90s Video Game Protagonists That Have The Most Chill

Summary

• Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat exudes coolness with ice powers and iconic ninja attire.
• Gex, a stylish reptile in 90s platformers, navigates pop culture with charm and swagger.
• Lara Croft remains a feminist legend, facing diverse challenges with wit and confidence.

The 90s made quite an impact on the gaming industry. From evolving hardware to new IPs, this extravagant decade saw the growth of new consoles and a wealth of new, innovative franchises come to life. Along with its technological innovations, video games also started relying on a new type of character.

These were characters that oozed a sense of cool and chill, the ones who confronted their imminent demise with a calm exterior. Whether they were a character born in the 90s, or an 80s icon who became the beneficiary of a thrilling next-gen update, these heroes faced their problems and challenges head-on. Even when coming face to face with some of the most nefarious villains of all time, these heroes did not waiver and showed the type of demeanor that others may not have.

7 Sub-Zero

Iconic Ninja Is One Of Mortal Kombat’s Coolest Fighters

Pun definitely intended, Sub-Zero was one of the most popular fighters to emerge from the original Mortal Kombat. Alongside Scorpion and Sonya, he became one of the franchise mainstays and has continued to be one of the most iconic fighting game characters of all time.

And thanks to his ice-based powers and strong special attacks, this formidable fighter is one of the best characters to choose from the first three Mortal Kombat games from the 90s. His slick, blue and black ninja attire and ice-cold demeanor have elevated him from a fighting game fixture to one of the industry’s most iconic figures.

6 Gex

One Of The 90s Most Charming 3D Platformers

If there’s one thing that 90s gaming was known for, it was 3D platformers starring cartoon-like mascot characters. Superstars like Mario andCrash Banditcoot were some of the genre’s landmark releases, but it’s hard to find a 3D platformer mascot as cool as Gex, the reptile who starred in three self-titled releases beginning in 1998.

The Gex franchise focused largely on pop culture, with the titular character continuously hopping through different forms of media. And despite finding himself in perilous situations across genres like horror and science fiction, Gex maintains a sense of charm and swagger. His slow transition into a full-on action hero, one decked out in a James Bonde-esque suit, made Gex one of the decade’s slickest protagonists.

5 Lara Croft

Legendary Video Game Heroine Remains A Feminist Icon

There may not be a character that defines the 1990s more than Lara Croft, the globe-trotting heroine who has faced threats from all walks of life. But with a pair of pistols and a slew of trademark one-liners at her disposal, Lara showed that it didn’t matter if she was a woman in a genre full of male characters. She was just as cool, if not cooler, than all of them.

The Tomb Raider star has gone up against the likes of dinosaurs, ancient gods and brutal, treasure-hunting mercenaries, but faced them all with a sly wink and some witty comebacks. Lara Croft has also evolved in some wonderful ways, going from a simple treasure hunter with a cool attitude to one of gaming’s most beloved feminist icons.

4 Claire Redfield

Raccoon City Survivor Is One Of Resident Evil’s Greatest Characters

Were it not for a decision to restart development of Resident Evil 2 midway through, Claire Redfield would never have existed. Initially conceived as a motorcycle racer named Elza Walker, Claire Redfield was added to the game in the spring of 1997, thrown right into the fire as Raccoon City’s zombie infestation begins to get even more out of hand.

As Raccoon City crumbles around her, and she is faced with danger at every turn, Claire’s quest to find her brother Chris is what keeps her going. Teamed up with RCPD rookie Leon Kennedy, Claire embarks on a journey of survival, doing so with a calm, collected demeanor that is admirable for someone in her situation. Moving forward, Claire would become one of Resident Evil’smost legendary and respected heroines.

3 Squall Leonhart

Child Soldier Faces Incredible Odds With Brave Demeanor

If any word can be used to describe Squall Leonhart, it would be his signature catchphrase of “whatever”. This smooth, quiet young soldier of Balamb Garden is still one of the Final Fantasy franchise’s most stoic heroes. Despite the dark future that awaits Squall and his friends, as they find themselves on a collision course with a sorceress from the future known as Ultimecia, he remains cool and in control.

He commands the party with a sense of such calmness, it’s almost scary. Squall faces untold challenges throughout Final Fantasy 8, including being stabbed with a razor-sharp ice shard and surviving an airship infested with monsters, all of it with an understated heroism. In terms of Final Fantasy protagonists, Squall is the franchise’s most humble hero.

2 Sonic

Former Rival Of Mario Is One Of The Decades’ Most Chill Characters

The word “cool” always comes to mind with Sonic, as he was designed to appeal to a young American audience and directly compete with his rival Mario over at Nintendo. His sleek, instantly recognizable design and devil-may-care attitude has served him well, as it defines not just his personality, but how he approaches his encounters with the insidious Dr. Robotnik.

In the original Sonic the Hedgehog, the speedy blue hedgehog is loaded with personality and charm. Simple finger wags and facial expressions were enough to get an amazing amount of expression across, as despite facing all of Dr. Robotnik’s dastardly machines and bots, there’s no sign of panic. This gaming icon has continued to be the same charming hero for decades now, as he is a mainstay on every piece of gaming hardware, bringing his unique flair to every machine he graces.

1 Solid Snake

Lone Wolf Super-Soldier Stars In PS1 Classic

For a man brought out of retirement in order to stop full-scale nuclear destruction, Solid Snake spends the entirety of Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation with remarkable composure. Although he faces the likes of a giant shaman wielding a gigantic machine gun and an expert sniper, Snake approaches the incident at Shadow Moses Island with bravery and is unwilling to give up, even in the face of certain destruction.

From the moment he breaches the walls of the heavily guarded tank hangar, all the way to his final fist fight with Liquid Snake atop the carcass of Metal Gear Rex, Snake’s training and previous experience at Zanzibar Land and Outer Heaven give him an edge over his enemies. He’s a man who’s seen it all, been through the toughest challenges possible and made it to the other side. This hardened, battle-tested super-soldier is one of gaming’s most iconic protagonists, and his no-nonsense approach to war helps make him one of the industry’s best.