A core element of video games is character progression. As heroes overcome challenges, they gain more abilities. This, in turn, enables them to defeat more enemies and unlock new areas. They mostly accomplish this growth on their own. However, a few characters use their opponents as stepping stones.
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Game heroes occasionally absorb their adversaries' abilities. This is often a reward for defeating those adversaries in battle. On the surface, it’s not very heroic. On the upside, it does tie enemy encounters into character-building, lending more meaning to each fight. Not to mention, the protagonists don’t seem to mind as long as they get something out of it.
7Dante (Devil May Cry)
The sole proprietor of theDevil May Cryagency, Dante specializes in vanquishing demons. He demands payment for his services, but he also takes something extra. When he defeats a particularly imposing monster, he uses what’s left to fashion a new weapon. He may fashion a Cerberus creature into a pair of nunchucks, or he might convert the Cavaliere Angelo warriorinto a motorcycle/buzzsaw.
Dante shouldn’t need that extra power since he’s the son of a demon knight. In reality, he doesn’t. Part of the reason he takes them is his enjoyment. A new weapon is like a new toy to him.
6Kratos (God Of War)
As the titularGod of War, Kratos mostly kills his enemy and moves on to the next. Occasionally, though, he takes a piece with him. Not as a trophy, but as a tool. These spoils grant mystical enhancements which aid the Spartan in his quest, includinga Gorgon’s deadly gaze. Greek myth often hinges on getting the right object to conquer an obstacle.
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That mentality comes to a head inGod of War 3, literally. Here, Kratos lays siege to Olympus and battles the Greek gods. Upon slaughtering these pompous deities, he takes their stuff. He steals Hermes’s shoes for dashing, absorbs Hades’s soul to escape the Underworld, and holds Helios’s severed head as a lantern. Gods sometimes grant gifts to the faithful, but none of them are this generous.
5Kirby (Kirby)
Kirby’s power hinges on using external sources for his benefit. His breath is so strong that he sucks up entire enemies and objects, a staple power for theKirbyseries. He then spits them back out as projectiles, but that’s not his only use for them.
Sucking up some foes allows Kirby tocopy their abilities. For instance, absorbing a knight might give Kirby a sword and shield. In addition, consuming flame-based foes could turn Kirby into a living fireball. The sky’s the limit.
4Mega Man (Mega Man)
Technology is always improving, and theMega Manseries features a living example of that with the titular character. As a cybernetic child, Mega Man is tasked with defeating other robots who have gone rogue. The deadliest among them are the Robot Masters. Each of these bosses boasts a unique weapon and advanced artificial intelligence.
Although defeatingMega Manbosses can be difficult, doing so will integrate their technology into his own. Most of these are improvements to his hand cannon. Examples include bombs, flamethrowers, ice beams, and even bubbles. Granted, it’s somewhat unsettling that these rogue bots are still sentient as Mega Man assimilates them, but that’s the price to pay forbecoming the true Robot Master.
3The Dragonborn (The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim)
One would think someone known as the “Dragonborn” would be at peace with dragons. Alas, no. The protagonist ofSkyriminstead gains power from slaying these majestic beasts. Doing so absorbs their souls, leaving nothing but skeletons. Players then use these souls to unlock perks in the skill tree.
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More specifically, they access Dragon Shouts. These are ancient incantations in the dragons' language, and they’re easily the most powerful spells inThe Elder Scrolls' history. Players learn the words by reading their inscriptions in temples and caves. They then spend souls tomake the shouts available to use. It’s not enough to simply kill the dragons; players have to take their power and tongue. That’s adding insult to injury.
2Emerl (Sonic Battle)
Among the more unorthodoxSoniccharacters is a robot named Emerl. A relic uncovered by Dr. Eggman’s grandfather, he was engineered to be the ultimate life form. That sounds eerilysimilar to Shadow the Hedgehog, but Emerl copies more than just Sonic.
Controlling the naive mech, players battle each of the hedgehog’s companions. Defeating them yields cards corresponding to their moves. These can be running animations, combo finishers, special attacks, or anything else about them. Fans then organize these cards into an ability deck, and Emerl can use any moves within this deck. In essence, he becomes a deadly fusion of all Sonic characters, built entirely on their defeat.
1Quina (Final Fantasy 9)
In JRPGs,the best blue magessubsist on learning others' magic and using it themselves, butFinal Fantasy 9puts a weird twist on that character class. The party can recruit a creature named Quina, which derives its power from eating. However, the main course isn’t food, but enemies.
When players weaken foes inFF9, Quina can swallow them in one gulp. Doing so teaches the mage one of their spells or attacks. These abilities are then available for the rest of the game. Quina consumes their foes without a care in the world. How long until the other heroes are on the menu?
