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Lists that rank the best, worst, and otherwise most memorable characters in video game history.

Prince

One of the more delightful aspects of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/8-awesome-videos-of-animals-playing-video-games/ariel-kana?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">playing video games</a> is jumping. That may seem silly, but really, you're never going to jump from one building to the next in real life, so being able to do that in a video game is pretty darn fun. Over the years there have been many video game characters who jump just a little bit better than the others. So we hopped at the opportunity to create a list of these leaping playable characters. Vote up your favorite jumpers and vote down the ones you think didn't jump as well as the others.&nbsp;One of the more obvious choices has to be Batman, particularly in Arkham Knight. Being able to launch yourself from the Batmobile and fly high over the city is thrilling in a way that never gets old. Then there's Alucard, from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, one of the best jumping video game characters out there. That goes double if you get the double jump upgrade for him. With all of these characters, it's hard to choose the best one!Lots of characters have hops, but these characters jump best. Take a look at our list of video game characters that jump, vote to determine the best jumper in all of gaming, and if you've played as all these characters, rerank the whole list! If there's a hopping hero who really ought to be on the list, go ahead and add them!

Some things are just more enjoyable with other people, and some video games are better when you&#39;re playing two characters. These famous video game duos make your game twice as fun by using the different abilities and personalities of each character to make a more memorable gaming experience.

Maybe these video game character pairs were originally each other&#39;s nemesis, like Chell &amp; GLaDOS in Portal, but that just makes their eventual team up even more satisfying. Even if you don&#39;t have much control over one of the characters, like Ellie in Last of Us or Atreus in God of War, their actions deeply influence how you as a player act. The interplay of their needs and how you want to succeed as a player makes for a better video game experience than if your character was flying solo, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-badass-video-game-heroes-of-all-time" target="_blank">no matter how cool your main character is</a>.

There are even some <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fallout-characters-and-companions/loganrapp?ref=browse_list_4&amp;l=2&amp;pos=3" target="_blank">non-playable and technically optional companions, like ED-E in Fallout: New Vegas</a>, that become such a huge part of the experience it can be impossible to imagine what the game would be like without them.

What video game character duo is the most dynamic and made for the best gaming experience?

Gaming

It's surprisingly&nbsp;hard to find a “normal” character in a video game, but it’s all too easy to find knife-wielding clowns and artfully inventive serial killers. Gaming’s obsession with violence has made for some of pop culture’s wildest psychos - characters who are as entertaining as they are terrifying and unhinged.They come in a variety of types. Sometimes it’s an unnerving, wide-eyed stare. Sometimes it’s the blood-soaked clothes and calmly whispered threats. Whatever tips us off to these character’s particular brand of insanity - &nbsp;a subtle hint or, more often that not, a murderous monologue - these psychos rank as the best in gaming. They pull us in close and refuse to let go. Despite all the bloodshed and disturbing behavior, it’s hard to look away.

Psycho Mantis

Who are the most broken multiplayer characters in video game history? There are thousands of unique <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-badass-video-game-heroes-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">video game characters</a>, but they're not all created equal. In fact, some are downright infuriating. Whether they're single player boss battles with overpowered attacks or multiplayer characters with easily exploitable guaranteed wins, there are always going to be a few characters that just make you want to smash your controller in frustration. This is a list of the most unfair video game characters, the opponents who reward button-mashing and punish smart gameplay.Who is the cheapest video game character? Is it a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-hardest-video-game-boss-battles-/pt_tesla">tough boss</a> like the ultimate boxer, Iron Mike Tyson, who can take you down in five seconds flat in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!? Or is it the classic boss from Sinistar, who mocks you as a ridiculous amount of enemies flood your screen in a way that couldn't possibly be beaten? Try not to scream in rage reading this list of cheap video game characters. You might wake the neighbors.&nbsp;So check out our list of the cheapest video game characters and vote up the ones you think are just unreasonably harsh, whether they're big bosses or playable heavies, Downvote the ones you don't really worry about much.

