History TookALevelInJerkass / VideoGames

** Jacob, who was criticized for having a flat personality in ''2'' but was still probably the nicest member of your crew next to Tali, gets a major jerkass moment in ''3'' by [[spoiler:cheating on Shepard if she romanced him. He's not remorseful about this in the slightest, and clearly doesn't think of it as a bad thing.]] Even if you didn't [[spoiler:romance him]], he still comes across as a jerk in more of a passively smug way.

** The Illusive Man was always ''kind of'' a prick, but in the third game he moves from being a morally inconvenient supporter, who could be extremely ruthless but was also one of the few to believe you about the whole "Spacethulhu coming to kill us all" thing, to being an active enemy to the survival of galactic civilization whose forces brainwash new recruits, attempt to murder and/or brainwash your old friends, launch raids on human colonies to abduct new troops, attack Grissom Academy to abduct a multitude of young biotics, and [[spoiler:run a cross between a concentration camp and a Husk factory beneath a ''refugee camp'']], out of a plan to control the Reapers that even a number of his former employees think is flagrantly insane. [[spoiler:Eventually, it turns out he's been indoctrinated, so his more heinous actions are the result of the Reapers screwing with his head, and a fair chunk of his former seeming friendliness was a pose put on to manipulate you.]]

** Renegade Shepard was always a jerk, and [[TookALevelInJerkass took a level]] in ''2'', but in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' it's taken to a ''[[UpToEleven whole new level]].'' While his/her behavior was usually rude, condescending, racist, insulting, and did kill a number of people, it managed to have some funny moments in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' and ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. In ''3'' Renegade Shepard is downright ''evil'', causes cold-blooded murder of teammates without remorse, and lacks the humor that he/her had in previous games. You can even tell from the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-eRfupYbA "Commander Shepard]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PjTuSQNLI4&feature=fvwrel is a Jerk]][[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1CV86SnSPM&feature=related " videos.]]

* Ema Skye of the ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' series is introduced as an aspiring forensic investigator, full of useful investigation techniques and eager to meet people in the business. However, eight years later she finds herself in a job she didn't want (detective work) after doing poorly on her forensic investigation exam and her derailed dream definitely takes its toll on her personality. The Ema of ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'' is a sour and jaded woman who doesn't offer much help (unless she can use some of her forensic investigation techniques, at which point some of her original personality leaks out).

* While in real life Dudley from Franchise/StreetFighter TookALevelInKindness between [[StreetFighterIII III]] and [[StreetFighterIV IV]], IV takes place before III, meaning in the game's chronology Dudley went from being exceedingly polite to acting more snooty and calling opponents "gutter trash" (though he zig-zags back slightly by Third Strike.)

** The third game sees the Asari and Salarian Councilors take a few levels in Jerkass (contrast to [[TookALevelInKindness the Turian Councilor]]). They, however, are beaten out by Quarian Admiral Han'Gerrel, who ''power-levels'' in Jerkass to the point of [[GeneralRipper doing positively insane things]] in his attempt to wipe out the Geth, including firing on a Geth Dreadnaught ''while Shepard and Tali are still inside it''. If you fail to broker peace between the Quarians and Geth, [[spoiler: he [[LeeroyJenkins has his ships bullrush the geth fleet]]]]. Depending on what choices you made, [[spoiler: they either get massacred or complete wipe out the geth.]]

