Do you guys think Metroid holds his gun, or is it part of his suit?

Subby is correct, but only because I have never heard of any of them before.

MaxxLarge: Notably, and unforgivably missing:

[i.neoseeker.com image 400x300]

Birdo was a male transvestite, not a female. It was about characters you didnt' know where female, not gender confused characters. Though I half expected him to be on that list too.

The only one that comes to mind that is both iconic and memorable is Samus/Metroid.

The rest... there are reasons no one ever heard of em. The suck.

List fails without Cloud

Samus should definitely have been #1.

Kim Kimberly from Snowball, Return to Eden and mentioned in Worm in Paradise. There is quite a lot of deliberate gender neutral text in those games.

Wasn't Dracula's son from one of the Castlevania games (3, maybe?) actually his daughter in disguise?

Samus should be #1 for the simple fact of being the first video game character of note to have that shocking reveal.

Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

but a teen male and a 4yo boy ... nothing wrong with that.

Approves.

I've never even heard of those characters before.

I mustn't play all the cool games (or be japanese)

2CountyFairs: Wasn't Dracula's son from one of the Castlevania games (3, maybe?) actually his daughter in disguise?

Huh. Apparently not. I could have swore that there was an ending to one of the games where this was revealed, but I can't find any reference to it.

also in the irdo saga, birdo was yoshi's "girlfriend" which makes marios riding yoshi and donkey punching him to get his tongue to come out all that more disturbing.

What about the Team Fortress 2 Pyro?

List fails without the Pyro from TF2. . .

Since it's a topless robot link, I don't want to click on it at work. So anyone want to post the list?

How could you morons honestly thought that the PINK thing that created its own EGGS was male?

If you create eggs, you are probably female, FYI. Pink is a dead give away. MAYBE if you are hispanic and went by the masculine ending, I dunno..

netweavr: List fails without Cloud

slowclap.gif

netweavr: List fails without Cloud

Mr. X/Olga in MSG2?

MGS2, that is.

Forgot about Poppy, Galford's husky.

Smackledorfer: How could you morons honestly thought that the PINK thing that created its own EGGS was male?

If you create eggs, you are probably female, FYI. Pink is a dead give away. MAYBE if you are hispanic and went by the masculine ending, I dunno..

The original Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction manual said Birdo was a guy who liked bows and preferred being called "Birdetta".

exatron: Smackledorfer: How could you morons honestly thought that the PINK thing that created its own EGGS was male?

If you create eggs, you are probably female, FYI. Pink is a dead give away. MAYBE if you are hispanic and went by the masculine ending, I dunno..

The original Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction manual said Birdo was a guy who liked bows and preferred being called "Birdetta".

I'm more concerned with yoshi, who actually lays eggs.

I new deadspace protagonist was a female from the very beginning. Clumsy, Unwilling to take advice from non approve key strokes, and constantly farking lost, being terrified by the occasional creak of metal.

/fark Deadspace.

What if Zelda was a girl?

Posted List (unformatted, unclean):

In the immortal words of that kid from Kindergarten Cop, boys have a penis, girls have a vagina. Even in the fantastical world of videogames this is a universal truth, though much more so for the girls of the digital world than the boys. After all, male videogame protagonists can look like... well, just about anything. But the female of the species -- whether human, demon, alien, robot, or whatever -- has always needed the proper curves, nooks and crannies to provide a bit of sex appeal, pander to the lonely teenage nerd demographics and boost the game's sales.

Once in a while, however, some videogames would occasionally call for one of their ladies to exercise a bit of discretion when it comes to letting the players know of their true gender identity. It could be part of the plot, it could be just to surprise the players, or it could be to prevent fanfic writers from writing filthy, filthy FFF about them (not that this has ever worked, unfortunately). Whatever the reason, sometimes game character designers have hidden their female characters' femininity -- and hidden it a little too well, resulting in shock, perhaps a bit of sexual confusion, and the following eight characters.

8) King, King of Fighters
08b - King Present Design.jpg
King started life as the waiter-slash-bouncer to the Art of Fighting series' secondary antagonist, Mr. Big. As the series progressed, this Muay Thai brawler's role shifted in gradual steps from villain to ally to Robert and Ryo, primary protagonists of the series, as well as the rest of the Sakazaki clan. Nowadays we could find her chillin' with Yuri and Mai of the female team in the King of Fighters games, which was a huge step forward considering how she was presented in her debut.

