The 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History

[QueenB]

This is an LONG article written by Rob Wright of TwitchGuru. I thought it was interesting enough to post here

Originally Posted by TwitchGuru

Introduction

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.




The world famous Lara Croft

Samus Aran, Metroid Series

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...



Zelda, The Legend Of Zelda Series

Princess Zelda is indeed legendary. A member of the Hyrule royal family, Zelda serves as the elusive damsel in distress for Link throughout the Legend of Zelda series. And like Link, we've seen different incarnations of Zelda throughout the series - some have been passive, Sleeping Beauty types while others have taken more active, powerful roles, such as in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. But regardless of role or screen time, Zelda is a true icon in the halls of video game greatness.


Pros: She's young, beautiful, related to royalty, and in many cases, quite powerful.


Cons: She has a habit of disappearing for long stretches, and her personality and identity seem to shift unexpectedly.


Should Be Played By: Alexis Bledel, because even though she's not blonde, there's just something about her eyes that evokes Zelda.




The legendary Zelda in Twilight Princess


Princess Peach, Mario Series And More

Originally known as Princess Toadstool, Peach is another classic Nintendo icon that has evolved over the years and numerous game appearances. She's the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom and the sometime love interest of Mario. Since debuting in Super Mario Bros. 2, she's appeared in literally dozens of Nintendo titles. Whether it's racing a Mario Kart, shooting hoops or brawling with other popular Nintendo characters, Princess Peach can pretty much do it all.


Pros: Princess Peach is multi-talented, hard-working, athletic and gorgeous.


Cons: She's a bit of a spotlight hog, and has been criticized for shedding her good girl image for a sexier persona.


Should Be Played By: Hayden Panettiere of "Heroes," who's got the right look to be the Peach.


Princess Daphne, Dragon's Lair

The female lead in the classic arcade game Dragon's Lair, Princess Daphne was probably the first real video game vixen. The game's groundbreaking cartoon animation gave Daphne a much more advanced, high-quality appearance than virtually all other games before it. In fact, the developers modelled Daphne after several Playmate pictorials from Playboy Magazine since Advanced Microcomputer Systems had no budget for actual models. The result is an unforgettable video game character.


Pros: Daphne's a blonde bombshell who likes skimpy outfits and heroic knights.


Cons: She's a bit of a ditz, and unlike later video game female characters, she doesn't have much of a taste for action.


Should Be Played By: since she was modelled after Playboy centrefolds, who better to play Daphne than Pamela Anderson?




Princess Daphne of Dragon's Lair


Alyx Vance, Half-Life 2 And Half-Life 2 Episodes

Alyx Vance is the kind of girl you can bring home to meet the parents. The daughter of renowned scientist Dr. Eli Vance, she's got brains. A member of the Combine resistance, she also knows how to kick ass and take names with her trademark pistol. She has a tough, strong-willed personality, which helps her bail Gordon Freeman out of trouble a few times, yet she's also vulnerable at times. The best thing about Alyx may be that she doesn't have huge breasts or impossible proportions held together by tight leather bikinis or other revealing outfits. She's just flat-out cute and charismatic, even in a simple grey hooded sweatshirt.


Pros: Alyx is highly intelligent, proficient with electronics and weapons, tough as nails, and extremely easy on the eyes in a girl-next-door kind of way.


Cons: Her outfit could use some work - especially the head band - and she's got a giant, overprotective robot named Dog.


Should Be Played By: Rosario Dawson or Jessica Alba. I can't decide, but either one would be a worthy choice.




Half-Life 2's Alyx Vance



Joanna Dark, Perfect Dark And Perfect Dark Zero

A futuristic super-skilled bounty hunter/mercenary who's adept at stealth action and industrial espionage, Joanna first appeared in the bestselling N64 title Perfect Dark, which was developed by GoldenEye 007 designer Rare. Her hair colour was more brown or auburn back then. She also appeared in Perfect Dark Zero for the Xbox 360, this time sporting flaming red hair with a blonde streak and a skin tight body suit. Hair colour aside, she's all three Charlie's Angels rolled into one.


Pros: Gorgeous red hair, athletic physique, and a natural born ability to destroy all opposition.


Cons: She was home-schooled, is often distrustful and has a mean temper.


Should Be Played By: Lindsay Lohan? Well, she's too short and she's in rehab. Nicole Kidman? Too old at this point. Looks like we'll have to go with the brunette Joanna, and if that's the case, then Jessica Biel gets the nod. Can't you just picture her in the body suit?


Rayne, BloodRayne I And II

She's half human, half vampire and all red-headed hotness. Rayne is the protagonist of BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2, who also posed for Playboy Magazine in 2004. She spends her days sleeping and avoiding daylight and her nights slaughtering Nazi occult groups, evil vampires and other supernatural forces with giant, wrist-mounted blades and other weapons. Rayne also has crossover appeal; in addition to Playboy, she's appeared in a music video, a comic book series and a feature film (which was terrible).


Pros: She's got superhuman abilities, fiery red hair, a killer body and she never ages. Ever.


Cons: Her father is a vampire that raped her mother, she sucks blood and you can't take her to the beach. Ever.


