Table of contents
1.
Introduction 
1.1.
What do NPCs mean? 
2.
Differences between NPC and CPU 
3.
3 Best NPC Video Games ever 
3.1.
1. M’aiq the Liar – The Elder Scrolls
3.2.
2. Cave Johnson – Portal 2
3.3.
3. Solaire of Astora – Dark Souls
4.
Frequently Asked Questions
4.1.
Which famous NPC character was in Animal Crossing?  
4.2.
Write about the NPC Sans-undertale? 
4.3.
What are the purposes served by the NPC in video games?
4.4.
Write in brief about NPCs?   
5.
Conclusion 
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
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NPCs

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Introduction 

This article will discuss the NPCs(Nonplaying characters) in video games. Understanding the concept of NPC is an essential aspect of video games. We will also discuss the differences between NPCs and CPU and finally look at the best 3 video game NPCs. 

What do NPCs mean? 

The term "non-player character" is abbreviated as NPC. A non-player character is a character in a game that is not controlled by the player or artificial intelligence. They're not supposed to act like real humans, after all. Non-player characters serve a number of purposes in video games, including:

  • Going to stores to stock up on supplies is typical in games. In these circumstances, the shopkeeper is an NPC because they do not move from their position or change their conduct. They exist to be engaged with in the same way every time.
  • NPCs can fill the roles of villains or other key characters in a game's plot and serve a practical purpose. NPCs such as Tom Nook and Blathers will offer you chores to accomplish in "Animal Crossing," which you must fulfill to continue.
  • They could be there to fill the earth. NPCs are employed as inhabitants on the street in games with vast cities, such as "Grand Theft Auto." They walk in one direction or flee away from you. They contribute to the game's world feeling more alive and immersive.
  • NPCs, on the whole, serve a specific role and have a finite set of actions and reactions in response to the player.

Differences between NPC and CPU 

As previously stated, NPCs in single-player video games are often controlled by a limited set of routines and procedures. They are robotic and do not attempt to hide it. However, CPUs appear in many games, particularly multiplayer games that may also be played single-player. A computer controls these characters, but they are supposed to move and act as if a real person commanded them.

The CPU (central processing unit) is the component that controls a device's most important systems. It's similar to the brain of a computer. This term is used in video games to suggest that the computer is actively controlling the character and making decisions in real-time, just like a human player would.

They're most frequent in games designed to be played with a group of people, as previously stated. If there aren't enough human players to fill all of the spots, the game will allow you to play with CPUs.

Consider Chess, a game that comes standard with every Mac computer. You can play Chess without a partner in these games; your opponent will be a CPU (the computer's programming). This opponent isn't a character; instead, it's an AI that reads and reacts to your actions.

3 Best NPC Video Games ever 

1. M’aiq the Liar – The Elder Scrolls

Source 

M'aiq the Liar, as his name suggests, isn't always truthful. M'aiq is most recognized as an unofficial developers' commentary track, despite the fact that the lies are often humorous. He frequently addresses meta-issues such as missing features and misunderstood lore, but does it in a way that makes it impossible to distinguish between world-building and Easter eggs. He's the perfect example of how the best video game NPCs can take you by surprise.


2. Cave Johnson – Portal 2

Source


It's tough to deny that GLaDOS is the most well-known non-player character in the Portal series and one of the most memorable characters in video game history. Long after "the cake is a lie" became one of gaming's most overused memes, Cave Johnson stands out as one of the franchise's best creations.

Cave Johnson, the former CEO of Aperture Science, is said to have surpassed Mr. Burns' level of evilness before succumbing to moon rock sickness. His fantastic dialogue (performed flawlessly by the incomparable J.K. Simmons) contains some of Portal's funniest gags, but it's when you notice the sorrow and world-building between his quips that you realize how much this guy accomplished.

3. Solaire of Astora – Dark Souls

Source 

Everything you don't expect to find in Dark Souls is in Solaire of Astora. He's upbeat, cheerful, and helpful if you play your cards well.

While Solaire can go insane if you make the wrong choices, he is best known for his remarkable adherence to the idea that there is hope and goodness in the game's immensely bleak universe. You can't question the purity of his spirit and intentions, even if his outlook is unrealistic. Indeed, "praise the sun."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which famous NPC character was in Animal Crossing?  

Tom Nook: Tom Nook is a character who assists you in getting started in the world of Animal Crossing and is frequently the individual you must visit to get to the next stage of your quest. In that way, he's a gatekeeper, but he's also the driving force behind the Animal Crossing experience's consistency.

Write about the NPC Sans-undertale? 

The most tragically familiar trait of this apathetic skeleton is his inability to decide if the futility of his existence is a motivation to do nothing or if it's all the more incentive to relax and have fun. He embodies the game's convoluted morality and nasty sense of humor.

What are the purposes served by the NPC in video games?

In video games, non-player characters fulfill a variety of functions, including:

  • NPCs can be utilized as plot devices to move the plot forward.
  • NPCs can help the gamer by acting as partners.
  • In games, NPCs are frequently used as save points, item shops, and health regeneration points.

Write in brief about NPCs?   

Characters with whom the player interacts throughout the game are referred to as non-player characters. Interaction ranges from plot-advancing dialogues to routine trade to get the next greatest blade. Enemy units are not included in NPCs because blasting, slashing, bombing, and sniping are not interactions. NPCs are the characters that are controlled by the game itself. They are generally friendly toward the gamer-controlled characters, or at least not blatantly hostile.

Conclusion 

In this article, we discussed the NPCs(Nonplaying characters) in video games, and differences between NPCs and CPU, and at last 3 best video game NPCs.  

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