Hiliariously bad voice acting

Not  much to say for today so what to do? Post an amusing youtube video!

Come to SAVE! The Princess Zel-Dah!

It’s been well documented on this blog that I really like the character of Princess Zelda. Okay sure it may be fool’s errand to say so seeing that it’s a different character with each Zelda game, her role and usefulness within the games varies, and a romance with Link that is more based on speculation. But the appeal of Princess Zelda is the mystique in that little is seen of her but much is made of her - not least, of course, in the title of the series.



When the Legend of Zelda series began, Princess Zelda herself was the goal: She was a princess and it was Link’s role to rescue her from the clutches of the antagonist Ganon. It may have worked then but years of gaming advancements have happened since. Thus it is now customary to have well-realised scripts and characters the player can relate to. So whilst the formula may have persisted in the lead games since, it’s interesting to note how said formula has been tampered with and how Princess Zelda has done significantly more than just sit around, waiting to be rescued. In Ocarina of Time, she provides help and assistance to Link and even gets into the thick of it through her alter ego Sheik. In Wind Waker, Princess Zelda adopts the persona of the sassy pirate captain Tetra. In Twilight Princess, Zelda is shown to be a ruler who is deeply concerned for the well-being of her people and even plays an active role in helping Link defeat Ganondorf in the final conflict. In Skyward Sword, Zelda finally gets some romantic interplay with Link which makes her assertive whilst leaving him something of a dope (or so I’ve heard). And, as established many times over, Princess Zelda forms a trifecta with Link and Ganondorf as they each represent the three aspects of the Triforce in Wisdom, Courage and Power respectively.

All of this begs the question of why isn’t there a Zelda game where we get to control Princess Zelda herself. She has her fans and many of them would like to see her as the player character. But no – the games tell the story of Link’s adventure, not hers. What is particularly frustrating is that whilst the character of Princess Zelda has had some care and work gone into making her something a bit more than damsel in distress, at the end of the day she still fulfils that function within the game itself! Such a move does bother me in that Nintendo could make really a really great heroine but seem unwilling to make the final step. Why, I heard that the makers of Spirit Tracks paid attention to the demands of wanting to use Princess Zelda as a playable character but the end result struck me more of a squandered opportunity: Yes it was nice to finally see Princess Zelda and Link working together but to have that Zelda being dead and assisting Link only in spirit does leave a rather nasty taste in the mouth.



But ultimately, the balking out may be there for good reason: For there does lie the notion that if a damsel in distress is a strong, practical and capable of looking after herself then she would’ve already rescued herself. Thus having Princess Zelda the player character may upset the afore-mentioned trifecta: If it’s Princess Zelda going out and taking Ganondorf down then what’s left for Link to do? He is the embodiment of the Triforce of Courage so thus it looks kinda silly for him to be placed in such a redundant position (which may explain how Princess Peach got her own game on the DS).
There is indeed weight to make Princess Zelda a playable character and, with enough thought, it could be made to work. If Zelda is setting up things beforehand for Link to walk into, then why don’t we see it happen? How about a Legend of Zelda game which features bonus content showing Princess Zelda going around and setting things up for particular points in the game (by way of example, consider the Ada missions in Resident Evil 4)? Or how about a Legend of Zelda game where the player can switch between both Link and Princess Zelda and show the latter using her magic and mind to overcome problems to assist Link in his quest?

Still, I personally like to think that Princess Zelda could do everything but she’s smart enough to get someone else, Link, to do it. After all, she isn’t the embodiment of the Triforce of Wisdom for nothing…

Chronicles of a Gamer (Michael Revisited)

Here's a little something I bashed out - inspired by the legendary Michael ad:

I’m the one who walked with Link on his journey
The one Princess Zelda calls when danger nears
To Ganondorf I’m his constant enemy

I told Snake how to destroy the Metal Gears
Through me he found a sense of meaning in life
And we still meet regularly to drink some beers

I showed John Marston how to kill with a knife
With me he became a Legend of the West
And I got him back with his son and wife

I went with Commander Shepard – he’ll attest
I was with him through the Omega Relay
As everyone ‘round us gave their very best

I walked with Yuna every step of the way!
Got Ico and Yorda out of the fortress!
I’m that which makes Cyberdemons run away!

I got Samus Arun through planet Zebes!
Kefka, Loughain, M Bison, I did fracture!
Even Morrigan Aensland I did impress!

I got the Little Sisters out of Rapture!
I’ve faced down lines of relentless invaders!
Made friends with a wolf god and a space hamster!

I’ve been with Avalanche and Raynor’s Raiders!
When all’s gone to hell I’m the one they rely!
And I’m a friend of many a gun trader!

I’ve fought sand demons, zombies and colossi!
For I am the gamer and I’ve done it all
And in the eyes of my comrades, I’m their guy

Favourite Gaming Heroes

Well who would've thunk it? I've hit two hundred posts in this blog! Yay me! Well any feat is as good as any so to acknowledge this milestone, something special.
Last year I posted a length post about my favourite gaming heroines. Since then it’s become my most popular post on this blog. So what the hell – I may as well do a long post about the other side of the coin: My Favourite Gaming Heroes!
Admittedly, taking up this task is a lot harder than coming up with a list of favourite heroines – purely because there are a lot more candidates. Nevertheless, I eventually settled on heroes that I liked, were unique in their own way or established some sort of connection with. That being said, there may be some glaring exclusions (well at least in someone else's eyes) but in that case either a) the missing hero didn't make that much of an impression or b) I haven't played (or have yet to play) the game in question.

So here we go: My favourite gaming heroes. If I ever needed to get some people together to form a posse, these are the dudes I’ll call:

11 – Kratos (God of War)
I love this guy. At a time when Playstation games were defined by pretty-boy types (ie Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts) along comes a protagonist who’s completely different: Ugly, muscular and violent in a brutal unflinching method. Of course, such qualities would make anyone a detestable character but here it works: I don’t know why though - maybe it’s the fear that arguing with Kratos would probably result in one getting their head caved in.
Of course, part of the appeal is that the original God of War game benefited from great writing. Seeing the lead character commit suicide at the very beginning is a strong opening move and commands attention. And as the story progressed, decent motivation was supplied in the form of revenge. In addition, the fact that it was pretty much all Kratos’ stupid fault and the extraordinary lengths he had to go to undo it all made the narrative ever the more epic and compelling.
Sadly, in the subsequent sequels, Kratos has become less interesting. Without a decent motivation, Kratos now comes across as being a violent jerk just for the sake of it. Suddenly the striking first image we see of him (plummeting to his death) is forgotten and Kratos comes across as being a parody of himself: Being a kill-crazy, revenge-obsessed psychotic because that’s pretty much all he’s good at. But that isn’t true and, as a result, Kratos claims the lowly position on this list.
Still, if you need something big and ugly dead, this is the man to call.


