Which game has the best Female lead character?

[Thespamanator]

Ok, in your opinion which game has the best female lead character? I'm thinking more in respect to how they are portrayed / How they make the game different to those that have a Male main character.
Go discuss =]

 

[Inverse Skies]

Perfect Dark at the moment... Possibly FFXIII but I can't comment on that one yet as it isn't out.

 

[Psyco Slim]

Mass Effect.
Because you can opt to not be a big-titted, barely-dressed, empty-headed 20-something.

damn right. i agree

(reapers unite!)

 

[Kiefer13]

Mass Effect.
Because you can opt to not be a big-titted, barely-dressed, empty-headed 20-something.

Yeah, this basically.

 

[RheynbowDash]

Metroid.

Samas Aran is the greatest female lead character in the history of video games.

and yes this includes that pansy Lara Croft.

 

[Goldeneye103X2]

Perfect Dark at the moment... Possibly FFXIII but I can't comment on that one yet as it isn't out.

I'm saying FFXIII as well. Once it's out, that is.

 

[lava_lamp]

beyond good and evil

 

[sanzo]

Metroid.

Samas Aran is the greatest female lead character in the history of video games.

and yes this includes that pansy Lara Croft.

I'll second Samus

 

[Andalusa]

Mass Effect.
Because you can opt to not be a big-titted, barely-dressed, empty-headed 20-something.

damn right. i agree

(reapers unite!)

I was just playing this actually, I completely agree.
Although you could say this is the case with most games in which you can choose whether to play male or female.

 

[Trivun]

Mass Effect.
Because you can opt to not be a big-titted, barely-dressed, empty-headed 20-something.

This. Also Oblivion, for the same reason.

Non-RPG though, where you don't have any sort of choice, I would say FFXIII, even though it isn't out yet (looking forward to it though ), simply because we're dealing with a female character who, although fitting many of the standard JRPG heroine qualities, actually seems to be a strong character who can take care of herself. I don't necessarily mean physically strong either, but actually able to look after herself and not rely on anyone else to mollycoddle her through the story.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

The Longest Journey. No-one else comes close to April Ryan. Its difficult to make a teenage girl character who can universally be sympathised with and this was done admirably in this game.

 

[Elijin]

Metroid, easily. Because for most of the games, the gender wasnt even that much of a factor. No one cared, it wasnt a big deal. They didnt make it a novelty or gimmick to be used to broaden the target audience or exploit sex selling. Which I spose doesnt really address the original question about how its different then a male lead....but thats my point, too many games with female leads do it for gimmicky reasons to shift more units off the shelves and into our homes =(

Also, since I didnt finish the first games, I retract these comments if the games contradict me further in then I got.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Mass Effect.
Because you can opt to not be a big-titted, barely-dressed, empty-headed 20-something.

and the game is poorer for it.

I so want to be a big-titted, barely-dressed, empty-headed 20-something.

 

[Ghost]

Metroid, easily. Because for most of the games, the gender wasnt even that much of a factor. No one cared, it wasnt a big deal. They didnt make it a novelty or gimmick to be used to broaden the target audience or exploit sex selling. Which I spose doesnt really address the original question about how its different then a male lead....but thats my point, too many games with female leads do it for gimmicky reasons to shift more units off the shelves and into our homes =(

Also, since I didnt finish the first games, I retract these comments if the games contradict me further in then I got.

same with portal

 

[Inverse Skies]

Perfect Dark at the moment... Possibly FFXIII but I can't comment on that one yet as it isn't out.

I'm saying FFXIII as well. Once it's out, that is.

Lol, you can't say anything until then though! You'd be labelled a fanboy haha

 

[Metalchair]

either Metroid, Mass Effect, or Left 4 Dead. Samus cuz she could pound anyone into the ground, Mass Effect cuz its a change of pace from all the half naked female protagonists, and Left 4 Dead cuz Zoey is a helluva zombie slayer

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

Metroid.

Samas Aran is the greatest female lead character in the history of video games.

and yes this includes that pansy Lara Croft.

THIS. Samus is a strong, capable, intelligent woman, one of the first female leads in gaming, dresses appropriately for the task at hand, and doesn't fall into the "badass Hollywood action girl," or the "airheaded 20 year old bimbo" stereotpyes. She is just as strong as any of the male characters, and her gender really doesn't affect how she does her job (unless she is in her zero suit). While she isn't overly "girly", she is not afraid to let her femininity show through at appropriate moments, such as when she shows maternal feelings for the metroid that thought she was her mother. She is the polar opposite of Lara Croft and the Bikini Zombie Slayer Samurai Sqaud or whatever they're called, and I love her for that.

EDIT- Added a sentence

 

[DigitalSushi]

Metroid, easily. Because for most of the games, the gender wasnt even that much of a factor. No one cared, it wasnt a big deal. They didnt make it a novelty or gimmick to be used to broaden the target audience or exploit sex selling. Which I spose doesnt really address the original question about how its different then a male lead....but thats my point, too many games with female leads do it for gimmicky reasons to shift more units off the shelves and into our homes =(

Also, since I didnt finish the first games, I retract these comments if the games contradict me further in then I got.

Metroid Prime Echoes contradict what you say, that have Samus in a blue skin tight suit with hands on hips, I was sickened, my beloved being made to do such things.