Mario was my favorite platformer. I think it's weird how he was originally an enemy in Donkey Kong.

Weird.

Link from Zelda series is the best

Tidus from Final Fantasy X. Why? He look cool, he can fight and he can Blitzball! :D

Oh god...Blitzball... *shoots self in head*

Here are some I would like to add (in no particular order):
-Sephiroth [FF7]
-Crono [Chrono Trigger] (despite not having much of a personality)
-Megaman [Megaman Series]
-Gordon Freeman[Half-life Series]
-Sub Zero [Mortal Kombat Series]
-Samus [Metroid Series]
-GlaDOS [Portal Series]

As a huge Zelda fan, all these mentions of Link still astound me. He is a completely unremarkable, shallow character. Iconic, yes, due to sheer repetition, but still not much more than a thin player avatar.
He's almost entirely silent, his backstory is replaceable, his personality irrelevant and his accomplishments largely those of the players themselves. We're told he's powerful and wise and courageous, but that's pretty much the extent of his character development.

If we're looking inside the series, Ganon is far more interesting than Link.

Same thing for these "badasses" like Call of Duty characters, Master Chief, the Dragonborn, Kratos, Altair and Ezio Auditore (to a lesser extent, since they have a little motivation and personality of their own).
They're faces with guns and swords. Their mannerisms, names and motivations are interchangeable and mindless - they exist as an excuse to kick ***. They're sponges for cool weapons and abilities and little else.

Now a character like Samus Aran, who's got a continuing storyline, a fleshed-out personality, a unique role as a female ****** in a patriarchal gaming culture - that's an interesting character. GLaDOS is insanely well-developed and every one of her lines is classic. Sephiroth is the archetypal cunning ******, with an interesting role in the game's plot.

He is a completely unremarkable, shallow character. Iconic, yes, due to sheer repetition, but still not much more than a thin player avatar.

Same thing for these "badasses" like Call of Duty characters, Master Chief, the Dragonborn, Kratos, Altair and Ezio Auditore (to a lesser extent, since they have a little motivation and personality of their own).
They're faces with guns and swords.

Not to be rude or anything because some of the things you said, I believe as well. However, I believe everyone has their own opinion for who the best video game character is. They probably see it diffrent than you do, which is o.k. I dont think people appreciate it when you talk about the negatives for other characters that several people like. So, with all due respect, just awnser the question of who you think is the best character ever. Not why every other character is horrible and not the best.

Again, I'm not trying to be mean but let everyone have their own opinion because everyone thinks diffrently.

DEFINITELY Link!!!! Was playing four swords anniversary addition on my 3ds last night. :D

I would have to say that my favorite Video Game character, contrary to the mainstream answers, would have to be either Jizzy B or Woozie from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Woozie because well, he's so calm of a character, not to mention that (spoilers) he's blind.

Jizzy B also because, well, I'm not sure, really. I guess I just like his attitude and his style. I don't condone pimping, though. Just saying.

Probably Master chief from the halo franchise or Marcus Fenix From Gears of war franchise :P