<div style='font: 12pt ; text-align: left; '>I had this discussion came up a few days ago debating whether the main character being the most popular is the norm or the exception, so I decided to compile a list. Please don't include games that have obviously no one of importance besides the main character (for example, if there was a Megaman game without Proto Man, Roll, or Bass, then obviously Megaman will be the most popular character by default). I don't need numbers, but it should be readily obvious that the character is the most popular.
The ones I can think of offhand:
Link - Zelda
Snake - MGS
Cloud - FF7 (I'd think Sephiroth is more popular, but Gamefaqs's character poll says otherwise)
Zero - Megaman Zero
Well, if you look at my list, I certainly believe main character being the most popular is the exception... which brings me the question, why? Unlike my other posts, I don't really have any explanation for this. If you agree, why? If you do not believe this is the exception, why not? You'd think the main character you play as ought to at least be a fairly cool person, but it rarely works out this way. I know there is a trend to the 'unlikely hero' but even the unlikely hero is supposed to be an exceptional person in the end... so why so many unpopular main characters?</div>
The ones I can think of offhand:
Link - Zelda
Snake - MGS
Cloud - FF7 (I'd think Sephiroth is more popular, but Gamefaqs's character poll says otherwise)
Zero - Megaman Zero
Well, if you look at my list, I certainly believe main character being the most popular is the exception... which brings me the question, why? Unlike my other posts, I don't really have any explanation for this. If you agree, why? If you do not believe this is the exception, why not? You'd think the main character you play as ought to at least be a fairly cool person, but it rarely works out this way. I know there is a trend to the 'unlikely hero' but even the unlikely hero is supposed to be an exceptional person in the end... so why so many unpopular main characters?</div>
