10 Best Video Game Villains Of The Decade
7. The Illusive Man (Mass Effect 2)
Sometimes a villain doesn't have to be directly opposing you to be an effective villain. You just have to be quite certain that they aren't your buddy, and that you WILL have to deal with them eventually.
We're sticking with Mass Effect 2 here because 2 is when I believe that The Illusive Man is at his best. You KNOW you shouldn't believe him or trust anything he says or does. However, you also know that he holds all of the cards, and you can't really afford to go against him. You accept that - for now - your interest align and that you both know that at the end of the day, the lovecraftian squid machines from another dimension are the threat we should all be focusing on.
So it almost feels like a relief when he kinda betrays you at the end of the game. Because at least now you know who all of your enemies really are and you can keep them all straight. But up until then it's this beautifully written dance between you and the Illusive Man. Where both parties are constantly picking and choosing what information the other NEEDS to know in order to complete the mission, and which ones you can afford to withhold.
And then 3 happened, and while it was alright, it wasn't as nuanced and complex as 2. And that's fine, it wasn't the focus of the game like last time, but that does cost it some points.