10 Video Game Villains That Became Heroes In The Sequel

Ah, villains! Who doesn’t love a good villain? Their evil schemes and confidence to just be themselves, even if it means committing heinous crimes against humanity, make them some of the most entertaining parts of any game.

In fact, it’s not uncommon that a villain is so good that they have more fans within a game’s community than its heroes and de facto protagonists. And sometimes this kind of following allows them to go beyond the role of a simple bad guy.

Some video game franchises notice the success of their villains and decide to give them a chance at being protagonists. Although in their debut appearance they were out to ruin the world, a quick change of heart or a shift in the story allows them to take on the mantle of the main character.

Whether they’re bad guys turned good or anti-heroes in a darker take on the original story, it’s always enjoyable to be able to play as your favorite villain. So put on your deviously dapper monocle and twirl your dastardly moustache, because the following villains managed to get their own bit of spotlight.

Every character in the Sly Cooper series of 3D platformers is full of charm and personality. However, if there's one antropomorphic person among them whose charm and personality could make for two characters, it's probably the fiery villain of the original game, the Panda King.

After all, the guy is so unhinged that he actually treats his reflection as if it were another person.

In the original Thievius Raccoonus release, Panda King was a member of the Fiendish Five, acting as the gang's pyrotechnics expert. Both quick to anger and irrational, the Panda King was as volitile as his fireworks, making him a rather dangerous adversary.

However, in the third installment of the series, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, the King undergoes a drastic change. After Sly defeats him, he comes back to his home village and turns to the tranquil life of a monk. Eventually, his daughter is kidnapped, and he teams up with Sly's gang to rescue her, becoming an unexpected hero.

The best part about this alliance is that you actually get to play as the Panda King and experience what it's like to shoot heat-seeking fireworks out of a panda's back.

As they're known to do in nature. Duh.