Chris is indispensable in battle, a strong woman with an honorable pursuit. Female heroines in this society can sometimes be difficult to find in the entertainment niche, but Chris's intelligence and fierce pursuit of the truth will get you thinking of just how much the gaming community can do to improve the expectations for female leads.
Chris is powerful, carries a position of leadership, and like anyone else, has dreams of a more fulfilling life.
Pros: In a genre where most female characters are supportive or magic healer types, Chris rolls over like a tank and blows the cliché out the window. She holds the respect and adoration of the people of Zexen, not to mention the unfailing loyalty of her Knights.
Cons: Although I found Chris to be the perfect representative for women gamers, some may find her to be... too perfect. No scars? No hair out of place... ever?! Armor as smooth as a pane of glass despite battle after battle? It's as improbable as Laura Croft's assets! Well, if you want to get picky about it, go ahead...
Script (10/10): As a selectable main character, she is an integral part of the storyline and the player will (hopefully) never feel that Chris's role is anything less than vital. She has a wide variety of great lines.
Intelligence (10/10): She has an intelligent, serious bearing that is much appreciated, although less often found in female characters. Her inner struggle between what she feels is right and what is expected of herself as a leader seems to follow some of the more common struggles of daily life which most gamers should be able to easily identify with.
Stance(10/10): Wearing a full coat of armor is heavy, and it looks it! Chris stands like any one of us would if we where wearing a sheet of metal from our shoulders down. She kicks her toe occasionally, as if to restore blood flow to her tired feet when she stands idle for too long a period.
Attitude (10/10): As a woman with many responsibilities and bearing the mantle of "hero" on her shoulders, Chris is rarely silly. Although often questioning her actions and the path that is laid before her, her loyalty to her fellows causes her to think before she acts. She is a woman who fears very little, and takes unerringly the path she decides upon.
Looks (10/10): This is a factor that has always been a large point with the portrayal of women in games. Chris, as a commander of the Zexen Knights, looks very well suited to the role. Her heavy coat of armor looks like it could have been recently taken off the stand and -due in no small part to her diligent squire- is unmarred despite her many reputed battles. Her armor seems for once to be complete enough to actually protect the wearer from harm.
Her distinguished white hair is pulled back and tied in two braids to ensure that it not only looks beautiful, but is never in her face during the heat of battle.
Marketing Effort (10/10): Marketing efforts from what this gamer could find, seem to completely ignore that there is a female main character. They don't flaunt the fact, nor do they abuse it.
The excellent box art portrays all three main characters and their personalities very well, and the trailer video found at the Konami website shows an angry Chris in mid-swing in the midst of battle.
The character design follows a theme with all three Suikoden titles. Both men and women are portrayed equally. Certainly, there are some women who are not very well clad, but there are also male characters in the same position. Konami should be commended for their unbiased vision with Suikoden III.
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