Mario is the worst in that regard. It's been doing just that for over 20 years. I rarely agree with anything that comes from feminists but I'm with them on this one. WRPGs probably have the best solution since most of them allow you to be whoever you want and kick as regardless. Howver, it's always refreshing to see characters like Aya Brea from the Parasite Eve series on PS1 (not the 3rd birthday), my all-time favorite VG character,  who rescue men instead and maintain composure no matter what. One of the most epic scenes in my history of gaming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP1-1PL2e2E

Notice how she stayed calm and collected as if she was ready to own them all instead of cowering away waiting for men to come to the rescue.

Great thread, I couldn't agree more :)

A new IP that uses all the big N's Female characters abilities! (Just not the abilities Nintendo added in the Princess Peach DS game).

On the topic of Peach, I would be nice in a future Mario & Luigi game to start including some other characters as protagonists, we had Bowser and that turned out to work well. They could include the princesses as playable characters (especially Daisy she was like in only one non-sports/party title) and others that don't get as much light like Wario. Or just make a new character all together.

Somebody should remind me to start a series of threads concerning women in games. I have a lot to say that doesn't pertain to this thread specifically, and I'm not in the mood for a rant right now. :/

Would love to play a Zelda game as ZELDA. Beautiful magic weilding princess accompanied by a dope harp theme!!? Also as a ninja melle kit needed for platforming and stealth.

Let Ubisoft make a Hyllian Creed spin-off where you play as Shiek during the 7 year period in OoT

Yeah I agree. I'd like to be able to play as Zelda for once, just not like those awful CDi games.

I agree with everyone who wants to play as Zelda. Just give her some of her magic attacks from Smash Bros., let her use a bow (which she's already done several times), let her use the sword she held and then dropped in Twilight Princess, and let her always have the option of turning into Sheik when she needs to be quicker, stealthy, or ninja-like. I don't care whether she gets her own game, if it's small segments in a traditional Zelda game, or if it's co-op in a traditional Zelda game, it's TIME to be able to play as Zelda herself (not just her ghost inhabiting a phantom like in Spirit Tracks).

Aside from Samus, it doesn't make sense for a lot of Nintendo's women. Princesses that go on adventures and rip their dresses exposing their creamy white princess boobies? That sounds like a poorly written fan fic that I would write in middle school. Nintendo has more class than that.