Was Played By: Kristanna Loken of "Terminator 3" fame. Not a bad choice, but she isn't a natural redhead. And yes, it makes a difference.




The sexy half-vampire Rayne


PART TWO BELOW!!!

[QueenB]

PART TWO of the 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History.....

Originally Posted by TwitchGuru

Meryl Silverburgh, Metal Gear Solid Series

A stalwart of the Metal Gear Solid series, Meryl is a rookie agent in the first game. Despite her diminutive stature and young age, she can do one-armed pushups and take a sniper bullet with the best of them. Plus, she's the daughter of former Foxhound leader Col. Roy Campbell and has proven herself to be a valuable sidekick to Solid Snake. Now she is making her long-awaited return as head of Foxhound in this year's sequel Metal Gear Solid 4: The Guns of Patriots.


Pros: She's got the genes, the looks, the skills and the power.


Cons: She can be kind of a nag, and she's a bit of a Daddy's girl.


Should Be Played By: Rachel McAdams, who could be a dead ringer for Meryl.


EVA, Metal Gear Solid Series

Guys often have a weakness for bad girls, and Solid Snake is no exception. Eva, who makes her first appearance in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, portrays herself as a KGB agent named Tatyana and gains the trust of Naked Snake. Of course, she's really a spy for the Philosophers and her ultimate mission is to pop a cap in Snake's behind. Luckily, Eva pulls an Agent Triple X from "The Spy Who Loved Me" and refrains from killing our hero and ultimately disappears into the night.


Pros: She looks fabulous in a bikini, she's dangerous and she's got crazy magnetism.


Cons: She's a shifty lass, she betrays pretty much everyone she encounters and she'll kill you in your sleep after sex.


Should Be Played By: Uma Thurman, because she tall, blonde and built to kick ass.




The deceptive EVA of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

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The Boss, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Though she doesn't have quite as big of a role as the above characters, it would be impossible to tell the full Metal Gear Solid story without including The Boss. Also known as The Joy, The Boss is a renowned and heralded U.S. soldier who serves as Naked Snake's mentor and the tragic hero of the Metal Gear Solid series. [SPOILER ALERT!] In MGS 3: Snake Eater, The Boss defects to the Soviet Union and is killed by Snake, who later realizes that his mentor was actually undercover and sacrificed herself for a crucial mission.


Pros: A war hero and born leader, The Boss wrote the book on Special Forces combat and taught Snake everything he knows.


Cons: She's pretty old - and dead, of course - and


Should Be Played By: Sharon Stone, who reportedly served as the inspiration for the character's design, though the British accent might be a stretch.




The Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater



April Ryan, The Longest Journey And Dreamfall

April isn't your typical 18-year-old alternative chick. No, this art student is a "shifter" that can move between worlds in the epic sci-fi fantasy adventure titles The Longest Journey and its sequel, Dreamfall. She's carrying some baggage, having been physically and emotionally abused by her father, and seems perpetually confused, especially when she's called upon to restore the balance between earth's dimensions. Still, April is one of the most complex, intriguing and powerful female characters around.


Pros: She's hot, single, artistically talented and walks around in her underwear a lot.


Cons: She talks way too much and has some serious daddy issues. What else is new.


Should Be Played By: Evangeline Lilly, as long as it doesn't conflict with her role on "Lost."




April Ryan, the unforgettable heroine of The Longest Journey

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Zoe Castillo, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

Is it actually possible to make a more attractive and alluring female character in the Longest Journey series than April Ryan? Gamers can debate who is the better heroine of the two, but at the very least, we can agree that Zoe is a worthy successor to April. Okay, so Zoe's a college dropout. So was Albert Einstein, not to mention Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. She's fiercely loyal, clever and she can handle herself in a fight.


Pros: Zoe is a heartbreaking cutie that, like April Ryan before her, tends to walk around in her underwear.


Cons: She's kind of a slacker and she may pull the whole "let's just be friends" line on you, so be warned.


Should be Played By: Natalie Portman, an absolute no-brainer and the only logical choice as far as I'm concerned.




Zoe Castillo of Dreamfall: The Longest Journey



Jade, Beyond Good And Evil

We have a soft spot for Jade because she's a fellow journalist. Jade works as a reporter on the planet Hillys in the futuristic adventure game "Beyond Good and Evil." She discovers what appears to be a military conspiracy involving an invading alien race and goes undercover to expose it. Armed with her camera and a combat staff, not to mention a defiant attitude, Jade is one intriguing heroine.


Pros: She's an excellent photographer, has some serious self defence skills and hypnotic green eyes and a curvaceous figure.


Cons: She wears freaky looking green lipstick, plus she cares for a bunch of orphaned kids, which could be an obstacle for suitors.


Should be Played By: Jordana Brewster, though I don't like the thought of her cutting her hair as short as Jade's.




Beyond Good and Evil's Jade, who beyond good herself



Kate Walker, Syberia I And II

Kate Walker drives the character study adventure game Syberia and its sequel. She's an American lawyer who is sent to Europe to assist with a corporate takeover of a small toy factory. But once she arrives, Kate meets a few interesting characters that lead her on a journey to a mythical realm populated by mammoths. And the whole time, she's dealing with a rocky relationship with her fiancé back home. Now that's multitasking.


