In a portion of games, often some of the female characters are portrayed as scantily clad, depicting the world and women from a male perspective, and using women as objects of male pleasure. And this concept, known as the “male gaze”, is evident in many aspects of video games, from character design to storytelling. The Tomb Raider and King of Fighters series are two notable examples of where the male gaze is evident.
Tomb Raider
In terms of character design, the original Tomb Raider series featured Lara Croft, who was sought after for her exaggerated, sensual femininity. This design choice reflected the male gaze, prioritising visual appeal to a presumed heterosexual male audience over practicality or realism.
The portrayal of Laura has evolved. In the most recent iteration, her character is more realistically proportioned and is portrayed with more depth and agency. This shift reflects changing attitudes towards the portrayal of women in games and the rejection of the male perspective.
While earlier games in the series often placed Lara Croft in situations that emphasised her appearance and bridged the plot of her predecessor, Rise of the Tomb Raider and the latest Tomb Raider – Shadow of the Tomb Raider both focus on gameplay, pushing what was originally a less adventurous first instalment of 2013 to a higher level. The portrayal of Lara Croft in these two entries seems much more mature and no longer purposely highlights Lara Croft’s size, but rather Lara Croft’s true strengths to gain the hearts of gamers.
From 1996 to 2018, Lara Croft was baptised with the development of the game, allowing players to witness the growth of Lara Croft as a game character. The collection of independence, courage, perseverance, wisdom, and sexy and charming Lara Croft will undoubtedly become a role model in many games, completely changing the status of female characters in the game, they are no longer vases but can be as adventurous as the male characters, but perhaps compared to the male characters to take on the role of the explorer female roles seem to be more able to shine in the darkness of the tomb.
The King of Fighters
Like many fighting games, female characters in the “King of Fighters” series of games tend to wear revealing clothing with exaggerated physical features. Many female characters wear armour or clothing that is more revealing than protective. This reflects the male gaze, and the female form is rendered as a visual treat.
The animations and camera angles during fights or victory poses further emphasise the sexualisation of the female characters, with the emphasis being on their sexiness rather than their skills as fighters. These elements usually prominently focus on the body, and while the series does feature strong female fighters, they are often portrayed inconsistently, with some characters being sexier than others. However, in more recent iterations, the portrayal of women has gradually shifted towards more diverse and less stereotypical portrayals.
Both Tomb Raider and The King of Fighters demonstrate how the male gaze influences character design and narrative in games. While Shadow of the Tomb Raider makes a significant shift in the portrayal of female protagonists away from the male gaze, King of Fighters presents a more mixed picture where sexualisation still plays an important role in character design. These examples highlight the ongoing dialogue and evolution of gender portrayals in the games industry and the importance of moving beyond one-dimensional, male-centric perspectives.
I strongly agree that female portrayals are produced under the male gaze. Their dress is revealing and short. It means the game objectifies women’s images and males are enjoyable with a visual feast. Boys are easily addicted to playing it because of a lack of self-discipline and sex education because they usually seek visual stimulation through it. Not only is it detrimental to instil erotic visuals into boys’ minds long-term, but also female’s status becomes lower than before. I can see a changed trend in these roles until feminist waves launched many times, not catering for men’s good graces and having their own distinct personalities. I am glad to see that.
As a woman, I’ve also noticed while playing the game that almost all female characters come standard with exaggerated breasts and hips and unusually thin waists. In the example you recounted, I’m glad to see a shift in the direction of female characters in games, women shouldn’t be defined as ‘stupid’ figures, they should be given equal positive definition because women power is strong.