Joke character

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The joke character is a type of video game character that is sometimes seen in games with multiple playable characters, most particularly fighting games. Joke characters are easily identified for having abilities that are far below those of the other characters, and often behave in a comical manner. Because of this, a number of joke characters are also hidden characters. Some players deliberately choose these kinds of characters to prove their ability to win at a game. In informal multiplayer competition, the most skilled player present often uses a joke character in order to make the matches more competitive.

The best known joke character is Dan Hibiki, a character that originated in Street Fighter Alpha. Dan is a parody of Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia from SNK's Art of Fighting series.

[edit] Examples of joke characters

• Dan Hibiki from Street Fighter Alpha
• Roll and Servbot from the Marvel vs. Capcom series
• Hornet, the Daytona USA car from Fighters Megamix
• Mr. Meat (piece of meat) and Palm Tree (the palm tree from the AM2 logo) from Fighters Megamix
• Pepsiman from Fighting Vipers (Japanese version)
• Kumachan and Pandachan (inflatable bears) from all versions of Fighting Vipers
• Meat from Mortal Kombat 4 (originally just a model and texture change for each character, he would receive his own backstory in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon)
• Rain from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (originally an unplayable red herring who only appeared in the attract mode and whose name and purple tunic were a reference to Purple Rain, though he became playable in the home versions)
• Gon and Doctor Boskonovitch from Tekken 3
• Norimaro from Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (only available in import versions, but can be unlocked by using a game enhancer)
• Jogurt from Shining Force (only one hp, weakest stats, doesn't level up).
• EggRobo from Sonic R (slowest and can't jump)
• Mokap from Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
• Mr.Satan/Hercule from Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (virtually useless against most characters)
• Mothra Larva from Godzilla Unleashed (Weakest stats, beam attack does minor damage, can't grab)
• Tofu, a character in an unlockable game mode of Resident Evil 2.
• The Bums in The Warriors