** At the same time, he also seems to get rid of a few Jerkass elements too, ironically. For instance, while he is one of the major reasons as to why the war between the Alliance and Horde has reemerged, there are things he simply won't stand for. First off, he specifically does ''not'' approve of Sylvanas raising the newly dead on the battlefield to replenish the ranks of the Forsaken. He also gets really pissed off when he finds out that one of his commanders has been attacking night elf settlements to kill civilians. He is also the one who drives the Grimtotems out of the Horde when he finds out that they were responsible for]] [[spoiler: Cairne's death.]]
*** Cairne's son Baine did that last part. No all Garrosh did was send Magatha Grimtotem a letter that amounted to "I hope you burn in hell". What Garrosh ''did'' do to elevate his Jerkass status was whine to Baine about the honor he lost [[spoiler: after he killed Baine's father in less-than-honorable combat.]]
** Garrosh will be taking this trope to its logical conclusion in ''Mists of Pandaria''. [[spoiler:The final raid dungeon is going to be a siege on Orgrimmar itself by both Alliance and Horde, because apparently at some point in the expansion Garrosh does something [[MoralEventHorizon ''so horrible'' that it disgusts ''everybody'']].]]
*** That would be [[spoiler:dropping the magical equivalent of a WMD on Theramore, killing many known characters, including [[CanonImmigrant Rhonin]], after killing several Blue Dragons to get the necessary power source for the bomb]]. Many of the Horde factions are ''not'' happy about Hellscream's rule but stay out of fear (trolls, tauren) or greed (goblins). In his speech in ''Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War'', he doesn't even pretend that the other leaders are his equals and expects them to obey him or die. He wants the Alliance gone and take the lands he believes are rightfuly his (even though orcs are not native to this world). Jaina begs Thralls to take leadership back from Garosh, knowing that many would support him, but Thrall refuses.

** As well, whichever of your human comrades (Ashley or Kaidan) survived the first game will become Jerkasses in their cameo in ''2'', mainly because they've been getting very ugly reports about you working with [[EvilInc Cerberus]] and [[LockedOutOfTheLoop and it never occurred to anyone else that maybe they should know the whole story]]. Though if it's your love interest that does the WhatTheHellHero speech, they'll send you an apology letter, telling you to be careful because they can't lose you a second time.

*** That would be [[spoiler:dropping the magical equivalent of a WMD on Theramore, killing many known characters, including [[CanonImmigrant Rhonin]], after killing several Blue Dragons to get the necessary power source for the bomb]]. Many of the Horde factions are ''not'' happy about Hellscream's rule but stay out of fear (trolls, tauren) or greed (goblins). In his speech in ''Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War'', he doesn't even pretend that the other leaders are his equals and expects them to obey him or die. He wants the Alliance gone and take the lands he believes are rightfuly his (even though orcs are not native to this world). Jaine begs Thralls to take leadership back from Garosh, knowing that many would support him, but Thrall refuses.

** As well, whichever of your human comrades (Ashley or Kaidan) survived the first game will become Jerkasses in their cameo in ''2'', probably because they're just in shock that you're working for [[WellIntentionedExtremist Cerberus]]. Though if it's your love interest that does the WhatTheHellHero speech, they'll send you an apology letter, telling you to be careful because they can't lose you a second time.

** As well, whichever of your human comrades (Ashley or Kaidan) survived the first game will become Jerkasses in their cameo in ''2'', probably because they're just in shock that you're working for [[WellIntentionedExtremist Cerberus]].
*** Though if it's your love interest that does the WhatTheHellHero speech, they'll send you an apology letter, telling you to be careful because they can't lose you a second time.

* Anders takes several levels before and during ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Being [[HumanoidAbomination possessed]] by an increasingly pissed off spirit that had no idea of being nice to begin with and gradually succumbing to it does not help a bit. In Act I, [[BreakTheCutie he's a bit grimmer than before]], but still kindhearted, [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]], and occasionally goofy. In Act II, he eventually [[spoiler:attacks (and kills, unless you stop him) an innocent mage he just saved from templars]] during a bout of UnstoppableRage, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone panics]], and retreats into a HeroicBSOD. In Act III, he's become [[WithUsOrAgainstUs completely paranoid of]] [[HeadbuttingHeroes the rest of]] [[EnemyMine the party]] (except for [[TheHero Hawke]] and [[TeamMom Varric]]), [[MoodSwinger quick to swing between manic determination and deep melancholy]], is completely [[TheUnfettered obsessed with]] [[TheFundamentalist his cause]], and some of the party banter implies he might be hallucinating. SanitySlippage at its finest folks...

