Ashley Graham (Resident Evil): Difference between revisions
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Toadette Geldof of ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'' described her as one of the lamest video game characters of all time, commenting that "She's so lame that she can't even really walk on her own, so you have to piggy-back her around and then set her back down any time you need to kill something."<ref name="Vice">{{cite web |author=Toadette Geldof|url=https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/vdn8jd/the-lamest-video-game-characters-of-all-time |title=The Lamest Video Game Characters of All Time|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|date=March 4, 2016|access-date= March 1, 2012}} </ref> In 2016, Liz Finnegan of ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]'' criticized and ranked her as one of the worst ''Resident Evil'' creation. Commenting that "She’s defenseless and worthless and needs your help constantly."<ref>{{cite web |author=Liz Finnegan|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/8-of-the-most-hateable-video-game-characters/amp/ |title=8 of the Most Hateable Video Game Characters|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|date=March 4, 2016|access-date= June 2, 2022}} </ref> In 2017, Jessica Famularo of ''[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]'' ranked Ashley as 13th worst ''Resident Evil'' character. She criticized and said that "She's often written off for being helpless to an irritating degree. No one really wants her around, it would seem."<ref>{{cite web |author=Jessica Famularo|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/26090-resident-evil-best-characters/amp |title=A definitive ranking of 'Resident Evil' heroes|website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]|date=January 11, 2017|access-date= June 2, 2022}}</ref> In ''[[Tropes vs. Women in Video Games]]'', feminist media critic [[Anita Sarkeesian]] criticized and argued that Ashley is a [[damsel in distress]] who appears to be helpless, and that defending her caused players a lot of frustration.<ref>{{cite web |author=Chris Bratt|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/anita-sarkeesian-brings-tropes-vs-women-in-video-games-to-a-close |title=Anita Sarkeesian brings Tropes vs. Women in Video Games to a close|website=[[Eurogamer]]|date=April 28, 2017|access-date= June 9, 2022}}</ref> In 2022, Saim Cheeda of ''[[ScreenRant]]'' ranked her as one of the worst sidekicks in the ''Resident Evil'' franchise. She felt that "She provided little assistance in her role as Leon’s sidekick very late in the game, which doesn’t make up for all the effort put into preventing her death."<ref>{{cite web |author=Saim Cheeda|url=https://screenrant.com/resident-evil-worst-sidekicks-in-the-franchise/amp/ |title=10 Worst Sidekicks In The Franchise|website=[[ScreenRant]]|date=January 26, 2022|access-date= June 2, 2022}}</ref> Samara Summer of ''[[Gamepro]]'' wished that Ashley doesn't appear in the remake of ''Resident Evil 4'', claiming that she's the most annoying NPC ever. She further said that she "can't even let her out of my sight for a blink of an eye, because otherwise she'll get caught by cultists again and give me a game over or two. She can't fight, she can't free herself and she can't even look for a hiding place on her own. With her screaming she doesn't motivate me to help her either."<ref name="GamePro">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/re4-remake-freue-mich-nicht-auf-ashley,3381266.html|title=I'm really looking forward to the Resident Evil 4 Remake, with the exception of Ashley|author=Samara Summer|date=June 5, 2022|language=German|website=[[GamePro]]|access-date=June 5, 2022}}</ref> |
Toadette Geldof of ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'' described her as one of the lamest video game characters of all time, commenting that "She's so lame that she can't even really walk on her own, so you have to piggy-back her around and then set her back down any time you need to kill something."<ref name="Vice">{{cite web |author=Toadette Geldof|url=https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/vdn8jd/the-lamest-video-game-characters-of-all-time |title=The Lamest Video Game Characters of All Time|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|date=March 4, 2016|access-date= March 1, 2012}} </ref> In 2016, Liz Finnegan of ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]'' criticized and ranked her as one of the worst ''Resident Evil'' creation. Commenting that "She’s defenseless and worthless and needs your help constantly."<ref>{{cite web |author=Liz Finnegan|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/8-of-the-most-hateable-video-game-characters/amp/ |title=8 of the Most Hateable Video Game Characters|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|date=March 4, 2016|access-date= June 2, 2022}} </ref> In 2017, Jessica Famularo of ''[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]'' ranked Ashley as 13th worst ''Resident Evil'' character. She criticized and said that "She's often written off for being helpless to an irritating degree. No one really wants her around, it would seem."