Nothing in her first game's battle stance, special moves, and even defeated sprite animation indicated that King was a woman underneath that waiter garb she sported all the time. In fact, the only time the player can discover that "dude" was a woman was if they K.O-ed her with a super move at the end of the final Round. With the proper timing, her top would be ripped to shreds to reveal a pink bra underneath, all the evidence needed to prove that "he" was indeed a "she."

7) Black Baron/Penelope, Sly Cooper
penelope.jpg
Black Baron was an ace player in one of the most dangerous sports in the Sly Cooper universe: league-sponsored aerial dog-fighting. This pilot was the reigning, undisputed champion of the ACES tournament that was held yearly in Holland, which also happened to be started and organized by this "man" with the epic mustache. The Baron also happened to be the persona of Penelope, the Cooper gang's gadgeteer and team support.

Penelope created the disguise, complete with the mustache, as a way to get around the league's age restrictions. Her skills with machines contributed to the creation of the Baron's signature gunship blimp that practically destroyed every single contender's bid for victory... that is, until Sly was proven to be the more cunning of the two, and ended the Baron's reign in the ACES tournament by unmasking her.

6) Silhouette, Destroy All Humans
silhouette.jpg
Silhouette was the leader of the secret organization "Majestic," operating behind the shadows of the United States, that was bent on conquering the world at all cost, including performing horrific experiments on aliens that crash-landed on Earth in order to harvest their knowledge and technology. She was as smart and as lethal as they come, going so far as to manipulating President Huffman and, by extension, the United States government to further the Majestic's goals of World Domination. She crossed the line when she tortured Crypto 136 to death via implied mutilation and thus earning the wrath of the protagonist, his brother.

There was no telling if Silhouette was truly a patriot as she mentioned to be during the final confrontation or merely a deluded psychopath. Her reason to conceal her identity (which she cryptically hinted she had to do "to put up with politicians playing grab-ass all day long") agreed with the former, while her actions and ruthless disposition leaned closer to the latter. Still, whatever her true psyche and name might be, this is one woman to be feared both in and out of her disguise.

5) Vandal/Karrie Norton, Dead Space iOS
vandal karrie.jpg
Vandal came to the Titan Station under orders from the Church of Unitology to vandalize (hence the codename) mining equipments on The Sprawl. Little did she know that the Church was planning on converting the resulting trapped individuals into Necromorphs. Little did they know that they were about to unleash a woman's wrath.

Much like Silhouette, Karrie sported a voice changing device in her gear, thus deceiving both the players and other individuals she encountered in-game. Her identity was not revealed until after the very last boss fight, where she was gravely injured and left a warning along with an S.O.S to anyone who might traverse the place after her. It's a shame that her fate remained unknown at the end of the game, as all that's left of her during the final shot was her helmet and a trail of blood.

4) Samus Aran, Metroid
samus arans.jpg
It's hard to believe today that Samus' real identity was as shocking as it was difficult to discover. When she first debuted in Metroid in 1986, her Power Suit concealed just about any indication that this was indeed a woman braving through the perils of the planet Zebes. The misleading manual descriptions certainly didn't help, and even after achieving the fastest time needed to complete the game and reveal what was underneath her helmet, there were many players who could not believe that Samus was a woman.

Today, the knowledge of "Samus is a Girl" is standard knowledge for videogame nerds everywhere. Lest they forget, Nintendo would be happy to remind them by providing her with the Zero Suit attire option in every iteration of her game, as well as in any guest star appearances she might be making. Still, the moment of her unmasking was a classic moment in videogame history, and it remained true today as it was in 1986.

3) Hooktail, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
03a - Hooktail 1.jpg
With her fearsome guise, it might be easy to mistake her for a male. Even one character proclaimed that "he" swallowed the poor victim like "he" did with so many others who tried to challenge "him." The plot, however, revealed otherwise and presented to us this ruler of the castle named after herself as a natural born lady.