** May actually be a bit of a subversion--the first time you talk to him about Maggie, he mentions that having her missing "makes it hard to earn a single rupee," suggesting that he only cared about the money from the beginning. Once he got wealthy, he just didn't have to pretend to be nice anymore.
** There's also Ingo from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''. While he was never the friendliest person in the game, he was nothing more than a disgruntled employee who complained about Talon's laziness when Link was a kid. After Ganondorf comes to power, he uses the Evil King's "good" graces to take the ranch for himself, exile Talon to Kakariko Village, and proceeds to generally make life miserable for Malon until Link returns and intervenes.

** [[JerkAss Not that he needed them,]] but Nick also took a few levels in Jerkass for the Passing. He's just jealous.
*** Actually he was right where he should have been on the Jerkass scale. "The Passing" occurs after "Dead Center" but before "Dark Carnival". Nick is still quite suspicious and dismissive of the others at this point. It's not really until the latter stages of "Hard Rain" that he starts to noticeably lighten up.

* Anders takes several levels before and during ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Being [[HumanoidAbomination possessed]] by an increasingly pissed off spirit that had no idea of being nice to begin with and gradually succumbing to it does not help a bit.
** What happens to him in-game, ([[FightingFromTheInside even outside the possession]]), [[BreakTheCutie isn't]] [[KillTheOnesYouLove all that]] [[TraumaCongaLine pleasant either.]]
** It's actually trackable through the game's timeline. In Act I, [[BreakTheCutie he's a bit grimmer than before]], but still kindhearted, [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]], and occasionally goofy. In Act II, he eventually [[spoiler:attacks (and kills, unless you stop him) an innocent mage he just saved from templars]] during a bout of UnstoppableRage, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone panics]], and retreats into a HeroicBSOD. In Act III, he's become [[WithUsOrAgainstUs completely paranoid of]] [[HeadbuttingHeroes the rest of]] [[EnemyMine the party]] (except for [[TheHero Hawke]] and [[TeamMom Varric]]), [[MoodSwinger quick to swing between manic determination and deep melancholy]], is completely [[TheUnfettered obsessed with]] [[TheFundamentalist his cause]], and some of the party banter implies he might be hallucinating. SanitySlippage at its finest folks...

*** It's not even a Spirit of Justice anymore (though it likes to claim otherwise). It's a ''Demon of Vengeance.'' That's how badly it was corrupted.
*** Although it's implied that Justice's corruption (and his becoming a KnightTemplar that resulted in him JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope) may not actually be Anders' fault, or at least not entirely; [[spoiler:Kirkwall is basically a city built right next to [[SealedEvilInACan the prison that holds]] [[EldritchAbomination ''the origin of the darkspawn'']]. The prisoner in question can drive people insane without even being conscious and from miles away]].

* Before the [[FullMotionVideo FMV]] games, Admiral Tolwyn, from the ''Videogame/WingCommander'' games and novels, was a gruff but overall fair person. Starting with [=WC3=], though, he became Admiral Asshole (possibly due to {{typecasting}} of MalcolmMcDowell, the actor that played him), and continued on to [[RecycledInSpace Space]] [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi]] in [=WC4=]. William Forstchen's {{novelization}}s of those two games tried to lessen that a bit, but was limited by the game scripts he was writing from.

* Hubert Ozwell from ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'' is regarded to be the king of this trope, and one of the biggest in-series trolls, in the ''Franchise/TalesSeries'' fandom. For those not in the know, he starts off as a weak, and easily-terrified little boy, but seven years down the line [[TookALevelInBadass he takes about a million levels in badass]] due to [[spoiler:being adopted into the military-based Ozwell family]]. When he reunites with his older brother, Hubert reveals that [[spoiler:part of the alliance his new nation has with Windol is that they get Lhant, the brothers' homeland, and then Hubert proceeds to [[LimitBreak Blast Caliber]] Asbel into next week, exile him from Lhant, blow their mother off when she tries to intervene, and then sets himself up as the one running the shots]]. Yeah... Hubert becomes kind of a douche.
* Another example from the Tales series is Luke from VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss. While a {{Jerkass}} from the very beginning he does try to get along with the party until Van [[AssInAmbassador gave him the role of Ambassador and lets it get to his head]]. It is until he gets his ImportantHaircut when he pulls [[TookALevelInKindness a complete 180]] and starts getting a lot better.