10 - Auron (Final Fantasy X)
The Final Fantasy games have no shortage of heroes so choosing from them is a daunting task. So after much consideration, I eventually decided to go with Auron – I mean I could’ve gone with Cloud but that seemed too obvious.
Final Fantasy X may have Tidus as the main character and Yuna’s quest as the focal point, but it is still Auron who steals the show. And who can blame him? A hard-bitten veteran warrior carrying a blade as big as himself, a man of mystery and wisdom about the alien world that is Spira, a modern-day samurai who carries with him a huge bottle of grog and perhaps the only sane one in the entire party. What’s not to like?
Whilst there have been warriors of the noble/tragic vein in previous Final Fantasy games (Freya Crescent being one such example), Auron is perhaps the accumulation of them all – He is the sole survivor of Lord Braska’s party and taking the uncompleted mission onto the next generation through a promise made to both Braska and Jecht. He bares the burden of being a man out of time and one who won’t go until his uncompleted task is finally done. But with the task left undone, Auron has left a terrible trail in his wake: He openly defied a system and ended up being cursed and restless for his trouble. Whilst this is familiar fare for the ‘veteran warrior’ archetype, Auron pulls it off in away that is all his own. Not sure how he does it though: Is it his cool head in times of crisis? Is it his connection with Tidus that makes him the likely target to find what the hell’s going on? Is because his VA actually did a good job?!
Or maybe it’s because he can cleave through the monsters like a hot knife through butter.


9 - Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil 4)
I came into the Resident Evil games rather late: Although I knew of them, I never actually played them (although, admittedly, it wasn’t hard to identify Jill Valentine in her RE3 incarnation). Therefore, like a whole lot of other people, I only got interested in the Resident Evil series through RE4. So whilst Leon may have appeared in RE2 I honestly don’t care: No.4 is where he made an impression on me and that’s where he comes in with this list.
One of the golden rules for writing a story is never make things easy for one’s protagonist. And boy does Leon go through a whole lot of hell: Sure he starts off having to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter but what he ends up doing is dealing with psychotic villagers, dealing with psychotic monks and then psychotic pirates. He has to contend with a potential love interest who knows more then she’s letting on, grotesque monsters that just won’t lay down and die, so many people who want to see him dead and, worst of all, a shrill little bitch who can’t do jack except whining and getting kidnapped. It’s a succession of increasing disaster that would break a lesser man but not Leon.
Thus I give credit to Leon: He’s a cop turned government agent. He carries around a case of guns and ammo that miraculously halt everything when he needs to change weapons. And he still goes through hell only to come out the other side still standing. Leon’s a hero worth cheering for every step of the way and definitely someone you’d want watching your back.


8 - The Prince (Prince of Persia Sands of Time)
As an aspiring writer, I can tell you one of the rules of writing a compelling character is something called a ‘resurrection’. The story begins with a character being presented but as the story progresses they go through various trials and tribulations – thus by the end they came out the other end as someone completely different and unable to return to the person they once were. Whilst there have been several gaming characters to undergo this process, the one I feel works best is the Prince from the Sands of Time.
At the beginning, I didn’t like the Prince at all. But as the game progressed, I found him growing on me. Through the progress of the game, it’s interesting to see how the Prince hardens through the various obstacles that come his way and how, as character, he evolves from a snobby prick. He is a capable fighter, an excellent story teller and, by the end, the journey really feels worth it. I particularly like the ending, how he is pretty much the only left who knew exactly what happened and he leaves Farah in a state of bewilderment.
Ultimately, I hold the Prince as a fine example of character development done right and perhaps the best example of the resurrection theory. Now if only other game developers will catch on….


7 - Armakuni (Last Ninja series)
I can imagine some of you young pups might be saying “Who?” at this point so allow me to explain: My gaming days began when I was a kid on the eighties with the Commodore 64 – and if you had a Commodore 64 you had the Last Ninja games. It was that essential game one needed (the Halo of it's day if you will) and for good reason. At the time (late eighties), it provided a then innovative mixture of action and adventure where a ninja traversed through a 3d isometric environment collecting items and weapons, fighting bad guys, solving problems and going through fiendishly difficult jumping sections all accompanied by a rockin’ soundtrack involving a C64 SID chip being pushed to the limit. Although mostly forgotten now, it’s hard to imagine many games existing without it (Tomb Raider comes to mind).
Which brings me to Armakuni, the titular character. The game manual revealed quite a lot about his motivations: His ninja clan defied the tyrannical shogun Kunitoki who responded by having then all killed in massacre at a sacred temple. Armakuni was the survivor (through not being at the temple for some reason) and he takes it upon himself to go out for revenge. And Armakuni must be extremely pissed off to do so. Why? His vengeance-filled eyes became the box art (see above), informing that this is a ninja who isn’t fucking around - and subsequently providing one of the most unforgettable images in gaming history.
And in the sequel things started getting weird with Armakuni and Kunitoki somehow being transported through time to modern day New York (?!?) where the ninja finds himself running the gauntlet with psychotic cops, homicidal motorcyclists and the dangers of the modern world.
Growing up with the Commodore 64, Armakuni was one of my heroes – he was smart, a capable fighter and his quest for vengeance was one worth following through with. The time-travel plot was odd to say the least but it was indeed compelling to see a warrior from the feudal era adapt to a completely alien environment. And hey, anyone who can make nunchucks out of the flusher chains found in women’s toilets (yes you read that right) deserves some credit.


