As mentioned in my list of 10 best gaming heroines there is a lot going for Ms Pacman, being a loving wife and a devoted mother. And now that I think of it, it does raise a question: Have there been any decent mother figures in gaming?
I honestly think a mother being a player character is an idea that has potential. This is not somebody who's saving the world or blowing shit up just for the sake of it: This is someone who's acting out of fear of their children and would do anything to keep any threat away. With games now having large scripts and attention to characterization, I can imagine a forty something who's not afraid to pick up a shotgun to save her teenaged daughter/son. Those familiar with anime would note the title Witchblade, wherein the main protagonist is super-heroine but, at the same time, a mother who wants to look after her daughter and make sure she doesn't grow up to have a miserable life. A scenario like that can work if handled right so why not apply it to games?
Indeed, I can imagine many game developers are people who grew up playing games and no doubt have children of their own. So why not?
Sadly, it seems nearly essential for a lot of female protagonists must have a) looks to draw in a male audience and b) fiery independent spirit to draw a female audience. Which such prerequisites, having a mother character is suicide. I mean can anyone imagine Lara Croft having kids? Of course not.
Indeed, I can only think of one other mother character and that would be Sophitia from the Soul Calibur games. Alas, I think Namco must've been frightened that making her embrace motherhood would turn a lot of players away so the poor gal has been sexed up with each passing game in the series. A move which, I feel, detracts from the more noble aspects of Sophitia's character.
Similarly, I've heard Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy 7 being the embodiment of a 'motherly' role but there is a part of me (the cynical one) that the only way SqueeEnix could've gotten away with it is to make her a) young and beautiful b) hopeless the minute Cloud leaves the room and c) in possession of a rack big enough to land stealth bombers on.
What is this meant to prove? You can only be a mother in gaming if you're hot? I know some women who are mothers and I can tell you it's near impossible to maintain an attractive appearance despite living with the various pressures motherhood brings.
Another such example of such mishandling is Wynne from Dragon Age Origins. She certainly passes for a motherly role with her wisdom, dispensing advice and making sure the [Grey Warden] stays on track (her healing prowess is also welcome). But whilst there are noble qualities, there is a part of me that makes me think that only a woman of an elderly disposition could do it. Granted an aged/experienced character is a familiar archetype but there's no reason to work against the grain: Personally, I wold like to see wisdom and experience put to work for a 'big sister' type character.
But it seems that wisdom and good looks don't walk hand in hand - but at the same time it places the likes of Wynne in the awkward position of both being wise and a nag - a real catch 22 (of course we could go with MY idea but still.....)
In fact I think the only parental player character that is both taken seriously and actually works would be John Marston from Red Dead Redemption. Whilst the player can do what they like with John, there is still no escaping the main plot of the game where John's actions are based on wanting to bury his past as an outlaw and ensure his son Jack lives in a better world.
A noble deed that could only be done by a father. Can a mother character do the same?
But you know maybe there is no need for a mother protagonist. Why? Because both Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor did the job and they did it so well.
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