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silveradeptElectric Challenge #5 asks us to talk about our favorite antagonist.
This is trickier than it might first appear, because a lot of games want us to not be as attached to the antagonists as we might otherwise be. Although, fandom being what it is, there are times where an antagonist might attract a significant following, especially in the case where there's the possibility of significant Foe Yay (where Cloud and Sephiroth are certainly one of the most famous examples, even if they're not necessarily the first) or where the antagonist might be someone who's not really all that into the whole supremely evil deeds done by the leader (looking at you, Axel).
We still want a compelling antagonist, of course. A character doing it just for the evulz or for the lulz isn't always the best antagonist any more. It can still happen, because sometimes what you really are looking for is to save the world from a cosmic horror that intends to destroy everything in its path, but those games usually are looking to have lots of character building among the protagonist party and focus on them and how they work together against the impending doom.
If I'm going to talk about my favorite antagonist in terms of what they did in their game, rather than their awesome music (for which more than a few end bosses of the many games I've played could vie) or their cutscene power (which is invariably stronger than their actual power when properly fought at the end), then I should talk about someone who engineered a really good plan to completion.
Seraph Lamington, take a bow. An ambitious plot to unite both Celestia and the Netherworld by sending an Angel Trainee to assassinate the King of the Netherworld, knowing full well he had already died. And having brought him back to life as a vain and persistent Mid-Boss to harry and observe the growth of his son, Laharl, and hope he matures into someone who can rule wisely and well. Because the Angel Trainee is a Love Freak who will not pass up an opportunity to insist that even demons are capable of loving each other after the pretext mission of getting her into the Netherworld fails pretty spectacularly, due to her target already having been dead for a couple of years. To the point where Laharl ends up falling in love with her (as well as Etna, most likely), even though he won't admit it, and challenges the Seraph to combat when the Seraph transforms Flonne into a flower for her actions. The true ending has Flonne transformed back, but she becomes a Fallen Angel and has to stay with Laharl. (The less true endings have Laharl turned into a flower as well, or Flonne or Etna attempt to off him before he can do something truly evil, or Laharl conquers Earth, or otherwise becomes far too powerful and evil for his liking, realizes it, passes the throne off to Etna, and goes on a journey of personal growth. Possibly by reincarnating as a Prinny.)
It's an ambitious plan to set up harmony again between Celestia and the Netherworld, and it's all the brainchild of Lamington, who has to even outmaneuver one of his own angels that has become obsessed with trying to expose Flonne as in league with the demons (oh, how close Vulcanus is to the truth.)
So that's which antagonist is the one that I have really enjoyed the most. There are others that I like crushing more, like Lavos, the Time Devourer, and Pringer-X, but this one is the one who I have to tip my cap to for excellent long-term planning and execution.
This is trickier than it might first appear, because a lot of games want us to not be as attached to the antagonists as we might otherwise be. Although, fandom being what it is, there are times where an antagonist might attract a significant following, especially in the case where there's the possibility of significant Foe Yay (where Cloud and Sephiroth are certainly one of the most famous examples, even if they're not necessarily the first) or where the antagonist might be someone who's not really all that into the whole supremely evil deeds done by the leader (looking at you, Axel).
We still want a compelling antagonist, of course. A character doing it just for the evulz or for the lulz isn't always the best antagonist any more. It can still happen, because sometimes what you really are looking for is to save the world from a cosmic horror that intends to destroy everything in its path, but those games usually are looking to have lots of character building among the protagonist party and focus on them and how they work together against the impending doom.
If I'm going to talk about my favorite antagonist in terms of what they did in their game, rather than their awesome music (for which more than a few end bosses of the many games I've played could vie) or their cutscene power (which is invariably stronger than their actual power when properly fought at the end), then I should talk about someone who engineered a really good plan to completion.
Seraph Lamington, take a bow. An ambitious plot to unite both Celestia and the Netherworld by sending an Angel Trainee to assassinate the King of the Netherworld, knowing full well he had already died. And having brought him back to life as a vain and persistent Mid-Boss to harry and observe the growth of his son, Laharl, and hope he matures into someone who can rule wisely and well. Because the Angel Trainee is a Love Freak who will not pass up an opportunity to insist that even demons are capable of loving each other after the pretext mission of getting her into the Netherworld fails pretty spectacularly, due to her target already having been dead for a couple of years. To the point where Laharl ends up falling in love with her (as well as Etna, most likely), even though he won't admit it, and challenges the Seraph to combat when the Seraph transforms Flonne into a flower for her actions. The true ending has Flonne transformed back, but she becomes a Fallen Angel and has to stay with Laharl. (The less true endings have Laharl turned into a flower as well, or Flonne or Etna attempt to off him before he can do something truly evil, or Laharl conquers Earth, or otherwise becomes far too powerful and evil for his liking, realizes it, passes the throne off to Etna, and goes on a journey of personal growth. Possibly by reincarnating as a Prinny.)
It's an ambitious plan to set up harmony again between Celestia and the Netherworld, and it's all the brainchild of Lamington, who has to even outmaneuver one of his own angels that has become obsessed with trying to expose Flonne as in league with the demons (oh, how close Vulcanus is to the truth.)
So that's which antagonist is the one that I have really enjoyed the most. There are others that I like crushing more, like Lavos, the Time Devourer, and Pringer-X, but this one is the one who I have to tip my cap to for excellent long-term planning and execution.
