Playing Dirty: Women Warriors and Fairy Queens
by Bonnie Ruberg 
{ Jun 21st 2007 at 3:21PM }
Every other week for the past nine months, Bonnie Ruberg has contributed Playing Dirty, a column on sex and gender in video games. Since Bonnie is taking a hiatus to work for The Village Voice, this will be her last Playing Dirty piece--at least for a little while:
Female gamers have long rolled their eyes at the role of women in video games. Rightfully so. An overwhelming majority of female characters in mainstream games are either super helpless (think classic Princess Peach) or super sexualized (think Lara Croft). Even nowadays, it's darn hard to come across a decent role model for girl gamers in the games they love. Just finding a reasonably strong female character -- a diplomat into the mostly male world of gaming who can convince men and women alike that beautiful, buxomly women won't always need saving, or even behind-the-scenes manipulation from men -- is itself a serious challenge.But, come on, we know all that already, right?. The question is, what are we doing about it? Which mainstream games are taking up the challenge and defying video game gender roles? Until recently, I would have said almost none -- at least, none in any significant way (a paired-down bosom here, a spin-off game there). Then came Odin Sphere.
Odin Sphere is a side-scrolling RPG with a lot of twists, and one of them is its sheer number of strong, female characters. Players start out as Gwendolyn, a valkyrie princess and a proud warrior. Along the way, we encounter whole female armies, nasty female enemies, and powerful female bosses–all of whom, though beautiful and sometimes sexy, fight to the tooth without beating an eyelash. Not to mention the fact that the entire game takes place inside a book being read by a little girl.
Of course, there are powerful male characters in Odin Sphere, too. First and foremost, there's Gwendolyn's father, King Odin (though we should keep in mind that it's normally his daughter we see out on the battlefield, not her implicitly impotent father). However, some of these men -- for example, the ridiculously busty Lord Brigan -- almost seem like caricatures of masculinity. They mock the blown-out-of-proportion way female bodies are normally portrayed in games.
Still, in a lot of senses, we can call Odin Sphere a feminine game. I'm not just talking about characters. For starters, there's the emotional depth of the storyline. Most RPG's don't include cut scenes in which the brave main character contemplates her death as a means to make sure that her stoic father will finally love her. Then there's the aesthetic. Odin Sphere is gorgeous, but not in the way we normally mean when we talk about big-name video games. Instead of beefed-up graphics, we get highly stylized character design and flowing, colorful backdrops.
To be fair, there are a few "feminine" elements that undercut the whole female power thing. Like a number of female heroines before her (Alexandra from Eternal Darkness, Mayu from Fatal Frame II ) Gwendolyn gets tired; on the battlefield, players often have to wait for her to regain strength to continue wailing on whatever opponent.
In the overall though, it seems like the makers of Odin Sphere were definitely conscious of gender roles in their game. Why else would we hear about those poor valkyries who, unable to fight, are "stripped of their honor" and wed to male warriors, only to produce children and live "under a man's thumb"? If anything, it is exactly the femininity of the women characters that makes them so proud, such dedicated fighters. These heroines, like the game itself, have uncovered the strength in just being a woman.
Bonnie Ruberg is a writer, researcher, and all around fangirl with a big crush on games. Her new column on cybersex in virtual worlds, "Click Me," can be found here. Also, check out her Village Voice games blog Heroine Sheik. Bonnie has really enjoyed writing Playing Dirty! She can be reached at 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Anam @ Jun 21st 2007 3:29PM
I would also point out Yuna from Final Fantasy X. Remember, she's the destined one going on a great quest to save the world, not Tidus. Plus, she's wearing more clothes than most of the men.
Now, Lula is another story...
KrazyIan @ Jun 21st 2007 3:34PM
This game has kinda flown under the radar for me, but it looks good for all kinds of reasons; has anybody here on Joystiq played it?
Back on track, yes, feminine roles that aren't damsel-in-distress or dead-or-alive style are pretty far and few between. Even in just the RPG genre female characters are almost always the 'hot mage that sits in the back row while the boys do the hack-n-slash'.
Also it comes down to lazy design, even male roles are almost always cookie-cutter 'generic badass dude with huge muscles'.
