The Powers That Be

Hyperdimension Neptunia revolves around goddesses who are engaged in a great battle known as the Console Wars. Noire represents the PlayStation 3 and will occasionally let her pride get the better of her. Vert personifies the Xbox 360 and sometimes overestimates her strength. Blanc was created in the image of the Wii, and her A-cup angst plays on the fact that the Wii was underpowered compared to its competitors. Neptune is actually a reference to the unreleased Sega Neptune. Since Sega was absent from the real-life console wars, Neptune is initially depicted as a regular girl who lost her memory. She’s energetic and bright almost to the point of idiocy, but she eventually becomes a goddess in her own right and demonstrates much more maturity after she takes on the persona of Purple Heart. She gets bonus points for her ability to transform into a jet.

Kratos might have been the more obvious choice for this list. He is the eponymous God of War, after all. There are a number of reasons why I ultimately decided to recognize Zeus instead. Despite being the youngest of the gods, the ruler of Olympus was recognized as the God of the Under Sky, Lower Air, Thunder, and the Heavens. He also sired a number of notable demigods including Hercules, Perseus, Peirithous, and Kratos himself. Zeus rules with malevolence, but he deserves tremendous credit for uniting the other gods in the name of Olympus. He’s a natural leader if ever there was one and should be commended for putting up with Kratos’ shit for as long as he did. After Kratos spazzes out and defeats him in battle, Zeus’ body explodes in a huge blast of light and unleashes absolute chaos upon the world.

SMITE features a total of 70 gods and goddesses from various mythologies and religions around the world, so it’s difficult to single out just one for this list. No one can match the radiance and glory of Aphrodite, but the Goddess of Beauty is burdened with insecurity and seeks constant validation. In contrast, Bellona couldn’t care less what other people think of her. She has no time for temples or worshippers, and she basically lives for battle. As the Goddess of War, Bellona was the first female warrior in the game and one of the most effective warriors, period. She dominates on nearly every level. Her weapons sets are amazing, her durability is unmatched, and she’s frequently described as being overpowered. Bellona is the goddess that Rome forgot, but she’s too busy conquering enemies to worry about public relations.

After the three Golden Goddesses created the land of Hyrule, they left the Triforce behind as a symbol of their power. The Goddess Hylia was left to watch over it in their absence. When the Demon King, Demise, made a bid to steal the Triforce, Hylia created a sanctuary in the sky where the people of Hyrule could live in peace. As a contingency plan to permanently defeat Demise, Hylia created the Goddess Sword to aide the chosen hero in future generation. Hylia then discarded her own divine power, immortality, and memories so she could live alongside the residents of Hyrule. It was at this point that the Goddess Hylia was reborn as Zelda. The Zelda series takes place across many different eras and timeline, but the bloodline of Hyrule’s Royal Family will forever have sacred power running through it because of Zelda’s divine origins.

Raiden is a mainstay in the Mortal Kombat cast (or should that be kast?) and has been featured as a playable character in nearly every game in the series. As the eternal God of Thunder and the protector of Earthrealm, he’s recognized as one of the strongest fighters in the Mortal Kombat universe. His entire body radiates with electrical energy, and his glowing blue eyes accentuate how powerful he is. According to the Konquest mode in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Raiden has mastered more than 750 forms of jujutsu. He also possesses many supernatural abilities – including the ability to teleport, control lightning, and fly. Raiden’s decision to abandon his ethereal form to defend the Earthrealm by participating in the Mortal Kombat tournament highlights both his bravery and his confidence.

The flamboyant King of All Cosmos is easily the most unpredictable deity in all of gaming. If ranked solely on the amount of power they wield, the King of All Cosmos is unrivaled by any of the gods and goddesses on this list. After all, he rules over entire galaxies and nothing appears to be beyond his control. Unfortunately, the King is not always responsible with his power. At one point, he accidentally wipes the stars and other celestial bodies out of the sky after going on a drinking binge. Rather than fixing the problem himself, he forces his son to rebuild the galaxy for him. The King’s strict nature is just his way of pushing his son to reach his full potential, much in the same way that his own father had pushed him. By pushing his son so hard, the King helps to ensure that the galaxy will be in good hands even after his own reign is over.

Athena Asayima is a crime-fighting schoolgirl and a staple in the King of Fighters series. The popular teen idol is actually the descendent of the goddess Athena, who was the focus of a 1986 self-titled arcade game from SNK. As the first bikini-clad heroine in gaming, Athena stood out immediately. She didn’t wear a lot of clothes, but she had a huge arsenal of weapons and equipped herself with various accessories to allow for better defense, higher jumps, and even the power of flight. Athena could also transform into a mermaid! Although her debut game was set in ancient Greece, SNK eventually began featuring her in games set in modern times. Centuries had past, but Athena retained the appearance and maturity of a teenager. She’s self-centered and moody, but it’s hard not to be impressed by her monster-fighting skills.

One of three Goddesses of Fate, Lenneth Valkyrie is known as the Battle Maiden and the Chooser of the Slain. After being summoned to Valhalla by Odin, Lenneth is ordered to seek out the souls of recently-deceased humans from the land of Midgard to fight alongside Aesir in an upcoming battle. Lenneth has much more compassion for humans than most Aesir do, but she’s quick to put others in their place and has no mercy for her enemies. She takes her responsibility as a Valkyrie seriously and tends to her duties with a stoic authority. Although she initially shows loyalty to Odin, she’s also fiercely independent and level-headed. She eventually decides to abandon her allegiance to Odin and the other gods in order to protect the inhabitants of Midgard. In Valkyrie Profile 2, Lenneth is known as the Lord of Creation.

Amaterasu ruled over the Celestial Plain in a time of peace and tranquility. When a serpent demon named Orochi threatened the Plain, Amaterasu dragged him down to the mortal realm. Taking the form of a white wolf named Shiranui, the goddess fought alongside a brave swordsman in order to seal the demon away. A century later, Amaterasu emerged as a reincarnation of Shiranui after Orochi’s seal was broken. In battle, Amaterasu is best known for her Celestial Brush techniques. By performing specific gestures with the brush, Amaterasu can defeat enemies or solve environmental puzzles. Painted lines can cut through enemies, bridges can be repaired by painting over them, and strong winds can be conjured by painting loops in the air. Using calligraphy as a weapon is a surefire way to come across as majestic and graceful.

Lady Palutena is the Goddess of Light and the rightful ruler of Angel Land. She was a damsel in distress in the first Kid Icarus game, but had a more active role in Kid Icarus: Uprising where she used her powers to protect the surface world from her arch-nemesis, Medusa. Palutena lets her loyal servant, Pit, do most of the legwork for her, but she bestows him with the power of flight, guides him through his missions, and provides him with food, vehicles, and friendly conversation. Palutena is a benevolent ruler with a reputation for wisdom and mercy, but she also has a fantastic sense of humor and takes great pleasure in teasing Pit. The playful banter between Palutena and Pit highlights the goddess’ mischievous side and is one of the main reasons why Kid Icarus: Uprising is so enjoyable in the first place.