My List of Female Role Models in Video Games

Earlier in the month, Jenni Lada over on Gamertell listed eight great video game role models for women. Jenni’s main focus was on the RPG genre, and while I thought her list was fantastic I thought it would be great to compile a more comprehensive list that would span all gaming genres. Not knocking her post in anyway, I promise – it actually inspired what I set out to do with my own. So a hearty thanks goes out to Jenni for inspiring me.

Lara Croft and Samus Aran, in my opinion are overly exalted in gamer’s eyes and many other female gaming characters could and should be considered better role models than some. Usually female characters in games can be put into the same category of those Dead or Alive girls – of course, they are not meant to be role-models but are instead the video game equivalent of soft-core porn. What I would like draw attention to, are the unheralded female heroines that grace our PCs and consoles that seem to always get the short end of the stick when it comes to being adulated by the gaming masses.

Here, in my opinion are great female role models in gaming and while this list omits many that should get the acknowledgement they deserve, they can’t all be listed – so if you feel I omitted anyone, please feel free to mention said “wonder woman” in the comments section.

Joanna Dark – Perfect Dark, Perfect Dark Zero – FPS

Joanna Dark is a bounty hunter (Perfect Dark Zero) with cat-like reflexes, and can kick trouble in the groin with quick and reckless abandon. She is gifted and oozes with talent and considering the fact that she was born with a broken spine only compounds her amazing abilities. In Perfect Dark, Joanna became a full-fledged operative of the Carrington Institute and during a mission uncovers a conspiracy, which includes extraterrestrials known as the Skedar, who plan to destroy the earth. Thanks to Joanna, not only do their plans not come to fruition, but she also saves the President of the United States from an assassination attempt by dataDyne. Joanna also travels to the ocean floor to destroy a megaweapon that both the Skedar and dataDyne plan to use against the human race.

 

Alyx Vance – Half Life 2 (Episode One, Episode Two) – FPS

Alyx is not only an attractive woman but she is extremely intelligent as well. As a hacker adept at infiltrating computer systems and reprogramming them, Alyx is also so industrious, that she also packs around a hacking tool just in case. This tool can bypass security systems, open doors, and re-program turrets to attack her and Gordon’s enemies. She can also handle any sort of firearm you give her, and can deliver a head pounding right hook and can the knock the head off of a headcrab zombie just as quick as anything. Alyx also has a good sense of humor, and is infatuated with the hunky Dr. Gordon Freeman, who by all accounts has feelings for her too but we will see how far that goes when Episode 3 comes out. Her facial features are modeled after the lovely Jamil Mullen and she is a true testament to gamers everywhere that you can be both beautiful and intelligent at the same time.

 

Jill Valentine – Resident Evil, RE3: Nemesis, RE: Umbrella Chronicles – Survival Horror (FPS and TPS)

Jill Valentine was at one time a member of the Special Tactics And Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.), part of the unit’s Alpha Team. When her team was deployed to the Arklay Mountains in search for their missing compatriots they are attacked by zombie Dobermans and flee into the Arklay Research Facility, which is a creepy and decrepit mansion full of even more nasty undead things. Not one to run away at the slightest bit of danger, Jill made her way through the compound, destroyed as many zombies as she could and eventually left S.T.A.R.S. to become a normal citizen. Unfortunately for her, in RE3 she must fight alongside Carlos Oliveira in an attempt to escape Raccoon City with their lives. During this time, Jill encounters Nemesis, a super-soldier created by the Umbrella Corporation and in RE: The Umbrella Chronicles her and Chris both try and expose and destroy the Umbrella Corporation.

 

Jade- Beyond Good and Evil – Action/Adventure

Jade is (seemingly) a human with good photography skills knows her way around a dai-jo staff. Her Uncle a boar-like creature who is a mechanic, raised Jade, and helps her look after children who have lost their parents to the evil DomZ . Trying to maintain a shield that protects them from further attacks, she eventually she runs out of money to run the shield and takes up photographing a rare species of animals to raise the capital. Eventually she finds out that her job is just a cover for the IRIS Network. The IRIS Network sends her on reconnaissance missions to photograph the activities of the Alpha Section. The cool thing about Jade though, is that she is the main weapon that can destroy the DomZ once and for all – for you see, she is actually part DomZ herself. Jade is also capable of resurrecting the dead – now how cool is that?