Pros: She's got eye-catching looks, of course, plus sharp lawyer skills and a head for adventure and intrigue.


Cons: She's an overly ambitious workaholic, strung out and emotionally drained, and she constantly yaps on her cell phone.


Should be Played By: Jennifer Garner has the depth, charisma and classic beauty to make a great Kate Walker.


Jill Valentine, Resident Evil Series

As one of the two primary heroes of the first Resident Evil game, Jill Valentine has long held a place in the hearts of many gamers. A member of S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team, Jill is a well-trained soldier with a knack for picking locks. Plus, she knows how to handle fear, having been in more Resident Evil games than any other character. Whether she's wearing a military outfit or a blue tube top and miniskirt, we'd love to be in the middle of a "Jill Sandwich."


Pros: She's a true survivor and an elite fighting machine, not to mention a drop-dead gorgeous brunette.


Cons: Sadly, we can't exactly claim with 100% certainty that Jill is "disease free."


Was Played By: British actress and model Sienna Guillory, who I had never heard of before "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" but who looks great in the part.




Jill Valentine, the main female protagonist of the Resident Evil series

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Claire Redfield, Resident Evil Series

While Jill Valentine is the premiere Resident Evil heroine, Claire ain't all bad, either. A college student and motorcycle enthusiast, she's the younger sister of Resident evil hero Chris Redfield. In Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Claire searches for her missing brother while dodging infected zombies with Leon Kennedy. Don't let her pink outfit fool you; she's more of a biker chick.


Pros: A rugged beauty, Claire's got a daredevil attitude and is a quick learner when it comes to firearms.


Cons: She seems too attached to her brother to have much interest in other guys.

Will Be Played By: Ali Larter of "Heroes" and "Varsity Blues" fame, though we doubt we'll see Claire in a whipped cream bikini in the upcoming "Resident Evil: Extinction."




Claire Redfield, another memorable Resident Evil heroine



Ada Wong, Resident Evil Series

A secondary character in the Resident Evil series, Ada Wong is still a compelling figure as the femme fatale of the popular game series. She makes her first appearance in Resident Evil 2 as a companion to Leon Kennedy. It's later revealed, however, that she's a spy working on behalf of a mysterious outfit looking for the G-Virus. She rises from the dead several - literally - years later to play a role in the acclaimed Resident Evil 4 with her old flame Kennedy.


Pros: An utterly seductive temptress, she oozes sexiness even in zombie infested wastelands.


Cons: She often takes a snotty, condescending tone with people, and she's pretty much a revolving door of lies.


Should be Played By: Kelly Hu, because she'd look great in that red dress.




Ada Wong, the mysterious femme fatale of the Resident Evil series


PART 3 BELOW!!!

[QueenB]

PART THREE of the 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History.....

Originally Posted by TwitchGuru

Cate Archer, No One Lives Forever 1 And 2

She's pretty much the definition of a problem child, having been orphaned as a young teenager. But Cate Archer rose from being a juvenile delinquent and an extremely efficient thief to an operative in the anti-terrorism agency UNITY. As a delightfully retro 1960s British agent, Archer is the female equivalent of James Bond. She's irresistibly sexy, stubbornly headstrong and proficient with all sorts of Bond-like gadgets.


Pros: Cate has a wit and style that both male and female gamers can appreciate. And she has beautiful long legs.


Cons: She's a borderline kleptomaniac, and she can be a bit reckless at times.


Should be Played By: Kate Beckinsale, who shouldn't have any trouble playing a suave and seductive British agent.




The loveable British agent Cate Archer of No One Lives Forever 1 and 2



Sarah Kerrigan, StarCraft And StarCraft: Brood War

Sarah Kerrigan was born a very gifted human with psychic powers who is trained to become a ruthless Terran Ghost warrior. Unfortunately, she is betrayed by Terran rebel leader Arcturus Mengsk and left for dead during a battle with the Zerg, an enemy alien race. Instead of killing her, they harness her psychic powers and turn her into a Zerg warrior, also known as Queen of Blades. Kerrigan is without a doubt one of the most fascinatingly complex and memorable characters of all time.


Pros: She's got unbelievable psionic abilities and probably the most powerful woman in the universe.


Cons: She's got a crazy Medusa-like hairdo with scary skeletal wings. Plus, she's the self-described "queen bitch of the universe."


Should be Played By: A tough call, but I'm going with "Casino Royale's" Eva Green, who can pull off sexy, sinister and sympathetic all at once.


Victoria, Tribes: Vengeance

A forbidden love story as the plot to a sci-fi first-person shooter? Yes indeed. Victoria is one of the central characters in the most recent instalment of the Tribes series. She's a princess who's abducted by a Phoenix leader from a rival planet named Daniel, but she ends up falling in love with him. They have a child together, named Julia (see next entry below), but political infighting and war between their worlds eventually tears them apart and leads to tragedy.


Pros: Victoria is part of the royal family and soon to be queen, and she's got combat skills and a sinful body.


