This post has not been edited by the GamesBeat staff. Opinions by GamesBeat community writers do not necessarily reflect those of the staff.
Best Character of 2009:
The Joker — played by Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill’s portrayal of The Joker in Batman Arkham Asylum was absolutely amazing. In my mind it’s the greatest character/voice-actor combination in video game history — there’s really no contest.
While many developers and publishers would try to save some cash (or show how “smart” they are) by going with an unknown actor for their voice-acting needs; Rocksteady Studios and Eidos wisely went with an actor who long ago had proven he could play Joker’s unique brand of crazy on Batman: The Animated Series. Hamill’s commitment to make The Joker sound like an absolute raving lunatic is what makes his performance so great. If you swap Hamill for a half-assed actor, neither The Joker, nor the game as a whole would be as interesting.
Words alone are unable to do Mark Hamill’s performance justice, so sit back, watch this video, and admire the madness.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y1ZHzZpmgI 560×340]