9 Video Games Heroes Who Completely Failed At Their Quest

7. Raiden - Metal Gear Solid 2

Naked Raiden
Konami

Both the player and Raiden are taken for a ride in Metal Gear Solid 2. Their mission to stop a bunch of terrorists who are holding the President of the USA to ransom turns out to be a complete lie. Likewise, almost every piece of information they're fed - for instance that the Plant they're in could poison the Manhattan harbour for decades if it sinks - is total fabrication to get them to do as they're told.

Consequently, everyone else you come into contact with - the real heroes like Solid Snake - treat you like a big dumb idiot who's completely out of their depth. Every goal you try to complete is either thwarted or orchestrated by someone else. You disarm Fat Man's bombs, but they were merely a decoy, and part of the plant sinks anyway. You rescue E.E., but she's killed by Vamp. You break into Arsenal Gear, because Snake tricks you and leaves you to be tortured.

And that's just the beginning.

Even when you defeat the villain at the end via a sword fight, it's not exactly a 'victory'. The real bad guys got away, and the 'quest' Raiden finishes resembles nothing of the one he started on.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.