Please note that this page is only here for archiving purposes. The original article originally resided at TomsGames.Com, and was written by Rob Wright on February 20th, 2007. I do not claim any rights on this page. Save for some additional images and scripted additions, no modifications on the original text has been made.
There have been plenty of memorable female video game characters throughout the history of gaming. With Valentine's Day in mind, it's time to pay tribute to the greatest heroines, damsels in distress and femmes fatales in video and PC game history.
A quick note about this list: it's for the greatest female characters, which means it's not a list of the "hottest video game chicks" or "top video game vixens." Sure, looks count. But these female characters have to make an impact beyond their appearance. To measure greatness, I looked at how each character made a significant impression on the game play or narrative, whether they are central characters, playable characters or supporting characters. How would the game have turned out if the character had been eliminated? Was the character distinguished as being a "first" such as Princess Daphne in Dragon's Lair? How many appearances has a particular character made in games as well as other media, such as movies? Do the character's story, narrative and voice acting elevate the game?
In some cases, the actual image of the character might be virtually non-existent in the game: think Sarah Kerrigan in StarCraft or even Princess Zelda in the original Legend of Zelda. In other cases, I've included lesser known but nevertheless popular characters of cult titles that deserve recognition for being outstanding characters regardless of gender. Thus, the point is to pay tribute to the female characters that proved to be the most memorable, from Princess Peach all the way up to Alyx Vance. In addition, I've also tried to match each character up with an appropriate actress/model to play that character in a movie (if they haven't already been adapted for a feature film).
Before proceeding, remember that no list is perfect. I've undoubtedly missed a few characters, for whatever reason. So feedback, suggestions and additional nominations for the list are welcome (via feedback e-mails or the Forumz), as this list will be an organic feature that we'll continue to add to and augment over time. Hopefully, we'll someday soon have enough solid, well-drawn female characters that we can get up to 100 entries.
So here's the list, in no particular order:
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider Series
Is there any doubt that Lara Croft is the perennial video game heroine? Croft is a female Indiana Jones with Daisy Duke shorts, a tight tank top shirt and two pistols instead of a ragged hat and bullwhip. The buxom adventurer has become a cultural icon, appearing in more than 10 games, two feature films and several comic books and original novels.
Pros: Completely eye-popping and disproportionate features, a zest for adventure and great aim with the firearms.
Cons: She has some Daddy issues and has become increasingly violent as the Tomb Raider series has progressed.
Is Played By: Angelina Jolie, the absolute perfect choice.
We all remember the moment of shock and awe when the famous one-handed space warrior took off "his" helmet and was revealed to be a woman. And a pretty good-looking woman, too. If you completed the original NES title fast enough, you got to see Samus Aran stripped down to a bikini. Thus, seeing more revealing images of our beloved galactic heroine became a tradition for the Metroid series. And as the graphics enhancements evolved over the years, we got to see more and more of Samus' beautiful blonde hair and stunning 6'3" frame.
Pros: She's a take-no-prisoners bounty hunter with state of the art weaponry and a killer body.
Cons: She's always wearing that damn suit, and she's probably taller than most male gamers.
Should Be Played By: If we're going to be a stickler for the height factor, then it's got to be an athlete over 6'1" like Gabrielle Reece, Amy Acuff, Jennie Finch or, my personal choice, Maria Sharapova. Can you even imagine a Metroid movie with Sharapova? Dare to dream...
