10 Great Video Game Villains Who Were Totally Wasted
1. Kai Leng - Mass Effect 3
And a possibly controversial choice to end our list now, with Mass Effect 3's Kai Leng.
In theory, this ultra-dangerous Cerberus assassin should've been one of the most imposing and intense enemies in the entire sci-fi trilogy, being the Illusive Man's most trusted operative and all.
His attacks certainly pack one hell of a punch, though Kai Leng is also a character who ultimately falls short of his obvious promise.
For starters, he clearly suffers from overdesign - he's an almost parodically edgy cybernetically enhanced warrior who seems primed to appeal to teenage boys above all others.
Beyond this, most of his dialogues throughout the game are more corny than scary, and his encounters with Shepard more frustrating than fun.
Yet despite all this, Kai Leng is still a monument to squandered opportunity, especially considering how well fleshed out he is in the various Mass Effect books, where he's depicted as a far colder, more calculating assassin and, well, just way less of a cringelord.