Which game has the best Female lead character?

[MrGFunk]

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

I would say Samus from Metroid but as she's a robot in a suit so it could really be either sex.
Jill Valentine from Resident Evil, probably my first encounter but she's also kinda masculine because she's a soldier.

Lara Croft from Tomb Raider[/b] was I think the first true female main lead so it's a toss up (no pun intended) between her and Heather from Silent Hill 3. Heather was very much a female lead and I found her written in a female way.

 

[Avatar Roku]

Definitely Samus. Was it Miyamoto who was behind Metroid? If so, give the man yet another Medal.

Joanna Dark from Perfect Dark as well. Note: Not Joanna Dark from Perfect Dark Zero, I've long been saying that that game wasn't as bad as people say, but that's still one of my pet peeves with the game. Seriously, how did Joanna Dark go from a no-nonsense professional British Agent to a half-black, half dressed, American wisecracking hothead?

 

[Skalman]

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.

I prefer my girls small breasted, well-dressed, and with a head full of brainy things. I am just a freak I guess.

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

Why would you want to do that?

See above!
Also: I live in Florida. I can walk outside and see fifty girls with breasts bigger than watermelons, hair bleached to a freakish white-blonde, bad tans, and empty heads.
And every time I do, I am filled with disgust and murderous rage.
Well not really, but ew.

You, my good sir, are a genius.

I appreciate that (or rather, my ego does,) but even if I thought fake blondes were the hottest thing since sliced bread, it's like eating pizza every single day for ten years.
Eventually? You'll throw up at the sight of it. And I never liked the stereotype or the people who acted it, so you can imagine my reaction (it invovlves chainsaws and wild dogs.)

It seems we are the only sane ones left.

It's okay, I think we can take them. If you have a little brother, now would be the time to use him as a shield though.

No sisters or brothers.
Got two cats though, maybe they can come in handy...

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

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

I would say Samus from Metroid but as she's a robot in a suit so it could really be either sex.
Jill Valentine from Resident Evil, probably my first encounter but she's also kinda masculine because she's a soldier.

Lara Croft from Tomb Raider[/b] was I think the first true female main lead so it's a toss up (no pun intended) between her and Heather from Silent Hill 3. Heather was very much a female lead and I found her written in a female way.

Samus isn't a robot. She's just a human in a suit. This is her without her armor.

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/710/710157/super-smash-bros-brawl-20060525021806451-000.jpg

Metroid: Zero Mission explains her backstory, as well as the manga.

 

[RheynbowDash]

I would say Samus from Metroid but as she's a robot in a suit so it could really be either sex.

Number One: Samus is HUMAN and shes wearing a suit of armor. Numbskull.

Jill Valentine from Resident Evil, probably my first encounter but she's also kinda masculine because she's a soldier.

Jill is a Police Officer. Not a soldier.

 

[minoes]

Nariko, one of the few female characters that isn´t just a "dude" with breast, but the fact that she is a woman is actually relevant to the game´s story.

 

[robinkom]

Phantasy Star 1 for the SEGA Master System.

A young Alis Landale driven to avenge her brother's death at the hands of the tyrant, King Lassic. She was one of the earliest main female protagonists in the industry (right up there with Samus Aran) and is not the typical empty-headed, big-breasted, 20-something with nothing on but a bikini bottom and a fanny pack.

Her design was appropriate for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Hybrid setting and she was depicted as a true hero of all that is good without resorting to cheap sex appeal.

 

[Joeshie]

Tomb Raider, easily. Laura Croft is the pinnacle of female heroines.

 

[Hurray Forums]

I don't agree with Samus as a good female character. The very few times where she does come across as "female" don't make up for the 95% of the time she is gender neutral. Gender neutral characters are fine, but they shouldn't be praised as good examples of a female or male character since they hardly qualify as either in anyway besides physically. I mean if Samus was male nothing would really change and nothing would feel "weird" with the character. Well, okay the Zero suit would be pretty weird if Samus was male. Of course, all this assumes you meant the gender female, not the sex.

I was really excited for the FF13 main character, but then one of the designers said she was supposed to be, and I quote, "a female version of Cloud". I'm a bit tired of FF7 at this point, and I never particularly liked Cloud anyway so my enthusiasm is pretty much dead now. I'll still buy the game don't get me wrong, but I don't have high hopes for Lightning.

 

[bad rider]

beyond good and evil

Seconded, also it was a great game generally.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

Considering that the entire party is technically important in a D&D game, my vote goes to Neeshka (Neverwinter Nights 2). She was just the epitome of awesome female characters, and far from the stereotype that Max so conveniently displayed.

Second vote goes to Jill, as she's the Master of Unlocking (Resident Evil).

 

[Mr. Fister]

Definitely Samus. Was it Miyamoto who was behind Metroid? If so, give the man yet another Medal.

Nope. Gunpei Yokoi, father of the Game Boy, and his team was behind the first Metroid.

And yes, Samus fits the topic description quite well.

 

[UsefulPlayer 1]

Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter of the U. S. Air Force.

I know she really count but she is admirable for being the first capable female character in the soldier and leader role.

 

[[Gavo]]

Samus.

Then Jade from Beyond Good and Evil.

 

[Meta Like That]

Looks like Max wins this thread. Another vote for Zoe-Jane Shepard.