And we’re back with some more of our favorite “old” characters, including a number of them who are significantly younger than I am! And if you somehow ended up here first, be sure to check out part one, as well.
Intro by Zach Wilkerson
Col. Jade Curtiss – Tales of the Abyss
Writeup by Stephanie Sybydlo
Age: 35
Despite being a “just another party member,” Colonel Jade Curtiss is essentially responsible for the entire plot behind Tales of the Abyss. Not that he’s secretly a villain (though he was regarded as such in his youth), but rather a technology he invents becomes the catalyst for the villain’s plans. A bit of an Oppenheimer in that sense, Jade feels responsible for thoughtlessly creating something powerful without asking “why,” and is on a journey not only to secure peace as the world preps for war, but also for himself to make amends for his past. He might be the party member with the sharpest tongue, and he keeps his feelings hidden behind layers of sarcasm, but it’s clear he’s always got a lot weighing on his mind.
But for any other questions about Jade, let Guy fill you in. (That’s an inside joke.).
Jaheira – Baldur’s Gate 3
Writeup by Jimmy Turner
Age: around 150
For all the greatness within Baldur’s Gate 3, not allowing the main character to romance Jaheira has never sat well with me. This is a game where you can romance numerous party members of different races, regardless of gender. A game where you can pay to have a good time with dark elf siblings in a brothel. A game where you can sleep with a druid while in bear form! But developing a romantic connection with an older elf lady is where they drew the line?
As one of the most memorable characters throughout the Baldur’s Gate series, Jaheira is laden with experiences that could resonate powerfully in a romantic context. Her fierce independence and passion for nature could lead to unique interactions that challenge the player’s decisions. Besides, some of us might have interest in someone a bit more mature than the typical romance options.
Josef – Unicorn Overlord
Writeup by Sam-James Gordon
Age: 52
Unicorn Overlord is a game with many, many recruitable characters: 69 in total. Nice. Josef is one of the very first units you acquire, having fled the Kingdom of Cornia alongside the young Prince Alain. War is raging across the continent of Fevrith, and Josef raises Alain to become the leader of the Liberation Army. Thanks to a time skip, Josef undergoes a process rarely seen in JRPGs known as Aging; his once dark and luscious locks become a striking white, though they do not lack the luster of his former years. He is one of the few early game units capable of healing, and not only helps assemble members for the Liberation Army, but also acts as Alain’s advisor. Josef is a respectful representation of how growing older can result in the accumulation of wisdom and skill, passing down that knowledge to younger generations and enabling them to do great things.
Kerry Eurodyne, Rogue Amendiares – Cyberpunk 2077
Writeup by Stephanie Sybydlo
Age: 80s
Kerry was Samurai’s bassist, and Rogue was a mercenary; they shared social connections with Johnny Silverhand in the early 2000s (and as acquaintances with V in 2077). Samurai wasn’t just singing about resisting but actually fighting against corporate overlords. Their music remained popular, and their message only became more salient as the rich grew richer.
Sadly, many of Cyberpunk 2077‘s citizens had to adapt or get left behind. The band broke up after Samurai lost its lead singer and Rogue lost an ally. Kerry struck a deal with big corpos for a solo career, and Rogue became the thing she hated in her youth as a Fixer, reintegrating into a system they fought against and still holding those scars. Are they hypocrites? Perhaps, but V would show them it’s never too late to face the past.
Fortunately, thanks to modern tech, these 80-somethings look like 50-somethings. And even more unique: Both are (more-or-less) romantic interests too!
Kreia – Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Age: Believed to be in the 50-70 year-old range, perhaps older.
Kreia, an elderly blind woman who is sensitive and knowledgeable about the workings of the Force, initially comes across in Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords as a helpful mentor to the game’s protagonist. She maintains that role well enough in the game’s early portions, though there are subtle and not-so-subtle hints that there’s far more to her than meets the eye. The enigmatic Kreia is often blunt with a keen tactician’s mind, devising plans that are always several steps ahead of those she interacts with. She’s also not opposed to manipulating others to reach her desired outcomes. She’s both a valuable ally and a dangerous foe, someone who is more Sith Lord-adjacent than expected. Even before her later plot reveals, Kreia’s one of the more fascinating characters in a truly compelling Star Wars narrative.
Lily Bowen – Fallout: New Vegas
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Age: 203
Lily Bowen from Fallout: New Vegas is the quintessential grandmother: kind, caring, supportive, and likely to bake you a batch of cookies after a tough day slaying Deathclaws. She’s also a former assassin specializing in stealth with occasional breaks from reality. She’s a staunch ally of the Courier, who she cheerfully refers to as “dearie,” expressing protective concern for them because they’re reminiscent of her grandchildren. Lily’s also proactive in searching for a cure for the psychotic breaks she and her fellow Nightkin suffer from. Lily listens to a recording of her beloved grandchildren to help her remember them, hesitant to take her medicine’s full dosage out of fear that doing so will cause her to forget. Her storyline is surprisingly human and poignant despite her mutated appearance, with no easy answer to her dilemma. Lily’s a standout companion and one of the best RPG grandmas out there!
