the way, eventually!) makes Samus easily the most seasoned character on this list. She's a shining example of what it takes to be a hero across two centuries, five decades and countless platforms.
Metroid is a special franchise, and so much of its charm comes from Samus Aran.