The Most Controversial Video Game Characters (PICTURES)

A multi-billion dollar industry and a beloved pastime for millions around the world, video games have also been the source of bitter controversies over the years.

When so many games enjoy large audiences of both children and adults, questions are bound to arise over sexuality, violence and dark themes present in some games. Even games marketed strictly for adults can come under fire for gratuitous sexuality, violence and political insensitivity.

Take a look through our slideshow of the most controversial video game characters of all time, and share your opinions in the comments. Do you think these fictional characters are truly offensive, or have the allegations against them been exaggerated? Email us at [e-mail] to suggest any characters you feel should have made the list. Then, check out our slideshow of the most controversial video games.

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Lee Harvey Oswald, "JFK: Reloaded" (2004)

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The creators of JFK: Reloaded claim that they intended the game to be a reexamination of the forensic facts from President John F. Kennedy's murder case. One of the game's most contentious sequences is a first-person shooter simulation that places the player in the shoes of Lee Harvey Oswald, who is believed to have assassinated Kennedy. The player can take aim and fire at Kennedy's motorcade as it passes and can even deliver a kill shot. A spokesman for Senator Edward Kennedy, the late president's brother, called the game "despicable," according to PCWorld.

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The creators of JFK: Reloaded claim that they intended the game to be a reexamination of the forensic facts from President John F. Kennedy's murder case. One of the game's most contentious sequences is a first-person shooter simulation that places the player in the shoes of Lee Harvey Oswald, who is believed to have assassinated Kennedy. The player can take aim and fire at Kennedy's motorcade as it passes and can even deliver a kill shot. A spokesman for Senator Edward Kennedy, the late president's brother, called the game "despicable," according to PCWorld.

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Comments

[ElTommo]

07:12 PM on 02/17/2011

Please tell me the author of this utterly pointless article isn't being paid for it. >.>

[Audacityscape]

05:07 PM on 02/17/2011

No, that's not what MANHUNT was about at all. The main character was a guy who is spared a lethal injection by a madman who forces him to play in these sick scenarios in this deserted town he has orchestrated for the protagonist. The madman tells the protagonist that he'll kill him if he refuses, so he complies. His victims were all criminals who were trying to kill him, too. He wasn't just some dude mowing down innocent people on public streets.

It doesn't make the game any less violent, of course, but it does give it context. It was actually a pretty interesting (and brutal) game.

[Pandoras Folly]

08:10 AM on 02/18/2011

Yea any game that has you suffocate someone with plastic grocery bag is pretty freaking violent. They did get that story line all kinds of wrong.

[Tblack]

11:12 PM on 02/19/2011

I played MANHUNT for Ps2 and it was a very intense experience. I think it JUST stayed under the line of what should be in a video game. I remember hiding in shadows with my skin crawling from the ambiance of that game. I think ROCKSTAR caters to thinking gamer. Despite what is often said about them. Almost all their MATURE rated games deal with fairly real consequences for their characters or storyline direction.

[WhereBeTheOilBeezys]

05:00 PM on 02/17/2011

You could take a lot of games and interpret them as violent and controversial. This day and age, kids will get their hands on these games whether the parents try to monitor game play or not. "Mom wont let you pickup the new Dead Space game, no problem since Johnny got it so I will head over to his place to play it. "

[Cody Wetzel]

12:21 PM on 02/17/2011

I haven't heard of half of these and I've been gaming since the Atari 2600 and NES of yesterday.

I think the game industry does use more sex and violence than is necessary but in the end it is up the the parents just like with TV and movies. It is very frustrating when some 12 year old is being a brat and won't quite talking when you're trying to play Call of Duty or the like.

[Scott Stevenson]

10:48 AM on 02/17/2011

This is the best list they can come up with? Apparently the author knows nothing about gaming.

[Mike Sprinkel]

10:46 AM on 02/17/2011

They should have only considered legit video games. "Rapelay" and "Ethnic Cleansing" were created to appeal to a discreet audience, and were certainly not destined for large-scale retail distribution. They don't really count.

[FenrirIII]

10:17 AM on 02/17/2011

1: JFK game was not a real game, it's some lone developer's pet project.
2: Why is realism controversial? Political correctness run amuck.
3: Adult games like that don't really count...
4: Yeah, this one is kind of bad. It should be marked "Inspired by True Events..." though
5: Duke is the distillation of our action movies. Blame Hollywood.
6: What? Sub-Zero? Come on, he's the best. MK in general was violent and angered mothers.
7: Never even heard of that. Looks like a standard game targeted at horny male gamers.
8: (See #1)
9: (See #5)
10: Blame racial stereotypes and gangster media.
11: It's from Japan. It's a sex game. Did you expect it to be wholesome?
12: "Carmagedon" was worse as I recall. GTA is worse still.

[Daws]

10:03 AM on 02/17/2011

I'm usually not a fan of censorship but RapeLay is crossing the line.

[AnthonyVolpe]

09:57 AM on 02/17/2011

Two words: Pyramid Head.

[MaxPowerXP]

09:50 AM on 02/17/2011

"One of the game's most contentious sequences is a first-person shooter simulation that places the player in the shoes of Lee Harvey Oswald, who is believed to have assassinated Kennedy."

...that's the ONLY sequence in the game. And if you install one of the mods that puts wacky physics and crowd response, it's hilarious.

[Why2Late]

09:45 AM on 02/17/2011

Just games, movies and books can be a lot worst. Just play what you like. Besides it was said Lee Harvey couldn't make the shot from where he was at. I wonder if a game could disprove or prove that day in history. Might be a great way for kids to have a hands on to moments in history.

[Shannon Cunningham]

09:34 AM on 02/17/2011

On the San Andreas one they are upset about a sex scene because its pornographic, but the hundreds of free porn websites on the internet which anyone, including 5 year old can access are OK?

[kevinbr38]

09:08 AM on 02/17/2011

JFK Reloaded is particularly offensive. Just give me Pac Man, (Ms. Pac Man actually), or Donkey Kong.Give

[pfods]

08:21 AM on 02/17/2011

i love the medal of honor nonsense. in team matches, you either have taliban shooting american soldiers, or americans shooting american soldiers.

take your pick which one is more controversial.

[Audacityscape]

05:15 PM on 02/17/2011

It's almost insulting that they caved to pressure to remove the word. That's what those guys are called: The Taliban. It's not like they used a racial slur or something.

[glockman]

07:52 AM on 02/17/2011

Let me get this straight: violent video games do not program children to go out and harm people, but violent rhetoric causes political devotees to go out and harm people?

As for me, I don't believe either. Actions taken by an individual are just that. We either have freedom of speech, or we don't. Partial freedom of speech is a myth.

[nothenrygale]

08:28 AM on 02/17/2011

It's the same for both. People predisposed to violence for whatever reason (mental illness or otherwise) have a higher chance of being negatively affected by the violent imagery or rhetoric. Most people are balanced enough to understand the difference between reality and politics or games.

[glockman]

08:52 AM on 02/17/2011

Precisely just how I was trying to say it. Thanks.

[ganglewaefre]

08:45 AM on 02/17/2011

Fairly simplified world you live in. Must be nice.

[glockman]

11:23 AM on 02/17/2011

No. I'm merely pointing out the hypocrisy displayed by both sides of the political aisle when it comes to the issue of free speech.