Line #31 FourPhilosophyEnsemble/VideoGames


1	* The ''VideoGame/ApexLegends'':
2	** Males (including [[AmbiguousGender non-binary]] Bloodhound):
3	*** Cynics: [[GentlemanSnarker Ballistic]], [[MadDoctor Caustic]], [[KillerRobot Revenant]].
4	*** Optimists: [[FunnyRobot Pathfinder]], [[TheBigGuy Gibraltar]], [[PluckyComicRelief Mirage]], [[TheHero Newcastle]].
5	*** Realists: [[CrazyPrepared Crypto]], [[EccentricArtist Seer]].
6	*** Apathetic: [[TotallyRadical Octane]], [[AwesomeAussie Fuse]].
7	*** Conflicted: [[MalevolentMaskedMen Bloodhound]].
8	** Females:
9	*** Cynics: [[LadyOfWar Ash]], [[TheSquadette Bangalore]], [[MsFanservice Loba]].
10	*** Optimist: [[GenkiGirl Conduit]], [[TeamMom Horizon]], [[FriendlySniper Vantage]].
11	*** Realists: [[DudeLooksLikeALady Catalyst]], [[DarkActionGirl Wraith]].
12	*** Apathetic: [[DeadlyDoctor Lifeline]], [[ActionGirl Mad Maggie]], [[GadgeteerGenius Rampart]], [[DaddysGirl Valkyrie]].
13	*** Conflicted: [[BadassAdorable Wattson]].
14	* ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'', in terms of Vincent and his three bros: Orlando (the Cynic), Toby (the Optimist), Jonny (the Realist), and Vincent himself (the Conflicted, unsurprisingly).
15	* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':
16	** Optimist: [[HeroicBastard Alistair]], [[PluckyGirl Leliana]]
17	** Realist: [[TheStoic Stan]], Wynne and, [[spoiler: if you recruit him instead of Alistair, [[WellIntentionedExtremist Loghain]]]]
18	** Cynic: [[AntiHero Morrigan]]
19	** Apathetic: [[BoisterousBruiser Oghren]], [[EnemyExchangeProgram Zevran]], [[{{Golem}} Shale]] and [[CanineCompanion your mabari]]
20	* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'':
21	** Cynic: [[PhlebotinumRebel Fenris]] -- traumatized, bitter, and snarky warrior
22	** Realists: [[TeamMom Aveline]] and [[TheStoryteller Varric]] -- the former as protector and group conscience; the latter as savvy, level-headed merchant prince
23	** Optimists: the two Idealists [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Merrill]] and [[WarriorPrince Sebastian]] -- the former sweet and naive, wanting to help her people; the latter deeply religious.
24	** Apathetic: [[PirateGirl Isabela]] -- flighty hedonist
25	** Conflicted: [[PlayerCharacter Hawke]] oneself takes this role -- a SadClown who tries to maintain the peace in Kirkwall and amongst the companions, but often lets desire for stability prevent him/her from being more proactive.
26	** [[ByronicHero Anders]] straddles the line between Cynic and Idealist, being a WellIntentionedExtremist who combines self-sacrificing loyalty to his ideals with hostility and ruthlessness.
27	* ''{{VisualNovel/Ever17}}'' female cast: You (the Optimist), Tsugumi (the Cynic), Sora (the Realist), and Sara/Coco (the Apathetics).
28	* ''Literature/{{Everworld}}'' -- Jalil (the Cynic), David (the Optimist), April (the Realist), Christopher (the Conflicted), and Senna (something of the Apathetic).
29	* All of the opposing and antithetical factions in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'':
30	** The Optimist: The Minutemen, as their original goal was to protect settlements out of good will but they were nearly wiped out after a string of bad luck. They can make a comeback and they are even more idealistic than ever despite all the shit they've been dragged through. They're flexible on policy when it comes to the Synths.
31	** The Cynic: The Institute, as they believe that it is futile to allow the Commonwealth to continue existing and want to start anew in a new society underground. However, the same people they claim to want to help fear them due to many of their own actions. To them, the Synth is JustAMachine.
32	** The Apathetic: The Railroad views the Synths as living, thinking beings worthy of respect, and wants to liberate all Synths from the Institute. The problem is that this is their '''''only''''' goal and they don't really care about anyone else in the Commonwealth.
33	** The Realist: The Brotherhood of Steel. Ten years after [[VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} the war with the Enclave]], the original teachings of Elder Lyons have been lost since his death [[spoiler:and the death of his daughter, Sarah Lyons]]. Arthur Maxson is in charge and wants to try and expand into the Commonwealth to oppose the Institute. To them, Synths are abominations against technology and to be destroyed down to the last.
34	** Then there's your companions: the Optimists ([[TheParagon Preston]], [[ThePollyanna Curie]] and [[HardboiledDetective Nick Valentine]]), the Realists ([[BeingGoodSucks Piper]], [[BunnyEarsLawyer Hancock]] and [[TheAtoner Deacon]]), the Cynics ([[DarkActionGirl Cait]], [[TokenEvilTeammate X6-88]], and [[TheAlcoholic Old Longfellow]]), the Apathetics ([[CanineCompanion Dogmeat]], [[BattleButler Codsworth]] and [[HeartbrokenBadass MacCready]]) and the Conflicted ([[spoiler:[[TomatoInTheMirror Paladin Danse]]]], [[DumbMuscle Strong]], [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Ada]], and [[TheCreon Porter Gage]]).
