Leading LadiesSeptember 27th, 2007 by Monique
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I was playing Mario Kart DS at the dentist’s office today when it hit me: I fucking hate Princess Peach. My hatred for her sort of confounded me and I was a little startled by my revelation. I started thinking about it later. As a female, I enjoy playing females when they’re available; I play Zelda in SSB, I play Chun-li in SF, I play Claire’s scenario first instead of Leon’s in RE:2, and I even play Xiao in Tekken. I don’t mind when the cast is males only–I have no problem playing a male in Counter-strike–but I do choose the female when I can. Unless of course, it’s MK, then I’m gladly anyone but Peach.
So why do I hate her?
Fuck if I know. She just bothers me. So instead of ranting more, here’s some of my favorite females in gaming, who are not only hot, but completely competent at saving the world or destroying it.
Lara Croft has suffered over the years and been in a slew of bad video games, but if we remember her from the original Tomb Raider, I’m sure the memories are [mostly] fond. Although she collects antiques, Croft is anything but dull; she has witty lines, a nice arsenal, and way too much official artwork. If you forget she ever stared in the atrocity that was Angel of Darkness, you might even be able to love her. You might want to forget the movies, too, if you’re not a Jolie fan.
Aribeth de Tylmarande of Neverwinter Nights is an elven paladin. She became a paladin when she saw Tyr, the patron of paladins and knights, as she lay dying after trying to extract revenge on goblins who killed all she loved. Her story is indelibly sad, but she’s tough and beautiful. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (until you die in the expansion, anyway). Aribeth was mostly mistreated in NWN, and I also find a lot of people know of her artwork, but don’t realize how important she was aside from being the poster girl of the series.
Joanna Dark is hotter than Lara Croft, and her series is better. Unfortunately, it didn’t get half the publicity that TR did, and so not everyone knows about Perfect Dark and its amazing gameplay. I think half of why I liked PD so much was Joanna’s presence and her back story, even if Rare didn’t let her shine as much as they could have. She’s one of my favorite female characters in any media, let alone video games. There is something about Joanna that’s realistic, and makes the game’s levels that much more involving.
The top female of Resident Evil is truly Jill Valentine. The reasons why Jill is fucking awesome are endless. She’s hot, stylish, compassionate, skilled and, above all, she has guts. When she finds out Wesker is betraying S.T.A.R.S., she calls Wesker a bastard to his face. Almost every other character in that series never speaks their mind, or if they do, they certainly don’t swear. Well except maybe Leon Kennedy, but he doesn’t have breasts so the point is moot. Another reason why I love Jill is when, in RE:3, she actually goes back for a civilian she met in the beginning of the game. Of course he’s dead by then, but her compassion didn’t go unnoticed to me–how many people would go back for a civilian they met in the beginning–and it spoke leaps and bounds of her actual character.
Archmage Jaina Proudmoore is one of the most powerful casters in Azeroth. She’s seen Archimonde fall, as well as Arthas. There was also a torrid love affair in her past. Plus she rules Theramore these days, trying to reunite the Alliance. Simply put, she’s strong and intriguing.
Dino Crisis is a neglected series these days. Basically Capcom produced two experiments in survival horror, RE and DC, and ended up only taking RE to the next gen level. Regina, its heroine, got left in the dust. This is pretty unfortunate, because Regina and the series as a whole are great. Dinosaurs in video games are also rare, aside from the Jurassic Park spin-offs, and you have to give her recognition for killing dinosaurs and taking names before the turn of the century.
Another caster, Terra is my favorite Final Fantasy female because she’s the perfect mix of weak and strong. She’s the daughter of an Esper (Maduin), and she has the ability to use magic–something that’s rare for characters in FFVI–making her a great party member. Her character design, backstory, and her own innocence mixed with confusion of being used by the Empire makes her a rich character and more than just a pretty face.
I could go on forever, so I won’t. I’ll simply ask what’s your favorite female in a video game, and why?
September 27th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Hm, I tempted to nominate the Queen Bitch of the Universe, but I’m sure there has to be someone more interesting… can’t think of it now, though.
And yea, the Peach thing… she’s pretty much your stereotypical helpless, cheerful/vapid damsel-in-distresstype… in the one game she starred in, apparently the gameplay was based around manipulating her emotions in order to give her different powers or something - can’t imagine a male in that kind of role. I don’t hate her really, but I can see why they’re making a new princess for Mario Galaxy..
On the other hand, she has some pretty crazy fans, which are awesome and hilarious.
