Best Female Martial Artists In Video Games

Key Takeaways

Characters like Lisa Silverman, Chie Satonaka, and Radiant Jen Zi showcase strong female martial artists in video games.
Each character brings a unique approach to combat, whether it’s kung fu skills, judo expertise, or chi-enhanced melee strikes.
From Tifa Lockhart’s physical attacks to Chun-Li’s iconic swift kicks, these women challenge stereotypes and excel in hand-to-hand combat.

As someone who’s spent countless hours in arcades and online multiplayer battlegrounds, I can confidently say that these women are nothing short of extraordinary. They’ve not only captivated our screens with their agility, grace, and powerful kicks, but they’ve also empowered a generation of gamers, particularly young girls, to believe in their strength and potential.

An old saying goes: “In all fights, it’s about close-quarters engagement that truly matters; anyone relying solely on a weapon is being reckless.” Indeed, some video game characters embody this philosophy perfectly. Unlike firing a gun or conjuring spells, the raw intensity of punching an opponent directly resonates more profoundly, a sentiment often associated with robust, typically male figures such as monks, karate masters, kickboxers, wrestlers, and the like.

Instead of focusing on all women characters who use physical combat in video games, this list will specifically highlight the top martial artist females in gaming. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we had to omit characters like Cammy, Mileena, and Mai from this particular list, as they will be covered in a future one.

10 Lisa Silverman

Fighting Japanophilia With Sinophilia

Best Female Martial Artists In Video Games

Debut: 1999 (Persona 2: Innocent Sin)
Martial Art: Kung fu based on Bruce Lee movies
Occupation: Student

In the Persona series, they aren’t shy about challenging assumptions. For instance, the family of Silverman, who are fans of Japan, endeavored to raise their daughter, Lisa Silverman, as a typical Japanese lady. However, she defied expectations by developing an affection for Hong Kong culture and transforming into an ardent devotee of Bruce Lee’s kung fu.

In other words, when not conjuring Personas, she engages her adversaries with martial arts maneuvers reminiscent of kung fu films and sprinkles her dialogue with spontaneous Cantonese and Chinese exclamations. She might also employ her martial arts skills to persuade demons into being contacts – if her dancing or charm failed. Regardless, through her actions or background, she is among the most intriguing characters in the series.

9 Chie Satonaka

The Spunky Dragon With Deadly Legs

Debut: 2008 (Persona 4)
Martial Art: Kung fu based on Bruce Lee movies
Occupation: Student

The love for kung fu didn’t end with Persona 2 either, as Chie Satonaka took it up for Persona 4. Like Lisa, she’s a big fan of kung fu movies and Bruce Lee, and she does her best to master her martial arts to protect Yu, P4’s protagonist, and her introverted friend Yukiko. Though unlike Lisa, she got to use more of her melee moves in the Persona 4: Arena fighting games.

The character offered ample opportunity for her skills to shine, ranging from powerful punching techniques to high kicks that sent enemies soaring into the air. She was an ideal choice for novice players since she didn’t demand intricate maneuvers or delicate precision. Instead, she thrived on getting up close and personal with opponents, overwhelming them with a barrage of combos, giving players freedom to unleash their wildest moves.

8 Radiant Jen Zi

Rapidfire Rampage

Debut: 2007 (Jade Empire)
Martial Art: Thousand Cuts (akin to Snake and Mantis-style kung fu)
Occupation: Martial Artist

In the game titled “Jade Empire“, developed by Bioware before their creation of “Mass Effect“, players could choose from various Spirit Monks, each embodying unique fighting styles to rescue their mentor from Sun Hai, the emperor of the Jade Empire. These characters had distinct combat strategies; for instance, Tiger Shen employed an overpowering approach, Scholar Ling utilized tactical magic, while Lu the Prodigy and Wu the Lotus Blossom showcased a balanced mix of fighting techniques.

Jen Zi, radiantly skillful, embodied the Fast fighting style, gracefully evading incoming attacks before swiftly retaliating with a flurry of rapid-fire strikes. These swift blows, though seemingly weak in power, accumulated damage over time due to their speed. In tight quarters or when engaging her enemies up close, she could either inflict the agonizing death by a Thousand Cuts or quickly close the distance with her devastating Heavenly Wave.

7 Alena

A Ton Of Power In A Tiny Frame

Debut: 1990 (Dragon Quest 4)
Martial Art: Various Martial Arts
Occupation: Tsarevna (princess), fighter

People might assume Alena from Dragon Quest 4 is a witch or sorceress due to her pointed hat and cape, but contrary to appearances, she can’t cast spells. Instead, she relies on her physical prowess. Interestingly, although she’s the Tsarevna of Zamoskva, she places more emphasis on demonstrating her strength over fulfilling her royal duties.

In the realm of Role-Playing Games (RPGs), Alena was among the pioneering females who opted for a more action-oriented strategy in combat. Unlike traditionally portrayed female characters as priestesses, sorcerers, or healers, she demonstrated that petite women could also excel in physical combat. With impressive Strength attributes and ample Hit Points (HP), she was capable of withstanding attacks much like her muscular male counterparts. Despite her petite stature, Alena proved that strength can come in all shapes and sizes.

