Image via Complex Original
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Creative thinkers tend to draw inspiration from just about anything. We're talking architecture, set design for a movie, even sneakers get designed from something else in our every day lives. Sometimes subtle things will inspire a design, and other times it's a downright ripoff. This is one of those other times. We ain't even mad though, no, we actually like it this way. Video game characters at times are parodies or homage to people in history and characters in movies, but above all else they tend to be our favorites in most games and series. Take a look at our 25 Best Video Game Character Look-A-Likes.
Written by Obi Anyanwu (@obianyanwu)
Agent 47
Agent 47 & David Bateson
IO Interactive picked Agent 47's voice actor, David Bateson, as their inspiration for the character design.You can thank him for badass bald head.
Andore
Andore & Andre the Giant
Andre the Giant hit his peak in the 80’s, and spurned the design for this behemoth in Final Fight. Capcom saw a great design coming from this 7’4 monster with a jheri curl.
Andrew
Andrew & Andrew Jackson
SNK drew inspiration from folklore and real warriors when they created the characters in Samurai Showdown. The developers wanted to see the seventh US President, Andrew Jackson face off against Hattori Hanzo.
Balrog
Balrog & Mike Tyson
Capcom ditched their original black boxer design from the first Street Fighter for a more violent, brash fighter. Who better to look to than Mike Tyson? Originally Mike Bison, Balrog got his name changed for the American version of the game. Despite the name change, yes, Balrog still wants to eat your children.
Big Boss
Big Boss & Snake Plissken from Escape from New York
Kojima gave up hiding the Plissken inspiration when he designed a young Big Boss for MGS3: Snake Eater. The long hair and eye patch was in full effect, and was totally awesome.
Big Van Vader
Alexander the Greater/Big Bear & Big Van Vader
Remember Vader? The dude that had a never-ending feud with Cactus Jack? The monster that manhandled Shawn Michaels? We were huge fans of his, and so were Capcom and SNK. The rival companies used Vader to design Alexander the Greater and Big Bear respectively though Big Bear became more popular.
Bill Rizer & Lance Bean
Bill Rizer/Lance Bean & Dutch from Predator/Rambo from Rambo
Gotta love those macho, 80’s army flicks. Back when war movies were all about the kill count and gun size, Konami called on Schwarzenegger’s and Stallone’s characters from Predator and Rambo respectively. Then Konami gave us their code to be unstoppable just like them.
Blue Suede Goo
Blue Suede Goo & Elvis Presley
At one point in time Elvis impersonators were everywhere. Blue Suede Goo was the tipping point in Clay Fighter.
Chin Gentsai
Chin Gentsai & Begger So
The movie Drunken Master may havehelped us get better acquainted with Jackie Chan’s stunt acting chops, but it also served as inspiration for this Psycho Soldier team member, Chin Gentsai. We would love to have a drinking night with this guy.
Choi Bounge
Choi Bounge & Freddy Krueger
This fake Freddy Krueger was a favorite of ours. We’ll admit, when Nightmare on Elm Street shook us, we took our anger out on Choi. It helped us sleep easier at night.
Gino Stiletto
Gino Stiletto & Rocky Balboa
Every version of Ready 2 Rumble Boxing had a character specific to that console. The PSX version had this Balboa knockoff, but we looked passed that when playing as this Philly native.
The Great Oni
The Great Oni & The Great Muta
Before Tajiri, there was the Great Muta. Capcom channeled their Japanese brethren when they designed the Great Oni for Saturday Night Slammasters. What made Muta famous was his “Muta Mist” that Oni uses only as a celebration.
Holly Summers
Holly Summers & Cherry Darling
Suda 51 drew inspiration from Cherry Darling’s AK-knee in Planet Terror when he designed Holly Summers. Though Summers' prosthetic leg is only gun metal, she had enough heavy artillery to skip a knee with a full clip.
Ivanzypher
Ivanzypher & Chewbacca
Though we never really got to see Ivanzypher, we enjoyed playing as him to crash into fake Fabio’s car. It was the closest we have gotten to actually be Chewbacca as kids. And yes, we did the Chewbacca noise when we won. Don’t judge us.
Kratos
Kratos & Derek Vinyard from American History X
Believe it or not, David Jaffe used Edward Norton’s character from American History X to channel Kratos’ power and aggression. He traded the violent curb stomping for even more rampant violence, and for that we thank him.
Liu Kang/Fei Long
Liu Kang/Fei Long & Bruce Lee
At one point, everyone was obsessed with Bruce Lee. Liu Kang and Fei Long are a reflection of that. Liu Kang’s design evolved over time at least while Fei Long stuck with the gimmick.
Ludwig von Koopa
Ludwig von Koopa & Ludwig von Beethovan
Bowser’s seven children have very distinct personalities all based on real people. Our favorite is Ludwig for the boss fight in Super Mario World. Gotta love the hair color change too.
Nathan Drake
Nathan Drake & Indiana Jones
Uncharted protagonist Nathan Drake may not have bit Indiana Jones’ entire look, but there are definitely similarities in character and humor.
Niko Bellic
Niko Bellic & Sasha from Behind Enemy Lines
It’s no secret that Niko Bellic’s look was bit from Sasha from Behind Enemy Lines. A few pictures on the interwebz show a side-by-side comparison, and we couldn’t tell them apart.
Runaway Five
The Runaway Five & The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are pop culture icons, and Itoh couldn’t help but pay homage to them. We’re sure the Runaway Five is yet another reason why Earthbound will never come back.
Stretch
Stretch & Julius Erving
This retrosuperballer stuck in the 70’s is very reminiscent to Dr. J’s monster fro and monster dunking. Activate unlimited turbo and it’s on!
Travis Touchdown
Travis Touchdown & Johnny Knoxville/Tyler Durden from Fight Club
Travis’ design was taken from two people. The slacker look complete with the messy faux-hawk and expensive shades was from the famous Jackass, Johnny Knoxville. The red leather jacket and penchant for causing other people pain was from Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden from the cult classic, Fight Club
Wesker
Albert Wesker & T-1000
The blonde crew cut and sunglasses that made T-1000 one of the most memorable movie characters of all time was used to create Albert Wesker in Resident Evil. No wonder he would never die in the series….