History Flanderization / VideoGames

** Reimu is officially a little lazy but still a dutyful {{Miko}} who uses her [[BornLucky insane luck]] and instinct to solve problems. Fan works often paint her as a JerkAssSue who would do anything for money because she is just that poor. The other variant is upping her inate sweetness UpToEleven.

** Remilia and Flandre are intelligent, young (by vampire standards) ladies, if a little childish. Remilia is usually portrayed as extremely childish, arrogant and demanding, while Flandre is either sweet or a CreepyChild with massive streaks of PersonOfMassDestruction. Sakuya is a mysterious maid, LadyOfWar style and keeps her cool in any situation, but often portrayed as obsessed with her mistress and with hidden streaks of blood-thirsty killer. Meiling is a strong and dutyful gate guardian, yet in fan works always sleeping on the job.
** Yuyuko is TheOjou, knowing and well-reserved, acting dumber than she really is, but since Imperishable Night all she ever does is trying to eat, eat and eat, while Youmu, dutyful if a little clueless samurai gardener bodyguard that she is, is either outright at a loss at what to do or so competent she's been offered job contracts by all other factions already.

* When Mai Shiranui was first introduced in ''[[FatalFury Fatal Fury 2]]'', she was simply a female Ninjutsu master whose relation with Andy Bogard (being the granddaughter of his sensei, Hanzo Shiranui) was barely mentioned in her back-story. In later games (especially in the anime adaptations), she became so fully obsessed with Andy to the point that she yells his name whenever she gets K.O.ed in ''TheKingOfFighters'' games and most of her endings revolve around her trying to get Andy to marry her.

->Sigint: Uh, Snake... What are you doing?
->Snake: I'm in a box.
->Sigint: A cardboard box? Why are you...
->Snake: I dunno, I was just looking at it, and suddenly I got this irresistable urge to get inside. No, not just an urge - more than that. It was my destiny to be here; in the box.
->Sigint: Destiny...?
->Snake: Yeah. And then when I put it on,I suddenly got this feeling of inner peace. I can't put it into words. I feel... safe. Like this is where I meant to be. Like I'd found the key to true happiness. ...Does any of that make sense?
->Sigint: Not even a little.
->Snake: You should come inside the box.. Then you'll know what I mean.
->Sigint: Man, I don't wanna know what you mean!

* The titular character of VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay is generally described as an alcholic foul-mouthed squirrel, which is very much overplayed. He drinks only a few times throughout the story and his limited profanity is about PG-rated and hardly warrants a censor bleep. The foul-mouthing comes from everyone and thing else around him.

* ''MegaManX'': As ExecutiveMeddling forced the series to go beyond the creator's planned ending, X5, some of the main characters had certain aspects of their personality stretched out to artificially create conflict for the next few games. While Zero always stayed friendly to X, he became rather gruffer and more stereotypically badass as the series went on, especially when [[ReplacementScrappy Axl]] was introduced. Sigma [[VillainDecay degenerated]] just as badly as Dr. Wily, if not worse, as he went from very nearly destroying the world and being a truly MagnificentBastard...to a shivering pile of zombie-animated debris ''in just one game'', and by the next game [[MotiveRant explained his]] [[HijackedByGanon final boss status]] as simply [[MotiveDecay "because I'll never stop until you're dead!"]] It was X that [[UnpleasableFanbase the fans complained about]] the most, though: while he had always been more pacifistic and less violence-inclined than Zero, this was expanded into ''the'' defining aspect of his personality, so that rather than being a reluctant cop, he was a stereotypically annoying whiner who kept advocating non-violence even when the situation had clearly gone south. This led to him [[TenMinuteRetirement abandoning active duty]] at the beginning of X7, so we [[ReplacementScrappy started off playing a Megaman X game not playing as Megaman X.]] [[HesBack He does return, though.]]

* {{Final Fantasy X-2}} has similar example to Yuffie with Rikku. Originally, while always hyperactive and eccentric, she was genuinely intelligent and witty in {{Final Fantasy X}}, especially considering she only fifteen. Once the sequel hit hyper seemed to be the ''only'' trait brought over. All her wit and intelligence disappeared near entirely in a case of {{Character Derailment}}.

* Done on purpose to the Brotherhood of Steel in ''{{Fallout}}''. From Fallout 1 to Fallout 2 they become significantly more secular and generally bigger [[JerkAss jerk asses]], then even more so in Fallout New Vegas. This is due to the time differences between the games, as each generation drifts further and further away from the [[MotiveDecay original intentions of the organisation and into more overt technology worship]] and becomes increasingly secular and elitist, which was originally a very minor aspect of the BoS. Their increasing elitism is a major plot point for their quest line, including the member that can be recruited by [[PlayerCharacter the Courier]]. In the NCR and Independent endings, their decision to embrace or abandon their isolationism ultimately decides whether or not [[spoiler: the Mojave chapter even survives.]]

