My Top 5 Side Characters

Often, side characters are overlooked; people are always gushing over the protagonists instead. However, they will always have a special place in my heart and, since it's Valentine's Day month, I figured there was no better time to show some love and appreciation for the unseen.

The following characters are in no specific order! I can't make side characters be overshadowed by others, they've already suffered that enough with their protagonists. Please be warned, there are spoilers for most of the main story arcs for these characters.

Achilles from Hades

 

It was tough to choose only one in this particular game, but I am happy with my decision!

After my playthrough, one of the things that most stuck for me was how much I absolutely loved the chemistry between Zagreus and Achilles. He has a sense of sweetness in his tone when he speaks to Zagreus, and I think that one of the most important qualities for a mentor is that they make you feel at ease. It truly felt that he was offering the attention and understanding that Hades failed to and, in a house where it feels like Zagreus is all alone or misunderstood, Achilles stands out as a pillar of understanding and love.

In Hades there are a lot of great character representations of some of the Greek gods. The truth is that the way the gods are charismatic while Zagreus is on their side but then suddenly abusive and vile when he isn't was a great, new portrayal of them! One of those innovative portrayals was of older Achilles, not raging or big headed, but instead humbled and, in a very natural and non-invasive way, gay. It flowed so well it didn't feel like when the sexuality of a character stands out like a sore thumb. Achilles was a mentor, a friend, and a hero before ever just being gay.

Brok from God of War

 

Sindri and Brok as standalone characters brought a lot of joy to my playthrough; Sindri's soft, caring ways and Brok's unexpected cursing were one of the biggest highlights for me, if I can be honest. But characters like Sindri are easier and more commonly found: Silly, pushovers, nagging, and caring. They bring comedic relief, especially against characters like Kratos. However, Brok's character was expertly done.

One of the first things that struck me the most was when he literally said to me as I approached him, and I quote, "The fuck you want now?" I let out a sudden guffaw of genuine shock and soon started looking forward to getting cussed out more by this new blue friend.

Did he sometimes come off as a bit tryhard at the beginning because of his personality? Yes. But once he developed and grew into the shoes of who he was meant to be, Brok was absolutely hilarious and unexpectedly charming despite his constant cussing. And I don't think it is ever mentioned enough what a good friend he is. Consider this: Brok even went to Helheim for a friend and that was only one of the times where he stepped up to help.

Emma from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

 

Very rarely have I come across a character like Emma. She is sweet, helpful, and a complete badass.

Let's keep in mind that Emma often goes under the radar when speaking about strong women in videogames. Not only is she portrayed as very smart, considering she's the one that helps you with the gourd seed, she is also a strong woman without having to be sassy or in your face. Despite the fact that she is always very quiet and keeps to herself she will kick your ass in her boss battle, and I loved that.

Sure, her fight wasn't anything like the others (namely Genichiro and Isshin) with cool powers and every element found on earth, but she still is brave enough to stand up to Sekiro when she sees he's going down the Shura path. Her battle is a representation of what type of person she is as she will stand up and give her life as soon as she sees him become something he would have hated himself for. Besides, FromSoftware made a great choice by not letting her be just a side character in love with someone.

Luigi from basically every Mario game

 

Luigi's Mansion still pulls at my heartstrings when I think of it. Sure, you can say I am biassed (my user couldn't be Spooky_0ne if I didn't love ghosts) but it really isn't just because he has the most relatable game of the Mario universe to me, I promise.

Luigi has always been the quiet, nervous, standup guy "brother of Mario". In fact, when I was a kid I hated him because I thought his voice was stupid and I also just didn't like how he was tall and skinny (kid logic, am I right?). But the second I saw how terrified he was as he strolled through the hallways of the mansion looking for Mario, something sparked within me. He was the truest of heroes because I'd sooner be making arrangements for my brother's funeral than going into an actually haunted mansion full of evil ghosts.

Aside from being heroic as heck, Luigi has always been quite the symbol of positivity. He just looks happy and exudes goodtime feels. I love him now that I am an adult and I am happy to have seen the good in him.

Tingle from Majora's Mask

 

I'm not gonna lie, Tingle was another character I kind of loathed when I was younger. He was disruptive, stupid-looking, and overall annoying. Nowadays I see lots to love.

I am going to start this off by saying that, in an attempt to clarify if he *wants* to be a fairy or thinks he is the reincarnation of one, I came across this treasure:

Some people like him and some people don’t. No wait, let me try that again. Many people hate him with a deep fiery passion, most aren’t terribly fond of him, a few are indifferent, and a handful are hopelessly obsessed with him.

ZeldaDungeon's "The Truth About Tingle"

It is safe to say that people don't like Tingle a whole lot. Wikipedia also has mentions of some articles posted by sites that have some pretty hateful feelings towards him but I think they're all missing the point. Tingle is only fighting to be who he truly is, despite his father's aggressive disapproval, and merely strives for a world where he is allowed to be happy. As someone who is part of an OSDD system (in less jargon, I have Dissociative Identity Disorder), I really admired seeing a character that tried to portray who they are inside, without needing to explain themselves for how they feel; it was very inspiring. I just wish I could tell him that he will always be a fairy in my eyes!

That is it for my list! There shall be more parts as I play more and more games throughout my (hopefully) long life. Did you agree? Disagree? Comment below and let me know who your favourites are!