10 Iconic video game characters and their real life faces

Real Life always inspire reel life. This also includes video game characters as well. Ever great character in the gaming world needs a muse as an inspiration for its creation. After all, to build anything, you need to have a blueprint first, and for gaming heroes/villains, what’s better than to look for real life celebrities and person of certain accomplishment, good or bad, as the canvas to create beloved characters.This list takes a look at ten such video game characters who have been modelled on a real life celebrity and what they have been doing now.

#10 Balrog Mike Tyson

The Video Game Character: The boxing demon is large, fearsome and is based on someone who was a terror in the ring.

The Real-life Counterpart: Mike Tyson needs no introduction. The former boxing heavyweight champion, also known for biting off Evander Holyfield’s ear, has led a colourful life. He has also appeared in the Hangover films. Both Balrog and Mike Tyson share love for boxing gloves and pigeons. He has also appeared in WWE during the late 90’s.

#9 Nathan Drake Johnny Knoxville

The Video Game Character: The adventurer, who is a big risk-taker and loves finding stuff a la Indiana Jones.

The Real-life Counterpart: Though Nathan Drake looks more like Firefly and Castle, star Nathan Fillion, he is actually based on Johnny Knoxville. Johnny is star of many Jackass presents films. Bad Grandpa, where he acted as a perverted oldie, was also nominated in the Oscars for the Best Makeup. The makers used him as a model for his cool looks and jocular nature.

#8 Desmond Miles Francisco Randez

The Video Game Character: The descendant of a lineage of brilliant assassins, who memories in Animus has given us several engaging games in Assassin’s Creed series.

The Real-life Counterpart: Francisco Randez is French-Canadian model and musician, He is also adept in several martial arts, and also a good sportsperson. He also worked as a journalist and in a couple of shows.

#7 Ethan Mars Pascal Landale

The Video Game Character: The brooding architect, who suffers from agoraphobia after a near fatal accident, in which he lost his son. He is the protagonist of the psychological thriller, Heavy Rain.

The Real-life Counterpart: Pascal Langdale is an English actor, who has studied from Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has appeared in several shows like Free Agents, Spooks, Doctors, Flashpoint and Bitten.

#6 Vaas Montenegro Michael Mando

The Video Game Character: The hardened villain of Far Cry 3, more known for his bizarre look and scarred face.

The Real-life Counterpart: Michael Mando is a Canadian actor, who is more known for his television roles. He has appeared in several famous shows like Flashpoint, Lost Girl, Orphan Black and The Killing. Currently, he is acting in the Breaking Bad spin-off, Better Call Saul.

#5 Zoey Sonja Kinski

The Video Game Character: The kick-ass survivor of the zombie apocalypse in Left 4 Dead.

The Real-life Counterpart: Sonja Kinski is a well known American model. The pretty lass has also acted in a few films. Though she is not as kick-ass as her character in the zombie series, her pretty facial features is used pretty well in Zoey’s looks.

#4 Kratos Edward Norton

The Video Game Character: The muscular bald Greek warrior, of God of War, who has the guts to take on even the supreme God, Zeus. And the ladies, of course!!!

The Real-life Counterpart: Edward Norton is a Hollywood actor, who has won critical appreciation for his many roles. His first debut feature, Primal Fear, has given him in Oscar nomination. He was also seen this year’s Oscar winner, Birdman, as a egoistic method actor, for which also he received an Oscar nomination as well. Kratos is based more on his Neo-Nazi character in the drama, American History X, than the real life persona.

#3 Johnny Cage Jean Claude Van Damme

The Video Game Character: The smart-ass martial fighter who is stylish, fast talking and has some rad moves.

The Real-life Counterpart: JCVD is a famous film actor known for his cool martial stuff in movies like, Kickboxer, Double Impact and Timecop. Johnny Cage’s looks is based entirely on him and he even borrows some of his trademark stunts like the famous leg split. Van Damme was seen the villainous role in the Sylvester Stallone-starrer, The Expendables 2. His role in JCVD won him much critical appreciation.

#2 John Sheppard Mark Vanderloo

The Video Game Character: The daredevil space commander, whose tactical decisions decides the final outcome of the Mass Effect series.

The Real-life Counterpart: Mark Vanderloo is a Dutch model, who has appeared in several Hugo Boss print ads. He is a well in demand, model and has also campaigned for Calvin Klein, Armani, Valentino, Trussardi and Donna Karan. He has also appeared in America’s Next Top Model in 2008.

#1 Max Payne Sam Lake

The Video Game Character: The hallucinating ex-cop who made bullet-time a household name and who has a penchant of going for big trouble, since his wife is killed.

The Real-life Counterpart: Sam Lake is different from the rest of the entries, because unlike others, he is not an actor or a model. He is the writer of both Max Payne series and Alan Wake. The makers may have thought that best face for the iconic troubled cop can only be its creator. And they weren’t wrong, were they?