Highlights
- The article explores the appeal of robotic and AI characters in video games, highlighting their variety and the unique experience of interacting with them.
- The featured AI characters, such as EDI from Mass Effect and Cayde-6 from Destiny, are praised for their compelling personalities and the depth they bring to their respective games.
- The article showcases a range of robotic and AI characters, from the witty and humorous to the coldhearted and calculating, highlighting their impact and significance in the gaming world.
The science fiction genre is massively appealing to gamers, and as a result there’s no shortage of characters in games that could be classified as robots, androids, or artificial intelligences. Some of the most compelling sci-fi universes out there can be explored in video games, and unlike other forms of media, we actually get to interact with these AI characters.
Sometimes they’re our friends, sometimes our enemies, and quite often we get to experience what it’s like to actually be these characters for ourselves. One thing is clear: we can’t get enough of awesome robotic characters, so here are 10 of the absolute best gaming has to offer.
10
EDI (Mass Effect)
It shouldn’t be a surprise that BioWare’s space epic series has some of the best AI characters around. BioWare writes some of the best characters in gaming, period, and EDI is one of the most compelling. Depending on your feelings about the character, she or it started out in Mass Effect 2 as a simple ship AI for the Normandy, akin to the computer in Star Trek — albeit with actual intelligence.
Near the end of Mass Effect 2, the Normandy’s pilot, Joker, unlocked EDI’s higher functions, and she began to explore her “humanity” in Mass Effect 3 as a result. As the player, this led to numerous thought-provoking — and oftentimes downright hilarious — conversations as EDI tried to figure out why humans are the way they are. We tried to help her understand, but honestly, most of us are still trying to figure that out, too.
9
Cayde-6 (Destiny)
In Bungie’s Destiny series, robotic AI characters are everywhere. Known as “Exos,” they actually used to be humans, but rather than accepting a mortal life that would eventually end, these people chose to have their minds transferred into robotic bodies so they could live forever.
Cayde-6 is probably the most prolific of the Exo characters in Destiny — that is, if you don’t count yourself, as it is possible to play as an Exo yourself as you explore, battle, and build-craft to your heart’s content. The main reason it’s impossible not to fall in love with Cayde is because he has more personality than one would expect from an AI. He’s always cracking wise, and bringing levity to a solar system that’s under constant siege.
8
Ashe (Apex Legends)
Long before she was Ashe, she was a human scientist named Dr. Ashleigh Reid in Titanfall 2. She wasn’t a particularly ethical doctor, however, and was known for psychologically manipulating researchers prior to her, well, death. Like the Exos of Destiny, her mind was transferred into a robotic body, and she became one part Ashe, and one part Leigh — a mind fractured between two personalities.
Ashe is coldhearted, calculating, and confident. Whether you’re playing as her in Apex Legends’ battle royale mode, or its flawed team deathmatch mode, you’ll no doubt agree that you feel extra dangerous running around as her because of this personality. But, don’t be surprised if you occasionally hear Leigh’s voice in your head, talking you off that hilltop and reminding you that you’re not as perfect as you think.
7
Bastion (Overwatch)
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Overwatch’s battle bot if you’ve watched it’s animated short. A bulky robot with more firepower than John Wick, Bastion doesn’t really want to be the murder machine it was designed to be. It’s rather fond of nature and its little bird friend and is constantly fighting its programming.
When you play as Bastion, however, things get a little different. Bastion’s overall damage output is higher than any other hero in the game, so don’t let the bird and the friendly beep boops trick you into trying to make peace.
6
Fl4k (Borderlands 3)
There’s something special about a robot that loves animals. Like Bastion, Borderlands 3’s Fl4k likes to have cute little companions around, but he takes it to a whole other level. Fl4k is a true beastmaster; one who takes care of several different animals.
