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From grand legends and myths to indie video games, character archetypes form the basis for stories. Archetypes are recognizable roles based on ancient stories and ancient psychology. Part of the familiarity of character archetypes allow audiences to bond with characters on a personal level. As a writer, video game designer, or pop culture fan, understanding character archetypes expands our understanding and appreciation of how stories reach everyone on a universal level.
Character archetypes refer to universal symbolic patterns that can be viewed through various cultures and storytelling traditions. Archetypes were first used in psychological studies by Carl Jung, describing archetypal characters as ongoing images representing similar traits, motivations, and behavior patterns. We meet many archetypal characters during our lives, from a selfless hero to a sly trickster. Characters that full under archetypal character patterns allow the audience to quickly identify and connect emotionally with the role the character is playing in the story.
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From literature to movies to video game character archetypes, archetypes show the storyteller a clearer path of character creation and character development. Archetypes are templates for storytellers that help writers quickly set roles, dynamics, and even characters' conflicts. While the usual structure is familiar, you can be creative with the twists and evolutions to the characters.
The Hero is the protagonist of the narrative and is generally devoted to a mission or goal. Fearless, and standing in their convictions, this archetype usually undergoes trials, rises to strength, and overcomes obstacles. Examples of the Hero archetype are Link from The Legend of Zelda and Master Chief from Halo. In terms of fighting game character archetypes, the Hero does not capture the utmost complexity behind the character types. The Hero is in a generally balanced state, easy to learn, and difficult to master.
The Mentor may provide wisdom, guidance, or training for the Hero. The Mentor generally has experience, knowledge, or power and serves as a catalyst for the Hero. One could utilize avatars, like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, in that role and extends it further to Kratos in God of War Ragnarök (to serve as the Mentor to Atreus).
The Shadow tap nat/subconscious is often portrayed in photographs as the dark side of The Hero or society. It may also serve as the Antagonist or Villain. The Shadow typically resembles conflict, fear, or temptation. The Shadow can use avatar representations such as Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII and or M. Bison from Street Fighter.
Every hero needs a buddy. The Ally serves as a means of support, companionship, or comic relief to The Hero. Tails is a buddy character in Sonic the Hedgehog, while Elizabeth is an ally in BioShock Infinite. An ally can be used depending on the character archetype, such in the case of fighting game character archetypes.
This archetype initiates change by delivering a call to adventure or introducing a conflict. The Herald sets the story in motion. For instance, Navi in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time serves this narrative function.
The Trickster, as the name implies, disrupts a focused dynamic, typically through trickery or cleverness. They may act in either a comical or chaotic way. Think of Handsome Jack from Borderlands or The Joker in Injustice. In archetypal characters, Tricksters are never quite predictable, preferably staying rather ambiguous as to whether they are a friend or foe.
Shapeshifters are characters that are ambiguous with loyalties or identity. Their role is to bring tension and mystery. Revolver Ocelot is a classic video game example of a shapeshifter from the Metal Gear series. In narrative terms, shapeshifters are characters that challenge the Hero and his or her path. Knowing the seven character archetypes, provides a reasonable framework for character development and ideation as well as storytelling.
In video gaming character archetypes go beyond the narrative role and genre to contain statements of play style, mechanics, and user experience.
These video game character archetypes map reasonably close to personality archetypes and help create teams and perform in team-based gameplay. Even in narrative games, character typically utilize archetype characters as symbolic pillars.
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All-Rounders are good at everything: speed, damage, and defense. Ryu from Street Fighter is a fantastic all-rounder and probably the most representative example. He is a solid choice because he is relatively easy to play and highly recommended for beginner players.
Grapplers use thrown and proximity-based attacks to dominate their opponents. Grapplers like Zangief from Street Fighter and King from Tekken are reliant on tremendous raw power at close range to deliver horrifying amounts of damage, but these characters rely on the right positioning and timing.
Zoners can use long-range attacks to zone opponents out. Zoners like Dhalsim and Guile use multiple angles of attack to create space and alter their opponent's rhythm and mobility. Zoners often frustrate opponents who are having difficulties closing the gap to do damage.
These characters rely on speed and relentless offense. Cammy and Wolverine in Marvel vs. Capcom are top-tier rushdown fighters. They excel at applying pressure and overwhelming opponents.
Puppet characters control two fighters or summon entities to assist them in their battles. An example of a puppet character is Carl Clover from BlazBlue. They are complex but fun to operate for a skilled player. Each fighting game character archetype is developed to entice different players to play. The same is true of narrative archetypes, which are tied to different emotional journeys.
Archetypal characters have a presence in all aspects of books, films, media, and games. They provide the framework for familiarity but, at the same time, the structure is loose enough to allow creativity. We resonated with Katniss Everdeen as the Hero in The Hunger Games, as well as with Geralt of Rivia as the Antihero and Mentor in The Witcher because we recognize the struggle and ambition of those roles.
Even with ensemble casts, the use of archetypes provides balance and depth to the ensemble. Games like Mass Effect or Dragon Age's ensemble casts made excellent use of archetypes in the characters; the idealistic hero, the skeptical rogue, etc. The use of these archetypes adds depth to the gameplay and empathy/suspension to the tension in the narrative.
While the seven character archetypes form the core, the full character archetypes list is far more expansive. Here are a few more types that frequently appear in fiction and games:
This isn't a definitive list of character archetypes, since characters usually serve a combination of roles, or transition from one archetype to another over time, this is the fun of using archetypes for characters, it is good starting point and nothing holding you back creatively.
Recognizing archetypical characters sues to offer layers to your storytelling, it can be useful for anyone whether you are a developer using the form of a game, a screenwriter crafting plot, or a gamer. From a writer's perspective, it is useful to have a foundation while outlining a narrative perspective. From a gamer's perspective there is a sense of learning about play styles of these characters, and emotional connection to the character.
Utilizing video game character archetypes to utilize archetypes can bring balance to a game's component in the game design of the gameplay construct. When one utilizes character archetypes in their stories, it is a valuable way to take advantage of the seven character archetypes to ensure characters fulfill these roles; meaningful form and purpose that sustains the inception of the narrative. Additionally, utilizing a comprehensive list of character archetypes allows you to have differences in character personality but also in function, which provides diversity engaging audiences without losing continuity to the story.
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From the Homeric epic, which are standardized and rich in structure to contemporary role-playing games this list of character archetypes is valuable in offering easy to navigate cultural and narrative experiences. Archetypes help us understand motivations to engage with connotations meaningfully, to forge our emotional attachments as well as recognize patterns of human conduct and good relationships. Whether you are dissecting a fighting game character archetype list or formulating a story aligned with the seven character archetypes, archetypal room helps create the framework for creators to develop great characters.
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