History AdaptationalHeroism / VideoGames

* ''Franchise/BatmanArkhamSeries'':
** In the comics, Ra's al Ghul's other daughter, Nyssa Raatko, had tortured her sister Talia to the point of insanity and was generally apathetic to people. In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', she's the [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]] to her family, vowing to leave Gotham alone and keep the League of Assassins from shedding more blood. [[spoiler: If you chose to destroy the machines keeping Ra's al Ghul alive, she keeps her word and if you chose to save Ra's, she'd rather die than be revived and become like her father.]]
** The series also does this to Poison Ivy. In the comics, she's always been an OmnicidalManiac trying to take over the world with her army of plants. However, her [[TragicVillain tragic side]] is [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds heavily brought up]] frequently throughout the series. She's never been shown killing another living being,[[note]]one of the patient interview tapes in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' does reveal she did kill hundreds of people with poisonous spores in events prior to the game[[/note]] [[EvenEvilHasStandards shown disgust towards other villains]], and along with Mr. Freeze, one of the only [[AffablyEvil cooperative]] villains [[PetTheDog towards Batman]]. [[spoiler:This is brought up to a high point in ''Arkham Knight'', where Ivy pulls a HeelFaceTurn and joins the dark knight on his crusade against Scarecrow. Sadly, she dies pulling a HeroicSacrifice saving Gotham City from Scarecrow's toxin bomb.]]
** [[spoiler:In the comics, Jason Todd started out as a crime lord who pimped, dealt drugs, teamed up with Hush, cared nothing for the rest of the Batfamily, and only got worse from there, once trying to kill Tim Drake simply out of jealousy. He eventually got to the point where he'd even gun down cops and civilians if they happened to be in his way. He was also stated to be completely sane throughout. Here, most of his dirty work is under orders from Scarecrow and he even allowed civilians to evacuate Gotham before the plan went in motion. As for his mental state, he's clearly suffering from textbook psychosis, and whereas in the comics Jason was just pissed because Batman didn't kill the Joker himself, here he honestly believes Batman abandoned him to his fate. He also still cares for both Barbara and Alfred a great deal. That said, he is also a case of AdaptationalVillainy, as while he's nicer to Barbara and Alfred, as the Arkham Knight, Jason also still party to a terrorist attack on Gotham, something he never did in the comics.]]
* ''VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries''
** [[spoiler:'''''The Joker''''' of all people]] is this, as he seems to disapprove of his fellow inmates picking on newbies. It's implied he may have ulterior motives, but it is something. If you've been good buddies with him throughout Season 2, [[spoiler:the Joker will actually become a vigilante like Batman, and even team up with him. He is ultimately too AxCrazy to hack it as a hero and Batman ends up having to take him down anyway, but it ends on an optimistic note where Bruce visits "John" in Arkham, showing that he indeed believes there's still good in the man and that he's still redeemable.]]
** Peter Grogan is a very minor character mostly known as the guy between [[DirtyCop Gillian Loeb]] and [[TheCommissionerGordon Jim Gordon]] who served as Gotham's police commissioner, with his initial mention in ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' saying he was more corrupt than Loeb. Here, he's an honest cop, [[spoiler:pulling a HeroicSacrifice to save Batman and Gordon noting he was a good man, which is especially ironic considering that the mention of Grogan being worse than Loeb came from Jim's comic counterpart]].

* ''Franchise/{{Injustice}}'' takes place in an alternate universe with a few of these:
** ComicBook/LexLuthor never became a super villain, having been friends with the alternate Superman since Smallville, opted to fund Batman's insurgency and act as TheMole for Batman, and deciding to take the alternate Superman down due to him trying to take over the world.
** Though the Injustice Joker is one of the evilest incarnations, Harley Quinn ends up getting over him after his death, working with LaResistance in the first game. The second has her discovering that GoodFeelsGood and playing the part of a genuine (if [[NightmareFetishist quite]] [[CombatSadomasochist eccentric]]) hero in the second.
** Green Arrow's arcade ending in ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' depicts a version of the Justice Incarnate from ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'' -- but while it still has {{President Super|hero}}man, [[TeamMemberInTheAdaptation his teammates include]] the Batman from ''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'', a terrorist, and the Wonder Woman from ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'', a despot.

* While Eddie Brock himself doesn't appear in ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'', one of the backpacks you can find in a sidequest does see that he signed a farewell card to Peter, wishing him luck at his new job, which suggests he has a better relationship with Peter than other versions.

** In the previous timelines, Mileena was a violent, power-hungry half-Tarkatan clone of Kitana with few redeeming qualities. In the New Era, she's now Kitana's biological older twin and heir to the throne of Outworld. This version legitimately cares for her family and kingdom and seeks a cure for her violent Tarkat disease. [[spoiler:Once she takes the throne, she rules Edenia with the compassion that her previous selves were incapable of.]]