** From {{Final Fantasy IX}} we have Kuja, though his choice in fashion was... questionable, his eerie rhythm, complete disregard for all life except his own, skin that was likened to steel (which was not [[GameplayAndStorySegregation segregated when you finally fight him]]), and the unholy mother of all {{Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum}}s made him a ''very'' legitimate and creepy threat, though most people tend to remember him for his appearance in Dissidia, as an AmbiguouslyGay, [[{{Dude looks like a lady}} very feminine]] sort of [[SmugSnake manchild]] who gets no respect from the other villains due to his age and only really wants to be [[{{Unfortunate implications}} alone with Zidane]]. The {{Prequel}} does explain this though: [[spoiler: it's all Kefka's fault.]]

* The whole ''{{Command and Conquer}}: RedAlert'' has undergone this. While some people complained that ''RedAlert 3'' was ridiculously over the top compared to the previous games, it had already drifted dramatically starting with ''RedAlert 2''. ''RedAlert'' had time travel, an ActionGirl, and some over-the-top technology and characters, but it was about as serious as the Tiberium Series. ''Red Alert 2'' expanded on this with much more over the top stuff (Giant mind controlled squid?) and much more cartoonish units and scenarios. ''Red Alert 3'' is par for the course after this.
** ''{{Command and Conquer}}: Tiberium Series'' also has undergone this, if more subtle. The first game was a quasi-futuristic military strategy of the western nations against an elusive terrorist faction with stealth and laser technology. The second game threw the world into chaos, added jumpjet infantry, mecha, cyborgs, mutants and a super AI and attempted to explain Kane's origins. The third game went back to the original style, but left the super tanks, super weapons, lasers, stealth, and added mobile defense posts, {{Ninja}}, mad suicide bombers, and all sorts of walking, hovering and flying aliens, who subsequently got their asses kicked. The expansion of that game then re-added the mecha and cyborgs. The so far last game threw away base building and money and added PoweredArmor to everyone, while extrapolating nearly all unit concepts introduced in the series into one game. Talk about a ZigzaggedTrope.

* When Mai Shiranui was first introduced in ''[[FatalFury Fatal Fury 2]]'', she was simply a female Ninjutsu master whose relation with Andy Bogard (being the granddaughter of his sensei, Hanzo Shiranui) was barely mentioned in her back-story. In later games (especially in the anime adaptations), she became so fully obsessed with Andy to the point that she yells his name whenever she gets K.O.ed in ''{{The King of Fighters}}'' games and most of her endings revolve around her trying to get Andy to marry her.

* Captain Qwark from the ''{{Ratchet and Clank}}'' series has become an increasingly unintelligent character in recent games. In the first game, he wasn't portrayed as being particularly stupid, but was shown as being cowardly and rather incompetent. In the second game, Qwark successfully takes control of the {{Megacorp}} corporation and executes a EvilPlan that only fails when he puts the batteries of the Helix-O-Morph in backwards (it's a long story). In the third game, Qwark goes completely bananas (literally) when he for some reason is acting as the chief of a monkey tribe on a tropical planet. After his subsequent HeelFaceTurn, he has been portrayed as exceedingly vain and in ''Size Matters'' and ''Tools of Destruction'' he borders on TheDitz territory.

* Arguably inverted in ''Zelda'', with Ganondorf. In the first games he starts out as some sort of boar/pig monster, in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' it is revealed he was a human wizard, but came off as an unruly and savage power hungry tyrant. In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' he is depicted as intelligent and sophisticated, and despite the controversial insertion in ''TwilightPrincess'', that was his most eerie and intimidating appearance of all.

* Veigue from ''TalesOfRebirth'' gets this treatment whenever he appears in one of the [[TalesSeries Tales]] comedy CDs. In the game, he has a habit of [[SayMyName saying or yelling his girlfriend's name a lot]], and occasionally gives melodramatic equality speeches, but they're hardly his only character traits. In the CDs he becomes "That guy who yells his girlfriend's name and gives melodramatic equality speeches".

* Namine of ''KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' started off simply having power over memories. In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', her powers now are said to only work for Sora and it has a side effect on those alligned with him. And as of ''358/2 Days'' and ''Coded'', she can now acess ''anyone's'' memory from any distance, so long as they are "connected to Sora" (which is most of the cast) and Namine has basically become omnipotent as a result. While one's [[YourMileageMayVary mileage may vary]] as to how this all affect Namine's overall character, most fans are finding it hard to deny that her powers and their effects have gotten ridiculously out of hand.