6 - Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy 9)
Well there’s always room for another Final Fantasy character.
Selecting Zidane for this list is more drawn from my own experience: of all the Final Fantasy games I’ve played, Zidane was the one who I had the greatest connection with. But I’m still not sure why this is so: Was he a character who’s actually likable? Did he win me over with his womanising and his humour? Was his romance with Garnet one of those rare gaming romances that’s actually compelling? Or was he a welcome change of pace following after the cheerlessness of Cloud and Squall?
No matter: I liked Zidane a lot and I found his adventures across Final Fantasy IX compelling enough to follow all the way to the end. Even for an old, grumpy gamer like myself I couldn’t help but like the thief and his chipper/plucky/never-say-die outlook on life. In the game itself, Zidane is the representation of Virtue. And whilst virtue is usually a formula for a wimpy, so-good-it’s-sickening type character, Zidane pulls it off so well you can’t help but cheer him on. It also helps that Zidane’s cheerfulness is balanced out with him bearing the burden of loneliness and the knowledge of what his purpose is. All of this makes for a fascinating character.
I think his character description in the game manual said it all: “You don’t need a reason to help people.” It’s a philosophy that many a game character may have followed but, IMHO, Zidane is the one who embodies it fully. Go the monkey boy!


5 - James Raynor (Starcraft)
As much as I resent the narrative of Starcraft I have must give at least some credit to the writers at Blizzard: They managed to create a universe and populate it with three very different races. Each one with their own personality, motivations and colourful characters who each have their own unique voice in the game.
That being said, out of the characters in the game, James Raynor has to be the most human - an obvious statement true but still an impressive feat in a game populated by hostile aliens. He is the guy who's giving it his all but all he does is come out the other side empty-handed. And that’s what makes him so fascinating. He tries to do the best for the human colonies but he’s persecuted for doing so. He sides with an idealistic revolutionary (Arcturus) who ultimately turns out to be a power-hungry prick no better than those in the Confederacy. He has an attraction towards Kerrigan who in turn gets corrupted by the Zerg and stabs Raynor in the back (multiple times). Raynor then sides with the Protoss only to get caught up in a civil war. He then joins the fight back against the Zerg and the UED only to have those he called friends and allies dropping like flies. And because of his past failures, he ends up hitting the bottle and being surrounded by various people who try to influence his line of thinking.
Yet in the end, it’s an impressive feat that Raynor manages to stay standing. Whereas any lesser man would’ve buckled and gone nuts, Jimmy Raynor somehow staggers onward. And give him credit: When the rest of the universe goes insane and everyone’s out for themselves, at least there’s someone putting himself on the line for so many others – more so when it yields little in return.
So yes Raynor works for me as a classic example of the thankless hero – and hey, if I saw him in a bar I’d buy him a beer ;)


4 - Vyse (Skies of Arcadia)
Back in 2000, when everyone was intent on arguing on whether or not Cloud could out-emo Squall, along came a breath of fresh air: Vyse, the star of the ace RPG Skies of Arcadia. Now I will admit that I have a soft spot for this guy. And how could I not? He certainly has a lot going for him: He’s courageous, witty and certainly able to keep a cool head in any crisis situation. He is hardly one to back down from a challenge – when faced with the impossible Vyse wouldn’t run – in fact seeing it as impossible would be more than enough reason to try it himself. In addition, Vyse has an adventurous spirit, and is an able commander of his own ship who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and lead from the front.
But what I get the most out of Vyse is indicated by the opening sentence to that last paragraph: It seems he was made out to be an open defiance to the moody anti-heroes popularised by SquareEnix. When trouble arose, Vyse wasn’t the type to sit around moaning or grumbling – no way, he was too busy taking a stand and finding his own path. When placed in a group of companions, Vyse didn’t act resentful or anything – no he made every effort to inspire his crewmates. And when he was deemed a criminal by the opposing tyrannical empire, Vyse was laughing every step of the way.
In short, whilst Vyse may not be as well-known as other JRPGs leads but there certainly is a lot to like about him. So much so, it made his journey through Skies of Arcadia one worth taking. And for me, Vyse is a strong enough lead to make good reason to hang onto my Dreamcast and Skies of Arcadia - I'm not one to replay JRPG's but Skies of Arcadia is a rare exception.
So yeah, Vyse certainly a captain I would follow – and anyone who can fight with a blade in each hand is a winner in my book.


3. Link (Legend of Zelda series)
Link! He come to town! Come to SAVE! The Princess Zel-Dah! Ganon took her away, now the children don’t play, but they will when Link saves the day – HALLUJEAH!!!!
*ahem* Well what can I say about Link that hasn’t been said before?
Well for one thing, Nintendo seem to be very good at building an everyman figure: The hero whom the player can latch onto and serve as their avatar in a world that’s waiting to be explored. Like stable-mate Mario, Link is an ordinary Joe who gets thrust into some world-spanning adventures and ultimately ends up saving the day. And it is indeed important to build such a connection between player and character - something a lot of game designers these days seem to forget.
Also kind of cool is that Link is something of pioneer: the child/youthful character who goes on an epic quest to save the world (or something). Along the way, he goes through various trials and tribulations but he doesn’t seem at all bothered at all – all he knows is that his quest is a noble one and worth seeing all the way to the end. Such a metaphor is taken to a literal sense in Ocarina of Time as Link starts as a child but ends as a young adult. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine the likes of Sora (Kingdom Hearts), Ico, that kid from Limbo, or even both the afore-mentioned Zidane and Vyse without Link.
Granted it’s a bit annoying that Link is a silent character – He has a face and a name so from the perspective of being a player avatar, as opposed to a character, it is kind of off-putting. As such I’ve often wondered what Link really felt being hailed as the Hero of Time and constantly being roped into doing various small tasks from one end of Hyrule to the other. He’s described as being humble in this adulation but to me he strikes me as being caught up in something whether he likes it or not. One has to wonder if Link ever stops and wonders ‘Do I have to do EVERYTHING?!?!?!?’ (or is it my job as the player to do so?).
But from a personal level, Link is my bridge to the world that is Hyrule: Through countless hours of exploring and adventuring, I actually felt a connection to the character like no other. I went with him on an adventure and I felt every blow, the delight of finding something new and the relief of solving a baffling problem. For a silent character he certainly has loads of personality than his more talkative brethren. In a way, Link is my buddy and a guy worth traveling with.
That being said, I like Link a lot and he still claims the number three position on this list. The fact that I’m willing to cosplay as this guy does indeed say a lot (pun not intended).


2. Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
Snaaaaake! Snaaake! Oooooh it’s a snnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!!!!! (okay I’ll stop that now)
Those who’ve been following this blog will know that I’ve talked about Metal Gear Solid, Solid Snake and the emotional impact the game had on me so what more can I add? Well Snake is a capable fighter, intelligent and the best in the infiltration/sneaking business. He is the reluctant hero – one who knows all about doing right but being far from willing to actually do it. He may save the day true but mostly because he’s got nothing better to do.
But most importantly of all, much like the Prince, the Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid 1 is another fine example of the character resurrection. He starts out without direction and in a state of resignation but by the end he comes out a completely different person determined to make his limited time on earth count – but whilst it may sound cheesy in text, in the game itself it’s pulled off in a manner that seems genuine, believable and not in any way that could considered false.
Really, the mark of a great character is when they leave an emotional resonance on you, the audience, or this case the participant. The only difference is whereas in a book or a movie the audience are watching a group of characters run through a course of pre-determined actions and events, a game presents a situation where the audience becomes an active participant and has a say in the way things proceed. Therefore, the participant can become more of an accomplice to the character, the journey they take and the actions they do. Whilst I may have built up such a connection with Link on several occasions, Solid Snake however is in a class of his own. His journey is much less saving the world than it is saving himself – and we went along with the whole odyssey to a point where it rubbed off on myself, the player.
So much so that in the days since whenever I’ve faced a problem or difficult decision there have been times when I’ve caught myself wondering: What Would Snake do? It may sound daft in theory but really if a character has made such an impression then you know you’ve done something right.


And my number one favourite gaming hero is….

1. John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)

Why? Because he’s John fucking Marston. That’s why.
Okay now let’s get serious: A relative newcomer to this list, John Marston still charges through to the top. So what makes him so special? Oh where do I begin? John Marston has to rank as one of the most compelling and well-realised characters ever in the history of gaming –a tough call considering his game was only released last year but damn, I have never seen a character make such an impression on me – and I doubt that I ever will.
Firstly, when gaming these days seemed confined to a rigid good/bad, black/white system, John Marston is a true grey: In his hands is a much wider and diverse morality system and enables to do has many goods things as bad things. Such a wide offer of options shapes his character and forms him into a compelling character. He may have moments where he’s a ruthless killer but other times he’s trying to do some good after so much time spent doing wrong – it’s that clash of personality that makes for a fascinating character.
Secondly, John has a substantial motivation: He’s trying to put his violent past behind him and try to be a decent father to his son Jack in raising him in a better world than John knew. But no matter how hard he tries, John can’t really bury the secrets of his past, no matter his assertions that anyone can change.
Thirdly, John is man out of time: His era of the Wild West is coming to an end and far too often is he comes across as an anachronism. Through the game, we see the world through John’s eyes and there is a whole lotta bad people and bizarre shit going on – thus challenging the idea whether or not the world is worth living in and whether John truly has a place in it.
Fourthly, this is a genuine adult character. Yes this is a father who’s trying to do the right thing by his son and wife but this is game that will be played by adults. And for the designers to realise that and take it seriously is a credit to them. I feel like I’m being taken seriously and the developers are using this canvas to say what they want. I mean, if I were to do type this out ten/eleven years ago, when I was in my late teens, the youthful characters, Link, Zidane and Vyse would’ve ranked higher. Instead they lose out to Mr. Marston.
And finally, John Marston strikes me as the type who doesn’t take shit from anyone. And I like that.
So hats off to John Marston. He may have only had one shot at making an impression but what an impression it was.

And that's my list of eleven best gaming heroes - the one's who've made their mark on me and for good reason. Hope you've enjoyed reading this list and a big thank you to everyone who has ever visited this blog over it's lifespan so far.
So here's 200 posts in this worthless corner of cyberspace!!!

Romantic Link

Last year I posted a love letter to Tidus and Yuna of Final Fantasy X. Surprisingly, this has become the most visited post to this blog (or at least that's what my stats say). I'm not sure why though - perhaps I'm not the only hopeless romantic gamer in this world....

...But I'd be a fool to believe such bollocks. Seeing as games these days seem to rely on escapism, the kind involving killing dudes and doing the type of thing that would unattainable in real life mind you, it seems that actual romance seems rather quaint, reserved for the likes of Bioware RPGs and the games of a previous era (Final Fantasy 8 anyone?).
Are there any hopeless romantics in the gaming community? Has the idea of rescuing a princess been cast aside? Has gaming grown up up to the point where fairy-tale idealism has been ditched completely? Did strong independent women like Lara Croft, Samus Aran and Jill Valentine make the damsel in distress obsolete? Or have many gamers realised that real women are in fact, more fun than pretend ones?

No matter, I'm a hopeless romantic and I feel no shame in saying so. And if there other people who share the same mindset then so much the better. So, in the hope that such people exists and are reading this I want to talk about another of the great gaming couples. It’s one of the longest running romances in the history of gaming and hands down one of the most recognisable. The faces may change but all in all, it still has the power to entice the interest of gamers everywhere.
That’s right, I’m talking about Link and Zelda



This is a strange couple to say the least: They see little of each other as the game(s) progresses and the worlds & persona they inhabit keep changing with each new addition to the series. Yet, in spite of it all, this is one relationship that keeps standing strong no matter the changing perceptions of the two involved.

When I look at the Zelda series, the more it becomes clear that it is a throwback to the fairy tales we are read to when we're kids: Those which involve a princess in some sort of danger and a prince/heroic figure stepping in to save the day. Also, like a fairy tale, Link, abides to the tried and tested formula of undertaking an adventure that begins at a humble level before achieving extraordinary success and recognition at the end of it. The only difference is that this isn’t a fairy tale that one is being read to – this is one where one is actually an active participant! They say people find comfort in familiarity and it’s the tried and tested formula that hooked a lot of young people in with the very first Legend of Zelda and still maintain their attention many years later (also, the exploration element and excellent gameplay didn’t hurt either).



