Summary
- Shao Khan wasn’t in the 1st Mortal Kombat, but, eventually, he became an iconic villain in the MK series.
- Handsome Jack brought charisma to Borderlands starting from the 2nd game.
- Varric Tethras wasn’t in the original Dragon Age, but he’s now a beloved character.
The first game of any series is important, as if it isn’t successful, there likely won’t be another. Yet, the first entry isn’t always the best. A lot of the time, the sequels elevate everything. The gameplay improves, the story gets bigger, and the environments are often nicer to look at.
Also, developers tend to add new characters to the new entries. It can be hard for them to stack up to the characters from the original, as they are the ones fans already love. That said, these new characters are occasionally great and become iconic in their own right, perhaps even more iconic than those already in the series. Here are some examples of amazing characters that missed the first game of their respective series.
9
Shao Khan
Mortal Kombat Series
While the developers have added new characters to the Mortal Kombat series plenty of times, it feels like a collection of them has been around forever. The likes of Scorpion, Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero, and Raiden all fit into this group.
Some may also put Shao Khan into that collection, as he’s often seen as the main villain of the entire series. However, the brute wasn’t in the first game. His first appearance came in Mortal Kombat 2 as the final boss.
8
Handsome Jack
Borderlands Series
The original Borderlands was a popular game, but you could argue that some of its characters lacked a bit of charisma. You can’t say that about Handsome Jack, though, who made his debut in the second game in the series. He is brimming with personality.
The guy is the smooth-talking and very funny antagonist of Borderlands 2. He’s also featured in a few other titles in the series. The villain is so popular that he has become one of the faces of Borderlands.
7
Varric Tethras
Dragon Age Series
Each main game in the Dragon Age series changes the protagonist and their companions. So, the games don’t typically include many returning characters from previous instalments. One exception is Varric, who features in Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Dragon Age: Veilguard. This is why he’s one of the most famous and popular characters in the series.
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Yet, he wasn’t there when the whole thing started, as he didn’t feature in the original title. The first Dragon Age game is considered by many to be the best in the series, but it would’ve been even better with Varric.
6
Pyramid Head
Silent Hill Series
If you ask someone who hasn’t played a Silent Hill game to name a character from it, they’re likely going to mention Pyramid Head. Those same people may be surprised to learn that he didn’t get added to the series until the second game.
Despite this, he is certainly the face of the series, even though he doesn’t actually have a face. After all, his entire head is a pyramid, hence the name. He is also a destructive beast that causes many problems for other characters.
5
The Illusive Man
Mass Effect Series
There are a lot of characters in the Mass Effect series. One of the most compelling, though, is The Illusive Man. He’s one of those villains you never actually fight because he typically doesn’t get up close and personal with anyone, never mind his adversaries.
While he may not fight, he certainly makes his presence felt and plays a very important role in the series. His moral grayness and differing views on how to deal with the synthetic force that’s threatening the galaxy add an interesting dynamic to the overall narrative. So, it’s good that Bioware included him in Mass Effect 2 after not featuring him in the original title.
4
Leon Kennedy
Resident Evil Series
The first Resident Evil game starred Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, who became famous because of it. The series doesn’t just revolve around them, though. Leon Kennedy was introduced in the second game and has gone on to rival Chris and Jill in both popularity and fame.
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In plenty of people’s eyes, he’s the best protagonist in the series due in part to the fact that he features in some of the greatest Resident Evil games ever. Having a stylish haircut and fancy jacket hasn’t hurt, either.
3
Tails
Sonic The Hedgehog Series
Naturally, Sonic is the most famous character in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Every great hero needs a sidekick, though, and Tails is one of the most iconic sidekicks in gaming. However, he wasn’t much use in Sonic’s first adventure, as he wasn’t in the game.
The only main characters in the original title were Sonic and Eggman. Tails didn’t feature until Sonic the Hedgehog 2. That is the game where you first saw his twin tails in action as he floated around like a helicopter.
2
Ezio Auditore
Assassin’s Creed Series
The Assassin’s Creed series continually introduces a new protagonist every game, except for when Ezio was the main man in Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed Revelations. This trilogy of games helped him become the most famous protagonist in the series.
The hero of the first game, Altair, is fairly well-known, too, but he never had the same appeal as Ezio. The Italian Assassin is witty, charming, and more relatable than the first protagonist. In fact, Ezio’s inclusion in AC2 is what elevated the series.
1
Chun-Li
Street Fighter Series
Every long-running fighting series has a set of characters that are synonymous with the franchise. When it comes to Street Fighter, the main names that come to mind for many are Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li. The first two were meant to be the main characters of the series, while Chun-Li kicked her way into fans’ hearts. Yet, what is perhaps surprising for some is that she did so from the second game in the series, as she wasn’t in the first entry.
The only playable characters in the original title were Ryu and Ken, with the rest being opposition. She’s been a regular ever since Street Fighter 2, though, and fans would be heartbroken if they released a Street Fighter without her in it.