** This has also happened to Princess Daisy of all characters. After her much-needed DivergentCharacterEvolution away from Peach, Daisy became more of a [[TomboyPrincess tomboy]] with a spunky and energetic side, but was still generally soft-spoken and rather calm. As the games went on however, Daisy became more hyperactive, louder and more shrill with each new appearance. [[YourMileageMayVary Needless to say]], [[TheScrappy this hasn't worked]] [[MostAnnoyingSound out too well]].

* Malfurion Stormrage from WorldOfWarcraft has suffered from a severe case of flanderization that takes him dangerously close to CharacterDerailment levels. While he was always one to put aside differences to face a common threat, ''Cataclysm'' has made this his sole character trait. He's so focused on stopping Ragnaros that he blatantly ignores the Horde's attacks on Night Elf settlements, infamously going so far as to defend them in the Leyara questline. This would be somewhat justifiable if he were a strictly neutral character, but he's supposed to be the ''leader of the Night Elves''.

* Ryu from the ''StreetFighter'' series and his battle with the dark hadou within him is an example of this trope, at first it is mentioned once in the original Street Fighter [[spoiler:as how he beat Sagat and scarred his chest]] but in Street fighter II the Satsui No Hadou in Ryu doesn't even get mentioned. The Alpha/Zero series is a prequel of Street Fighter II but was released after Street fighter II, in the Alpha series the Dark Hadou within Ryu gets mentioned several times and in Alpha/Zero 3 is the backbone of Ryu's storyline. By Street Fighter IV like in the Alpha/Zero series the Dark Hadou has become a large part of Ryu's story line to the point where [[spoiler:Gouken "comes back from the dead" to fight Ryu in order to cure him of this because it's actually eating away at him]]. However by the Street Fighter II series Ryu never mentions it. [[spoiler:Only because is cured of his trouble with the dark hadou]].

* Ryu from the ''StreetFighter'' series and his battle with the dark hadou within him is an example of this trope, at first it is mentioned once in the original Street Fighter [[as how he beat Sagat and scarred his chest]] but in Street fighter II the Satsui No Hadou in Ryu doesn't even get mentioned. The Alpha/Zero series is a prequel of Street Fighter II but was released after Street fighter II, in the Alpha series the Dark Hadou within Ryu gets mentioned several times and in Alpha/Zero 3 is the backbone of Ryu's storyline. By Street Fighter IV like in the Alpha/Zero series the Dark Hadou has become a large part of Ryu's story line to the point where [[Gouken "comes back from the dead" to fight Ryu in order to cure him of this because it's actually eating away at him]]. However by the Street Fighter II series Ryu never mentions it. [[Only because is cured of his trouble with the dark hadou]].

** Yukari is a schemer and controls Gensokyo, but is often asleep. Like Yuuka, that's also show she acts in canon.

*** Sadly played straight with Mileena who has been completely flanderized into a Psychopathic Womanchild in MK9.
* Paul Phoenix from {{Tekken}} has gradually become more of a joke character as the series has progressed. He remains one of the toughest characters in the game, however. Kuma began in Tekken 1 as a fearsome and realistic bear character but began to become a joke in Tekken 2. His identically named son who appears from Tekken 3 onwards is a complete joke character due to the introduction of Panda.

** Not to mention a lot of ''fans'' flanderize the characters, thanks to PoesLaw. Playing the original ''FinalFantasyVII'', you might actually be ''surprised'' to find that Cloud is ''NOT'' eternally whining and brooding, or that the characters actually ''DON'T'' cry as much as the {{Hatedom}} say they do.

* All the ''HarvestMoon 64'' characters were flanderized for ''Back to Nature''. [[GenerationXerox The]] ''Wonderful Life'' characters [[IdenticalGrandson descendants]], were flanderized even more for the DS games. But that's justified due to them not being the same person and having more boring lives. For example Popuri was originally just TheDitz and was a bubbly sweetheart. In ''Back To Nature'' she became an immature AdultChild, which only got worse with her appearances in both ''DS'' and ''Island of Happiness''.

** This has also happened to Princess Daisy of all characters. After her much-needed DivergentCharacterEvolution away from Peach, Daisy became more of a [[TomboyPrincess tomboy]] with a spunky and energetic side, but was still generally soft-spoken and rather calm. As the games went on however, Daisy became more hyperactive, louder and more shrill with each new appearance. [[YourMileageMayVary Needless to say]], [[TheScrappy this hasn't worked]] [[MostAnnoyingSound out too well]].

* {{Civilization}} has Gandhi. In the original game, civs are random, so Gandhi isn't always the peaceful ruler that he's famous for being in real life. in particular, fans got a kick out of and made a meme out of Gandhi threatening them with nuclear weapons. In Civ 5, he's specifically programmed to use nukes more than any other AI is programmed to use or do ''anything''.

