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Top 20 Black Characters in Gaming: #17 Louis – Left4Dead

dross — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:59:13 +0000

What’s up people. For Black History Month, we’ve decided to cull together a list of the Top 20 Black Characters in Gaming. Counting down from 20, we’ll be hitting you with a new one each week day until we get to number 1. Let’s get to it:

#17 on TGH’z Top Black Video Game Characters list goes to Louis of the Left 4 Dead

This character made the list as our first “playable” character. This game is fairly new but it is oh so good. What we like about Valve’s latest game is that it is multiplayer at heart. Four protagonists trapped in a Zombie movie scenario that forces them to work together to fight their way out.

Not long ago this group would be made up of zany skaters, rock punks, caucasian military or suburban dads. Valve showing their flexibility chose a Biker, and old militant guy, a female, and our boy Louis who happens to be a systems analyst in an IT company. He’s the only one in “dress clothes”.

Valve could’ve easily went with the “stereotypical” black dude, in jeans, timbs, and a hoodie, or even an “Athlete”, but here’s a regular 9 – 5 white collar black guy trying to stay alive. It’s those “staying alive” moments that make Louis a likable character. Because he doesn’t act a fool in these circumstances, he says and reacts like we all know we would.

So if you haven’t checked out Left4Dead with a bunch of your friends, you are missing out. Available for the XBOX360 and PC.

Top 20 Black Characters in Gaming: #19 Alyx Vance – Half Life 2

dross — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:07:04 +0000

#19 on TGH’z Top Black Video Game Characters list goes to Alyx Vance of the Half Life franchise.

Not only is Alyx of African American descent, she’s also bi-racial, and if you haven’t noticed a woman. Valve Software just went down the line on this one ticking off the boxes. Some fans of the series may argue for her father’s inclusion on this list, but we have to say that she’s one tough cookie and just as smart. Alyx rises to prominence in the two expansions to the Half Life 2 game, and that is where you really get to see her shine. She hacks doors, finds solutions to problems, and is quite the marksman with the ooo op. (lol)

She’s definitely worth getting to know and this is why she’s made our list. We’re still waiting for a possible side story where she’s the main protagonist. If you haven’t checked out the Half Life Series there’s no excuse, just cop the Orange Box for XBOX360 & Ps3 in which you get the entire HL2 series for only $40.

And You Thought Your Neigborhood Was Bad!

unit — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:34:58 +0000

It’s about that time again folks to get excited about blasting some zombies. Valve’s latest offering into the co-op play arena is something I been waiting for for a very long time. Since the Dawn of the Dead remake set the standard for zombies a few years ago, few games have captured the feeling the film had left of movie goers. Well that is all about to change with the cleverly named Left 4 Dead. To sum it all up, if you seen Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead, this game can pretty much be the licensed movie game version. And you know what, it wouldn’t suck at all! I don’t need to write a long write-up on the game as you can see what I am talking about from just watching the video (which is from one of the earlier levels in the game). So sit back, relax and enjoy the carnage!