Cons: She can be a spoiled, whiny brat, plus she pulls a Black Widow on her husband.


Should be Played By: Jennifer Connelly, who's old enough to play a mom but still completely hot enough to play a warrior princess.



Julia, Tribes: Vengeance

Julia is the "******* child" of Princess Victoria and the Phoenix sub-clan leader Daniel. After tragedy strikes her family, she's oscillates between a political extremist and a deadly Phoenix warrior with bionic yellow eyes bent on revenge (hence the game's title). Throughout the game, she evolves and matures and eventually comes to learn the truth about the bloody clash between the tribes and discovers the true history of her family.


Pros: She's gritty, determined and headstrong, not to mention sexy.


Cons: She's pretty much consumed with family conflicts, Tribal warring and her parents' deaths. And the yellow eyes are freaky.


Should be Played By: Elisha Cuthbert, because she'd look good, even with freaky yellow eyes.




Julia and her weird yellow eyes in Tribes:Vengeance


Farah, Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time And The Two Thrones

The heroine of the Prince of Persia series, Farah is the Prince's companion beginning with The Sands of Time and continuing in The Two Thrones. Initially Farah hates the Prince but eventually she comes around and falls in love with him. She becomes an indispensable partner in the Prince's journey, thanks to her combat skills and ability to find and crawl through narrow passage ways.


Pros: She's an exotic beauty, she's great with a bow and arrow and she's the daughter of the Maharaja of India, so she's rich.


Cons: She might be a little too skinny. The way she slides through so many cracks in the walls, you'd think she had an eating disorder.


Should be Played By: Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai seems like the perfect choice for the movie, which is actually in the works.




Farah, the Prince of Persia's love interest and fellow adventurer



Kaileena, Prince Of Persia: Warrior Within And The Two Thrones

Voiced by actress Monica Bellucci, Kaileena is the enigmatic beauty at the heart of Warrior Within. When the Prince first meets her, she appears to be a damsel in distress and allies herself with the hero. However, Kaileena is actually a powerful being with a sinister agenda and she's got a date with destiny regarding the Prince. A multilayered character between heroine and villain, she gives a new definition to the term 'bad girl.'


Pros: Kaileena is incredibly gorgeous and ridiculously voluptuous, plus she can control time.


Cons: She's a treacherous seductress with a secret identity and ulterior motive.


Should be Played By: Why fight it? Bellucci has the voice, the acting skill and the body to play the role.


Carla Valenti, Indigo Prophecy (a.k.a. Fahrenheit)

The female lead in the unique mystery thriller Indigo Prophecy, Carla is a headstrong New York City police detective who's investigating the mysterious murder at the heart of the game's plot. A sharp detective and a sultry sex symbol, Carla is featured in a few rare, tastefully designed sex scenes during the course of the game (only in uncut "AO" versions of the game in North America, however).


Pros: She won't hesitate to shed her clothes and engage in some "quality time." Plus, she's got handcuffs.


Cons: She works long hours, is highly claustrophobic and is prone to anxiety attacks.


Should be Played By: Since Angelina Jolie is already taken, we'll go with Eva Mendes.




The smart and sexy detective Carla Valenti of Indigo Prophecy


Aerith/Aeris Gainsborough, Final Fantasy VII And More

There are almost too many Final Fantasy characters to count, but one of the most popular figures in the series is Aerith Gainsborough. She makes her first appearance as the heroine of Final Fantasy VII, arguably the greatest and most influential FF title. [SPOILER ALERT!] Aerith rises from a being a simple flower girl to a mysterious young woman with powerful magic abilities. Her heroic sacrifice and death in FF7 is one of the most powerful and memorable scenes of the Final Fantasy series - or any other game, for that matter.


Pros: She's as pure-hearted and soulful as any hero, and she's got the outer beauty to match the inner beauty.


Cons: Well, she's dead, so that's a major obstacle. However, there are rumours that she will make a comeback.


Should be Played By: Mandy Moore and Mena Suvari have supplied voice acting for Aerith, but I think Jena Malone ("Donnie Darko") would be the perfect choice.




Aerith Gainsborough, arguably the most treasured Final Fantasy character



Tifa Lockhart, Final Fantasy VII And More

The other female lead of Final Fantasy VII, Tifa Lockhart is a tough, mini-skirt wearing bartender turned martial arts expert who becomes a resistance fighter with the group Avalanche. She's a lifelong friend of Cloud Strife, the male hero of FF7, and at times competes for his affections with Aerith Gainsborough. A fearsome fighter who is at times emotionally insecure, Tifa is one of the more richly drawn and intricate female characters around.


Pros: She runs her own bar called "7th Heaven," wears sultry outfits and can pretty much beat up anybody.


Cons: Tifa tends to keep her feelings bottled up and has trouble expressing herself without her fists.


Should be Played By: Rachel Leigh Cook, who provided Tifa's voice in Kingdom Hearts and bears a strong resemblance to the character.




Tifa Lockhart, the bartender turned fearless fighter in Final Fantasy VII


PART FOUR BELOW!!!

[QueenB]

PART FOUR of the 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History.....

