Top 10 Tough Female Characters In RPGs
Friday, August 19, 2011
, Posted by Sritam at 11:07 PM
#10: Kid - Chrono Cross (PS)
Quote: "You can't do bugger all without me."
Chrono Cross is a sort of twist on the movie It's a Wonderful Life, as the main character, Serge, finds himself in an alternate reality where he died many years ago. In that reality, he meets Kid, a thief with an Austrialian accent, who comes to his aid when he is ambushed by some bad guys while standing before his grave. Although there are over 40 playable characters to recruit in this game, Kid is one of the most valuable allies.
What Makes Her So Tough? As her introduction in the game reveals, Kid isn't afraid to charge headfirst into danger, and seems to enjoy picking a good fight. Although she repeatedly asks to join your party, she's more than capable of handling things on her own. In fact, if you don't have Kid in your party when you sneak into a military headquarters later in the game, then she again comes to your rescue when your party falls into a trap, having gotten into the heavily guarded base all by herself. But she's still not quite as tough as the next nine women on the list...
Chrono Cross is a sort of twist on the movie It's a Wonderful Life, as the main character, Serge, finds himself in an alternate reality where he died many years ago. In that reality, he meets Kid, a thief with an Austrialian accent, who comes to his aid when he is ambushed by some bad guys while standing before his grave. Although there are over 40 playable characters to recruit in this game, Kid is one of the most valuable allies.
What Makes Her So Tough? As her introduction in the game reveals, Kid isn't afraid to charge headfirst into danger, and seems to enjoy picking a good fight. Although she repeatedly asks to join your party, she's more than capable of handling things on her own. In fact, if you don't have Kid in your party when you sneak into a military headquarters later in the game, then she again comes to your rescue when your party falls into a trap, having gotten into the heavily guarded base all by herself. But she's still not quite as tough as the next nine women on the list...
#9: Zola - Blue Dragon (X360)
Quote: "I am the Lord Gibral's right hand, swordswoman Zola. Bring it on!"
Blue Dragon is an underappreciated RPG in which the main characters fight with the powers of their shadows, each of which appears in the form of a different large animal. We first meet Zola (whose shadow takes the form of a giant bat) when she shows up unexpectedly to rescue the party from a bunch of monsters. Zola is a former mercenary who became the leader of a group of warriors called the Jibral Blademasters based on her fighting skill, and who is a valuable addition to your party.
What Makes Her So Tough? Without relying on her shadow powers, she rose to lead a group of powerful warriors. Although she is the last of the five main characters to join your party, Zola quickly assumes the role of leader, while never completely revealing her own motives. It's impossible to explain what makes her even more awesome without spoiling the end of this game, but suffice it to say, Zola is her own individual.
Blue Dragon is an underappreciated RPG in which the main characters fight with the powers of their shadows, each of which appears in the form of a different large animal. We first meet Zola (whose shadow takes the form of a giant bat) when she shows up unexpectedly to rescue the party from a bunch of monsters. Zola is a former mercenary who became the leader of a group of warriors called the Jibral Blademasters based on her fighting skill, and who is a valuable addition to your party.
What Makes Her So Tough? Without relying on her shadow powers, she rose to lead a group of powerful warriors. Although she is the last of the five main characters to join your party, Zola quickly assumes the role of leader, while never completely revealing her own motives. It's impossible to explain what makes her even more awesome without spoiling the end of this game, but suffice it to say, Zola is her own individual.
#8: Tifa - Final Fantasy VII (PS)
Quote: "Will you stop acting like a retard and climb?!"
At first, Final Fantasy VII might seem to be a typical RPG that puts female characters in stereotypical roles. One of the main female characters, Aeris, is generally passive and is a typical healer with almost no attack power, while most of the party consists of strong male characters. But there is one notable exception in the game, a female brawler named Tifa, who is a member of the group called Avalanche devoted to fighting the evil Shinra corporation.