* Traversing into a dark area or outside at night in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' will usually lead to a player encountering a zombie, skeleton or creeper that believes that you being alive is an issue and will attempt to fix that. Zombies in particular will also target villagers if they've got nothing else to attack. ''VideoGame/MinecraftLegends'' has them act a bit differently, as not only do the undead and creepers not attack you and villagers, but they're willing to help you protect the overworld from the invading piglins.

* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'':
** In the comics, ComicBook/RasAlGhul's other daughter, Nyssa Raatko, had tortured her sister Comicbook/TaliaAlGhul to the point of insanity and was generally apathetic to people. In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', she's the [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]] to her family, vowing to leave Gotham alone and keep the League of Assassins from shedding more blood. [[spoiler: If you chose to destroy the machines keeping Ra's al Ghul alive, she keeps her word and if you chose to save Ra's, she'd rather die than be revived and become like her father.]]
** The ''Arkham Series'' also does this to Comicbook/PoisonIvy. In the comics, she's always been an OmnicidalManiac trying to take over the world with her army of plants. However, her [[TragicVillain tragic side]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is heavily brought up]] frequently throughout the series. She's never been shown killing another living being [[note]] one of the patient interview tapes in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' does reveal she did kill hundreds of people with poisonous spores in events prior to the game [[/note]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards shown disgust towards other villains]], and along with Mr. Freeze, one of the only [[AffablyEvil cooperative villains]] [[PetTheDog towards Batman]]. [[spoiler: This is brought up to a high point in ''Arkham Knight'', where Ivy pulls a HeelFaceTurn and joins the dark knight on his crusade against Scarecrow. Sadly, she dies pulling a HeroicSacrifice saving Gotham City from Scarecrow's toxin bomb.]]

** [[spoiler: '''''ComicBook/TheJoker''''' of all people]] is this, as he seems to disapprove of his fellow inmates picking on newbies. It's implied he may have ulterior motives, but it is something. If you've been good buddies with him throughout Season 2, [[spoiler:the Joker will actually become a vigilante like Batman, and even team up with him. He is ultimately too AxCrazy to hack it as a hero and Batman ends up having to take him down anyway, but it ends on an optimistic note where Bruce visits "John" in Arkham, showing that he indeed believes there's still good in the man and that he's still redeemable.]]
** Peter Grogan is a very minor character mostly known as the guy between [[DirtyCop Gillian Loeb]] and [[TheCommissionerGordon Jim Gordon]] who served as Gotham's police commissioner, with his initial mention in ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' saying he was more corrupt than Loeb. Here, he's an honest cop, [[spoiler: pulling a HeroicSacrifice to save Batman and Gordon noting he was a good man, which is especially ironic considering the mention of comic!Grogan being worse than Loeb came from Jim's comic counterpart.]]

* While her exact allegiance [[DependingOnTheWriter depends on the incarnation]], Karai from ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' generally [[DarkActionGirl works for the Foot Clan]] and is an enemy of the turtles. Not so in ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesShreddersRevenge'', wherein she [[PromotedToPlayable becomes a playable character]] in ''Dimension Shellshock'' and fights ''against'' the Foot.

** Yuffie in the ''Intergrade'' DLC is a Wutai special agent who infiltrates Midgar to [[ChaoticGood steal Materia from Shinra]] and helps save the day, defeating Scarlet and is tearful at the massacre of Sector 7. This is a complete 180 from the original ''FFVII''’s Yuffie who was a bratty thief [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear who stole from the heroes]] purely for her own personal gain and was inadvertently roped into saving the world from Sephiroth by Cloud and company but humorously still tries to stealing Materia whenever she can. Yuffie is also generally more [[GenkiGirl friendly]] and compassionate in the remake continuity, while Yuffie’s nicer moments in the original game are comparatively infrequent.

** Illaoi goes from a ChaoticNeutral champion of strength above all to a hero of LaResistance in the Battlecast universe.

** Yuffie in the ''Intergrade'' DLC is a Wutai special agent who infiltrates Midgar to [[ChaoticGood steal Materia from Shinra]] and helps save the day, defeating DarkChick Scarlet and is tearful at the massacre of Sector 7. This is a complete 180 from the original ''FFVII''’s Yuffie who was a bratty thief [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear who stole from the heroes]] purely for her own personal gain and was inadvertently roped into saving the world from Sephiroth by Cloud and company but humorously still tries to stealing Materia whenever she can. Yuffie is also generally more [[GenkiGirl friendly]] and compassionate in the remake continuity, while Yuffie’s nicer moments in the original game are comparatively infrequent.

