<h1>Do you have a favorite video game character?</h1>
Video games are loved by millions, and many of us have a favorite video game that we love to play. Many also have a favorite character whose story they can connect with. In this article, we’ll be listing 5 of the most influential and popular video game characters of all time. These famous video game characters have become a staple of the video game industry, and some have even become pop culture icons.
1. Link (The Legend of Zelda)
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular video game series in existence, and it is also one that has been around for a very long time. The main character Link first appeared in the first game from the series released back in 1986, titled “The Legend of Zelda.” Since then, fans have enjoyed playing through every installment to see how this character has evolved over time.
He started as nothing more than an 8-bit sprite, but he has transformed into a 3D polygonal model with detailed textures over the past 30 years. His appearance has changed while his personality has remained pretty much intact throughout each game in which he appears.
Many gamers consider Link a very relatable character because they can associate with him and feel like they are living out his story themselves when they play through each of his new adventures.
2. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Lara Croft was created back in 1996 by Toby Gard as the lead female protagonist for an upcoming video game called Tomb Raider. The game featured her quest to find pieces of an ancient artifact known as The Scion of Atlantis before anyone else, so she can stop a tyrant who plans to use it for evil purposes if given half a chance.
When she was introduced back then she was only meant to be part of this single title. Due to her popularity among gamers, she soon became part of a follow up title, Tomb Raider II, where players can control two protagonists, Lara herself and Indiana Jones. Both work together on their journey through various locations, searching for more clues about The Scion’s whereabouts.
This is all while battling enemies along their way towards victory, against whatever obstacles that stand between them and finding whatever relic pieces they need to bring home.
3. Mario (Super Mario)
We’re going to be talking about the most popular video game character ever created in this article, but it’s also necessary for us to look at his older brother first. It all started with him back in 1981 when he was first introduced as Jumpman, a plumber who saved Princess Peach from an evil turtle named Bowser by defeating him and rescuing her from the top of a castle tower.
Because of his popularity among gamers, he was transformed into Mario in 1985, when his official backstory was given to players through Yoshi, his sidekick. Yoshi came along with him during that same year and helped him save Princess Peach once again.
During the mid-1990s, Nintendo released a short-lived television series based on these characters where they appeared alongside their other companions such as Luigi, Donkey Kong, Toad, and others.
4. Sonic (Sonic The Hedgehog)
Sonic was first introduced back in 1991 as a character designed to rival Nintendo’s mascot at the time, named Mario. In this title, he is given the ability to run faster than any other video game character had ever done before, making him stand out from other heroes that came before him such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong Jr.
Until this day, his speed remains unmatched by anyone else in any video game series he appears in because no one can top what he’s been able to do since day one. Even after 25 years under his belt, you still don’t see many characters running faster than him.
His popularity has led Sega into releasing over 20 titles based on him since 1991, making it clear that they’re not ready to put this blue hedgehog away into retirement just yet.
5. Master Chief (Halo)
Master Chief has been trying to save the galaxy from a powerful alien empire known as the Covenant since he first appeared in 2001. In this game, he fights against an enemy called The Flood, who are intent on wiping out every human being in the galaxy and bringing forth an empire which they will rule.
Since 2001 Master Chief has starred in seven successive games; Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo Wars, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, and the newer titles too. As a result of this success, there has also been a TV show centered inside the Halo universe, released on Netflix a few years back.
By now it’s safe to say that Master Chief is one of gaming’s best heroes ever created. He has been able to defeat all of his enemies with only one exception when he lost all of his allies during the events of “Halo 3,” but he still triumphed over The Flood even though it wasn’t easy for him to do so at that time.