As the first real boss of the game, Hooktail was vicious and unforgiving to any player that challenged her unprepared. Even better, she was the easiest of the dragon trio of bosses, with her sister Gloomtail placing in second and their (presumably older) brother Bonetail placing at first. Still, with enough preparation on the player's part, the wrath of a dragon is still no match to that of a plumber's.

2) Justice, Guilty Gear
justice aria.jpg
As a Command Gear and a Final Boss for the first game of the series, Justice came with an arsenal of special and super moves that would make short work of the players if they didn't know how to deal with her. As a character, Justice brought debate among series fans as to the true identity behind that mask. Fans even debated whether or not it was a mask that she was sporting, and whether or not it was actually a robot instead of a man or a woman.

Series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari intervened and finally brought the debates to rest by stating that Justice was indeed a woman. Successive tie-ins in the form of novels and drama CD even stated that she was most likely the mother of Dizzy, another female boss character, and was even strongly hinted to be Aria, love interest of main protagonist Sol Badguy that he presumed was deceased. Whatever Justice's real identity may be, there was no doubt that she had the players fooled big time.

1) Anima, Final Fantasy X
01a - Anima.jpg
Anima first appeared before the players as an enemy Aeon in battle, but could be optionally obtained by the players later in the game. As an enemy summoned during the battle with Maester Seymour Guado, Anima would wreck the player's party with its Pain and Oblivion attacks that dealt damage clocking in on the high four digits if they had came unprepared. As an added bonus, her fearsome visage was more than enough to strike fear into the heart of first-time players to make them realized that they were technically fighting against an old woman.

The story behind Anima's identity tied directly with Seymour himself, a half-breed that resulted from a marriage between a Guado and a human woman to promote peace between the races, and ended up with unrest and banishment of mother and child. Believing that it would bring acceptance for her son, Seymour's mother sacrificed her life to the summoner Yunalesca to be transformed into his personal summon, the Aeon "Anima." Little did she know that it only fueled her child's hatred for the world, and gave us the players the most frightening personification of a mother's love.

tricycleracer: What if Zelda was a girl?

That helper in Twilight Princess should be on the list. Neither my wife nor me knew they were female until the end of the game.

--

Also, Cloud should get an honorable mention on this list.

ToastTheRabbit: [images3.wikia.nocookie.net image 529x768]

Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

but a teen male and a 4yo boy ... nothing wrong with that.

No, there's nothing wrong with that, you paranoid weirdo

ToastTheRabbit: [images3.wikia.nocookie.net image 529x768]

Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

but a teen male and a 4yo boy ... nothing wrong with that.

You know, I've heard a few people in the USA say that, but never seen any evidence of it. If it's true, it was changed before anything went to print in Japan-- all classic Sonic stuff I have says Tails was like a little brother who idolized Sonic.

Guess there's nothing wrong with either. Tails as a girl would've been like Lucca in Chrono Trigger.

exactly three days: ToastTheRabbit: [images3.wikia.nocookie.net image 529x768]

Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

but a teen male and a 4yo boy ... nothing wrong with that.

You know, I've heard a few people in the USA say that, but never seen any evidence of it. If it's true, it was changed before anything went to print in Japan-- all classic Sonic stuff I have says Tails was like a little brother who idolized Sonic.

Guess there's nothing wrong with either. Tails as a girl would've been like Lucca in Chrono Trigger.

I remember it was a small story in Game Pro (same issue that included the sonic 2 poster) They said the original concept was to have Tails as a young girl obsessed with sonic (this personality trait was moved to Amy Rose actually)

There was alot of resistance and I believe a few small references in the comic book (dunno the issue, but someone said tails parents make an appearance and state that "originally we thought we were going to have a girl") as a nod to this little trivia bit.

Anyone have a scan of that comic book page?

Anima is #1?

Admittedly it's been a long time since I played FFX, but I recall the story of Anima being explained very directly-- so... if the author heard/read that Seymour's summon was his mother and still didn't suspect it was a female... hm.

I know all there is to know about The Crying (Video) Game...

tricycleracer: What if Zelda was a girl?

wut?

smadge1: What about the Team Fortress 2 Pyro?

smadge1: What about the Team Fortress 2 Pyro?

