Female characters in video games

[Tek7]

While playing through Super Mario Galaxy, I thought of a question:

Are there any female characters in popular video games who have not been victims of evil male characters or objectified rewards for good male characters?

Princess Peach has been kidnapped more times than we can recall. Even the "girl power" game, Super Princess Peach, is merely a reversal of the classic "damsel in distress" narrative. The game also features abilities based on emotions, including a "Gloom" emotion where Peach's tears are used to progress through levels.

(On a side note: I don't write much on The Legend of Zelda series because Link is so androgynous. Link's femininity may even be one reason why female gamers seem to be more interested in Zelda than other series.)

More recent video games feature even more disturbing objectification of women. Prostitutes serve as health packs in Grand Theft Auto III, increasing a player's health after implied sex acts. Rockstar is no stranger to using controversy to avoid the costs of advertising and to mask weak gameplay and design, but using prostitutes to restore health (when prostitutes are commonly known to do the exact opposite) is more disturbing than using "gaming journalism" (quotes intentional) for free publicity.

Duke Nukem 3D featured 2D sprites of scantily clad strippers.

God of War II features a minigame where Kratos engages in offscreen sexual acts with two topless women in a hot tub.

The entire purpose of games in the Leisure Suit Larry series is to "score" with female characters.

There are female protagonists in video games, of course. Samus Aran and Lara Croft are, arguably, the two most famous female protagonists--but what in the Metroid or Tomb Raider series have anything to do with gender (besides Lara Croft wearing short shorts)? The original Metroid manual even identifies Samus Aran as a male several times. And what is the reward for defeating Mother Brain in under two hours? The sight of 8-bit Samus in a swimsuit.

There is a bright light in the darkness, though. Final Fantasy VI features Terra and Celes, two strong female characters. FF6 is a great example of what developers can achieve when they create female characters with their own identities, strengths, and flaws. [...] I did appreciate FFIX's Garnet.

EDIT: I removed criticism of FF7 and FF8 to help keep this thread on topic. To read the original text of the previous paragraph, click here.

The only other game with a complex female character that comes to mind is Odin Sphere, which explores the troubled mind and heart of Valkyrie princess, Gwendolyn.

Spoiler

One could argue that Gwendolyn's inner conflict rests with choosing between two men: her father, Odin, and her new husband, Shadow Knight Oswald. One could then counter-argue that Gwendolyn proves that her strength is sufficient to carve her own path without depending on either man.

The media tells us that young people are spending more time playing video and computer games than watching television.

What are video games teaching young children about gender roles? What effect does the portrayal of women as objects or rewards, especially in America's hypersexualized culture, teach young men?

Does it have any impact at all?

 

[Atown]

There is a bright light in the darkness, though. Final Fantasy VI features Terra and Celes, two strong female characters. FF6 is a great example of what developers can achieve when they create female characters with their own identities, strengths, and flaws. Unfortunately, Squaresoft had to go ruin it all with Tifa and Yufie, two weak stereotypes (like the rest of the cast) in Final Fantasy VII. I couldn't tolerate Final Fantasy VIII long enough to play past the first disc, but I did appreciate FFIX's Garnet.

i think if your wanting to be objectional then u need to editoralize else where

but honestly the FF8 characters and FF7 were just fine in my mind. also go play FFT because they were just fine.

 

[Tek7]

i think if your wanting to be objectional then u need to editoralize else where

I wrote out a list matching Final Fantasy VII characters and their stereotypes, but I decided to post it in a separate thread to help keep this thread on topic.

EDIT: On a lighter note:

 

[Atown]

Mommas cooking was an amazing game.....

I think if we really wanted to analyze gender roles and what its teacehing, taking Mario, FF7,8,9,10, Legend of dragoon, and yes zelda -_- , your given a male character, that is the knight in shining armor that comes to save the princess, the one they love or care most about. I think your going off in a different direction with the "reward" thing in the context of RPG's.

Now with GTA and God of War2, ya you have a point, we're teaching our kids that if your kool enough, you get sex anytime.

 

[Amicus Dei of [FoG]]

Zelda and Mario teach young men to save damsels in distress, because *as we all know*, men are usually required to have some level of subservience in order to keep a wife happy
As for Grand Theft Auto, a game solely based on the idea of crimes and other immoral actions seems like a reasonable place to use the idea of female prostitution... if anyone in their right mind knows that all ideas in that entire game are improper, then it should be obvious to them that women shouldn't be prostitutes and men shouldn't use them as such...

