Sonyis one of the biggest electronics and entertainment companies around, withits focus on the PlayStation brandbeing quite palpable in the industry. Their focus on scintillating single-player experiences has been a winning strategy that has won over many fans… which is why many people worry about their reported focus on live-service games for the new console generation.
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After all, the amazing character writing in Sony’s many games is something that could’ve only been achieved in story-heavy single-player games. Both the heroes andvillainsare brilliant in these titles, with the latter serving as the main motivation for players to drive forward and give them a piece of their minds.
7Baldur (God Of War)
The fight againstthe Stranger inGod of War’s rebootis the moment when the game flexes its budget and shows what players are in for. This creepy character tries to break into Kratos' home, prompting the Spartan to unleash his rage on this man and beat him into a pulp… only for it to be revealed that the man is invulnerable and doesn’t feel any pain whatsoever.
Baldur constantly hounds Kratos and Atreus during their journey to scatter Faye’s ashes, with each encounter being quite astounding in its own right. Finally, after removing the curse that made Baldur immortal, Kratos decides to end this cycle of violence by breaking Baldur’s neck in front of her mother’s eyes, drawing her ire in the second game.
6Marlene (The Last Of Us)
To call Marlene a villain would be doing a huge injustice tothe incredible writing present inThe Last of Us, where morality is always gray and the protagonist himself isn’t exactly heroic. At the end of the game, Joel makes a selfish decision to sacrifice all of mankind, dooming them as he fights the Fireflies, weakens them for good, and saves Ellie despite the role she could play to help form a cure for the virus.
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This puts him on a collision course with Marlene, who pleads with him to help figure out a cure for the Cordyceps infection. However, Joel isn’t willing to budge, and murders Marlene in cold blood.
5Doctor Neo Cortex (Crash Bandicoot)
There was a time when Crash Bandicoot was the mascot that Sony was betting all their chips on, trying to rival the likes of Mario and Sonic. However, over time, the direction of the company shifted towards more mature experiences, turningCrash Bandicootinto an afterthought that was revived only a few years ago to the delight of many after being dormant for the longest time.
The villain that hounds Crash in pretty much every game is Doctor Neo Cortex, a mad scientist hell-bent on doing the most evil things possible for… reasons. Players definitely got a kick out of controlling this iconic antagonist in the latestCrash Bandicoottitle, which was a return to form for the series in the best way possible.
4Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)
The shot of Sephiroth impaling Aerith while Cloud looked on hopelessly isseared into the eyes of manyFinal Fantasyfanswho couldn’t believe that a party member was gone for good. The One-Winged Angel is one of gaming’s most iconic villains, with his stupidly lengthy katana and long silver hair making him instantly recognizable.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakehas allowed Sephiroth to enter the mainstream once again, with his inclusion inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatehelping out in this regard too. Fans can’t wait to see if they can control this character inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth!
3Ludwig, The Accursed/The Holy Blade (Bloodborne)
Ludwig isone of the most tragic figures inBloodborne, and labeling him as a villain is a huge disservice to the honor he held when his mind was sane. However, when the player encounters this figure in the Hunter’s Nightmare, he’s nothing more than a twisted visage who has absolutely no recollection of his past either.
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So, this makes it particularly epic when Ludwig regains part of his sanity midway through the battle, whipping out the iconic Moonlight Blade for one last duel against the Hunter. After defeating him, players can interact with his head and either tell him the brutal truth of the Healing Church’s perversion, or let him believe that his noble actions bore some fruit instead of being completely wasted.
2Ares (God Of War)
God of War’s legacy on the PlayStation is a rich and historied one, with players loving the original trilogy that put Santa Monica Studios on the mapbefore the franchise received a soft reboot. The person who kickstarts Kratos' quest for revenge is Ares, a heinous divine being who tricks the protagonist into killing his own wife and child in a bloodthirsty frenzy.
This prompts Kratos to swear vengeance against Olympus and its denizens, killing everything in his way before absolutely obliterating the Greek God of War. He takes his place soon after… but for Kratos, killing Ares was just another chapter in his violent story.
1The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
The Boss isone of the most fascinating villains inSnake Eater. Despite seeming like nothing more than a cold-hearted betrayer who violated Snake’s trust, the truth of her motivations doesn’t fully come to light until her poetic demise.
Fans can only hope that the remake of this game does justice to her amazing character. However, given Konami’s poor track record, most people don’t have high hopes… but only time can tell whether this fan reaction is justified.
