When players completed the first Metroid within a certain time it was revealed that Samus Aran, the armoured hero they had been playing, was actually a woman. At the time of release it was extremely unusual to feature a woman in a lead video game role. Prior to the release of Metroid, the most high profile female game character was Ms PAC-Man. Jennifer Hale has voiced the character since 2002.

GWR Video Gamer’s Edition 2008, title: First human female video game star.