So in a way it’s not hearing about rescuing a princess – no it’s actually actively doing things that result in the rescue of the princess. And a princess who, unlike Princess Peach, doesn’t send the player on a seemingly never-ending wild goose chase into the wrong castle.
Indeed, it is that notion of fairy tales that makes Link and Zelda compelling. Much like fellow Nintendo stable-mate Mario, Link is an everyman, coming from a humble background only to, as the game progresses, grow stronger with experience and the acquisition of a range of helpful items and power-ups. Indeed, it is that everyman quality that endears him to the player and builds a connection that makes the quests one that demands to be seen through to completion.
Zelda, meanwhile is shrouded in mystique. As stated before, we may not know much about her but it is that tantalizing sense of mystery that holds the attention and urges the player onward to, if anything, find more about this enigmatic princess. The sense of mystery that surrounds Zelda may have come across in different manifestations but ultimately, her beauty and her status make the quest of rescuing her from Ganon/dorf truly a battle worth fighting for. And, unlike her Nintendo stable mate Princess Peach, Zelda is shown to be a wise and capable ruler who is shown to be able to make major decisions and being deeply concerned with the welfare of her subjects.



Ultimately, I think the appeal of Link and Zelda lies in the fact they are both blank slates. Link may not utter a word but through his actions and his body language, he shows admirable virtues such as determination, intelligence and courage. As for Princess Zelda she, as stated before, maintains a degree of allure due to her long-standing sense of mystique: She may not be the player character but it is consistently her name in the title. In addition, Zelda may be a damsel in distress but she assists in Link in many, mostly subtle, ways.
And, in a strange way, that’s enough. Because of such little information been provided to the player, it is enough to propel the appeal of this relationship forward. True much of it is left up to player speculation but through the subtlest of indications, in the form of facial expressions and body language, we can see something come to the forefront. Thus, Link rescues Zelda, Link protects Zelda, Link blushes upon hearing Zelda’s name, Zelda protects Link in her many disguises, Zelda shows concern for Link’s safety and assists him in the final confrontation with Ganon/dorf.
And that for me is the appeal of Link and Zelda: The romance is presented within a real subtle manner. Indeed, its little moments like those I’ve described above that ultimately count for so much. It may not be obvious but the fact that it can capture the mind of the player, without them realising it, is a feat indeed. Sure the Zelda games may put forward some complications like Midna or Marin but honestly, the Hero of Time being without the Princess will just be unthinkable.

So that’s why I like the pairing of Link and Princess Zelda: It is practically a gaming take on the tried and tested fairy tale concept and it is furthered by subtle moments that really count for so much.



And, it would seem, my partner agrees with me.

Degeneration (no.6)

And this serial continues.
As stated at the end of the previous installment, my interest in video gaming was waning – but it was not out of spite or anything. No: It was a natural progression of life. Other things were demanding attention, not least of which the real world, and I wasn’t in a position to ignore any of them.
But that’s not to say that I was completely ignorant of developments in the gaming world. I knew about the Dreamcast being the last hurrah for Sega. I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and I knew about Microsoft bringing a console of their own, the Xbox, to the table. I even had an Atari Lynx during this stage: Hey, it was cheap and, as befit this blog, I wanted to see if the grass was indeed greener on the other side.
But ultimately, the period of 2000-2005 was one where I parted ways with gaming. But little did I know that gaming wasn’t prepared to let me go. The connection was there and there was some potential for us to continue. All it needed was a catalyst.

And one such came: In late 2005, I stumbled across a list made by IGN on the Best 100 Games Ever Made. Through reading it, I saw a mixture of the recognised and the unfamiliar. I saw some titles I played and some that escaped my notice previously. And most of all, I was impressed that someone had sat down and fashioned such an official-looking list, providing substantial reasoning of each games’ selection and saluting the efforts of various pioneers.

Needless to say I was blown away – so much so, I actually made it my goal to track down every last one of them and play them. And thus, dreams were dusted off and raised from their slumber, opportunities that had passed me by the first time were now possible, and a world of brand new discoveries waiting to be found beckoned. A trigger had been set off and I plunged headlong into the sixth generation.
True it may have been at the tail end, when the seventh generation dawned but who the hell cares? I had returned to gaming and was prepared to savor every last moment. And what better why to kick it off was to return my gaze to a voice that called once before….

Playstation 2
As mentioned before, I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and wasn’t really that big of a hit. Funny how this baby is now recognised as the highest selling console ever.
As mentioned above, I finally made a goal in mind. This now presented the new problem of deciding which console, out of Playstation, Xbox and Gamecube, to get. With it’s extensive library, certain exclusives and it’s access to the PS1 catalogue, the winner was the PS2.
I recall the first game I placed into the system: Final Fantasy X. This was pretty much a return to console gaming after nearly a decade of absence. To be honest I had been away for so long I really had no idea what to expect – I had no idea what the graphics would be like (seriously!) or what advances had been made since the days of the fifth generation. Needless to say, what I saw was more akin to waking up from a coma. I was astonished that graphics had grown so spectacular. I was surprised that 3D gaming was actually playable and fun. Okay so maybe Final Fantasy X isn’t quite the best in the series but in any case, it was what got me back to gaming and, eventually encouraged me to seek out other entrants in the series (one has to start somewhere I guess).



I may have been a latecomer to the Playstation but I have many fond memories of playing my PS2: Appreciating the creativity that went into Resident Evil 4, being impressed with the inventiveness and brutality that went into God of War, the satisfaction of coming back to a boss in Final Fantasy X having levelled up extensively and knocking him flat, and, of course, completing Ico for the first time and, much to my surprise, having an emotional response.
I even hunted down some old PS1 games, granting me the chance to dust off some old favourites (Loaded, Darkstalkers, Raiden Project, Return Fire) and the opportunity to hunt some games that escaped me the first time around (Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7).
Interestingly enough, I also discovered how the PS2 could work as a social device. True going round to a friends place to play games is nothing new but when you’re the one who owns the console, you really see how it the social aspect works. Indeed, I remember when I went to a small LAN with my PS2: It was with a small group of people who had far better computers than my POS computer so I brought along the PS2 so I could be part of the fun. And indeed it worked a treat to have the other people queue up to fight each other on Soul Calibur 3. And was indeed gratifying to hear someone else see my playing through the inverted library in Castlevania Symphony of the Night and thinking the music was pretty cool. And finally, there has indeed great fun to have a bunch of friends around for an evening to have a bash at Singstar.