Pyramid Head (Silent Hill 2)

Whether horror, action, adventure, or anything in between, game developers like to create monsters that terrify you. From creepy little girls to eldritch horrors, this is really why we like to play video games:&nbsp;to slay&nbsp;demons that scare us. Lucky for you, we&#39;ve compiled a list of some of the scariest video game monsters of all time.&nbsp;Vote up the ones that truly frighten you, and downvote the ones that you don&#39;t think are very scary.&nbsp;

From Silent Hill&#39;s Pyramid Head, you get a horror that you can&#39;t escape &mdash; the truly ugly look of your inevitable judgment. In other places, like Resident Evil, you get the utterly gross Lickers, whose tongue will cut you in half, their brains are on the outside of their heads, and they can climb on walls. Then, there&#39;s always the Headcrabs from Half-Life, which will never fail to make you jump out of your seat. Scary monsters in video games are always welcome, if only so that we can end them.&nbsp;

Check out our list of the best video game monsters and vote for your favorites! Then take a look at some of our other video game lists to see what you should be playing next.

Gangsters and mobsters are pop culture's perfect bad guys. We just can't get enough. Every few years, Hollywood releases another epic crime tale set against the backdrop of a twisted American dream with murders set to Frank Sinatra. But video games? They're still catching up to mobster madness.That's not to say there haven't been great crime games throughout gaming history. There have been, and they all have one thing in common: a memorable, brutal gangster at the center.Vote for which characters you think should land at the top of gaming's Most Wanted list.

Rana Thanoptis

List of all Mass Effect characters, ranked by their popularity among fans of the game. Who is your favorite character from Mass Effect? This list includes both main and side characters, so feel free to vote for even the most obscure characters from the game. Do you find one of these characters to be incredibly annoying? Then downvote them into oblivion and make sure they fall to the bottom of the list. The amazing character design is part of what makes Mass Effect such an amazing title, so vote for whoever you think deserves to be called the greatest. The list you're viewing has a variety of items, like Garrus Valkarian and Liara T'Soni, in it.

Like the announcer of a fight in Mortal Kombat, Obama told a team of Navy Seals to finish off Osama Bin Laden, and they seem to have pulled off a Flawless Victory (no seriously, the squad sent in didn't suffer a single casualty or injury) as well as a Fatality (though we haven't seen a body, I'm betting it was frozen then ripped in half). It was like something out of a video game! Now, there are a number of counter-terrorists in video games, and though the following list chronicles some of the best, let's not forget that none of them can compare to the real soldiers who pulled off this plan. We salute you Seal Team Six!

In light of Mother's Day this year, no matter who raised you, here's a list that will make you glad that at least you weren't raised by any of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-badass-video-game-heroes-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">video game characters</a>. Here's a list of the 10 video game characters who would make the WORST mothers, given their actions in their respective games. If any of these people were mothers, we'd have to call child services STAT.

Who are the greatest brothers in video games? Lots of video games hinge on <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-video-game-duos/ranker-games" target="_blank">sibling rivalry or familial cooperation</a>. Whether they&#39;re government clones reunited to kick some ass, demonic hellspawn struggling to come to terms with their supernatural powers, or just a couple of hapless plumbers looking to have a good time, some of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/memorable-oscar-moments/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the most memorable</a> characters in video game history are brothers.

We know we didn&#39;t have to remind you about Mario and Luigi, but what other video game brothers are worthy of recognition? Vote below on your all-time favorite brothers in video games.

