Strong Videogame Women that We Love

We're all quite familiar with the "typical" videogame heroine: ample cleavage barely contained in a midriff-baring top, short shorts/skirt, knee-high stiletto boots, body to die for. And most of the time, that's all there is to these characters. They are simply eye candy for the adolescent digital fantasy. But there are a handful of female videogame characters that stand out in the crowd. They are not content to prance around half-naked while the boys do all the serious work - these chicks have real intelligence and aren't afraid to show it. So without further ado, let's delve into this list of videogame girls that we can respect.

Jennifer: Primal

For once, it's the chick saving her boyfriend instead of the other way around. Jennifer is no ditz - she has a good head on her shoulders. All of these strange, supernatural things happening around her, and she doesn't even bat an eye. She knows what she has to do, and that's all that matters. She's also not afraid to dig in and kick a little demon ass. She's built like a brick house, but hey, you'd look that good too if you ran around beating up demons with your bare hands.

Yuna: Final Fantasy X

Sure, she's a little on the quiet side, and sometimes she can get sappy. But she has incredible power and a huge heart. Yuna is not afraid to speak up for what she believes in, even when her opinion is unpopular. She's not trying to look like a tramp - she's out to save the world, and she's willing to sacrifice her life to do it if need be. Too bad that when she came back for an encore (Final Fantasy X-2) she decided to whore it up so much.

Ashe: Final Fantasy XII

Ashe carries a lot of weight on her shoulders. She struggles to make the best choice for the future of her kingdom - should she seek revenge on those who attacked her people (and killed her fiancé), or should she instead work toward peace and rebuilding? Ashe can be stubborn, but she can acknowledge her faults. She is strong and independent, but she knows when and how to work together with her companions as a team. Ashe has a big heart, and always keeps one eye on the bigger picture.

Tear: Tales of the Abyss

At first glance, Tear seems to be a bit of the anti-chick. She wears baggy pants and ugly shoes, for crying out loud. She's tough, smart, and quick-witted. She comes across as cold and unfeeling, at times unnecessarily harsh. But this is all an act -Tear gets all giggly over cute things, she gets sad when bad things happen to people who don't deserve it, and like many women, doesn't think she's very pretty, even though she wants to be. But Tear doesn't want any of that to be public knowledge, because she's all business. She doesn't let her emotions or her girlishness get in the way of her duty.

Samus: the Metroid series

Samus is probably the coolest videogame chick ever. Hell, you can't even tell she's a woman until she takes off her helmet. She's just an ass-kicking bounty hunter, with no sign of jiggly boobs to be found. Girls love her because she's a strong female character who acts like a real person instead of an airhead. Guys love her because she's awesome and she blows stuff up. She's just fantastic all around.