If you think this topic is only evident in video games, I think you need to remind yourself of almost any literature or art related to medieval chivalry, in which women are depicted as totally helpless and a man is meant to save them... Although I can see why it's more of a problem in video games, since most people in this age play them and visual action that someone is making for themselves is more easily incorporated into the mind than books and art. (Exposure & Recollection)

 

[Legandary Spartan]

Acctually Lara Croft (wow, that's not on the Mozilla spellcheck...) is actually, in the game biz call "hypersexualized" As for games on PC there have been those through the years and yet, fortunately enough have never done great (won't list here for variousness, but I can name at least 3 off the top of my head).
As for gender roles, I think we could see shift in that, but not in a good way as always. With the increased power of the next-gen systems (PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii..) there is more power to throw in that extra female companion (a full render of a side kick with as many pixels as the main star can get heavy on the system). Also with the more power we could see games put that power toword things like making lara croft more "hypersexualized" or more women showing more skin. I don't bring much to these thing but my 2 cents.

 

[Corpfox]

Acctually Lara Croft (wow, that's not on the Mozilla spellcheck...) is actually, in the game biz call "hypersexualized" As for games on PC there have been those through the years and yet, fortunately enough have never done great (won't list here for variousness, but I can name at least 3 off the top of my head).
As for gender roles, I think we could see shift in that, but not in a good way as always. With the increased power of the next-gen systems (PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii..) there is more power to throw in that extra female companion (a full render of a side kick with as many pixels as the main star can get heavy on the system). Also with the more power we could see games put that power toword things like making lara croft more "hypersexualized" or more women showing more skin. I don't bring much to these thing but my 2 cents.

More like fantasize.

Seeing a lady kill 20+ demons with her athletic moves and appealing silk cloth really makes the guys say, "Wow, she's hot!"

I shouldn't say her name since I have no doubt, any guys here, will look up the name, watch the trailer and be amazed.
That's what I did. And MAN, she was truly HOT....for a female game character.

Personally, any game, I don't like choosing female characters, unless its restricted to that game's story, like Resident Evil 2 or that their skills are useful, like Heroes 5: TotE. After all, the female characters look sexier, fight better and move faster than most male characters.

I think the problem is games that are high-res are pumping towards the male audience. I wouldn't imagine any girl would play Lara Croft, Heavenly Sword or Blood Rayne. I can admit, I have played Lara Croft, but I played it because of its action and very difficult puzzles, not because she was a female character.

 

[Atown]

actually i know 2 females that played Lara croft and loved the series as a whole

 

[The Mighty Gerbil]

Are there any female characters in popular video games who have not been victims of evil male characters or objectified rewards for good male characters?

um Aya from "Parasite Eve" maybe? Never played the sequel though. My personality is extremely role playing centered, I envision myself as each character I play, which creates problems when playing a female (or a villain or an anti-hero) so I really haven't played that many woman main character games. I play games to enjoy them (or try too) and if I don't enjoy it why would I play?

(On a side note: I don't write much on The Legend of Zelda series because Link is so androgynous. Link's femininity may even be one reason why female gamers seem to be more interested in Zelda than other series.)

Link Androgynous? Yes I see it, but, for some of the games he is just supposed to be youthful I thought. Being androgynous in Japan is a trend so it doesn't surprise me. That tunic is kind of dress like too O.0. I think women like Zelda for it's puzzle solving attributes (and possibly fairy tale atmosphere) it appears to me more women like puzzle games than men but I am not sure.

There are female protagonists in video games, of course. Samus Aran and Lara Croft are, arguably, the two most famous female protagonists--but what in the Metroid or Tomb Raider series have anything to do with gender (besides Lara Croft wearing short shorts)? The original Metroid manual even identifies Samus Aran as a male several times. And what is the reward for defeating Mother Brain in under two hours? The sight of 8-bit Samus in a swimsuit.

Never thought of Samus' 8 bit swimsuit as anything sexist (is that what you are implying?), just necessary to emphasize she was a woman as just taking off the helmet would have been an even smaller change to the pixels. (Hey do we really know she was a she? After all Metroid has always dealt with aliens O.0 )

There is a bright light in the darkness, though. Final Fantasy VI features Terra and Celes, two strong female characters. FF6 is a great example of what developers can achieve when they create female characters with their own identities, strengths, and flaws. [...] I did appreciate FFIX's Garnet.

