Top 10 coolest videogame charecters

FROM ISSUE # 200 (August 2012) | IN THIS ISSUE
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When I was growing up, I was different than the rest. While the others wanted to be doctors and engineers when they grew up, I wanted to be a Pokemon Master. While everyone else would spend their time playing outside, I locked myself in a room with my Gameboy and wouldn't come out till my mom threatened to break open the door.

Videogames were such a huge part of my life and there are many others out there that can relate with me. So I've decided to put together a list of the top 10 coolest video-game characters out there.

. Kefka Palazzo ( Final Fantasy VI )
I will destroy everything! I will create a monument to non-existence.

Before everyone criticizes me for placing Kefka at the top of this list instead of Sephiroth, hear me out. Kefka may not look as cool as Sephiroth, in fact he dresses up as a stupid jester but he did something that most villians only dream about. He destroyed the world. Yes, you heard me right, with the help of magical espers Kefka turned the entire world into a barren wasteland and fortified himself in a tower of the remains of the greatest civilizations. And if that doesn't impress you, in the final battle he takes the form of an angel. An angel that destroyed the world? That's pretty damn cool!

2. Illidan Stormrage (Warcraft)
Now go forth, unleash the tides of doom, upon all those who would oppose us.

I'll just go ahead and describe Illidan's appearance. He's an elf so he's got bluish-purple skin, his eyes were taken away and replaced with mystical orbs. He's got massive horns and wings sprouting from his back, but I've saved the best for last. When he walks, he leaves fiery footprints! It's like the Ghostrider on foot! Illidan was imprisoned for ten thousand years for all the horrific things he did to his own people and earned the name, 'Lord of the Outlands'. Ohh Illidan, how much we love thee!

3.Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)
(Doesn't talk)

Okay so this guy has ginger hair, a Ph.D in theoretical physics and wears massive glasses. In plain words Gordon is a nerd who is forced to defend the world from interdimensional baddies. And since the makers don't have to think of any cheesy one-liners for this silent protagonist, they can actually spend more time on making the plot better. He might not be your regular hero but most gamers find him the most believable character yet. No steriods. No women. No remorse. And his name sounds like Morgan Freeman, how do you beat that? Seriously!

4. Kratos (God of War) 
If all those on Olympus would deny me my vengeance, then all of Olympus will die!

Kratos is the son of Zeus, which makes him the half-brother of Hercules. Talk about connections! But don't worry he kills them both, with the rest of Olympus! Clearly he has some daddy issues but being tricked into murdering your own wife and child and having to life with that nightmare does that to you. Okay, so let's take a look at Kratos' daily routine.

ill Zeus? Check! Kill Hades? Check! Save the entire world by chaining a Titan to the bowels of the underworld? Check!

Oh wait, clean my blades? Damn I always forget that!

5. Arthas Menethil (Warcraft)
I intend to live....forever

Arthas was the crown prince of Loraedon and an honorable knight, he had high ambitions but his weak soul was vunerable to the Lich King's powers. Upon wielding the cursed blade Frostmourne, his soul was completely deprieved of humanity and became the Lich King's puppet. Not only that, he killed his own father and destroyed the city that was once his own. Such an interesting storyline is matched by his superior character designs, a handsome blond prince when human and a grey haired maniac when under the Lich King's control. And he has a horse named Invincible! Talk about class!

6. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
Are sins ever......forgotten?

Cloud was a mercenary swordsman for hire and suffered from amnesia, but as his memories slowly returned it revealed his stained past. Now he battles Sephiroth, who plans on destroying the world by summoning a gigantic meteor. He is the reason that for the cult following of the Final Fantasy series. But who wouldn't follow a hero with a sweet armor and a gigantic sword? Ohh and the hair's fine too.

7. Shaher (Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis)
Why are humans permitted to multiply, tainting the earth with their existence?

Tactics Ogre is famous for being insanely difficult, and if you are one of those few who managed to beat the game without cheating, then you have my respect. Now, let me tell you something about Shaher, he was once an angel who loved God. However since God treated all of his angels the same, Shaher grew jealous and started rebelling to attract God's attention. But instead he was kicked out of Heaven and fell to earth. Even though we sense some bromance here,  this fallen angel turned demon is definitely an awesome a villian!

