Flashback: Black Characters in Videogames — Good Luck Thinking Of Those
In honor of Black History Month this week’s Flashback will take a look, or try to, at black characters in videogames. Specifically playable characters that weren’t just NPCs or cast members in cut scenes. Guess what? There aren’t that many.
Barrett Wallace — Final Fantasy VII 1997
seriously -- look at me -- would you mess with this?
Did you see his arm? It’s a Gatling gun. C’mon! Former leader of AVALANCHE Mr. Wallace although not a big fan of Cloud decides to fight the good fight anyway. He was an ornery dude.
CJ (a.k.a. Carl Johnson) GTA: San Andreas (2004 — the game was set in 1992)
I dare you to race me -- I will beat you
Not only was San Andreas on of the best of the series, but Carl Johnson was the main character in this GTA set in San Andreas in the early 90s. Fresh out of Liberty City lockup he returns to his beloved hometown only to be thrown right back into the life he left behind. Actually in terms of games, San Andreas had a primarily black cast. Of course they were gang bangers and criminals but hey a whole game, that’s something right?
Sergeant Johnson: Halo (2001 — 2007 {posthumously 2009})
Don't ever call me Avery -- I will shoot you
Correction: Master Sergeant Avery Johnson. One of the NPCs of the Halo series for all three of the games, Johnson was the gravel-voiced mean green military leader who had some great lines and was was a consistent character throughout the franchise. Unfortunately he met his demise in Halo 3 (sorry for the two people who have never played it) but he then became a playable character last year in Halo: ODST as part of a special pre-order download from retailer Gamestop where you could use him in multiplayer games. Okay so he had to wait 4 games to become a usable character but at least he finally got in the game. No word yet on whether we’ll see him in this year’s other prequel Halo: Reach
Cole Train: Gears of War 1 & 2 (2006 and 2008)
The gun show isn't in town -- it's here!
Showing up midway through the first Gears of War Augustus “Cole Train” Cole, former Thrashball superstar becomes a COG and starts out on the Alpha team but ultimately joins the fight with Marcus Phoenix. The epitome of a badass Train is basically that guy you want in any fight (pillows included).
Sheva Alomar: Resident Evil 5 (2009)
Hey Tomb Raider ... Suck on this!
Who? This is the newest entry to the list. The yin to Chris Redfield’s Yang in Resident Evil, this bomb diggity bomb is member of the BSAA South African branch and can head shot zombies like nobody’s business. Zombies beware, she will kick your ass.
Honorable Mention — Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
I will moonwalk all over your head
Not just a character, a whole game featuring the late gloved one as the zoot-suit fedora wearing charcter of his Smooth Criminal video. Believe it or not this was an adventure beat ‘em up game. How did you beat people up you ask? Why you kick them of course. And the best part — you got to morph into a robot.
Criminals, badasses, military dudes (and dudettes) and a morphing robot. How do you like them apples?
Flashback: Black Characters in Videogames — Good Luck Thinking Of Those
