I haven't even heard of most of these characters.

I've heard of them all bar number 2. I think Samus deserved that top spot though, I like Jill But come on Samus was the first big female game icon.

I have to agree with you there, Gary15. Samus started it all with Super Metroid. As bad ass as Jill Valentine was in RE, she doesn't come close to Samus, imo.

I'm surprised that Lara Croft isn't on the list. I'm not familiar with the Resident Evil series so I don't know who Jill is.

I've know some of the names on the list but I would make a different list of female lead characters. After all Princess Zelda is being saved and you never get to be her. I think this list should be more strong main characters you play as.

Yeah, Lara Croft is mysteriously missing. Lara has her own movie, has been represented by several real life models, and has a healthy franchise in which she is the title character, not to mention quite a few fans.

Yeah Lara needs to be on that list. Her games are absolutely fantastic and she is just an awesome character. =)

I am just glad that Yuna is on there. She has always been one of my favorite characters. ^-^

I think the list comprises characters based on qualities that are perceived as being healthy role models for people, rather than on the quality and quantity of their games. Lara Croft's ommission is probably due to the way she was strongly marketed as a sex symbol over her 'independant' status (the shower scene in Tomb Raider II springs to mind). The original Tomb Raider was released in a year that saw the rise of feminism-lite, popularised by the Spice Girls among others. As such, the series was happy to ride a wave of catchphrases and cliches about women taking what they want and living their own lives (though commendable ideas in and of themselves), when the truth seemed nearer the disproportionate breasts-and-butt combination aimed at teenage boys.

I don't recognise all ten characters, but the ones I am familiar with (10, 7, 2 and 1) certainly adopt 'strong' roles, without really being sexualised in the process. I like that Kreia was included - she's a very well-developed, intelligent and ambiguous character, completely throwing away the stereotypes associated with female figures in games.

Here's the original article, with reasons for the choices: http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2007/04/top_ten_list_of.html

True Lara should have been there, personally I'd have listed her around 3, But Samus still deserved that top spot. Even in terms of being a positive role model, Samus was, she kicked major ass always beat the bad guys and then shock she took her helmet off, it was a woman all along.

I don't think Jade from Beyond Good or Evil, Kreia from Knights of the Old Republic, and Yorda from Ico should be on that list. As everyone else is mentioning I don't possibly see how they could of left Lara Croft out of the list.

They should of included Joanna Dark from Perfect Dark. I can't believe no one's mentioned her so far.