Essays 04 December 2021, 18:29

Not Just Lara Croft - Gaming's Greatest Gals (Before 2005)

In recent years, game developers have begun to spoil fans with strong female characters, populating the worlds of both mainstream and niche productions. Lara Croft wasn't the only one, however; gaming has always had some great gals.

Kate Walker (Siberia)

Debuted: 2002
Key games: Siberia, Siberia 2, Siberia 3
Distinguishing features: Brilliant mind and great courage

Kate Walker has no superpowers. Moreover, even her combat abilities are almost non-existent. Nevertheless, she is able to find Hans Voralberg himself in Siberia, which as hostile an environment as it gets (especially if you're from the States). At the same time, she learns how to use the complicated, non-electric machines. And during the journey, you will quickly learn about the ancient Yukola tribe.

Kate Walker's strength is manifested in her great courage and unwavering optimism. Often masked with poignant irony, it's almost never replaced by nihilism. Kate Walker believes from beginning to end that something extraordinary will happen to her. Even if it wasn't finding Hans himself, discovering a lost civilization, or traveling by long-distance train.

Thanks to the cooperation of developers and writers, we come across quite unusual puzzles, the solution of which requires not only logic, but also creative thinking. Kate Walker, who deals with them (with a little help from the player), is therefore not only intelligent, but also able to react in unconventional ways to emergency situations. And at the same time, having enough courage to abandon the comfortable life in a big city and embark on a search that might as well backfire in a search for the unknown in distant Siberia. If I was ever to embark on a journey into a hazardous part of the world, I'd definitely go with Kate Walker. So what if she can't fight – if she can find mammoths!

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Kate Walker (Siberia)