What Metroid Did for Women in Gaming  Kicking ass, taking names,
and redefining how an entire medium views women -- all in a
day's work for Samus Aran.  It's no secret that that the
portrayal of women in video games is usually pathetic. And it's
not really the super skimpy attire or generous body proportions
that are the culprit. After all, plenty of men are objectified
in games (Batman's skintight leather and bulging muscles in
Arkham Asylum, anyone?). Besides, there's nothing wrong with
sexuality in and of itself. No, it's more the blank stares, lack
of personality or inner strength, and overall uselessness that
tends to get people up in arms. In fact, if you tasked yourself
with naming cool, badass gaming heroines, you'd probably run out
of steam before you even reached double digits. That's why the
few examples that do exist are so very important, and easily at
the top of that list is Samus Aran.  The Big Reveal  I'll never
forget when I first played the original Metroid for NES. Not
only was the game its