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Readers' Choice - The Ten Best Female Characters
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Lara Croft
Tomb Raider series
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Edging out Kerrigan with twenty-three percent of the total votes, the dynamic Lara Croft emerges in your TenSpot as your favorite female character of all time. Much has been said and written about Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series; she's the most talked about character from any game, it seems. One of our readers sent in a rather thoughtful and lengthy reason as to why Lara is the best.
"Kerrigan was definitely an imaginative part of the Starcraft games, and she represented character development in the most compelling manner. I also enjoyed Imoen and Jaheira from Baldur's Gate: They added spice to the game and made the party come alive with their quirky and sometimes snide remarks. Sherry the Mouse from Ultima VI was a very clever bit of game-story enhancement - unique and unexpected. And of course, Carmen Sandiego is an absolute classic. But by far, the character that fascinated me the most, from the moment I laid eyes on her, has been Lara Croft. And I am not talking about her physical dimensions here - that is rather juvenile. I was completely fascinated and entranced by the opportunity to play a lead character who possessed a remarkable degree of skill, dexterity, prowess, strength, and personality - and who happened to be female.
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"I remember seeing a video display of the first Tomb Raider game at a Computer Express store back in 1997; it had been out a little while, but this was my first exposure. I was immediately captivated and bought the game on the spot, something I rarely do. One of my first reactions to the idea of playing a female character was 'it's about time.' I had no regrets. Lara was instantly likeable and she kept me busy for two weeks straight; and then I went back for more, just to enjoy the highly visual and immersive quality of the game. I have played all four Tomb Raider games, and will play any new games that are released.
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"Through Lara, I have been able to be agile, clever, adventurous, persistent, and even graceful, and I have been able to experience action, suspense, thrills, and entertainment in a way not always common in many games. I find it regrettable that Lara sometimes suffers from a sort of backlash, due to her particular dimensions, but I think that there is usually too much focus in that area. The bottom line is that Lara Croft represents all the exciting and compelling qualities found in characters such as James Bond and Indiana Jones, wrapped in a lithe and nimble female package. By the way, there are a few honorable mentions I'd like to add to your list: Jan, Kyle Katarn's sidekick from the Dark Forces series; the Rogue from Diablo; Alleria, the Elven Ranger from WarCraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal; Sophia Hapgood from Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine; Umagon from Tiberian Sun; Aeron Azzameen, Ace's sister in X-Wing Alliance. I know you had to limit your list to the top ten, but I found it interesting upon inspection to note that there have actually been a fairly good number of female characters, especially supporting ones." -Vincent Marsh
"Very rich and privileged in life, she has a very strong personality, an unconventional hobby, and she has no fears. She is determined, quick, cleaver, and interesting. She is the Indiana Jones of the '90s!" -Celeste Fitzback
"Lara has spurred not only an enormous fan base but she has helped the third-person perspective take a stronghold where first-person would have surely ruled. Looking only at her physique is like looking at a rose and not realizing it has a scent. Despite her shapely figure, her determination and intelligence dominate her decisions, which is why she holds her own as being the best female character to date." -William Owyong
"I enjoy Lara because of the amount of detail they put into her background, abilities, and intelligence. Not just another pretty face!" -LaVonne McPhilips
"She is the most popular, most skilled, smartest, and definitely the best-looking of all the female characters ever created. There can be no competition for her. She is like MacGyver, but female. It is impossible to top her." -Brett Merrill
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