Women's Month (Video game edition)

[Ayen]

It's Women's History Month, and I admit I was woefully ignorant that this was even a thing until a few months back, but as I have mentioned before I decided to use this time and contribute in the ways I know how. With video games.

What are some video games you played that had playable female characters and who among them were your favorite? Now most people when they think of women characters in games their minds often go to Lara Croft and Samus Aran since they are the most well known, but there are more than that.

In addition to Lara and Samus we have Jill Valentine, Clare Redfield and Rebecca Chambers (Resident Evil), April Ryan from the Longest Journey, Bayonetta (though I still haven't played that game yet), BloodRayne (BloodRayne), Faith Connors (Mirror's Edge), Zoe Castillo (Dreamfall), Meetra Surik (Star Wars: KOTOR II), Alexandra Roivas (Eternal Darkness), Terra, Yuna and Lightning from Final Fantasy of course and while Shepard has no canon gender I find the Mass Effect a lot more enjoyable with FemShep. And that's just out of the games I've been exposed to.

But they don't just have to be playable characters, they can be any character that stuck out to you in a video game so have at it.

[Shorty]

Lara Croft, Heather Mason from Silent Hill 3, and General Beatrix from FFIX are all I got. For NPCs, Cass from New Vegas because she's always got my back, and I do like Snow White quite a bit from The Wolf Among Us.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

Shorty beat me to mentioning Heather from Silent Hill 3.

Maybe Meryl from MGS? It's been a while since I've played, but I remember liking her character quite a bit when I was younger. Oh, and there's The Boss from MGS 3.

[Ayen]

Shorty beat me to mentioning Heather from Silent Hill 3.

Maybe Meryl from MGS? It's been a while since I've played, but I remember liking her character quite a bit when I was younger. Oh, and there's The Boss from MGS 3.

"I had a gun like this since I was eight years old. I'm more comfortable with it than I am with a bra."

Meryl is awesome.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

Only semi-related, but I also liked to say "Do a Meryl roll!" a lot the last time I played MGS or MGS4 for some reason.

[Ayen]

Does a Meryl roll involve being shot three times by a sniper?

[Pumpkin]

My favorite female video game characters? There is a long list

From Final Fantasy:
Beatrix
Garnet
Rinoa
Selphie
Yuna
Penelo
Porom

Suikoden:
Millie
Lotte
Sierra
Viki
Haswar

Xenosaga:
Miyuki
MOMO

Dark Cloud:
Xiao
Holly

[Ayen]

I actually forgot all about Xenosaga.

I'm glad someone mentioned Rinona and Selphie.

[Vyk]

Jade is always at the top of my list. KOTOR was mentioned, and they both have a handful of likable girls. My favorite playable female is generally always Jade from Beyond Good and Evil. I'm currently playing Persona 4 for the first time, and Chie amuses me greatly

[Bolivar]

Ashe is probably one of my favorite characters all time from Final Fantasy.

Olga and Fortune from MGS2 are both pretty memorable as well.

[Sephiroth]

Some of them are not playable.

Final Fantasy

Eclair Farron
Serah Farron
Terra Branford
Ashelia B. Dalmasca
Fran
Celes Chére
Lucrecia Crescent
Sarah/Garnet T. Alexandros XVII.
Yuna
Rinoa Heartilly
Aerith Gainsborough
Tifa Lockhart
Rosa Harvey
Rydia of Mist
Shelke Rui
Marlene Wallace
Lenna C. Tycoon
Sarisa S. Tycoon

Kingdom Hearts Saga

Kairi
Naminé
Xion
Aqua

Chrono Saga

Marledia
Lucca
Schala

Atelier Saga

Totooria Helmold
Mimi Houllier von Schwarzlang
Gisela Helmold
Cecilia Helmold
Ayesha Altugle
Merurulince Rede Arls
Astrid Zexis
Rorolina Frixell

Tomb Raider

Lara Croft

Silent Hill

Alessa Gillespie

Eve Series

Aya Brea
Eve Brea

Beyond: Two Souls

Jodie Holmes

Bayonetta Series

Cereza

Drakengard Saga

Kainé
Yonah Original Gestalt & Replicant
Popola & Devola

Zelda Legend

Zelda
Malon
Salia

.hack Twilight Legend

Akira/BlackRose
Macha/Mia
Tsukasa
Aura
Zefi
Mistral
Mireyuu

Street Fighter

Cammy
Chun-Li
Juri
Sakura

Rune Factory Series

Maerwen
Violet
Odette
Lily
Sonja

Soul Blade Saga

Sophitia Alexandra
Cassandra Alexandra
Pyrrha Alexandra

Star Ocean Saga

Reimi Saionji
Myuria Tyonisus
Sarah Jerand

[Shorty]

Alessa?! Dahlia is a better character than Alessa! Alessa is nuts!

[Depression Moon]

#1 The Boss - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
#2 General Beatrix - Final Fantasy IX
#3 Alex Vance - Half-Life 2 Series
#4 Jade - Beyond Good and Evil
#5 Crimson Viper - Street Fighter IV Series
#6 Garnet Til Alexandros XVI - Final Fantasy IX

Viper is the only one on that list that is based on gameplay rather than actual character. I was going to put Faith for the same reason, but really it's the game mechanics in that case and not character specific mechanics as far as her actual character goes, I can't say much because the story in Mirror's Edge was forgettable.

[Ayen]

I'd like to shine the spotlight on some women antagonists too, though sadly I'm even less knowledgeable on this front. Alma Wade and Jacqueline Natla are the first two to come to mind when I think in terms of female villains. Oh, and a certain Sith Lord from KOTOR II.

And The Boss which has already been said and still somehow managed to slip my mind.

[Depression Moon]

Oh Snap I forgot about Alex Vance from Half-Life 2. How could I forget her? She's going to take Jade's spot for #3.