Heavenly Sword week opens with 10 new screenshots

by Nick Doerr { Apr 10th 2007 at 10:45AM }

There's nothing quite like having an entire week themed on a certain game -- it just so happens this week is extra special because the focus over at GamePro is on Heavenly Sword. The action title is boasting some pretty tight-looking control schemes and action that may rival God of War in unrelenting badassery. Is that a proper term to use for a fantastic female lead? Or would we just call her "sexystrong"?

In addition to the ten new screenshots that were released, we'd like to spurn on a discussion for you guys. More and more lately, there seem to be female spots springing up in games as supporting leads (Rachel in Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Lady in Devil May Cry 3 among others), but they've usually got the "share the spotlight with the male lead" syndrome. We pose this question (which I discuss with one of my friends every month or so): what games had a great female lead, who either didn't have to share the spotlight with a male lead, or who had male supporting roles beneath her? Here are a few examples:

Aya Brea: Parasite Eve, Parasite Eve 2
Terra and Celes: Final Fantasy VI
Virginia Maxwell: Wild Arms 3 (let's not kid ourselves, overall the story was hers)

Your turn!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Tags: Heavenly Sword, HeavenlySword, Nariko, PlayStation 3, Playstation3, PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

shase @ Apr 10th 2007 11:08AM

That chick from Dream Falls, Heather from SH 3. Eternal darkness, Primal, Dead or alive extreme , Rumble roses, Bullet witch and many more...

RPG @ Apr 10th 2007 11:21AM

Jill Valentine and Claire Redfield - Resident Evil series. Ada Wong, as hot as she is, doesn't count because she's more clichéd and kind of there as eye candy in comparison to Jill and Claire.

Champloo @ Apr 10th 2007 11:23AM

This is shameful, no one has mentioned Samus from the Metroid series, and Lara Croft of Tomb Raider fame.

DLB10000 @ Apr 10th 2007 11:23AM

The original Metroid game. But you thought it was a guy until the end. But, she was the main character throughout the game.

evan @ Apr 10th 2007 11:29AM

jade from beyond good and evil.

smco @ Apr 10th 2007 11:32AM

I think that it is good for games to recognize the need for more female leads in games. RPGs like Oblivion and MMO games like World of Warcraft are also good because of character creation, so you can be male or female. However, this isn't always good because you cannot create a gaming icon like Mario or Master Chief or Kratos with these games.

I am hoping we start seeing more games with sole female protagonists like Heavenly Sword. Lara Croft and Jill Valentine(female member of STARS in Resident Evil, sole lead in Resident Evil 3) as well as those female leads you listed above are all recognizable to people to some degree.

I believe that HS will be the next Tomb Raider in the way that it advanced gaming on multiple levels.

Wonderflex @ Apr 10th 2007 11:33AM

Master Chief?

More realistically though:

Carmen - Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego
Regina - DinoCrisis
Kameo - Kameo: Elements of Power
Ms. Pac Man - Ms. Pac Man
Ulala - Space Channel 5
Mary-Kate and Ashley -
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Crush Course
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Get a Clue
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Girls' Night Out
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Sweet 16
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Sweet 16 - License to Drive
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winners Circle
Mary-Kate and Ashley's Magical Mystery Mall
Mary-Kate and Ashley's Pocket Planner
(The New Adventures of) Mary-Kate and Ashley

360 rocks @ Apr 10th 2007 11:37AM

"This is shameful, no one has mentioned Samus from the Metroid series, and Lara Croft of Tomb Raider fame"
Agree with you, Seamus Aran was the first name that struck me when I saw that question

Dolla Dolla @ Apr 10th 2007 11:43AM

Johanna Dark - Perfect Dark and PDZ

Pimpin @ Apr 10th 2007 1:12PM

Final Fantasy X-2

alienclay @ Apr 10th 2007 12:14PM

laura bow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Bow

Stef Geiger @ Apr 10th 2007 12:48PM

BLECK. I hate games with female leads. I want to play as a guy, because well, I'm a dude, and I identify myself as one, so it really takes me out of the experience to play as a girl. The only game I've ever come across where that didn't bother me too much was BG&E. I love how the media spins this concept into something about female empowerment when the truth is that whoever came up with the concept thought "Man, guys would probably like this game even more if the main character had boobs to stare at.". And if that's why you like female game characters, you should probably go get a girlfriend before it's too late.

mamardilla69 @ Apr 10th 2007 12:56PM

I will go with Aya Brea. Think the Parasite Eve Series are one of the best that i have played since Ps1. By the way, anybody knows if theres gonna be a Parasite Eve 3??