<ref>{{cite web |author=Jessica Famularo|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/26090-resident-evil-best-characters/amp |title=A definitive ranking of 'Resident Evil' heroes|website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]|date=January 11, 2017|access-date= June 2, 2022}}</ref> In ''[[Tropes vs. Women in Video Games]]'', feminist media critic [[Anita Sarkeesian]] criticized and argued that Ashley is a [[damsel in distress]] who appears to be helpless, and that defending her caused players a lot of frustration.<ref>{{cite web |author=Chris Bratt|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/anita-sarkeesian-brings-tropes-vs-women-in-video-games-to-a-close |title=Anita Sarkeesian brings Tropes vs. Women in Video Games to a close|website=[[Eurogamer]]|date=April 28, 2017|access-date= June 9, 2022}}</ref> In 2022, Saim Cheeda of ''[[ScreenRant]]'' ranked her as one of the worst sidekicks in the ''Resident Evil'' franchise. She felt that "She provided little assistance in her role as Leon’s sidekick very late in the game, which doesn’t make up for all the effort put into preventing her death."<ref>{{cite web |author=Saim Cheeda|url=https://screenrant.com/resident-evil-worst-sidekicks-in-the-franchise/amp/ |title=10 Worst Sidekicks In The Franchise|website=[[ScreenRant]]|date=January 26, 2022|access-date= June 2, 2022}}</ref> Samara Summer of ''[[Gamepro]]'' wished that Ashley doesn't appear in the remake of ''Resident Evil 4'', claiming that she's the most annoying NPC ever. She further said that she "can't even let her out of my sight for a blink of an eye, because otherwise she'll get caught by cultists again and give me a game over or two. She can't fight, she can't free herself and she can't even look for a hiding place on her own. With her screaming she doesn't motivate me to help her either."<ref name="GamePro">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/re4-remake-freue-mich-nicht-auf-ashley,3381266.html|title=I'm really looking forward to the Resident Evil 4 Remake, with the exception of Ashley|author=Samara Summer|date=June 5, 2022|language=German|website=[[GamePro]]|access-date=June 5, 2022}}</ref> |
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Ashley also received positive reviews from other critics. ''[[GameDaily]]'' listed Ashley Graham as part of its "Babe of the Week: Hottest Blondes" feature, adding that they would give her the "pain in the neck" award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-hottest-blondes/?page=6 |title=Gallery and Images | |
Ashley also received positive reviews from other critics. ''[[GameDaily]]'' listed Ashley Graham as part of its "Babe of the Week: Hottest Blondes" feature, adding that they would give her the "pain in the neck" award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-hottest-blondes/?page=6 |title=Gallery and Images |website=GameDaily |date=2009-01-16 |access-date=2010-07-07}}</ref> Hollander Cooper of ''GamesRadar'' included her in their "Top 7 Game characters you're wrong for hating", commenting that "she'd sometimes get attacked by a Los Plagas, but she usually gave you plenty of time to spin-kick the assailant before being dragged away. Plus, you could always tell her to hide in a box or a trashcan, and she always did so without a fight."<ref>{{cite web |author=Hollander Cooper|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/top-7-game-characters-youre-wrong-hating/ |title=Top 7 Game characters you're wrong for hating|website=GamesRadar|date=April 22, 2014|access-date=2010-07-07 }}</ref> Thilo Bayer of ''PC Games Hardware'' also included her among the 112 most important female characters in games.<ref>{{cite web |author=Thilo Bayer|url=https://www.pcgameshardware.de/Panorama-Thema-233992/News/PCGH-history-The-most-important-female-characters-in-games-112-women-inside-626856/galerie/754214/ |title=The most important female characters in games|website=PC Games Hardware|date=January 1, 2008|access-date=2010-07-07 }}</ref> David Craddock of ''[[Shacknews]]'' cited Ashley as one of his favorite video game companion, saying that "When you are saddled with her, she’s perfectly content to hide in a dumpster while you clear out enemies. If only all companions were so agreeable."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/109808/shack-chat-who-or-what-is-your-favorite-video-game-companion |title=Who (or what) is your favorite video game companion?|website=[[Shacknews]]|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=2010-07-07 }}</ref> |
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=== Analysis === |
=== Analysis === |
Revision as of 00:11, 10 June 2022
Ashley Graham | |
---|---|
Resident Evil character | |
First appearance | Resident Evil 4 (2005) |
Designed by | Yasuhisa Kawamura |
Voiced by | Carolyn Lawrence (Resident Evil 4)[1] |
Motion capture | Ella Freya (Resident Evil 4 remake)[2] |
Ashley Graham (アシュリー・グラハム, Ashurī Gurahamu) is a character in Resident Evil (Biohazard in Japan), a survival horror video game series created by Japanese company Capcom. She was first introduced as a deuteragonist in the 2005 video game Resident Evil 4, in which she is depicted the daughter of former US President Graham. She was briefly held captive by the Spanish cult Los Iluminados as a means of gaining control over the Presidency before being rescued by Leon.
