For much of the Metroid series Samsus is encased in a hulking armoured suit. She spends the whole of her debut taking on and defeating anything that dared challenge her. Nobody who played the game casually at this point in 1986 had any clue that this intergalactic hero was a woman. It was only those who completed that first game who got to see her gender revealed in a twist at the end of the game congratulations screen. Sadly, this iconic moment in gaming history was undermined by the fact that if you were to complete the game fast enough the reveal showed her in rather skimpy clothing. But why does she top the list? Lara Croft is the stereotype, Chun-Li was an early icon, Ellie and Clementine avoid the sexuality issues by being children. Samus Aran was a space bounty hunter years before any of the others even existed and she just happened to be a woman. She was pioneer for women hitting as hard as the men and not being judged on gender stereotypes. Today she is loved as the gaming equivalent of Ripley from Aliens but her greatest battle is still against those who wish to objectify her. 2010's Metroid: Other M spent all of its energy sexualising Samus and placing stereotypical gender roles on her as if that ground-breaking debut had never happened.
