LoC #39 - Top 50 Video Game Characters - HIGH SCORES

[Pak-Man]

Well you've gotta give it up for Peach in Super Mario 2. She plays an active role and can reach a lot of places nobody else can. There's also the fact that she's been a playable character in a lot of games, and Zelda just has Smash Brothers. I also like how Peach has become so experienced at getting kidnapped, she almost never stays put. She's always breaking out or sending Mario some power-ups. She's even helped out in a boss battle or two.

[Invader_quirk]

Sure she's useful, but as a character of fiction, Peach doesn't have much to her. It all comes down to your personal take on what makes a game character good. I was going for depth or design on my list (mostly).

[mr.b.natural]

Don't forget Mario RPG.  Peach kicked ass with a frying pan and was an awesome healer. 

Honestly, all the Resident Evil characters are laughable.  I mean, really.  But that's sort of the nature of video games right now.  It's improving but I wouldn't know since I'm still stuck in the era of PS2.  I think the RE series is sort of a pioneer in the field of character development and taking a games seriously.  I chose Leon (I also had Chris Redfield on my list) because you spend so much time with him and he survives some serious shit.  I would have discombobulated if I were that guy.  And mostly because I liked RE4 so much.  I would love to play RE5.   

[Compound]

Update!

And at the halfway point, my tally stands at 1 of 25. Oh, and 1 from the worst list.

I'm saving the rants for after the list is over.

[spaceforarent]

Don't forget Mario RPG.  Peach kicked ass with a frying pan and was an awesome healer. 

I've got a character from Mario RPG on mine, though I doubt he will make the list.

[Invader_quirk]

I've got a character from Mario RPG on mine, though I doubt he will make the list.

If it's who I think it is, I voted for him too, so maybe....

[mrbasehart]

Alyx Vance is a rare type of female character in video games - she's not designed around either her tits or her ass.  She's never scantily clad, she's not silly or dumb, and half the time she's gently mocking you for your total silence.  She's kinda awesome.  Certainly better than Princess Peach.  Jeez guys!

[mr.b.natural]

I've got a character from Mario RPG on mine, though I doubt he will make the list.

If it's who I think it is, I voted for him too, so maybe....

I considered Geno but I already had three Mario characters and wanted to include some more mature characters.  Oh, and remember Frogfucius? Oh, and the Cake Monster?  Man, I love that game.  I did put Bowser on my list and mostly because of Mario RPG.  In retrospect I can understand Peach given her huge involvement in so many games but Princess Zelda?  I guess I'm not that familiar with the Zelda games but that seems to me like picking "Sleeping Beauty" as an all-time great film character.     

In "Drakan: The Ancients' Gate" the protagonist, Rynn, is buxom and hot but is a strong female character who gets to have the 'whole family was killed when I was younger' back story.  Plus she rode a fucking dragon and her game was rated M for Violence and Gore.  Suikoden also has some good female characters as well as Mass Effect.  (you can even have Shepard be a female there)  Sniper Wolf from MGSolid, Lady Fortune MGSolid2, and of course Big Boss from 3 who I kinda wish I had included.  I haven't played 4 but from what I understand there is a whole squad of killer females?  Lots of tough chicks in the Metal Gear series.  Well, besides Emma Emmeric cowering in fear as you try to protect her .       

[FLOCK of RABID SHEEP?!?!]

Update!

And at the halfway point, my tally stands at 1 of 25. Oh, and 1 from the worst list.

I'm saving the rants for after the list is over.

i got more than i thought i would,. though some i seem to have missed or should have placed higher/lower

[Asbestos Bill]

I've got a character from Mario RPG on mine, though I doubt he will make the list.

If it's who I think it is, I voted for him too, so maybe....

I considered Geno but I already had three Mario characters and wanted to include some more mature characters.  Oh, and remember Frogfucius? Oh, and the Cake Monster?  Man, I love that game.  I did put Bowser on my list and mostly because of Mario RPG.  In retrospect I can understand Peach given her huge involvement in so many games but Princess Zelda?  I guess I'm not that familiar with the Zelda games but that seems to me like picking "Sleeping Beauty" as an all-time great film character.     

In "Drakan: The Ancients' Gate" the protagonist, Rynn, is buxom and hot but is a strong female character who gets to have the 'whole family was killed when I was younger' back story.  Plus she rode a fucking dragon and her game was rated M for Violence and Gore.  Suikoden also has some good female characters as well as Mass Effect.  (you can even have Shepard be a female there)  Sniper Wolf from MGSolid, Lady Fortune MGSolid2, and of course Big Boss from 3 who I kinda wish I had included.  I haven't played 4 but from what I understand there is a whole squad of killer females?  Lots of tough chicks in the Metal Gear series.  Well, besides Emma Emmeric cowering in fear as you try to protect her .       

