Besides the form fitting armor, Kat in Halo: Reach is a pretty good character. She is a strong person and shows it. She is also intrical to the feel of the story.
are there any non-sexualized/stereotypical female characters in games?
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I would say Liara Tsoni, especially in ME2(technicaly not female but I don't care) also the Female Shepard.
Uhh.... well..... um.... this is proving to be surprisingly difficult.....
Hm. I guess.... well, in Mass Effect or Dragon Age, you could change the appearance and behaviour of the main character.... but maybe that doesn't count, since it's a character you control.
Geez, I can think of over 10 strong, independent, non-sexualised female characters in books.... but I'm still struggling to think of one in a video game.
Samus I guess. Well, before "Other M" and all that stupid zero suit malarkey. Morrigan's Mother in Dragon Age is also one (but clearly not morrigan herself, who was blatantly and embarrassingly sexualised). Oh, and Wynne, also from Dragon Age.
It's true that almost all female character in almost all video games have been designed to appear beautiful to most people, but the same thing can be said about male characters in almost all video games. Nathan Drake isn't exactly a "standard" guy. Male characters often have ridiculously macho physiques, rarely seen outside a gym or a wrestling competition or a motorbike club. That certainly doesn't excuse the sexualisation of females in video games, but be aware that it cuts both ways.
Look, I don't mind good-looking women. I certainly understand why men like to look at good looking women. What I don't like is how transparent and cliched it all is. I wouldn't mind if some female video-game characters did look like super-models, as long as they included some that didn't.
For example, I was playing FFXIII recently, and there is not ONE ugly or fat character in that WHOLE GAME with the exception of the "Main villain" who was about 95 anyway. Literally EVERY SINGLE HUMAN CHARACTER AND NPC in that game looks like they got a life-time of perfect plastic surgery and liposuction. It's unrealistic, and downright unnerving.
OH! I JUST REMEMBERED! Chell, from Portal. There. That's pretty much the only one I can point to.
Hm. I guess.... well, in Mass Effect or Dragon Age, you could change the appearance and behaviour of the main character.... but maybe that doesn't count, since it's a character you control.
Geez, I can think of over 10 strong, independent, non-sexualised female characters in books.... but I'm still struggling to think of one in a video game.
Samus I guess. Well, before "Other M" and all that stupid zero suit malarkey. Morrigan's Mother in Dragon Age is also one (but clearly not morrigan herself, who was blatantly and embarrassingly sexualised). Oh, and Wynne, also from Dragon Age.
It's true that almost all female character in almost all video games have been designed to appear beautiful to most people, but the same thing can be said about male characters in almost all video games. Nathan Drake isn't exactly a "standard" guy. Male characters often have ridiculously macho physiques, rarely seen outside a gym or a wrestling competition or a motorbike club. That certainly doesn't excuse the sexualisation of females in video games, but be aware that it cuts both ways.
Look, I don't mind good-looking women. I certainly understand why men like to look at good looking women. What I don't like is how transparent and cliched it all is. I wouldn't mind if some female video-game characters did look like super-models, as long as they included some that didn't.
For example, I was playing FFXIII recently, and there is not ONE ugly or fat character in that WHOLE GAME with the exception of the "Main villain" who was about 95 anyway. Literally EVERY SINGLE HUMAN CHARACTER AND NPC in that game looks like they got a life-time of perfect plastic surgery and liposuction. It's unrealistic, and downright unnerving.
OH! I JUST REMEMBERED! Chell, from Portal. There. That's pretty much the only one I can point to.
Tennenbaum and Lamb from BioShock, Faith from Mirrors Edge, Sarah Lyons from Fallout 3, Zoey and Rochelle from Left 4 Dead, Many women from the Mass Effect games, Chell from Portal, Alyx from Half Life, and there's obviously a few more that I can't think of right now.
And to those saying Samus, you must be forgetting about her armour having a habit of flying off to show the skin-tight zero suit or a little bikini.
And to those saying Samus, you must be forgetting about her armour having a habit of flying off to show the skin-tight zero suit or a little bikini.
Well, from some Final Fantasy titles.
