This one has been on my to-do list for so long, and today, putting in just how much of a Seinen Hero he is, it is time to propose him.
What's The Work?[]
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 video game developed by Rockstar Games.
Who Is He?[]
Niko Bellic is the main protagonist of the game. He is a Serbian man who comes to America after being convinced so by his brother Roman, where he is soon involved in a series of criminal activities.
What Makes Him a Seinen Hero?[]
Basic Qualifications[]
- Anti-Heroic: Niko has killed Dimitri Rascalov and ended the threat he posed to him and his loved ones in both endings, and also helped the United Liberty Paper take down terrorists, but is ultimately an anti-hero motivated by vengeance and performs villainous actions regularly.
- Cynical: Due to him spending his youth as a soldier and his tragic past, Niko is a massive cynic, and isn't afraid to show it.
- Stoical: Niko is often very stoical, and doesn't flinch during dangerous situations.
- Insightful: Niko often looks back on his actions and other experiences during the Yugoslav Wars and even on the war itself.
- Mature: Niko is depicted with rather high emotional maturity, and talks in a businesslike manner to his associates.
- Pessimistic: Niko has an overall pessimistic view on life, and doesn't see the good in people.
- Realistic: Niko views American mainstream culture as shallow, and as a result finds it difficult to agree with Roman's view on the American Dream.
Bonus Qualifications[]
- Has Anger Issues: Niko is very wrathful and often has outbursts whenever dishonored.
- Has Killer Instinct: Niko is willing to kill people with no second thought for money.
- Tragic Past: Before the events of the game, Niko has gone through many tragedies:
- He grew up in a household with an alcoholic father who was so abusive his mother was upset at him living in such a household.
- He witnessed and committed many atrocities, which gave him severe PTSD and an extreme guilt complex, and also shaped his cynicism and pessimism.
- At one point, Niko's unit was sold out by Darko Brevic, causing the death of everyone except for Niko, Florian, and Darko, and causing him to declare vengeance on both of them.
- Vengeful: Niko wanted revenge on the man who betrayed his squadron, and on Dimitri/Pegorino for killing his loved one in one of the two endings.
Verdict?[]
Hard yes to Niko, he is after all pretty much the most seinen of all GTA protagonists, attributed to the fact that he is more complex than his forefathers and successors. But you decide.