Weird sex references&nbsp;have always existed in the background of&nbsp;video games, but they've become especially prevalent in&nbsp;the last 20 years. As game technology has caught up with Hollywood, creators are&nbsp;increasingly able to dish out seemingly endless fantasy worlds&nbsp;to delight&nbsp;thirsty players.&nbsp;Developers can now render sex scenes in much greater detail, and even design some scenes to allow&nbsp;player participation.&nbsp;A few&nbsp;studios have managed to push&nbsp;the envelope by&nbsp;delivering&nbsp;some truly raunchy cut-scenes and mini-games for their fans to enjoy.The uptick in polygonal sexuality has resulted in&nbsp;quite a few&nbsp;video game characters who are <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-sexually-deviant-superheroes/brent-sprecher" target="_blank">total pervs</a>.&nbsp;Just look at Geralt of Rivia&nbsp;from The Witcher series; the monster hunter&nbsp;gets to sleep with quite a few women, and&nbsp;loves collecting mementos from all of his wild nights in bed (or on the back of a unicorn).&nbsp;Then there are the more <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-characters-who-are-sexual-predators/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">predatory</a> protagonists, such as Tim from Braid and James Sunderland from Silent Hill 2. These sexually deviant perverts' desires run much darker than simply wanting to live happily ever after at the end of the game.&nbsp;

Geeky

What's more scary than monsters? Nothing. What's scarier than these monsters? Everything. From ghosts who hide when you look at them, to creatures who just kind of sit there while you kill thousands of them, here are the top 8 monsters that could be completely frightening, but are instead laughable.

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Ling Xiaoyu

We compiled a list of all Tekken characters across every Tekken game, including the old school Tekken 1 characters and the new Tekken&nbsp;7 roster. Characters in the Tekken series include ninjas, demons, robots, and even a kangaroo, and we were for sure not to forget the girl characters. There are numerous Tekken female characters, like sisters Anna and Nina Williams. Feel free to use this fan-voted tier list of playable characters to make your own Tekken character list or name your favorite fighting game characters. If you know and love the characters from these video games, then this Tekken&nbsp;character roster should be great for you.Who is the best Tekken character? Use this <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/amazing-nebula-pictures/mick-jacobs?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list with pictures</a> to rank and vote for the best! Don’t judge them by their looks from the Tekken characters’ pictures, instead vote up your favorite Tekken Fighters. Did your favorite character make this list?&nbsp;When you’re done here, make sure to rank your favorite games on this <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/tekken-games/video-game-info">Tekken games list</a>.&nbsp;

Although it's not a common occurance, there are a handful cool <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-badass-video-game-heroes-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">video game characters</a> that are sisters. Sometimes the best backup in times of strife is a little help from your family, and these sisters definitely have each others back. There are lots of amazing female characters in video games, but some of the greatest are also related to each other. Some of them could even give Mario and Luigi a run for their money. In groups or in pairs, rivals or accomplices, these sisters are some of the toughest, weirdest, greatest, and most enduring video game characters of all time. From the little sisters of Bioshock to the Great Giana Sisters, we've included every pair of sisters we could think of in video game history.&nbsp;Vote below on your favorite sisters in video games. Are we missing a few that you really love? Let us know in the comments, and we might just add them to the list!

Mystique

There are a lot of comic book characters, which means the possibilities for video games are practically endless. But somehow, it always seems like the same few superheroes get their own solo games. Aren't we just a little bit bored of the same characters getting the same games over and over and over? So here, we've pulled up a list of the best comic book characters who absolutely deserve their own solo games, yet have never had one.The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-superheroes-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of superheroes</a> who don't have their own video games is way larger than it should be, and characters like Batgirl or Nightcrawler not getting their own games just seems crazy. Don't we deserve a game starring the Joker? How many times are we going to get a Batman game where Jim Gordon's along for the ride before we actually have a game where he's going to take charge?&nbsp;So take a look at our <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/superheroes-ranked-by-most-comic-book-appearances/ranker-comics?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of comic book characters</a> without video games, vote up your favorites from Marvel, DC, and beyond. Your votes determine the list order, so represent the superhero you most want to see star in their own video game!