Mordin Solus – Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Age: Early- to mid-thirties in ME2. His species has an average life expectancy of 40.
…He’s the very model of a scientist Salarian! Mordin Solus is arguably one of the most memorable characters in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. A scientist and doctor introduced in ME2, helping the disenfranchised residents of Omega station before joining Shepard’s cause, Mordin is observant and supportive (even occasionally helpfully offering love advice to Shepard). Eventually, Mordin confides in Shepard about his role in the Genophage: a scientific event that’s kept the Krogan population under control by limiting their number of live births. Mordin struggles with his past actions by carrying the sentiment that they were necessary yet still feeling guilt. In ME3, he focuses on finding a cure, befriending the matriarchal Krogan he names Eve and showcasing his chivalrous, gentlemanly side. The scenes involving his ultimate determination in righting his wrongs are some of the game’s most poignant: “Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong.”
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment Cast
Writeup by Neal Chandran
Age: 20s-30s
21-32 year-olds in classic JRPGs are often grizzled elders. Actual 21-32 year-olds are in that complicated “new adulthood” stage where they shoulder adult responsibilities but still have growing up to do. The theme of being an adult but not quite a grown-up is why Persona 2: Eternal Punishment stands out with its believable and relatable ensemble cast. For example, Maya (23) writes for a teen magazine and is comfortable being “big sis” to teenage company. Among adult peers, however, the normally gregarious Maya is far quieter as she struggles to find her place. Maya’s roommate, Ulala (24), teases Maya for liking younger guys, but is Ulala’s preference for older men a sign of maturity? The rest of the characters face various “adult but not grown-up” challenges as well. The gaming landscape needs more titles like Persona 2: Eternal Punishment that explore relevant adulthood themes through age-appropriate characters.
Rab – Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Writeup by Matt Wardell
Age: 70
Aside from his perviness, seemingly mandated by the laws of anime and games for any man over the age of fifty, Rab really takes on a charming grandfatherly role in DQXI‘s party of young’uns. He’s playful, protective, and a bit cunning; he sounds like Scrooge McDuck in English; and he’s a versatile damage dealer to travel alongside. It’s rare for a truly elderly character to multiclass in dark magic and martial arts. Though Rab is eventually outclassed in both physical and magical DPS by characters like Jade and Veronica, this makes for a nice, meta passing of the torch, especially considering that Rab takes longer to level up than everyone else in your party. Hasn’t this old boy earned his rest?
Raja – Suikoden V
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Age: 58-59
Suikoden V’s Admiral Raja is the Tengou Star (Star of Conflagration) and the leader of the floating settlement of Raftfleet. Prior to the game’s timeline, she earned the nickname “Hurricane Raja” during her naval service and was even the Commander of the Royal Navy for the Queendom of Falena for a time. After joining Prince Freyjadour’s army, Admiral Raja becomes a key player in many of Suikoden V‘s strategy battles and even sets up a tea ceremony for the older members of the Loyalist Army. It is no wonder Raja’s a Star of Destiny; she’s flexible when it comes to her thinking and an extremely capable leader who earns the respect of many, even though people from Raftfleet were historically looked down upon by others.
Ryotaro Dojima – Persona 4
Writeup by Lucy Gray
Age: 42-44
While much of the recent Persona entries focus on young adults trying to save the world in place of the corrupted, crooked adults, you have to give credit to Ryotaro Dojima, a detective trying to balance raising a child he feels he’s failed, his nephew, and investigating a series of murders/kidnappings while his junior partner is making love to cabbages at Junes. He’s a man shaped by the bitter hand dealt to him, looking out for his family the only ways he knows how. However, he’s also willing to change, with help from the protagonist. Compared to Ikutsuki and Sojiro, Dojima is by far the most down-to-earth of the guardians of recent Persona games, having no secret ties to shadowy government agencies and firmly believing in real-world logic. Now, being the same age as Dojima, I feel more sympathetic and understanding of his realistic (and grounded in reality) views of the world.
Ziggy – Xenosaga
Writeup by Tyler Trosper
Human age: 30s
Before the events of Xenosaga Episode I, Ziggy already met the requirements of “old man” in an RPG. In the prequel, Xenosaga: Pied Piper, Ziggy (or Jan Sauer) is a seasoned Federation officer in his 30s. Unfortunately, due to the events in that game and a little piece of legislation called the Life Recycling Act, Ziggy died and was brought right back to life as a cyborg against his will. Flash forward a hundred years, and while he still looks like a 30-year-old with David Bowie-esque handsome features, he’s ancient compared to the rest of the cast. While he still acts as a source of knowledge for the party when it comes to battle, you can’t help but feel devastated by his desire to chip away at his biological components until the Jan Sauer in him is completely gone.
