3. Raziel (The Legacy of Kain)
Co-protagonist in the Legacy of Kain series, this may yet be one of the most punished characters and sought-after by his enemies in gaming. The opening to his first game Soul Reaver is without a doubt one of the most compelling intros you can mention, thoroughly narrated by Raziel himself, voiced by the talented and easily recognized Michael Bell. It is never clearly told what his actual purpose or destiny is until the very end of the series, while everyone left and right try to convince him he's destined to kill Kain, but what's curious is that beyond the opening of Soul Reaver, you never get to see him as a vampire ever again. Spoilers ahead! As a vampire, he's served Kain for a thousand years with his brethren, all of whom gained new Gifts (powers & abilities) shortly after the master. But one day Raziel had the "honor" of surpassing his lord, as wings sprouted from his back. Kain promptly tore the bones from his wings and ordered his brothers cast him into the abyss, plunging to what would surely be any traitorous or weakling vampire's obliteration. However, as Raziel comes to his senses after centuries have passed, he is greeted by the Elder God, who seemingly saved his body from total dissolution during his painful, watery death in the abyss. Thus Raziel's journey begins as a soul-eating wraith, able to enter and leave the spectral realm, now seeking to avenge his unfair fate. Eventually he discovers that, before he was even a vampire, him and his brethren were part of an elite group of vampire hunters called the Sarafan, and that it was Kain who resurrected them as vampires. Near the end of Soul Reaver 2, he travels back in time and ultimately kills all the Sarafan, including his own former self. Time abhors a paradox.