I liked Terra and Celes. However I found Garnet rather trite. She belongs in the "innocent girl with hidden power" category of stereotypes. Also does any one ever stop to ask how supposedly sheltered princesses become outgoing and skilled fighters on par with experienced male fighters instantly? No they don't and it's insulting to those people (male or female) who have trained to be one (having had a taste of the effort that is required to be a good martial artist). In addition to be a female fighter who can take on the average man requires more training than a man. It would not leave you physically looking like the way popular supposely tough women appear or striking in the manner they do in TV/movies/games. Real women fighters aren't rails with bosoms they look like this http://www.completemartialarts.com/whoswho/competitors/kathylong.htm ). There is a natural advantage to being a male fighter in muscle percentage and usually weight/height, not to mention natural inclinations. If a woman relied on other means to fight in media, magic, guns or actual skill I'd be ok with it.

That women are over sexualized in media I find not just immoral but also extremely overdone. The product of people who cannot write a good plotline without it.

One of the many problems in modern society is it's continually sending the message that men and women (or really all people) are "equal" that's not true. That would mean men and women are interchangeable too so why not have same sex marriages? The correct phrase should be men and women are equally valued! That means if I have a chance at a job you should have a chance at a job and the best person at the job gets it, not "we have to meet our gender quota". The reason this is such a problem is what happens when a man asks who am I as a man? As a man what role in a relationship can I do that my spouse cannot do (or at least do as well)? Women don't need men and continually tell them so in media so why should one hang around? I've had it up to here with the "a woman can be a single parent, take care of the house, have a successful career and not sacrifice any for the other" ideology (please show me your time freezing device so I can use it). For me being needed is more important than being wanted in a relationship. You can then define just what your job is supposed to be in the relationship (and really part of your place in life). If I just wanted to be "wanted" I'd stay with my mother and never leave.

 

[MaidMirawyn]

Do NOT get me started on Lara Croft.

The only thing female about her are her pixels. For the most part, she's a male character, just given a female persona. She behaves just like a male character, pretty much in every respect.

Want a tough female character? Look to the movies. Ellen Ripley is thoroughly female and tough as nails.

American McGee's Alice, though rather violent and bloody, is a great game with a strong female protagonist. It's just a different type of strength...

Did I mention I want to do asylum-Alice for Dragon*Con?

actually i know 2 females that played Lara croft and loved the series as a whole

I also know two. Since we live on opposite sides of the country, that makes four. Of course, one of these two females also would dress like Lara Croft if she thought she could, and isn't above using her sex appeal to manipulate men.

Zelda and Mario teach young men to save damsels in distress, because *as we all know*, men are usually required to have some level of subservience in order to keep a wife happy

You've got a lot to learn about marriage. Subservience in a husband is simply sad, and very off-putting. A "servant spirit" isn't the same AT ALL. Every wussy husband I have known has had an unsatifying marriage.

 

[vibrokatana]

You've got a lot to learn about marriage. Subservience in a husband is simply sad, and very off-putting. A "servant spirit" isn't the same AT ALL. Every wussy husband I have known has had an unsatifying marriage.

I would have to say that the opposite isn't true. A husband should not expect dominance in a marriage. Taken purely from a psychological perspective and not from personal experience anyway.

 

[MaidMirawyn]

Subservience in a wife is bad, too. It's still not the same as a "servant spirit."

Subservience means you take orders without question (look it up), and no Christian should do that with anyone. Even God lets us ask why. He may not TELL us, but He lets us ask.

Now we return to our regularly scheduled rant...uh, discussion...on women in video games.

The way most female characters are dressed drives me nuts. Comments? Questions?

 

[Atown]

Subservience in a wife is bad, too. It's still not the same as a "servant spirit."

Subservience means you take orders without question (look it up), and no Christian should do that with anyone. Even God lets us ask why. He may not TELL us, but He lets us ask.

Now we return to our regularly scheduled rant...uh, discussion...on women in video games.

The way most female characters are dressed drives me nuts. Comments? Questions?

like my elementalist that looks totally cooler than the lame male ones?

 

[vibrokatana]

like my elementalist that looks totally cooler than the lame male ones?

Can't blame you, the males look like they were a bit stunted upstairs.

 

[Elader Arkon]

Hey my ele looks way cool!


...albeit it took an expansion to make it possible...