From Halo to Super Mario Bros all video games have non-playable characters. NPCs serve their purpose in filling out a world that would otherwise be void except for the hero and his foes. They make it seem like a living and breathing place, and just like the real world, video games sometimes provide us with jerks, idiots and just plain nuisances. These are the worst NPCs in video game history (well, some of them).

NPCs are put into games to provide the player with goals outside of the main storyline. These side quests can be anything from a simple run and fetch, to a horrific mission fraught with peril for nothing more than a few gold coins. Some NPCs are worthwhile and provide a welcome respite in the middle of the game, some you even grow to care for. Then there are the rest.

Whether they are floating balls with irritating voices or followers that can&#39;t seem to put one foot in front of the other let alone fight off hordes of the undead, these are some of the most pathetic NPCs in the history of video games.

If you want to read more on other grating video game characters, be sure to check out the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-10-most-useless-women-in-video-game-history/adamthomas" target="_blank">Most Useless Women in Video Games list</a> too.

Video games have long been a means of escaping the real world. By&nbsp;taking control of characters and building up their power, players&nbsp;can&nbsp;achieve things which would otherwise be impossible. Many <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-video-game-duos/ranker-games" target="_blank">video game</a> characters have become incredibly powerful beings within their own game universes, but some&nbsp;are far too powerful for their own good.

Sometimes, these characters&nbsp;are simply more powerful than the enemies they face, which can make a game less challenging than it otherwise would be. Whatever your experiences&nbsp;with these <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-badass-video-game-heroes-of-all-time" target="_blank">video game characters</a>, they may be overpowered to an absurd level.&nbsp;

Vote up all the&nbsp;strongest, most ridiculously OP video game characters of all time.

If dogs hadn’t stolen our hearts first, horses would certainly be human’s best friend. In the world of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/lists/video-games" target="_blank">video games</a>, horses are the best animal companion you could ask for. They’re a quick, natural means of exploring untamed wilderness. Plus, horses will haul all of the spare armor and swords that you just can't bring yourself to part with and listen to you tell yourself that you aren't really a hoarder.Whether heading into unexplored regions or charging into battle, journeying with a horse makes the road a little less lonely and they will always stick by your side even if it means giving their lives. Of course, not all horses are created equal. These are the best horses a gamer could ask for, the ones you want to appear every time you whistle.

Retro

All misogyny aside, games don't portray women all that well. I mean, for every FemShep or Chun-li (or heck, even Cooking Mamas), there seem to be about at least a hundred ladies who only show up because game designers don't know what to do other than tantalize you with some lovin' to their baby-oven. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the worst Peggy Bundys of gaming, shall we? We're listing the worst <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-badass-video-game-heroes-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">video game characters</a> who also happen to be women. They're not bad because they're female, they're bad because they're underwritten.Who are the worst female video game characters? These 10 examples will provide you a foundation to see what fictional ladies aren't up to snuff when it comes to being included in video games. Check out the top 10 worst female video game characters right here.

A good fighting game always has an intriguing roster of characters for players to master online or at local tournaments. The strangest <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-overpowered-fighting-game-characters/kyle-townsend" target="_blank">fighting game characters</a> are the ones that&nbsp;tend to spark heated debates amongst gamers. Some of these characters may be new additions that completely miss&nbsp;their mark, while others are special guest characters that do nothing but make people raise their eyebrows.

These are some of the weirdest fighting game characters to ever earn a spot on digital rosters. While they might not be everyone&#39;s main, they&#39;re certainly good for a playful round with friends.

