Video games – Latin characters have global impact
Although video games are one of the most advanced forms of media, some people consider them to be the lowest on the totem pole of entertainment. While many used to assume that only Asians and shut-in Americans play video games, public perception has changed in the past few years. We’re all slowly realizing that anyone can play videogames.
One of the fastest growing demographics of gaming is the Latin gamer group, although the rate of Latin character representation hasn’t really gone up. That’s not to say that gaming is completely devoid of Latin characters. In fact there are plenty of great and beloved video game characters of Latin decent.
Blanka from the Street Fighter Franchise, for instance. He’s a mean, green and large electricity machine! Despite being labeled as the series’ staple idiot, Blanka is one of Street Fighter’s most skilled fighters, using a combination of his electricity and martial arts. Coming from Brazil where he and his mother were separated in the jungle, he gained his electric powers from eating eels.
From the beloved and competitive franchise Tekken, the Fighter King is one the series’ staple characters! If you are wondering why he has a cheetah head, it’s masked based on the one that the famous Japanese wrestler Satoru Sayama wore. The first King was a Catholic priest who entered the Iron Fist tournament to raise enough money to build an orphanage. Even though he was killed by one of the antagonists of the series, Ogre, the mask and name was given to one of the orphans he was raising continuing his legacy.
Finally, for our last character and our only woman in this article, we have Isabela Keyes from the Dead Rising franchise! While she starts as an antagonist towards the main character, she allies with him later in the game because he could help cure the zombie virus. She is considered the most developed and complex character in the franchise, due to her motives always leading to exterminating the zombie’s no matter the cost!
After reading this list I hope you feel more represented and always remember that there are new games all the time, meaning there’s a chance for more representation!
