Action FPS fans rely on Activision‘s Call of Duty to give them the kind of thrill people only used to get in action flicks. Thanks to the franchise, players can feel like action heroes. Each game had players on a mission to win wars, achieve victory, and attain glory over a wide variety of enemies. Moreover, Call of Duty‘s various settings have introduced players to lovable characters and detestable villains. Thankfully, their presence brought out life to events like World War I, World War 2, and even the Cold War.
However, with almost 20 games under its belt, fans will be divided when it comes to their favorite heroes and villains. Thankfully, some heroes and villains in the series stood out the test of time and attained legendary status. As such, which heroes and villains across the Call of Duty games will fans never forget?
10 Villain: Shepherd
If there’s anything General Shepherd proved after Modern Warfare 2, it’s that generals cannot be trusted in any Call of Duty game. In the title, Shepherd commandeered Task Force 141 and its operations throughout the games. However, it’s soon revealed that Shepherd had his personal army – the Shadow Company – do other dastardly deeds behind the scenes.
In a shocking twist, Shepherd betrays Task Force 141 and kills Roach & Ghost. He also has their bodies burned, much to the anger of Captain Price (and the player). In future games, it’s revealed that Shepherd himself orchestrated the in-game events that would soon be called World War 3.
9 Hero: John “Soap” MacTavish
Outside Price, it’s John “Soap” MacTavish that became one of the primary heroes of the entire Modern Warfare franchise. Thanks to his specialization as a sniper and demolitions expert, Soap served as one of the most integral members of Task Force 141.
Despite his demise in Modern Warfare 3, Soap greatly contributed as a supporting character throughout the series. Like other staple action heroes, MacTavish had a sharp tongue with a great distaste for authority. However, MacTavish made sure to get the job done no matter the cost. After all, it’s MacTavish that landed that knife throw at Shepherd.
8 Villain: Vladimir Makarov
Players of Modern Warfare would likely remember the quote, “Remember, no Russian” at the airport level based on the iconic title. It’s this title, and subsequent events involving Makarov, that proved his ruthlessness and mercilessness as a villain. In fact, others would regard the aforementioned airport level as one of the bloodiest scenes in Call of Duty history. Due to these horrifying actions, Makarov’s stay as the overarching antagonist throughout the Modern Warfare series made him quite an iconic character.
Despite his young appearance, Makarov is an excellent strategist. Players often find themselves a step behind Makarov’s plans, always playing into his games and schemes.
7 Hero: Alex Mason
Alex Mason from Call of Duty: Black Ops is most memorable not for his skills, but for the line: “The Numbers, Mason?! What do they mean?!” Despite Mason’s meme-worthy moments, his involvement in Black Ops‘ plot cemented the franchise’s potential in creating highly-suspenseful sequences.
Mason’s memory loss interspersed with moments of multiple personalities served as a great thematic representation of Black Ops‘ Cold War themes of paranoia, brainwashing, and experimentation. Moreover, the lasting plot effects of Mason’s brainwashing made for satisfying resolutions in future titles.
6 Villain: Jonathan Irons
Unlike other Call of Duty games, Advanced Warfare explores the perspective of a private military corporation instead of secret teams and military operations. In Advanced Warfare, players serve as mercenaries under Atlas Corporation, headed by Jonathan Irons. Unlike other characters, Irons is a CEO remains charismatic, diplomatic, and knows exactly what to say whenever the occasion called for it.
Interestingly, his descent into villainy isn’t surprising given the popularity of House of Cards, a political drama starring Spacey. Regardless, seeing a Call of Duty game get Kevin Spacey as an actor cemented the series’ popularity at the time.
5 Hero: Ghost
Quiet doesn’t mean disinteresting. In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Simon “Ghost” Riley is one of the most reliable teammates in the game. Fans recognize Ghost for his signature sunglasses, headset, and skull-patterned balaclava. Moreover, his membership in MW2‘s Task Force 141 proved the combat superiority that made him qualify for this multinational spec-ops team. A man without too many words, Ghost remains expressive whenever needed.
Unfortunately, a shocking betrayal results in Ghost’s demise near the end of the game. Impressively, his short stint in MW2 still helped him establish a legacy in the games. Aside from getting his own comic book, Ghost was mentioned in subsequent titles in the series, and is even a customization option in some games.
4 Villain: Viktor Reznov
Fans of Call of Duty: World at War and Black Ops would remember the rough look on Viktor Reznov’s face whenever he interacted with the player’s characters. In the former, players immediately get to know Reznov’s merciless nature as a sergeant in the Soviet Campaign. However, players also get a wise and older Reznov in Black Ops, where he will make a mark in the history of modern FPS fans.
In Black Ops, Reznov serves as a supporting character to protagonist Alex Mason in the campaign set in the Cold War. However, the surprise reveal of Reznov brainwashing Alex Mason’s with “orders” after the former’s death left a mark in the latter’s life in the subsequent games in the series.
3 Hero: Ethan
Despite its mixed reception, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare gave players quite a realistic rendition of modern war in space. Likewise, a lot of players showed attachment to “Ethan,” a tactical soldier bot designed to have human emotions and responses.
In the game, many crew members aboard the Retribution shared a distaste over Ethan’s “nature” as a robot. However, their adventures with the ever-reliable bot helped them (and the players) grow on him across the levels. One can imagine the sheer terror Ethan’s presence would bring in a franchise known to kill its supporting characters.
2 Villain: Raul Menendez
Thanks to the self-contained stories in Call of Duty, not all titles leave an indelible mark in the franchise. However, Raul Menendez of Black Ops 2 & Strike Team made history as one of the most compelling villains to ever grace the series. In-game, Menendez leads the terrorists of Cordis Die, where his charisma helped the organization garner millions of supporters all over the world.
Interestingly, his reception lies less about his rivalry with protagonists Alex and David Mason or even Frank Woods. Rather, Menendez has a terrifying aura with him that makes encounters extremely terrifying. After all, his sheer acts of terror had people in the game’s alternate history refer to him as a terrorist “more dangerous” than Osama bin Laden. This isn’t a title that other Call of Duty villains had.
1 Hero: Captain John Price
The Captain, also known as Bravo Six, is perhaps the only character to appear in multiple Call of Duty entries. In all of his appearances, Price sports his signature beard and cigar from his debut in Modern Warfare. However, fans love Price not just for his signature appearance. The Captain himself earned various accolades throughout his career, and he’s an ever-reliable sharpshooter thanks to his SAS training. Price’s experience in the field allowed him to lead his team through thick & thin, as well as betrayals that filled the action-packed Modern Warfare series.
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