Video games often blend fun with commentary. There are many games out there that have a character tell a riveting speech, one that makes the player think and ponder the reality of the person speaking the powerful words. Fictional, or not, the words spoken by characters can truly be both inspiring or upsetting.
There is a great deal of iconic video game characters that give speeches, either to the player, or their crew. Some are entirely compelling and make the player forget that they are holding a controller. What can make these speeches harder to listen to, is when a boss fight is brewing. So, which riveting speeches in video games can be considered iconic?
10 The Healthy Human Mind (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)
As the penultimate mission of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s campaign, “Just Like Old Times” features a grandiose speech from Captain John Price. As his ally, Soap, asks for Price’s input, he is met with silence, until Price begins to audibly philosophize on death.
Price’s speech is cold and somewhat morbid. It’s a great look into his mind and his goal. “We will. Kill him.” That’s it, that is the mission. Price will forever be a soldier, and his speech to Soap teaches him a valuable lesson on doing whatever it takes to make sure true history survives.
9 More Powerful Than Any Weapon (Mass Effect 3)
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As the climax in Mass Effect 3 ramps up, Commander Shepard performs their final speech to their Comrades. The Mass Effect games have held some great speeches, thanks to Commander Shepard’s charisma and intellect. Yet, there’s something poignant about their final speech.
Shepherd rallies their friends and comrades-in-arms, and the player can choose what Shepherd says to their friends. It makes the speaker feel that much more personal, and that much more emotional; knowing how close the player has become with their crew, before entering perhaps the final battle as Commander Shepard, and the lats look of their friends.
8 Dear Humanity (Halo 2)
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The fourth campaign mission of Halo 2 features Master Chief on Old Mombasa, Earth, with his fellow Marine soldiers. The introduction cutscene of this mission, “Outskirts”, has the characters ponder on the mystery behind the message they received, which repeats “Regret, Regret” in a loop.
The intensely charismatic Sergeant Major Avery Junior Johnson wastes no time in deciding on what “regret” means. His speech is extremely short but gets the point across. He talks of how the aliens will regret coming to Earth. It’s funny, and Sergeant Johnson rallies his troops with one large “oorah!”
7 Free To Follow Our Own Path (Assassin’s Creed 2)
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A compelling speech, from one of gaming’s most iconic characters, and most iconic assassins. Assassin’s Creed 2 features Ezio Auditore giving a speech to the Italian people about the profound identity of individuals, the freedom of choice, and forging one’s path.
Ezio proves with this speech just how wise and strong he is. It’s a beautiful speech and one that sums up Ezio’s character growth perfectly. From a rebellious youth to one of the bravest, and greatest leaders of the new Assassin order. There’s a reason why Ezio Auditore is so well remembered, even after the conclusion of his story.
6 There Is Light In The Darkness (Fallout: New Vegas)
Fallout is a franchise that is no stranger to the weird, the wonderful, and the compelling. Fallout: New Vegas provides fans of the Fallout franchise with a plethora of interesting characters. Characters that make the player debate their choices for a while.
One character is Joshua Graham, introduced in the Honest Hearts DLC. Toward the end of the DLC, Joshua offers a glimmer of hope, even after the horrific circumstance of his being and location. This is because Joshua has been burned to near death. Joshua speaks of religion and the importance of family. It’s a grand speech.
5 My Fellow Americans (Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus)
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Those that chose the Wyatt timeline are given a riveting speech in the genre-defining franchise sequel, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus. At the end of the game, Wyatt provides those watching live television with a great speech. After the victory of the Nazis in an alternate timeline, Americans were left on their knees.
Wyatt gives warnings to the Nazi regime, as a hopeful song softly strums in the background. Wyatt’s passion can be felt through the television screen, and it’s entirely infectious, patriot, and in search of the liberty that belongs to a free country, and a free people.
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As gunfire and explosions rage across Outer Haven, Big Boss takes one last look at himself in the mirror before heading off to the latest, and potentially last, confrontation, in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. It’s here, that Big Boss remembers all those years ago, and discovers “The Man Who Sold The World”.
“Venom” Snake listens to a recording from Big Boss, who tells “Venom” who he is. “I’m Big Boss, and you are too.” Big Boss is so inspirational, and grand, that a man willingly changed his entire identity to reforge the laws of the world. It’s epic and perfectly wraps up the Metal Gear saga.
3 Vorkuta Burns (Call of Duty: Black Ops)
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The second campaign mission in Call of Duty: Black Ops follows Alex Mason and Viktor Reznov starting an uprising to escape Vorkuta, the brutal Soviet Labor Camp in Northern Russia. As the men rally to a radio tower, Reznov delivers a powerful speech to help invigorate the men escaping, as it echoes across the labor camp.
His speech is nothing short of riveting, and it rallies even the harshest critics to Reznov’s side. He speaks of war, the exploitation of young men for their country, and how it is now their time for victory. The speech is the perfect call to action, as the imprisoned of Vorkuta seek death over enslavement, even though, a Thundergun easter egg would have helped too.
There is a uniqueness to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim for its story. Not only does the player embark on the journey of the Dragonborn, to fight the evil Alduin the World-Eater, but they are also faced with the decision of war. The player can embark on either side, the Imperials, or the Stormcloaks.
The leader of the Stormcloaks is Ulfric Stormcloak, the Jarl of Windhelm. The civil war in Skyrim is over the Nords and their rights to their freedoms and right to beliefs. He gives a powerful speech on why he fights, and even if the player opposes Ulfric’s rule, they cannot fault his dedication.
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Hideo Kojima’s creative genius has no end, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is no exception. When The Boss betrays Naked Snake, he ventures through the game in wondering why she would betray her country, and him in particular.
At the final confrontation, The Boss provides Snake with a great speech. It’s a one-sided conversation in which Snake just listens, and is enthralled by her words. It’s one of the saddest scenes in the franchise. His love for his mentor is strong, and The Boss is encapsulating, and beautifully tragic. She’s one of the greatest characters in Metal Gear, and her character had a domino effect on the entire franchise.