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No one was quite sure where Nintendo was going to go after taking a hard left turn with the Wii original. Having completely separated itself from the main pack of gaming, it sought to make its own path. Would they return to join the fray with their next generation console? Turns out, nope, they're going even further away with the Wii U. The one thing about Nintendo, however, is that they have a host of iconic and beloved video game characters that they don't really need to worry about other developers. They can do much of the heavy lifting on their own.&nbsp;Whether it's the classic Donkey Kong family, or, strangely enough, the once-rival mascot Sonic the Hedgehog, Nintendo has a wide swath of characters to build from. We've got Princess Peach from the classic Super Mario 3D World, and even Toad gets a spotlighted game in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker! And as always, it couldn't possibly be a successful Nintendo system without an entry in the Star Fox universe, with Star Fox Zero coming in for a landing.&nbsp;With reissues, we get to see higher-def versions of games we love, such as Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker! So take a look at our list of video game characters for the Wii U, vote for your favorites, and see just how our rankings stack up with the rankings in your head! Don't forget to check out our wide array of character lists for all of the other consoles!&nbsp;

Wii U Characters | Greatest Characters on Wii U

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Mario

Mario is a fictional character in the Mario video game franchise by Nintendo, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the eponymous protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation. Depicted as a short, pudgy, Italian plumber who resides in the Mushroom Kingdom, he repeatedly rescues Princess Peach from the Koopa villain Bowser and stops his numerous plans to destroy him and take over the kingdom. Mario also has other enemies and rivals, including Donkey Kong and Wario.
Mario is said by many to be the most famous character in video game history. Mario games, as a whole, have sold more than 210 million units, making the Mario franchise the best-selling video game franchise of all time. Outside of the Super Mario platform series, he has appeared in video games of other genres, including the Mario Kart racing series, sports games, such as the Mario Tennis and Mario Golf series, role-playing video games such as Paper Mario and Super Mario RPG, and educational games, such as Mario Is Missing! and Mario's Time Machine. He has inspired television shows, film, comics and a line of licensed merchandise. Since 1995, he has been voiced by Charles Martinet, who first got the role in 1990.

Princess Peach

Princess Peach is a character in Nintendo's Mario franchise. Originally created by Shigeru Miyamoto, Peach is the princess of the fictional Mushroom Kingdom, which is constantly under attack by Bowser. She often plays the damsel in distress role within the series and is the lead female. She is often portrayed as Mario's love interest and has appeared in nearly all the Mario games to date; with the most notable being in Super Princess Peach where she is the main playable character.

Luigi

Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by prominent game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the slightly younger but taller fraternal twin brother of Nintendo's mascot Mario, and appears in many games throughout the Mario franchise, often as a sidekick to his brother.
Luigi first appeared in the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros. as the character controlled by the second player, and retained this role in Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and other titles. The first game where he was available as a primary character was Super Mario Bros. 2. In more recent appearances, Luigi's role became increasingly restricted to spinoffs such as the Mario Party and Mario Kart series, though he has been featured in a starring role on three occasions: first in the 1991 educational game Mario Is Missing!, in Luigi's Mansion for the Nintendo GameCube in 2001, and in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for the 3DS. In all three of these games, he is called upon to act as the hero because Mario, the usual hero within the franchise, is in need of rescue.

Link

Link refers to several different incarnations of the same protagonist of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. Link has been featured in other media from Nintendo, including its merchandising, comic books, and a cartoon series.
Link is depicted as a child, teenager, or adult of the Hylian race, originating from the fictional land of Hyrule. Link often travels through Hyrule, defeating creatures, evil forces, and the series' primary antagonist, Ganon, while attempting to save Princess Zelda and Hyrule. To defeat him, Link usually requires the mystic Master Sword and Light Arrows, or a similar legendary weapon, obtained after many trials and battles, and magical objects or using other items such as musical instruments and weaponry.

