Throughout
Women's Month, we'll be counting down the top five female
protagonists and antagonists in video games. This isn't going to be
your usual babe list though, because we're not going to be counting
down based on looks. What we're looking for has more to do with how
cool the character is, what she can do and, most important, her
franchise power. Of course, any kind of countdown list like this will
be biased in some way or another, so if you feel that our top five
isn't good enough, let us know. In fact, send us your top five so we
can see just what you think. Here's today's pick.
#5
– Shahdee
First
Appearance: Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
If
this was simply down to fighting skill rather than overall evil
behaviour, we'd have given this one to the Empress of Time herself,
but Shahdee's harsh tone, complete indifference and flat-out cruelty
make her stand out when compared to her master. Shahdee made her
first, and only, appearance in Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. She
was the loyal subordinate of the Empress of Time, charged with
protecting the Empress and carrying out her orders.
Shahdee
was sent, along with a horde of sand demons, to stop the Prince of
Persia from reaching the Island of Time, where he set out to stop the
Empress of Time from creating the Sands of Time (see
Prince
of Persia: The Sands of Time
and
Prince
of Persia: Warrior Within
for more information). She and her crew attacked the Prince's ship
during a storm at sea and set fire to the sinking vessel. They then
slaughtered the Prince's crew, on her order, but the Prince survived
and engaged her in close combat. The Prince proved to be a tough
adversary for her, and nearly killed her, but at the last minute,
Shahdee knocked his weapons from his hands and kicked him overboard.
Shahdee
did not complete her mission though, and the Prince not only
survived, but washed up on the shores of the Island of Time. Once
more, she caught
up with the
Prince, this time in one of the towers of the Island of Time. After a
fierce battle, the Prince killed Shahdee, and with her last breath
she uttered
"Fool,
don't you know... you can not change your fate.”
We'll be rounding out the rest of the top 5 female protagonists and antagonists in video games throughout the rest of Women's Month, so stay tuned.