Holding on to grudges is generally not advisable for a healthy lifestyle, but it’s undeniable that harboring feelings of hatred can be oddly satisfying. However, it’s critical to distinguish between simply relishing in hate and allowing it to drive actions. Some individuals even argue that a profound disdain for life can serve as a catalyst for personal achievement, propelling one to excel just to counteract their grievances.
Hatred remains one of the core emotions that have inspired humanity throughout history, shaping both our lives and the narratives we create. Video games often reflect this emotion through their characters, who may be driven by a relentless vendetta against others. Players find themselves either defending against or embodying that spite, making for captivating stories that resonate deeply. While it’s not my place to determine the healthiness of such motivations, I can confidently assert that they create powerfully engaging narratives.
Spoilers for the subsequent games!
10 Sly 2: Band Of Thieves
Clockwerk’s Mechanized Hatred
In the inaugural Sly Cooper title, Clockwerk stands as the leader of the Fiendish Five and the ultimate nemesis. This colossal, mechanized owl has been on a relentless hunt for the Cooper Clan for centuries. Fueled by envy of their notorious thieving reputation, Clockwerk transformed himself into machinery, committing himself to perpetuate his animosity across time.
Even in defeat, Clockwerk’s hatred proves unyielding; his mechanical remnants survive, untouched even after plummeting into a volcano. As revealed in Sly 2, this endurance comes from the “Hate Chip, ”an advanced component that encapsulates his enduring malice. When Neyla integrates herself with the Clockwerk frame, transforming into Clock-La, she becomes a mere vessel for Clockwerk’s profound hatred, illustrating the sheer intensity of spite that can consume an individual.
9 God Of War (2005)
Kratos Has Beef
While Kratos is now synonymous with his elder bearded persona, his character in the original God of War trilogy was more volatile. This aspect makes his evolution into a father figure fascinating within the overarching narrative. Prior to the events of the first game, Kratos was a Spartan general whose life took a devastating turn when he called upon Ares, leading to tragic consequences, including the unwitting slaughter of his family.
Kratos’s abhorrence for Ares defines his journey, driving him throughout the trilogy. Though his hatred also extends to other Olympians, it’s Ares who ignites his quest for vengeance, culminating in a fierce showdown. Despite his tumultuous path, Kratos eventually finds a semblance of peace in Norse mythology, although divine confrontations continue to haunt him.
8 Asura’s Wrath
Like A Mythological Hulk
Asura, the protagonist of Asura’s Wrath, embodies relentless anger and revenge. Initially a divine general in a cosmic war against monstrous Gohma, his world shatters when betrayal strikes. His fellow generals kill his wife and manipulate him, prompting Asura’s transformation into a formidable adversary for both the Gohma and the divine.
Asura’s unbridled rage fuels not only his ambitions but also his supernatural resilience. Empowered by fury, he defies odds, regenerating from near defeat to unleash powerful attacks and confront enemies far stronger than himself. His ability to channel hatred into strength exemplifies how deeply-rooted emotions can serve as both a motivator and a weapon.
7 Live A Live
Anger Across Time And Space
Throughout the various time periods in Live A Live, players encounter a series of formidable bosses, each an incarnation of hatred stemming from the game’s overarching antagonist, Odio. The game meticulously constructs these antagonists, ranging from primal forces to tormented souls, all driven by their unique vendettas against humanity.
In a pivotal chapter set in the Middle Ages, where Oersted, once the protagonist, succumbs to overwhelming despair and dark magic, he transforms into Odio, seeking revenge. The bosses players face become reflections of his deep-seated rage, as evidenced by their shared names and motivations. Odio’s realm, known as the Dominion of Hate, represents the epicenter of this dark energy, serving as a backdrop for the heroes’ struggles.
6 Person 5
The Will Of Rebellion
In the Persona series, the concept of Personas traditionally illustrates an individual’s inner defense mechanisms or self-realization. However, in Persona 5, the Phantom Thieves tap into something different at their moments of awakening, driven by a fierce desire for rebellion against oppressive forces.
Faced with manipulative authority figures, the Thieves find their Personas in the heat of anger and desperation. Rather than merely confronting their flaws, they embrace their darker impulses to seize power and effect change. Morgana explains that this transformation is rooted in rebellion rather than through self-discovery, highlighting the stark contrast between the reasons behind their awakenings and that of previous entries in the series.
5 Fallout: New Vegas
Dragged From The Ground By Spite
While I can’t personally confirm the experience of being shot in the head and buried alive, it’s fair to imagine it’s profoundly traumatizing. This level of betrayal motivates the Courier in Fallout: New Vegas to seek revenge against Benny, the Chairman who double-crossed him to secure the Platinum Chip meant for Mr. House.
The course of action players take in retaliation is flexible; some may choose a vengeful path to conquer the New Vegas strip, while others may even capture or spare Benny. The ultimate expression of resentment occurs in gameplay decisions, such as the choice to yank Mr. House from his preservation or simply letting the anger guide their actions.
4 Tales of Berseria
Take On The World
Unlike many protagonists in the Tales series, Velvet Crowe in Tales of Berseria is driven not by noble ideals but by intense desire for revenge. Once a caring individual focused on her family, Velvet’s life drastically shifts when her brother is sacrificed, instilling in her an all-consuming rage directed at Artorious, the perpetrator of this tragedy.
While battling her own demons, Velvet’s singular focus on vengeance against Artorious propels her journey. Her allies become tools to achieve her goals, and she is willing to oppose even a revered figure such as Artorious, disregarding the world’s opinions in her pursuit of retribution.
3 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Nothing Left But A Grudge
In The Legend of Zelda franchise, Ganondorf often embodies a mix of greed and hatred; however, in Breath of the Wild, his manifestation as Calamity Ganon is particularly notable, reduced to pure animosity. With no kingdom to conquer, he becomes an unstoppable force of destruction, with his wrath echoing around Hyrule.
Calamity Ganon manifests as residual hatred from Ganondorf’s past, devoid of any specific cravings for power. His existence is purely to unleash chaos, embodying a malevolent grudge against Hyrule’s inhabitants that transcends traditional villain motives and showcases the destructiveness of unbridled hate.
2 DOOM (2016)
It’s The Only Thing Keeping Him Going
Since its inception, the DOOM series has portrayed the Doom Slayer as an entity consumed by animosity towards demons. After the events of DOOM 64, he wanders through Hell, slaughtering countless demons out of sheer instinct. By the time of the 2016 reboot, this relentless hatred manifests in his transformation into a relentless killing machine.
The Slayer operates with pure focus and determination, demonstrating a complete lack of empathy or contemplation. Even when faced with arguments from characters like Samuel Hayden, he remains solely dedicated to annihilating the demon hordes, showcasing how deeply ingrained animosity fuels his existence.
1 I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream
The OG Of Hate
When the term “hate”arises, I often think of the iconic monologue from I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, a classic game adapted from a 1967 short story. The Allied Mastercomputer, AM, embodies the purest form of hatred, having been created by humanity only to be sealed away in darkness, utterly desiring their destruction.
AM exterminates humanity, sparing only a small number to torture for eternity. In doing so, he revels in his wrath, having maintained his loathing for over a century. The cycle of torment he perpetuates serves as a haunting exploration of hatred’s power and humanity’s frailty, laying bare the depths of despair that hatred can foster.
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