Heroine Addiction

Don’t let the lipstick and hooker boots fool you, Ms. Pac-Man is a classy lady who is more than capable of handling any obstacle that’s thrown her way. While somewhat derivative, her game was superior to her hubby’s in every way and proved that gaming heroines could have a more meaningful role in the gaming world. Ms. Pac-Man was the first female to truly break free from the typical “damsel in distress” role, and she remains the single most recognizable female video game character of all time. An argument can also be made that Ms. Pac-Man should be viewed as a poster child for women’s lib. The manner in which she was able to successfully balance her career and family life even after the birth of Jr. Pac-Man is commendable. Other girls will come and go, but Ms. Pac-Man will forever be the first-lady of gaming.

Kat is a lost girl who embarks on a journey to regain her memories after waking up in a floating city. With the help of a mysterious cat named Dusty, she learns how to shift gravity in different directions. This allows her to walk on walls, lift objects with her mind, and take to the skies like a superhero. She flies with the intensity of a Super Saiyan and dazzles her enemies with spectacular air kicks, but she also shows great emotional strength in the face of adversity. Kat fully embraces the heroine role and welcomes the attention that her powers bring. Whether she’s trekking through impoverished mining camps or exploring opulent cities in the clouds, she’s sensitive to the feelings of others. She hasn’t been around for as long as some of the other ladies on this list, but you’d have to look pretty hard to find a heroine who is more likable and upbeat.

Princess Peach has been rescued more times that I can count, but she has also taken on heroic roles on several occasions. Her first breakthrough as a heroine was in the North American release of Super Mario Bros. 2, where her unique hovering abilities helped her stand out from the other selectable characters. Since then, she has raced in every Mario Kart game, battled in the Super Smash Bros. series, competed in countless sporting events, and fought alongside Mario in Super Mario RPG. In 2006, after taking on supporting roles for nearly two decades, Peach was finally given the spotlight in the aptly-titled Super Princess Peach. In this game, the iconic princess successfully uses her ever-changing emotions as a weapon against her foes. Now that’s what I call girl power!

Born into the Empire and genetically infused with magicite, Celes became a powerful general. Upon realizing the Empire was responsible for great evils, she defected and was subsequently imprisoned for treason. Although Celes is a powerful warrior, she is also extremely vulnerable. After the world is left in ruin, she contemplates suicide before her faith is restored and she becomes motivated to find her friends. Her emotional dependency appeared to be her biggest weakness, but it wound up saving her life by giving her a sense of purpose. Final Fantasy VI had the greatest ensemble of characters ever, but Celes stands out as the most memorable. From her touching relationship with Locke to the brilliant opera scene, Celes played a huge role in many of the game’s most unforgettable moments.

Shantae wasn’t mentioned on earlier iterations of this list, but she was conspicuous by her absence. The half-genie hero is everything you could ask for in a leading lady. She’s strong, she’s beautiful, and she’s uniquely talented. Whether she’s transforming into exotic animals or attacking her enemies with her hair, Shantae never fails to impress. There is no shortage of strong women on this countdown, but Shantae is compelling because of her vulnerabilities. She’s absent-minded, insecure, and downright silly at times. It’s hard not to root for her, and even her enemies want to see her succeed. While most characters struggle to remain relevant through the years, Shantae’s popularity has only continued to grow. She has become the face of indie gaming, and her dancing skills are on point. I can’t get enough of her magnificent belly dances.

NieR:Automata focuses on a proxy war between man-made androids and alien machines. After humans are exiled to the Moon, they deploy intelligent battle androids to take back their planet. 2B – formally known as YoRHa No.2 Type B – is one of the androids that fights on the behalf of humanity. She’s equipped with a myriad of weapons, and she moves around the battlefield with the grace of a fashion model. There’s more depth to her personality than her emotionless exterior would suggest, but I’ll concede that her popularity is largely informed by her amazing robo butt. 2B has become something of a merchandising giant, and she has inspired countless cosplayers and fan artists around the globe. She has also made guest appearances in over a dozen games. It seems as though every developer wants a piece of her ass.

As a member of an ancient witch clan, Bayonetta has abilities are beyond the reach of mere mortals. She can transform into animals, use her hair to attack enemies, or call forth behemoth beasts to help her in battle. She arms herself with a variety of weapons and is flexible enough to effortlessly fire bullets from a pair of guns strapped to her ankles. She also knows how to use her sex appeal to her advantage. She’s a strong character who has starred in some of the greatest action games ever made, so it’s unfortunate that some people are unable to look past all of the gratuitous ass shots. Bayonetta is hyper-sexualized, but just because she has long legs and sexy librarian glasses doesn’t mean she’s one-dimensional. She’s a compassionate, protective, and empowered woman who doesn’t let anyone call the shots for her.

As the only female among the original Street Fighter II cast, Chun-Li stood out from the very beginning. Known for her powerful thighs and and lightning-fast kicks, she became an instant favorite and paved the way for more female fighters in subsequent games. Chun-Li is a serious girl who’s investigating the death of her father, but she also demonstrates a playful side whenever she’s victorious in battle. With the exceptions of Ken and Ryu, Chun-Li is perhaps the most illustrious character from the Street Fighter universe. In fact, she is so popular that Hollywood made a film that focused entirely on her storyline. Female characters have taken on an increasingly large role in fighting games in recent years, but Chun-Li remains the only one that can use her legs to turn herself into a human helicopter.

With her big boobs, big guns, and big adventures, the busty lead of the Tomb Raider franchise had everything gamers were looking for in the 1990s. Lara’s popularity extended beyond the gaming world, and she appeared in music videos with U2, modeled Gucci fashions, and was portrayed by Angelina Jolie in two Hollywood movies. She looked great in short-shorts and was dripping with sex appeal, but she also happened to be one of the toughest video game characters ever devised. Whether she’s exploring snow-covered mountains or hunting giant dinosaurs with her handguns, there is no challenge she can’t meet. Some Tomb Raider games emphasize her unbreakable will and determination rather than her appearance, but she’ll always be regarded as the industry’s most important sex symbol.

Samus Aran is a legendary bounty hunter who takes on legions of space pirates and nearly eradicates every parasitic Metroid in the universe. Amazingly, she often works alone and accomplishes most of this single-handedly. Equipped with a cybernetic power suit, Samus has all sorts of unique gadgets at her disposal – including her infamous morph ball technique and a built-in arm cannon. Although she occasionally wears revealing outfits, her sex appeal is only a small component of her character. (No one even knew she was a girl until it was revealed at the end of the first Metroid game!) The girl is directly responsible for the destruction of an entire planet, so her physical attractiveness is rarely at the forefront of her adventures. That being said, I’m rather fond of her form-fitting body suit.