September 28th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I have to agree with you on Peach, she just irritates me. My all time favorite female from a video game is not a leading lady, but rather a bad ass villain. That would be Bodhi from Baldur’s Gate II. She was the most evil awesome character I have played against to this day, my bf and I both giggle when we play a new tough boss, because nothing can compare to her. If I had to pick a leading lady that I actually played, it would be Kitana from the Mortal Kombat series.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:49 am
I’d have to agree on Lara Croft, Joanna Dark, and Jaina Proudmoore. They were all very great female roles in games. Though Joanna’s role in Perfect Dark Zero was a little sad. Mind you that’s more Rare’s fault than anyone else’s.
Other female roles I thought were good were…Sarah Kerrigan. Even though she becomes evil. She still showed a very strong role in the Starcraft Universe. Cortana was also another very interesting female role. She’s just an AI, but she was given such a solid and confident role.
The only other that sticks out in my mind is…November Anabella Terra a.k.a. Nova Terra. Sadly her game never came to light thanks to Blizzard’s little “issues”. However they did print an excellent novel about her. Which takes place at her 15th birthday and goes into the trials she faced before becoming a Ghost. I really hope Blizzard uses her as a hero in Starcraft II. She has PSI powers that Kerrigan could only dream of.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Trying to think of some decent playable female characters from my favourite games, and coming up blank. Elaine from Monkey Island was cool, but you couldn’t play as her. Plus she gets turned into a freaking statue.
Chun Li you mentioned, and Jaina Proudmoore — most of the Final Fantasy female’s aren’t great. I did like Aeris/Aerith though, I have to say.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
You listed pretty much all my favorites. However, I’d have to add Michelle Chang (Tekken) to my list.
September 28th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I wanted to cry with joy at your mention of Joanna Dark. I stopped mentioning Perfect Dark due to hearing the inevitably associated “Perfect what?”.
I have a special place for Etna (Disgaea) in my heart as well.
September 29th, 2007 at 4:20 am
Alexandra Roivas from Eternal Darkness had the potential to be be very good leading lady. Although as far as a leading role goes your time with her is constrained in the game, she really became a strong individual as the game went on.
But as far as favorites, you pretty much nailed any of the ones that I was thinking of.
September 29th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I agree with everyone’s additions. I especially like Kerrigan, I didn’t include her because I had done Jaina and didn’t want too many Blizzard characters, but her or Sylvannas would probably have been a great addition.
September 30th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I always liked Cate Archer from No one lives forever 1 & 2.
Granted not a big ass kicker but her character had a lot more depth and far more personality then most of the characters you find in other first person shooters. Plus she gets to beat up an angry Scotsman wearing a kilt in NOLF and in NOLF2 she chases down a french mime while riding on the previously mentioned Scotsman’s back as he rides through a village on a kids tricycle.
October 1st, 2007 at 5:00 am
I would probably pick Heather from Silent Hill 3, even if her character couldn’t develop as much depth as Jill did in the several RE games. I loved the way she dealt with the whole situation in the game. She was cheery and headstrong without annoying the hell out of me, like those types of female game characters usually tend to do with me.
Another female character that really touched me was Sniper Wolf from Metal Gear Solid… Man I cried at the scene with Otacon and her every time I played the game through (and I did it enough to be able to quote every single Codec conversation Snake had with people). ;__;
October 1st, 2007 at 7:28 am
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Samus Aran. Too one-dimensional?
October 1st, 2007 at 7:30 am
And I have to agree with Aribeth. Unfortunately, I tend to forget her when this kind of topic comes up for some reason.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:07 pm
How about Carrigan from StarCraft?
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I enjoyed your list.
One that comes to mind , is Eileen from Silent Hill 4. She was semi annoying, but what I really enjoyed about her is she followed you around, and unlike Maria from Silent Hill 2 which just annoyed you, Eileen you could give weapons to,and she’d dish out as much as “you” were. It was neat, her character was also pretty interesting, and not so.. emotionally detached as a lot of the characters in the series tend to be.
October 6th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Some of my favorite female video game characters that weren’t on the list: The Boss from MGS3, Meryl from MGS, Kerrigan from Starcraft, Celes Chere from FFVI, and Zelda from the obvious (She’s so underrated sometimes! Sure, she doesn’t always go around kicking ass and taking names, but she’s still strong and wise in her own right. That’s my opinion, at least.).
For the record, I’ve always preferred Perfect Dark over Tomb Raider.
I’m so glad I found this site! It’s fun to read.
January 25th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Zoë Castillo or April Ryan from Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. I enjoyed this game and these two female characters were a fresh change from the Lara Croft or Final Fantasy women that get all the attention.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Rinona Heartilly from FFVIII was a well created character if you ask me (not a dull “I love da big man” balloon sweater such as other (pointing at you Tifa)). Zelda did show some serious guts when she survived 7 years as Shiek. And Claire Redfield shall not be forgotten here (any woman who can operate a heavy rocket launcher has her place in my heart).
Peach on the other hand… Well… pink isnt my color.