Topic: Women in the Lords of Shadow universe

[Ahasverus]

Let's just say and accept that Castlevania is a feminist nightmare 

[Flame]

Let's just say and accept that Castlevania is a feminist nightmare 

Only from an ultra feminist point of view, involving nitpicks here and there.

[Ahasverus]

Only from an ultra feminist point of view, involving nitpicks here and there.

Like this one?

Damsel in Distress: Part 2 - Tropes vs Women in Video Games

Castlevania mentioned 2 times and shown 3.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Oh, so there's a part 2 now?

Anyway, for the CV universe, I think it is easier for developers to relegate women into secondary/sacrificial roles...

[Flame]

Like this one?

Damsel in Distress: Part 2 - Tropes vs Women in Video Games

Castlevania mentioned 2 times and shown 3.

UUUUUUUUGGGGH

Could not finish.

She gets points for not coming off as a crazy MUH FEMINISM type, she's pretty well spoken in what shes talking about, but Jesus...

Damsel in distress is just a classic trope that's been around practically forever in any kind of media, and it's a cheap reliable plot device.

Why does any game that has a damsel in distress suddenly become a "male empowerment fantasy"? Why can't it just, yknow, be a videogame where the guy wants to saves the girl?

I don't find castlevania to be any particular kind of empowerment fantasy...

[uzo]

Hold up Flame.

She said male power fantasy, not empowerment. It's a power fantasy, ie being strong, fast, and skilled while starring a male character. She isn't claiming that these games are necessarily sporting a male empowerment message, ie men > women, women are worthless, etc. I believe she even goes on to say it's not likely intentionally an anti-female agenda but rather a product of laziness on the developer's part.

[Flame]

Male POWER fantasy. I knew I was saying something wrong.

But I couldnt be assed to re-watch the video.

[A-Yty]

Oh Jesus. Sarkeesian now? Why dive to the bottom of the barrel?

A feminist nightmare? Overall, Castlevania has so tame contents, especially in this day and age, it's laughable to list it among games that degrade women.

I can agree that women have been sacrificial overall (and LoS is worse than the original canon when it comes to that), but it's not because women were specifically picked for that. It's the setting that has led to it and works both ways. You can hardly ever see the men express negative feelings like fear or weaknesses. I think the closest a man in Castlevania has come to acknowledging fear was when Reinhardt said: "Courage, don't leave me".

[Pfil]

I'm sorry for creating a topic where that "Damsel in Distress" video had to be uploaded (yeah, as a bad example, but I just can't stand her stupidity, she is full of nonsense, and I don't want to get into this, please, I chose not to comment on her videos some time ago; why of course, she is not doing a good work at portraying women when she is setting herself as an example; we are not like that... most of us, mind you).

Sonia, Yoko, Carrie, Maria, Charlotte, Shanoa... also Lady Gunner, Little Witch, Angela, why not?
They kick ass!

I'd like to have had a playable Sypha in Mirror of Fate, for example. That's all was I asking, in the end.
I hope Lords of Shadow 2 includes a female lead, at least as an unlockable.

[Flame]

You can hardly ever see the men express negative feelings like fear or weaknesses. I think the closest a man in Castlevania has come to acknowledging fear was when Reinhardt said: "Courage, don't leave me".

I might be wrong about this... But... Isn't Gabriel literally the first male Belmont to outright cry?

Aside from maybe Leon, who I don't remember too well on this matter...

[Pfil]

I believe he is.
Everyone knows it up to this point, I guess.
I really wasn't a fan of the first LoS, but I always liked Gabriel as a character, as well as his dramatic tale of loss and tragedy.
I think it's the best story in the franchise for a male character (though I could be wrong).

[uzo]

Cox already said only one character will be playable in LoS2. Take it with a grain of salt since Cox is a known liar, but I'd find it much more likely that Alucard would take that spot if it existed. I doubt we'll see a woman in the LoS universe do anything but get murdered unfortunately.

So far we're 6 for 6. Can MS go for the high score?

[Pfil]

That's so accurate!
Well, in that case, after playing LoS2 I can go play some HD on my PS3, where I can choose between many female leads.

And yes, Cox is a known liar. "Liar, liar, pants on fire!". That quote is legendary now in the Castlevania universe 

[Shiroi Koumori]

Yup, thanks to Nagumo's tweet!

[A-Yty]

I might be wrong about this... But... Isn't Gabriel literally the first male Belmont to outright cry?

Aside from maybe Leon, who I don't remember too well on this matter...

True. Leon did scream her name desperately, but the next thing we saw was her grave. But with those character models, who would have noticed a sad face or tears..

He is however, the most emotionally versatile Belmont of the original canon - describing his love for Sara etc. Then again, they never gave much room for dialogues or monologues in games before that.

Incidentally, I think Richter's the first Belmont who has laughed. The next time was probably Juste in one of Harmony's endings.