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The Reapers And The Borgias Make Guinness Top Villains List

Orby [1]Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking, announce the Top 50 Video Game Villains of All Time as voted for by over 5,000 of their readers.  The list, which is revealed in its entirety in the new Guinness World Records 2013 Gamer’s Edition [2] book, sees the iconic Nintendo Boss Bowser crowned king, with Portal’s GLaDOS in the runner up spot. A total of 5,699 total votes were cast on the Guinness World Records website, which placed Assassin’s Creed’s Borgia family at #7 and “The Readers” from Mass Effect at #21. I don’t remember The Readers from ME, but I do know The Reapers.

Bowser, from one of the most iconic and best-selling video game franchises of all time, Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 1985) landed top spot with over 20% of the vote.   Mario’s arch enemy is nothing if not persistent: few enemies would attempt to kidnap the same princess twice, let alone eight times during the past 28 years!  It seems his malevolent persistence has paid off with the ‘King of Koopas’ becoming the king of the videogame villains.

The runner-up comes courtesy of the recent Portal series (Valve, 2007). Only a small share of the vote kept GLaDOS, the ominous, AI computer system off top spot. The ever-present computer voice that follows players throughout the game, acts simultaneously as a guide, narrator, and final boss. The doyenne’s sinister wit and monotone delivery keeps players constantly on edge.

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Rounding out the top three is a giant in video games, comics, and film. The Joker’s performance in Batman: Arkham Asylum (Rocksteady, 2009) was deemed suitably unhinged as he stalks Batman through the disgusting, titular sanatorium.

Kevin Lynch, writer for Guinness World Records 2013 Gamer’s Edition said: “It was really interesting for us to put the vote out to our readers and see who their favourite villain was – Bowser’s top place is no big shocker, but there certainly are surprises in there.  I think what this list really reflects is that video game villains tend to be a lot cooler than the heroes they’re pitted against.”

The remainder of the Top 50 shows just how diverse video game villains can be. The Great King of Evil Ganon (The Legend of Zelda – Nintendo EAD, 1996), corporate experiment Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII – Square, 1997), and lovable-yet-infuriating ghost Inky (PAC-MAN – Namco, 1980) all make the Top 10, and demonstrate that the creativity behind making an antagonist can be just as deep as concocting a hero. Other notables to make the list include Donkey Kong (#14), the Police in Grand Theft Auto (#24), and Mortal Kombat’s Shao Kahn (#41).

50. Hades Kid Icarus
49. Atlas BioShock
48. Jacqueline Natla Tomb Raider
47. Shepherd Call of Duty
46. Herobrine Minecraft
45. Solidus Snake Metal Gear Solid
44. Diablo Diable
43. Dr Robotnik Sonic the Hedgehog
42. Dr Neo Cortex Crash Bandicoot
41. Shao Kahn Mortal Kombat
40. Zoran Lazarevic Uncharted
39. Tabuu Super Mario Bros.
38. Kaos Skylanders
37. Wheatley Portal
36. Mother Brain Metroid
35. Ghirahim The Legend of Zelda
34. Dr Nefarious Ratchet & Clank
33. Xehanort Kingdom Hearts
32. Kessler Infamous
31. The Flood Halo
30. The Locust Hordes Gears of War
29. Vanitas Kindgom Hearts
28. Darth Vader Star Wars
27. Dr Wily Mega Man
26. Team Rocket Pokemon
25. Kefka Palazzo Final Fantasy
24. Police Grand Theft Auto
23. Zombies Call of Duty
22. Aliens Space Invaders
21. The Readers (Should be Reapers) Mass Effect
20. N Pokemon
19. Zeus God of War
18. Alduin Skyrim
17. M Bison Street Fighter
16. The Covenant Halo
15. Andrew Ryan BioShock
14. Donkey Kong Donkey Kong
13. Psycho Mantis Metal Gear Solid
12. Albert Wesker Resident Evil
11. Vladimir Makarov Call of Duty
10. Creeper Minecraft
9. Liquid Ocelot Metal Gear Solid
8. Inky PAC-Man
7. The Borgias Assassin’s Creed II
6. Sephiroth Final Fantasy VII
5. Gary Oak Pokemon Red/Blue
4. Ganon The Legend of Zelda
3. The Joker Batman: Arkham Asylum
2. GLaDOS Portal
1. Bowser Super Mario Bros.