Comments on: Leading Ladies

By: Peter Twieg

Peter Twieg — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:10:34 +0000

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.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:28:33 +0000

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.

By: Magiz

Magiz — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:49:29 +0000

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.

By: Suzie

Suzie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:01:52 +0000

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.

By: Candi

Candi — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:51:55 +0000

You listed pretty much all my favorites. However, I’d have to add Michelle Chang (Tekken) to my list.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:12:11 +0000

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.

By: 1983 Casio DG20 Electric Guitar

1983 Casio DG20 Electric Guitar — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:20:59 +0000

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.

By: Monique

Monique — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:50:54 +0000

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.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:48:07 +0000

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.

By: Selphie

Selphie — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:00:34 +0000

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). ;__;

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:28:40 +0000

I can’t believe no one has mentioned Samus Aran. Too one-dimensional?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:30:32 +0000

And I have to agree with Aribeth. Unfortunately, I tend to forget her when this kind of topic comes up for some reason.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:07:48 +0000

How about Carrigan from StarCraft?

By: @lly

@lly — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:21:32 +0000

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.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:13:09 +0000

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.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Zo� 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.

By: Davesknd

Davesknd — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:05:58 +0000

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.