10 Most Disappointing Video Game Villains
7. Skull Face - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
On a technical and gameplay level, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a masterpiece, easily a contender for greatest stealth game of all time. From a story perspective, however, it manages to be a disappointment compared to previous entries in the series.
One major reason for this was budgetary issues and a falling out between designer Hideo Kojima and publisher Konami - who got out of the video game business entirely following this game's release. But there were still issues from the start, not the least of which was its primary villain: Skull Face.
For a series known for its iconic, over the top, hammy bad guys, the contrastingly restrained Skull Face just couldn't live up to the bombastic tone of the games. Cast opposite a mostly mute version of protagonist Snake (another budgetary issue), Skull Face simply does not have the charisma or personality to carry as much of the narrative as he needs to.
Subdued nihilism can be a very interesting character trait to work with, but when up against Snake's usual cast of villains who possess all the subtlety of pro wrestlers, anything less gets drowned out.