are there any non-sexualized/stereotypical female characters in games?

[Azaraxzealot]

i havent seen any... most female characters i see are highly stereotypical (ex: See all JRPGs) or highly sexualized (ex: See all JRPGs and Lara Croft)

or they're just there to be there (ex: Dana Mercer in Prototype)

i designed some myself and tried to make them as NON-SEXUALIZED and NON-STEREOTYPICAL as possible, but it's really difficult when you suck at drawing...

i guess the best example of a "normal" female character would have to be female Commander Shepherd (she's a good character all around). but i dunno if she counts since "default Shepherd" is male.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Your JRPG bias is showing.

I'd have to say Freya from Final Fantasy 9. Back in the year 2000.

Not very girly, or sexual. Unless you're appealing to the fetish market, that is.

 

[Painful illusion]

Alyx Vance is the prime example of a non-sexualized/stereotypical female character. She has a purpose and a key aspect to the story.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Alyx Vance is the prime example of a non-sexualized/stereotypical female character. She has a purpose and a key aspect to the story.

I wish I could say the same for Zoey and Rochelle, sadly. They are truly token girls.

STOP QUOTING ME ON THIS. READ MY POST A FEW POSTS BELOW THIS, WHERE I TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE MORE. And then quote that.

 

[MurderousToaster]

^ EDIT: Lol at the post above me.



The Left 4 Dead women are actually pretty non-stereotypical. You have Zoey, a sort of loner-type who spent the majority of her time in her Dad's apartment watching horror films and Rochelle who's a journalist who got involved via being assigned there.

 

[glodud]

the main character in portal

 

[Jark212]

Not very girly, or sexual.

Spoiler

Maybe not to you...

I'd also have to vote for Alyx Vance as the most non-sexualized and non-stereotyped female character I know of...

 

[Blame]

The Boss, Metal Gear Solid 3

 

[jumjalalabash]

Jade, Beyond Good and Evil

 

[SleepyOtter]

cause when nerds make a game most of them are not good at making character plots without spelling it out to the audience saying "THAT IS A GIRL" or "HE'S REALLY MANLY AND TOTALLY NOT GAY". Of course when a group of mature nerds get a hold of it like Valve or Bioware they actually have people who understand storytelling and character development.

 

[JWRosser]

I think that Final Fantasy has had some strong, non-sexual female characters, and I don't mean stone cold ones like Lightning - I mean characters that are actually likeable.

As mentioned, Freya from FFIX. Likewise, Beatrix from FFIX (that said, you could see a cleavage, tut tut). Then you got the token 'spunky' FF girl, like Selphie or Rikku.

 

[Scarecrow]

The boss in saints row 2.

 

[Owlgravy]

Jade, Beyond good and evil. And all others of the female characters from BG&E thinking about it.

 

[Trivun]

Alyx Vance is the prime example of a non-sexualized/stereotypical female character. She has a purpose and a key aspect to the story.

Actually, although I have played Half Life, I can think of a better character than Alyx, from a different game, who is even more non-sexualised/stereotypical than even her. And that is April Ryan, from The Longest Journey/Dreamfall. Pretty much like Alyx, but one can assume that Alyx was effectively put into the Half Life series as a foil to Gordon, and more specifically as a love interest (especially considering some of Eli's comments to both her and Gordon).

Whereas April Ryan is an integral part of the Dreamfall series (well, she is the main character in the first and one of three playable characters in the second game...), but more than that, she's down-to-earth, realistic, and she has a personality that allows the player to really engage with her on an emotional level. I'll admit freely that when I first played The Longest Journey, I really empathised with her as a character, which is something no other game has ever made me do. Not even Half Life. April Ryan is the embodiment of this thread's basis.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that the developers still managed to design her as a very attractive young woman without sexualising her...

 

[chinangel]

I think that Final Fantasy has had some strong, non-sexual female characters, and I don't mean stone cold ones like Lightning - I mean characters that are actually likeable.

As mentioned, Freya from FFIX. Likewise, Beatrix from FFIX (that said, you could see a cleavage, tut tut). Then you got the token 'spunky' FF girl, like Selphie or Rikku.

I disagree with Selphie and Rikku, but I agree with Beatrix.