35	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
36	** [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad The Turks]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' fall into this category, with [[OnlySaneMan Tseng]] (the Cynic), [[MadeOfIron Rude]] (the Realist), [[DeadpanSnarker Reno]] (the Apathetic), and [[ThePollyanna Elena]] (the Optimist).
37	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'': [[RebelLeader Ashe]] and [[GentlemanThief Balthier]] are Cynics, [[{{Keet}} Vaan]] and [[PluckyGirl Penelo]] are Optimists, [[KnightInShiningArmor Basch]] is the Realist, and [[TokenNonHuman Fran]] is the Apathetic.
38	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': Hope (the Cynic), [[TheDeterminator Snow]] (the Optimist), Lightning (the Realist), Fang (the Apathetic), and Vanille and Sazh (the Conflicted).
39	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': In ''Heavensward'', Estinien (the Cynic)), Ysayle (the Optimist), Alphinaud (the Realist), and the player (the Apathetic).
40	* ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar 2'': Marcus (the Realist), Dom and Cole (the Optimist), Baird (the Cynic), Dizzy (the Apathetic).
41	* The two main protagonists of ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' and ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' fit this trope.
42	** Ragna the Bloodedge (Apathetic)
43	** Sol Badguy (Realist)
44	** Jin Kisaragi (Cynic)
45	** Ky Kiske (Optimist)
46	* ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'': Barney Calhoun (the Cynic), Alyx Vance (the Optimist), Dr. Kleiner (the Realist), and Dr. Mossman (the Apathetic).
47	* The first ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': Carth's a Cynic. Mission is ''very'' much an Optimist. Canderous is Apathetic (a Mandalorian on a boatload of Jedi and Republic sympathizers, and has nothing better to do). Bastila ''looks'' like a Realist, but is actually Conflicted. Juhani appears Conflicted, but bends more Realist. Zaalbar is also Conflicted (you can influence him to the Dark Side pretty easily). The droids are Apathetic (T3 hasn't lived long enough to develop a personality; HK-47 just wants to shoot things for the meatbag in charge). Jolee likes to ride the line between Cynic and Apathetic.
48	* ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'': Francis who hates everything (the Cynic), hopeful Louis (the Optimist), Bill the experienced (the Realist), and, knowledgeable on zombies, Zoey (the Apathetic).
49	** ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'': pessimistic Nick (the Cynic), naive Ellis (the Optimist), Coach as leader (the Realist), and Rochelle, the only neutral character (the Apathetic).
50	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon''. Dart is the Realist, Lavitz is the Optimist, Rose is the Cynic, Shana is the Conflicted. Haschel later joins as the Apathetic. This setup holds from the time Rose joins all the way until ''Dragoon'''s ItWasHisSled moment happens, where it transitions into a proper FiveManBand.
51	* ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' -- the Maverick Hunters, Commander, Mission Operator, and mechanic in X5-X8:
52	** Cynic: Zero -- the AntiHero, TheUnfettered, with a killer-instinct.
53	** Realist: Signas -- the mediator who always admires X's pacifism, but always realistic about the need to fight for peace and justice.
54	** Optimist: Douglas (''X5''-''6''), Axl (''X7''-''8'') -- the former as idealistic and confident, although this is not expanded on; the latter seeks to rectify the wrongs of his former affiliation and believes he can take on the world.
55	** Apathetic: Alia -- the Mission Operator, Computer Specialist and Navigator in the series, less in-story involvement otherwise.
56	** Conflicted: X -- Willing to fight for peace and justice at first, but a pacifist paranoid of breaking the first robotics rule (not to harm a human), then temporarily retires and reluctant to let Axl become a hunter.
57	** Counting only the three Hunters as far as [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism their murder-restraint ethics]], X's [[HonorBeforeReason honor code for taking the high road]] shows his Optimist side, contrasting Zero (Cynic), in which case TriggerHappy Axl is the middle-ground (Realist) between the two.
58	* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' -- The Four Guardians
59	** Cynic: Phantom -- out of fierce loyalty to Master X (really a copy), seldom thinks about anything besides antipathy toward "Mavericks" and, therefore, resorts easily to drastic Anti-Hero measures of explosive-detonation, for instance the factory in the first game.
60	** Realist: Harpuia pre-CharacterDevelopment -- very loyal to Master X, though nowhere near as much as Phantom, and fully willing to terminate Mavericks without hesitation when ordered. On the other hand, when the Resistance is not actively fighting Neo Arcadia he's fully content with letting them be. His balanced mentality compared to his peers is why [[TheCaptain he's considered the leader of the Guardians]]. Understands that not all reploids who rebel are Mavericks, but sees his duty to Neo Arcadia as more important to prevent anarchy.
