Passing the Torch

Sin & Punishment and its sequel were among the most overlooked games of their respective generations, so most people probably aren’t familiar with Isa Jo or his parents. The first Sin & Punishment centered around a young man named Saki Amamiya who was equipped with superhuman powers and a cool energy sword. He was accompanied by a woman named Airan Jo, and the pair worked together to defend Japan from man-made mutants called ruffians. Saki was infused with ruffian blood along the way, but Airan stayed by his side through the ordeal and prevented him from becoming a mindless killing machine. Their son Isa Jo was given the spotlight in the sequel. Isa has ruffian blood like his father and shares many of his physical traits, but he takes his mother’s maiden name. How progressive!

Gears of War 4 is set 25 years after the events of its immediate predecessor and focuses on the exploits of James Dominic Fenix. His father Marcus was a legendary soldier in the Coalition army who spent decades defending humanity from hordes of subterranean reptiles. During his adventures, Marcus met a communications officer named Anya Stroud who was hopelessly devoted to him despite his aloof tendencies. The lovebirds eventually started a family, and JD grew up hearing stories about his heroic parents. JD spent much of his youth in an elite boarding school, so it shouldn’t have surprised anyone when he decided to enlist in the army. When his father objected, JD went against his wishes and ran away from home. Marcus’ concerns were understandable, but JD proved to be a natural leader like his father.

Discussions of growth in the SoulCalibur franchise usually revolve around expanding bustlines, but Sophitia experienced tremendous personal growth as the series progressed. When the series began, she was a typical teenage girl working in her family’s bakery. After she was chosen by the gods, Sophitia became a holy warrior. She was arguably the most pivotal character in the Soul series, but her children took up the mantle in her absence. Her son Patroklos first appeared in SoulCalibur III, but he wasn’t promoted to a playable character until SoulCalibur V was released. His older sister Pyrrha also had a role in the series, but Patroklos was given a brighter spotlight. While Pyrrha was meek and timid, Patroklos exuded confidence and was determined to become a holy warrior like his mother.

Sonya Blade was a member of Earthrealm’s Special Forces unit and the only woman in the first Mortal Kombat. She fought alongside a struggling Hollywood actor named Johnny Cage who entered the tournament to stroke his ego. The two apparently took a liking to one another, and their daughter Cassie made her debut in Mortal Kombat X. Cassie was raised in the lap of luxury, but her attitude changed after she was kidnapped by a clan of mercenaries. Following her ordeal, Cassie received training from both of her parents and started her own special forces unit to protect the Earthrealm. She inherited her mother’s sense of responsibilities and had similar career aspirations, but she also had her father’s confidence and charisma. Cassie’s the type of girl who will take a selfie with someone after breaking their jaw.

Silent Hill isn’t an easy series to explain succinctly, so bear with me on this one. During the events of Silent Hill 3, a teenage girl named Heather repeatedly finds herself trapped in a nightmarish otherworld populated by monsters. As she struggles with feelings of helplessness, she’s pursued by a cult that wants her to give birth to their god. So why is Heather so important, you ask? As it turns out, this so-called god had been defeated 17 years earlier by a man named Harry Mason during the events of the first Silent Hill game. Harry initially ventured into Silent Hill’s otherworld in search of his adopted daughter, Cheryl. By the end of the game, Cheryl was reincarnated as a baby girl, and Harry renamed her Heather to ensure her safety. Poor Harry basically had to raise the same girl twice.

Activision was the industry’s first third-party developer, but they struggled to remain profitable through the 1980s and completely neglected most of the properties they created. With the 1994 release of Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure, Activision returned to the franchise that made them a household name 12 years earlier. The game starred Pitfall Harry Jr. and followed him on his quest to rescue his famous father from a Mayan jungle. Harry Jr. could swing from vines like his old man, but he was a more versatile hero and his adventures were a lot more colorful (even if they weren’t as revolutionary). When father and son were finally reunited at the end of the game, the original Harry was depicted as a blocky, four-color sprite with no facial features. He was just as we remembered him from his original Atari 2600 outing.

Some of the individuals on this list had famous fathers, some had famous mothers, and some know what its like to have had two celebrity parents. Susumu Hori is a unique case, however. Both of his parents are established video game characters, but they didn’t originate in the same game. (That would be like Mario and Samus having a child together!) Susumu is the son of Taizo Hori and Toby “Kissy” Masuyo. Taizo is the star of the Dig Dug series while Kissy made her mark in an obscure Japan-only shooter called Baraduke. Susumu, for his part, is the main protagonist of the Mr. Driller franchise. He takes after his father and clearly inherited his love of digging, but the courageous young man forged his own path and became noteworthy enough to warrant cameo appearances is several Namco games.

Amaterasu was a celestial being who appeared in Ōkami in the form of a white wolf. She helped rid the world of a legendary eight-headed demon, but when Amaterasu was summoned again at the onset of Ōkamiden, Chibiterasu was sent in her place. Chibiterasu looks like a younger version of Amaterasu and shares many of her abilities. For instance, the young wolf pup can create gusts of wind, freeze enemies in place, or restore life to damaged objects. Although Chibiterasu was born of Amaterasu, he’s clumsy, sentimental, and generally more childlike than his mother. He’s too young to understand things without someone guiding him, so it’s fortunate that he makes several friends during his journey to save Nippon. One of his partners is a young boy named Kuni whose parents also appeared in Okami.

Most of the characters on this list appeared in sequels that were set many years after their predecessors, but Alucard actually made his first appearance in a prequel! The fact that Alucard was the son of a villain also sets him apart from most of the other individuals on this list. Alucard is the son of Dracula and a human woman named Lisa. He has phenomenal vampire powers like his father and grew up under his influence. At the same time, his mother had a profound impact on his life and he inherited traits like compassion and humility from her. Alucard appeared to be in league with his evil father in Castlevania III, but he actually helped destroy the vampire lord. He continued to act as a thorn in his father’s side in the centuries that followed, and his appearance in Symphony of the Night was especially eventful.

Chibiterasu is adorable and Alucard is intriguing, but Donkey Kong Jr. is obviously the top banana on this list. Donkey Kong was a revolutionary game that changed the entire industry, but Nintendo wasn’t afraid to shake things up in the sequel. Mario was now the villain, Donkey Kong was painted as a victim, and Junior was tasked with rescuing his famous father. As a whip-wielding Mario stood guard by DK’s tiny cage, Junior was left to contend with vines, springboards, conveyor belts, and electrical fields in order to reach his troubled dad. His journey was inspirational, and he proved to be even more versatile and agile than Mario. The fact that Mario was never again depicted as a villain is a testament to Junior’s heroism. The famous plumber was obviously scared straight by the young gorilla.