I don't know if you were implying that a strong-and-hot female character is less chauvinistic than the helpless-and-hot ones, but I think that the first is much more blatantly fanservice (briefly considered 'manservice.' I'm sorry  ). Of course, that doesn't mean that chip-on-the-shoulder feminists won't jump on you for giving your female lead a character flaw.

[spaceforarent]

I've got a character from Mario RPG on mine, though I doubt he will make the list.

If it's who I think it is, I voted for him too, so maybe....

I considered Geno but I already had three Mario characters and wanted to include some more mature characters.  Oh, and remember Frogfucius? Oh, and the Cake Monster?  Man, I love that game.  I did put Bowser on my list and mostly because of Mario RPG.  In retrospect I can understand Peach given her huge involvement in so many games but Princess Zelda?  I guess I'm not that familiar with the Zelda games but that seems to me like picking "Sleeping Beauty" as an all-time great film character.     

You should have picked Geno, would have been awesome to see him make the list!

[Invader_quirk]

In retrospect I can understand Peach given her huge involvement in so many games but Princess Zelda?  I guess I'm not that familiar with the Zelda games but that seems to me like picking "Sleeping Beauty" as an all-time great film character.     

Nah, Zelda's actually much more involved in things than Peach is, especially in recent years. Let's not forget how much butt she kicked as Sheik in Ocarina of Time.

[mr.b.natural]

In "Drakan: The Ancients' Gate" the protagonist, Rynn, is buxom and hot but is a strong female character who gets to have the 'whole family was killed when I was younger' back story.  Plus she rode a fucking dragon and her game was rated M for Violence and Gore.        

I don't know if you were implying that a strong-and-hot female character is less chauvinistic than the helpless-and-hot ones, but I think that the first is much more blatantly fanservice (briefly considered 'manservice.' I'm sorry  ). Of course, that doesn't mean that chip-on-the-shoulder feminists won't jump on you for giving your female lead a character flaw.

Hmm.  It's been a long time since I've played the game but one of the interesting things about her was that she was a leader who could rally the troops or take on a whole army by herself (maybe with some help from her dragon) and didn't have that "comic book" body we usually see that would likely result in the woman accidentally knocking herself out with the force of her own knockers.  As a hero her dialogue was about as compelling and inspiring as a nameless Centurion but while all others surrendered to their fate as monster chow she alone stood up to the coming darkness to save not a country or ideal, but the human race.  

As for generally speaking I feel a strong-and-hot female character is slightly less chauvinistic than a damsel in distress.  Generally of course and that's just how I feel.

I forgot to mention a great female character who actually made it on my list, Princess Ashe from Final Fantasy 12.  I guess I'll talk about it more after the list of Top 50 is done but she was tough without being ridiculous, (Lighting from 13) considerate of others without being some kind of mom, (Yuna from 10) was out for revenge without being psychotically obsessed, and was not just some victim of circumstance doing what she was told.  She was on the heroes' journey as she fought to transform her world and unlike most video game characters actually felt kind of real.

You should have picked Geno, would have been awesome to see him make the list!

Sorry.    I could have easily made a Top 100 list I think.  There were so many I wanted to have on there and lots of ones like "Slime/Ooz/Flan: From just about every RPG ever made."  Or "Generic Zombie: Zombies Ate my Neighbors, Resident Evil Games, Hundreds of Others."  I think what I would have liked would have been to pick 25 games and analyze the characters from them.  

In retrospect I can understand Peach given her huge involvement in so many games but Princess Zelda?  I guess I'm not that familiar with the Zelda games but that seems to me like picking "Sleeping Beauty" as an all-time great film character.     

Nah, Zelda's actually much more involved in things than Peach is, especially in recent years. Let's not forget how much butt she kicked as Sheik in Ocarina of Time.

Oh.  I haven't played that game.  I didn't think she was that active in the games.  Peach has her own game, kicked ass in Mario 2, Mario RPG, helps out in Paper Mario games, and I'm sure plenty of others.  But I stand corrected.  I suppose Zelda is a catalyst for adventure as well as an influential force within the drama that unfolds.  Her position is secured.         

[PsychoGoatee]

#26- Princess Peach Toadstool

(61 Points) 4 of 24 Lists - Highest Ranking - #4 - Psychogoatee

Hell yes, Princess Peach rocks! She's sassy as hell.

Now, I hate to be that guy to point out an error which means the list has to be fixed, but... Princess Peach is actually #21 on my list, not #4. That probably changes things a bit.

[Pak-Man]

Whoops. The tally is right, but I wrote down the bottom voter instead of the top voter. Thom had the #4 vote.  Fixing it now.