Summary
Rockstar Games is known for crafting personalities that are anything but goody-two-shoes. These fictional people are made all the more believableby their selfish nature, putting their well-being above everything else, regardless of the consequences. While this is believable and a huge part of what makes every Rockstar game a blast to play through, there are times when the selflessness of certain individuals stands out as highlights in a game full of self-serving characters.
These moments of altruism and morality end up being quite powerful and help certain characters stand out as ones who aren’t all that heinous and are actually capable of showing compassion from time to time. Rockstar’s writing has been criticized in certain instances, but that hasn’t stopped players from appreciating the motivations of certain characters and how they’ll put everything on the line to fight for the right thing.
Corrupt cops run the show inSan Andreas, with Tenpenny and his goons doing everything in their power to ensure thatprotagonist CJremains under their thumb. The members of C.R.A.S.H. end up infiltrating gangs to line up their pockets, with Sweet getting caught in the crossfire as CJ is forced to become a lackey for the very men who turned his life upside-down. However, there’s one member of this gang who sees the light and tries to do the right thing.
Hernandez is one of the more level-headed members of the trio who decides to report Tenpenny and Pulaski’s corrupt activities. However, the former catches wind of this betrayal and sends Hernandez to an early grave, but not before the cop puts up a fight and almost puts Pulaski in the grave before CJ takes up this task and kills a cop who’s been a thorn in his side for the longest time.
Grand Theft Auto 3is the game that steered the ship in the right direction, setting a template that all future open-world games would follow with varying degrees of success. At the heart of this game is Claude, a character who is betrayed by his ex-girlfriend and helps out a myriad of powerful characters to get a shot at revenge.
What makes this protagonist amusing is his mute nature, agreeing to the most bonkers tasks and putting himself in harm’s way time and time again without kicking up so much as a fuss. Sure, he may be helping these people to further his own agenda, but that doesn’t change the fact that he goes out of his way numerous times to help out people without expecting a lot in return.
One of thefinest narratives in a Rockstar game to date, the journey of Arthur Morgan as he slowly comes to grips with the errors of his ways and redeems himself at the end of a long and arduous journey inRed Dead Redemption 2is a thing of beauty. Sure, he can be selfish if players decide to pursue a low Honor playthrough, but most people would agree that Arthur’s character shines if his Honor is as high as they come.
His lowest point comes after he beats a person down on his luck because he owed a debt, only to contract tuberculosis later on and learn the error of his ways. He tries to make up for his past mistakes, sacrificing his well-being for the welfare of the gang as he becomes a paragon of justice and spends his final days enjoying a sunset as the disease of the black lung finally spells his doom.
The amazing facial animation ofLA Noirestill looks amazing to this day, barring a few goofy moments here and there. At the heart of this mystery title is Cole Phelps, who uncovers a massive conspiracy and is disgraced in a bid to protect numerous important men from having their corruption exposed to the public. During a violent storm at the end of the game, Cole finally solves the case that had bugged him for the longest time, but at a great cost.
While trying to escape from the Los Angeles River Tunnels, Cole notices a flood of water coming his way and helps everyone to safety before being violently swept away by the current and dying. It’s a sudden end to one of the greatest video game protagonists of all time who tried to do the right thing no matter what came his way.
It’s very rare for Rockstar Games to create a character who is genuinely good at heart and doesn’t carry any secret agendas to further their goals at the cost of others. This is the biggest reason why Bonnie MacFarlane was such a beloved character from the first game, nursing John Marston back to health after he was shot down by Bill Williamson and his goons.
Despite attracting a crosshair on her back by continuing to help Marston, this rancher never stopped doing what she thought was the right thing. It’s a good thing that Marston saved her in the nick of time when she was on the verge of being hanged by Bill since fans would’ve been saddened if this kind-hearted character was to breathe her last just because of her benevolence.