Originally Posted by TwitchGuru

Rikku, Final Fantasy X And X-2

There may not be a Final Fantasy more loveable than Rikku. She's young, feisty and highly talented when it comes to thievery and machinery. Rikku first appears as a companion to Tidus, the hero of Final Fantasy X, but she takes on a greater role in the sequel X-2, in which she helps Yuna (see entry below) in her quest to resolve a growing political conflict before it leads to violence on Spira. Whether it's battling with daggers and claws, stealing valuable items, or making weird hand gestures, Rikku is a joy.


Pros: She's got a bright personality, great sense of humour and plenty of abilities. Plus, she's totally cute.


Cons: She's underage (15 years old in X, 17 years old in X-2), so she's off limits.


Should be Played By: Evan Rachel Wood, who's around the right age and has the looks and the acting chops to bring Rikku to life.




The fun-loving and joyful Rikku of Final Fantasy X and X-2

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Yuna, Final Fantasy X And X-2

Another heroine in the Final Fantasy world, Yuna is more serious and not nearly as outgoing as her cousin and friend Rikku. However, she's a selfless, principled leader and, being the daughter of High Summoner Braska, a powerful sorceress. After completing her journey in FFX, she becomes a pistol-toting gunner in the sphere-hunting group Gullwings. More than anything else, Yuna's personal growth and spiritual awakenings drive the plot of X-2.


Pros: Proficient in both spells and range weapons, not to mention her great singing voice and alluring beauty.


Cons: Like Rikku, she's underage. And she's smitten with Tidus.


Should be Played By: I'd nominate Keisha Castle-Hughes, but it freaks me out that she got pregnant at age 16. So we'll go with Ellen Page of "X-Men: The Last Stand" and the completely twisted "Hard Candy."




The soulful Yuna of Final Fantasy X and X-2

Paine, Final Fantasy X-2

The last of the three female leads of Final Fantasy X-2, Paine is a new character to the Final Fantasy series. She's a punk rock Goth chick with a scary name, but Paine is also a deadly and mysterious warrior for the elite Crimson Squad. After many of her squad members are killed, Paine teams up with Yuna and Rikku and joins the Gullwinds. She's not as fun-loving or charismatic as her counterparts, but her bad girl style is unique.


Pros: She's the resident badass of the Final Fantasy females, she's sexy in a freaky goth kind of way and she's legal (18 years old).


Cons: She's bitter and cynical, plus she'd look a lot better if she dropped the whole Joan Jett look.


Should be Played By: Kristen Stewart of "Panic Room" and "Zathura," who can do the whole mean Goth look.




The goth-looking rebel Paine of Final Fantasy X-2


Alexandra Roivas, Eternal Darkness

In Eternal Darkness, one of the best GameCube titles and horror survival games, Alexandra is an advanced mathematics student at Washington University who learns that her grandfather has been murdered. After arriving at her grandfather's mansion, she discovers a mysterious book called the Tome of Eternal Darkness and becomes embroiled in a historic battle against evil forces. Scream queens in horror flicks are old hat, but Alex is a breath of fresh air for the horror survival games genre.


Pros: She's a brilliant, studious and brave numbers geek who's as gorgeous as she is smart.


Cons: She's begins to question her sanity when she begins reliving the experiences of people that have been dead for centuries.


Should be Played By: Veronica Mars! Kristen Bell can play a sexy math nerd turned amateur paranormal investigator in her sleep.




The scream queen Alexandra Roivas of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

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Jennifer Tate, Primal

Another strong female protagonist, but with a twist, Jennifer is a seemingly normal young woman with remarkable supernatural abilities in the PS2 title Primal. She discovers a fantasy world called Oblivion, where the balance between Order and Chaos has been disrupted. Jennifer sets out to correct the imbalance and along the way learns that she is part demon and mutates into four different kinds of demon races. Wow.


Pros: She's an alt-rock hottie with amazing powers and grace under pressure.


Cons: Being part demon, there's a chance Jen could end up looking like Sigourney Weaver at the end of "Ghostbusters." You could still be the Keymaster, I suppose, but still...


Should be Played By: Can Keira Knightley pull off an America accent? Actually, do I even care?




The devilish Jennifer Tate of Primal

Alice, American McGee's Alice

Now this is an interesting heroine. Game designer American McGee essentially picks up the "Alice in Wonderland" story years later, where an older Alice has become a suicidal, catatonic basket case trapped in an insane asylum. Alice, of course, returns to Wonderland, which has become a dark, evil realm in McGee's twisted update of the fairy tale.


Pros: Alice is now a ruthless, knife wielding badass. Plus, she's kind of cute in a totally demented way.


Cons: She's damaged goods, talks to animals and is clearly insane, though the hottest ones often are.


Will Be Played By: Buffy! Sarah Michelle Gellar is reportedly playing Alice in an upcoming film adaptation of the game scheduled for release later this year.




