Genders in Games

I feel like the degree of gender roles vary depending on the genre. For instance, I don't play too many RPGs, but I'm well aware of such criticisms as revealing armor for female characters. I have played the God of War games, and in this heavy action series women are degraded into "health bonuses". In other series that are more driven by the story; however, I've noticed multiple female characters that stand out on their own merit. In Uncharted 2, Elena and Chloe are beautifully crafted into one of the few love triangles I've seen that works. But their characters go beyond the romance; they aren't solely defined by their relationship with the hero. Elena is a resourceful reporter that isn't afraid of dabbling into a world of thieves, and Chloe's true loyalty is always in question, perhaps even to herself. One of the Metal Gear Solid series' most iconic characters is the Boss, a tragic figure that sacrifices herself for her country and the man that she loved. This next example is different, but Amaterasu from Okami is another standup female character, one that actually stars in her own game. Being an animal may help her feminine role, because she can't be devolved into an object of sex. Her character would be changed if she were male, however. She takes on a motherly role, the sun goddess that reigns over the land of Nippon. This relationship is explored as you encounter the Celestial Brush Gods throughout the game. Their reverence for Amaterasu extends to the player and she is given a certain air of respect and grace for her nurturing nature.