Video game characters often embark on epic adventures to save the world from impending doom, but let’s be honest here – some of them wouldn’t stand a chance without your expert guidance. These heroes owe their success to your gaming prowess, and while each has their unique reasons, I’m here to shed light on this truth, much like a good friend in a toxic relationship.

- Kirby: Kirby’s insatiable appetite is legendary, and without your control, he might devour everything in existence. Who knows what chaos his mouth cyclone could unleash? You are the only one keeping his hunger in check.
- Big The Cat: Big The Cat’s love for fishing takes center stage in Sonic Adventure. While he may give it his all, wrangling a frog from Chaos’ body would be quite the challenge without your help. He’s not the hero you’d expect.
- Joel Miller: The Last of Us’ Joel Miller would likely be more interested in post-apocalyptic golf than fighting Clickers if you weren’t at the helm. His hidden love for golf might just save him from his ultimate fate.
- Chris Redfield: Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield is undeniably a meathead, and his penchant for boulder-punching inside an active volcano speaks volumes. You, the player, are responsible for his heroic gunplay, as it’s his default response to problems.
- Captain Toad: Captain Toad’s puzzle-solving abilities, while commendable, wouldn’t be enough to save Toadette without your guidance. At the end of the day, he’s just a regular Toad.
- Commander Shepard: While Shepard has a history of service, their initial advancement to Spectre status turns them into a party animal. Frequent club and bar visits across the galaxy, plus a massive pre-final battle party, suggest they’d be too busy partying to save the world without your control.
- Mario: Mario’s mishaps in the opening scenes of many games imply he’s ill-suited to save the Mushroom Kingdom. He only becomes special when you take the reins, leaving us to wonder what he does in between games, probably unclogging drains.
- Shadow The Hedgehog: Shadow’s edginess could easily get in the way of his heroics. Even with control, you have to make sure he chooses the right path. Without your guidance, he’d be stuck on a rooftop, crafting uncomfortable quips.
- Link: Link’s frequent naps aside, the main issue is that he’s often depicted as a kid or teenager. Facing off against powerful foes like Ganondorf in hand-to-hand combat wouldn’t bode well for a youth. Nice boomerang, Link, but Ganondorf can turn into a giant pig beast.
- Marth: As the poster child of the Fire Emblem series, Marth’s success hinges on your strategic brilliance. You are the tactician behind the army’s moves, and without you, Marth would be at a loss. This applies to many heroes in the series, as your strategies lead them to victory.

In the world of video games, these characters owe their heroic feats to you, the player. Without your skillful control, they’d be facing challenges far beyond their capabilities. So, next time you save the day with one of these characters, remember that it’s your expertise that makes them true heroes.