Shagittarius @ Jun 21st 2007 3:32PM
As a man I'm tired of being portrayed as a spikey haired 13 year old shemale with a giant weapon, and enough moxie to fill a 2 liter.
Joran @ Jun 21st 2007 3:51PM
I've never played it, but supposedly Jade from Beyond Good and Evil is a shining example of a strong female character. And she wears pants!
Mr Khan @ Jun 21st 2007 3:35PM
Since 1986, she's been there
People should know to whom i'm referring
Kyle @ Jun 21st 2007 3:38PM
Yes, Gwendolyn is a very strong character and I really didn't take what you're saying to heart until I read this article. Only to realize that it is very true in Odin Sphere about the roles the characters play.
I will say this however, whenever I got to a plot point that didn't make sense because of a choice a female character made, I quickly brushed it off as, "it must be a female thing".
James @ Jun 21st 2007 3:38PM
With all due respect, the idea of the "strength in just being a woman" idea is incredibly insulting and demeaning to both men and women as well as the history of sexism. Descrimination against women has been "validated" for centuries, thousands of years even, simply because many found the "strength in just being a man." It's called having on average more muscle mass and being able to forcefully harm women. Still want to act like having strength just for getting one side of a coin toss is a good thing?
Sexism is sexism, period.
James @ Jun 21st 2007 3:40PM
Also, I'll make you a deal. When you find heroes in games that have hairy shoulders and male pattern baldness that aren't supposed to be comically unattractive, then we'll talk about the way men are portrayed.
synce @ Jun 21st 2007 3:42PM
I want to bone the DOA girls.
Rob Accomando @ Jun 21st 2007 3:43PM
Odin Sphere is great! Joystiq had a blog about it a few weeks ago. How about Valkyrie Profile? Also, when I play a video game I never look at the main character as a "role model". And my wife could care less about the gender of the chars. in her games.
Andrew Yoon @ Jun 21st 2007 3:44PM
Odin Sphere is an incredible game, one that celebrates the beauty of feminine power. Our readers should not hesitate to pick up the game.
Zertoss @ Jun 21st 2007 3:45PM
I agree with Shag. The "all programmers are fat, sloppy nerds" stereotype is also just as insulting.
I would also like to point out that I see plenty of women wearing far less clothing than any videogame vixen when I go to the store. Perhaps game designers are getting the wrong idea about women from women? Just a thought.
One other thing, the whole princess needs rescuing thing is as old as fairy tales. But Princess Peach has done her share of rescuing too. She joins the heroes in Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario RPG, and Yoshi's Island 2, and she plays solo in her quest to save Mario and Luigi in Super Princess Peach (although that was a little too easy, but it was fun). Zelda has done her share of fighting too, and both princesses did it without stripping down to a sling bikini.
sabe @ Jun 21st 2007 3:47PM
What about Metroid? Samus is a woman. She doesnt count because shes in armor?
Zsavior @ Jun 21st 2007 3:46PM
I am tired of critics complaining about this, it is not much better on the male side of gaming either. You are either an over effeminate male adolescent or you are the Ultra buff psycho that is either aloof or an all out asshole. All from a very Caucasian persuasion.
Gaming in a whole when it comes to people needs an overhaul need I go into races in a videogame? How if you are black in a video game you are probably running with some sort of ball, or rapping, or worst some sort of drug dealing street thug? Don't give me it is a big gender issue bs, like any industry look at the people making the games and you will get your answer. I am not even going to touch on the lack of homosexual characters in videogames.
Society may changes standards may vary but bias stays the same unless you are willing to examine all instead of just casting a light on one and harping on it. Stereotypes live and breathe when people aren't willing to comment on the bigger picture rather than on specific problems
hvnlysoldr @ Jun 21st 2007 3:47PM
Samus from the Metroid series has a strong female lead. The first game tricks us into thinking she's a guy until we beat the game.
SPOILER
Her family is killed by Ridley. She's adopted by an ancient bird race. She reclaims Zebes her and the Chozo's former world from the Space Pirates and faces Ridley. She chases them to Tallon IV and discovers the prophecies of her from the Chozo lores and what faith they had in her. She invades SR388 to exterminate all the Metroid. A creature created by the Chozo. She wipes them all out but spares a single baby who imprints upon her. After having killed off an entire species her caregivers had created, she spares this deadly baby. Ridley returns and kidnaps the Super Metroid. Samus returns to Zebes and destroys the world after the Super Metroid sacrifices itself for her. The purpose behind the Metroid is to deal with the X parasites. Taking her suit and creating soulless clones ready to devour the galaxy. Her cure came from the Super Metroid. The Federation she upheld cloned Metroid and were willing to clone the SAX. Her memory of her commander Adam saves them.
