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Resident Evil‘s leading ladies have for the most part been consistently strong, independent women, capable of getting elbow-deep into the situation just as much as their male counterparts. Sure, there may be some odd alternate costume choices here and there, but there’s never really been any doubt that they could get the job done while being moderately dressed, even if they are in heels. During an interview with The Guardian, the father of survival horror Shinji Mikami discusses some feelings about the portrayal of women in games. Specifically, in his games.
I don’t know if I’ve put more emphasis on women characters, but when I do introduce them, it is never as objects. In some games, they will be peripheral characters with ridiculous breast physics. I avoid that sort of obvious eroticism. I also don’t like female characters who are submissive to male characters, or to the situation they’re in. I won’t portray women in that way. I write women characters who discover their interdependence as the game progresses, or who already know they are independent but have that tested against a series of challenges.
Pretty much describes a lot of Resident Evil’s leading women, right? Well…
If I had to name the woman character I most disliked in my games, it would be Rebecca Chambers. She’s submissive, she’s not independent. I didn’t want to include her but the staff wanted that kind of character in the game, for whatever reason. I’m sure it made sense to them. And in Japan, that character is pretty popular.
Sorry Rebecca. But cheer up – the fans still love you!
You can check out the rest of the interview over at The Guardian.
[Source]
