In all media forms, long-running franchises evolve, be it as a reflection of cultural changes or to take a story in a new direction. While the series as Tomb Raider And, naturally, was killed Too intrinsically tied to their icons for their mainline entries to move on completely, many video game franchises have switched heroes over the decades. cried the devil, Metal Gear Solidand Ninja Guide Everyone released their cool-as-heck heroes to secondary or non-existent players.
Over the last decade or so, we have seen a slight increase in A male-led game series is shifting to a female MCAnd it looks set to continue Laufey God of War and The Witcher 4. This trend isn't very common by any means, and it happens (for now) after the original protagonist's story has reached its natural conclusion. Although rare, the reverse also sometimes occurs, with Control resonance The present is an example.
Let's highlight some major series that decided to give their men a break and introduce a female protagonist, even if the replacement is only for a game or two.
Pac-Man to Ms. Pac-Man
Original male to female switch
Yes, this trend did not start in the current century; In fact, the first big mascot-driven franchise, Ling, bent its hero for its first sequel. Pac-ManThe legacy is cemented in stone, paving the way for Ms. Pac-Man To prove the formula. With smarter AI and less predictable mazes, the sequel helped broaden gaming's appeal in general, proving to be just as important as the first entry.
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Now, really, Ms. Pac-Man is just Pac-Man with a pink bow and lipstick, and they play effectively the same way. Still, she became iconic in her own right, and she even starred in a few standalone plays around the turn of the century. Pac-Man has never ceased to be regarded as the franchise's primary mascot, but his wife's influence on gaming should not be discounted.
The Walking Dead – Lee to Clementine
It was always Clementine's story
Sometimes, these transitions can be a bit complicated, but the absolute best franchises seamlessly integrate the switch into their stories. Telltale's definitive masterpiece, The Walking Dead, Handled the passing of the torch better than other game series, Lee effectively devoted all of his time to preparing Clementine for a future without him. Through Season 1, Lee (and the players) constantly make choices designed to shape her character and turn her into a real living person, as well as establish a very strong emotional connection between the two leads.
When the switch happens, Clementine feels the same as before The Walking DeadWho is the hero, and she manages to carry the franchise for the next few seasons. We get to see this terrified 8-year-old girl survive a tough, nearly decade-long journey. Fantastic stuff.
The Last of Us – Joel to Eli
Perhaps the most famous hero switch in gaming history
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The Last of Us Part 2
systems
10/10
- issued
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June 19, 2020
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, drug use
essentially, The last of us followed by The Walking DeadSketch after Joel backs down to let Ellie take over. Famously, this transition proved a bit polarizing, but that's not really the point of this article. Even in the first game, Ellie is the most important character, her existence serving as the inciting event and, also, the reason for Joel's gradual transformation. She also gets her extended segment “Winter”, which is the best chapter of the series, as well as starring in the excellent “Left Behind” extension.
The last of us Tells perhaps the most beloved surrogate father/daughter story in gaming history, and Part 2 Explores the aftermath of that dynamic. From the reveal and marketing of the sequel, Naughty Dog put Ellie front and center, showing that she would be in the lead role. This change translated into an improved combat system that emphasized agility and agility over strong forces, later abandoned in sections of the AB.
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Humiliated – Emily and Corvo
Corvo shares the spotlight with Emily
Well, let's do something different here. Corvo doesn't disappear from the numbers insulted entries, and he serves as the dual protagonist of the sequel with Emily. Early on, players decide to play the campaign as one or the other, and both come with fully developed, unique skill sets that offer endless freedom in how to approach scenarios.
Gameplay wise, both Corvo and Emily are perfectly valid choices; Story-wise, the latter fits a bit better as the main villain, Delilah, has a more personal dynamic. According to this 2016 Mashable article, Arkane Studios initially impregnation Humiliated 2 As Emily plays, with Corvo acting as the secondary protagonistlimit
At this point, Humiliated 3 Seems unlikely, though there's always hope that another entry will materialize.
Silent Hill – Harry to Heather
Leaving for his daughter
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silent hill
systems- issued
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January 31, 1999
- ESRB
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M for Mature 17+ due to animated blood and gore, animated violence
- Engine
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Unreal engine
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Silent Hill 3
- issued
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August 6, 2003
- ESRB
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M For mature 17+ due to blood and gore, violence
- Engine
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Unreal engine
For the most part, silent the mountain tells Standalone stories that introduce new heroes are almost all male. Konami set Silent Hill 3 In some ways apart from the rest of the series. First, it is a direct sequel to the original game. Second, it moves away from the “everyman” hero archetype that grounded its predecessors. Finally, this is the only entry out of the first 7 that features a female protagonist.
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As Harry's daughter, who was introduced at the end silent hillHeather stood out because of looking and acting like a relatively realistic 17-year-old girl, which also helped set her apart. Resident EvilFamous female heroes. Her insecurities supercharged the horror, creating an incredibly intense psychological experience filled with incredible imagery.
Nier – Gestalt to 2B
Nier: Automata made the series a household name
Every franchise mentioned in this article was already very successful when they made the switch… except Nier. don't get me wrong, Drakengard And the 2010 games earned a cult following, but they certainly weren't close to being a big hit.
then, Nier: Automata arrived and immediately launched the series into relative superstardom. 2B is done Nier's face, completely overshadowing the two former heroes. In 2017, Automata was It has already sold over 2 million copies, which is an absurd amount for an incredibly niche IP. Of course, this number is much higher now. The success of the sequel also gave its predecessor a second chance at a remake courtesy of Life.
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