Image via Complex Original
To be a badass, you don't always have to be a bad guy and to be a hero it isn't always neccessary to be a softie. People are always drawn to characters that have an edge to them whether it's a protagonist or antagonist. The only thing that matters is that they can crack open a six-pack of whoop-ass in a moments notice. That's why we've put together this list of The 50 Most Badass Video Game Characters Of All Time to pay tribute to the good and bad guys that will bring it to you if you get on their wrong side.
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50. Jim
Game: Earthworm Jim
It takes a special kind of worm to jump inside of a space suit and start waving a zap gun around. Jim is just the type of worm to take on a laundry list of baddies while using his own body to whip and swing from ledges. Guaranteed, you won't find a caterpillar doing that.
49. The Worms
Game: Worms
We are convinced you will not find a group of creatures as bad ass as the ones in Worms. These blood thirsty creatures constantly find ways to blow each other to bits using tools, weapons, and tanks.
48. Alice
Game: American McGee's Alice
Alice attempts to keep her sanity after witnessing the death of her family in a fire. She takes you on a wild ride of her insane mind of bizarre situations most of which she is covered in blood.
47. Conker the Squirrel
Game: Conker
It takes one particular type of squirrel to stumble drunk from a bar and get himself in a pickle of a position after trying to get home. Conker managed to get lost and is know being tried by the King who wants to use him as a table leg. Hungover as ever, Conker must defeat enemies and find his way to freedom.
46. Piranha Plant
Game: Super Mario
These totally bad ass carnivorous plants usually hide in pipe, salivating for their next victim. Throughout time, these Piranha Plants have evolved and can be found outside of pipes and at times spitting out fire.
45. Gordan Freeman
Game: Half-Life
Dr Gordon Freeman is a theoretical physicist who is forced to fight against hostile aliens when the world goes utterly wrong. Almost by accident, he becomes a bad ass hero for the uprising.
44. Dan Smith
Game: Killer 7
Dan Smith is extremely presumptuous, and there is not a chance he will pass up the opportunity to shoot some of his famous witty one liners.
43. Jack Lupino
Game: Max Payne
Jack Lupino has to be one of the most quoted lunatics of all time. Jack was a high ranking member of the Punchinello crime family and a Valkyr junkie. He became clearly psychotic and believed he was a messenger from hell. He killed his own men and had people partake in his demonic rituals.
42. Max Payne
Game: Max Payne
Max Payne is a New York City homicide detective and undercover agent with a dark sense of humor. He becomes a loose cannon after the death of his wife and child and begins to go on merciless killing sprees cleaning the streets.
41. Mattias Nilsson
Game: Mercenaries 2
Mattias Nilsson is hands down one of our favorite mercenaries on Mercenaries 2. A former ExOps operative is had expensive knowledge for all things explosives. His Mohawked hair and tied beard help a bad boy image, but it's his boisterous attitude that make him even more of a rebel.
40. GLaDOS
Game: Portal
GLaDOS guides Chell out of her chambers in Portal and often puts her in life threatening positions while providing her with motivation. In the beginning of the game it becomes unclear if she is aware of what she is doing and It's all for science! It is not until she tries to out right kill you that you know she was only trying to trick you.
39. Alyx Vance
Game: Half-Life
Alyx is a highly skilled hacker who infiltrate Combine computer systems and reprograms them. She has a keen sense of humor, which Gordon does not always understand.
38. Q*bert
Game: Q*Bert
This little orange guy has no shame and is not scared to say how he feels. Although he might be a sore loser, he will not hesitate to curse you out.
37. Ezio Auditore Da Firenze
Game: Assassin's Creed
Ezio is our favorite Renaissance man. After learning about his heritage, he goes off on the quest for vengeance against the Templar Order. He traveled to various cities in Italy dumping bodies in hay stacks, climbing his way to the top of cathedrals, sneaking his way into top secret areas.
36. John Marston
Game: Red Dead Redemption
John Marston is a low key family man up keeping his ranch living an ordinary life. However, it was not always this way for John. A former bandit of a huge gang, he is called back in the game to save his family from emanate danger. What was once known is never forgotten as John goes on killing sprees and casual stops at the brothels.
35. Augustus Cole
Game: Gears of War
Going on a Locust killing mission with Augustus Cole will guarantee you funny one liners and smart ass remarks. This flamboyant former athlete now dedicates his life to saving the world, but he still has fans from his Thrashball days.
