10 Fearsome Video Game Women You Should Never Mess With

1. Tomb Raider - Lara Croft

The original leading lady of gaming and the best, Lara has been a familiar face in the industry for a long time. From the blocky incarnations of Ms. Croft in the early days of the PlayStation, to the Angel of Darkness incarnation that boasted unnecessarily enhanced assets, to the normalized, refreshing version of the "archaeologist" found in the later games, and up to our current version of Lara now (after yet ANOTHER reboot), Lara's longevity is undeniable - proving somewhat that fans of the franchise will never get tired of running around in Ms. Croft's boots and shooting things up.

... so we're not saying anything about that wound in the latest Lara's side? Okay.

Sporting the top, that belt, a backpack, and a pair of iconic handguns, Lara has shot, jumped, and grappled her way through more than a decade in the evolution of modern gaming. Although the franchise hasn't always been a easy one - after a rushed debacle that was Angel of Death's release, Tomb Raider switched hands from Eidos to Crystal Dynamics - it has enthralled enough gamers and sold enough copies to remain relevant, even years later.

Unlike everyone else on this list (with the possible exception of Tifa and those disproportionately large cannons on her chest), Lara is/was openly regarded as a sex symbol, boasting a slim form, large bust, and attractive features. In fact, it would be a fair argument to say that she began the harsher analysis of women in games, leading to developers creating deeper female characters rather than dim women who served little other purpose than eye candy.

With that being said, it's difficult to portray Lara as an airhead - even in the manuals of Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider II, she was always described as an intelligent, headstrong girl who made an independent living even after her parents disowned her for turning to "archaeology". Her historical/intellectual pursuits, combined with her athletic ability and the endless amounts of henchmen, wildlife, and monsters gunned down, have made her a favorite in gaming for years. And considering the success of the latest iteration in the Tomb Raider series, I imagine Lara will be around for years to come.