Topic: Your Favorite Characters in Gaming and why?

Hands-down Barry Burton.
"This gun is really powerful. Especially against living things."

Ryu Hayabusa: Things do not get much cooler than Ninja's and Ryu along with the the Turtles are as cool as they get. Plus, Ryu can whoop all of the characters listed on this thread.

This guy right here

I just love his total disregard for everything. He is the embodiment of chaos and the fact that his MO was just that he wanted to destroy the world rather than get revenge on this guy or the I want to rule the world MO. Everytime I play FFVI I still get chills down my spine when I hear that laugh.

Captain Falcon because I can't take him seriously

Billy Hatcher, I mean he has got a giant egg....

Every good game needs a good villain!
They give a story any meaning, the so reason for a need of a hero.
I like a few evil do-ers like M.Bison and Kefka, but there is one villain who just never dies and always comes back for more, and that is Ganondorf.
Not many like him but the Gerudo King of Thieves, and even if he fails to a small boy in green tights, he can always laugh in the face of death, knowing that he can never die but just come back again do what he loves most.
Taking over Hyrule, and control the power of the Triforce!
[youtube:wPNGCesEWgw]

Riki because he tells it like it is.

These aren't my favorite characters in gaming (except CV), but they're still awesome indie characters:

I don't recognize the middle one with the sword.

I didn't either at first. She's a warrior monk known as the Scythian from Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP. I haven't played the game, but apparently that's her.

5 Rufus (Street Fighter)
From his strange clothes, to his bombastic personality. Rufus has a rivalry with Ken Masters. And despite being 450 Pounds, he's one of the greater fighters in the game.
4: Mario
A man that needs no introduction. He's saved Princess Toadstool too many times to count. He's been on abstract adventures in strange places. He can play practially any sport professionally, and help put many great parties.
3: Link (Or whatever name you want for him. I just prefer him being called "Link" when play LoZ)
Link is an adventurer who has been on some of the greatest adventures. His game is always changed, his utility always gets better, and he's pretty great with swords.
2: Commander Video
6 of the greatest games on Wiiware star Comander Video. When we first found him, he was a mystery, debuted via e-mail to IGN. He then had his own website asking the visitors of the Website to do what he says, including making his own Wikipedia page.
1: Professor Layton
The professor is who I am inspired of. He's fancy, he can solve puzzles, he can sword fight, he's not only a professor, but also solves mysteries for The Scotland Yard, at the age of 35, Professor Layton has lived a full life.

^You see, it's post like this that remind me why I made this thread.

Nice balls...