34. Cole MacGrath
Game: inFamous
Bike-messenger Cole MacGrath can be found in the inFamous series either playing the villain or the hero. After a delivery mission had gone wrong, a package turned out to be an electric bomb which caused total destruction, Cole survives the blast but is left with superhuman powers of electricity. He surfs power lines, throws whirlwinds of energy, and discharges lighting How badass is that?
33. Sonic
Game: Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic takes you on fast paced adventures of winding looping roads, avoiding platforms made of spikes, and collection as many gold coins as possible. As if this is not tiring enough, Dr Eggman is always waiting for him at the end ready to pounce him. Thankfully, Sonic has incredible stamina and is always ready to kick butt.
32. Amaterasu
Game: Okami
Don't be fooled by her quiet, kind, and gentle ways. Amaterasu is not afraid express her opinion and is not above making sassy remarks. In Okamu, she turns into a white wolf with a calligraphy tail often used as a weapon.
31. Marcus Fenix
Game: Gears of War
Attitude, looks, and overall personality make this guy one of our favorite badasses. He does what he wants, mouths off to officials, and curve stomps those in his way.
30. Corvo Attano
Game: Dishonored
The sometimes masked bodyguard Corvo is equip with impressive gadgets, which paired with his stealth capabilities allow him to steal your cake and eat it too. Okay so maybe he isn't eating cakes, but he is usually using his sword or his crossbow to accomplish much darker goals.
29. Vaas Montenegro
Game: Far Cry 3
Vaas is an insane murdering psychopath that will sit you down for tea and give you valuable lessons about life right before trying to chop your head off.
28. Michael Jackson
Game: Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Michael Jackson beat his enemies down while busting some of his famous moves while saving the kids. He also makes the bad guys dance with him and then strikes them down. Who's bad?
27. Evil Otto
Game: Berzerk
Evil Otto is as bad ass as they come. He is job is to poison walls and zap you, all with a smile on his face.
26. Connor
Game: Assassin's Creed 3
Ratonhnhaké ton also known as Connor was a Native American Assassin during the American Revolutionary War. As a young child, he watched his village burn down and after losing his mother he joined the Assassin Order. He was part of many missions to protect the country and strengthened the Assassin Brotherhood.
25. Lesuire Suit Larry
Game: Lesuire Suit Larry
Larry is our favorite mack daddy. He often introduces himself like James Bond and gets extremely hot women to have sex with him.
24. Sub Zero
Game: Mortal Kombat
Sub Zero as another of our favorite Mortal Kombar bad asses. He is a Lin Kuei assassin whose famous battle cry is, "this fight will be your last!" His moves freeze floors or anyone he aims for.
23. Scorpion
Game: Mortal Kombat
Scorpion is a resurrected ninja assassin and one of the finest warriors of the Shiria clan. After the death of his family, he sets out to seek revenge. Don't get near his Spear as it will only drag you closer to an exceptionally unpleasant situation.
22. Chun Li
Game: Street Fighter 2
Chun Li has by far the deadliest thighs in all of video game history. She can seem adorable while claiming victory, but she is just as deadly.
21. Princess Toadstool
Game: Super Princess Peach
This popular damsel in distress is Mario's love interest and the object of obsession for Bowser. However, in a case of role reversal, Princess Toadstool had to battle the bad guys and save Mario on Super Princess Peach.
20. Bayonetta
Game: Bayonetta
Don't let her librarian looks fool you. Bayonetta will have you on your knees faster than you can say "shh".
19. Juliet Starling
Game: Lollipop Chainsaw
We wouldn't usually consider a cheerleader to be any kind of bad ass. Juliet Starling from lollipop Chainsaw is a different story. Not only does she wield a chainsaw like a boss, but she comes from a long line of Zombie Hunters.
18. The Kid
Game: Bastion
Typical story of a kid without a father who was picked on at school. The kid was not good in school but sure was good with weapons. He served two tours on the Rippling Walls and the only person in history of Caelondia to do so.
17. Grimlock
Game: Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
The leader of the Dinobots is the defenition of brute strength and raw power. Instead of guns, he opts for a more intimate method of killing by using a sword. Once provoked to a certain level of anger, he transforms into a Tyranasaurus Rex, the most feared and dominant pre-historic beasts to ever walk the earth. Combine all that badassness with a hellish temper and the ability to breath fire and you have a really bad day if you're on the wrong side.
