20 Awful Characters In Amazing Games
These characters are proof that no game can be truly perfect.
A good video game should feel like a hearty meal. As a player, you hope for a variety of tastes, different portion sizes, something to wash it down with, and a sweet treat to top it all off. While features like gameplay, audio, visuals and more are integral parts of that meal, the whole thing can taste pretty bland if the characters are undercooked. Unfortunately, getting all the characters right is not always an easy feat, and there are some that spoil the broth.
From the hero to the villain, to even minor supporting roles, a botched NPC or protagonist can sour a game whenever they are on screen. Even some of the best games of all time have fallen victim to this, creating mind-blowing experiences, but also introducing a figure that's underwritten, misused, or just downright rubbish.
The following twenty entries are all blasts to play, offering unique experiences and strong character writing. Sadly, not everyone got the memo, as each has at least one character who lets the team down. They prove that even a phenomenal game can make mistakes.
20. Aphrodite (God of War III)
Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, is easily one of the Greek Pantheon's most well-known and (fittingly) beloved figures. Sadly, she is often reduced to nothing but smut and sex thanks to her godly namesake, acts of promiscuity, and beauty. So, what did God of War III decide to focus on? What else? Smut, sex, and an awkward minigame. Hooray?
Yes, while God of War III is an epic adventure that pushes the Greek Gods to fascinating heights, poor Aphrodite doesn't get the same treatment. Her character is shockingly one-note, essentially just begging Kratos to engage with her, which is depicted with a quick time event and a lot of joyous noises.
It's an incredibly awkward moment that feels entirely forced for the sake of getting some sex into the game, and reduces her character to nothing more than eye candy. Her ability to charm and influence people could have made for a really interesting boss fight. But no, it's fan service or nothing apparently.
Games like Hades and Immortals: Fenyx Rising show that this figure can be flirtatious and sexual whilst remaining nuanced. But, GoW III clearly didn't lay down that path for them.