I feel like I could... take on the world!
Following on from our item on gravelly-voiced heroes in gaming, here's a look into some of our favourite nefarious villains.
As Seen In: Wing Commander I-IV
A disapproving commanding officer in the first couple of Wing Commander games, Tolwyn's behaviour takes a more sinister turn as the series progresses. No longer content with unleashing vein-popping fury at each and every one of your well-intentioned but off-mission sojourns (probably because you keep saving the day at the same time), by the end of Wing IV he's at the centre of a pseudo-fascist plot to bring down the Federation. The presence of the ever-unhinged Malcolm Macdowell in the role can only help this transformation.
Evil rating: * * *
As Seen In: Blade Runner
Never trust a well-dressed replicant. Clovis may not feel like crushing his creator's skull with his bare hands, but then he's an altogether more calm and collected character than Roy Batty. This is the man who quotes William Blake's "The Tyger" while slaughtering the inhabitants of a pet shop (and yes, this does include a tiger). Not the ideal man to canvas support for the replicant cause, methinks.
Evil rating: * * * *
As Seen In: Monkey Island I-IV
Lechuck may not be the most efficient bad guy in the world (how difficult can it be to eliminate a cowardly loser like Guybrush Threepwood?) but you've got to admit that he's certainly got staying power. Whether in ghost, zombie or demon-zombie form, he always comes back for more. Extra baddie points for the flaming beard and evil laugh, but ultimately his narrow aims of eliminating a love-rival in order to win the heart of a woman count against him.
Evil rating: * *
As Seen In: Day of the Tentacle
You can't beat a bad guy who wants to "TAKE ON THE WORLD!" Drinking dangerous toxic waste might not be good for most of us, but for tentacles, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities. New arms, and a smarter, more aggressive outlook on life mean no more sitting round in Dr. Fred's house all day. It just goes to show what you can achieve if you ignore the advice of wussier, greener friends.
Evil rating: * * * *
As Seen In: System Shock 1 and 2
The Artificial Intelligence known as SHODAN is the absolute ruler of her domain, Citadel Station. She had the crew either exterminated or turned into her servants, and now the rest of humanity has drawn her attention. She's heading for Earth with delusions of Godhood, a relentless untiring hatred for impure flesh-based life, and terrible weapons with which to devastate the planet. You're the last thing standing between Shodan and her goals, so very alone aboard the deathtrap that is Citadel. You have a few guns, a couple of medikits you scraped together and a basic knowledge of the layout of the station. She has a legion of robots, mutants and cyborgs and now they're coming for you. She taunts you at every step, mocks your every attempt to thwart her, a presence you cannot touch or shoot at, a voice gloating in your head and promising painful death whilst her babbling minions rain bullets around you. Evil rating: * * * * *
As Seen In: Thief 1 and 2
A forest nymph and leader of the primitive Pagans, Viktoria is a trusted ally of the Trickster in his plans to bring darkness and fear to the City. On the other hand her enemies, the fanatical Church of the Hammer who represent progress and the taming of the natural world, aren't exactly a lovely bunch either. The conflict is order versus chaos and most would do well to stay out of it. Still, Garrett the Thief is going to have to pick sides eventually, it's his destiny to get caught up in power struggles, and the bitch did rip one of his eyes out.
Evil rating: * * *
As Seen In: Deus Ex
In the dystopian near-future of Deus Ex, Simons is the head of a US government agency and thus supposedly a Good Guy, leading the fight against dissidents and terrorists. Or at least that's what the public are supposed to think. However Simons is also a class-A Sinister Bastard, with a scarily soft-yet-threatening voice and a fondness for executing prisoners. Plus he's quite chummy with power-mad billionaires, and why exactly does he have authority over UN forces? Personally, I'd trust the guy about as far as I could throw him.
Evil rating: * * * *
As Seen In: Final Fantasy VII
Handsome and slightly androgynous, Sephiroth has traditionally had quite a following amongst female gamers. For the the rest of us, he's someone you can love to hate. Probably rivalling SHODAN on this list for sheer insanity, Sephiroth's convoluted past and discovery of his true origins have left the former super-soldier pretty twisted. Now he's out to raise himself to godhood, and badly hurt the planet itself in the process. However, not before he's sufficiently tormented his old comrade-in-arms, the hero of the game. Still, at least he loves his mum.
Evil rating: * * * *