3. Chaz Ashley - Phantasy Star IV
If you're not scared off by a video game made in 1995, then you're a man/woman after my own heart and I'm glad you're reading my article. Chaz Ashley is the plucky apprentice of monster hunter and protagonist Alys Brangwin. Chaz and Alys assemble a ragtag group of misfits in order to stop a cosmic enemy that's threatening to destroy the universe. If you think this story is done-to-death and boring, then I fully expect you to return your prized copy of Mass Effect and all its sequels, you hypocritical ignoramus. Anyway, what makes Chaz so vengeful? His mentor, and the character you've spent hours beefing up with the best armor and weapons on the planet, gets killed right in front of him, during an inconspicuous boss battle. If you thought Final Fantasy VII pioneered the concept of surprising the player by killing off a character with a huge role, you've overlooked Phantasy Star IV. After the battle, Chaz has to come to grips with the fact that his best friend and closest companion is dead, and now he's responsible for saving the universe. Luckily, revenge is served, the profound evil is vanquished, and the world is saved. No surprise there. But what is surprising is the pathos the player feels after losing a beloved character, and Chaz's metamorphosis from mouthy brat to heroic savior is the most satisfying aspect of this tale of vengeance and justice.