When a lot of people think of female protagonists, they often think of buxom babes like Lara Croft or skimpily dressed women like Quiet in Metal Gear Solid. Both of these women are still badasses in their own rights, but their sex appeal is, unfairly, intertwined with how cool their characters are.
But women protagonists don’t need to be sexy to be badass. In fact, it’s the female leads of the games community who don’t adhere to conventional beauty standards that stick out in our minds because they carve a path for themselves free from objectification and sexualisation. This isn’t to say strong female characters can’t or shouldn’t be sexy, but rather they don’t have to be for us to notice them.
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To see one of these badass women in action, watchThe Last of Us Part II Remasteredtrailer
Yet discourse is abound when it comes to her character, not least of all because of her looks. So-called fans remark about her build,saying“Her jawline, chin, constant constipated look (that signals that this is not an affectionate woman that can take care of my children) come together to create a look that the majority of men will find unattractive.”
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The red headed protagonist has such a broad skill set, burdened with mammoth tasks that would make the most stout of men shrink back in fear, yet her legacy is this: “This is the ugliest character I’ve ever seen in a video game,”saidone gamer. Of all the features of this character to comment on, it’s her appeal that’s discussed, yet it’s the least interesting thing about her.
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These women, and others not mentioned, like Senua fromHellblade: Senua’s Sacrificeand Yuna fromGhost of Tsushima, are memorable because they don’t blend in. They’re vibrantly defiant in who they are, which only adds to their appeal when attracting new players to the games they hail from.
Topics:Horizon Forbidden West,Jedi Fallen Order,The Last Of Us,The Last Of Us Part 2
