The Doctor's Assistant

Some of my favorite characters aren't always the star of the show.  Some of them play a supporting role, but are important nonetheless.  Without this next character's intervention, Dr. Freeman's trip through City 17 would have been a lot more difficult.

Alyx Vance

Not all my favorite female characters are of the super tough variety.  Alyx often shows her emotions and seems very vulnerable at times.  She is an important part of the resistance against the Combine, but doesn't seem like a hardened soldier.  You get the idea that she spent much of her childhood alone and dealt with the loss of her mother and the fact that her father is very much a part of the ongoing rebellion against the Combine invaders.  One of my favorite parts of Half-Life 2 is when Alyx introduces you to D0G.  You get a clear picture of a lonely little girl whose father designed her this robotic playmate.

Like her father, Eli Vance, Alyx is very gifted.  She excels at overriding the Combine defenses and hacking into their systems.  She also has some combat skills and will fight alongside Dr. Freeman at certain points.  Unlike a lot of other female video game characters, Alyx isn't necessarily one that would be considered "sexy."  Sure she's attractive, but not in the general oversexualized way in which female characters are often depicted.  Alyx is very sweet and appears to have a sort of crush on Gordon even though he's one of her father's friends.

Half-Life 2 is a classic and Alyx Vance belongs on a list of great female characters.  She's brilliant and sweet and the perfect companion to help guide Gordon Freeman through the many obstacles in City 17.

(It saddens me that modders have added content to make Alyx a "sexier" character.  I think it really detracts from how her character is depicted in the game.)