I thought that all the points made by both part one and two
of the Damsel in distress blog was very true and very disappointing. As a girl
that frequently likes to play video games it is often a problem that I run into
trying to play a female character that is the main character as well as a
strong, independent character. Even in the select few games that I have managed
to find this there is still a sexuality being displayed by the character. For
example, in Heavenly Sword the main character, Nariko, is an able fighter, and has a fierce
personality. But her oozing lustiness, and the fact that with the outfit she is
wearing would not keep the girls in at all, underwhelms all this. Though
outfits aside perhaps this is a small step in the right direction, if not
slightly misguided. One recent development in the gaming world I wish was
addressed by the blog is a phenomenon that I have decided to title the
father-daughter effect. The father-daughter effect being where a masculine
protagonist takes on a young girl to fill a daughter role, this is seen in The
Last of Us, as well as The Walking Dead. The two pairs being Joel and Ellie,
and Lee and Clem. This still purveys a feeling of men taking care of the
family, or the innocent girl, and gives a masculinity boost. But something we
see that is new is the young girl having more mettle than first appeared. So is this just a continuation of the “Damsel
in Distress trop” as discussed in the blog? Or are we seeing a new generation
of able bodied, feminine characters.
What
are good examples of games that do not utilize the damsel in distress trop,
while still having a driving plot?
Where
is the line of having a strong female character, but not ultimately making a
she-man?
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