Crono @ Jun 21st 2007 3:47PM
Samus, thats who.
But lets not forget the many strong female leads in Final Fantasy 6. Lara Croft has even toned down the sexuality and toned up the smart female lead role. Honestly, Lara Croft was made a humorously large breasted female just to make sure boys wouldn't be scared away from playing the game (as a girl). Don't forget the strong females in many fighting games. And Alex Vance in HL2 definitly qualifies as strong female.
I think something that is most telling is that you seem to think a female can only show her strength through a plot oriented RPG, but men are shown perfectly fine in all the stereotypical fps/action games. Men aren't 1 dimensional dumb muscles anymore than females are 1 dimensional damsels in distress. The gender imbalance is equally imbalanced.
Crrash @ Jun 21st 2007 3:47PM
Zoë Castillo and April Ryan from Longest journey, Elaine from Monkey Island, Jaheira (cant remember the names right) from Baldurs Gate 2, Mona Sax from Max Payne, Kate Walker from Syberia, Jill Valentine from Resident Evil and so on, as far as i remember were both strong and beautiful and not really exaggerated into sex symbols.
Jose @ Jun 21st 2007 3:53PM
Characters tiring during battle is a mechanism often used in RPGs, for all characters. It's employed to give an extra layer of strategy, like in Breath of Fire: you have to plan ahead.
Anyway, if you see this as "feminine" element, then that's your own prejudice. Otherwise, good article.
Dave @ Jun 21st 2007 3:51PM
Um, Samas Aran anybody?
JodyAnthony @ Jun 21st 2007 3:55PM
Okami had a strong female lead
NintendoFanbot @ Jun 21st 2007 3:57PM
SAMAAAAAAS you clowns!!!
But seriously, Samus Aran.
For non-gamers, that would be like the videogame equivalent of Ellen Ripley (from Alien).
sheppy @ Jun 21st 2007 4:00PM
You know what? The fact that none of you mentioned Jade from BG&E just proves Hell will be overpopulated long before I finally die in 400 years.
Also, as much as I want to say Samus... people forget the whole "strong feminine lead" thing came after Super Metroid. Think about it. The better you did in the game, the closer to naked you got her in your ending. Not sexist at all....
sheppy @ Jun 21st 2007 4:01PM
Oh, Joran did mention Jade. Congrats, Joran.
Rob Accomando @ Jun 21st 2007 4:02PM
There are definitely alot of non-stereo typical females in games. Beyond Good and Evil? No offense, but it doesn't seem like the writer played many games or didn't do enough research to back up the articles subject.
animator6 @ Jun 21st 2007 4:03PM
Jade, from Beyond Good And Evil?
eldee @ Jun 21st 2007 4:03PM
The bigger question is 'who gives a shit'. When women become the driving force in gaming, they can shift the market to appeal to them. Fact is, women (hardcore) gamers are not nearly as plentiful as men.
Oh, and before you dig up some link on women being more into games than men, keep in mind that Solitaire and Mine Sweeper don't count. If you see any tits falling out of a corset in the next Popcap game, feel free to get all emo.
mike @ Jun 21st 2007 4:04PM
u guys have to remmeber that women in video games has nothing to do with women in the real world.
Video games are not real, they are created by a team of programmers, artists and designers. Now if we take a look at these real life people, we can see that 95% of them are Male. Also, the games being made are for a 95% male audiance (look here if you dont believe me http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=2780). There are alot of games women play, but these xbox and ps3 games are not them (the majority of women gamers play online games like yahoo games and whatnot).
When you see women who are dressed all sexy like, well thats the way the audience wants it, or at least the creators do. Its pointless to demand change when change would only lose the companies $ and also take away from what the gamers are used to.
Thats like the 1% of guys who wear make-up starting to complain that make-up companies always use women as the models. Theres a target audience to aim for.