** In ''VideoGame/LegoTheLordOfTheRings'', Lurtz the Orc will help Sam rescue Frodo from Shelob.

* ''[[VideoGame/GodOfWar2018 God of War (2018)]]'': for the purpose of keeping with the theme of Gods being tyrannical despots, the writers went the extra mile and depicted the [[OurGiantsAreBigger Jotunn, or Giants]], traditionally the antagonists in adaptations of Norse legends, as being an altruistic, peaceful race who are unfairly persecuted by the Aesir; very different from the morally-complex beings from Norse mythology, whose attitudes to the gods and basically everyone else varied from cooperative, to indifferent, to opportunistic, and at worst, [[AlwaysChaoticEvil villainous]]. The most egregious example is the game's depiction of Thrym, the Frost Giant who famously stole Mjölnir and used it as leverage to get Freyja as a bride. Based on Mimir's presentation of the legend in the context of the game, Thrym is depicted as a [[KarmicTrickster well-intentioned trickster hero]] who was [[TragicHero tragically]] murdered by the thuggish Thor, in stark contrast to the mythical Thrym, who was a DirtyCoward that wanted Freyja for [[TheHedonist less-than-noble reasons]] and whose death at Thor's hand is most certainly [[KarmicDeath well-deserved]].

* The ''VideoGame/LegoAdaptationGame''s sometimes will have a villainous character team up with a hero in Story Mode, either because there are no heroic characters at the moment with that character's skillset, or because there must be at least two characters playable at all times.

* ''Videogame/TheBattleOfOlympus'', which is based on Myth/ClassicalMythology, turns Circe from a seductress who [[ForcefulTransformation turned visitors to her island into animals]] to an ally who will sell you a useful shield.

* ''Videogame/TheBattleOfOlympus'', which is based on Myth/ClassicalMythology, turns Circe from a seductress who [[BalefulPolymorph turned visitors to her island into animals]] to an ally who will sell you a useful shield.

* ''VideoGame/MagiaRecordPuellaMagiMadokaMagicaSideStory'': The original Homura TookALevelInCynic and became more ruthless in her quest to save Madoka, [[spoiler: which ultimately resulted with her becoming an [[{{Yandere}} insane]] DarkMessiah and [[FaceHeelTurn usurping Madoka's position]] in ''[[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMoveRebellion Rebellion]]'']]. This Homura on the other hand, is still a BespectacledCutie and a ShrinkingViolet due to [[spoiler:keeping the AwfulTruth about Witches in the dark]].

* VideoGame/MagiaRecordPuellaMagiMadokaMagicaSideStory: The original Homura TookALevelInCynic and became more ruthless in her quest to save Madoka, [[spoiler: which ultimately resulted with her becoming an [[{{Yandere}} insane]] DarkMessiah and [[FaceHeelTurn usurping Madoka's position]] in ''[[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMoveRebellion Rebellion]]'']]. This Homura on the other hand, is still a BespectacledCutie and a ShrinkingViolet due to [[spoiler:keeping the AwfulTruth about Witches in the dark]].

** In ''LEGO Star Wars'', Trade Federation Droid TC-14 will help the Jedi escape her masters.

** In ''LEGO Lord Of The Rings'', Lurtz the Orc will help Sam rescue Frodo from Shelob.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsDestiny'', much of Char's Neo Zeon and ''Gundam Wing''[='=]s antagonists play the part of heroes, fighting against Zanscare and various alien threats. The most notable example is probably Treize Khushrenda, who at the end of the game [[spoiler:sacrifices himself to seal away the EldritchAbomination BigBad]]. Many other games allow you to recruit antagonists of all shapes and sizes to your cause. ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsUX UX]]'' includes [[Toys/BBSenshiSangokuden Ryofu Tallgeese]] and [[VisualNovel/{{Demonbane}} Master Therion]], to name a pair of standouts.

** Jinx in the Odyssey universe goes from a MadBomber to more of an over-the-top LovableRogue along the lines of a wackier version of [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy MCU Peter Quill]].

* The ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'' gives Annette Birkin this treatment. In the original game, Annette was an unabashed and trigger happy MadScientist whose anger towards Umbrella and UndyingLoyalty for her husband's "[[TheVirus genius work]]" makes her come off as batshit insane. Worse still Annette dismissed her only daughter Sherry and cared more about safeguarding the G-Virus. In the remake, Annette is sympathetic as she wants to keep the virus from falling into the wrong hands to prevent further incidents like Raccoon City from happening and actively works to destroy all remaining samples of the G-Virus. This also makes Annette's attempt to kill Ada (who wants to sell the virus to a third party) completely justified, in fact when Annette reveals Ada's true colors to Leon, she is able to make him turn against her. It's even more apparent in Claire's scenario as Annette saves Sherry from getting infected and [[TearJerker tells her daughter how much she loves her while dying]].
** Speaking of which William himself gets this to a lesser degree, as in Claire's scenario despite being a violent monster [[PapaWolf he protects his daughter Sherry from both Mr X and Chief Irons]]. Then again considering G-Birkin wants to [[{{Squick}} implant embryos in Sherry]], this is probably not fatherly protection.