I hope if i cant see Parasie Eve 3 at least i could see PE1 & PE2 on the PS-Store as downloads. THOSE GAMES ROCKS

Thummim @ Apr 10th 2007 1:05PM

I know it's been said once (at least) but I'll re-emphasize. There have been many female lead characters in video games for years (i.e. Ms. PacMan) but it's hard to dispute that Laura Croft was the real groundbreaker who demonstrated the legitimacy of female badassery in action video games. She wasn't just a stock male character reworked up to include huge knockers and a tight ass, she had a distinctive femininity that put her in a class of her own that makes her the standard by which all other female leads will be measured.

Wonderflex @ Apr 10th 2007 1:06PM

@ Stef Geiger

I agree with Stef. Nothing takes the fun out of something like having to see things through the viewpoint of a woman. It doesn't even make sense. Do video game developers really, truly, think that women do anything that would be of interest to men, let alone be a good enough story to be adapted into a video game.

I can't stand books, movies, comics...or pretty much anything, that has to do with women in a lead role. Just a simple waste of time. [insert sarcasm here]

Stef Geiger @ Apr 10th 2007 1:25PM

Alright, I'm not saying girls suck - I just don't want to play one in a videogame. I also think the idea of liking a character because she's "badass and sexy" is kind of... well... pointless. She doesn't exist.

I want to play games as a guy because it's far easy to get into the game. I think it makes perfect sense to ALLOW gamers the CHOICE to play as a female, because some people may identify themselves as women. It just pisses me off when a developer forces me to play a game as a woman. Nevermind the fact that it's pretty much the same concept EVERY SINGLE TIME - "She can kick ass, and she has a nice rack.". Wow. Compelling.

Would anyone here want to play God of War with a female lead instead of Kratos?

sicklesdawg @ Apr 10th 2007 1:31PM

Where is Parasite EVE 3!!

mccomber @ Apr 10th 2007 1:44PM

"Would anyone here want to play God of War with a female lead instead of Kratos?"

I know I can't wait for Heavenly Sword. ;)

I think that the gender of the hero is less important than how well written that character is. I think that more often the female leads have been given a little bit more of a unique feel, so to speak, than male ones. So often the male character is "badass with nothing/everything to lose" and just ends up being another roid-rage ass who blows shit up and has a one-liner to follow it up. But yeah, women are often falling into a stereotype character now that is, as you said, "She can kick ass, and she has a nice rack." Too bad.

In the end the good characters are written with weaknesses and problems beyond the situation at hand, and that is what makes them compelling. Doesn't matter what their gender, or species, is.

TheSh0wstopper @ Apr 10th 2007 1:45PM

Nick,

"Terra and Celes: Final Fantasy VI"

come on dude. you cant put them two together, it downplays Terra's role if you do. The game was pretty much surrounded around Terra... If there was no Terra the would be no FF3 (Im sticking to american nomanclature). Celes would be pushing up daisys if Locke didnt save her.

TheSh0wstopper

TheSh0wstopper @ Apr 10th 2007 1:54PM

And guys I hate to sound like a sexist but I cant play games with female leads. I just cant relate to the character and it hurts my gameplay experience. Why does everyone like God of War? Because of the character and the story, I would not get that same feeling with a female lead. Think about it your playing as a girl... running around with a girl fighting men is not fun to me. The ONLY exception to this rule is IVY from Soul Caliber.

TheSh0wstopper

Wonderflex @ Apr 10th 2007 1:53PM

@ Stef Geiger

Although there is frequently women featured which fit your description, there are also times when that is very untrue. Such as the example given above of Eternal Darkness. There are times when for storytelling purposes it makes sense to use a female protaganist.

Infact your own argument could be used against you in relationship to male charcters. Quite often it's usually just some rugged, tough-guy, smashin'-n'-shootin' things. I'm sure that this annoys female gamers too...such as my wife.

In response to your question; it could actually be fun to play God of War from a female characters point of view, so long as the storyline was driven around the concept of a woman lead.

You can't simply say, "Would anyone here want to play God of War with a female lead instead of Kratos?" - That's like saying, "Would you like to play Zelda with a female lead, instead of Link." If you were to just pop in Zelda in replacement, of course I wouldn't...the princess saving Link...that would be weird. Give her a compelling storyline, and her own set of dynamic abilities, and sure; I'd love to. Same with God of War; Gears of War; Metal Gear; or Metal Marines.

It can't be as cut and dry as you make it; where never should you be forced to play as a female.

ndoerr @ Apr 10th 2007 1:53PM

@ sh0wstopper -- I'm sticking by the Terra/Celes combo. If you look at the game from a macro standpoint, pre-world of ruin was focused on Terra and her roots, whereas post-world of ruin was focused on Celes and finding her place/friends and something to fight for. In that respect, I stand by my decision =)

TheSh0wstopper @ Apr 10th 2007 2:01PM

Nick,

ehhh... i'll give you that one. She did pick it up in the post world of ruin. DAMN YOU NICK DOERR!!! (shakes fist in air. I will retreat for now... but ill be back.

