Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest
  • New games for 2025
  • Upcoming Switch 2 games
  • Switch 2 stock

Recommended reading

Possessor(s) screenshots showing Luca in conversation and combat
Action Games "Most of the games that are Metroidvanias are just Metroid games": The director of this Smash Bros-infused Metroidvania hates the word because "it's a silly term and Japan did it better"
Look Outside screenshot of the player character looking out of the window at an unseen horror
Survival Horror Games I kissed a creepy neighbor in a survival horror RPG and all I got was this lousy photo paper
Helldivers 2
Games "We cough up a chunk of our soul": 32 game devs, from Doom's John Romero to Helldivers 2 and Palworld leads, explain what people get wrong about games
Revenge of the Savage Planet
Co-op Games Revenge of the Savage Planet is a refreshingly colorful and light-hearted co-op throwback to the carefree action platformers of the noughties
Vampire Survivors
Action Games Vampire Survivors kicked off a game development gold rush, but has a legitimately new genre emerged between the cash-ins?
Putting cigarettes in fish mouths in Thank Goodness You're Here
Adventure Games Thank Goodness You're Here's developer says it was trying to design a game normally before realizing "we're s**t at video game design"
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 screenshot of J.J. Hardwell standing with a handgun and looking warily at the shadow of Evil J.J. looming behind him
RPGs Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 is the first "survival horror comedy RPG metroidvania" I've ever played, and that sure is a lot of words
  1. Games
  2. Action

How video games would play if you were the bad guy

Features
By Justin Towell published 13 April 2012

Suffice to say there's a reason we play as the hero

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

We play as the hero for a reason

We play as the hero for a reason

Gaming's odds are usually unfairly balanced in favour of the player, because that's what makes them fun. Who would enjoy playing as the ducks in Duck Hunt? Nobody, that's who. But just in case anyone longs to see what it's like from the other side's point of view, we've put together some control schemes for famous video game enemies to see how they'd work. Here are the surprising results...

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Bandit controls:

Bandit controls:

Image \u002D RedDeadControls.jpg

The problem with old Marston is that he's got far too much of a conscience. Your regular bandits, however, have no such qualms. You can do pretty much anything you like and still be romantically thought of as a rogue in years to come. Just don't get lassoed and left on the train track with your cronies. Some sick bastards enjoy making YouTube videos of such things. You have been warned, bandit.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Orbinaut controls

Orbinaut controls

Image \u002D OrbinautControls.jpg

The biggest problem with playing as Orbinaut is he's crap. You have four projectiles which must all be fired in one go and never reload, leaving you completely powerless. And you can only move in one direction. Still, many a Sonic has died at the spiky hands of Orbinaut, so some people would love this one...

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Colossus controls:

Colossus controls:

Image \u002D ColossusControls.jpg

Let's be honest, the best you can really hope for is stepping on the irritating little prick that's trying to stab you in the brain. That said, critics will fawn over what is obviously such an incredibly worthy, arty, thought-provoking experience. And the PAL version with the art cards would be eBay gold.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Metal Gear Soldier controls:

Metal Gear Soldier controls:

Image \u002D MetalGearSolidControls.jpg

This might actually be a lot of fun. Except for the crippling myopia filter that means you can only see vague shapes outside your tiny cone of vision. This filter can be temporarily reduced by spamming the 'huh?' button. A nail-bitingly tense game of cat and mouse, Metal Gear Soldier is a battle between you, a covert ops specialist and staying the hell awake.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Helghan controls:

Helghan controls:

Image \u002D KillzoneControls.jpg

Can you shoot Sevchenko? Can you avoid getting stabbed despite emptying an entire clip into your foe (see Stabbing through Killzone 2 for the perils you'll face)? But, most importantly, can you find the secret cheat that actually fastens the strap on your helmet? Helghan Soldier - the answer is in your hands!

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Zombie controls:

Zombie controls:

Image \u002D ResidentEvilControls.jpg

Try to keep your head (literally) as you stalk the corridors of the deserted mansion, feasting on any living being that crosses your path. With exciting commands like 'urg' and 'arg' at your disposal, Resident Zombie is a dead good way to spend your free time. Rated 'R' for Rotting.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Dragon controls:

Dragon controls:

Image \u002D SkyrimControls.jpg

The most likely game of the bunch to actually happen as DLC. We would buy it. You get to fly around for ages, resurrect some fellow dragons and then go on a killing spree to see if stone beds really are fireproof. We considered calling the game 'Dragonrim' but Dave pointed out that idea was 'perhaps a little too innocently-minded to survive in the internet at large'.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Piranha Plant controls:

Piranha Plant controls:

Image \u002D MarioPiranhaPlantControls.jpg

Fun, thy name is Piranha Plant.

But which other enemies would it be fun to control? And what would you call the game? Let us know in the comments.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
CATEGORIES
PlayStation Xbox Platforms
PRODUCTS
Red Dead Redemption Ico and Shadow of the Colossus: The Collection Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Killzone Red Dead Redemption Resident Evil Shadow of the Colossus
Justin Towell
Justin Towell
Social Links Navigation

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.

