U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! The United States of America celebrated its Independence Day yesterday, so we’re celebrating belatedly by listing our picks of the top 5 video game characters that use a red, white, and blue color palette.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re doing something a little different with today’s Top 5. It’s no longer the United States’ Independence Day, but who are we kidding? Someone will be lighting fireworks tonight. We can set off a few of our own with these top 5 red, white, and blue video game characters.
5) King Dedede
Video game designers may have ulterior motives when selecting their characters’ color palettes. Nintendo certainly did with King Dedede when they introduced him to the Kirby franchise. Visually, he combines Santa Claus’s outfit, a bald eagle’s beak, and John Henry’s hammer. Personality-wise, King Dedede is a glutton, selfish, and hostile toward the color pink. In short, he’s all American.
Take that, you pesky amoeba. King Dedede won’t be the only video game villain who wears red, white, and blue. ‘Murica!
4) Blinky (a.k.a. Shadow)
Blinky (from 1980’s Pac-Man) may not be the first character you think of when discussing red, white, and blue video game characters, but he is classic. Shadow is the leader of the team of ghosts (they’re actually monsters) who chase Pac-Man. While Pinky (Pink) and Inky (Cyan) attempt to ambush Pac-Man by taking routes the player doesn’t choose, Blinky chases our protagonist and applies pressure.
Shadow is the most aggressive of all the ghosts (monsters) and the most dangerous. When players get caught, they’re usually caught by Blinky. He has true American vigor. He races to chop down Pac-Man like George Washington chopped down a cherry tree.
3) Dr. Wily
Wow! Are there any video game heroes who use a red, white, and blue color scheme? Yes. They’re next on our list, but we have one final video game villain before we reach them: Mega Man’s Dr. Wily. Before Dark Souls, Dr. Wily pushed gamers to “get gud.” I don’t know how many times I attempted a Mega Man level, only to leave my palms sweaty after countless hours. Thank you for making me a better gamer, Dr. Wily. I salute you.
Dr. Wily also happens to have an advanced degree, adding to a long line of PhDs with nefarious plans. You’d think universities would weed out these bad eggs before they graduate. Oh well. If Wily’s university had expelled him, we may not have gotten a killer robot dragon in Mega Man II.
2) Sonic
Sonic is Sega’s mascot. Ever since the speedy hedgehog raced onto game consoles in 1991, he’s worn red and white shoes, white gloves, and he has blue fur. Very patriotic of you, Sonic. Sonic is ubiquitous with Sega. He’s the first character–and possibly only character–one would think of with Sega Games.
It also doesn’t hurt that Americans are an impatient bunch. Sonic’s speed gets you those rings now. Not later. Now! Hot dogs, muscle cars, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Is there anything more American?
1) Mario
Yeah. We couldn’t go with any other video game character than Mario. You probably read this list and already knew the fictional plumber would top this list. Mario has always featured red and blue. Even in his short stint as “Jumpman” in his Donkey Kong debut (1981), he was always pictured on the video game cabinet to be wearing white gloves, even if the hardware at the time couldn’t effectively render those pixels.
You know you’re a big deal if people know you mononymously. If you utter Mario, most people will picture a plump plumber, wearing a red shirt and hat with blue overalls. Since Mario wears red, white, and blue, he tops this list. It also doesn’t hurt that Mario is often seen with stars. Talk about a Star Spangled hero.
Did we get the list right? Which red, white, and blue color palette video game characters should make this list? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
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