Square Enix is one of the biggest players in the video game industry. Fan opinion on them might be split down the middle, but there’s no denying that this company houses some of the best and most notable games around. Gamers absolutely lovegoing through Square Enix’s libraryand checking out the host of titles they’ve published or developed, with the best of the bunch being classics in the eyes of many fans.
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The veritable number of protagonists in Square Enix’s games simply boggles the mind, with the company serving as a home for some of the most iconic gaming heroes of all time. However, given the chaotic nature of most games, it goes without saying that certain heroes end up being a bit too wild in their quest for justice, redemption, or any other goal they might be seeking out. The following heroes are the best examples in this regard.
8Adam Jensen (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Adam Jensen is one of the most iconic characters under Square Enix’s belt. After all,Deus Ex: Human Revolutionwas a great return to form for the series, and a big reason for this was the stoic protagonist who gamers all know and love.
Depending on the player’s actions, Adam Jensen can be anything from a silent assassin to a loud warrior. The latter part can be especially violent, with Adam’s flamboyant takedowns and amazing powers turning combat into a blast.
7Barret Wallace (Final Fantasy 7)
While Cloud is also a great contender here for his actions, at least the excuse there is that the Mako poisoning messed with his mind. However, nothing can justifythe horrific actions of Barret, who blasted massive reactors in the heart of the city itself!
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These actions could have extremely tragic consequences, and Barret is lucky that innocents weren’t harmed during his irresponsible actions. The reveal of his backstory shows how he developed this hate for Shinra, but that doesn’t justify the potential harm he could’ve caused to Midgar’s citizens.
6Magus (Chrono Trigger)
Magus is one of the most iconic charactersinChrono Trigger, with his contribution as a party member being pretty substantial indeed. That being said, Magus did initially start off as a pretty major antagonist and didn’t really have the empathy one would expect from a good character.
The reveal of his backstory did show a deeper side to his character, but that didn’t excuse his heinous actions at all. Thankfully, Magus tones his villainous side down after joining the main party.
5Agent 47 (Hitman)
Hitmanis one of the most iconic stealth-action games ever made.This franchise came into the hands of Square Enix, who have developed several great modern Hitman games that are worth checking out.
Hitman’s assassinations have always been engaging, mainly due to the creative ways in which players could carry out their missions. The newHitmangames take this up a notch with their amazing level design and ingenious killing methods, turning Agent 47 into an even bigger catalyst of mayhem and destruction.
4Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
TheSurvivor trilogycertainly made Lara more relatable and engaging than ever before. However, it still didn’t dispel the notion that Lara always had trouble following her at every step, which isn’t really a great look for a person whose profession involves raiding tombs.
The sheer number of homicides she’s caused is high enough as is, and the way in which she absolutely destroys everything around her makes Lara seem even more violent at times. This is certainly at odds with the cutscenes, which portray her as a relatively down-to-earth character.
3Wei Shen (Sleeping Dogs)
Sleeping Dogsis easily one of the most underrated open-world games ever made, rising from the ashes of theTrue Crimefranchise to deliver a spectacular experience. The amazing combat and open world are still a blast to engage with to this day.
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It helps that the main character, Wei Shen, is pretty engaging in his own right. As is the case with any open-world sandbox protagonist, he can cause a ton of mayhem as well, despite his identity as an undercover police officer.
2Rico Rodríguez (Just Cause)
TheJust Causefranchise is notable for featuring some truly off-the-wall gameplay and explosive combat. The manner in which players can use the systems of the game to cause wanton destruction is a major part of why players love this title.
The protagonist of this franchise, Rico Rodriguez, performs some pretty death-defying acts that lead to what looks like the set of a Michael Bay movie. He has a penchant to explode anything and everything around him, which can be pretty engaging in its own unique way.
1Noctis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy 15)
Noctis is the protagonist of the latest mainlineFinal Fantasyentry…barring theRemake, of course. The game had a messy development cycle, so fans were genuinely surprised to seeFinal Fantasy 15finally get an official release.
The main game is an absolute blast, even though it might be slightly rough around the edges. At the heart of the series is Noctis, a prince who can summon massive godlike beings to absolutely destroy his opposition… and the entire area around him and his friends as well. The fact that he stays inside a crystal for years and lets the world fall into ruin doesn’t really help either.