 

Nariko – Heavenly Sword – Adventure/Fantasy

Nariko is a beautiful flame haired warrior whose father, Shen, is the leader of her clan. A prophecy once foretold that a son would be born who would act as a savior to the clan; but Nariko, was born and because she is a female, the clan shun her and blame their misfortunes on her. Being that she is a strong-willed and deadly fighter, she has humility and love in her heart – for despite being hated by her clan, she protects them with her life. When the evil and insane King Bohan unleashes hell on earth to find the Heavenly Sword which Narkio’s clan protects, she must bares the burden of the cursed sword. For you see, whoever wields it will eventually die. Eventually, war breaks out between her clan and the crazed King, and alongside her father and clansmen Nariko kills countless of Bohan’s army. Dying from wielding the sword, Nariko makes a pact with it to protect it from falling in the hands of Bohan and ultimately saving her people; thus transforming into a goddess. Even though she eventually defeats Bohan and holds in her hands the power to destroy him, she takes pity upon him and lets him live which shows that even when being possessed by a unrelenting power, she has compassion. Unfortunately, she does indeed die, but she gave her life to save her people and protect the world from evil – so that make her one of the greatest heroines indeed.

 

Yuna – Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X –2 – RPG

Although most people would argue with me on my choice of Yuna, and might even suggest that I list Rydia instead because she is such a badass summoner and pretty hot, but this is my list not yours and I have my reasons and it really has nothing to do with the sappy love story in the game. Ok, maybe a little bit because I am a girl after all.

As a summoner, Yuna’ s quest is to destroy the threat that Sin poses to her world, and thus begins her pilgrimage along with her guardians – one of which happens to be Tidus. During the game Yuna becomes less naïve of the ways of the world, and while still tender hearted and caring, she is not as innocent as she once was and has become a bit battle hardened. Her belies in her faith are starting to erode and she is starting to question her pilgrimage. Her growing feelings for her guardian Tidus scare her, and the thought of no longer being with him scared her – this she confessed while creating a video sphere for her friends to view after her death. Eventually, she gets caught up in a plot devised by Master Seymour and ends up being kidnapped on more than one occasion – always being saved by Tidus. Many things happen in her adventures, but one of the main reasons she is a good role model is because she finds another way to defeat Sin other than sacrificing one of her guardians in the process. Unfortunately for her, once the world of Sin is defeated, Tidus vanishes into the nothingness because he broke Yu Tevos hold on the faith. She does get to tell him she loves him before he vanishes though. *Cue tears* Because of these events, Yuna is now the High Summoner of Besaid and is constantly being harped on by the village elders to marry someone. One day, Rikku comes to visit, and shows her a sphere Kimahri she found that she believes shows Tidus. Yuna then starts another adventure, this time hoping to find out more regarding Tidus.

Yuna’s love for Tidus is indeed sweet and all, but I can’t help but think I am looking at two women kissing when they are rolling around together in the water in FFX.

 

Rayne – BloodRayne, BloodRayne 2 – TPA

Rayne is a Dhampir, half-human, half-vampire, whose main purpose in life is to kill all vampires. Oh, and look for her father Kagan so she can kill him too. She does all of this while 6-inch metal stiletto heels and revealing attire, which in real life would hinder her athletic abilities. She works for the Brimstone Society where her mentor Mynce, introduced her to the ways of the Vampire. The Society sent her on missions to expel supernatural threats and on one such mission she was requested to use her vampire powers against the Nazis, who were planning to use a magical artifact to bring Hitler to power. In her second adventure, more scantily clad than ever, Rayne is hell bent on killing her Father, 60 years later. She has systematically killed all of her half brother and sisters (Cult of Kagan) who have created a substance called “the shroud “which protects vampires from the sunlight but destroys the natural world in the process. Therefore Rayne must put an end to her siblings’ evil plot to rule the world and bring forth a new age where vampires rule the earth.

Again, if you feel I left anyone out, please feel free to mention her in the comments section.