In a way, PS2 represented the destination of a journey: After leeching off other people, I finally had a console to call my own. I had discovered new wonders in a field I’d been away from for so long. And I discovered the power of the social element that can lie with owning a console. After years of having an interest in video gaming, a breakthrough had come like no other. Perhaps it was fitting that I should get my first console when I was well and truly into my adult years – and that console should be a Playstation.
So yes, the sixth generation was more or less the second coming with my gaming career. And as one journey ended another began….

Dreamcast
Remember in the introduction how I made mention of having an Atari Lynx? Maybe it’s the Australian in me, but I’ve always had a fascination for the underdog. You know, the guy who has a go. That, coupled with my previously-established love for Sega, may have counted for me owning a Sega Dreamcast.



I’m still not entirely sure why I got a Dreamcast. Maybe it was indeed favouring the underdog. Or maybe it was a last gesture for years of loyalty to Sega. Maybe it was case of going out and exploring in the hope of finding some hidden treasure. Or maybe it was, at that point in time, case of having far too much money and not enough common sense.

Say what you like about the Sega Dreamcast but there’s no denying that there was a time when Soul Calibur looked mind-blowing (even now) and Sega looked likely to recover from the disasters from the past. But, as we all know, it was not to be and Sega’s reign as a console developer had come to an end.

In retrospect, we can all whinge about the faults of the system (no third party games, too many arcade conversions, no DVD capabilities, online features being overlooked, poor marketing and the impending arrival of PS2) but in the end, there was no denying the Dreamcast was a potent game machine and the potential to be great. Sure that potential wasn't truly realised but at least Sega were trying new things. Sure there was no third party support but at least Sega were trying to build up new IP and doing things that messed with the formula. Sure the Dreamcast wasn’t the hit it should’ve been but nowadays people treat it a reverence not seen for other failed consoles (maybe having no one to blame for the console’s shortcomings helps considerably). True the Dreamcast may have been the death-knell for the once glorious console giant but I still have mine and it still gets used.

But let’s drop the pretences: At the end of the day was buying a Dreamcast worth it just to play Skies of Arcadia?
Damn right it was.

Xbox
As with the other entrants in the sixth generation, I came to the Xbox at a rather late point in the console’s life. For a long time I got a lot of mileage out of my PS2 (and Dreamcast) but I didn’t care much for the seventh generation as it happened around me.
Then, in 2009 I moved into a flat with my girlfriend, Kathleen, and she brought along her Xbox. Curious, I decided to buy some games to use on it.



Of course at the time, I was still giving my PS2 a lot of attention so time on the Xbox was limited. But that’s not to say it was enjoyable: I have many fond memories playing Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic and Sid Meier’s Pirates. It was also fun to have someone watch me play my games – sure gaming has long been a solitary experience so to have a second person paying undivided attention to my progression through a game is indeed a welcome change (of course I had no idea how Kathleen really felt about my constant swearing through Burnout 3 but still….)

And I think that what I got the most out of the Xbox: After years of playing games in my room by myself, I finally felt that gaming had finally become a social event. Previously, I’d played games against other people on consoles but the game, so to speak, had now changed. The PS2 may have made me aware of the fun involved with playing games in the presence of other people but the Xbox expanded upon it. Indeed, it is fun to see someone else show an interest in the game you're playing and suddenly you don't feel like you're the only person in the universe who's enjoying it.

When I jumped on the PS2 bandwagon, it was after years of absence – and coming back from that time away I’d grown astonished by what games were accomplishing from the days of the 2nd and 3rd Generations. Games were now being marketed as experiences, offering social commentary, challenges of the relationship between the game & the gamer and triggering emotional effects one never would’ve thought possible.
And I got all that and surprised that gaming could do that. But that was all by my own in my bedroom – so to have someone else along for the ride playing just as much attention as you (the gamer) is particularly sweet.
And to have gaming be a contributing factor to a romance is also kinda cool too.

So that’s my thoughts on the sixth generation. In the terms of my gaming career it was more or less a Second Coming – the return after years of wandering in the desert. And when I came back, I’d seen how gaming had evolved beyond entertainment value. I had seen how gaming had now grown as a social event and more importantly, I see gaming from the perspective of an adult: Indeed, it’s great spending your own money on consoles and games without having to badger/explain to one’s parents. It is fascinating how something you liked as a kid can evolve to a point where you can enjoy it as an adult and not look silly (and having a partner who thinks the same is also pretty cool too). And I’m always amazed just how many people have played the same games I have – even when I thought I was the only on Earth who’d heard of the game in question. I even loved striking up conversations over games and sharing both opinions and solutions.

If anything, sixth generation got me wrapped up in the gaming culture like never before. Gaming had finally become the norm and was now taken seriously.
So where do we go from here?
Towards the next generation one would think….

Favourite Gaming Heroines

Heroines in gaming are a strange thing aren’t they? Through my own experience I have seen two types: a) a damsel in distress who can’t seem to do much apart form getting abducted by the game’s antagonist and b) some tough chick sexed up to the fact that they will shoot the balls off any bloke who as so much says hello.

But I don’t buy to any of that rubbish. I prefer to see things not in black and white but in shades of grey. So today, I present a list of gaming heroines who for some reason or another left an impression on me. All of these heroines I like but for different reasons: Some look gorgeous and some have strength of character whilst others, in my eyes, set benchmarks for other heroines to follow.
Furthermore, I want to set a personal challenge: Make a list of gaming heroines without mentioning the star of the Tomb Raider games (Geez, you think she was the only gaming heroine in town).

So let’s get going: This is my favourite gaming heroines.

11. Jill Valentine (Resident Evil series)

When you’re running from a zombie horde you’d most certainly want someone watching your back. Someone who’s hardened from experience and knows exactly what to do. And looking good whilst doing it doesn’t hurt either.
I have enjoyed Jill’s progression throughout the Resident Evil series, seeing her go from a rookie police officer and becoming more battle hardened with each encounter. She displays some noble virtues (as befit her profession) as well as confidence, intelligence, the usage of handguns and concern for the welfare of the people around her.
But I can’t pretend: As Resident Evil 3 pointed out, Jill has the looks to kill. Sure some people may hold up Tomb Raider as being an inspiration for this but Jill has a degree of drop-dead gorgeousness all her own. How she manages to survive such a nasty situation whilst in a tube top, mini skirt and knee high boots is beyond me. Maybe the clothes give her zombie resistant powers? I don't know.
But taste in clothes aside, if you ever wanted someone to watch your back in a zombie apocalypse, I will take Jill any day. And if many female gamers can find inspiration in this character then something must have worked.


