Summary
BioWarehas given fans plenty of memorable protagonists over the years, placing them in the shoes of an established hero or an underdog who soars to incredible heights throughout the journey of the game. AllBioWaregames and protagonists are fantastic in their own right, with some established parts of the character, but the players are ultimately given rein over the type of character they are.
From BioWare’s iconicstar-faring sci-fi titleMass Effectto the ever-popular fantasy RPGDragon Age, players have embarked on many fantastic,world-threatening adventureswith an amazing protagonist to accompany players for the ride that awaits.
In thisChinese-inspiredaction RPG, players assume the role of the Spirit Monk, someone with prowess in martial arts who must team up with people they meet throughout their journey to rescue their mentor, Master Li.
Players get to choose from one of six presets that determine their stats and what role they should assume during combat, and the dialogue choices allow players to play the Monk how they see fit, with a closed fist, open palm system similar to Mass Effect’s paragon and renegade mechanic, and multiple endings depending on players choice. With one ending being that the Spirit Monk makes the ultimate sacrifice, there is no denying that even without player input, they are brave and noble of heart.
Dragon Age: Originsintroduced players to the Warden, who would go on to be an epic hero who thwarted the Blight.Dragon Age 2introduces players to Hawke, theeldest siblingin a family that is seeking to escape the blight with their family, fleeing to the safety of Kirkwall.
As the elder sibling, Hawke is saddled with the protection and safety of their family and bears the brunt of their mother’s blame when one of their siblings dies during their escape, instantly making players sympathetic to their blight. Yet they never grow bitter, defending and loving their family to the end. Also, they become the Champion Kirkwall, saving the city from the grip of the mad Knight-Commander Meredith. Not bad for an underdog.
With a foe as powerful and legendary as Corypheus, a hero is needed to match. Enter the Inquisitor, the protagonist ofDragon Age: Inquisition, and the only one capable of stopping his evil machinations. With a breach tearing open between the world of Thedas and the Fade, the home of spirits and demons, the safety and balance of the world is threatened, and a plucky band of heroes led by the player must seal it.
Like previousDragon Agegames, the class, gender, and race of theircharacter can be customized, and dialogue choices determine the ‘morality’ of the character. But whether they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’, one thing is for certain: the Inquisitor is a strong-willed and heroic protagonist that players cannot help but enjoy playing as.
Dragon Age Originsimmediately introduces characters to the world of Thedas, and the plight of its denizens when a Blight begins–the awakening of an archdemon and thousands of darkspawn spill over the lands, slaughtering indiscriminately or taking unwitting victims to create more of their ilk. Only the Grey Wardens can stop them, with the player character being one of the few survivors of this now-lost order.
Before they undertake the Joining, players get tochoose their raceand class which directly impacts the opening hour of gameplay. This makes Origins one of the most replayable games of all time, and having a customizable origin for their character means that players have even more control over what character they want to play, which instantly makes the Warden one of the most likable protagonists of all time.
Although players get to customize their appearance to their background, Shepard is already an established figure in the Earth’s military, with players choosing their backstory and a defining moment in their career that marks them a plucky sole survivor, a noble hero, or a ruthless butcher that can get the job done no matter the cost.
The galaxy’s only hope against the unstoppable Reapers, Shepard is everything asci-fi space opera’smain character should be. Skilled, strong, brave but not totally without flaws. After all, Shepard is still human, and the ruthless nature of the war against the Reapers wears even on them. This adds a touch of realism to their character and makes them more relatable, as anyone would struggle in their position.