Mona Sax, Max Payne Series

Mona Sax is the femme fatale love interest of Max Payne in the popular action game series. She's a deadly assassin who also happens to be the twin sister of mobster wife Lisa Punchinello. Mona takes a liking to Payne, but also finds herself at odds with the vengeful, tortured hero. After she's apparently killed in Max Payne, she makes a return in the sequel as a playable character. A stone-cold killer who's incredibly tempting but not entirely trustworthy, Mona Sax is the perfect female accomplice to Max Payne.


Pros: She's as proficient a killer as any female game character, and she knows how to take a bullet or two and keep on going.


Cons: She's highly deceptive and murderous fugitive.


Should be Played By: Charlize Theron, who can do wonders with dark hair and dark characters.




The dangerous and irresistible Mona Sax of the Max Payne series

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SHODAN, System Shock And System Shock 2

There have been memorable villains in video game history, but none quite like SHODAN (Sentient Hyper-Optimized Data Access Network), the malicious artificial intelligence running the space station Citadel in the sci-fi horror title System Shock and its popular sequel. SHODAN goes insane after a certain hacker (the player) removes the program's ethical constraints. You don't see much of her, but she's everywhere, mocking you with her chilling, distorted voice. In System Shock 2, she really gets inside your head - so to speak.


Pros: Brilliant and powerful, SHODAN is a perfect, immortal machine


Cons: She's clearly insane and the deadliest A.I. villain since HAL-9000 in "2001: A Space Odyssey."


Should be Played By: the original voice of SHODAN, Terri Barous, who's also the former keyboardist and vocalist of the Boston rock band Tribe.


Cortana, Halo Series

Another A.I. character, but this time a benevolent force, Cortana is a SMART program constructed from the flash-cloned brain of Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, who created the super soldier Spartan-II project. She becomes an indispensable ally and close confidant of the Master Chief during Halo and Halo 2, and throughout the games she evolves into a more powerful and human-like being. Although she has no physical form, she's as fearless and dedicated as any Spartan soldier.


Pros: She can control battleships and infiltrate pretty much any security system with the blink of an eye.


Cons: She's entirely virtual and only has a life span of about seven years, plus she may be in the early stages of rampancy.


Should be Played By: Jennifer Love Hewitt, who's got a sweet voice and would look fantastic as a purple-coloured hologram.




Cortana, the Master Chief's faithful digital ally in the Halo series


PART FIVE BELOW!!!

[QueenB]

PART FIVE of the 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History.....

Originally Posted by TwitchGuru

Chun-Li, Streetfighter II And More

Chun-Li is one of the most influential female game characters of all time. Chun-Li first appeared in Streetfighter II in 1991, becoming one of the earliest prominent female action heroes in video games. As the only female playable character in Streetfighter II, she displayed amazing quickness and downed foes with her signature "Lightning Legs" attack. She's also thirsty for vengeance as she tracks down the evil M. Bison, who killed her father. A sexy street fighter, Chun-Li is an immortal video game


Pros: One of the first great video game heroines, Chun-Li's got killer legs, and she knows how to use them.


Cons: She caused an uproar with her infamous nude shower scene in "Streetfighter II: the Animated Movie," and hasn't been in very many good games since.


Was Played By: Ming-Na starred as Chun-Li in the 1994 "Streetfighter" movie, but a new film is being developed for 2008, and I'd love to see Lucy Liu in the role.




The immortal Chun-Li of Streetfighter II fame

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Kitana, Mortal Kombat Series

Another famous female fighter, Kitana is arguably the best known and most popular woman in the Mortal Kombat series. She's appeared in nine Mortal Kombat games and established herself as an enduring and powerful character with her deadly killing moves, a.k.a. fatalities, such as the Head Chop with her fan and the Kiss of Doom head explosion, which is straight out of "Scanners." Driver by hatred of her treacherous stepfather Shao Kahn and her love for the heroic Lui Kang, she eventually becomes a fighting champion of the Elder Gods.


Pros: She's a powerful princess that's lived more than 10,000 years and still hasn't lost her hotness.


Cons: Well, if you kiss her, she may make your head explode.


Was Played By: former Bond Girl Talisa Soto in the first two "Mortal Kombat" films, which weren't very good.




Mortal Kombat's Kitana, who's so good she'll make your head explode




Nina Williams, Tekken Series And Death By Degrees

There are quite a few female characters in the Tekken series, but one of the longest running characters and arguably the most recognizable Tekken woman is Nina Williams. A blonde bombshell and fighting machine, Nina morphed into a cold, remorseless assassin after the death of her father. She also has a fierce rivalry with her twin sister, Anna. Nina got her own spin-off title in 2005 with Death By Degrees and continues to be a prevailing action heroine, while proving you can be hot and cold at the same time.


Pros: She has without a doubt one of the best bodies in the business, and she doesn't take crap from anyone.


Cons: She became colder after being frozen in a cryogenic sleep for 20 years and discovering she had given birth to a son, Steve Fox.


Should be Played By: Sienna Miller would make a nice Nina for the movie, which is in development. Can she pull off an Irish accent? Don't know, and again, don't care.




