10 video game characters who would be terrible heroes if you didn't control them

Video game characters form a captivating ensemble, don't they? The greatest heroes embark on magnificent adventures to save the world from great evil, yet ultimately, it is always up to you to control them. If we are completely honest, some characters simply don't seem like the type to be "the saviors of existence"

I am here to make the audacious claim that many video game characters would be utterly ill-equipped to face their dedicated challenges if it weren't for you, the discerning player that you are. There may be various reasons unique to each hero, but I do not make the rules here - like a loyal best friend to someone in a toxic relationship, I simply label the behavior I observe.

10 Kirby

Allow me to put it this way: Kirby would be dreadful if not controlled by you, for he would either sleep all the time or engage in something far more ominous. Kirby appears to possess an insatiable appetite that is scarcely satiated.

If his hunger were to overpower him and you were not there to accompany him on his tumultuous adventures, Kirby could simply devour everything in existence. We have no inkling of the might of his maw vortex, which implies that we may not have witnessed Kirby's true power just yet.

9 Big The Cat

If you haven't somehow experienced the original Sonic Adventure game, you won't truly grasp Big The Cat's love for fishing. This peculiar creature embarks on an angling adventure reminiscent of Bass Pro during the events of the game, even finding himself in conflict with Chaos.

Indeed, all of this unfolds through the act of fishing. Though a glance at Big The Cat assures me that he will give it his all, I simply don't believe he possesses the necessary skills to extract a frog from the body of Chaos without some assistance from you.

8 Joel Miller

We'd like to believe the best about our video game heroes, but let's be realistic, Joel Miller from The Last of Us would definitely not fare well if you weren't controlling him. The man would be too preoccupied with learning golf in the post-apocalyptic world.

You already know that Joel would embark on a quest to find a cozy golf course, seeking solace far away from the Clickers. Ironically, it would be Joel's disinterest in heroic deeds and my own imagination that would add his hidden love for golf, ultimately saving him from his ultimate fate.

7 Chris Redfield

Chris Redfield is one of the most beloved heroes from the Resident Evil series, but I refuse to believe that this man would be a competent hero if you weren't guiding him through all his accomplishments. Chris is, to put it mildly, a brawny powerhouse, and I can certainly provide evidence to support that claim.

Speaking from a non-personal standpoint, as I do not engage in striking objects myself, I can only imagine that it takes a special dedication to the gym to acquire the kind of arms required for the unintentionally ludicrous act of punching boulders. The fact that Chris chose this as a solution to his problems while inside an active volcano leads me to believe that he is well-versed in training and the art of striking things, leaving the shooting of weapons entirely up to you.

6 Captain Toad

I'm trying not to say that it's impossible to have unusual heroes in video games, but I will say that Captain Toad couldn't save Toadette without your help. First, we need to believe that Toads are experts at solving puzzles, rather than just creatures that turn into brick blocks.

Then we have to consider that Captain Toad actively searches for Power Moons hidden everywhere in Mario Odyssey, and he only manages to find one while ending up in the most ridiculous places in each world. Ultimately, Captain Toad is just a Toad.

5 Commander Shepard

You could try to argue against me in this case, as Commander Shepard has a long history of service to draw upon. However, I would make the case that it was her initial rise to Spectre status that turned her into an absolute party animal.

Just look at how often Shepard randomly shows up in clubs and bars throughout the galaxy. It's no coincidence that Shepard is always near a dance floor. And when you consider the fact that Shepard throws a massive party before the final moments of Mass Effect 3, you have a Shepard who would be too busy partying to save the world.

4 Mario

The opening scene of most Mario games nowadays should show you that the little guy isn't cut out to save the Mushroom Kingdom. Super Mario Odyssey is a perfect example of how Mario takes a hit right at the beginning.

Mario only starts to be something special when you control him, and perhaps that's why everyone loves him. But honestly, I wonder what Mario does between games because it can't be much, except maybe cleaning a few drains.

3 Shadow The Hedgehog

Shadow the Hedgehog isn't often the hero in the Sonic series, but he has his moments. The real problem with him doing something heroic is that he's just too damn full of "edginess." We all know he's the type to make those jokes that make the whole room uncomfortable before he tips his fedora.

Even if you can control Shadow, you actually have the option to take some dark paths. But for the best outcome, it's necessary that you don't. You just know that Shadow would be stuck on a rooftop all night, pondering how to use the "edgiest" lines when he sees Sonic next, instead of saving the world.

2 Link

One might think that the reason why Link would be a terrible hero without your input is because he's so lazy due to all the sleeping. You could be right about that, but there's another reason. The real reason is that in almost all of his appearances, Link is still a child or at least a teenager.

While these age groups can certainly achieve great things, I just don't believe that a child can defeat kings of evil in close combat. Nice boomerang, Link - Ganondorf can transform into a gigantic pig monster.

1 Marth

Marth is arguably the most well-known character from the underrated Fire Emblem series, and yes, the young prince would be an absolute novice without you. The reason for this is as obvious as it can be: You play a strategy game and literally create the war strategy.

Marth would simply be standing around with his army, clueless about what to do if you didn't act as a perfect tactician. The same could be said for every hero in the series because it's your victorious strategies that lead the armies to success, especially when dealing with those daunting statistical battles.