Samus had a daunting responsibility in being the first ever female heroine in video games. In an era and a medium that wasn't as developed in gender representation as it is today, Nintendo had to think of how to create a female character that gamers loved, respected and related to. It turns out that the secret recipe was to mix together Sigourney Weaver's character from the Alien movies, and sultry 80s beauty, Kim Basinger. Samus' forceful, ass-kicking demeanour was based on the former, while her looks and even sound palette were inspired by Basinger.