So many games focus too much on the hero, so the bad guy is overlooked and ends up being boring and lacking personality. But games today need more dimensions to keep today's ADD gamer interested and happy. This is my salute to those games that have villains almost as cool, if not cooler, than the hero.
8) Final Fantasy 8: Seifer
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Seifer starts out as Squall's fellow student in the SEED academy and is the reason Squall has that nasty scar. The rivalry turns sour and Seifer shows his true colors as a villain. I liked that Seifer was a fairly normal looking villain; he wasn't a dancing clown (Kefka) or a effeminate male blurring gender lines (Kuja).
7) Super Mario: Bowser
Even though Donkey Kong was the original nemesis of Mario, Bowser was way cooler, mainly because he was a dragon and Donkey Kong was just a monkey. Bowser had his own minions, a huge castle, and spikes on his shell. He always stole the scene from Mario, especially when he joins the group in Super Mario RPG. Because he was the strongest character in the game, I'll overlook how ridiculous he looked in that flying clown.
6) Chrono Cross: Lynx
Lynx is an interesting villian, he is a bi-pedal feline with a pretty cool outfit that seems to reflect a dark, gothic style that someone like Dracula would wear. With a female clown named Harle as a sidekick, Lynx had a Joker feel to him and when Serge and him switch bodies, you control Lynx for a portion of the game, creating a connection between him and the gamer.
5) Resident Evil 5: Wesker
You are first introduced to Wesker in Resident Evil, but you get to know his character much better in the fifth installment. A long coat and glasses are the typical villain fare, but Wesker has super human strength thanks to the virus he contains in his body. Chris and Sheva are his punching bags during most of the game and Wesker has some pretty showy moves when he puts the hurt on them. Do yourself a favor and rent Resident Evil 5, if not just to watch Wesker's fight scenes.
4) Baldur's Gate: Sarevok
The intro movie to Baldur's Gate introduces the player to Sarevok and shows he is not to be taken lightly. As step brother of the main character and killer of his adoptive father, Sarevok's motives are unclear and it is up to the player to track him down and keep him from completing his diabolical schemes. A giant who is covered head to toe in armor, Sarevok is a challenge to defeat.
3) Metal Gear Solid: Revolver Ocelot
Our first introduction to Ocelot is in the acclaimed Playstation game Metal Gear Solid and it is a bit disappointing, since he gets his arm cut off by Grey Fox. Nevertheless, Ocelot keeps it old school by using a six shooter and the next games in the Metal Gear games dive deeper into his character. Ocelot was an agent during the Cold War and his marksmanship rivaled Snake's, if not surpassing it. Not until later in the series does the player finally learn what side Ocelot is playing for and the mystery that surrounds him puts him high on my list as a cool villian.
2) Final Fantasy VII: Sephiroth
It's amazing how Sephiroth is practically a household name, even with people who never played FFVII and the iconic villain is the epitome of cool. Everyone likes Sephiroth, even though he wants to suck all the mako from the planet and sail around the universe on it. What really raises Sephiroth above other villains are the fight scenese that display his sheer power and skillful sword play, all the while keeping his cocky confidence. Whether it be against Genesis, Zack, or Cloud, Sephiroth always puts on a show.
1) Knights of the Old Republic: Darth Revan
This is my number one and tops Sephiroth mainly because the player actually is Darth Revan, but doesn't know it until later in the game. Revan is one of the coolest characters in the Star Wars series, wearing the usual dark hooded robe and Boba Fett type mask. It is a great twist in the game when you discover that you actually are this dark and evil character. It's up to the player whether or not to continue Revan's reign of terror and reclaim his throne of evil by defeating his apprentice Dark Malak, or you can turn your back against your old ways and join the light side of the force.
8 Greatest Video Game Villains
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