TheSh0wstopper

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 10th 2007 2:41PM

The female would have to be a BAMF. A woman that tears heads off while giving off a sexy/crazy vibe. I would play her.

seedaripper @ Apr 10th 2007 2:52PM

er...doesnt heavenly sword look cool....
(doesnt anyone remember 'head over heels-ocean software' ?? heels is defo a girl ;)

Champloo @ Apr 11th 2007 4:10AM

Well, for those of you who have trouble playing as women, why not try adapting your thought process? For me, when I'm playing a game the I'm not trying to be a character, I AM a character (and quite a card too! nyuck nyuck nyuck). Seriously it doesn't matter what character I am, I get in THEIR mindset, instead of trying to let them get into mind.

So for example, if I'm Link from the Legend of Zelda series, I'm thinking: "What can I do to make Hyrule better? I should help people, and attack enemies to better the land and save the day!", or if I'm Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2 I'm thinking "I must find Tidus... and become the world's greatest sphere hunter!". Basically it's not about fitting the character into your view, but fitting yourself into the character.

The next time you're playing a game with a female lead try and think from their perspective. A perfect example of this is the game Fable:

When I created a character, I would create a personality for that character, so if I was pure evil I would think that way "I should capture souls and sacrifice them for the dark lord (Skorm) and rule this forsaken realm!". And my actions would follow suit: if I was an evil bastard, I would think "What would an evil bastard do?"

If I was somewhat good, but maybe not fully I would think "Maybe I'll rob this bandit, an then give the money to the temple of Avo!". Or maybe I'd call myself Thor, use only a hammer as a weapon and only use lightning magic. It's all about shaping YOUR view, around what the character would do, not the other way around.

Anywho, that works for me, and makes every game that much more entertaining.

John @ Apr 10th 2007 3:46PM

Final Fantasy X-2, those girls were awesome. For some reason, I would much rather play a girl as a lead in a game. It seems more interesting and I am SO tired of macho.

ndoerr @ Apr 10th 2007 3:59PM

Oh! I completely forgot one of my favorite female leads that no one mentioned.

Marina -- Mischief Makers for the N64. That game, and that heroine, were freakin' fantastic. Nothing like grabbin' and shakin' the crap out of everything.

Clint @ Apr 10th 2007 4:37PM

Rynn : Drakan

Dahk @ Apr 10th 2007 5:19PM

Haha does Raiden from MGS2 count as a girl?

Remember the first time the president dood grabbed his you-know-what. That was the highlight of the game. Funniest game moment ever.

Well... one of them =).

John @ Apr 11th 2007 12:31AM

The Okami wolf was female... and the powerful entities were feminine goddesses, or something. Nice to see women in roles that are intelligent and thoughtful instead of that ridiculous God of War tripe. "Kratos! SAVE me, Kratos! For some reason, I am too stupid to use my own velocity/centrifugal force/whatever" to swing this rope and jump to the rock which is remarkably close! I need a man to save me because even though I have been rendered as being physically fit, they didn't render my mind!"

Stef Geiger @ Apr 11th 2007 1:30AM

Dude, in the instance you're talking about, Athena couldn't have possibly swung herself to safety on account of her stereotypically huge boobs weighing her down.

What's totally hilarious about that sequence is that Kratos "saves" her by basically tackling her so they BOTH fall to the ground. huh?

Laurens Holst @ Apr 11th 2007 2:28AM

My characters in EVE Online and WoW are both female, and don’t have to share their spotlight ^_^.

But yeah, I like to play with girls, for some reason (ohohoho :)).

~Grauw

Laurens Holst @ Apr 11th 2007 2:29AM

What about the girl in ICO? She was certainly central to the game.

~Grauw

RPG @ Apr 13th 2007 10:02AM

Wanting to play as a female and having a female be the lead in the narrative are completely different.

Giving players the choice in a MMO like WoW means that overall you'll get the same experience whichever race you choose (unless you treat WoW like SL...). When a game maker decides that a female is the lead, they (should) take into account how the experience changes because of it. When you feel for these characters because of their unique perspective, then the choice to make the lead female is a good one. When the lead is nothing more than the cliched femme-fatale that looks hot while killing people, then you could have easily made the lead male and not sell as many games because the sex appeal wouldn't be there.

And one more thing...

MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY OLSEN?!?! The only reason they're even in those games is because of the money they give to their agents and public relations people to go out and merchandise the hell out of them! DON'T confuse a game "for girls" as a game with strong female leads. Using that thinking, Barbie's Virtual Dress-Up on PC would be a magnum opus of female empowerment. And if you don't get the sarcasm there, then that's just sad...