Ashley was designed as a sidekick character, in which she gained mostly negative reviews from video game publications. She was described by the reviewers as one of the worst and most annoying character ever.
Concept and creation
Ashley is a currently unknown character referred to as "Girl" by the game designer, Yasuhisa Kawamura. "Girl" was the Resident Evil 4 second playable character, available in the "Castle," "Hallucination," and "Zombie" builds. She was supposed to be a test subject but, with the help of a B.O.W. dog taught to follow her orders, managed to escape the underground lab beneath Spencer's castle. After TGS 2002, the "Castle" game script by Kawamura and Noboru Sugimura was scrapped, with Kawamura going on to write a new script based on the same story. When Shinji Mikami took over as director in late 2003, this version was completely abandoned, and Girl became the first daughter and Leon S. Kennedy's sole goal. Meanwhile, Sugimura supplied the "Castle" build script.[3] Producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi said that Ashley's system is designed for Leon to protect her the whole game. He further said that she can be found only half of the game and that in some circumstances you'll have to split up and meet her again to protect her.[4] She is a supporting character who appears defenseless and can be hidden in a cabin or barrels.[5] She appears to be playable character in some part of the game.[4]
Carolyn Lawrence, who provided the voice for Ashley Graham, described her character as "vulnerable, because Leon has to come to her rescue all the time".[6] Ella Freya appears to be the face model of Ashley in the remake of Resident Evil 4.[2]
Appearances
Resident Evil 4
She is the newly-elected President's twenty-year-old daughter, kidnapped by Jack Krauser on her way home from Massachusetts and kept captive by the Los Illuminados in a European town.[7] Leon S. Kennedy's first goal in the game is to find out where she is and bring her back. After meeting her, it becomes clear that she has been implanted with a Plaga parasite in order for the cult to gain control of her before returning her to America.
The rest of the game is about Leon and Ashley trying to discover a solution to get rid of the parasites inside their bodies before they are taken over by Osmund Saddler. Leon and Ashley escaped the sinking island with a jet ski left by Ada Wong after Saddler was eliminated. Leon graciously declined Ashley's invitation to visit her at her home. Following that, they are both apprehended by US government agents and put into detention for debriefing.[8][9]
In June 2022, Ashley is also set to appear in the remake of Resident Evil 4 (2023).[10]
Reception
Ashley has received mostly negative reception. Several video game journalists cited her as one of the most annoying character.[11][12][13][14] Charlie Barratt of GamesRadar used her as an example of the "pure-hearted love interest", stating that this kind of character lacks personality.[15] In 2012, Toadette Geldof of Vice described her as one of the lamest video game characters of all time, commenting that "She's so lame that she can't even really walk on her own, so you have to piggy-back her around and then set her back down any time you need to kill something."[5] In 2016, Liz Finnegan of The Escapist criticized and ranked her as one of the worst Resident Evil creation. Commenting that "She’s defenseless and worthless and needs your help constantly."[16] In 2017, Jessica Famularo of Inverse ranked Ashley as 13th worst Resident Evil character. She criticized and said that "She's often written off for being helpless to an irritating degree. No one really wants her around, it would seem."[17] In Tropes vs. Women in Video Games, feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian criticized and argued that Ashley is a damsel in distress who appears to be helpless, and that defending her caused players a lot of frustration.[18] In 2022, Saim Cheeda of ScreenRant ranked her as one of the worst sidekicks in the Resident Evil franchise. She felt that "She provided little assistance in her role as Leon’s sidekick very late in the game, which doesn’t make up for all the effort put into preventing her death."[19] Samara Summer of Gamepro wished that Ashley doesn't appear in the remake of Resident Evil 4, claiming that she's the most annoying NPC ever. She further said that she "can't even let her out of my sight for a blink of an eye, because otherwise she'll get caught by cultists again and give me a game over or two. She can't fight, she can't free herself and she can't even look for a hiding place on her own. With her screaming she doesn't motivate me to help her either."[20]