10. Morrigan Aensland (Darkstalkers series)
I have a soft spot for Morrigan: If anything, she was the first crush I had on a fictional character. In a stunning example of sex selling, I played the arcade game and selected her character through that her presence in the attract sequence that lingers longer than what one would consider to be healthy (keep in mind I was thirteen at the time).
And how could one refuse? Morrigan is a triumph in character design, boasting a figure to die for, anime eyes and hair, and sexiness oozing from every pore. A succubus by nature, her intentions are made clear right from the start that you’d have to wonder why you’d want to resist.
However, once you reach adulthood, you realise that once upon a time you were young and dumb: You see, I realised that once you get past Morrigan’s figure there’s really not much to her. Her character is quite unremarkable coming across more as a bratty teenager, eschewing responsibility in favour of going out and having fun (I thought about inserting a Paris Hilton joke here but felt it too obvious). For this reason, Morrigan has been regulated to the bottom end of this list.
But there’s no denying it: In terms of sexy characters, Morrigan comes out on top – I mean why settle for natural beauty when unnatural/demonic beauty has so much to offer?


9. Mrs Pacman (Mrs Pacman)

This may seem an unusual choice in this list. Sure Mrs Pacman may not have much going on in the looks department but she more than makes up for it in the strength of her character – a flipside to Morrigan if you will. Indeed, there is a lot to admire in Mrs Pacman’s character with her being a devoted wife, a loving mother and being courageous enough to head into areas more dangerous than the one’s her husband visited. Such noble qualities certainly don’t appear often in female characters in more recent games – but maybe they don’t need to because Mrs. Pacman got it right the first time around. She was the first icon the female gamers could cheer for and a true inspiration – even to the point of using her status to promote breast cancer awareness.


8. Samus Aran (Metroid series)
The courageous bounty hunter herself. She may not be as sexualised as a lot of her contemporaries but in my eyes that makes her all the better for it.
Strong and independent with a sense of adventure and a degree of compassion strong enough to compel her to rescue yellow rodents that shoot out electrical bolts (if Super Smash Brothers Brawl is to be believed). Much like Jill, Samus is definitely someone who you’d want watching your back. But, unlike Jill, Samus has a more practical dress sense. And a gun for an arm - How can you see no to that?!
But the reason I like Samus is that she provides a connection: Playing Super Metroid, the sense of atmosphere provides a sense that you, the player, are all alone on a planet that is trying to stop this intruder called Samus. You really feel that you want to survive this hostile environment. You really feel you want to find the next upgrade that will open new places to explore. You really want Samus to find the Metroid and stop Ridley, and get off this freaky planet!
And all of this accomplished without showing an inch of bare skin! See? It can be done!


7. Ada Wong (Resident Evil series)
Much like Morrigan, Ada certainly has the sexiness down pat. And like Jill, she maintains the RE tradition of having a female character who can look great and kick some serious arse whilst doing so.
Aside from the whole temptress thing she has going, what endeared me to Ada was her rather compelling characterization: When introduced in RE2, she teams up with Leon Kennedy - only to be revealed to be a spy trying to claim the G4 virus. She gets shot but manages to survive to make a return in RE4. Therein she again crosses paths with Leon whilst pursuing her own agenda, and subsequently alternates between being an ally and a potential adversary. Indeed, it is unfortunate that RE4 ended the way it did becuase I for one would like see what happens to her in the future and whether or not she will cross paths with Leon again....
Ultimately, I really Ada becuase she is courageous, independent and not afraid to back down from danger - yet such strengths are balanced out with a questionable honesty, a sense of loyalty that tends to change like the weather and instances where she needs to be rescued by Leon. Yep, a well-realized character who has the looks to match. Good for her!
Plus, how she is able to run from the zombies in those high heels is an achievement in itself.


6. Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)
Okay so I’m cheating a bit seeing as Commander Shepard can be a male character as well but ultimately I prefer Femshep. So why does she get the nod? Three reasons:
1. The beauty of Commander Shepard is seeing the evolution of a character: Throughout the course of the game(s) Commander Shepard is faced with various choices: Some may alter the course of the narrative whilst others reveal Shepard’s preferred way of solving problems. Such choices help define the character and it’s indeed pleasing to see the pay-off later in the game – whether through altering the universe permanently or seeing how the other characters react to Shepard’s reputation.
2. Unlike her male counterpart, there is something refreshing about seeing a woman don the power armour and having a go at saving the universe. Seeing as space marines in gaming are usually defined by scowling meataxes, usually with more balls than brains, it is a welcome change to see a woman step into the field. And strangely enough, where as the males would their actions written off as macho, the woman, who is doing the same things, suddenly comes across as more heroic and courageous. For this reason Femshep is special.
3. And a sterling performance from voice actor Jennifer Hale doesn’t hurt either.


5. Freya Crescent (Final Fantasy 9)
And here we have the very first Final Fantasy heroine to this list (but not the last I can assure you). Yep, when it comes to finding out compelling female heroines, you can't go past the Final Fantasy series. Sure some of the heroines throughout the series may come across as being helpless and unable to do things until the protagonist shows his mug but when Final Fantasy decides to present a heroine who does things differently, you can't help but sit up and take notice.
Which brings me to Freya. She may be an unusual choice to this list - she is after all a six foot rat - but appearances aside, she has to be, perhaps, the most well-realised heroine in the entire series. When other FF heroines/love interests seemed to following the same template, Freya represented a watershed: She is independent in spirit but noble in heart. She is efficient in combat but holds an aura of tragedy. She never needs rescuing but is seeking her lost lover. She is in love but never shows such interest in Zidane. She eventually finds her man but things don't look that good for the future. So I tip my hat off to Square for putting such a lot of thought into the character - it is such attention to detail that places Freya as my favorite knight in the entire series.
And if that isn't enough when I played FF9, I used Freya a lot due to her annoying habit of saving the day in the battles - seriously, I lost count how many times she dealt the killing blow when things were at their bleakest! In any case, you can't do better than that.


