10 Incredible Characters Wasted In Terrible Video Games
2. Decoy - Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure is a glitchy, poorly designed action game that's often a chore to play. It also has the honor of most needlessly long title for a brand new IP ever. Fortunately, however, the game's central conceit of being a graffiti artist turned rebel propagandist works beautifully, both in the mechanics of putting up your art and in a narrative sense.
Decoy is kind of like the Obi-Wan Kenobi of the game. He's a mentor character for protagonist Trane who dies before you can really get to know him, but has a huge impact on Trane's motivations going forward.
Through his art, Decoy challenges the government cover-up that resulted in Trane's father's mysterious death. You can see his art through the game, containing a number of political messages and military influences. And after his death, you can appropriate his art and continue to spread his message and keep his spirit alive as a symbol of resistance.
Also, OK fine, he's basically just Banksy. In the context of the game though, that's pretty awesome.