Ashley also received positive reviews from other critics. GameDaily listed Ashley Graham as part of its "Babe of the Week: Hottest Blondes" feature, adding that they would give her the "pain in the neck" award.[21] Hollander Cooper of GamesRadar included her in their "Top 7 Game characters you're wrong for hating", commenting that "she'd sometimes get attacked by a Los Plagas, but she usually gave you plenty of time to spin-kick the assailant before being dragged away. Plus, you could always tell her to hide in a box or a trashcan, and she always did so without a fight."[22] Thilo Bayer of PC Games Hardware also included her among the 112 most important female characters in games.[23] David Craddock of Shacknews cited Ashley as one of his favorite video game companion, saying that "When you are saddled with her, she’s perfectly content to hide in a dumpster while you clear out enemies. If only all companions were so agreeable."[24]
Analysis
Andrei Nae of Immersion, Narrative, and Gender Crisis in Survival Horror Video Games said that Ashley fully embodies the gender role of damsel in distress with her plot "Leon, help me!".[25] Bernard Perron of The World of Scary Video Games: A Study in Videoludic Horror felt that some characters, like Ashley, have been eroticized in which she can swap her schoolgirl uniform into a white starlet costume that "highlights her breast".[26]
References
- ^ "Ashley Graham". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ a b Moyse, Chris (June 7, 2022). "Model identifies self as the face of Resident Evil 4 Remake's Ashley Graham". Destructoid. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Brenna Hillier (March 15, 2012). "Writer "ashamed" of Resident Evil 4 "Hook Man" experiment". VG247. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "E3 2004: Resident Evil 4 Interview". IGN. May 13, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
- ^ a b Toadette Geldof (March 4, 2016). "The Lamest Video Game Characters of All Time". Vice. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
- ^ Carle, Chris (August 2, 2005). "Babe Interview: Carolyn Lawrence". IGN. pp. 2–3. Archived from the original on November 22, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
- ^ Dan Birlew, "ashley graham", Resident Evil 4: Bradygames Signature Series Guide (Indianapolis: Pearson Education, 2006), 6.
- ^ Capcom Production Studio 4 (2005-10-25). Resident Evil 4 (PlayStation 2). Capcom.
Our Mission (File): "We must influence the minds of the people who advise the President. After this is done, the rest of the departments will quickly fall under our sway.."
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Casamassina, Matt (January 7, 2005). "IGN: Resident Evil 4 Review". IGN. Retrieved May 17, 2008.
- ^ Faulkner, Jason (June 3, 2022). "Resident Evil 4 Remake Changes: What's Different in the RE4 Remake". GameRevolution.
- ^ Mikel Reparaz (November 15, 2008). "The Top 7 Irritating female characters". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ Andy Kelly (May 13, 2015). "PC's most annoying characters". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Léon Othenin-Girard (March 1, 2017). "10 least likeable characters in video games". Cultured Vulture. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Kyle Lowe (July 24, 2013). "The Most Annoying Video Game Characters We've Had to Put Up With Over the Years". Complex. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Charlie Barratt (July 22, 2008). "The Top 7... Lazy Character Clichés". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ Liz Finnegan (March 4, 2016). "8 of the Most Hateable Video Game Characters". The Escapist. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Jessica Famularo (January 11, 2017). "A definitive ranking of 'Resident Evil' heroes". Inverse. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Chris Bratt (April 28, 2017). "Anita Sarkeesian brings Tropes vs. Women in Video Games to a close". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ Saim Cheeda (January 26, 2022). "10 Worst Sidekicks In The Franchise". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Samara Summer (June 5, 2022). "I'm really looking forward to the Resident Evil 4 Remake, with the exception of Ashley". GamePro (in German). Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ "Gallery and Images". GameDaily. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ Hollander Cooper (April 22, 2014). "Top 7 Game characters you're wrong for hating". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ Thilo Bayer (January 1, 2008). "The most important female characters in games". PC Games Hardware. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "Who (or what) is your favorite video game companion?". Shacknews. February 8, 2019. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ Nae, Andrei. Immersion, Narrative, and Gender Crisis in Survival Horror Video Games. Games & Activities. p. 156.
- ^ Perron, Bernard (2018). The World of Scary Video Games: A Study in Videoludic Horror. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1501316197.