The drop-dead gorgeous Nina Williams of the Tekken series and Death by Degrees


Ivy, Soul Calibur Series

Isabella "Ivy" Valentine first appeared in the first Soul Calibur and has quickly become a fan favourite with her range attacks and bombastic outfits. Ivy was raised in an upper class family in London. When her father goes crazy in his quest to find the Soul Edge, Ivy discovers she was adopted after being abandoned as an infant. Driven by rage, she sets out to find the blade herself and destroy it. An anti-hero who frequently clashes with other Souls, Ivy is a fascinating character for a fighting game.


Pros: She's one of the deadliest Soul Calibur warrior, plus she has possibly the best butt of any video game character.


Cons: Ivy's real father is an evil pirate who raped her mother, so she has some stability issues and anger management problems.


Should be Played By: Jennifer Lopez, who can match Ivy's booty.



Sophitia, Soul Calibur Series

Sophitia actually made her debut in the game Soul Edge, the precursor to the acclaimed fighting game series Soul Calibur. She starts out as a young woman working in her family's Greek bakery, who is ordered by the Greek god Hephaestus to obtain the powerful blade Soul Edge. With the holy weapon Omega Sword, Sophitia sets out to find the Soul Edge and gradually matures and grows into a formidable fighter with an array of deadly punisher moves. She's nicknamed "the emotional goddess," with good reason.


Pros: She's a virtuous heroin who's as brave as she is cute. And she can cook, too.


Cons: She's married with two kids. What a bummer.


Should be Played By: Kate Bosworth, but only if she puts a little weight back on.




Soul Calibur's Greek baker turned badass Sophitia


Taki, Soul Calibur Series

Taki, like Sophitia, first appeared in Soul Edge. She's a ninja who hunts demons with kodachi or a short sword she created and named the Rekki-maru. Teki learns that the Soul Edge was protected by her Fu-Ma clan and sets out to destroy the evil blade. She crosses paths with Sophitia and rescues her during a deadly battle. Originally, Taki wasn't very strong and relied on her incredible speed. But as the Soul Calibur series progresses, she became a stronger fighter.


Pros: She's a skilled and noble warrior with a shining spirit and stunning beauty.


Cons: Raised as an orphan, she leads a lonely life where the only thing that keeps her going is her quest for the Soul Edge.


Should be Played By: Zhan Ziyi, because even though she's Chinese, she's beautiful and we know she can handle the swords.




Taki, the deadly female Ninja of the Soul Calibur series

PART SIX BELOW!!!

[QueenB]

PART SIX of the 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History.....

Originally Posted by TwitchGuru

Annah, Planescape: Torment

The unique cult classic Planescape: Torment, based on the Dungeons & Dragons RPG campaign of the same name, features an interesting bit of voice acting casting. Scottish pop singer and actress Sheen Easton provides the voice for Annah-of-the-Shadows, a young demon-like creature. A savvy and independent thief, she joins the player on his quest. The game's developers, Black Isle Studios, reportedly based Annah on the "Archie Comics" character Betty. In a game that's power by dialogue and character rather than combat, Annah is a true standout.


Pros: Annah has a witty, sexy personality and doesn't look bad for a devil.


Cons: She's descended from demons and she has a long, creepy looking tail.

Should be Played By: Sheena's a little old for the part, so I'm going with another Scottish actress: Kelly Macdonald of "Trainspotting."




Annah-of-the-Shadows from Planescape: Torment



Viktoria, Thief Series

Viktoria is the mysterious woman behind the plot of Thief 1 and 2, the first-person stealth adventure games that takes place in a steam punk-like Middle Ages. In the first Thief, Viktoria is a sinister fence who hires Garret, the protagonist of the series, to steal a magical sword. [SPOILER ALERT!] A cunning thief in her own right, Viktoria evolves from a deceptive villain in the first game to a more benevolent companion to Garret in the sequel, which ends her heroic, sacrificial death. Her hypnotic voice is provided by Terri Brosius, who is the voice of SHODAN in System Shock 1 and 2.


Pros: She's a bad girl with charisma and style.


Cons: She's not entirely human - she's actually a tree spirit - and she's dead.


Should be Played By: Naomi Watts, who's got the sexy voice, beauty and charisma for the part.


Elexis Sinclaire, SiN Series

The villain of the SiN series, Elexis Sinclaire is the sultry and powerful CEO of SinTEK Industries, a giant bio-tech research company. She began as a child prodigy who took over her father's company. A highly complex and disturbed character, the incredibly ambitious Elexis is intent on pushing her genetic research beyond the limits of ethics and law. As a result, she develops a mutagenic drug to speed up human evolution. With the brains of a mad scientist and the body of an underwear model, Elexis is one of a kind.


Pros: She's a genius, a rich entrepreneur and a gorgeous looker.


Cons: Well, she's an evil genius who's obsessed with dangerous genetic research.


Should be Played By: Charisma Carpenter of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Veronica Mars," who's wickedly seductive.




The evil genius hottie Elexis Sinclaire of the SiN series


Rynn, Drakan: Order Of The Flame And Drakan: The Ancient's Gates

Rynn is the heroine of the Drakan fantasy action games. In the first game, Rynn sets out to rescue her younger brother, who's been kidnapped by an evil sorcerer. She meets and befriends an ancient dragon named Arokh to help her with her mission. The duo return in the Drakan sequel to battle an evil race known as the Desert Lords. An impulsive, strong-willed warrior, Rynn is a force even without a dragon partner.