 

[Corpfox]

Do NOT get me started on Lara Croft.

The only thing female about her are her pixels. For the most part, she's a male character, just given a female persona. She behaves just like a male character, pretty much in every respect.

Want a tough female character? Look to the movies. Ellen Ripley is thoroughly female and tough as nails.

American McGee's Alice, though rather violent and bloody, is a great game with a strong female protagonist. It's just a different type of strength...

Alyx is quite decent looking, not too exposed like Blood Rayne or Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.². And, she is also tough as nails, too.

As from the movie Aliens, I'm a Corporal Hicks fan. It was sad how he died in Alien 3.

Its funny how you mention pixels, you make it sound like from Reboot.

Enzo: Alphanumeric!

The way most female characters are dressed drives me nuts. Comments? Questions?

Don't you dress up into costumes, MaidMirawyn?

I would assume, what your dress up as is the character your very fond of. Typically, fantasy-roleplaying characters?

Whatever female character dressed as, I got no problem with it, I'm just scared of what abilities they have, like Alice from F.E.A.R. She is so scary for a little girl, imploding soldiers to blood and bones.

Also, Kerrigan; Queen of Blades, is scary too, she was on the good side too.

But, of course, I don't own and play games like Leisure Suit Larry, DoA: Volleyball Xtreme and Rumble Roses, thats just too perverted.

 

[MaidMirawyn]

Don't you dress up into costumes, MaidMirawyn?

I would assume, what your dress up as is the character your very fond of. Typically, fantasy-roleplaying characters?

Whatever female character dressed as, I got no problem with it, I'm just scared of what abilities they have, like Alice from F.E.A.R. She is so scary for a little girl, imploding soldiers to blood and bones.

Yes, I do wear costumes. As often as possible, actually.

First is my mesmer costume. I had to raise the neckline and lower the hemline, but it works. There's a pic below, and I have more in my MySpace photos. (Link to my page in my sig.)



I also wear one of my Middle Eastern dance costumes, which shows my midriff. Shocking, yeah.

This year I want to add an Uhura-style dress, again lengthening the hemline. I also REALLY want to do Alice from American McGee's Alice or else Sheila from the D&D cartoon (who I went as for Halloween when I was seven; I still have the cloak). If my friend Ishy wants, I may do a Gryfindor costume to complement her Hufflepuff. Someday I may do Leia (either her outfit from the first Death Star or the formal one from the end of A New Hope) or Padme (several good options). I'm also considering doing the Queen of All Cosmos someday.

As you can see, I'm picky about what I'll wear. I would never do the Slave Leia costume, for instance; there's only one or two female elementalist costumes I would consider. And some characters I would never cosplay because I disagree with what they represent, even if the costume is really cute.

 

[moxie]

Wow, nice costumes! Makes me want to start sewing again...

Normally I don't get too upset with what females wear in video games... it has to be over the top for it to annoy me. In WoW the most famous example is the Black Mageweave Leggings, which shows as normal pants on a male but shows as a thong and the start of some thigh-high boots on females. Bleh. At least they can be covered up with a tabard or robe though.

Stuff like the GTA series IS demeaning to females... however look at the target audience that they're going for. I was reading something today that said that of all the middle-school age kids that currently play video games, it's split half and half between males and females (sorry, don't have the source anymore). If that trend continues as they grow up, then chances are that those girls are going to want something more substantial than Bratz, Barbie or Nintendogs, and GTA won't be acceptable. I think that now that the Nintendo generation has grown up and started having kids of their own, you're going to see a lot more parents and children playing together.

Although... if we're talking about hyper-sexualization, that is case for both males AND females in games. Women have unrealistic body shapes and scant clothing, men are usually insanely bulked up, sweaty, and dressed like Rambo. Neither is very realistic.

ETA: Ooh, just thought of something, in regards to the Super Mario example, wasn't Peach one of the playable characters in SMB2? She had a chance to shine, and as I recall had some pretty good abilities.

 

[MaidMirawyn]

like my hussy that looks totally cooler than the lame male ones?

Fixed that for you


Note to the mods: don't get upset. "Hussy" is my usual nickname for the female eles in GW. And Atown knows this.

 

[vibrokatana]

Fixed that for you


Note to the mods: don't get upset. "Hussy" is my usual nickname for the female eles in GW. And Atown knows this.

Atowns hussy can tank more then some warriors (lol)