Toad

Toad, known in Japan as Kinopio, is a fictional character who primarily appears in Nintendo's Mario franchise. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, he is portrayed as a citizen of the Mushroom Kingdom and is one of Princess Peach's most loyal attendants; constantly working on her behalf. He is usually seen as a non-player character who provides assistance to Mario and his friends in most games, but there are times when Toad takes center stage and appears as the protagonist, as seen in Super Mario Bros. 2, Wario's Woods, Super Mario 3D World, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
While Toad is the name of an individual, it also refers to an entire species. However, in Japan, the species name is sometimes called Kinoko-zoku, literally "Mushroom People". In other words, Toad is a member of the Toads. In Mario franchise, there are also some other individual toad characters. The common point of most toads is their traditionally large mushroom cap and vest.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong is an anthropomorphic mountain gorilla appearing in the Donkey Kong and Mario video game franchises. A popular character, he has appeared in many video games. Donkey Kong was Mario's first opponent in Nintendo's popular 1981 arcade game, Donkey Kong. Since then he has starred in his own series of games, starting with 1994's Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and remains an important character in the spin-off games of the Mario series.
DK debuted at the same time as Mario, and he still appears with Mario on occasion, appearing as a playable character in the Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. series, and is the primary antagonist in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog, trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is the title character and protagonist of the Sonic the Hedgehog series released by Sega, as well as numerous spin-off comics, five animated shows, and an animated OVA.
Sonic is a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog who has the ability to run at supersonic speeds and the ability to curl into a ball, primarily to attack enemies. Throughout the course of the video games, Sonic most commonly has to race through levels, collect power up rings and survive against a host of natural obstacles and minions to achieve his goal. While many individuals at Sega had a hand in Sonic's creation, programmer Yuji Naka and artist Naoto Ohshima are generally credited with the creation of the character.
The first game was released on June 23, 1991, to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's flagship character Mario. Since then, Sonic has become one of the world's best-known video game characters, with his series selling more than 80 million copies. In 2005, Sonic was one of the first game character inductees into the Walk of Game, alongside Mario and Link.

Kirby

Kirby is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Kirby series of video games owned by Nintendo and HAL Laboratory. As one of Nintendo's most famous and familiar icons, Kirby's round appearance and ability to copy his foes powers has made him a well known figure in video games, consistently ranked as one of the most iconic video game characters. He first appeared in 1992 in Kirby's Dream Land for the Game Boy. Originally a placeholder, created by Masahiro Sakurai, for the game's early development, he has since then starred in over 20 games, ranging from action platformers to puzzle, racing, and even pinball, and has been featured as a playable fighter in all Super Smash Bros. games. He has also starred in his own anime and manga series. His most recent appearance is in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, for the Wii U. Since 1999, he has been voiced by Makiko Ohmoto.
Kirby is famous for his ability to inhale objects and creatures to obtain their attributes, as well as his ability to float with puffed cheeks. He uses these abilities to rescue various lands, such as his home world of Dream Land, from evil forces and antagonists, such as Dark Matter or Nightmare.

Princess Zelda

Princess Zelda is the name of a fictional character in The Legend of Zelda series by Nintendo. The name has applied to many female members of Hyrule's royal family, which includes several distinct characters in Hyrule legend.
Though she is the eponymous character, her story role is often that of donor or damsel in distress. The player instead controls Link, the series' protagonist, and usually focuses on defeating Ganon, the series' main antagonist. Many Zelda games adopt the classic princess and dragon premise of chivalric literature; Zelda is usually kidnapped or imprisoned by Ganon, prompting Link to come to her rescue. Some games in the series have also emphasized Zelda's magical abilities and importance to the functioning of Hyrule, showing that she's more than capable of taking care of herself. In several games she is one of the sages whose work is essential to defeating Ganon; in others she adopts alternative personae in order to take a more active role in her kingdom; and in some she is a self-sacrificing princess regnant.

