10 Most Underrated Video Game Characters
Yeah Master Chief can kick massive alien ass and Mario always looks cool putting one over on Bowser, whether in 3-D or paper mode. But these guys are like lead actors in a modern day video game arena. Sometimes it’s those unknowns, those supporting characters or regular guys who really bring something to the table. So for all those hard-working pixels (and countless wasted quarters) of yesteryear, I bring you:
Top 10 Most Underrated Video Game Characters
1. Peter Pepper from Burger Time - Come on, he made GIANT hamburgers! With pickles even. Sure he may’ve looked a bit like Bob’s Big Boy, but even a gamer’s gotta eat.
2. Qbert – Dude, I have no idea WTF this armless orange freakish thing is… but he cursed. A lot.
3. Lizzie from Rampage – All the monsters in Rampage deserve to be on here for destroying buildings, smashing helicopters and eating people. But only Lizzie makes it because when the monsters convert to naked humans, Lizzie’s the only girl.
4. Dig Dug – I always thought this little dude looked like an astronaut, and thus never understood why he hung out underground trying to inflate bad guys with his tube until they exploded.
5. Humanoid from Berzerk – Okay, so he’s nothing more than a pixilated stick figure. If that. But what the “humanoid” lacks in looks, he more than makes up for in robot ass-kicking action. Plus, he has to put up with some of the most offensively annoying sound effects in video games. For that alone he deserves your respect.
6. Dirk the Daring from Dragon’s Lair – Okay, this game sucked. It was one of the BEST looking games on the planet, seeing as how it was basically a cartoon choose-your-own-adventure. But I always got eaten by the friggin’ alligators. Every time. Anyways, it’s not Dirk’s fault, plus he’s a gigantic coward who still goes off to fight a dragon in hopes of “getting some” from the uber hot Princess Daphne.
7. Billy the Paperboy – I have no friggin’ clue what the kid’s name really is in “Paperboy,” but Billy sounds good and believable. This kid rode his bike over manholes, avoided annoying yapping dogs, slow-as-molasses old ladies and out-of-control bullies. All in the name of delivering the daily news to your doorstep. Give him some props, will ya?
8. Pitfall Harry – The original blocky Atari 2600 version was the real deal. No fancy graphics or 3-D worlds. Just side-scrolling non-stop (literally) action as he jumped over scorpions, spiders and crocodile eyeballs, all in the name of stealing gold. Or silver. Or if you’re really lucky, diamond rings.
9. The Bartender from Tapper – I’m talking the original arcade Tapper here, not the watered-down Root Beer Tapper that quickly replaced him. The guy made a bowtie look good, sported a trusting moustache, and was able to fill and refill your beer endlessly, all while juggling tips and dancing girls.
10. Donkey Kong Jr. – This little monkey doesn’t even exist in Mario’s Universe these days, being replaced by something called “Diddy Kong.” WTF? Dressed in nothing more than a diaper, DKJ would climb vines and stave off countless flesh-eating piranhas all in the name of saving his poor poppa who was caged by some irate Italian plumber.
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Comments
This is going to sound weird, I’m sure, but I used to love Riddle of the Sphinx. Did you ever play that one?
Pitfall Harry. So that’s where your nick came from? I’ve never heard of any of these games except Donkey Kong Jr. What can I say? I was a deprived kid.
Jason - Y’know, I did think of those bastard ostriches but they never failed to die on me at the worst possible time. So no. No honorable mentions. And Joust is the crappiest coolest-looking game ever.
Tish - Def not weird. I totally remember that game, I think it was from Parker Bros. Though I never played it, I saw the ad for it in dozens of comic books for months. Was it any good?
Lis - Shhh. Don’t blow my cover! And geez, what are you, like 12 years old? How could you never hear of any o’ these but DKJ?
Tommy - Uh, not really. I’m a little afraid to ask where you live, if that’s what alcoholics look like. Heh.
I love Tapper! I used to play that game all the time when I worked for a movie theater. Thanks for the memories!
Calicobebop - Yay! Another Tapper fan. And y’know, I think we had one in our movie theater too! Hah. You’re welcome for the memories. Thanks for the comment. 
Totally forgot about Dragon’s Lair! Can I give an honorable mention to the hard working, unnamed ostriches in Joust?