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia'''s Sands of Time trilogy. The Prince was originally a charming, likable GuileHero, but in the sequel, he became the very embodiment of a JerkAss. [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks Needless to say, the fans were NOT pleased.]]
** In the third game his level in Jerkass manifests itself as a ''SuperpoweredEvilSide''. At this point the Prince realizes how bad he's gotten and CharacterDevelopment ensues.

* Lazlow, a recurring [=DJ=] and radio host of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'', was frst introduced as the put-upon host of the call-in radio show ''Chatterbox''. Later games showcase the breadth of Lazlow's radio career (now spanning 25 years) and reveal him to be an alcoholic fame-seeker, rather than the OnlySaneMan he appeared to be in ''[=GTAIII=]''. By 2008, Lazlow is middle-aged, divorced, despised by his parents as well as his children, and now irks out a living as an on-the-street "journalist" in Liberty City, decrying the state of America and insulting passerby. As Lazlow's dialogue is written and voiced by real-life radio host Lazlow Jones, this is a form of AdamWesting.

** The Spirit of Justice itself took a few levels in jerkass when it possessed Anders - it's explicitly stated ingame that it was overwhelmed and corrupted by Anders's anger at what was going on, and back in ''VideoGame/DragonAge: Origins'', it was actually much more reasonable and willing to listen than it is in the sequel. On top of that, it's hard to tell how much of Anders's behavior is this trope and how much is him just plain hugging the IdiotBall, given the increasingly horrible and poorly thought out choices he makes as time goes on.

* Hubert Ozwell from ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'' is regarded to be the king of this trope, and one of the biggest in-series trolls, in the ''Franchise/TalesSeries'' fandom. For those not in the know, he starts off as a weak, and easily-terrified little boy, but seven years down the line [[TookALevelInBadass he takes about a million levels in badass]] due to [[spoiler:being adopted into the military-based Ozwell family]]. When he reunites with his older brother, Hubert reveals that [[spoiler:part of the alliance his new nation has with Windol is that they get Lhant, the brothers' homeland, and then Hubert proceeds to [[LimitBreak Blast Caliber]] Asbel into next week, exile him from Lhant, blow their mother off when she tries to intervene, and then sets himself up as the one running the shots]]. Yeah... Hubert becomes kind of a douche.

** The third game sees the Asari and Salarian Councilors take a few levels in Jerkass (contrast to [[TookALevelInKindness the Turian Councilor]]). They, however, are beaten out by Quarian Admiral Han'Gerrel, who ''power-levels'' in Jerkass to the point of [[GeneralRipper doing positively insane things]] in his attempt to wipe out the Geth, including firing on a Geth Dreadnaught ''while Shepard and Tali are still inside it''. If you fail to broker peace between the Quarians and Geth, [[spoiler: he [[LeeroyJenkins has his ships bullrush the geth fleet]]]]. Depending on what choices you made, [[spoiler: they either get massacred or complete wipe out the geth.]] He is also positively furious if you manage to get the two species to make peace.

* ''{{VideoGame/Warcraft}}'': Garrosh Hellscream went from being an obscure emo kid trying to find his purpose in life to being a disrespectful, belligerent, loudmouthed JerkAss.

* Lazlow, a recurring [=DJ=] and radio host of ''GrandTheftAuto'', was frst introduced as the put-upon host of the call-in radio show ''Chatterbox''. Later games showcase the breadth of Lazlow's radio career (now spanning 25 years) and reveal him to be an alcoholic fame-seeker, rather than the OnlySaneMan he appeared to be in ''[=GTAIII=]''. By 2008, Lazlow is middle-aged, divorced, despised by his parents as well as his children, and now irks out a living as an on-the-street "journalist" in Liberty City, decrying the state of America and insulting passerby. As Lazlow's dialogue is written and voiced by real-life radio host Lazlow Jones, this is a form of AdamWesting.