6 Tifa Lockheart

Lady Luck Keeps On Shining

Debut: 1997 (Final Fantasy 7)
Martial Art: Freeform kickboxing
Occupation: Bartender and eco-terrorist

It’s possible that Square Enix drew inspiration from their competitors at Enix when creating the character Tifa Lockheart in Final Fantasy 7. Like many models, she appears more graceful than combative off the battlefield, but once in combat, she showcases her powerful physical attacks, often favoring metal knuckles over swords or spells. Her abilities, such as Unbridled Strength, even allow her to amplify these attacks.

Perhaps to add an element of excitement, the character’s most powerful Limit Breaks were determined by a lottery system. If the player managed to accumulate enough ‘Yes’es, she would deal double damage to her enemies. If not, players had to settle for a standard attack or, in some cases, no attack at all. Regardless, her full-contact melee attacks made her a beloved character due to her raw power, and she was widely recognized as one of the game’s strongest characters.

5 Makoto

The Tomboy Terror Of Tosa

Debut: 1999 (Street Fighter 3: Third Strike)
Martial Art: Rindo-kan Karate
Occupation: Martial Artist

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the diverse roster of characters in fighting games, each one embodying their unique roles. While some, like Kitana from Mortal Kombat, are ninjas, Leona from King of Fighters is a soldier, and Nina from Tekken is an assassin, my beloved Street Fighter’s Makoto embodies the essence of martial arts. Interestingly, her popularity soars high; Capcom’s 2017 popularity poll ranked her second, making her one of the most admired characters in the series, surpassing many others.

Fans tend to appreciate spirited tomboys, but Makoto offered more than just a cropped hairstyle and a quick temper. Instead of showcasing fashionable footwork, she opted for powerful blows, swiftly evading fireballs to thwart opponents, deflecting their counterattacks with her jabs, and knocking them out with her uppercuts and intricate combo sequences.

4 Sakura Kasugano

Whirling Up A Storm With Her Strikes

Debut: 1996 (Street Fighter Alpha 2)
Martial Art: An imitation of Ansatsuken based on Ryu’s moves
Occupation: High school graduate, arcade manager

Even though Makoto is greatly appreciated by fans, it was Sakura Kasugano who managed to capture their affection slightly more: this schoolgirl mastered Ryu’s Ansatsuken through mere observation and practice of his techniques in her free time. She shares the same spirited attitude as Makoto but maintains a calmer demeanor and exhibits moves similar to those of Shotos.

She has the ability to alternate between shooting a fireball with less damage but greater range, or a larger one effective only against nearby opponents. Her Shunpukyaku jump keeps the pressure on them consistently. In addition, her dashing Shououken move is particularly effective at overwhelming enemies, particularly in games like Capcom Vs SNK 2. With her robust gameplay and captivating design, it’s not surprising that she gained such popularity.

3 Ling Xiaoyu

Hard To Master, Harder To Hit

Debut: 1997 (Tekken 3)
Martial Art: Bagua Zhang and Pigua Quan-based kung fu
Occupation: Student

Sakura wasn’t the only adorable character in fighting games, and while she is often considered the best, there are certainly other strong contenders. For instance, some fans might choose Ling Xiaoyu from Tekken over Sakura. Ling Xiaoyu embodies a similar charm with her bold cuteness, but her moves have a more traditional kung fu feel, making her like a miniature Chun-Li in a sense. Her attacks may not be particularly powerful, but power isn’t what defines her.

She excels at aggravating opponents through her speedy attacks and evasive maneuvers. Instead of getting hit, she often dodges them by performing rolls, cartwheels, and spins. Moreover, she uses her quick strikes to either knock her adversaries into the air with low-lying stances or block their advancements. These tactics have earned her a reputation as one of the strongest fighters in the series and a highly recognizable character.

2 Blaze Fielding

Burning Up The Competition

Debut: 1991 (Streets of Rage)
Martial Art: Judo
Occupation: Ex-cop turned private detective

In the genre of beat ’em up games, Blaze Fielding from Streets of Rage stands out among female characters for her popularity. She’s consistently appeared in every game, providing players with a quicker, martial arts-style combat approach that differs from the more brawling styles of characters like Axel, Adam, and Skate.

The games indicate that she is proficient in Judo for groundwork techniques against smaller to medium-sized opponents, but her combat style leans more towards Kung Fu, showcasing moves such as the acrobatic Embukyaku kick, rapid Rekkaken punches, and an array of energy sword attacks like the Hishou Souzan. These moves are not only visually striking, but when mastered, can inflict significant damage.

1 Chun-Li

The Queen Of Fighters

Debut: 1991 (Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior)
Martial Art: Tai Chi
Occupation: Ex-Interpol Agent, kung fu instructor

It’s no surprise that Chun-Li made it onto this list; she’s often referred to as the Queen of Fighting Games for good reason. Her introduction in Street Fighter 2 was pivotal, possibly speeding up the inclusion of female characters in fighting game rosters. Without her, we might not have seen Sonya Blade or Cammy White. Chun-Li’s appealing appearance, agility, and swift kicks made her a hit among players, quickly establishing herself as one of the top characters in the original Street Fighter 2.

Ever since then, I’ve found myself right up there with Ryu and his Hadouken moves, being a staple of the series that often teams up with him for crossovers to truly represent our world. When I’m not dominating the top tier, I’m a constant presence that’s tough to keep down. But when I reach the peak, watch out – my aggressive pressure tactics make me a force to be reckoned with!

2024-11-22 09:34