The Lion's Den

At the onset of Wonder Boy III, our beloved hero is inflicted with a curse that turns him into a fire-breathing lizard. While searching for a cure, Wonder Boy is transformed into an assortment of other animals that includes everything from a mouse to a piranha. His lion form is arguably his most powerful, however, and the increase in strength is apparent with every swing of his sword. As a lion, he can smash through walls that would be otherwise unbreakable. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is essentially a sequel to Wonder Boy III, and it features many of the same transformations and plot devices. The lion form is even more powerful in this outing, as it gives Jin an added boost of speed. As a lion, he’s fast enough to run on the surface of the water! I’d rank Jin higher on this list if only his lion form were more permanent.

The demons in Megami Tensei are based on figures from various mythologies, religions, and folklores. Several of them take inspiration from big cats, so there were several strong candidates for this list. Byakko is the most obvious choice, and the majestic white tiger is believed by many to be the king of all beasts. Ose has an impressive resume as well, and he apparently has an entire legion of lesser demons under his command. Although Ose has the ability to change his shape from leopard to human, he usually appears in a hybrid state. We’re told that he can slice through anything with his vicious claws, and I certainly wouldn’t want to get on the bad side of a sword-wielding leopard man. Anyone who can pull off the “cape and mawashi” look obviously has confidence to spare, so his eye-catching attire makes him seem even more dangerous.

War-Zard takes place on an alternate version of Earth sometime around the turn of the 21st century, but Leo would be right at home in prehistoric times. Even though he’s the King of Greedia, he’s content to wear a loincloth and not much else. I guess it makes sense to dress like a barbarian when you look like the bastard son of He-Man and Lion-O from ThunderCats. The powerful warrior was a regular human before an unknown forces turned him into a half-lion creature. Rest assured, the transformation is anything but temporary. Leo went through great lengths to find a cure, and three wise men lost their lives trying to remove the curse. With no other option, Leo decided to use his newfound strength to benefit his people. The ghosts of the wise men continued to provide support, but there was nary a problem that his sword couldn’t solve.

The Khajiit are feline beast folk who have appeared in every Elder Scrolls game thus far. Their natural proficiency in stealth provokes mistrust throughout the land of Tamriel, but there are plenty of other reasons to be weary of M’aiq. (They don’t call him M’aiq to Liar for nothing!) He’s willing to share his opinions on everything from werewolves to fish sticks, and most of what he says is utter nonsense. Despite being a recurring source of misinformation, he also provides some much-needed comic relief. We have (probably) met multiple M’aiqs over the years. He looked like a tiger in Morrowind and Skyrim, while his Oblivion counterpart was more akin to a mountain lion. M’aiq assumes a similar role in every game, however, and he’s always willing to break the fourth wall for a laugh.

The Bloody Roar games center around a group of warriors known as “zoanthropes” who are able to transform into half-human, half-beasts. A shady organization plans to use them as instruments of war, so the zoanthropes have to fight for their freedom. There are several characters from Bloody Roar that would be good candidates for this list, but most of them look nothing like the animals they turn into. Gado looks like a lion before he transforms, however, and his spiked hair and spectacular sideburns frame his face like a lion’s mane. Although he faces tremendous discrimination, he works tirelessly to improve human-zoanthrope relations. The French mercenary is no stranger to conflict, and his ever-present scars accentuate how perilous his life is. His beast form bestows him with tremendous strength, and he wields the power in honor of a fallen comrade.

Tarzan and Mowgli were raised by apes and wolves respectively, and they each adopted certain characteristics from their host families. Nidalee takes this concept a step further. The bestial huntress was raised by cougars, and she can also turn into one at will! The bestial huntress is extremely territorial, and she’s surprisingly vicious when she defends her home from would-be trespassers. As a human, she relies on stealthy traps and well-placed javelin throws. She’s more apt to use melee attacks when she’s a cougar, however, and her razor-sharp claws compliment her hunting instincts. Whether she’s initiating the hunt or finishing off her prey, the wild woman skirts the line between human and beast. Being pounced on by Nidalee sounds like like fun, but this scenario would have lethal implications if she was using her feline form.

The Pokémon series features a number of creatures that are based on big cats. Raikou could be likened to a sabre-tooth tiger, while Litleo looks like an adorable lion cub. Although Incineroar draws clear inspiration from tigers, he also has human-like qualities. He looks like a wild animal with his sharp teeth and large claws, but his behavior is more akin to a professional wrestler. In addition to the expected scratching and biting attacks, his repertoire includes lariats, moonsaults, and Irish Aloan whips! He’d be right at home in a wrestling ring, and the flames around his waist even resemble a championship belt. Incineroar has a violent disposition and is always looking for a fight. His penchant for no-holds-barred battles made him the perfect candidate for the Super Smash Bros. roster, and this increased his notoriety significantly.

In Dragon’s Quest V, players can recruit wild animals to fight by their side. This isn’t necessary in the case of Saber, since he’ll join your party as part of the main story. Sabercats are notoriously ferocious, so many were surprised when a couple of children managed to tame the cub. Saber took a liking to the young heroes after they rescued him from an abusive situation, but some people believed that the kids had been working alongside the beast to terrorize to village! Saber proves to be a powerful ally, and he’s usually the first one to strike in battle. His brute strength is matched only by his loyalty, and he rejoins the party after being reunited with them as an adult. Great sabercats have been an staple in the Dragon Quest games since 1992, so it’s safe to say that Saber made an grrrreat first impression.

A proud warrior with a strong sense of honor, Red XIII believes it’s his duty to protect the planet. Before he can do so, he has to escape from unethical scientists who are trying to make him interbreed with Aeris. (Cry me a fucking river!) His long-lived species is defined by intelligence and ferocity alike, so Red XIII is torn between living like an animal or a human. The fantastic beast shares characteristics with both canines and felines. Although he howls at the moon like a wolf, he walks with a feline gait and growls like a tiger. He also has a thin mane, a triangular nose, and a tufted tail like a lion would. He’s directly compared to a lion in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII, in fact, and his designer (Tetsuya Nomura) has explicitly referred to him as a cat. I’m in no position to second-guess his creator, so Red XIII’s place on this list is justified.

Katt was the first member of the Woren tribe to appear in Breath of Fire, and the tiger-like race has since become an integral part of the series. The feisty young gladiator loves competition, and this is why she spends so much time at the coliseum. She’s a natural born fighter who’s never afraid to speak her mind, and her tongue is as sharp as her clawed-tip staff. Katt constantly brags about her fighting prowess, and she enjoys making fun of her opponents mid-battle. She comes across as self-absorbed and egoistical, but her arrogance is well-founded and she certainly knows how to entertain a crowd. (She’s downright adorable when she loses her temper.) Although she only appeared in one game, Capcom was kind enough to included a Katt Costume in Street Figher 5. If the Rule 34 community is any indication, she’s as popular as ever!