Personaly I enjoy a game more if it relates to me. If Im a female hero rescuing my boyfriend in 9 out of 10 games I play, im not going to have as much fun. Perhaps if more females took to video games there would be a warrent to change the way things are, but untill that happens, I dont see anybody making big changes when its gonna cost them $
Avatar @ Jun 21st 2007 4:05PM
Since when do stylized graphics and an emotional story make a game feminine? Play Chrono Trigger, hell play any RPG on the NES or SNES, or dozens of games only in Japan, a country where women are very much still property. Bonnie, your point, although mildly relevant, is nothing new, which you actually stated. People have always been talking about this, and always will. You're tired, you're boring, you're useless. Your whole girl talking about sexist stuff is old. Please leave.
Greg @ Jun 21st 2007 4:07PM
More articles like this, please!
I agree that Odin Sphere is much more "feminine" than Gears of War (which, for the record I adore), which has as one of it's central goals: "Get this thing in that hole now!"
I think it's worth noting another interesting point- while female leads in games are often highly sexualized, they are rarely ever depicted as being sexually aggressive- you never pilot Lara on a mission to go pick up a stud at a bar, and you rarely ever have to rescue your boyfriend/husband/lover.
I really like Gwendolyn in Odin Sphere- as much as I like the hentai-bait charecters (Hello, Magna Carta) it's refreshing to have a character that draws you in with more than just sexuality.
Rubang B @ Jun 21st 2007 4:08PM
JADE from Beyond Good and Evil. The perfect female protagonist role model.
Anyway, Odin Sphere sounds awesome, and this is now another reason why. Nice article Bonnie.
Zertoss @ Jun 21st 2007 4:11PM
BG&E was great. Jade was an excellent character.
The amazon, sorceress and assassin from Diablo 2 are even more strong, non-naked females. They actually wear a lot more than the male Barbarian.
Starcraft had Sarah Kerrigan. She was incredibly strong but was ultimately betrayed and later became the hero to the Zerg swarm as the Queen of Blades. Starcraft: Ghost would've had Nova.
A number of RPGs employ females as healers. We all know that a good healer needs high INT. Healers also tend to dress conservatively. So while they may not be physically strong, with the right magic, they can still kick plenty of ass.
Zsavior @ Jun 21st 2007 4:11PM
I am tired of critics complaining about this, it is not much better on the male side of gaming either. You are either an over effeminate male adolescent or you are the Ultra buff psycho that is either aloof or an all out asshole. All from a very Caucasian persuasion.
Gaming in a whole when it comes to people needs an overhaul need I go into races in a videogame? How if you are black in a video game you are probably running with some sort of ball, or rapping, or worst some sort of drug dealing street thug? Don't give me it is a big gender issue bs, like any industry look at the people making the games and you will get your answer. I am not even going to touch on the lack of homosexual characters in videogames.
Society may changes standards may vary but bias stays the same unless you are willing to examine all instead of just casting a light on one and harping on it. Stereotypes live and breathe when people aren't willing to comment on the bigger picture rather than on specific problems
Zsavior @ Jun 21st 2007 4:13PM
yargg sorry about double post.
Rob Accomando @ Jun 21st 2007 4:14PM
Odin Sphere is game informers "game of the month", btw.
Chris @ Jun 21st 2007 4:17PM
I love Odin Sphere and it does have strong females but it also has some SUPER sexualized females as well, most of the female villians are hardly wearing anything, as well as Violet the other female character you play as. She's not even really wearing pants.
I think Samus is the best example of a strong female lead, and Jade as well as people above both mentioned.
animator6 @ Jun 21st 2007 4:18PM
You raise a good argument albeit an old one, the fact is that the games industry is intensely male dominated thus what it produces is also, the only way for this to change is to have more women enter the industry and produce games that they like. unfortunately this is a catch twenty two because the only way to attract more women to the industry it to produce game that will appeal to them.
Jose @ Jun 21st 2007 4:26PM
Jade Raymond (a woman, and a fucking hot one) is creating a game about a very exclusive all men's club, why don't you go bitch to her. As a woman in the industry, she should be doing more to further the women's cause.
Eldee, do us all a favor and play a full solo round of Russian Roulette.
Dan @ Jun 21st 2007 4:23PM
Women in real life are much sluttier than female game characters.
