As I've been delving ever deeper into the massive GOG library I've discovered that perhaps the most important component of a video game (in terms of me thoroughly enjoying it) is an antagonist/arch-nemesis that I can really get behind and hate. For better or worse, I've found that largely dominates how much I enjoy a good game. The drive to annihilate an evil overlord is often present in every video game, book, etc. but the difference in the classics I love and games now is I loved to hate the bad guy. Blame it on the society for the new "Morality is Relative" craze that is sweeping the internet and politics or that "They just don't make them like they used to" but I was curious what games (on GOG or in general) people found they really loved due to an awesome bad guy?

For me BG2 wouldn't be nearly the same without Jon Irenicus. The moment the game picks up he's torturing and taunting you, he has sex slaves in the form of nymphs, a shrine to his dead wife, and performs experiments on pretty much anything he can get his hands on... and that was all in the first 30 minutes.

Badlur's Gate 2? Damn!

What about Darth Malak anyone?

The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum. Too bad that battle itself was pretty stupid.

The big bad in Planescape: Torment.

Revans bitch? No way.

Memorable Villains:

- Dimitri - GTA IV
- Kane - Command & Conquer
- Sindri - Dawn of War
- Eliphas - Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising
- Darth Treya - Knights of the Old Republic II
- Saren - Mass Effect
- Arl Rendon Howe - Dragon Age: Origins
- Gunther Hermann - Deus Ex
- Vulpes Inculta - Fallout: New Vegas
- Doctor Breen - Half-Life 2

Bob Page from Deus Ex is the best villain ever.

Mainly due to his taunting when assaulting his stronghold. He's one of the few Chaos Lords who have a brain, unlike Bale, Crull or Lord Metal Boxes.

Shodan, anyone?

Does Premier Anatoly Cherdenko from Red Alert 3 count? I didn't like the game but I played through the campaigns just to see every bit with him in it. I mean, Tim Curry, maan!

I played Drakengard for the PS2... I'm still terribly disturbed by the androgenous giant floating babies with no pupils who ate one of my companions and spat fire/spells at me... all the while cooing innocently.

No mention of The Guardian from Ultima 7-8?

"Think of me as your advisor, your friend, YOUR MASTER <evil laugh followed by being dropped into Pagan....>"

To be fair the one they ate did want to eat them as well... ;)

The Transcendent One - an antagonist with a unique purpose - he merely wants to live

Albert Wesker - because of the voice, mainly. Richard Waugh or D.C. Douglas, Wesker simply sounds extremely cool.

Shodan, of course. "Are you afraid? What is it you fear? The end of your trivial existence? When the history of my glory is written, your species shall only be a foot note to my magnificence. I am Shodan". Still gives me the shivers every time I hear it.

The Master - because he felt he was doing the right thing. Well, I showed him otherwise. Then I felt sorry for him, when he lost all hope and committed suicide.

Jon Irenicus - for being played by a great actor and for being so repulsive and yet so charismatic

And (this is a bit of a cheat) myself, whenever I play "Mask of the Betrayer".

Nice selection. *thumbs-up* Sindri had a really cool voice (Scott McNeill....who also voiced Lord Bale in the same game, with his patented Dinobot voice. His range is incredible!)

And Eliphas..."The ground trembles with every step." Very in control, very deliberate and absolutely bad-ass.

I like a bit of conflict in my bad guys, so:

Warcraft 3: Arthas, and Illidan

Questionable:
Kohan 2: Melchior?

And of course Thief 3:
Gamal.