Can you think of a game...

[Meiscool]

...where main characters were on opposite spectrums of the story and had to fight each other? Specifically, I'm looking for a game that had you playing as two (or more) main characters that were not associated with each other, and the plot specifically called for a battle to occur between them. Not some simple rivalry excuse, test of skill, etc. and whatnot, but true plot development.

I'm trying to think of a single game that has done this and can't seem to. The closest thing I can come up with is Golden Sun (spoilers?), but if I recall correctly, the two groups of heroes are friends, don't want to fight each other, and never really do end up fighting.

[Archem]

I think Breath of Fire IV did that. I never played the game, but I had a friend who was a huge fan of the series. I used to watch him play, and I recall that being a feature.

[Prpl_Mage]

First thing I thought of is radiance dawn. Them younglish have to fight Ike and the Grell mercenaries before joining teams towards the other half of the game or something.

Second thing that popped into my head is devil may cry 4, pretty half-assed game. But you play as nero and have to fight dante. They don't know each other and cross each others path.

Thirdly, strategy games. Warcraft 3 ect. Factions against each other and stuff, always weird to fight the team you played as last with this other group.

[Meiscool]

Ohh, good ones. Yeah, BoF had two characters face each other, though I would hardly consider one of them 'main'.
Forgot about FE doing that too. Never really engaged player characters though, afraid of killing them for good.

[Prpl_Mage]

Paper mario the thousand years door, because of the events happening in Twilight Town.

And I don't suppose you would count fighting games or super smash brawl.

[Archem]

Oh, right. Fighting game: SSBM

[Fisherson]

This might kinda count: FF6 Gao. Until you give him a piece of meat he'll randomly appear in battle and runs away if you attack him. Also in Pokemon all the characters in the game except your rival don't usually know you.
Final Fantasy Tactics had Rafa and Malak who fought you I think. There's every Guardian Force in FF8 except for like a few. Oh and there's Juhani from Knights.

[Prpl_Mage]

I can think of more novels using this device rather than games actually.

Another thing that popped into my head is that one scene in Pulp Fiction.

[fruckert]

So, basically a video game with a plot setup like Avatar: The Last Airbender?
I can't think of any right off the top of my head that aren't cartoons.

[Meiscool]

This might kinda count: FF6 Gao. Until you give him a piece of meat he'll randomly appear in battle and runs away if you attack him. Also in Pokemon all the characters in the game except your rival don't usually know you.
Final Fantasy Tactics had Rafa and Malak who fought you I think. There's every Guardian Force in FF8 except for like a few. Oh and there's Juhani from Knights.

Those are more "people you've never played as fight you then join you", not "main character fighting another main character".

So far nero and dante is the best example I've seen of what I'm looking for. Nero thinks dante is evil and fights him, dante doesn't really know nero and toys with him. Both are played as main characters prior to the fight and have plot significance.

[daoman89]

Why are you asking this Meis?  I'm curious haha.

[Meiscool]

I've been wondering if this plot element has been successfully implemented into a game yet.

[Prpl_Mage]

I guess a version of that was found in tales of symphonia 2 with Lloyd's role as well, although he is more of an extra character later and the reason for his villainous behaviour earlier is kinda lame. And because of the reason, it shouldn't really count.

Also mass effect with the Wrex dilemma, he's all playable and cuddly up till that points. But unless you are a really good at convincing him that it is the right thing to do (and have completed his side mission), he will put his race's fate in front of your cause and battle with occur.

I think this is easier to add to a novel rather than a game, players might lose motivation having to fight one of their own. Reading what happens in a book kinda takes away the responsibility from the reader. Many are the times when a character you like ends up dead at the hands of another character you like because of a misunderstanding or something, or simply because they are on two different sides of a grand battle.

[SaiKar]

I guess a version of that was found in tales of symphonia 2 with Lloyd's role as well, although he is more of an extra character later and the reason for his villainous behaviour earlier is kinda lame. And because of the reason, it shouldn't really count.

I was really excited about the direction the early game's storyline went in - it seemed like a serious attempt to make an interesting sequel to a game that honestly didn't really need a sequel to begin with. Of course, like you said, it fell apart completely due to general stupidlity.

[daoman89]

I think you can make it work depending on how you tell the story.  It's like Legend of Zelda; Skyward Sword.  The story as a whole was simple, but how the events took place within it made it great.  Same with Ocarina of Time's story.  So I'd say the success of your type of story like that will depend on how you deliver and tell the story.  Character development is important as well.  So I firmly believe you can make almost any type of story good as long as you go about it the right way.  I might've liked Shakespeares stuff better if it was written differently or had a different setting.  Just something to think about.

The way I thought up mine was I had it simply made up in my head from beginning to the end.  Then after I got the simple things working the way I thought were good enough, I started to make it more indepth etc.