NintendoFanbot @ Jun 21st 2007 4:25PM
"Also, as much as I want to say Samus... people forget the whole "strong feminine lead" thing came after Super Metroid. Think about it. The better you did in the game, the closer to naked you got her in your ending. Not sexist at all...."
Well, being male, I don't like being represented by a pale, bald, musclebound guy with a loincloth and nonsensical tribal tattoos who tears other people apart because he can and because HE'S BADASS OMG.
Our industry isn't self-serving at all... :)
IslandLife @ Jun 21st 2007 4:28PM
Wow, is this all SOME female gamers ever cry about. You don't see men complaining that day time talk shows and soap operas don't cater to their needs. I'm sorry Bonnie, but this topic is old, has died, been ressurected and killed again and again. Please, just leave it alone or do something about it. The world and life ain't fair. Deal with it.
Viridium @ Jun 21st 2007 4:30PM
What first came to mind to me, for relatively recent games:
Alexandra Roivas (Eternal Darkness)
April Ryan (The Longest Journey)
Jade (Beyond Good & Evil)
Giolon @ Jun 21st 2007 4:41PM
Re: Alexandra in Eternal Darkness --
She's not the only one who gets tired in that game. ALL of the characters do, whether from running or swinging weapons. Some characters just have more stamina than others. Alex is definitely on the low end, but her fatty of a great-great-great-great? grandfather Maximillion had the lowest stamina of any character in that game.
Rare Hare @ Jun 21st 2007 4:35PM
Role models be damned. There's not enough of a market for it. The majority of gamers are heterosexual males, and few of us have any interest in playing as strong, independent women (unless, of course, they are a pile of erection-inducing pixels in the form of someone like Lara Croft).
'Nuff said.
buzzkit @ Jun 21st 2007 4:41PM
How about the girl from half life two? And lets not forget the resident evil women either..Jill Rebecca and Ada.
Christopher7xii @ Jun 21st 2007 4:41PM
Ya wanna know why games are usually more aimed towards guys? Count how many males posted comments in this thread versus how many females posted comments. Simple as that.
But I agree with what about half of you have said. Video game leads, whether female OR male, do NOT represent the individuals playing them. I don't connect with any of the leads in games I play, from RPGs to FPS to platform. I am a white male aged 23, one of their key demographic. I just play because they're fun, not because I want to be the lead role. So while I'll agree there needs to be more strong female leads in games, I don't agree that the image used to portray female avatars are sexist. All video game leads are a rare sight.
And before anyone chips in "well yeah, guys WANT to look like the lead character" - that's BS. I don't want to be a thin, ripped bafoon running around trying to avenge my honor. It's just fun gameplay.
Dylan @ Jun 21st 2007 4:43PM
Yuck, now I'm not going to get it. They couldn't just let us play cool women, they had to go and turn it into feminist crap. Oh, and there is no strength in being a certain gender. If a man said that, he'd be a "pig". Oink Oink.
:D @ Jun 21st 2007 4:45PM
Half Life 2.
Jose @ Jun 21st 2007 4:58PM
Actually, if you ask any gamer, male or female, black or white, homo or hetero, you'll realize we care less about what the actual character looks like than about the armor, weapons, and abilities of that character.
Samus Aran is the prime example, where it didn't matter what sex the character was, because the suit she wore was so damned cool.
So, we're all more concerned about accessorizing, which is a pretty girlie trait if you ask me.
Crono @ Jun 21st 2007 4:48PM
"And before anyone chips in "well yeah, guys WANT to look like the lead character" - that's BS. I don't want to be a thin, ripped bafoon running around trying to avenge my honor. It's just fun gameplay."
Some guys do want to look like that. The flipside is that some girls want to look like lara croft too. Seriously, girls have a fear of having small breasts the same way men have a fear of having a small penis. They just learn to deal with it better, because its fairly obvious how big they are with or without clothes.
Additionally, those sexualized female characters are basically designed to be a male's wet dream. Can you honestly tell me there are not girls out there who want to be a males wet dream?
Paviel @ Jun 21st 2007 4:49PM
One thing about Samus, though, is that she is pretty much disguised as a man. Or, if you will, she has the "knight in shining armor" role that is typically associated with men. To use her as a strong female role model might be to suggest that women should disguise themselves as men.
Not a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, but then again I'm a man.