Terra, Aeris (she wears a dress), Rinoa, Yuna (in FFX not X-2), Ashe, Lightning (yes, she's cold, but not a blatantly sexual), Agrias (the Holy Knight in FFT)
If you play the Suikoden games, I'd say that about 80% or better of the female characters are not overtly sexual (and every game has 108 characters). Hell, in Suikoden 2 the main character's sister, Nanami, is a tomboy.
In Suikoden 3, one of the main characters is a female knight who leads an entire army.
I also don't think Madison was overly sexual in Heavy Rain. Yes, I'm well aware of the nightclub scene, but that was more her using her sexuality to her advantage. I'd say she owned it, rather than being owned by it. Like say...
Terra, Aeris (she wears a dress), Rinoa, Yuna (in FFX not X-2), Ashe, Lightning (yes, she's cold, but not a blatantly sexual), Agrias (the Holy Knight in FFT)
If you play the Suikoden games, I'd say that about 80% or better of the female characters are not overtly sexual (and every game has 108 characters). Hell, in Suikoden 2 the main character's sister, Nanami, is a tomboy.
Yeah, it's an old game, but I'd rather not spoil it for anyone that might become interested in one of the best RPGs out there.
Near the end of the game, Nanami saves the hero and his friend from a barrage of arrows. The last one hits her, and she dies unless you recruited all 108 characters before that point (though they still pretend she dies for some reason).
Near the end of the game, Nanami saves the hero and his friend from a barrage of arrows. The last one hits her, and she dies unless you recruited all 108 characters before that point (though they still pretend she dies for some reason).
In Suikoden 3, one of the main characters is a female knight who leads an entire army.
I also don't think Madison was overly sexual in Heavy Rain. Yes, I'm well aware of the nightclub scene, but that was more her using her sexuality to her advantage. I'd say she owned it, rather than being owned by it. Like say...
I noticed it took awhile to get Samus on this list...sure it was still in the first page, but still, I was amazed at how she was kinda low, probably because of her newest game probably 
I have to say, having just finished playing Kotor for a bit, the characters in that game are characterized well. Mission is only 14, but she still acts strong, Bastilla is actually upset that people treated her like a woman, Juhani (I think that was her name, right?) also strong, and even the characters in the 2nd game are characterized well, from the (I love this fact) Feminist Handmaiden to Kreia, the Kotor series has some strong characterized women, though they don't get much face time if you think about it, huh
I have to say, having just finished playing Kotor for a bit, the characters in that game are characterized well. Mission is only 14, but she still acts strong, Bastilla is actually upset that people treated her like a woman, Juhani (I think that was her name, right?) also strong, and even the characters in the 2nd game are characterized well, from the (I love this fact) Feminist Handmaiden to Kreia, the Kotor series has some strong characterized women, though they don't get much face time if you think about it, huh
Sure Zoey form Dreamfall had a good character, an interesting subplot and all. but that doesn't change the fact that Dreamfall (whilst being a good game, i stress) opened with Zoey sitting in a room in a bra and panty...and ended with zoey trapped in a dream world....in her bra and panty.... i mean, WTF?
Maybe it's been said, maybe not. Don't care.
The Game Overthinker, the gamer persona of Escapist's own Moviebob, has a video wherein he does a deep character analysis of Bayonetta that I think neatly straddles the line of being sexualized but NOT stereotypical. As he puts it, "Oh she wants it, alright, she's just pretty doubtful that you're the one who's gonna deliver." Bayonetta's about as non-stereotypical as a video game woman can be.
Incidentally, if we wanted to talk specifically about "non-sexualized" characters, well, in that same Overthinker video, he talks about two basic types of women you can expect from a game, naming the two flavors Chun-Li and Cammy, both from Street Fighter; in this case, we're talking about Cammy. She's extremely attractive, sexually, until you look in her eyes. Her demeanour and facial expressions, at nearly every moment, fairly well shout that she's just "not interested," to the point where she might as well be completely sexless. Samus Aran and, to a lesser extent, Lara Croft both also fit this mold.
