Men to Watch in the video games

MEN TO WATCH in video games

Almost all of them are mass murderers, they rarely change their clothes, and a good deal speak only in catchphrases, but we love them anyway. It’s hard to imagine any job or physical manifestation video game characters haven’t taken, Italian plumber, pink blob, loin-clothed and tattooed war god, space marine, ambiguously gendered fantasy savers, cowboys, aliens, cowboy alien rappers, but who is the best? I don’t really know, but here are some of the men that deserve attention from a gay gamer.

Monkey from Enslaved: Odyssey to the WestBesides being half naked, well-muscled, covered in tattoos, scars, and let’s be honest, a little bit of make-up, Monkey has got some depth of character, and he moves like a big, sexy animal. The animators and writers seemed to follow the idea of making him human, but not quite, his hunched over stance that show his giant lats, his ape-like jumps, animal ferocity, and puppy dog cuddliness are beautifully dangerous to watch. Monkey doesn’t know who he is either, nor does he seem to much care. Monkey lives from moment to moment, seeming possibly unable to remember the past or project himself into the future. He is immensely powerful and possesses abilities and tools which are otherworldly, but natural in his hands. Monkey is more and less than human, and does not have the same thought processes and emotions humans do. Monkey is enslaved by Tripp to help her escape and at first is enraged by the arrangement, but when he completes his task and Tripp offers him his freedom he asks her not to- he wants to be dedicated to a higher purpose and to her, but knows his nature is unpredictable, untamed, and unfocused. I love his insight, his power, and his inhumanity.

John Marsten from Red Dead Redemption

Westerns are not my thing, gimme magic, give me lasers; dust and six shooters leaving me yawning (and sneezing), but John Marsten is dead sexy. His voice, low and gravelly, sincere and polite, dangerous and weathered- the man has been through some serious shit and does not pretend to be anything but criminal, but now he is looking for redemption, he does not expect it, nor does he think he deserves it, but he seeks it nonetheless. Through the game you come to know him and love him, he has a heart and is dedicated to his loved ones, unlike other games where one can have sex with any sexy woman or prostitute, Marsten rebuffs them all and stays faithful to his wife and exprostitute. You feel him, his frutstration, his determination, his strength and his softness. It is beautiful.

Brucie Kibbutz from Grand Theft Auto 4

Brucie is messed up. He’s a ‘roided up disaster, obsessed with his body and full of manly posturing, cracked out of his skull, and hilarious. He is constantly trying to get Niko (the male protagonist) to touch his abs or feel his ass or look at his balls to prove that Bruicie really is “genetically better” (his words). He denies vehemently that he is gay and couldn’t be any straighter, but probably is not. He works very hard to become and appear manly, but his catch phrases, inspirational products, and need for attention and validation create an unfolding psychosis which is fun to watch. Everything Brucie says is worth quoting; he like everyone else is that game is a lovable mess.

Sander Cohen from BioshockSander Cohen is tragic. He’s an artist who never feels appreciated and honestly, he’s probably not as good as he thinks he is (and he knows it), a visionary who is second best, and a gay man in the 1940’s. He constantly tries to prove his superiority, but himself doesn’t believe it and thus is bitchy and quick to anger, the drug addiction in dement to the culture of the undersea utopia of Rapture doesn’t help either. It is unclear if he is a second class citizen because he is gay or if he believes he is second class because the ingrained homophobia. He takes protégés as lovers, sexy boys with ambition who use him and his position to further themselves, and tries to force their love. Sander Cohen wants to be loved. He is a picture of what it was to be gay then, and he tries to rise above it all, he attempts to maintain his dignity and grace among ruin. It’s tragic and lovely.

These characters are beautifully written and video game media allows them to be brought to life; we see their faces, how they move, we hear their voices. These characters make games art, and some of that art would be great on a calendar you would like to spend some alone time with.