61	** Optimist: Fefnir -- mostly just a competitive BloodKnight into defense as a Guardian [[ItAmusedMe for the fun of it]], a lot like Leviathan, but a more encouraging character. Nowhere near as conflicted about his loyalties as Harpuia, but nowhere near as blindingly loyal or willing to kill as Phantom, seeing his battles with the Resistance and especially Zero as [[SpiritedCompetitor enjoyable clashes of will]].
62	** Apathetic: Leviathan -- preoccupied with her pride as a WorthyOpponent to any "Maverick" and [[DontYouDarePityMe not being condescended upon]] for being a female reploid, rather than X's legacy as she should focus on; SociopathicHero [[NeverSayDie retiring]] hundreds of [[LaResistance Resistance soldiers]] in the second game out of sheer boredom.
63	** Conflicted: Harpuia post-CharacterDevelopment -- sense of honor and most merciful of all like an Optimist (and does Guardian tasks for only the right reasons, contrasting Leviathan), yet still not easily trusting of anyone on the opposite side of the conflict; often pondering when to lean more to Cynic or Optimist in many situations. As the new Copy X makes more and more questionable decisions, he finds himself caught between his sense of loyalty and his duty to the human population.
64	* ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]]'': Rundas (the Cynic), Samus (the Realist, sometimes Conflicted), Gandrayda (the Optimist), and Ghor (the Conflicted, sometimes Apathetic).
65	* The boys in ''{{VisualNovel/Nameless}}'': Lance (the Cynic), Red (the Optimist), Tei (the Realist), Yuri (the Apathetic -- he does care but either expects things to work themselves out or acts without consulting the others) and Yeonho (the Conflicted).
66	* ''VideoGame/NaziZombies'': Tank (optimist), Takeo (realist), Nikolai (apathetic), and Richtofen (cynic).
67	* You and your many rivals in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' (before CharacterDevelopment) Cheren (the Cynic), Bianca (the Optimist), Hilbert/Hilda (the Realist), and N (the Apathetic).
68	* The main characters in ''VideoGame/PrzygodyReksia'', especially after ''UFO'':
69	** Optimist: Reksio, the brave HeroicDog who is always there to do what's right. He can sometimes be Conflicted.
70	** Cynic: Kretes, the DeadpanSnarker mole who always voices his displeasure.
71	** Realist: Rooster the Inventor, TheSmartGuy who makes plans for most of the inventions.
72	** Apathetic: Kornelek, a former antagonist who is more quiet than his brother and is the least involved in the plot.
73	* The crash survivors from ''{{VisualNovel/Remember11}}'': Kokoro (the Optimist), Mayuzumi (the Cynic), Yomogi (the Realist) and Yuni (the Apathetic).
74	* ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'':
75	** Cynic: Bentley -- the most logical and cautious member of the gang, sometimes clashing with Sly's more carefree and improvisational methods for pulling off a job.
76	** Realist/Apathetic: Sly -- levelheaded, confident and often the most rational one in times of crisis, but still playful, charismatic and relaxed, usually trusting that his intuition will be able to complete the task at hand.
77	** Optimist: Murray -- friendly and unflinchingly loyal to his friends, often eager to help out and have fun doing so.
78	** Conflicted: Carmelita -- has a strict black-and-white view toward crime and yet is growing a soft spot towards Sly and his friends despite them being outlaws, potentially sending her all across the spectrum despite having a mostly Apathetic-like demeanor due to being dead-set on doing her job as a police officer.
79	* The ''VideoGame/StarFox'' team. There's Falco (Cynic), Slippy (Optimist), Peppy (Realist) and Fox (Conflicted). When Krystal replaces Peppy in later games, she fills the Conflicted spot with Fox becoming more of a Realist.
80	* ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' has main character [[ShelteredAristocrat Luke]] (the Conflicted), Natalia (the Optimist), [[ColonelBadass Jade]] and [[LittleMissSnarker Anise]] (the Cynics), and [[TheAce Guy]] and [[SugarAndIcePersonality Tear]] (the Realists).
81	* This actually becomes a gameplay mechanic in ''VideoGame/ThisWarOfMine'' when it comes to emotion levels; The Optimist is much more eligible for mood swings than The Cynic, and the more emotional characters are better at curing depression.
82	** The Realists: Marko, Pavle, Katia
83	** The Cynics: Roman, Bruno, Emilia
84	** The Optimists: Zlata, Boris, Cveta
85	** The Apathetics: Marin, Arica, Anton
86	* The playable characters of the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' Project: Reimu (the Cynic), Marisa (the Realist), Sanae (the Optimist), and Sakuya and Youmu taking turns being the Apathetic.
87	* Four of the major characters that you meet and (potentially) befriend in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' can fit this dynamic. In the order you meet them: Sans (the Apathetic), Papyrus (the Optimist), Undyne (the Cynic), and Alphys (the Realist). Different sides of this dynamic show depending on how you play.
88	* ''VideoGame/WildArms3'' has {{Naive Newcomer}} Virginia is the Optimist, {{Ineffectual Loner}} Jet is the Cynic, the more experienced Clive is the Realist, while {{Magical Native American}} Gallows is the Apathetic.

Context FourPhilosophyEnsemble / VideoGames