What Makes Her So Tough? While the main character Cloud fights with swords, and others use such weapons as guns and spears, Tifa takes on enemies with just her fists, equipping various gloves throughout the game. And while it was partly due to being overwhelmed with emotion about events I won't spoil here, she was brave enough to take on the extremely powerful Sephiroth alone in one sequence. Tifa is consistently the type of strong personality you would expect game designers to assign to a male, although they still managed to dress her really slutty to compensate.
At first, Final Fantasy VII might seem to be a typical RPG that puts female characters in stereotypical roles. One of the main female characters, Aeris, is generally passive and is a typical healer with almost no attack power, while most of the party consists of strong male characters. But there is one notable exception in the game, a female brawler named Tifa, who is a member of the group called Avalanche devoted to fighting the evil Shinra corporation.
What Makes Her So Tough? While the main character Cloud fights with swords, and others use such weapons as guns and spears, Tifa takes on enemies with just her fists, equipping various gloves throughout the game. And while it was partly due to being overwhelmed with emotion about events I won't spoil here, she was brave enough to take on the extremely powerful Sephiroth alone in one sequence. Tifa is consistently the type of strong personality you would expect game designers to assign to a male, although they still managed to dress her really slutty to compensate.
#7: Seth - Lost Odyssey (X360)
Quote: "If it's a fight you want, you got it!"
In Lost Odyssey, several members of your party are Immortals who have lived through centuries, but whose memories have mysteriously vanished. One of these Immortals that joins your party early in the game is the pirate Seth Balmore.
What Makes Her So Tough? It seems like even if Seth was not an Immortal, she would still be the type to not be afraid of anything given her impulsive and freespirited personality. And when you find out more about her past as lost memories are uncovered, you'll learn that she went through something that would have driven most ordinary men completely insane. Although she's not the strongest attacker in the game, she's certainly up there probably rivaled only by the main character, and Seth has the best attack speed out of any character in the game.
In Lost Odyssey, several members of your party are Immortals who have lived through centuries, but whose memories have mysteriously vanished. One of these Immortals that joins your party early in the game is the pirate Seth Balmore.
What Makes Her So Tough? It seems like even if Seth was not an Immortal, she would still be the type to not be afraid of anything given her impulsive and freespirited personality. And when you find out more about her past as lost memories are uncovered, you'll learn that she went through something that would have driven most ordinary men completely insane. Although she's not the strongest attacker in the game, she's certainly up there probably rivaled only by the main character, and Seth has the best attack speed out of any character in the game.
#6: Aya Brea - Parasite Eve (PS)
Quote: "I'm not through with you yet!"
Parasite Eve is a sequel to the novel of the same name by Japanese author Hideaki Sena about the mitochondria in our bodies being part of some entity named Eve that can spontaneously combust any people around them (and I realize how random that sounds if you've never played the game, but it actually makes for a really cool opening scene). Players are introduced to Aya Brea of the New York City Police Department when she is off-duty attending an opera performance at Carnegie Hall and suddenly finds herself in what seems like a scene out of a horror movie.
What Makes Her So Tough? After all this crazy stuff goes on around her, Aya without hesitation pulls out her gun and prepares to go John McClane. She proceeds to face down hideously mutated rats, giant worms, and even some dinosaurs, all of which would cause most men to wet their pants as if all of this was just a normal day on the police force. So yeah, Aya's pretty tough.
Parasite Eve is a sequel to the novel of the same name by Japanese author Hideaki Sena about the mitochondria in our bodies being part of some entity named Eve that can spontaneously combust any people around them (and I realize how random that sounds if you've never played the game, but it actually makes for a really cool opening scene). Players are introduced to Aya Brea of the New York City Police Department when she is off-duty attending an opera performance at Carnegie Hall and suddenly finds herself in what seems like a scene out of a horror movie.
What Makes Her So Tough? After all this crazy stuff goes on around her, Aya without hesitation pulls out her gun and prepares to go John McClane. She proceeds to face down hideously mutated rats, giant worms, and even some dinosaurs, all of which would cause most men to wet their pants as if all of this was just a normal day on the police force. So yeah, Aya's pretty tough.
