Best Of
A character that fits into a box goes stale.
Like bread that was forgotten for weeks in the pantry.
Maybe not that stale.
But, we generally like to see characters evolve across playing a game.
Whether you prefer that they evolve for the better or worse is up to you.
Provided they evolve, Im good with that.
That way, playing the game feels fresh and exciting.
The more real a character is, the more enjoyable it is to play as them.
It creates the sense that they too can get shot.
That they can age, heal, or even grow weary after consecutive fights.
So, for all intents and purposes, here are the five video games that nailed character progression.
GTA San Andreas
Ive always thought life simulators must have some form of character progression.
ForGTA San Andreaslovers, this is exactly the case depending on which activity you engage with the most.
It seems like nothing much.
Like if you never shave your beard, it should start to grow out with time.
And maybe thats exactly the style you were going for.
The protagonist, in particular, enjoys a cup full of love and care in his design.
Until Dawn
Imagine living your worst nightmare.
What if it runs, on and on, throughout the night?
For characters inUntil Dawn, they face their worst, living nightmare until, well, until dawn.
This drama horror features eight friends trapped in a remote mountain retreat.
In attendance with them are dreadful creatures.
Death is a possibility.
So is saving one another.
So, who will survive until dawn?
In the midst of the fear and tensions running high, Michael takes it all in like a champ.
He suffers a beating all through the night, you feel sorry for him.
From gorgeous to gory, calm to beat, you could see all the expected transformations throughout.
He even loses a finger in a bear trap.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2plays its cards perfectly right.
And his physical appearance matches too.
But as days go by, his will to fight starts to fade.
The last fight becomes the one that could be the last.
But he pushes through.
As much as he feigns strength, his body starts to give in.
We see him sustain a light cough at first.
Soon, the perils of being on the run catch up with him.
By the time Arthur takes on that round of bullets, he looks like a mess.
Hes defeated, and it shows.
As he faces his adversaries one last time, Arthur can barely stand.
He takes that last defeat sorely, collapsing on the street like dead weight.
This progressive outcome certainly plays a part in how gripping and devastating Arthur taking his last breath was.
Giving out commands will seem so easy.
Your squad troops will do what you say, no questions asked.
Thats exactly what happens in this game.
But as the battle continues, the plot thickens.
Captain Martin Walker sustains bruises and injuries vividly visible to the eye.
But it goes deeper than visual injuries.
All the chaos takes a mental toll on him.
His orders no longer sound sure.
As he tries to lead his crew, its clear they have lost their faith in him.
They either ignore what you say or tell you to shut up.
Evans I. Karanja is a freelance writer who loves to write about anything technology.
When not writing, he can be found playing video games or watching F1.
