History Main / VillainShoes

An instance, generally restricted to video games, wherein the player gets to control a main villain, as opposed to the hero. This doesn't apply to [[VillainEpisode spin-off games]] or multiplayer modes, or being a VillainProtagonist; it only counts if it takes place during the course of the story. This is often done to give the player a TasteOfPower, especially if the villain is the BigBad himself or far more powerful than the player character. If done well, this also establishes that the villain could [[CurbStompBattle kill you with his pinky finger]] without having to see him do it to ''you''. Sometimes, it may involve with a PerspectiveFlip in which you can learn his motives behind his villainy.

If a bonus mode has you playing as the main villain against the hero in the entire story, this is VillainEpisode. If your current PlayerCharacter turns out to be the villain in the sequel, this is RogueProtagonist, which may or may not involve with DuelingPlayerCharacters.

Doesn't have to involve awesome [[SpikesOfVillainy spiky]] villain boots, but it helps. The exact opposite is NoCampaignForTheWicked.

** UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' has a bonus level where one can play as SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.

** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' allows you to play as the Joker [[spoiler: inside Bruce's mind after he is injected with a massive dose of fear toxin.]] In addition, you can play as Harley Quinn as part of a pre-order bonus.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2'' has one level where you play as BigBad Raul Menendez. He is ''noticeably'' more powerful than a normal ''Call of Duty'' protagonist, and the entire level is pretty much a complete one-man rampage.

* The Bowser segments in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''. These are particularly awesome segments because they're reconstructed versions of levels from the original ''SuperMarioBros''. All those enemies and obstacles Mario had to carefully maneuver around all those years ago? Yeah, Bowser just smashes and burns his way through, no big.

* The second campaign of ''{{Starcraft}}'' has you playing as the Zerg, the HordeOfAlienLocusts who kill and assimilate everything they come across. The ''Brood War'' expansion later lets you play as MagnificentBastard Kerrigan.

** A bonus level from the 2nd ''RogueSquadron'' game had the player assume the role of Vader during the Death Star attack of the 1st movie.

* In ''VideoGame/TonicTrouble'', you get a chance to disguise yourself as the game's villain at one point, which is used to fool a guard into opening a door for you.

* In the NintendoDS remake of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', there was a segment where you play as Golbez in his childhood, although it was only in a town, and with no battles.

An instance, generally restricted to video games, wherein the player gets to control a main villain, as opposed to the hero. This doesn't apply to spin-off games or multiplayer modes, or being a VillainProtagonist; it only counts if it takes place during the course of the story. This is often done to give the player a TasteOfPower, especially if the villain is the BigBad himself or far more powerful than the player character. If done well, this also establishes that the villain could [[CurbStompBattle kill you with his pinky finger]] without having to see him do it to ''you.''

An instance, generally restricted to video games, wherein the player gets to control a main villain, as opposed to the hero. This doesn't apply to spin-off games or multiplayer modes; it only counts if it takes place during the course of the story. This is often done to give the player a TasteOfPower, especially if the villain is the BigBad himself or far more powerful than the player character. If done well, this also establishes that the villain could kill you with his pinky finger without having to see him do it to ''you.''

* UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' has a bonus level where one can play as SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.
* Videogame/BatmanArkhamOrigins has you play as the Joker briefly.

* Like the ''FFVII'' example above, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' allows you to control [[spoiler:Seymour]] several hours before he's revealed to be a villain by anything other than [[spoiler:[[MusicalSpoiler suspiciously unnerving leitmotifs]] and being a non-hero {{Bishonen}}]] in a ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' game. It also, like [[spoiler:Sephiroth]] above, establishes [[spoiler:Seymour]]'s sheer power quite well and drives the point home by making his partner for that segment, [[BadAss Auron]], seem totally ''useless'' in comparison.

* ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' has you play as the Arbiter for quite some time. The Arbiter is an Elite, with a very specific grudge against the Master Chief for destroying one of the halo rings, and for being the whole reason he was in that mess. The two never directly fight, but the thought was definitely there.

* In ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', the [[spoiler:final level, should you choose to play it as Orsted]].

* ''TransformersWarForCybertron'' has half of the game dedicated to playing as the Decepticons. The second half is played as the Autobots coming BackFromTheBrink after all the awful stuff you did as a Decepticon.

* ''{{Tenchu}} 2'' let you play as Tatsumaru.

* The PlayStation3 version of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' has a bonus level where one can play as SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.

* The Nintendo DS version of ''CrashOfTheTitans'' features short sections after each boss where you play as Cortex's niece, Nina.
* In ''TonicTrouble'', you get a chance to disguise yourself as the game's villain at one point, which is used to fool a guard into opening a door for you.

* In ''LostOdyssey'', players get to take a crack at [[spoiler:wielding Gongora's magic against his hapless apprentices.]] (Also a KickTheDog.)

* ''{{Halo 2}}'' has you play as the Arbiter for quite some time. The Arbiter is an Elite, with a very specific grudge against the Master Chief for destroying one of the halo rings, and for being the whole reason he was in that mess. The two never directly fight, but the thought was definitely there.

* The game based on the first ''Film/SpiderMan'' movie did this trope with a twist: after beating the game once, a NewGamePlus was unlocked where you played as the Green Goblin...which, in this case, was ''Harry'' Osborn trying to find out what happened to his father. You still played through exactly the same stages, with the Norman version of the Goblin having a [[EvilSoundsDeep distorted, deepened voice]].

* ''CallOfDutyBlackOps2'' has one level where you play as BigBad Raul Menendez. He is ''noticeably'' more powerful than a normal ''Call of Duty'' protagonist, and the entire level is pretty much a complete one-man rampage.

* In ''Ultimate {{Spider-Man}}'' for Nintendo DS, the first level is playable with Green Goblin.
** In the home console versions (and maybe the DS, I don't know), you control Venom, the main villain, for about half of the missions. Despite this shared screentime, he is still clearly the villain, as the player always controls Spider-Man during their fights.

* In ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan'', half the game is playable as Ultimate Venom.

Doesn't have to involve awesome [[SpikesOfVillainy spiky]] villain boots, but it helps.