#5: Faris - Final Fantasy V (SNES)
Quote: "I'm just not cut out for a princess, I'm afraid. Pirating's much more my style."
While the plot is kind of generic involving four elemental crystals, Final Fantasy V has a fun job system that allows for a lot of customization of your characters. One of the main characters, Faris, is the captain of a bunch of pirates who has disguised herself as a man for years from her crew (which seems like a sensible decision being the only female on a ship full of rowdy pirates).
What Makes Her So Tough? First of all, Faris is the strongest attacker of all the playable characters in the game, and is the only playable character who gets bonuses to all stats (including both Strength and Agility). She also has a strong personality as a leader and is consistently a brave warrior as indicated by her association in this game with the element of Fire (as opposed to Water, which would have been the obvious choice for someone who lives at sea). On top of all that, when given the option of a life of privilege, Faris consistently rejects it in favor of a life of danger.
While the plot is kind of generic involving four elemental crystals, Final Fantasy V has a fun job system that allows for a lot of customization of your characters. One of the main characters, Faris, is the captain of a bunch of pirates who has disguised herself as a man for years from her crew (which seems like a sensible decision being the only female on a ship full of rowdy pirates).
What Makes Her So Tough? First of all, Faris is the strongest attacker of all the playable characters in the game, and is the only playable character who gets bonuses to all stats (including both Strength and Agility). She also has a strong personality as a leader and is consistently a brave warrior as indicated by her association in this game with the element of Fire (as opposed to Water, which would have been the obvious choice for someone who lives at sea). On top of all that, when given the option of a life of privilege, Faris consistently rejects it in favor of a life of danger.
#4: Alena - Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS)
Quote: "That door, it is locked. Very well... Hi-yaaa!"
Dragon Quest IV: The Chapters of the Chosen is a uniquely structured game where each chapter allows you to play with different characters who all come together by the end of the game. The second chapter of the game focuses on Princess Alena, who against her father's wishes, escapes from the castle to go out and prove herself, culminating with a battle tournament in which Alena fights alone.
What Makes Her So Tough? Although it's not obvious from her appearance, Alena is the strongest physical attacker in the game and her stats allow for her to inflict critical hits more often than any other party members. While she is accompanied by two male characters in her chapter, Kiryl and Borya, they are magic users, and she is the fighter, thereby reversing the typical gender roles found in RPGs. Alena also loves a good fight and doesn't back down from any challenger in the tournament no matter how much larger in size they might be.
Dragon Quest IV: The Chapters of the Chosen is a uniquely structured game where each chapter allows you to play with different characters who all come together by the end of the game. The second chapter of the game focuses on Princess Alena, who against her father's wishes, escapes from the castle to go out and prove herself, culminating with a battle tournament in which Alena fights alone.
What Makes Her So Tough? Although it's not obvious from her appearance, Alena is the strongest physical attacker in the game and her stats allow for her to inflict critical hits more often than any other party members. While she is accompanied by two male characters in her chapter, Kiryl and Borya, they are magic users, and she is the fighter, thereby reversing the typical gender roles found in RPGs. Alena also loves a good fight and doesn't back down from any challenger in the tournament no matter how much larger in size they might be.
#3: Ayla - Chrono Trigger (PS)
Quote: "Only when Ayla dead, give up!"
Chrono Trigger involves the time-traveling adventures of Chrono, who meets up with new party members in different eras. When he travels to the Prehistoric Era, Chrono encounters Ayla, a cavewoman, who is chief of her village.
What Makes Her So Tough? As Ayla makes clear when she meets Chrono, she only respects other strong people, and her strength has earned her the respect of her entire tribe. Once she joins your party, Ayla fights with her bare hands without equipping a weapon, and is the strongest physical attacker in the party, relying exclusively on physical attacks because she is unable to use magic. The only shame for Ayla is her capacity to speak the English language throughout the game is nowhere near as skillful as her physical prowess.
