Hired Hands

P.N.03 didn’t exactly light up the sales charts, but the game amassed a sizable cult following because of its leading lady. Vanessa is a cybernetically-enhanced mercenary hired by an unnamed client to stop rogue cyborgs from massacring innocent colonists. Vanessa was literally made for her job, and she effortlessly destroys her robotic enemies by shooting blasts of energy out of her hands. Vanessa is a killing machine, but it’s hard not to be distracted by her appearance. She snaps her fingers, taps her feet, and gyrates her hips while attacking her enemies. If she didn’t make her money as a mercenary, I’m sure she’d be able to pay her bills by dancing. Vanessa’s arrogant body language fits perfectly with her sarcastic personality, and her natural cynicism allows her to complete most of her jobs without becoming emotionally attached.

Syrenne is one of many mercenaries who plays a role in The Last Story, but she’s easily the most entertaining character in the game. She’s depicted as a brash vixen with a foul mouth and a taste for alcohol, and she’s always looking for a fight. Syrenne will charge into battle without any fear or regret, which is a good quality for any mercenary to have. She often speaks without thinking, but she’s able to back her words up. She’s a legitimate warrior and the only member of her group skilled enough to wield dual blades in battle. When she’s not busy on the battlefield, Syrenne will sometimes fight with her own friends. She frequently makes sarcastic remarks at the expense of others and happily assaults anyone who annoys her. Despite her combative nature, Syrenne is always the funniest person in the room and the life of any party.

After being orphaned as a child, Hana was taken by a criminal Triad organization and forced into a lifetime contract. Hoping to escape her life as a sex slave, Hana found employ as a freelance mercenary and began accepting high-risk assignments in order to buy her contract from the organization. Working alongside a motley crew, Hana became a world-class marksman, an ace pilot, and a master in the art of seduction and warfare. In addition to contract killings, her group also dabbles in theft and kidnapping, but Hana is able to adapt to almost any role. She can flirt her way out of difficult situations and can charm men into a false sense of security before striking like a viper. Her time as a teenage prostitute conditioned her to be distant and untrusting, but she’s an eternal optimist and a loyal friend despite her tragic past.

Ike was the first main character in the Fire Emblem series who was not of noble birth. His father was the founder of the Greil Mercenaries, and Ike assumed leadership of the group after his father was killed. Many members looked down on Ike for his inexperience, so he was forced to work twice as hard in order to prove his worth. The Greil Mercenaries spent most of their time fighting local brigands and protecting villages for money, but their once-modest objectives become decidedly more complex after they meet Princess Elincia. While in the services of the princess, Ike served as her personal bodyguard and played a major role in liberating her kingdom. Aside from the usual fees he charged as a mercenary, Ike sought no reward for his actions and carried himself with grace and humility.

Under the guise of Super Joe, Joseph Gibson was a decorated soldier in the FSA military and known as “The Supervisor” due to his leadership abilities and meticulous attention to detail behind the scenes. After completing several successful missions in Commando, Super Joe left the military to start his own private military company. In Mercs, Super Joe led a covert mercenary team known as the “Wolf Force” and was tasked with rescuing a former president from rebels. The NES version of Bionic Commando initially depicted Super Joe as a victim who needed to be rescued by Rad Spencer. As the game progressed, however, enemy radio broadcasts painted Super Joe as an unstoppable force who singlehandedly broke through enemy strongholds while Rad Spencer was carrying out his mission.

A skilled pilot with a strong sense of justice, Fox McCloud is the leader of the mercenary unit known as StarFox. Fox and his fellow pilots (Peppy, Slippy, and Falco) patrol the Lylat system in ceaseless pursuit of the evil scientist responsible for the death of Fox’s father. The commandos-for-hire are often enlisted by the Cornerian Defense Force, but they refuse to become official members of the army since they prefer doing things their own way. Fox is at home in the air and spends much of his time fighting from the cockpit of his personal Arwing fighter. He’s no slouch when it comes to hand-to-hand combat either, and he puts his blaster to good use when he’s engaged in on-foot battles. His fighting skills are on display in the Super Smash Bros. series where he ranks as one of the quickest and nimblest characters on the roster.

Cloud was introduced as a former member of an elite combat unit called SOLDIER, but it was later revealed that his heroic past was merely an idealized fabrication created by his mind to help him cope with a number of traumatic incidents. Cloud’s false memories gave him an unearned arrogance, but his detachment from the world and lack of empathy made him an ideal mercenary since he was able to completely devote himself to the task at hand. Things began to change for Cloud after he offered his services to an eco-terrorist insurgent group called AVALANCHE. The group’s mission was to prevent the Shinra Electric Power Company from exploiting the planet’s lifestream. Cloud was initially in it for the money, but he formed real friendships along the way and developed compassion for the world around him.

Rico Rodriguez was recruited into a covert arm of the CIA at a young age. The fledging F1 racer had proven driving skills, and his CIA training gave him experience with a myriad of weapons, gadgets, and vehicles. Acting as a spy, assassin, and saboteur, Rico helped overthrow dictatorships that fell out of line with US interests. He aligned with various factions throughout his career, but Rico often acted as a one-man army who used techniques like skydiving and spelunking to infiltrate enemy strongholds. His grappling hook and specialized wing suit allowed him to perform all kinds of extreme tasks, and Rico had no qualms in surfing on cars or latching onto passing jets. After leaving the CIA, Rico made a name for himself as a mercenary named “Scorpio.” Working with guerrilla groups, Rico lead rebellions against drug cartels and oppressive regimes.

Samus Aran is a former soldier of the Galactic Federation who began working as a freelance bounty hunter because she had fundamental disagreements with her commanding officer. In spite of her issues with authority figures, the Federation repeatedly calls on her to execute missions. Whether she’s chasing down Space Pirates, eradicating life-sucking Metroids from the galaxy, or blowing up entire planets, Samus isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She’s arguably the most famous mercenary in gaming, but I didn’t feel it was appropriate to give her the top position. Her superior skills make her an ideal candidate for dangerous assignments, but her strong sense of justice dictates the missions she chooses. Although she’s not technically a soldier in the Federation, she’s still a de facto member.

Solid Snake was recognized as gaming’s best spy on this site, but his father was initially depicted as the one calling the shots. Both are well-known for their espionage antics, but Big Boss is much more flexible with his allegiances. A veteran of the Cold War, Big Boss (formerly known as Naked Snake) started the Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND and was a founding member of a secret organization called the Patriots that controlled the United States. Big Boss established the military states of Outer Heaven and Zanzibar Land as bases for his companies, but his organizations had no nation, philosophy, or ideology. They were soldiers without borders who would fight where they were needed, unheeding country and government. He is known as the Legendary Mercenary for his willingness to play both sides of the field.