** In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokémon Yellow]]'' (which [[RecursiveAdaptation takes cues]] from [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]]), a counterpart to Damian admits that he is a poor trainer and gives Charmander to the player in hopes that they can do a better job than him. A far cry from the {{Jerkass}} he was originally.

** Ribbons Almark, a latecomer to the series, is in his original canon of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' a distinctly high-functioning SmugSnake who appears to be a Magnificent Bastard due to relying on the supercomputer Veda to predict future events (including the actions of the protagonists) for him. In [=DWG3=] little of the spiteful side he starts showing to the heroes once they grow beyond Veda's ability to predict is seen, and he is generally depicted merely as having NoSocialSkills rather than TheSociopath he was in his canon.

* The ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure'' remake ''VideoGame/SwordOfMana'' changes Mr. Lee's character ''drastically'' - in the first game he is a boss who apparently delighted keeping girls in a box so he could drain their blood. In ''Sword of Mana'' his actions are merely misunderstood by the heroes, and [[SparedByTheAdaptation survives]].

** Tseng the leader of the Turks gets this. In the [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII original game]] Tseng while still AffablyEvil was still a ruthless agent of Shrina, as seen when he takes Aerith hostage and when she pleads to him Tseng violently slaps her. In the remake he just orders a mook to take Aerith away without hurting her in the slightest. This lines up with Tseng’s ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' portrayal where he acts as a paternal figure to Aerith who genuinely cares about her while under orders to study and keep watch on her.
** Reno and Rufus get this to some extent. In the original they’re AffablyEvil [[PunchclockVillain Punchclock Villains]] who serve Shinra without question. In the remake both of them express misgivings about the morality of the work but claim it’s too late to grow a conscience. Rude at one point even deliberately makes Reno miss while the latter was aiming at [[VillainousCrush Tifa]] [[spoiler: on other hand he is the one who drops the Sector 7 plate in this version]].
** Cloud’s OnlyInItForTheMoney mercenary attitude is greatly softened in the remake. He’s much quicker to show compassion and care to his TrueCompanions than he was in the original game, where it took him awhile and some HeroicBSOD to reach that point. Cloud also cares greatly for his LoveInterest Tifa and ThePromise he made her regardless of the player’s actions, unlike the original game where thanks to FalseMemories Tifa has to remind him of their childhood promise. That being said Cloud does conversely get some AdaptationalJerkass as seen when he tries to kill Johnny for [[LooseLips ratting out]] Jessie and when he attempts finish off Reno, which respectively [[WhatTheHellHero shocks]] both Tifa and Aerith.

** Yuffie in the ''Intergrade'' DLC is a Wutai special agent who infiltrates Midgar to [[ChaoticGood steal Materia from Shinra]] and helps save the day defeating DarkChick Scarlet and is tearful at the massacre of Sector 7. This is a complete 180 from the original ''FFVII''’s Yuffie who was a bratty thief [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear who stole from the heroes]] purely for her own personal gain and was inadvertently roped into saving the world from Sephiroth by Cloud and company but humorously still tries to stealing Materia whenever she can. Yuffie is also generally more [[GenkiGirl friendly]] and compassionate in the remake continuity, while Yuffie’s nicer moments in the original game are comparatively infrequent.

** [[TheOjou Haru Okumura's]] initial Persona is Milady de Winter of ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'', the spy who works for Cardinal Richelieu and Athos' wife. While it's shown that Haru has a hidden [[BeneathTheMask sadistic streak]] likely stemmed from growing up with her [[ArchnemesisDad oppressive father]], she's easily the kindest and most compassionate member of the party - a far cry from [[TheVamp the seductive]], [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] spy that Milady is in the novel.

* Yoshiya "Joshua" Kiryuu is a [[InsufferableGenius smug]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]] jerk in ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' that drives the protagonist up the wall, [[spoiler:kills the protagonist ''twice'', and the entire plot of the game is kicked off by his desire to erase Shibuya]]. When he shows up ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'', he's significantly nicer and much more helpful to Sora. It's almost bizarre, considering that the other ''[=TWEWY=]'' characters still have the same personality, more or less.

** Patrick Tyrell. In the original game Patrick was little more than a flunkey of Umbrella same as most of U.B.C.S who in a fit paranoia holds Carlos at gunpoint before getting killed by a bomb in a safe. In the remake Patrick is much more heroic being a supportive teammate of Carlos who actively helps Jill survive and find a vaccine, making his death at the CombatTentacles of Nemesis tragic.