4. Jahiera (Baldur's Gate series)
So far in this list I have mentioned some faces that may come across as familiar to lists like these. So the inclusion of Jahiera from Baldur’s Gate may come across as something of a surprise. So why Jahiera? Well, much like Freya, it is little do with appearances but instead the way her character was realised through the progression of the game.
I will admit that when I was first introduced to Jahiera in Baldur’s Gate 1, I was unimpressed. To me she came across as a crabby, anti-authority crank who was just fighting for the sake of it. Additionally, she had an unusual choice of husband with Khalid who seemed far too timid to be hanging around Jahiera, let alone married to! (Maybe it was her acid-tongue that made him so jumpy?)
All of that changes however with the sequel: She is one of the first companions you come across but even then, the change is immediately evident: Through her voice, Jahiera, whilst still retaining the sexy Russian accent, now comes across as being a lot more mellow. But it isn’t long afterward that it is revealed that Khalid is dead – and thus begins a long journey where Jahiera has to overcome the death of her husband and gradually move on. It is through the romantic sub-plot that we see an emotional vulnerability hiding behind the brash exterior – and seeing as Jahiera’s romantic sub-plot is the longest and most complex of the three potential sub-plots, it thus becomes the most satisfying of them all. Indeed, it is compelling to see a grouch, slowly but surely, open up to reveal an emotional side one never thought possible.
That and anyone who can heal my warrior and transform into a bear in combat is fine by me.


3. Yuna (Final Fantasy X)
The face of Final Fantasy X also happens to be one of my favorite heroines. First impressions reveal a character who shows a lot of thoughtfulness going into her design: Her clothes are simple (when compared to the other people of Spira) but the white and blue kimono thing she has going is nice – I particularly love the subtle details like the floral design on the dress, the bead structure/earring and the chain beads that hang from her waist – coloured in a way that mirror the crystals from Final Fantasy 1. Also, I liked her different coloured eyes and I thought her short hair made her stand out from other gaming heroines.
Whilst Yuna looks great, her real strength comes from, once again, a well-realised complexity to her character. Indeed, when I was playing through FFX, it was indeed interesting to see Yuna, the driving force of nearly all of the game, through the eyes of someone else (that someone else being Tidus). As such, it made for a great perspective to see the character of Yuna evolve in the manner akin to a character study and more is gradually revealed of her as the game continues to moves forward. Who is Yuna? Why is she going on this pilgrimage? Indeed, it is that sense of mystique and the need to find out more that urges the player onward.
As the game progresses Yuna grows through a lot of personal growth, displaying a wide range of emotions – all of which is conveyed whilst hiding a dark side of her eventual fate and the acceptance of its inevitability. Indeed, it is credit to the game designers to have a character go through so much over such a long period of time and subsequently build up a substantial connection with the player.
So yes, Yuna may have won me over with the looks, but it was her personal growth that endeared me to her. And let us not forget, she does have a really good singing voice.
Also, having a powerful magic stat and the ability to summon aeons doesn’t hurt either.


2. Princess Zelda (Legend of Zelda series)

Perhaps the most enigmatic candidate in this list: She was introduced in the first Legend of Zelda game as a MacGuffin: It was her name appearing in the title and she only appeared at the very end of the game, but everything else happening in the game resting on Link’s stalwart shoulders. So what is the appeal of Princess Zelda when it’s Link’s fate that’s being guided by the player?
Easy: It’s what we don’t know.
Right from the beginning, Princess Zelda is established as being important to the game: It is her name in the title and she is a princess who has been captured by the persistent baddie Ganon/Ganondorf. Strangely enough, that is all the player needs to know: Zelda is important and there’s good enough reason to go rescue her. Aside from that, not much else is established about the princess but there’s no need. Indeed, it is the aura of mystery that the Princess herself holds that certainly makes the challenge of rescuing her one worth rising up to. One could say they want to rescue just because they want to know more about her! And as the series has progressed, that sense of mystery has manifested in interesting ways with Zelda being the embodiment of Triforce of Wisdom and the introduction of her alter ego Shiek. Indeed, the mystique is such a strong idea that a Zelda game without Zelda just …well……wouldn’t be Zelda.
In addition, there is indeed a lot to like about Princess Zelda: She looks gorgeous (particularly in her Wii incarnations), she is of royalty, she is powerful in magic as well as capable in using the sword and bow, and she’s intelligent, courageous & shown to be a wise ruler who is deeply concerned for the welfare of her subjects.
So in the end, is this a face worth travelling across an ocean of time for? HELL YES!


And my number one favorite video game heroine is.....

1. Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy 7)

Cue the necrophilia jokes.
But seriously, I rank Aerith Gainsborough as my favourite gaming heroine. I have mentioned above characters that have won me over through looks, personality or a sense of mystique – but with Aerith, all of these elements come together to produce a compelling whole.
I think the most compelling aspect of the flower girl is that she is built on the idea of gentleness. A gentleness that is evident with her personality and her character design. Sure it may make her eventual fate all the more emotionally despairing but I honestly find the idea of gentleness a welcome one. In video gaming, we see female characters who are either sexed up, packing big guns, militaristic feminist or just being unable to do anything until the player character shows up. So in my mind, having a female character of a gentle nature is in a way refreshing.
The gentleness is pretty much in her design and Aerith looks nothing short of beautiful. She may not look like much in the original FF7 PS1 graphics but what she has gets enhanced tremendously in Advent Children and she looks wonderful. The hair looks great, the pink dress looks great and special mention must go to the most memorable aspect of Aerith: Her eyes. As indicated in the image above, she has the finest eyes CGI has ever produced.
Her multi-faceted personality is also a delight: Aerith accomplishes a lot in her time, through being a lonely soul, a positive influence, a source of cheerfulness, a courageous fighter, a damsel in distress, before being the only one who can make Cloud smile. She exhibits various emotions from angry, happy, witty, flirty, encouraging and brave. It is also interesting to see how a flower girl in the slums eventually becomes the key to saving the world. The healing-based limit breaks were also helpful too!
Okay so yes she may have a big hole in her chest (and may also be a bit wet) but Aerith certainly has a lot going for her – enough to secure her the number position in my list of favourite video game heroines.
It’s just a shame that she’s dead.
As well as being a fictional character. XD

Anyho, I hope you enjoyed this list of gaming heroines I like and how they made an impression on me. We all have our tastes - you just now know mine.
And no, you can't have the time spent reading this post back *maniacal laughter*