Whip It Good

While the other entries on this list typically use their whips in battle, Franziska von Karma actually has enough gall to use her whip in a court of law! Franziska, to put it bluntly, is an authoritative bitch who always manages to get what she wants. Following in the footsteps of her father, she became a prosecutor in Germany at the age of 13 and earned a reputation as “the Prodigy.” She quickly gained notoriety for her meticulous and ruthless tactics, and will go to great lengths in order to get a guilty verdict. Franziska incorporates a whip into her cases, and often lets it do the talking for her. Franziska has no patience for foolish behavior, and uses the whip to release her frustration. Not only does she frequently whip defense attorneys, but she will also turn the whip on hapless judges in order to get her point across.

Jessica Albert is short-tempered and full of sass. She also happens to be a powerful sorceress who has mastered a variety of magic spells. Despite being an effective spell caster, Jessica has an affinity for whip-based attacks. She also incorporates knives and swords into her offense, but the whip is arguably her most effective weapon. Ms. Albert has several whips at her disposal, some of which allow her to attack multiple enemies at the same time. These whips are made from a wide range of materials – including leather, snake skin, thorns, chains, and dragon tails among others. The whip accentuates Jessica’s assertive personality, but it has an unmistakable fetish element to it too and it fits well with her corsette and low-cut blouse. Her pigtails might make her seem playful and chipper, but her whip reminds us of how commanding she is.

The snake-headed whip is one of the most versatile items to ever appear in a Legend of Zelda game, and it is useful for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the whip can be used for destructive purposes and is capable of destroying a wide range of enemies. Secondly, the whip can be used to pull helmets or shields away from certain opponents. Finally, the whip can be used as a grappling hook to swing Link from one platform to another. The ability to use the whip to latch onto various hooks and switches also makes it useful for solving puzzles. The whip is extremely fun to use, and Spirit Tracks even has a mini-game designed specifically for the item. Link has had dozens of interesting items at his disposal throughout the course of the Zelda series, and the snake whip ranks right up there with the best of them.

Ivy’s segmented “snake sword” was specifically intended to be distinct among the other SoulCalibur weapons, and was actually designed before other aspects of her character had been decided on. Given the sword’s whip-like properties, it was only natural to design a sultry dominatrix to wield it. According to the game’s back story, Ivy’s attempts to create an animated, segmented sword were inspired by ancient Chinese weaponry. She used her knowledge of alchemy to design the weapon, and was eventually able to bring her sword to life after it had been infused with some of Soul Edge’s power. Ivy’s sword (which was dubbed “Valentine”) can be turned into a chain whip at will and is easily one of the most interesting weapons in the series. It’s so interesting, in fact, that it almost makes you forget that Ivy’s practically naked.

Kirby’s Epic Yarn took the series in a bold new direction with a its innovative art style and unique gameplay. In his previous adventures, Kirby had the ability to fly and usually attacked his enemies by inhaling them and absorbing their powers. In Epic Yarn, our lovable hero attacks his enemies with a whip made of yarn. Kirby can also use his whip to pick up items from a distance, latch onto background objects to swing across gaps, and manipulate the fabric environments to reveal secrets. Whether he’s stripping a dandelion of its seeds or simply tangling an enemy into a ball of yarn, Kirby’s whip proves to be one of the most useful and versatile weapons to ever appear in a video game. Kirby’s Epic Yarn is overflowing with creativity, and nearly every aspect of the game revolves around the whip in one way or another.

With a name like Whip, there was no way she wasn’t going to make it onto this list. Whip is a cybernetic clone who has worked as an assassin, a military agent, and a mercenary. Her real name is Seirah, but much of her past is shrouded in mystery. Whip appears to have a sadistic side, but her friends view her as a pure and honest person. Since Whip is a quiet individual with an enigmatic disposition, her weapon of choice plays an inordinately large role in defining her personality. Whip’s fighting style is based on Soubenjutsu (a Japanese martial art focused on whip-handling techniques) but her techniques are anything but traditional. For instance, her whip can inexplicably be transformed into either a blade or a gun. Her affinity for whips has earned her the nickname, Muchiko – which roughly translates to “Whip Girl.”

Mariana Kretzulesco is a high school student and Olympic gymnast who fights with a group of superheroes known as the Wonderful Ones. Under the guise of Wonder-Pink, the Romanian vixen flaunts her sexuality at every turn and is clearly cut from the same cloth as Bayonetta. Like many teenage girls, Mariana is trend savvy and boy crazy, but she’s relatively carefree despite her dangerous job. Her Olympic training made her the most agile member of the Wonderful Ones, and her short temper makes her unpredictable. Wonder-Pink’s “Unite Whip” ability is a destructive force that can also be used to grab enemies, reflect attacks, and serve as a rope to swing across gaps. Like many gaming whip wielders before her, Wonder-Pink hails from Transylvania. Her spiked whip is even knit from a special material known as “Belmont alloy.”

For reasons I will never fully understand, Battle Arena Toshinden was one of the most heavily promoted games during the PlayStation’s American launch. Sofia was given an especially bright spotlight and she became something of a mascot for Sony’s new console. In one memorable print ad for the PlayStation, the whip-cracking, S&M fighting queen demanded that readers get down on their knees and bark like dogs. In retrospect, it’s easy to see why a hot girl with big tits and a whip would appeal to the demographic Sony was aiming for. In any case, Sofia is a private detective, a former KGB agent, and a full-blown dominatrix. She incorporates her whip into several of her attacks – some of which involve her spinning around like a ballerina. Toshinden is little more than a footnote in history, but Sofia and her whip are unforgettable.

While several unconventional whips have been listed already, none are as over the top as Earthworm Jim’s. This is because Earthworm Jim actually uses himself as a whip! Jim was once an ordinary earthworm until an “Ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit” fell from the sky and landed on him. The suit gave Jim the ability to walk and talk, and effectively transformed him into a superhero. The suit also appears to be capable of acting independently of Jim. For example, the suit can grab ahold of Jim’s head, pull him out of the super suit, and use his body as a whip. You wouldn’t think an earthworm would make for an effective whip material, but it gets the job done. The whip can be an effective weapon against Jim’s enemies and can also latch onto hooks to allow Jim to swing from one platform to another.

Whips have been the primary weapon in the Castlevania franchise since the very beginning. The concept of killing monsters with a relatively primitive weapon helped put the series on the map in the first place. While several whips are used throughout the series, the aptly named “Vampire Killer” is the most notable. The whip was originally crafted for the Belmont clan through the use of alchemy, and it has been passed down through several generations. The Vampire Killer is truly a timeless weapon and has been effective in different eras spanning several centuries. In addition to killing vampires, the whip can also be used to swing from one platform to the next. There was really no other choice for the top spot on this list, and no other video game series is more closely associated with whips than Castlevania.