Hungry Like the Wolf

A brooding man with a mysterious past, Z.W.E.I. made his first appearance in SoulCalibur V. Since nobody knew his history – or even his name – opinions were forumulated based on vague rumors. Some theorized that Z.W.E.I. was a werewolf, but others swore that they saw him summon a beast to fight alongside him. Indeed, Z.W.E.I. does call on the assistance of a spiritual lupine companion. When summoned to battle, E.I.N. can effortlessly throw his rivals into the air and viciously slam them to the ground. Although Z.W.E.I. arms himself with a single sword, E.I.N. is considered to be his primary weapon. E.I.N. first emerged in Z.W.E.I.’s life when he saved him from an execution attempt, and the two have been inseparable ever since. His true origins are unknown, however, and not even Z.W.E.I. is certain where his partner in crime came from.

Animal-based robots in the Mega Man franchise fall into two different categories. On one hand, you have anthropomorphic robots like Snake Man or Toad Man who have humanoid characteristics. On the other hand, you have characters like Rush and Treble who are more akin to the animals that inspired them. Treble falls firmly into the latter category. A wolf-like support robot developed by Dr. Wily, Treble was created to assist Bass in the same manner that Rush aids Mega Man. Treble can be used as a flying platform, but his abilities are not limited to transportation. Unlike Rush, Treble possesses considerable offensive capabilities. He can shoot powerful energy blasts from his mouth and will charge at his opponents head-on. Treble can also fuse with Bass and give him the ability to fly just like real wolves do!

Sif was the loyal companion to Artorias the Abysswalker, who was tragically swallowed by a formless void known as the Abyss. Before his death, the brave knight sacrificed his shield to protect Sif from the darkness. In the years that followed, the Great Gray Wolf inhabited a serene cemetery and watched over the grave of her fallen comrade. Artorias’ ability with a greatsword was unrivaled, and Sif apparently learned a thing or two from her master. The elephant-sized wolf could do serious damage with her teeth alone, but she fights by holding a massive sword in her mouth like Roronoa Zoro from One Piece. Dark Souls is famed for its difficulty, but no boss is more daunting than Sif. The girl was just trying to protect her master’s final resting place, after all, so the battle is marred by tragedy. It’s hard to fight her while holding back tears.

Zylo is a wolfling warrior who was born to fight. (He also happens to be one of two wolves on this list representing the Sega Genesis.) Zylo resides in the mountains, but the battlefield is like a second home to him. Even though he doesn’t use any weapons or cast any spells, Zylo is useful in almost any scenario thanks to his sheer power and impressive range. Zylo is first encountered as a prisoner who had to be locked up after his drink was spiked with some kind of drug. After being cured, Zylo expressed his gratitude by joining the Shining Force in their battle against darkness. Zylo is held in high regard by his peers for his fighting ability and is seen as a great ally and protector. Without question, Zylo ranks as one of the most interesting and unusual characters in the entire Shining Force series.

Contra: Hard Corps is one of the finest action games of the 16-bit era, but it’s also the most underrated game in the Contra franchise. As one of four playable characters in the game, Brad Fang never truly got the respect he deserved. Although his 15-minutes of fame are long gone, there are several reasons why he is being mentioned on this list. 1) He wears totally rad sunglasses. 2) He’s a cybernetic super soldier with a gun for an arm. 3) He’s over 100,000,000 years old. 4) His name is Brad Fang. Whether he’s punching you with a metal fist or lighting you up with a flamethrower, Brad Fang is not someone you should take lightly. He’s not necessarily the most obvious choice for this list, but he’s over-the-top in the best possible way and represents everything that was awesome about 1990s video game characters.

Sabrewulf is a ferocious werewolf from the Killer Instinct series, but it should be noted that Sabre Wulf is a different animal altogether. Sabre Wulf was a 1984 action-adventure game that was initially released on the ZX Spectrum. The game followed an explorer named Sabreman who navigated through jungle mazes while avoiding a kleptomaniacal wolf (wulf?) who would hoard anything he could get his paws on. When Knight Lore was released later in the year, Sabreman found himself afflicted with a werewolf (werewulf?) curse and was tasked with finding a cure. Knight Lore is widely hailed as one of the most groundbreaking computer games of its era, and I considered putting Sabreman on this list instead of his wulf rival. Ultimately, I decided that werewolves (werewulves?) were deserving of a list of their own.

DD (aka D-Dog) was orphaned as a puppy before a mercenary named Venom Snake gave him a home in the private military company, Diamond Dogs. DD’s appreciation for Snake is obvious to all. He is always eager to greet Snake when he returns to base, and the sounds of excitement reverberate when he barks. If chosen to accompany Snake on the battlefield, DD can be ordered to distract enemy soldiers or attack them directly. He’s also capable of detecting nearby medicinal herbs, enemies, and prisoners. There are several companions that can accompany Snake in Metal Gear Solid V, but DD forms the strongest bond with him. They have a lot in common, and they even wear similar eyepatches! DD was originally mentioned on our list of Best Dogs, but he’s a better fit for this countdown since he’s almost certainly a wolfdog.

After entering the Twilight Realm for the first time, Link was abruptly transformed into a wolf. This change was a sign of the innate powers that were inside of him, but the transformation was jarring and there was a sharp learning curve associated with becoming a sacred beast. With the help of a mischievous imp named Midna who rode on his back and provided guidance, Link was able to awaken his potential. Link is unable to use any weapons while in his wolf form, but he can perform numerous attacks with his teeth and claws. This can be especially effective when he lunges toward his enemies or pounces on unsuspecting opponents. His wolf form also gives him the ability to communicate with other animals and greatly enhances his jumping abilities. Thanks to his heightened senses, Wolf Link is particularly adept at tracking individuals or objects.

A stubborn outlaw with a rebellious distaste for authority, Wolf is Fox McCloud’s arch-nemesis and occasional ally. As the leader of the notorious StarWolf team, Wolf’s group of mercenaries was hired to eliminate McCloud’s rival StarFox team. Wolf takes pride in his own abilities, but he has a grudging respect for Fox’s flying skills despite their differing philosophies. The respect is well-placed, as Fox always seems to get the upper hand in their confrontations. Wolf often plays the villain and is basically defined by his ongoing rivalry with Fox, but he’s a complex individual with a sense of honor. His long history of criminal activity has resulted in a large bounty being placed on his head, but this adds to his anti-hero mystique. Wolf’s past is shrouded in mystery and his true intentions are often unclear, but this is par for the course when you’re a mercenary.

Amaterasu initially served as a protector deity in the Celestial Plain. When a serpent demon named Orochi invaded, Amaterasu dragged him down into the mortal world. While waiting for a “chosen one” to appear, Amaterasu took the form of a lone white wolf and kept a close eye on Orochi. The villagers assumed that Amaterasu was Orochi’s familiar and named her Shiranui. Shiranui eventually helped seal Orochi away and was hailed as a hero, but she died from wounds inflicted during the battle. A century later when Orochi’s seal was broken, Amaterasu was revived within the statue of Shiranui and immediately set forth to restore the lands to their original beauty. Amaterasu’s “Celestial Brush” technique allows her to rejuvenate wilted plants, repair bridges, slash foes, and create elemental effects.