On the other hand, there are a lot of female characters that are very hot, but make no fuss about it whatsoever either way. The first example that leaps to mind is Fran the Viera, from Final Fantasy XII; on top of being gorgeous, she sets off a number of fetishes, what with her bunny ears, the leather dominatrix thing, complete with stilleto heels, and so on. And yet, for all the fetish fuel, not one person in the game brings it up with her, neither does anybody mention the METAL THONGS worn by the Viera sentries. So, in a way, Fran is non-sexualized by not "strutting her stuff," so to speak, AND she's not exactly stereotypical because she does casually kick ass, yet is not an ice queen, like Cammy.
The Game Overthinker, the gamer persona of Escapist's own Moviebob, has a video wherein he does a deep character analysis of Bayonetta that I think neatly straddles the line of being sexualized but NOT stereotypical. As he puts it, "Oh she wants it, alright, she's just pretty doubtful that you're the one who's gonna deliver." Bayonetta's about as non-stereotypical as a video game woman can be.
Incidentally, if we wanted to talk specifically about "non-sexualized" characters, well, in that same Overthinker video, he talks about two basic types of women you can expect from a game, naming the two flavors Chun-Li and Cammy, both from Street Fighter; in this case, we're talking about Cammy. She's extremely attractive, sexually, until you look in her eyes. Her demeanour and facial expressions, at nearly every moment, fairly well shout that she's just "not interested," to the point where she might as well be completely sexless. Samus Aran and, to a lesser extent, Lara Croft both also fit this mold.
On the other hand, there are a lot of female characters that are very hot, but make no fuss about it whatsoever either way. The first example that leaps to mind is Fran the Viera, from Final Fantasy XII; on top of being gorgeous, she sets off a number of fetishes, what with her bunny ears, the leather dominatrix thing, complete with stilleto heels, and so on. And yet, for all the fetish fuel, not one person in the game brings it up with her, neither does anybody mention the METAL THONGS worn by the Viera sentries. So, in a way, Fran is non-sexualized by not "strutting her stuff," so to speak, AND she's not exactly stereotypical because she does casually kick ass, yet is not an ice queen, like Cammy.
I wouldn't call Samus completely sexless. I think that it's just where we play her as. All her games (except the new ones) have her either alone or working w/ aliens. When we got the skin tight zero suit, she never flaunts her stuff, she treats it as her outfit and at that, but she still feels compasion. If you look at Metroid Fusion, her monologs telling us about Adam, who may be a father like figure, but still emotion of compasion, but not where she's crying her eyes out (that we know at least, under that hood she has) like a teenager who's been scolded by her parents.Mafoobula said:
I think Samus is a strong female character because while she doesn't go out and flirt with the guys, she doesn't forget the fact that she's a woman. I will quite Other M (sadly) and point out that even while done not too wonderful, the part where she would give a thumbs down was to label herself as a woman, but she was still strong willed and as tough as any of the guys. Also from Fusion, Adam's "Any Objections Lady" line was a perfect way to show that there was acknowledgment of her gender, without singling her out to be weaker or feeble or anything.
I find the worst female characters the ones who try to hide behind feminist motives and lines, feminism being the same as racism, just hurting causes nowadays, where women demand to be treated like women, but not like women. I'm not against women's rights at all, however, when a woman gets mad over something because she feels like she's being treated "as a woman," but then gets mad she didn't get something because "she's a woman," it's not helping.
Maybe more women characters should hide is power armor and spend all their time on hostile, desolate planets where the only times we hear them is grunt from damage or yell when dead, lol (kidding, though I already miss 1st person Metroid games...fare thee well, Metroid Prime trilo, I knew the oh so well...)
Lucy Stillman from Assassins creed 2. i realize that she was voiced and face-modeled after a real, quite hot actress and thus is pretty hot herself, but at the same time, she is an independent spirit who risked her life to spy on the templars for the assassins order. all the while tastefully covering her assets. overall, not sexualized at all.
Also, Anna Grimsdottir (never figured out how to spell that) from Splinter Cell. Come to think of it, Ubisoft makes more Stereotypical Male characters than Females. i.e. Sam Fisher, Altair, Prince O' Persia. (not Ezio)
Also, Anna Grimsdottir (never figured out how to spell that) from Splinter Cell. Come to think of it, Ubisoft makes more Stereotypical Male characters than Females. i.e. Sam Fisher, Altair, Prince O' Persia. (not Ezio)
Yes.NeutralDrow said:
And might i add Fire Emblem?
