Summary
Supermassive Games has become best known for titles such asUntil Dawnand theDark Pictures Anthology, thrusting a troupe of unsuspecting characters into situations of absolute torture and unrelenting horror, but there are plenty of other games under their belt diverging into other genres, drawing on completely disparate characters.
In whichever Supermassive game players look, there are going to be characters that stand out, whether it is due to their background, their ability, or their personality, all of which shine through interactions, dialogue, and gameplay segments. From their eclectic catalog, here are the best female characters of all.
Man of Medanwas the debut game in theDark Pictures Anthologystarting players off on a sea-faring adventure that soon becomes a nightmare as the group finds themselvestrapped on a ghost shipwith the pirates that kidnapped them, and horrific entities that stalk them throughout the ship. There are hints dropped throughout the game that what they see is not quite real, as the gold aboard the ship isn’t treasure but a powerful hallucinogenic weapon.
One of the playable characters and the captain of the ship, Fliss, remained the more pragmatic member of the group. Though she may seem like a stick in the mud with her constant warnings, if they were heeded, the group might not have ended up in such a predicament. Some of her sections remain the best in the game, such as the iconic ballroom.
Though the majority of theKillzonefranchise was mostly created by Guerilla Games, Supermassive has also delved into the world of FPS, responsible for handling the development of the PS3 version of the first game.Set in a post-nuclear war worldin the not-so-distant future, humanity has made efforts to colonize planets after much of the Earth has become unsuited for human habitation.
Luger was one of the Shadow Marshals who valiantly defended Vekta against Helghast, earning no medals for her efforts. But given the reason for her joining the militia efforts, Luger isn’t in it to earn herself glory and attention. Following the murder of her parents right before her eyes, Luger was left traumatized but became all the stronger for it. She jumped at the chance to become a Shadow Marshal and proved it was where she belonged. She doesn’t need or want protection and proves it time and time again.
A group of teens plays a mean-spirited prank on Hannah Washington, a girl with an unfortunate crush on Emily’s boyfriend. The prank leads to her running away embarrassed, and her twin sister Beth following after. The two run into danger and fall to their deaths. The group of friends gather back in the mountain lodge one year later, falling victim to their brothers' pranks, and more, as the mountains are home to dangerous monsters.
Emily is one of the most to blame for the prank, and she showed little remorse for her actions even as Hannah fled into the freezing snow with little more than jeans and a shirt on. Her mean streak is present throughout the game, but she is one of those characters people love to hate. She was not designed to be pleasant like Samantha, and as such, showcased fantastic writing and voice performance. But the iconic line “Understand the palm of my hand, b****”, delivered with a smack to Ashley’s face, was an utterly excellent one that fans still quote, even years after the game’s original release.
Supermassive took it upon themselves to develop the enhanced edition ofLittle Nightmares 2, a follow-up to the original survival horror game that saw players control a tiny protagonist exploring the huge sea vessel called the Maw whilecontending with the massive dangersthat threatened them.Little Nightmares 2introduced a new playable character, Mono, but was accompanied by Six from the first game, who was instrumental in aiding them to explore and survive their surroundings.
Six’s indispensable help with puzzles, and the fact she is a legacy character, helped players bond with her throughoutLittle Nightmares 2, which only made her betrayal, and fate at the end of the game all the sadder. In a twist no one could have seen coming, Six lets Mono drop from a fall and becomes a dangerous long-limbed monstrosity. All of this was still not enough to make Six a hated character, and instead, she remains one of the greatest in Supermassive’s library.
The crossover between Behaviour’sDead by Daylightuniverse and Supermassive Games was an unexpected one, resulting in the development ofThe Casting of Frank Stone. It followed the formula fans were familiar with, containing a group of playable characters that change each chapter, and most of the gameplay comprised of QTEs that canresult in a character’s gruesome deathfollowing failure. But it was set in theDbDworld, making use of its rich lore, and sprinkled with a healthy dose of easter eggs for devoted fans to seek out and collect.
Among the cast was Linda, who appears in both timelines. Once an amateur filmmaker, she rose to the heights of horror fame, her artistic eye earning her many fans. In the 80s, she is more reserved and not as outgoing as her fellow filmmakers, but comes out of her shell in her old age, and even shows compassion toward characters such as Madi. One thing is a constant for Linda, and that’s her protective nature, and her dedication to the craft, which are both admirable traits.
The Season 1 finale inThe Dark Pictures Anthologyinvolved the story of the infamous real-life killerH.H. Holmes, as his aptly named Murder Castle. A team of paranormal investigators who are struggling to keep their show on air takes up an offer from a mysterious man that seems too good to be true, and it turns out it is. Their host vanishes, and the group finds themselves embroiled in the dangerous Murder Castle, full of deadly traps and a sinister figure.
The poster child of this game was Kate Wilder, modeled and played by actress and singer Jessie Buckley. She is one of the more outspoken members of the group and is guaranteed to immediately draw attention. Her penchant to speak openly and honestly may make her seem abrasive, but it is one of her most shining qualities, even if it does create some friction with other characters. But this only adds to the drama, intrigue, and excitement inThe Devil in Me.
The night before Hackett Quarry is open for business, Laura and Max decide to drive down early to feel out the place. They are stopped on the way by a police officer, who warns them away and directs them to a nearby motel to stay for the night. Of course, the adventurous Laura isn’t going to take his advice, and the pair continue to the summer camp, and soon find out why they were told to stay away.
Normally, the first two playable characters die at the start of the game, but the pair survives, and Laura ends up as one of the more heroic characters of the bunch.Her courageis already displayed at the beginning of the game when she explores the surrounding area alone after hearing some strange noises, but it becomes even more apparent when she stands up to the Hackett family and fights not only for her survival but the survival of the other counselors.
8Samantha Giddings (Until Dawn)
An Underrated Final Girl
Even though there are multiple women in Supermassive’s most famous game, it is Samantha who takes on the role of final girl, exhibiting many of the traits found in these heroic characters in movies. Smart, resourceful, and compassionate, she iseverything a final girl should be, and it is about time she is recognized as such.
Not a member of the harsh prank that led to Hannah and Beth’s deaths, Sam still falls victim to Josh’s machinations, pursued and attacked by the Masked Killer that is just him in disguise. It is during these moments that players see Sam’s grit and her resolve to survive. These are just a few of the traits that make Samantha the most likeable character not only fromUntil Dawn, but the entirety of Supermassive’s library.
