Gaming's Most Poorly-Written Female Characters

MMO Attack has compiled a little wall of shame, commemorating some of the most poorly written, stereotypical, and downright irritating female characters in gaming.

[Godmars290]

Yes, you're going to get flack for the ICO chick.

The hero of the game didn't get much character development or explanation - except via gameplay. Likewise next to nothing is known about Yorda. Whether or not she's even a princess is an assumption.

[mmoattack]

=X

[Alos88]

I'm not sure you can call a character that has about 3 lines of dialogue "poorly written", especially given that the rest of the plot was equally minimalist.

[Godmars290]

Didn't say she or Ico were poorly written. The story was as presented. In minimalist fashion through gameplay.

But Yorda being on a list like this is perhaps being overly sensitive to sexism.

[SilentNegotiator]

The character that allowed herself to be captured needed help throughout the story?

ZOMG DATS SEXIST

[MariaHelFutura]

Yorda = the ICO chick

[PhoenixRising37]

How is princess peach "poorly written" when she doesn't say anything in the first place besides "MARIOOOO!"

I think Sonia from Ninja Gaiden II is pretty bad...

[GamersXTREME]

Interesting list but there's a mistake I spotted with it. Ashley Graham's photo is the featured image here and she is also listed in this article...but there's nothing written about her at all. When you go to read about why she's "poorly written", the writer mentions a totally different character (Zoe) from an entirely different game (Dreamfall). Other than that, this was a decent read.

[HonestDragon]

Okay, what? Seriously, there are worse female characters in general in video games. Others that were very poorly written. Most of the list seems rushed, but I do see a special case.

Samus - From Metroid: Other M? Are you kidding me? This game is so underrated. Look, just because they gave Samus some emotion and humanity does not make her any less of who she already is. We got to learn about her past before she suited up in the armor. She is not "weak", "submissive", or "childish". I bet the author just hated the game because it was different.

Princess Peach - Okay, now you're just grasping at straws here. Peach hardly has any dialogue. For that matter, Mario and Luigi hardly say anything. Bowser is always the one who has the most dialogue in any given Mario game. Peach is a simple character with simple dialogue. What does this guy expect? Shakespeare in the park?

Vanille - Okay, you have a point there. Vanille is one of the weakest characters in the Final Fantasy franchise. Her dialogue can be summed up in Youtube cam girls stating the obvious or acting ditzy. Oh, and also not knowing what accent she has.

Ashley Graham - There's a mistake here. The picture and name are of Ashley from Resident Evil 4, but there is no actual info on the character. It's of Zoe from Dreamfall. Editing needed for that one.

[Godmars290]

Samus issues has to do with her going from being a solitary protagonist doing everything for herself in the many games before, to what she was in Other M. Which was subservient.

[Pozzle]

Particularly that infamous lava section where Samus doesn't turn on her Varia suit (heat shield) because Adam didn't authorize it, even though she could BURN TO DEATH as a result.

Call it sexist or call it stupid. It was things like this that made Other M's version of Samus a poorly written character.

[metroidfusion2]

I like other m a good game and a different perspective and a younger samus etc etc the game I thought was really good and I wont go into details the idiots need to do their research

[AznGaara]

Oh Vanille.. Is she wasn't such a good saboteur, medic and ravager I wouldn't put her in my party at all. Her voice actor didn't help either.

[Lord_Sloth]

This list is stupid just because of the inclusion of Yorda.

Also anybody who expects grand writing and dialogue from a Mario game is pretty dense.

[madjedi]

"Also anybody who expects grand writing and dialogue from a Mario game is pretty dense."

Right but it couldn't hurt if they could get over the helpless female routine and have the princess be not completely useless for once.

Make one game where, she saves mario and luigi for a change. And give zelda her game back or change the name already.

I am not a white knight pro feminist male by any measure, in fact i generally hate those types. But if our medium is maturing can we at least advance past the 12th century in regards to helpless princesses.

[Zhipp]

lmfao! I guess you've never heard of Super Princess Peach? It's pretty awesome, you should check it out.
Also, The Legend of Zelda sounds a hell of a lot cooler than "The Legend of Link", though the latter name would be more accurate. :D And Zelda does fight alongside Link in the WW and TP final battles, iirc.

[ame22]

In other words, all the Japanese characters.

[StrawHatPatriot]

I would like it if Lightning was on the list.

Sorry but I had to say it.

[Tetsujin]

I hate how SE is trying to make Lightning into the new "Cloud" of FF games; I know there's mixed opinions about 13, however I'd vote her being on the list to.

[madjedi]

Problem is cloud wasn't a completely unlikeable douchebag with chip on his shoulder, nothing in part 13 or the little bit of 13-2 i played changed my mind about the character in any positive way.

Basically the most unlikeable protaganist in any ff game i have played to date.

[landog]

ashly is hot

her and hunnigan

3some!