Walk Like an Egyptian

Zafina comes from a line of ancient warriors who possess great spiritual abilities. She was raised to be the protector of the imperial tomb, and she proved her worth by single-handedly defending it from a foreign army. Zafina would prefer to use her powers as an astrologist, but an apocalyptic prophecy compels her to fight. As her premonitions grow more intense, she enters the King of the Iron Fist tournament with the intention of destroying the men who were prophesied to set the destruction in motion. In battle, Zafina uses “ancient assassination arts” which highlight her flexibility and her unpredictable nature. She’s a unique fighter and she’d be ranked higher if her nationality wasn’t so vague. The director of Tekken 6 has confirmed that she’s “probably” Egyptian, so I guess she “probably” deserves a spot on this list.

The Next Big Thing is an incredible point-and-click adventure game that revolves around two reporters who accidentally uncover a vast conspiracy. Krom-Ha has a relatively small role in the game, but the yummy mummy is unforgettable. Mummies are usually depicted as undead creatures who are wrapped in bandages and riddled with decay, but Krom-Ha retained her beauty and seductive charms after she was brought back to life. The dude who woke her from her slumber wasted no time in “raiding her tomb” (if you know what I mean), but it’s not every day that you meet a slutty temple priestess from ancient Egypt. Krom-Ha is not your father’s mummy, but she’s very much in line with literature from the early 20th century that portrayed female mummies as sensual beings in order to romanticize an exotic culture.

PowerSlave is a first-person shooter from Lobotomy Software that was released in 1996. Something of a forgotten classic, the game is set in the ancient Egyptian city of Karnak. The unnamed soldier was called into action when the city was seized by unknown forces, and he soon found himself battling hordes of extraterrestrial insects and their minions in underground catacombs. With the spirit of King Ramses guiding him, the battle-hardened soldier contends with mummies, Anubis soldiers, scorpions, and evil spirits. As a reward for stopping the evil forces, the soldier is rewarded with eternal life and becomes a benevolent Pharaoh that rules over the entire planet. The game is light on exposition and the soldier’s name is never revealed, but PowerSlave deserves recognition on this list for nailing the Egyptian theme.

Alice was born to an Egyptian man and a French woman, but her family moved to the United States when her father was recruited by an America company. She spent most of her life trying to find her father after he was mysteriously kidnapped, and she will sacrifice almost anything to achieve her goals. Although she’s of mixed ethnicity, she really plays up her Egyptian heritage. Her outfits are adorned with gold and marked with a scarab, and she bears a striking resemblance to an Egyptian queen named All-ice. Incidentally, her attire is merely an elaborate disguise. Alice works in the Special Office of Internal Security, and it would apparently blow her cover if she dressed like a “super secret top agent.” She doesn’t mind when people compare her to the aforementioned Egyptian queen, however, and she’s fully aware of how beautiful she is.

Princess Kiya was selected as the 91st consort of Ramesses II. The pharaoh died before they could consummate the marriage, however, so Kiya was chosen to accompany him on his journey to the afterlife. In the 1800s – after Ramesses’ possessions were placed in a London museum – a dashing skeletal knight named Sir Daniel Fortesque inadvertently liberated Kiya from her tomb. Understandably, the mummified princess was startled to learn that she was dead. She did not want to remain imprisoned, though, and she was eager to see the world. (Ancient Egyptians had a history of exploration, and Kiya encapsulates this attribute.) Kiya soon became smitten with Sir Daniel and viewed him as a great warrior. An undead skeleton with a missing jaw bone doesn’t sound like much of a catch, but it beats a pervy pharaoh with old man balls.

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is technically set in a fantastical version of Egypt, but every game uses creative license in one way or another. Sphinx is a brave warrior and an enthusiastic demi-god, while the eponymous Mummy is the undead corpse of Prince Tutankhamen. After an untimely meeting in a trap-riddled castle, the two have to join forces in order to survive. Sphinx relies on raw power to complete his tasks, while the Mummy solves puzzles and outwits his foes. The Sphinx does most of the heavy lifting, but the Mummy’s immortality allows the pair to safely venture through dangerous areas. Working together, the unlikely duo captures monsters, retrieves ancient treasures, and ultimately fulfills an ancient prophecy. I don’t typically group characters together on these lists, but Sphinx and his cursed pal are kind of package deal.

Bayek of Siwa is an accomplished warrior and the founder of one of the earliest incarnations of the Assassin brotherhood. He’s arguably the most kind-hearted protagonist in the Assassin’s Creed series, but he takes his job very seriously. As a Medjay, Bayek is a protector of Pharaonic interests. He’s remarkably in tune with the world around him and often acts as a scout, but his primary concern is keeping Egypt safe. To that end, he wipes out entire enemy camps by himself, he kills crocodiles and hippos, and he even beats up the spirit of Akhenaten in the afterlife! Bayek reluctantly pledged his services to Cleopatra, but he was impelled by the ancient faith and traditions of his country. He was deeply proud of his homeland, and stood firmly in opposition to the atrocities perpetrated during the Alexandrine Civil War.

At the age of 12, Anakaris was named Pharaoh of Egypt. He viewed himself as the embodiment of god, so when he foresaw his death and resurrection, he had a sanctum created for his eventual return. Some five thousand years later, he was awoken when a hostile alien named Pyron invaded Earth. Cosmic beings are tricky opponents, but Anakaris had several supernatural abilities at his disposal. He could levitate, extend his limbs to unnatural lengths, make weaponry out of his bandages, turn his enemies into animals, summon snakes to battle, create portals to other dimensions, and split his body in half! After fighting Pyron, Anakaris traveled back in time to protect his empire from invaders. He eventually had to relocate his people to another dimension, but you have to admire the lengths he went through to bring salvation to his followers.

Fareeha Amari comes from a bloodline of Egyptian warriors and soldiers. She dreamed of following in her mother’s footsteps and keeping the peace as a member of Overwatch, but the group was disbanded before she got her opportunity. She had already risen through the ranks of the Egyptian Army, but she wanted to make a difference on a global scale. Her exemplary service record eventually earned her an opportunity with Helix Security International. The firm was contracted to defend an artificial intelligence research facility beneath the Giza Plateau, and Fareeha’s tactical prowess made her an ideal security chief. Under the call sign “Pharah,” she grabbed a rocket launcher and took to the skies with an experimental combat suit. Yet another example of the Egyptians being ahead of their time.

The new characters from Street Fighter V were pretty hit-or-miss, but Menat’s design had a nostalgic quality. If you could somehow import her into Street Fighter II, she wouldn’t look out of place at all. Known as “The Eyes of the Future,” Menat is an Egyptian fortune teller with mystical abilities. As she travels the globe, she uses a crystal ball to convey premonitions. When the situation calls for it, she can also use the crystal ball as a weapon! Menat’s hairstyle is reminiscent of Cleopatra, her jewellery makes her look like an Egyptian priestess, and the names of her moves reference well-known Egyptian locations and figures. She also poses like a cat, and her captivating walk makes her look like she’s auditioning for a Bangles video. Her stripperiffic mummy outfit cements her place at the top of this list.