(In case you care about that kind of thing)
So, we've talked a bit about how videogames seem to have a history of reinforcing gender role stereotypes (with a few notable exceptions). The question then in my mind is whether recent games are rectifying this mistake, or adding to it. Specifically, the discussion is about Super Paper Mario, and how its central female characters are portrayed. Given it's a game somewhat aimed at younger gamers, the message it sends about gender is kind of important.
For starters, there's the quintessential Mario heroine/perpetual damsel in distress, Princess Peach.
Peach seems to be the epitome of tired female stereotypes. She's always clad in pink. She looks and typically acts cute and girly and sweet. The only time she isn't being sweet is when she's being emotionally unstable. In Super Paper Mario, she gets kidnapped yet again, and after a failed attempt to escape, she has to be rescued.
In terms of positives, she does have unique abilities that help Mario's party once she joins. Her parasol lets her float through the air, letting her clear wide gaps that Mario can't jump across himself, and she uses it like a shield in combat which, aside from being ridiculous, does make her useful for some battles.
She does show more independence than might be expected. She was very gung-ho about helping Mario save the world, but seems to only regard him as a friend. Surprisingly, she's about the only female character in the game who isn't in love or infatuated with anybody else. In that small regard at least, the character Peach is breaking the mold.
Now, a character who is new to the series: Nastasia
This character did a lot more in the way of breaking expectations of gender role. Her looks are far more reserved. The most girly thing about her is her way of speaking, which sounds a bit like a teenage girl (if that teenage girl were plotting to destroy the world). She has the appearance and mannerisms of a secretary, but it's clear early in the game that she is in fact second-in-command of the evil army that Mario and company must eventually overcome. With her cruel personality and powerful mind-control ability, she makes the rest of the evil minions look comical by comparison.
However, the first-impression of her being a ruthless, cold-hearted force of evil proves to be incorrect later on. It's revealed through cutscenes that she may be the only evil minion who has a conscience. She expresses regret that the world must be destroyed, yet continues anyway because of her devotion (and perhaps unresolved romantic feelings) toward her master, the main villain of the game.
Overall, Nastasia seems to be the stronger female character. There are still some obvious stereotypes (the secretary look, and pining for the man she works for), but she is in many ways a polar opposite to Peach. She's not cutesy or sweet. She bottles her emotions, acting cold and cut-throat. She somewhat lacks independence, but only by choice. She's certainly not perfect, but that sort of makes her more memorable.
The ultimate question is whether Super Paper Mario is creating good female characters or just reinforcing stereotypes. Answer: sort of. Princess Peach's increased independence seems to be a mild improvement over previous incarnations, and while Nastasia does fall into a few familiar tropes, she does break some new ground as a villainess.
(Note: I am still not quite finished with the game yet. I may briefly revisit it, as I suspect the ending may interfere with some of my points here.)
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