Pros: Rynn boasts beautiful red hair and a strong, athletic build.


Cons: She's got an overprotective fire-breathing dragon at her side.


Should be Played By: Bryce Dallas Howard, because she's got lovely red hair.




Rynn and her dragon companion Arokh from the Drakan series



Grace Nakimura, Gabriel Knight Trilogy

Grace Nakimura is a bit of an anomaly in modern video games. A young scholarly Japanese-American college student, she looks like a bookworm and doesn't dress in sexy outfits or have out-sized proportions. Instead, Grace is armed with as much wit and intelligence as any female character in the history of games. As the loyal assistant to author Gabriel Knight, she bails him out of trouble on a number of occasions throughout the series. Perhaps more than any other female character, Grace puts brains back into adventure gaming.


Pros: She's studious, diligent and wise beyond her years, and she doesn't look half-bad wearing glasses.


Cons: Raised in a traditional Japanese household, she's a little too formal and restrained and can be a bit of a heartbreaker.


Should be Played By: Grace Park of "Battlestar Galactica," because even though she's Korean, she'd be great wearing Grace's eyeglasses and witty persona.


Jaheira, Baldur's Gate Series

There are plenty of characters in Bioware's popular RPG series Baldur's Gate, but Jaheira is probably the most memorable of them all. A half-Elf Druid and fighter, Jaheira is a complicated and multi-layered character. She's a strong, smart-minded warrior who at times can become brash and abrasive, as well as emotionally vulnerable. After her husband Khalid is killed in the first Baldur's Gate, she becomes a pivotal figure in the outcome of the sequels.


Pros: She's got plenty of talent as a Druid and a fighter, plus she's got a magnetic personality that seems to cast a spell on those around her.


Cons: Having endured numerous tragedies, she's a hardened woman and can be extremely difficult to romance.


Should be Played By: Personally, I think French actress Ludivine Sagnier would rock the house as Jaheira, but that's just me.




The complex heroine Jaheira of the Baldur's Gate series


The Recap


View Slide Show (49 images)


Here is a recap of the list, in no particular order:

1. Lara Croft, Tomb Raider series
2. Samus Aran, Metroid series
3. Princess Zelda, The Legend of Zelda series
4. Princess Peach, Mario series and others
5. Princess Daphne, Dragon's Lair
6. Alyx Vance, Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2 Episodes
7. Joanna Dark, Perfect Dark and Perfect Dark Zero
8. Rayne, BloodRayne 1 and 2
9. Meryl Silverburgh, Metal Gear Solid series
10. EVA, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
11. The Boss, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
12. April Ryan, The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
13. Zoe Castillo, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
14. Jade, Beyond Good and Evil
15. Kate Walker, Syberia 1 and 2
16. Jill Valentine, Resident Evil series
17. Claire Redfield, Resident Evil series
18. Ada Wong, Resident Evil series
19. Cate Archer, No One Lives Forever 1 and 2
20. Sarah Kerrigan, StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War
21. Victoria, Tribes: Vengeance
22. Julia, Tribes: Vengeance
23. Farah, The Prince of Persia series
24. Kaileena, The Prince of Persia series
25. Carla Valenti, Indigo Prophecy (a.k.a. Fahrenheit)
26. Aerith Gainsborough, Final Fantasy
27. Tifa Lockhart, Final Fantasy series
28. Rikku, Final Fantasy series
29. Yuna, Final Fantasy series
30. Paine, Final Fantasy X-2
31. Alexandra Roivas, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
32. Jennifer Tate, Primal
33. Alice, American McGee's Alice
34. Mona Sax, Max Payne 1 and 2
35. SHODAN, System Shock 1 and 2
36. Cortana, Halo series
37. Chun-Li, Streetfighter series
38. Kitana, Mortal Kombat series
39. Nina Williams, Tekken series and Death By Degrees
40. Ivy, Soul Calibur series
41. Sophitia, Soul Calibur series
42. Taki, Soul Calibur series
43. Kasumi, DOA: Dead or Alive series
44. Tina Armstrong, DOA: Dead or Alive series
45. Annah, Planescape: Torment
46. Viktoria, Thief series
47. Elexis Sinclaire, SiN series
48. Rynn, Drakan 1 and 2
49. Grace Nakimura, Gabriel Knight trilogy
50. Jaheira, Baldur's Gate series

That was a huge article but, as GirlGamers I think its so worth having here and enjoyable to read too - GIRLS ROCK!!!!!

[Sharm]

Sweet! Nice article Glad to see Kitana and Taki in there, they are 2 of my favourite characters too ^^

[Bex]

Yup, definitely worth while reading, cuz girl gamers DO ROCK!!!!!

Thanks for posting it up, must have took some time
(yeh that emote tis overused on here today, but, all deserved )

Great list and great reading through

[Hayz]

Cool list. Great to read.

[Miss Chief]

I have to bump this, I hope thats ok. This is a great list and theres more female characters than I thought in games, main characters. Soul Calibur had so many great female characters .