Chrono Trigger involves the time-traveling adventures of Chrono, who meets up with new party members in different eras. When he travels to the Prehistoric Era, Chrono encounters Ayla, a cavewoman, who is chief of her village.
What Makes Her So Tough? As Ayla makes clear when she meets Chrono, she only respects other strong people, and her strength has earned her the respect of her entire tribe. Once she joins your party, Ayla fights with her bare hands without equipping a weapon, and is the strongest physical attacker in the party, relying exclusively on physical attacks because she is unable to use magic. The only shame for Ayla is her capacity to speak the English language throughout the game is nowhere near as skillful as her physical prowess.
#2: Selvaria - Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
Quote: "Cast aside your weapons and surrender! If you do not, Naggiar's plains will drink deeply of your blood!"
Valkyria Chronicles is an insanely good tactical RPG with a military theme which is a reason in itself to own a PS3. Although she is not playable, one of the most interesting characters in the game is Selvaria, a descendant of the Valkyrur, which was a race of warriors with certain innate superhuman abilities. Selvaria is a member of the Drei Stern (the others seem inconsequential by comparison), a group of the most important generals serving under the Prince of the enemy empire.
What Makes Her So Tough? Although the game can be a challenge from the start, the first mission to be exceedingly difficult is where your troops must survive an attack by Selvaria, who is literally a one woman army. After seeing what she is capable of, you will very quickly come to dread her getting a turn. Beyond her staggering power, however, Selvaria is also a fiercely determined warrior who is willing to fight to the death for the Prince's cause.
Valkyria Chronicles is an insanely good tactical RPG with a military theme which is a reason in itself to own a PS3. Although she is not playable, one of the most interesting characters in the game is Selvaria, a descendant of the Valkyrur, which was a race of warriors with certain innate superhuman abilities. Selvaria is a member of the Drei Stern (the others seem inconsequential by comparison), a group of the most important generals serving under the Prince of the enemy empire.
What Makes Her So Tough? Although the game can be a challenge from the start, the first mission to be exceedingly difficult is where your troops must survive an attack by Selvaria, who is literally a one woman army. After seeing what she is capable of, you will very quickly come to dread her getting a turn. Beyond her staggering power, however, Selvaria is also a fiercely determined warrior who is willing to fight to the death for the Prince's cause.
#1: Kos-Mos - Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht (PS2)
Quote: "Keep in mind that I am making this proposal out of good will. I could just as easily toss you all out and take over the ship."
And now we come to the toughest female character in a RPG, Kos-Mos, an android created to combat the threat of the ghostly Gnosis that threaten humanity in theXenosaga trilogy. At first, Kos-Mos comes across as a more serious vesion of Data from the tv series Star Trek: The Next Generation, lacking in understanding of human emotions, although she at times seems capable of experiencing emotion.
What Makes Her So Tough? It's difficult to count the number of times in the first episode of Xenosaga alone the party would have been completely screwed if not for Kos-Mos. She is extremely powerful, able to transform her arms into weapons, and has seemingly countless additional functions including automatic repair and a long-range sensor array. Although all these powers come from her being an android, Kos-Mos deserves a place on this list as she still exhibits a definite femininity and during her emotional states seems very human.
And now we come to the toughest female character in a RPG, Kos-Mos, an android created to combat the threat of the ghostly Gnosis that threaten humanity in theXenosaga trilogy. At first, Kos-Mos comes across as a more serious vesion of Data from the tv series Star Trek: The Next Generation, lacking in understanding of human emotions, although she at times seems capable of experiencing emotion.
What Makes Her So Tough? It's difficult to count the number of times in the first episode of Xenosaga alone the party would have been completely screwed if not for Kos-Mos. She is extremely powerful, able to transform her arms into weapons, and has seemingly countless additional functions including automatic repair and a long-range sensor array. Although all these powers come from her being an android, Kos-Mos deserves a place on this list as she still exhibits a definite femininity and during her emotional states seems very human.
