March - National Women’s History Month: Let's Celebrate The Wimminz

Written By: Tyler

            Every month I’m picking something that the month commemorates and I’m doing a little list in celebration/honour of that. This month I’ll be praising women and some of my favourite video game characters of all time. Unlike black people (check last month), women aren’t underrepresented and though a lot are over-sexualized, there are still a lot of strong, well-written girl characters. It's National Women's History Month so let's take a look at some of the women who have made games what they are.

                I picked fifteen because it’s a nice number for this kind of thing. So let’s do this thing.

Samus Aran From Metroid

                It’s impossible not to start this list off with probably the greatest female video game character of all time – Samus Aran. What’s funny about her is that back in the Dark Ages, you wouldn’t know she’s a girl until you die due to the fact she is wearing a beastly Power Suit. Back then it was a huge deal, like, “whoa, I’m playing as a hot chick?” Yes, we thought that. Don’t let any older gamer tell you otherwise.

                Samus doesn’t really emote very often, except for in the ill-fated Metroid: Other M (which I actually loved), but she does talk when briefing the gamers on what she has done in her career as an Intergalactic Bounty Hunter. Mostly she’s a strong and silent type, and she’s one of the most classic Bounty Hunters in all of fiction.

The Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3

                I mentioned her in January (National Mentor Month), but she is such a powerful, influential character that she needs to be included again. When she’s on screen she’s shown as strong yet feminine, smart and exceptionally talented. She is important, loyal and brave. She has a tremendous impact on Big Boss (Naked Snake in this game), who is arguably the most important character in the entire series considering even Solid Snake is just a clone of him. Without Big Boss, there is no Snake, without The Boss, there is no Big Boss.

Princess Toadstool/Peach from Mario Games

                Princess Toadstool isn’t really a great example of a powerful female video game character. She falls strictly in the “damsel in distress” archetype, but it’s hard to deny that she’s an iconic character considering she’s a big piece of probably the most famous video game series of all time – Super Mario.

Joanna Dark from Perfect Dark

                Joanna Dark had the unfortunate problem of being in the Rare shooter that came after the legendary Goldeneye 64 so she had to compete with Bond. No, she’s not James Bond, but she’s also not the type of girl that would become infatuated with Bond… in fact, it’s more likely that she’d kick his ass. Perfect Dark is one of the best shooters of all time, and Joanna Dark is the main character of it.

Juliet Starling from Lollipop Chainsaw

                I love Lollipop Chainsaw. I think it’s an underrated and fun game. I don’t think Juliet is a well-written character that redefines the role of the female in games. She’s a ditsy cheerleader who wears her boyfriend’s head on her belt. But don’t get it twisted… as sexy and as ditsy as she is, she’s a tough, ass-kicking woman. Women can complain but I’m a man and it’s hard not to be into Juliet.

Aeris Gainsborough from Final Fantasy 7

                Aeris is one of the first people you see in Final Fantasy 7. She isn’t in the whole game because, y’know spoilers, she dies (bet you didn’t know that). Her death is felt throughout the rest of the game and she’s probably the most important character in the game. It’s a shame she dies though because she’s a classic healer and her final limit break is the shit.

Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy 7

                Tifa is also awesome. Final Fantasy 7 has two great female characters, and they both love Cloud. Tifa is my favourite to play as and she’s one of my core members in my team. She is a caring, loyal woman with… big bazookas. But of course that’s not all there is to a woman. Heh.

Celes from Final Fantasy 3/6

                Celes is one of my favourite Final Fantasy characters ever. She is the one who gets the honour of getting equipped with the Genji Glove. When you see her she’s in a bad way, and my buddy and I have made the argument that she was raped, but nothing stops her and she shows just how tough she is throughout the rest of the game. She might even be the most developed because when the shit hits the fan and Kefka destroys the world, who do you play as first in the World of Ruin? That’s right – Celes.

Terra from Final Fantasy 3/6

                I think Celes becomes the main character, ultimately, but Terra starts the game and has an interesting, conflict filled character arc herself. I mean, she’s an Esper. That’s pretty awesome in itself and that’s reason enough that she’s a memorable female video game character.

Chun-Li from Street Fighter

                Chun-Li is the most iconic female character in arguably the most legendary fighting game series. Yes, she’s a little over-sexualized like a lot of girls, but she has a great move set and she kicks serious ass. You don’t really go to a fighting game, generally, for characters who are extremely developed anyway.

Aya Brea from Parasite Eve

                The definition of a real woman. She’s sexy, dedicated, conquers her fears and kicks ass. She is on a date, the room catches on fire, everyone is screaming and burning to death and she pulls out her gun and goes and challenges Parasite Eve. From then on, you are treated to what I think is the greatest RPG of all time, and it’s all told through the eyes of probably my all-time favourite female video game character.

Lara Croft from Tomb Raider

                I’m not really a Tomb Raider guy, but I couldn’t make this list without putting Lara on it. This is probably the only case of me doing that. It’s Lara Croft – love her or hate her, people know her… and her tits. It sounds shallow but that’s the reality. It’s hard to deny that she was basically a sex icon for guys who are into video games a little too much, but lately she has been rebranded as a more complex character.

Zelda from Legend of Zelda

                Actually, I’m not a Zelda guy either so there are two choices on here that I’m putting in just because of how big they are in the industry. I mean, it’s Zelda, although the circumstances are a little strange. For years people thought Link was Zelda. Some people still do. But regardless, her name is in the title and Link only gets that privilege in a few games.

Ellie from The Last of Us

                Though she’s more of a one-off character, it’s hard to argue her importance in The Last of Us. She is the person who makes Joel human again, she is the central focal point for the entire game. She is the reason you are making tough choices. The Last of Us doesn’t have a deep plot and it’s a tale that’s been told a lot, but the growth of Joel and Ellie is something special within video games.

Elizabeth from Bioshock: Infinite

                Elizabeth has an Ellie thing going on, though it’s a different situation. She isn’t technically the main character, but a lot that goes on is because of her. You are trying to save her after all, but she’s not a damsel in distress really. I mean, she kind of is, but there’s more to her than that and as the game goes on you see that.

Disagree, agree? Let me know in the comments below who you would put in this list. Or message me on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime. Thanks for reading and keep coming back to this blog because I actually write other articles too! I know!