10 More Video Game Villains Hiding In Plain Sight
2. Big Smoke - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Big Smoke and Dan Ryder's betrayal in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the most iconic in video game history. The pair were after power, money, respect, and authority, and decided to sell out Grove Street in favour of siding with the Ballas. It was a betrayal that claimed the life of CJ's mother and nearly the life of his brother during the campaign.
Given his charisma and 'larger-than-life' personality, it's a shocking and sad betrayal, but also one that had been hiding under the noses of players throughout their time on Grove Street.
Right from the off, Ballas don't shoot at Smoke or at Ryder when players are thrown into the chaos of San Andreas, he doesn't attend the funeral of CJ's mother and even his introduction where he is shown with a baseball bat mistaking CJ for an intruder is a facade for his true intentions - hiding out at the Johnson household waiting for Sweet to take him out.
Furthermore, his constant evasion, changes in conversation and the presence of C.R.A.S.H constantly overhanging make him a character whose intentions were far more surface-level than what most players would have liked to believe.