Rikku is..well look at her. Sexualized in number 2, but barely passable in number 1. And selphie...well...goes into combat in a miniskirt. Not so much sexualized as much as she is a ditz, so stereotype.

As for Beatrix...badass. I love her, i have based characters off her, and there isn't anything wrong with cleavage. Being a power-female doesn't mean denying your sexuality, it means not sacrificing function for fashion.

Beatrix doesn't do this, she has cleavage because she is comfortable with her body and, let's face it, when you walk around in the sun all day you're going to get hot. Her knights of Venus armor is a different story entirely but...what can you do. This is final fantasy.

Lightning...I like her. My only problem with her is that she is a really awkward character.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I wish I could say the same for Zoey and Rochelle, sadly. They are truly token girls.

^ EDIT: Lol at the post above me.



The Left 4 Dead women are actually pretty non-stereotypical. You have Zoey, a sort of loner-type who spent the majority of her time in her Dad's apartment watching horror films and Rochelle who's a journalist who got involved via being assigned there.

Ahh...but they are token. One girl per group, purely for diversity. Admittedly, Valve can't really give any of the characters "depth" in the Left 4 Dead games, only little snippets. And true, what little we know of them hasn't been sexualized or is stereotypical, but with this little to go on, I'm not sure they should be even considered for this. Each character in Left 4 Dead is essentially a palette swap. They don't have exclusive abilities or anything.

 

[MurderousToaster]

I wish I could say the same for Zoey and Rochelle, sadly. They are truly token girls.

^ EDIT: Lol at the post above me.



The Left 4 Dead women are actually pretty non-stereotypical. You have Zoey, a sort of loner-type who spent the majority of her time in her Dad's apartment watching horror films and Rochelle who's a journalist who got involved via being assigned there.

Ahh...but they are token. One girl per group, purely for diversity. Admittedly, Valve can't really give any of the characters "depth" in the Left 4 Dead games, only little snippets. And true, what little we know of them hasn't been sexualized or is stereotypical, but with this little to go on, I'm not sure they should be even considered for this. Each character in Left 4 Dead is essentially a palette swap. They don't have exclusive abilities or anything.

I see what you mean. They might not have put them in if nobody cared about diversity and equality. But the majority of the character development can only be found if you try - i.e read the comics released, listen to their sound bites etc. This is kind of a stupid way to develop characters, but I guess that's just how Valve do their thang.

 

[Delock]

Aya from Parasite Eve (despite ads for the game missing the point).
Wears appropriate clothing (a jacket, jeans, and a shirt without cleavage, partly to conceal body armor she wears, but also because it's christmas in new york. Note: she does wear a slightly revealing black dress at the beginning, but she was on a date to an opera, and the dress in question was actually reasonable, so I'm willing to say it's ok)
She does have a breakdown part of the way through, but this relates more to the fact that the insanity going on, coupled with the fact that there's a chance she herself might be a horrible monster much like Eve is weighing heavily on her mind as she's fighting to survive in the cold abandoned New York City.
Yes, then there's Alyx Vance, Chell, Shepard (ME), Zoey, Rochelle, The Boss (MGS), Jade (BG&E), Kat, and Dr. Halsey (Yes Halo has two examples. Other developers may hang their heads in shame now).

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Alyx Vance is the prime example of a non-sexualized/stereotypical female character. She has a purpose and a key aspect to the story.

Actually, although I have played Half Life, I can think of a better character than Alyx, from a different game, who is even more non-sexualised/stereotypical than even her. And that is April Ryan, from The Longest Journey/Dreamfall. Pretty much like Alyx, but one can assume that Alyx was effectively put into the Half Life series as a foil to Gordon, and more specifically as a love interest (especially considering some of Eli's comments to both her and Gordon). Whereas April Ryan is an integral part of the Dreamfall series (well, she is the main character in the first and one of three playable characters in the second game...), but more than that, she's down-to-earth, realistic, and she has a personality that allows the player to really engage with her on an emotional level. I'll admit freely that when I first played The Longest Journey, I really empathised with her as a character, which is something no other game has ever made me do. Not even Half Life. April Ryan is the embodiment of this thread's basis.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that the developers still managed to design her as a very attractive young woman without sexualising her...

Or even Zoey, from the sequel that no one ever mentions. How do I always forget about April? TLJ was the first game I ever bought on Steam.