I just wanted to throw out that I'm severely offended by every male character in Gears of War, Army of Two, God of War, the movie 300, or any game in which a male's status is represented by his strength or ability to kill things. I resent the fact that gender stereotypes force me to aspire to be a specific role like that. It marginalizes all other aspects of being male, and the trope is sexist. I also am offended by the idea that as a male I have to want to dominate, conquer, and control things. [/tongue-in-cheek]
People get so wrapped around the axle about this kind of stuff. There DEFINITELY are situations where [race/gender/age] are distastefully portrayed. Sorry, but the little cars in Transformers 2 with the gold teeth and bling bling who stole things, couldn't speak well, and couldn't read was a racist portrayal of black people. A buck-toothed Asian farmer with a flat-brimmed hat who can't pronounce the letter L may not be 100% racist, but it's sure as shit demeaning and well beyond useful stereotyping.
But the trope of amplifying gender roles isn't just applicable to women - it goes both ways, and there's an argumentative fixation on this sort of stuff that just bothers me. If people are going to flip out over a chick wearing a bikini in a video game, they should also be flipping out about muscular, idiotic jocks that scratch their nuts and womanize for social kicks. I'm all for lightening the eff up.
To add to a list of non-NPC females that are strong-willed:
-The female lead from Heavy Rain. At one point, she kicks the ass of a bunch of burglars in her house and, I think, sticks a drill bit into a mad scientist.
-None of the females in FF6 have a damsel complex that I'm aware of (though Celes does get rescued once) and mostly proceed to kick ass.
-Elly from Xenogears repeatedly rescues Fei, if I remember correctly.
- Female lead from Secret of Mana - playable, with dialog, on a quest to save her boyfriend.
- The cast of FF X-2, who spend their lives searching for a boy, and tour as singers and have special powers that let them change into skimpy clothes...wait, nevermind.
Addendum: I hate the princess from ICO. I'm just throwing it out there. Her only job is to hold onto my hand and make squeaking noises, and she only does 50% of that well. God I hate her.