The Top 25 Video Game Villains of Every Subtype Imaginable

[CC13]

A while back, I made several lists of the top 25 video game villains of various subsectors of gaming (i.e., Nintendo, Sega, '90s PC gaming, etc.). Now, I want to share them all with you, but with a twist: I'll give you all hints as to what the next villain on the list is and you try and guess who I have in mind. The winner gets to decide what my next list will be, but for now, we're starting off with one of my favorite subsectors of gaming: The Top 25 Pre-1991 Western Arcade & Console Game Villains! Before we get to the top 25 proper, however, we have two dishonorable mentions and three honorable mentions per list. Here's your hint for the first dishonorable mention–I'll post the first entry proper before midnight on Thursday.

Next time on The Top 25 Pre-1991 Western Arcade & Console Game Villains: SHARK ATTACK!

 

[Fungi]

Jaws

 

[CC13]

Jaws

Not quite...you did see that this was about video game villains, right? For our purposes, that means villains that originated in a video game. Besides, Jaws is awesome–why on Earth would he merit a dishonorable mention, unless the list was "Worst Villains Ever"? Still, Jaws is somewhat on the right track and I explained my premise poorly, so I'll give you another clue: the name of the game alludes to one of the better-regarded James Bond films.

 

[Fungi]

I didn't mean

I meant

but I digress. I have no answer.

 

[gooche77]

LJN made some great games. Back to the Future was a blast.

 

[DrainoBraino]

Thunderball for Odyssey 2? hmm....no villians in that game, but it is pinball!

I dunno, is it an arcade game or a console game? need another clue

edit: is it Loch Jaw? Loch Ness Monster from Shark Attack for Atari

 

[CC13]

Thunderball for Odyssey 2? hmm....no villians in that game, but it is pinball!

I dunno, is it an arcade game or a console game? need another clue

edit: is it Loch Jaw? Loch Ness Monster from Shark Attack for Atari

OK, here's one more clue: the game you're looking for was released in arcades by Atari Games in 1990.

 

[Sinistar]

Primal Rage

 

[Sean DonCarlos]

Madam Q?

 

[DrainoBraino]

OK, here's one more clue: the game you're looking for was released in arcades by Atari Games in 1990.

Ok I got it, but I cheated and looked it up, so I'll keep quiet. never heard of that game actually....

 

[SKILL_SHOT]

I actually beat JAWS NES get the shells mon! and the little sub.

 

[CC13]

Madam Q?

I honestly didn't expect anyone to get this one. Kudos! Since you placed the villain, I'll assume you know the game already and give you full credit. In any event, here's the write-up:

D1. Madam Q (ThunderJaws)
Developed & Published By: Atari Games
Platform: Arcade
Year of Release: 1990

This is one of the games that really sums up Atari Games' '88-to-'93 downward spiral. After marring the otherwise fun Toobin' and Vindicators with desperate T-shirt contests in 1988, followed by the unpolished-but-fun Skull & Crossbones in 1989, we ended up with this mess. What's wrong with it, you ask? Aside from the early parts of the game biting Rolling Thunder (and themselves being bitten by Atari Games' Batman the following year), everything is just...awkward. The platforming feels stiff, the attempts at pandering to teenage boys via fawning, bikini-clad babes are painful to watch (although arguably forgiven by being in keeping with the game's James Bond roots), the grabs at players' quarters are a mite too obvious and the protagonist is more Dr. Dude than Dr. No. There is one silver lining, though—the suits at Midway/WB Interactive at least had the common decency to keep this one off their retro compilations—unlike our next entry...

Next Time on The Top 25 Pre-1991 Western Arcade & Console Game Villains: Oh, this game came from a PIT, all right!

 

[Sean DonCarlos]

I honestly didn't expect anyone to get this one. Kudos! Since you placed the villain, I'll assume you know the game already and give you full credit.

To be honest, I only knew it because it was one of the arcade games that ensured my precious quarters (I was 9 years old in 1990!) got fed to Whirlwind instead.

 

[netizen]

Pit Fighter?

 

[DrainoBraino]

Next Time on The Top 25 Pre-1991 Western Arcade & Console Game Villains: Oh, this game came from a PIT, all right!

Masked Fighter - Pit Fighter

 

[Pinballwiz45b]

Ridley! (from the Metroid series)

Whoops! Didn't realize that I had to guess. Oh well. Might as well be my guess for one of the villains. (obviously not this one ) Sorry guys!

 

[CC13]

Masked Fighter - Pit Fighter

That's close enough for government work, but since netizen got the game right first, you and he will both get half the credit for this one. Anyway, here's the next write-up:

D2. The Masked Warrior (Pit-Fighter)
Developed & Published By: Atari Games
Platform: Arcade
Year of Release: 1990

I'll say this much in The Masked Warrior's defense: his character design is legitimately intimidating (I think the silver mask serves as a fantastic eyecatch and makes the whole leather-bound dominator schtick a little less cliche). However, that's where the praise ends for this one. The game plays even stiffer than ThunderJaws, you'll either get your head handed to you or be able to cruise through the game just by mashing the kick button, the music has the same sort of catchiness as a late '80s porno soundtrack and the character designs are mostly laughable. That's not the worst part, though–the worst part is that this garbage got onto Midway Arcade Origins while the much better NARC and Primal Rage got left off. There's no justice in the world, I tell you. Oh, wait, I lied–that's not the worst part, either. The ACTUAL worst part is that people defend this game, but I suppose there's no accounting for taste. At least nobody greenlit a sequel to this one–oh, wait...

Next Time on The Top 25 Pre-1991 Western Arcade & Console Game Villains: Float like a butterfly...

 

[netizen]

Float like a butterfly...

My actual guess is M. Bison. That Mugen video is just funny.

 

[CC13]

My actual guess is M. Bison. That Mugen video is just funny.

Sorry, no, that guess wasn't even close. Here's another hint: what might you call Winnie the Pooh in a fancy car?

 

[CC13]

Sorry, no, that guess wasn't even close. Here's another hint: what might you call Winnie the Pooh in a fancy car?

Nobody wants to even try anymore? Dangabbit, I thought that last clue was a real winner, too! OK, I'll spill the beans on the release details: I actually would accept one of three answers for the game of origin. All were originally arcade releases, with one being released by Atari in 1983 and the other two being released by Atari Games (yes, there is a difference) in 1984 and 1986, respectively. That's all the help you're getting from me, but I'll tell you this much more: you need to take my first clue for this entry very literally...