Wario

Wario is a character in Nintendo's Mario series who was designed as an antagonist to Mario. He first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins as the main antagonist and final boss. Originally portrayed as an exaggerated version of Mario, his name is a combination of Mario's name and the Japanese word warui, meaning "bad". Wario was first designed by Hiroji Kiyotake, and is voiced by Charles Martinet, who also voices many other characters in the series.
Since his debut, Wario has become the protagonist and antihero of the Wario Land and WarioWare series, spanning handheld and console markets. In addition to appearances in spin-offs in the Mario series, he appears in cameos for Kirby Super Star Ultra, Densetsu no Stafy 3 and Pilotwings 64. He has also been featured in other media such as the Super Mario Adventures graphic novel. The character has received a largely positive critical reception and has emerged as a well-established mascot for Nintendo.

Princess Daisy

Princess Daisy is the princess of Sarasaland, who first appeared in the game Super Mario Land. She was created by Gunpei Yokoi, Shigeru Miyamoto's mentor. Although Daisy is the ruler of Sarasaland, her current place of residence is in the Mushroom Kingdom. Daisy is known to be a tomboy, a fact first stated in her debut appearance. Daisy is represented by colors like yellow, orange and green. She has an affinity for flowers; her attire, special abilities, personal emblems and general representations are often flowers. Years after her initial appearance, Daisy started appearing in more and more Mario games. This was due to the lack of human characters in the series. She now appears in the majority of Mario games, most often as a playable character. Daisy is good friends with Princess Peach, and she interacts positively with many other characters. This includes Luigi, who it has been hinted shares romantic feelings with Daisy. Daisy has appeared in over thirty Mario Series games to date, and continues to do so regularly.

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Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong is a fictional character in the Donkey Kong series of video games, first appearing in the 1994 game Donkey Kong Country. He is a young spider monkey who lives on Donkey Kong Island in the Kongo Jungle, and is identified by his red cap, which has a Nintendo logo on it, and a red shirt with two stars. He is described as the "wannabe nephew" of Donkey Kong in the Donkey Kong 64 manual and occasionally as a chimpanzee, despite his monkey-like tail. He was originally created by Donkey Kong Country developer Rare as an updated version of Donkey Kong Jr., but renamed due to Nintendo's response.
Diddy Kong has made many appearances in the Donkey Kong series, appearing in all Donkey Kong Country games and Donkey Kong Land games, notably as the lead character in Donkey Kong Country 2 along with Dixie Kong. He received a spin-off called Diddy Kong Racing, and more recently appeared as co-star to Donkey Kong in Donkey Kong Country Returns. Through his relationship with Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong has become a prominent character in the Mario franchise, appearing in several spin-offs. He also made an appearance as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Knuckles the Echidna

Knuckles the Echidna is a fictional character in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games. He is a red anthropomorphic echidna who is determined and serious but sometimes gullible. He can glide and climb up walls, and is a powerful fighter due to his spiked gloves. He serves as the guardian of the Master Emerald, a huge gemstone that controls the series' integral Chaos Emeralds.
Knuckles debuted as an antagonist in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 1994; Doctor Eggman tricks him into opposing Sonic and Tails. He first became playable in Sonic & Knuckles later that year; he learns of Eggman's trickery and teams up with Sonic during that game's events. Since then he has appeared in dozens of playable and non-playable roles, as well as in several series of comic books, Western animated television, and Japanese anime. He is one of the series' most popular and recognizable characters.
His reception from critics has been mostly positive; he has been praised frequently as tough and cool-looking. However, some critics have voiced disapproval at the series' extensive cast of characters and singled Knuckles out as ushering them in. His likeness has frequently appeared in Sonic merchandise.

Amy Rose

Amy Rose, originally nicknamed Rosy the Rascal, is a fictional character in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games. She is a pink anthropomorphic hedgehog with a cheerful, competitive personality. Amy is known for her unrequited, obsessive love for the series' main character Sonic, and they have saved each other's lives on a number of occasions. During the series' early years, her appearance changed several times.
Amy debuted in the Sonic the Hedgehog manga series created by Kenji Terada in 1992. Her first video-game appearance was in 1993's Sonic the Hedgehog CD and she was first playable in 1994's Sonic Drift. Amy has become one of the series' most popular and recognizable characters, appearing in dozens of main-series and spinoff titles, several comic book series, the anime Sonic X, and the computer-animated Sonic Boom. She has received a mixed response from critics. Although some found her cute and powerful, others criticized her for her voice acting and personality. She has frequently appeared in Sonic merchandise.