Heh. I used to be a female like you... until I took an arrow to the vagoo.

/someone had to

exactly three days: ToastTheRabbit: [images3.wikia.nocookie.net image 529x768]

Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

but a teen male and a 4yo boy ... nothing wrong with that.

You know, I've heard a few people in the USA say that, but never seen any evidence of it. If it's true, it was changed before anything went to print in Japan-- all classic Sonic stuff I have says Tails was like a little brother who idolized Sonic.

Guess there's nothing wrong with either. Tails as a girl would've been like Lucca in Chrono Trigger.


Amy Rose is actually the rejected Tails concept character.

ToastTheRabbit: Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

I miss the old days before they tried to add characterization to the characters in Sonic games.

He's a blue hedgehog. He runs fast. He'll tap his foot if make him stand still too long. Isn't that already enough personality to base a franchise on?

MaxxLarge: Notably, and unforgivably missing:

[i.neoseeker.com image 400x300]

King and Samus are the only ones on that list that count for anything... and even then Art of Fighting 1 really shouldn't count for anything since there wasn't much of a story line behind her other than "you go to find your sister who was kidnapped and fight the bouncer, then at the end of the fight your destroy her clothes." Not exactly an amazing reveal. Most people didn't even find out until KOF 94 that King was a woman.

exatron: The original Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction manual said Birdo was a guy who liked bows and preferred being called "Birdetta".

Ok, I never read instruction booklets, so I stand corrected.

Antimatter: I'm more concerned with yoshi, who actually lays eggs.

Err ya. I guess I didn't plan my cunning argument all the way through.

exactly three days: Anima is #1?

Admittedly it's been a long time since I played FFX, but I recall the story of Anima being explained very directly-- so... if the author heard/read that Seymour's summon was his mother and still didn't suspect it was a female... hm.

Sort of. Acquiring Anima was an optional sidequest at the end of the game. I'm pretty sure it wasn't addressed before then.

ToastTheRabbit: exactly three days: ToastTheRabbit: [images3.wikia.nocookie.net image 529x768]

Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

but a teen male and a 4yo boy ... nothing wrong with that.

You know, I've heard a few people in the USA say that, but never seen any evidence of it. If it's true, it was changed before anything went to print in Japan-- all classic Sonic stuff I have says Tails was like a little brother who idolized Sonic.

Guess there's nothing wrong with either. Tails as a girl would've been like Lucca in Chrono Trigger.


Amy Rose is actually the rejected Tails concept character.

Weird, browser error, but at the risk of double-posting I'll say:

Ah, okay, that makes sense. And I'm glad for it story/franchise-wise. If the earlier games had been about Sonic and an obsessed fangirl, I might not have played as Tails (while my bro played as Sonic) with the same level of projection.

poot_rootbeer: ToastTheRabbit: Miles Tails Prower was originally supposed to be a girl. Japan and America (mainly america) thought that a teen boy character running around with a 4yo girl was inappropriate.

I miss the old days before they tried to add characterization to the characters in Sonic games.

He's a blue hedgehog. He runs fast. He'll tap his foot if make him stand still too long. Isn't that already enough personality to base a franchise on?

It was enough to turn sonic the hedgehog into one of the most idolized characters of his time.

The franchise has been milked dry lately though. the overabundance of sonic games have really watered him down and Sonic X is nothing but a disgrace.

A friend of mine had a project in the works with Ken Penders and SOJ to make a 3D movie version of the old Saturday morning Sonic the hedgehog series and comics. It was approved but SOJ wanted to let Sonic X run its course first.

Would be interesting to see what became of the old idea between Bob and Ken.

ToastTheRabbit: Miles Tails Prower

Also, "Miles Prower" is a play on "miles per hour"

ToastTheRabbit:

It was enough to turn sonic the hedgehog into one of the most idolized characters of his time.

The franchise has been milked dry lately though. the overabundance of sonic games have really watered him down and Sonic X is nothing but a disgrace...

Oh whoa, I was with you up to there, but Sonic X was part of a balance breakfast back in the day. Except when Chris showed up with that Hundred Acre Woods flavor. That series gave all the secondary/tertiary characters way more appeal than they had in the games alone.