Opinions on theBorderlandsseries can be mixed, with many writing the games off entirely due to their decidedly juvenile sense of humor, for example. But mostBorderlandsplayers, whether they’ve stuck with the franchise through thick and thin or ducked out afterBorderlands 3’s painful writing, can agree that Handsome Jack is one of the best elements of the franchise at large.
This narcissistic, delusional antagonist is unequivocally hailed asBorderlands' best, and that’s a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s obviously a good thing for a franchise to spawn such a contemptible and iconic villain, and Handsome Jack is generally considered among the most enjoyable aspects of bothBorderlands 2andBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel. But at the same time, it’s going to be rather difficult for the series to do better than such an unforgettable, evil, and complex character—something that’s exemplified by the underwhelming narratives ofBorderlands 3andTiny Tina’s Wonderlands. As it happens, this is something of a common problem in the world of video game franchise-building, and the following are just a handful of series that have suffered from the same success.
Final Fantasy - Sephiroth
While it wouldn’t be entirely accurate to characterize Sephiroth as the onlygreatFinal Fantasyvillain, he’s certainly the most iconic and easily recognizable. Series antagonists like Kefka Palazzo have their fans, and are often cited as being superior to Sephiroth byFinal Fantasyveterans, but it’s Sephiroth who is the de facto face of villainy in the series, to the point where he regularly representsFinal Fantasyin other pieces of media: he’s one of the fewFinal Fantasyvillains present inKingdom Hearts, for instance. With the originalFinal Fantasy 7coming out in 1997, it’s certainly interesting to note that no other antagonist has reached Sephiroth’s level of visibility and cultural relevance.
Far Cry - Vaas
Vaas Montenegro ofFar Cry 3represents a high that the series has been desperately chasing for years. He is the character that made antagonists the center of everyFar Crygame, though the likes of Pagan Min and Joseph Seed haven’t managed to replicate his charm or psychopathic allure. As a result, when one thinks ofFar Cryas a whole, it’s hard not to immediately conjure an image of Vaas, so crucial is he to the franchise’s identity.
Resident Evil - Albert Wesker
For over a decade, Albert Wesker was theconsistent villain of theResident Evilfranchise, his presence felt in every game until he met his demise at the end ofResident Evil 5. While the series has introduced a number of iconic, well-written, and intriguing antagonists since Wesker, such as the Baker family and Lady Dimitrescu, such characters have been limited to a single game, without the staying power of their long-running progenitor. Indeed,Resident Evilhas a lot of great bad guys, but it hasn’t seen a “big bad” on the level of Wesker in years.
Silent Hill - Pyramid Head
Perhaps the most notorious character in horror gaming,Pyramid Head made his debut inSilent Hill 2, where he was meant to represent James Sunderland’s repressed guilt. But asSilent Hillfans know all too well, the rest of the franchise has lived in Pyramid Head’s shadow for years, the once-horrifying creature becoming something of a series mascot in lieu of other, equally compelling villains. And that’s because, unfortunately,Silent Hillhas never managed to have a villain quite as compelling as Pyramid Head, who has more or less spoiled the franchise’s rogue’s gallery.