Hell, Lyn, Serra, Valdia, Percilla, Karla, Rebecca, Florina, Farina, and Nino.
And these are just from Fire Emblem on the GBA.
Radian Dawn, Path of Radiance, Shadow Dragon, and even Sacred Stones have a ton of Strong Female characters that actually play a huge part in the story.
And Kick massive amounts of Ass.
And don't get me started on Samus.
Hmm. Any non-sexualised/non-stereotypical female characters? Mind you, I'm only thinking of people at main character status here. Well, I do suppose that any female character who can become a love interest is inherently sexualised, no matter how strong or well-rounded they are.
The ones I immediately think of who break the mould are more mature characters like Wynne or Samara (catsuit armour and blue skin not withstanding). Sure, they do come across as fulfilling a matronly role, which is somewhat stereotypical, but they definitely defy that just as much as they adhere to it. They aren't exactly sitting in a rocking chair and knitting sweaters, are they? Samara is also probably the only time I've seen a fictional character in a game who is set up with 'love interest'-style dialogue where she always rejects the PC if they make advances, which is kind of awesome, in a slightly depressing way, because I found her more interesting than most of the new cast of characters and wanted to get closer to her.
Anyone else? Um. God, I'm not thinking very well today, am I? My brain is foggy. ><
...I do have one suggestion, but feel free to disagree with me on this one. Even though Sophia Lamb is so evil that it's hard not to detest her, I would count her. Is she a stereotype? Not of women or female characters, no. She represents a political ideal taken to its extreme, which is far more interesting and complex than the archetypes of 'wife' 'mother' 'child' 'seductress' etc, even if she may draw inspiration from some of those aspects.
The ones I immediately think of who break the mould are more mature characters like Wynne or Samara (catsuit armour and blue skin not withstanding). Sure, they do come across as fulfilling a matronly role, which is somewhat stereotypical, but they definitely defy that just as much as they adhere to it. They aren't exactly sitting in a rocking chair and knitting sweaters, are they? Samara is also probably the only time I've seen a fictional character in a game who is set up with 'love interest'-style dialogue where she always rejects the PC if they make advances, which is kind of awesome, in a slightly depressing way, because I found her more interesting than most of the new cast of characters and wanted to get closer to her.
Anyone else? Um. God, I'm not thinking very well today, am I? My brain is foggy. ><
...I do have one suggestion, but feel free to disagree with me on this one. Even though Sophia Lamb is so evil that it's hard not to detest her, I would count her. Is she a stereotype? Not of women or female characters, no. She represents a political ideal taken to its extreme, which is far more interesting and complex than the archetypes of 'wife' 'mother' 'child' 'seductress' etc, even if she may draw inspiration from some of those aspects.
I agree for the most part, but in most of the games, Samus hasn't really had any characterization. Other M gave her some character, but... well, I don't think how opinions are divided needs to be said again. That said, to give Other M some credit, she is still capable of some serious badassery through gameplay.Twilight_guy said:
Even if Sakomoto should have been kept an eye on when he was deciding on the story.
The zero suit as in the one introduced in Metroid: Zero Mission? Bullshit. The 'zero suit' in the games before Zero Mission came out amounts to 'space bikini'. The Zero Suit is merely a skin-tight jumpsuit, and I can see the necessity in wearing it while in her power suit.00slash00 said:
Also, I think Mirror's Edge's protagonist is called 'Faith'.
How is Kerrigan not sexualised? Skin tight metal suits and a sniper rifle seem like they were going for sexual appeal there.Flying-Emu said:
There's a problem even with doing that though. Psylocke is a re-creation of Elizabeth Braddock and is designed to be like that.Raeden said:
Anna/Nina Williams bring up the same problem as Mature/Vice from KoF and others - some women sexualise themselves - it's part of their power/mystique. See Katie Price.
And Peach...Let's take a quick look at her. She's a monarch, one of the sole human-looking ones in that kingdom and she actually fights, drives, plays football/golf for herself? That tends to beat most of our monarchs.
Even with Mai Shiranui - who just epitomises male fantasy - there's a lot more background into how she reacts than Alyx Vance. And a hell of a lot more than Johnny Cage - who is a sexualised male stereotype - even his move set.