I think that "Roger Bacon" and Rasputin from Shadow Hearts I and II were great villians. They had all of the characteristics mentioned above and always left you wanting to know more about them. Villians have always been, by far, my favorite characters in any game, movie, or story. I agree that the general ability to write a good villian hasn been disappearing, but never fear. There are still diamonds out there; they're just harder to find.