16. Issac Clarke
Game: Dead Space
Engineering star Isaac Clarke lives through the events of Dead Space killing disgusting Necromorphs all the while on a mission to rescue his girlfriend on a messed up spaceship. He later wakes up in a mental hospital suffering from dementia all the while still having to kick major necromorphs butt. Any normal person would be confused to the point of submission, but not our Clarke. He fights on regardless of how crazy he or things around him become.
15. Kratos
Game: God of War
Kratos' past was filled with horrifying images of death and bloody slaughter of humans. For a time, Kratos tried to forget his actions with wine and lots of women without much success. It was not until he was enlisted to help the gods that he was able to move on and kick serious devine butt.
14. Jack
Game: BioShock
After his plane crashes, Jack found himself in the underwater city of Rapture. Thanks to the aid of a DNA enhancing liquid, Jack is granted powers of telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and overall badassery. Although he was designed to be controlled, Jack finds his way to rebel and become a free man.
13. Dante
Game: Devil May Cry
Dante is a vigilante Devil Hunter who has dedicated his life to the exterminating of demons, a task he picked up after his mother was murdered. This bodacious white haired character often mouths off to demons before blasting them to bits.
12. Lara Croft
Game: Tomb Raider
Her sensual lips, long flowing hair, and delicious curves have captivated gamers all over the world. But Lara does not only got the looks. This bad ass chick crawls dark caves, solves hard mysteries, and can seduce you with or without a gun.
11. Samus Aran
Game: Metroid
Samus Aran is called upon on missions that entail killing space pirates and menacing blob looking villains. She has to create peace in space by getting rid of the bad guys while in a kick ass space suite. Not a terrible deal, if you ask us.
10. Donkey Kong
Game: Donkey Kong
Our favorite primate loves tossing barrels down platforms and going on crazy adventures. Whatever he might be doing, this tie wearing hunk is always keeping it cool.
9. Bowser
Game: Super Mario Bros.
Browser of Super Mario Bros fame could be easily found at the top of the super villain hall of fame. Much like an evil doer, Browser's ultimate goal is to marry the princess, defeat Mario, and rule over Mushroom Kingdom.
8. Leah
Game: Diablo 3
Leah is one of the prevalent characters throughout Diablo 3 and is nothing short of helpful. She fights along side the heroes, although she is not exactly what she appears. She is conceived as the host for Diablo, but will remain unaware of this fact up until taking up her uncles life's work after his death.
7. Sephiroth
Game: Final Fantasy
Long white flowing hair and all-black clothing, coat certainly add to Sephiroth's intimidating appearance. This leading villain from the Final Fantasy series does not only look maleficent, but acts like it too. In what could only be described as bouts of lunacy, Sephiroth's unleashes his anger into his victims both verbally and physically.
6. Link
Game: The Legend of Zelda
Link is the name of the little guy in green clothes found in the Legend of Zelda series. No matter which incarnation of the Spirit of the Hero you get, expect general evil slaying and genius problem solving. Our hero is always courageous and willing to save the princess, his village, or the world.
5. Mario
Game: Super Mario Bros.
Mario is both the lead character behind the Super Mario Bros series and Nintendo's iconic mascot. Throughout the years, we have seen Mario in a numbers of games of varied genres. He has done everything from ravaging kingdoms in search for the princess to kicking butt on the tennis courts.
4. Faith
Game: Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge protagonist Faith Connors rebels against her city's strict rules and joins an illegal underground carrier group called Runner. She dashes around the city, climbs buildings, dodges bullets, and acts like a total bad ass. Plus, who else could pull off a face tattoo as well as her?
3. Chell
Game: Portal
Chell is the silent protagonist of Valve's Portal series. She might not say much, but who has time to talk when you got puzzles to solve. Directed by GLaDOS, Chell is made to go through various life-threatening puzzles, surviving each one of them. With Portal gun in hand, she destroys GLaDOS and finds her way towards freedom. Or does she?
2. Commander Shepard
Game: Mass Effect
The coolest part about Commander Shepard is the versatility. Commander Shepard is the human protagonist in the Mass Effect series whose appearance, sex, attitude, and skills are fully customizable. Throughout the game, you are in control of the responses given in the dialogue, making how bad ass the character is up to you.
1. Master Chief
Game: Halo
Master Chief is the faceless leading man of Bungie's Halo series. Although we don't get to see much skin, the chiseled detail in this armor hints at a body just as bad ass as his attitude. Possessing a "less talk more action" personality, Master Chief usually rises victorious out of difficult situations and is a fearless leader.