Just like the stars of television, movies, or literature, video game characters can be memorable for a number of different reasons. Some are noble; some are sympathetic; some are hilarious...but some are just plain annoying. Here follows some of the worst offenders.

Toad (Super Mario Bros.)

"Your princess is in another castle." This munchkin reject will say that to Mario up to seven times during the game, if played through straight without warp zones. The first time is amusing. The second time is exasperating, but at least feels like a good prank. Every other time is just annoying. If Toad knows where the princess is, he should just tell Mario, rather than continually speak up after the fact. It’s like he’s messing with Mario for no other reason than because he isn't tough enough to save the princess himself.

Quina (Final Fantasy IX)

The Final Fantasy series often has joke characters, ranging from cowardly Edward in Final Fantasy IV to the multiple appearances of the ill-fated Wedge and Biggs in various installments of the series. But the most infuriating of them all is Quina, from Final Fantasy IX. This blue creature (of a thankfully undefined gender) turns every single situation into a discussion of eating. The food humor gets old quickly, and so does the mini-game he...she...it features. The only redeeming factor for Quina is that it’s so useless in battle that no player should ever actually have it in their party, so nobody’s forced to endure it that much.

Dan (Street Fighter Alpha 2)

Dan is simply pathetic. He is a weaker version of Street Fighter stalwart Ryu in every way. For the gamer unaware that he’s only in there as a joke, playing Dan is the ultimate frustration. Even if you do know he’s a joke, his inclusion means that there is simply one less meaningfully playable combatant in the game; the time spent programming and drawing his art could have been used to make a new, useful character.

Carmen Sandiego (Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?)

This game that tests world trivia is both a great teaching tool and an enjoyable game. But it’s nearly impossible to ever actually finish. Completing the game requires actually finding Carmen Sandiego...and this is a nearly impossible task. Carmen Sandiego only very rarely is the actual villain of any game, and only a completely perfect run can possibly capture her. In fact, a diligent player playing 100 times in a row may never actually see this slippery villainess.

Raiden (Metal Gear Solid 2)

As any fan knows, Metal Gear Solid is a stealth game that details the adventure of hero Solid Snake. So the obvious question facing players of Metal Gear Solid 2 is: Who the heck is this Raiden guy? And the next most obvious question is: Why the heck is he naked? This effeminate no-name is the game’s lead for no apparent reason. The plot twist was unpopular, and Raiden simply frustrated aficionados of the series.

The Dog (Duck Hunt)

There’s nothing worse than a sidekick who mocks the player. And the unnamed dog in Duck Hunt is the worst offender in the history of video games. Miss all the ducks, and he pops up with an enormously snide grin to laugh in your face. No other game character even comes close to be as annoying as this pesky beast.