Better yet, when playing as Fl4k, you get to use these beasts in battle and level up their abilities as you go along. And don’t worry if they lose all their health; these pets don’t ever go down permanently. Fla4k may not have a beating heart like his pets, but he cares about them too much to let them die.
5
HK-47 (Knights Of The Old Republic)
The droids of Star Wars have a lot of variety, and if you’re only familiar with the movies, you may think they’re these friendly little guys who live to serve their masters. HK-47 likes to serve, too — by killing meatbags.
HK-47 is an assassin droid and isn’t exactly shy about how much he loves his purpose. It wouldn’t be overstating things to say he’s sociopathic; he cares little for living beings, and often displays total disregard for the safety of bystanders. But, as your companion in Knights of the Old Republic, he’s completely loyal and will follow your every command — though he may argue as to whether your actions are violent enough.
4
Ramattra (Overwatch 2)
The Omnics of Overwatch’s bright future are true AIs — that is to say, their level of intelligence and emotion is equal to that of humans. As such, they’ve been afforded a great deal of rights — and even equal rights — in much of the world. But, this hasn’t always been the case. Many people don’t view Omnics as people, and it unfortunately leads to oppression and violence, like when Widowmaker sniped the peaceful Omnic monk, Mondatta.
Ramattra has seen the worst of humanity, and that trauma has convinced him that the only way to give his people true equality is to fight for it. As the leader of Null Sector, he’s seen as a villain. But, he’s much more complex than that, and when you play as him, you can’t help be feel like you’re fighting for justice.
3
Legion (Mass Effect)
In the Mass Effect series, the geth are a race of machines that were meant to be servants of their creators, the quarian people. But, the geth relied on networked intelligence, and eventually things got out of hand as they became much smarter than they were meant to be. The geth anticipated that the quarians would wipe them out to stop this, and so they decided to preemptively attack their creators. Eventually, they drove the quarians off their homeworld altogether.
Legion is a single mobile platform of the geth intelligence tasked with aiding Commander Shepard. But, in talking with it, you soon realize there’s more to Legion than meets the eye. It has a piece of Shepard’s old armor strapped to its chest and won’t tell you why it didn’t do a more routine repair. It’s curious, and shows signs of emotion. It’s far more than a mobile platform. This is explored further in Mass Effect 3, as the geth and quarian conflict boils over once again, but this time, Commander Shepard is there to resolve the conflict; one way or another.
2
GLaDOS (Portal)
The primary antagonist of the Portal games is… complex. She’s supposed to put you through some trials and evaluate your performance, but something feels off. She’s enjoying this a little too much. She’s a little too disappointed when you, you know, don’t die. She’s terrifying to be frank, but you can’t help but love her.
GLaDOS has a special place in many gamers’ hearts due to her twisted sense of humor. Her voice alone is what guides you through the first game, culminating in a boss battle where you kill her — but not really. In the credits, she sings an amazingly dark and humorous song about how she’s still alive, and she returns in the sequel for even more fun — though as a potato strapped to your portal gun for a good chunk of the game.
1
Cortana (Halo)
The irony of the relationship between Halo’s Master Chief and his AI companion Cortana is that he is the human, and she’s the robot. But you would never guess it based on their personalities. In the first couple games, Cortana serves as your guide and is the main voice you hear in the game since Chief doesn’t really talk all that much. She’s expressive and emotional, while Chief is stoic and focused. But, you start to realize there’s a deeper connection between them as the games go on, and it’s nearly impossible for the player not to feel that attachment to Cortana as they play.
The story of Cortana and Master Chief has an amazing climax in Halo 4. Much of the game is spent with Cortana experiencing rampancy — a sort of AI dementia. Master Chief wants nothing more than to save her from it, but with the fate of the galaxy at stake, they have to put her wellbeing on hold, and she ends up saving him instead — and she seemingly gives her life for it. In that moment, we see the most emotion we ever do from Master Chief as he grieves that loss. It seems the only thing that can crack that hard shell is Cortana.
[ad_2]
