Scarf Ace

Scarves have a stigma attached to them and are sometimes considered to be effeminate, but they’re emblems of badassery in Japanese fiction. One of the earliest examples of a scarf-wearing video game character, Proto Man draws heavy inspiration from Kamen Rider and other popular tokusatsu shows of the day. You might question why a robot would bother with fashion accessories in the first place, but there is no doubt that his trademark scarf helps him stand out from Mega Man. If nothing else, the flowing yellow scarf and thick black shades are a perfect fit for the lone wolf archetype that Proto Man adheres to. You could argue that the scarf worn by X in Mega Man X: Command Mission is more visually impressive, but Proto Man deserves recognition for being a trendsetter.

Even though she looks and acts like a flirtatious teenage girl, Lightning Flash Phosphora is a commander in an army that aims to wipe out humanity. She has an electrifying personality, so it’s fitting that she can manipulate actual electricity. The young commander can turn into a lightning bolt, electrify the air around her, and create electrokinetic storms. Her chosen attire doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination, so her outfit is pretty much defined by the lengthy blue scarf she wears. The scarf would stand out in almost any situation, and the fact that it conducts electricity makes it even more noticeable. Whenever Phosphora uses her powers, the already-vibrant scarf begins to glow and levitate in spectacular fashion. The scarf is basically a visual representation of Phosphora’s abilities.

On a list filled with ninjas, robots, and superheroes, a reporter with no combat skills stands out. He may lack special powers and abilities, but there’s nothing lacking about his magnificent scarf. I’ve seen many people compare it to the striped scarf worn by the Fourth Doctor in Dr. Who, but I could almost imagine Lenny Kravitz wearing Luka’s scarf through the streets of New York on a chilly autumn afternoon. Luka is the butt of many jokes during his relentless pursuit of a mysterious witch named Bayonetta, but its hard not to be impressed by his scarf as he swings into action with his grappling hook. It’s not quite as impressive when the scarf is blowing into his face, but I digress. Luka is the most understated character on this list, but his scarf is arguably the most fabulous.

Viewtiful Joe is yet another Capcom character whose design was influenced by tokusatsu superheroes, but the inspiration is even more obvious in his case than it was with Proto Man. (This makes sense, given that Joe is a superhero himself.) Viewtiful Joe received critical acclaim for its unique visual style, so it’s only fitting that its star would have an eye for fashion. Joe’s prominent pink scarf dramatically trails behind him and could be mistaken for a cape to the disconcerting eye. The scarf is obviously too long to be a cape, however, and it clearly contrasts the actual cape worn by his rival, Captain Blue. I would have never imagined that a pink scarf could be so impressive, but its an essential part of Joe’s costume and he would look like a low-rent Power Rangers knock off without it.

Prinnies are recurring beings in the Disgaea series that are created when wicked souls are sewn into penguin-like bodies. Prinnies act as disposable soldiers in the afterlife, and they are often treated as slaves or used as glorified bombs. The Hero Prinny gets more respect than most of his peers do, and his scarf is a reflection of this. The red scarf – which was given to him by the sassy leader of the Prinny squad – helps him stand out from the legions of regular Prinnies that surround him, but the Hero Prinny doesn’t wear the scarf to make a fashion statement. The scarf prevents him from exploding, and this effectively allows him to take on more dangerous assignments. As an added bonus, the scarf partially covers up some of the unsightly stitches that were left when he was initially sewn together.

Rose was only the third female character to be featured in a Street Fighter game, but she’s still arguably the most fashionable woman in the entire series. An Italian fortune teller who wields a mysterious form of energy known as Soul Power, Rose’s design was heavily inspired by Lisa Lisa from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. (Not only are their outfits strikingly similar, but both women employ a fighting style that requires them to channel energy through their scarves.) Her outfit might seem impractical at first, but her brilliant yellow scarf has incredible versatility. The scarf can extend her reach, fire projectiles, block attacks, or act as a conduit for her electrifying Soul Power. The fact that the scarf happens to compliment the rest of her extravagant outfit is just the icing on the cake.

No one on this list relies more heavily on their scarf than the robed figure from Journey. While embarking on a journey through a seemingly endless desert, there are no weapons to fall back on or special items to obtain. The nameless traveler doesn’t even appear to have arms! Thankfully, a trailing scarf somehow grants the ability of flight and allows the unlikely hero to float to new areas. The effect is only temporary, but glyphs scattered throughout the game effectively lengthen the scarf and allow players to remain airborne for longer periods of time. Things are never as easy as they could be, and players have to contend with hostile beings along the way who are constantly trying to rip pieces off the scarf for some reason. The traveler would be all-but-lost without the magical scarf.

Kat’s scarf isn’t quite as extravagant as some of the other entries on this list, but it’s arguably the most practical. The Gravity Rush games give players the ability to manipulate gravity, but this concept would lead to potentially confusing situations if there weren’t indicators to help players position themselves. Kat’s scarf accentuates her majestic movements by reacting to her speed and orientation, but it will always point downward when she is idle. The scarf obeys gravity even when Kat does not, so it becomes an essential tool for navigating through the game. (Kat’s hair and the rest of her clothing also respond to gravity, but her flowing scarf makes the effects more noticeable.) Kat’s physics-based scarf is a perfect fit for the physics-based gameplay that defines the Gravity Rush series.

In the same way that superhero capes can help convey a sense of motion to the audience, scarves can accentuate the rapid movements of ninjas. When Hiryu made his video game debut in 1989’s Strider, however, his iconic red scarf was nowhere to be seen. It was prominently featured in the 1988 manga and has been a lasting part of his ensemble since his appearance in Marvel vs. Capcom. He almost seems naked in the 1989 arcade game without his scarf dynamically trailing behind him. The scarf not only highlights Hiryu’s speed and motion, but it also masks the lower portion of his face. (What kind of self-respecting ninja walks around with their face exposed!?) In the 2014 version of Strider, Hiryu traded his physical scarf for an energy scarf comprised of excess plasma from his body.

It’s important for ninjas to stick to the shadows and remain undetected, but it’s also important for people who play video games to actually be able to see their character. Hotsuma’s bright red scarf was specifically designed so players wouldn’t lose track of him. This is especially important, since Hotsuma can seemingly teleport around the screen during battle. It’s almost mesmerizing to watch the scarf gracefully flow behind him as he runs, jumps, and attacks his enemies. Joe Musashi was recognized on this site as one of gaming’s greatest ninjas and Hinaba topped the list of best kunoichi, but there is no doubt that Hotsuma has the coolest scarf in the Shinobi series. Legend has it that a programmer increased the length of the scarf as a gag, but it ended up being one of the game’s defining features.