Summary
Whencustom characterspop up in games, it’s usually in RPGs, especially Western ones. For example, anything involvingDungeons & Dragonsor BioWare typically involves character customization.There have been some platformers, too, like theLittleBigPlanetseries, but overall, RPGs are where this trend appears most often.
These custom characters are often quiet to engage players more with the story, as if their player character was an avatar for the player themselves. Then there are the raregames that include custom characters who can talkand are actually involved in their story beyond a few text prompts. Let’s go through some fine examples with no spoilers involved.
Cyberpunk 2077was years in the making, and even when it launched, things still took a while to even out. Now, after many updates and an excceptional DLC, fans praise it just as much asCD Projekt Red’s other masterpiece,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
InCyberpunk 2077, players can create a male or female version of V who talks constantly, from observing signs on the street to engaging in dialogue-driven conversations. V is given a lot of character, no matter what version players choose, since they are also guided by the ghost AI of the legendary Johnny Silverhand, played by the equally legendary Keanu Reeves.
Diablo 4took a big leap ahead ofotherDiablogamesby creating a more cinematic experience with its story. Players could customize their character’s looks beyond just choosing a class (finally), and they were referred to as The Wanderer.
They speak during cutscenes or while wandering the world. They don’t talk as much as other characters, though, because if a story character is temporarily in the party, they usually speak on behalf of The Wanderer. It’s still a big step up from previous entries in the series, even if it’s just a tiny one.
Dragon Age: Inquisitionis the third entry in the series, one that many fans have decided is their favorite. Players can create their character based on race, gender, and class, which is typical of this fantasy series.
Players will go through typical BioWare dialogue trees, and whatever option is chosen, their character will speak up, unlike the equivalent custom character inDragon Age: Origins. They are a bit muted compared to the rest of the party, but players will indeed have a voice in the game’s affairs.
Fallout 4broke some boundaries for its franchiseby introducing a voiced protagonist for the first time. The game starts with a male and female couple, both of whom the player can customize and then choose who they want to play. After a bomb hits, the couple and their son get frozen underground, and then the Sole Survivor, the player character, will exit Vault 111 to find themselves in the post-apocalypse.
Their character will speak up during dialogue trees, and another cool thing about the custom character system inFallout 4is Codsworth. Bethesda programmed this robot to recognize hundreds of names, so if the Sole Survivor speaks to him, chances are Codsworth will address players by their chosen name.
Hogwarts Legacygave fans what they wanted after reading thefirstHarry Potterbook: a chance to attend Hogwarts. Players begin their Hogwarts career by choosing a gender, creating their character, and then being sorted into a House, like Slytherin or Ravenclaw, which will dictate how their classmates will interact with them.
Male or female, the student will often mumble to themselves while exploring the world, battling villains, and interacting with NPCs. They are an active, curious member of the Wizarding World and aren’t just hollow avatars for characters to play as.
The firstMass Effectis one of the earliest examples of a Western RPG giving players character creator tools coupled with a voiced hero. Granted, since this was an early example, any version of Commander Shepard may sound a bit robotic compared to other companions, which didn’t improve that much throughout the trilogy.
However, this could also be a storytelling quirk, as the game was heavily inspired byStar Trekand most characters in that franchise speak with calm, articulated demeanors as well. Stoic or not, Commander Shepard is an iconic character who is beloved bymany BioWare fans.
Monster Hunter Wildsis another game that took a bold step forward in many ways, like by voicing their lead Hunter, who players can customize with the typical options. They even get to customize their Palico cat companion, who also gets a voice.
The story is more involved than ever before, featuring a group of researchers exploring a new land and searching for a legendary beast called the White Wraith. The player’s Hunter won’t have much to add to conversations compared to other story characters, but they aren’t silent, which is the main thing.
Saints Row: The Thirdis one of the best entries in the seriesand one of the best customizable experiences in any video game genre. Players will create their version of The Boss, from their looks to their voice. There are several male and female voices, like American and British dialects, and even a humorous zombie option.
Like the game as a whole, the character customization options are silly and over-the-top. Going through the game as a zombie is just as fun as playing as a cockney femme fatale and can even change the story context, which is a good reason to play the game multiple times.
