Think back to the movie(s) that inspired the game, and what's the one thing they have in common? There's a particular character holding them all together. Specifically, a female character. That of Ellen Ripley, one of sci-fi's most iconic and critically acclaimed roles. When Sigourney Weaver returned to the role for the sequel "Aliens," the result was a record breaking $100 million draw at the box office that broke down gender barriers in film. Weaver's portrayal of Ripley even went so far as to get her an Oscar nomination, an incredibly rare feat in the sci-fi and/or action genre.
Given this, it's remarkably odd that producer Brian Burleson recently revealed in a web chat with fans that there will be no playable female characters in Sega's upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines. It's, in the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, "kind of a big deal."
The role was even honored in the video game adaptations, players taking on the role of Ripley in at least four separate Alien games. So why the switch now? I'm sure it would be possible to recruit Weaver to lend her voice to the game, as she's expressed interest in making a fifth Alien film, despite the character's death in "Alien 3." Unfortunately, I can't say what logic may lie behind the decision, but it has created a small controversy among the female gamer community. A petition has already been created to include female characters in multiplayer.
Given Colonial Marines setting as taking place after the events of "Alien 3," I could understand why Ripley wouldn't make an appearance in the game, as technically, she's now deceased, after throwing herself into a foundry at Fury 161. But why not the multiplayer at the very least? I'll even kowtow to the point that it wouldn't make sense to have Ripley in the game at all, given that she was never in the Colonial Marines in the first place. But why not a character like Vasquez? Scholar Judith Halberstram wrote that the character is a strong example of female masculinity in film.
It remains to be seen if Gearbox will go back on their decision, but I hope they do. Michael Biehn screaming "Get away from her you bitch!" at Xenomorph queen just wouldn't have had the same ring to it...