See more Playstation Features
Read more
Possessor(s) screenshots showing Luca in conversation and combat
"Most of the games that are Metroidvanias are just Metroid games": The director of this Smash Bros-infused Metroidvania hates the word because "it's a silly term and Japan did it better"
Look Outside screenshot of the player character looking out of the window at an unseen horror
I kissed a creepy neighbor in a survival horror RPG and all I got was this lousy photo paper
Helldivers 2
"We cough up a chunk of our soul": 32 game devs, from Doom's John Romero to Helldivers 2 and Palworld leads, explain what people get wrong about games
Revenge of the Savage Planet
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a refreshingly colorful and light-hearted co-op throwback to the carefree action platformers of the noughties
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors kicked off a game development gold rush, but has a legitimately new genre emerged between the cash-ins?
Putting cigarettes in fish mouths in Thank Goodness You're Here
Thank Goodness You're Here's developer says it was trying to design a game normally before realizing "we're s**t at video game design"
Latest in Action
Fallen Tear: The Ascension
Hollow Knight: Silksong has its own GTA 6-like release date blast zone – "I hope Silksong will release this year coz we are avoiding them," says boss of lovely JRPG-flavored Metroidvania
MindsEye
MindsEye dev says new performance hotfix is "the first in a series of patches," but with 40% positive reviews and just over 500 players on Steam, it would take a miracle to turn this train around
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong dev simultaneously backtracks and doubles down on possible DLC, thinks "DLC is likely" despite his last apparent teaser being a joke
Best Rainbow Six Siege X Operators
The best Rainbow Six Siege X Operators for beginners
Mindseye
MindsEye is getting 3 hotfixes this month to remedy its rough launch as devs explain those viral bugs "were caused by a memory leak" that "impacted roughly 1 in 10 of our players"
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom screenshot showing Princess Zelda with tied-back blonde hair and emerald green eyes, wielding a sword before her face
Forget blindfolded runs, a Switch 2-exclusive challenge emerges as fan proves you can play Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with your Joy-Con attached the wrong way
Latest in Features
Marco Ng as Alan in The Way We Talk
A new Hong Kong drama about three d/Deaf friends brings sign language to the big screen in a different way
End of Abyss Summer Preview
I played 30 minutes of the new game from the original Little Nightmares devs, and it turns out a twin-stick survival horror Metroidvania is a recipe for spooky heaven
"Everyone in the industry said it's not possible" – The Witcher 3 at 10: diving into the legendary RPG's creation, legacy, and secret sauce that makes CDPR's quests so special
Charlie Disco performs a finisher move on an enemy in Dead as Disco's Infinite Disco mode in the demo
From Zelda-likes to Batman-style action, here's the 20 Steam Next Fest demos you have to play this June before they disappear
A monster in Wuchang Fallen Feathers pounces on the main character against a giant moon and misty sky
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is the hardcore Soulslike you'd get if you tried to turn Sekiro into Chinese Dark Souls 3, and that devotion to FromSoftware is exactly why I like it
Out of Words
This co-op platformer was a "boyhood dream" for the self-taught stop-motion animator now directing it, and it might just rival It Takes Two with a more earnest story and action less likely to destroy your relationships
  1. Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour screenshot
    1
    Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review: "Mostly a fancy toy and not much more"
  2. 2
    MindsEye review: "An uninspired and forgettable sci-fi action adventure that feels like a Netflix movie you watch while on your phone"
  3. 3
    The Alters review: "More tactile and story-heavy than the Frostpunk dev's earlier games, but the fight for survival is just as fierce"
  4. 4
    Splitgate 2 review: "A slick and enjoyable free-to-play FPS, but a disappointing sequel"
  5. 5
    Date Everything review: "A masterclass in character design full of wonderful faces I love meeting, but juggling so many means sacrificing depth"
  1. The Yautja in Dan Trachtenberg's animated movie Predator: Killer of Killers
    1
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  2. 2
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  3. 3
    Karate Kid: Legends review: "Better than Karate Kid (2010), nothing on Karate Kid (1984)"
  4. 4
    Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning review: "Wraps up this spy franchise in spectacular style with Tom Cruise in peak condition, even if its villain lacks terror"
  5. 5
    Final Destination Bloodlines Review: "Meticulous murderous mayhem"
  1. Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, Ruth Madeley as Shirley, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge Stewart, Varada Sethu as Belinda, Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor, Millie Gibson as Ruby, Bonnie Langford as Mel, Susan Twist as Susan Triad, and Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble in Doctor Who: 'The Reality War.'
    1
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  2. 2
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision
  3. 3
    Rick and Morty season 8 review: "Largely plays it too safe after years of crossing boundaries"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 6 spoiler review: 'The Interstellar Song Contest' is "a blast and sets the stage for a thrilling season finale"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 5 spoiler review: 'The Story & The Engine' is "one of the most original and ambitious episodes this show has produced in years"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...