8. Baby Bowser (Mario)
Awww man... It's already half past snack time.

Everyone knows Bowser. If you don't, I'm sorry, you had no childhood! Bowser was a mean,terryfing, dragon-turtle-bull thingy that always kidnapped Princess Peach and got his butt kicked a plumber named Mario! Well then say hello to his younger self, Baby Bowser! Even if this guy cared only about milk and cookies, he's still quite the bad guy.

While the big Bowser spews fire, this little guy coughs fire-balls. Ohh and he wears a cute bib even when he's not eating. That's so cute! Ermm, I meant cool!!

9. Blanka (Street Fighter)
Seeing you in action is a joke!

He's green! He wears torn shorts! He jumps around a lot! But he's not Hulk! Ladies and gentlemen I give you Blanka. This feral maniac is a formidable opponent who always fights from a crouching position and incorporates gymnastic into his moves, but do you know what the best thing about him is? He generates electricity to shock his opponents! Maybe that's what drove him crazy

10. Gary Oak (Pokemon)
Smell ya later!

In the 1st Generation of Pokemon games, we were pitted against the arrogant trainer named Gary Oak, while his default name was Blue, Gary was also an option. He was always a step ahead of our our protagonist and by the time we reached the Pokemon League, Gary was already the Champion! His popularity played a key role in the adaptation of the Pokemon game into anime.

Deep Rana

From Super Nintendo Entertainment System of the 1990s to the handheld Game Boy, to Xbox 360, I have been a gamer since I was old enough to hold a joy stick. Almost two decades later, my heart still beats for video games of all genres. Racing, however, ranks as one of my favourites. How else could I feel like Schumacher, ride a hot Ferrari and stand on the podium like a champ, in this life time at least? And nothing comes close to F1 2011 in this category.     

First of all, let me stress that F1 2011 is a simulator and not an arcade racing game. So don't expect (though you can always try) to be taking a corner, whilst drifting, at 100 miles an hour and emerge unscathed (à la Fast and Furious). Odds are you will find your magnificently detailed Ferrari spinning off on to the gravel, or worse, find the tyre barricade patiently waiting to take a chunk off your shiny red nose.

Building on 2010's British Academy Video Games Award winner, F1 2010, F1 2011 features the customary updating of driver roster, cars, rule changes, and addition of new circuits. The menus are basic to begin with, but functional, and do not detract from the experience.

There are four options: single player, multiplayer, proving grounds (practice) and the options. With snail-placed internet speed, gamers in Nepal will hardly get to use the multiplayer option (except for split screen mode), so a game has to have a heck of a single player mode, and believe me, F1 2011 does not disappoint.

The single player career mode is so much more than usual racing games. You get a real sense of starting from the bottom and then rising through the ranks majestically but only if yout exhibit significant degree of talent. The higher up you go on the food chain, the better your options. You get to tie the car with a simple slider, or tweak the car and fine tune it to perfection in hopes of gaining that extra 0.01 of a second to pip Mr. Smug Hamilton to P1.

The graphics are superb in terms of their detail (games like these are what HDTVs are made for), the sounds are immaculate to the extreme (turn volume up here), the  weather effects are simply magnificent, the speed is palpable and ultra smooth, and everything else comes together perfectly giving you unparalleled control. When the race is over, you get a very impressive victory animation, and this really does give you a terrific sense of achievement and you are even interviewed by the press. This alone makes you want to try that bit much harder to win. You may think F1 2011 has a short life-span of just one or two seasons, but the fact that it takes several seasons before you get invited to drive for a team like Ferrari guarantees numerous sleepless nights and regretful mornings in class or at work.

Some people have commented that the game is only for F1 fans who have good knowledge of the sport. To be honest, the level of difficulty in F1 2011 and the depth of the F1 experience appear to have been coded flawlessly. There is no handholding, no "driving school", no stunts or other silly things like that, just pure, frenzied, exhilarating F1 action. Definitely one for the collection.