* In ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', Larry Butz went from a [[BeleagueredChildhoodFriend loser with terrible luck in love]] into a lecherous, shallow pervert who thinks nothing of [[{{Lolicon}} hitting on a nine-year-old girl]]. He also slid from a 'best friend' who often annoyed Phoenix, into someone Phoenix 'wouldn't call a close friend'.
** The last part may be justified by Phoenix's discovery that Larry was the one who accidentally framed him for theft just before they became friends.
** In the first game the Judge is still rather dim, but this is mostly an excuse to have the lawyers explain the facts of the case in great detail so the player can keep up. On the whole, the Judge in the first game is fairly level and keeps a stern voice of authority within the courtroom. As the series progressed, the Judge's stupidity and short attention span was played up more and more. By the fourth game, he is almost [[AdultChild child-like]] in his naivete, often brings up personal issues or problems during the trials, and lets blatant lies slide right by him.
*** Considering his age and the progression of time throughout the series, he seems to be getting progressively more senile and out-of touch with the world.
** Also Gumshoe. In the first game he's not the brightest bulb (mistaking Phoenix for Larry a few times for example), but still fairly competent in his job, sucessful in BigDamnHeroes moments and gathering a few decent clues. The later games took his InspectorLestrade aspects, magnified them and made him into a total Ditz with GeorgeJetsonJobSecurity, who borders on being a TheDitz by the time of ''Investigations''.
** Maya Fey gets flanderized to a big degree as the series progressed. Not only she [[DamselInDistress gets in trouble over 3 times in the games]], her CloudCuckoolander status was inflated so much that even Phoenix wondered how on earth Maya could function in society with her train of thought. Maya goes on about burgers during situations that do not call for it, has extremely outrageous explanations on how some things work in the world, and just plain says things that leaves Phoenix speechless.

* Namine of ''KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' started off simply having power over memories. In ''KingdomHeartsII'', her powers now are said to only work for Sora and it has a side effect on those alligned with him. And as of ''358/2 Days'' and ''Coded'', she can now acess ''anyone's'' memory from any distance, so long as they are "connected to Sora" (which is most of the cast) and Namine has basically become omnipotent as a result. While one's [[YourMileageMayVary mileage may vary]] as to how this all affect Namine's overall character, most fans are finding it hard to deny that her powers and their effects have gotten ridiculously out of hand.

** Cirno actually is the most powerful fairy by WordOfGod, but despite all fairies being TheDitz by default, she suffers the treatment of being a RalphWiggum in most works. Recently, some fan works have rectified this by making her an IdiotHero but very likable and compassionate, which is ALSO different from her initial canon appearance, where she is a CreepyChild at best and outright malicious at worst.

** Aya is a slightly over-active photographer and tabloit writer, always busy with making stuff (up). In fan works, she is a creepy pervert who takes delight in takes pictures of others in embarrasing poses or simply PantyShots.

* The titular character of VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay is generally described as an alcholic foul-mouthed squirrel, which is very much overplayed. He drinks only a few times throughout the story and his limited profanity is about PG-rated and hardly warrants a censor bleep. The foul-mouthing comes from everyone and thing else around him.

* In KnucklesChaotix, Espio was a detective and had the ability to walk on walls and ceilings. In VideoGame/SonicHeroes, he was given more personality and also had some ninja elements to them due to his previous abilities, plus the fact that he should have {{Invisibility}}, due to being a chameleon and all. It seemed more like a hobby than anything major. In VideoGame/SonicGenerations, Espio's ninja qualities have been enhanced to an obvious degree, with more ninja mannerisms, a heavier focus on his invisibility and shuriken, and his voice sounding like it was ripped straight from anime.

* Arguably inverted in ''LegendOfZelda'', with Ganondorf. In the first games he starts out as some sort of boar/pig monster, in ''OcarinaOfTime'' it is revealed he was a human wizard, but came off as an unruly and savage power hungry tyrant. In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' he is depicted as intelligent and sophisticated, and despite the controversial insertion in ''TwilightPrincess'', that was his most eerie and intimidating appearance of all.

* Kratos of ''{{God of War}}'' could be considered to fall into this. In the first game, his bloodlust is a facet of his deeper personality - he channeled the memories of what he had done into his rage to become more brutally efficient. In the second game, Kratos lost that, and became simply bloodlust and badassery in human form. The third game, however, reverses this trend thanks to his interactions with Pandora - it is through her that he is reminded [[spoiler:of the importance of hope, which allows him to forgive himself for the sins he committed.]]

* The titular character of ConkersBadFurDay is generally described as an alcholic foul-mouthed squirrel, which is very much overplayed. He drinks only a few times throughout the story and his limited profanity is about PG-rated and hardly warrants a censor bleep. The foul-mouthing comes from everyone and thing else around him.