Pokémon Legends Z-A featured a former foe. However, this time he was an ally. It got me thinking of all the other times a video game villain made amends or, at the very least, worked with heroic characters after doing dastardly deeds. These are ten of the greatest villain redemption arcs in gaming.
1. Lysandre – Pokémon Legends Z-A
Lysandre; Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Lysandre is the main antagonist in Pokémon X & Y, where he leads Team Flare on a mission to restore the beauty of the world by reducing its population. This is an incredibly dark plot, especially for Pokémon standards. Lysandre returns, using the name “L,” in Pokémon Legends Z-A, which takes place five years later. He is aware of his past transgressions but has no memory of them. Instead, he wants to find a trainer strong enough to work with the Pokémon, Zygarde, and stop the rogue mega evolution phenomenon in Lumiose City before it leads to catastrophe.
2. N. Brio – Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
N. Brio; Image credit: Sony Computer Entertainment
In the original Crash Bandicoot, N. Brio is the right-hand man of primary antagonist, Neo Cortex. However, in the second game, he betrays Cortex, making several attempts to warn Crash about his nefarious plans, and if players collect all 42 gems, N. Brio will use them to destroy his “Cortex Vortex” mind-control device.
3. D-Mob – Def Jam: Fight for NY
D-Mob; Image credit: EA Games
D-Mob is the main antagonist of Def Jam Vendetta but the leader of your crew in its sequel, Def Jam: Fight for NY. There has been notable discourse surrounding his personality change; he has a strict code of ethics in the second game, which is not seen in the first. You could argue that this is a matter of perspective, since you work against D-Mob in the first game and do not observe his leadership. Likewise, his defeat and arrest after the Vendetta could have humbled him and made him a better person (albeit one who still operates illegal underground fights). Regardless, he is a villain turned ally, so that qualifies him for this list.
4. Cranky Kong – Donkey Kong Country
Cranky Kong; Image credit: Nintendo
In the arcade game, Donkey Kong, the titular character is the villain and the entire reason Jumpman needs to save Pauline. However, in Donkey Kong Country, he is a hero. What happened in the 13 years between the two games? Well, canonically, it’s a completely different Donkey Kong. In fact, Cranky Kong, the old ape who gives advice in Donkey Kong Country, is actually the original Donkey Kong, reformed in his actions but perhaps not in his morals.
5. Shadow the Hedgehog – Sonic Adventure 2
Shadow the Hedgehog; Image credit: Sega
In the late 90s and early 2000s, every painfully optimistic hero needed a brooding ally for balance, a bit of humor, and good old-fashioned marketing. In 2001, Sonic the Hedgehog met his dark counterpart: Shadow. Introduced in Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow initially allied himself with Dr. Eggman, the grandson of his creator. However, his memories had been altered, and he believed he was fulfilling a role. Once his true memories returned, Shadow teamed up with Sonic. This partnership has now lasted for 25 years.
6. Bowser – Super Mario RPG
Bowser; Image credit: Nintendo
Bowser’s initial role in Super Mario RPG is that of a villain, like always. However, his palace is destroyed by Exor, who becomes a common enemy for Bowser and Mario. It takes a bit of time, but they eventually team up to defeat the whole Smithy Gang. Then again, Bowser may not have been evil in the first place. Franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto once described the Mario characters as actors playing roles in each game, which is why Bowser can kidnap the princess in one game and play tennis alongside her in another.
7. Edea – Final Fantasy VIII
Edea; Image credit: Square Enix
For the first two discs of FFVIII (assuming you are playing the physical, PlayStation version), Edea is the primary antagonist. Ultimecia, the sorceress possessing Edea, changes hosts after she is defeated in Galbadia Garden. The bad news is that she possesses your party member, Rinoa. The good news is that Edea assists you in devising a plan to free Rinoa from her grasp, travel to a time-compressed world, and defeat her. Quite the ally!
8. Axel / Lea – Kingdom Hearts series
Axel / Lea; Image credit: Square Enix
Axel is the first member of the villainous group, Organization XIII, you encounter in Kingdom Hearts II. However, his role is better explained in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, where he grows close to fellow member Roxas — a “nobody” version of series protagonist, Sora — and joins him in betraying the organization. When Axel is defeated, he reclaims his heart, becoming whole and regaining his identity as “Lea.” At the end of Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, in a surprising reveal, Lea is able to summon a keyblade and begins training to become one of the seven Warriors of Light who battle the reformed Organization XIII at the end of Kingdom Hearts III.
9. GlaDOS – Portal 2
GlaDOS; Image credit: Valve Corporation
GlaDOS is the central A.I. for Aperture Science in the original Portal and also the main antagonist of the game. However, this changes partway through Portal 2 when the “Intelligence Dampening Core” Wheatley seizes control of Aperture Science, forcing GlaDOS and player character, Chell, to work together. In this process, the pair discovers that GlaDOS is actually the consciousness of a woman named Caroline, which was uploaded to an A.I. network. She begins to regain Caroline’s kind personality and, at the end of the game, even goes so far as to save Chell’s life.
10. Sylens – Horizon series
Sylens; Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
It is debatable if Sylens was ever truly a “villain.” He often assists player character Aloy, but his actions, such as founding the Eclipse, the primary organization that Aloy fights throughout Horizon Zero Dawn, cannot be overlooked. In truth, Sylens is well aware of the threats to humanity that Aloy discovers throughout the game. However, he believes that only he can save the world. He has no problem using people or causing their deaths if it leads to the greater good. At the end of Horizon Forbidden West, he has an opportunity to leave the planet, knowing it is doomed, but ultimately decides to stay, fight, and become a proper ally going forward. Sylens’s likeness and voice are provided by actor Lance Reddick, who unfortunately passed away in 2023, so it is unknown if he will be able to keep that promise.
Which reformed villain became your most valuable ally? Let us know in the comments.
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