Bayonetta

Bayonetta, real name Cereza, is a fictional character and main protagonist of the video game Bayonetta and its sequel, developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega and Nintendo respectively. She was created by Hideki Kamiya, designed by Mari Shimazaki, and is voiced by Hellena Taylor in English and Atsuko Tanaka in Japanese.
Bayonetta is one of only two surviving Umbran Witches, along with being the child of a Witch and a Lumen Sage. During the first game, she goes in search of her forgotten past, heading for her old home of Vigrid, and fighting the angelic forces of Paradiso on the way. She also appears as the main protagonist of Bayonetta 2, and as a special guest character in Anarchy Reigns and The Wonderful 101.
Reception of the character has been positive overall, with the common point of praise being her highly feminine image, which makes her both stand out among female characters in video games and go against several set conventions. However, her sexuality has also been a point of criticism and contention.

Fox McCloud

Fox McCloud is an anthropomorphic video game character and the chief protagonist of the Star Fox series. He was created and designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takaya Imamura. As his name implies, he is a red fox and the main character of the franchise. In each game, the player controls Fox in his Arwing, with a few games such as Star Fox Adventures and Star Fox: Assault where he is controlled on the ground. He is the leader of the Star Fox team and is joined by his wingmates on various missions.
In the English release of Star Fox 64, he was voiced by Mike West. In both the Japanese release of Star Fox 64 and Super Smash Bros., Fox's voices were done by Shinobu Satouchi. For English dialogue of Super Smash Bros. Melee and Star Fox Adventures, Fox's voice was done by Rare's Steve Malpass. In Star Fox: Assault, his voice was done by Jim Walker in the English release and by Kenji Nojima in the Japanese release. Nojima reprised his role for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as did Walker for the English version. In Star Fox 64 3D, he is voiced by Takashi Ōhara in Japanese.

Falco Lombardi

Falco Lombardi is an anthropomorphic bird character from the Star Fox series of video games. He was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and designed by Takaya Imamura. Falco acts as the wingman and friend of title character Fox McCloud for the majority of the series.
Falco first appeared in the 1993 video game Star Fox. Since then, he has appeared in multiple Star Fox games. A variety of voice actors lend their voice to the character in the English language releases, but Hisao Egawa portrays Falco in all Japanese language releases. Besides the Star Fox games, Falco has starred in his own manga, and also appeared as a playable character in three Super Smash Bros. titles.
Falco was based on the model designer of the original Star Fox game. Reception to the character has been mixed, with popularity among fans high. Falco has been mainly criticized for his appearance and contentious attitude, but praised for being far less annoying than other characters in the series. Reaction to his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl has been similarly mixed, with some reviewers objecting to his moveset being cloned from Fox, citing it as an example of low effort on the part of the developers.

Peppy Hare

Slippy Toad

Slippy Toad is a player character in the Star Fox series of video games published by Nintendo. He was created by Shigeru Miyamoto along with Takaya Imamura, who also designed the character, and was based on the assistant director of the original Star Fox game. Slippy acts as the inventor and mechanic of Star Fox Team as well as the sidekick to Fox McCloud and Falco Lombardi.
Slippy first appeared in the 1993 game Star Fox. Since then, he has appeared in multiple Star Fox games. Reception to the character has been generally negative, with video game reviewers criticizing mainly his voice and appearance, which led Slippy to be included in several lists of the most annoying video game characters. On other hand, he was praised for being a "cute character".

Yuuri Kozukata

Chase McCain

No one was quite sure where Nintendo was going to go after taking a hard left turn with the Wii original. Having completely separated itself from the main ...