Smack Dab in the Middle

Middle Eastern video game characters are often ignored by the industry at large, so it seems fitting to start this list with an underrated character than nobody ever talks about. Arabian Nights is a late-era Super Famicom game that was released exclusively in Japan. The story revolves around a fire genie named Ifrit, who resides within a magical ring. When a young orphan girl named Shukran finds the ancient artifact, she learns that 999 wishes have already been granted in the previous century. Ifrit will only grant one more wish at this point, so Shukran asks for world peace! The genie cannot stray far from his ring, so he and Shukran travel the land together in an effort to restore Ifrit’s power and make her wish a reality. Shukran is naïve and inexperienced, but it’s hard not to be impressed by her selfless nature and unbridled optimism.

In 2017, King of Fighters fans in the Middle East were invited to design a new character. This contest ultimately led to the introduction of an extraordinary powerful woman named Najd. With her inclusion, the series had its first Saudi Arabian character and its first Saudi Arabian character designer. College student by day, crime fighter by night, Najd harbors a deep sense of justice and makes a point to dish out retribution and punishment. The so-called Vigilante Vixen favors the darkness, and she can somehow manipulate shadows to attack her opponents. Her shadow powers are apparently tied to her billowing abaya, and she’s presented as a guardian of justice cloaked in mystery. When she’s not fighting crime, Najd is likely reading Shonen manga or researching otherworldly beings. I guess you could say she’s well-rounded.

Salim is the dutiful leader of a Benduin tribe that lives in Saudi Arabia’s Rub’ al Khali desert. For generations, his tribe has been tasked with protecting a legendary city from the days of Solomon, known as Iram of the Pillars. After noticing an influx of western invaders, Salim is pulled into a conflict in an abandoned settlement. At this point, he befriends an American treasure hunter named Nathan Drake and joins forces with him. While on horseback, the two of them somehow eliminate a number of motorcycles, Jeeps, and supply trucks. Naturally, they find time to crack jokes while they systematically dismantle the convoy. Although Salim is wary of strangers, he proves to be an excellent judge of character. He could have left Nathan Drake to die in the desert, but he showers him with kindness and hospitality.

Zara Ghufran is a fierce Bedouin warrior who pushes back against the Ottomans after her village is destroyed by an armored train during the First World War. Fighting alongside T.E. Lawrence, the hot-tempered soldier embodies the spirit of the Arab Revolt. Zara has a rebellious streak, but she’s loyal to her cause. As Lawrence’s right-hand woman, Zara stands out as one of the most ambitious characters on this list. Lawrence of Arabia is one of the most profound historical epics ever captured on film, and I appreciate how Battlefield 1 was able to highlight the Middle Eastern perspective by focusing on dramatic desert warfare. Although her story involves a real conflict and real historical figures, Zara is obviously a work of fiction. Women generally didn’t have combat roles during the war, but that makes Zara seem even more intriguing.

Also known as the Desert Falcon, Shaheen is a former soldier, a personal bodyguard, and a private military specialist. He has been protecting dignitaries since childhood, and he is said to be unmatched in one-on-one combat. Shaheen uses his skills to protect others, and his acrobatic fighting style allows him to hold his own in pretty much any situation. The King of the Iron Fist Tournament pits him against robots, bears, and literal dinosaurs, so it’s fortunate that he’s so versatile. Shaheen looks fairly stereotypical with his checkered shemagh, and the fact that his best friend owns an oil company seems awfully cliched for a Saudia Arabian character. At the same time, he’s one of the most sociable fighters in the series. Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada asked for fan feedback while designing Shaheen, and that likely explains why he’s so down to earth.

By and large, the Punch-Out!! cast is defined by well-known cultural stereotypes. You have a Frenchman that can’t win a fight, an Indian guy who wears a turban in the ring, and a morbidly obese Polynesian dude. All things considered, Bald Bull got off easy. He’s basically just a typical Turkish strongman with muscles on top of muscles. He has all the grace of a raging bull, and his trademark Bull Charge uppercut can knock out opponents with a single blow. The reckless boxer likes to intimidate others, and his blind rage knows no bounds. On different occasions, Bald Bull has tossed referees out of the ring, thrown dumbbells into the crowd, and headbutted opponents in arm wrestling bouts. He’s not the strongest or most skilled boxer in Punch-Out!!, but no one in the series likes knocking out opponents more than Bald Bull.

Born in the wake of the Second Kurdish-Iraqi War, Sniper Wolf spent her youth hiding from the Iraqi regime. Her people received no help from the international community, but a legendary solider known as Big Boss rescued her from her harsh upbringing. Sniper Wolf soon found her calling as a lone marksman, and she could now watch war unfold from the outside rather than being in the middle of it. She’s remarkably calm under pressure, and can stay locked on a target for weeks without moving. It would be easy to write her off as cold-hearted and machine-like, but she’s surprisingly compassionate. She doesn’t like to kill women or children, for instance, and she has a soft spot for wolfdogs and nerds alike. As an aside, I’m rather fond of her tight outfits and the way she exposes her cleavage in the middle of the Arctic.

From its inception, Street Fighter has included a diverse roster from around the globe. Several characters were in contention for a spot on this list. We could have mentioned the Turkish oil wrestler, Hakan, or given more love to Menat and her hypnotic hips. Rashid could be considered the main protagonist of Street Fighter V, and no Middle Eastern character in the series has a brighter spotlight. The wealthy aristocrat travels the world with his butler and dazzles his opponent with an acrobatic fighting style. He can somehow manipulate the wind itself, and he has been known to accidentally blow away the camera on occasion. It’s not explicitly clear where Rashid hails from. His concept art show the Saudi flag, while his stage is set against the backdrop of the Dubai skyline. In either regard, he proudly represents the entire region.

Assassin’s Creed follows disgraced assassin Altaïr ibn-La’Ahad in his bid for redemption. While hunting down men who aim to prolong the Third Crusade, the Syrian master showcases his Parkour expertise and makes use of swords, knives, and retractable blades. He also has “Eagle Vision” at his disposal, which somehow allows him to perceive enemy intent. Although his iconic white robe initially speaks to his overconfidence and arrogance, it also paints him as someone who is willing to forge his own path rather than hiding in the shadows. His journey takes him from pride to wisdom, and the humbled assassin evolves from a rebellious youth into a legendary figure. As the first protagonist in the series, Altaïr established many of the core themes that defined Assassin’s Creed. Above all else, his adventure speaks to the necessity of discipline.

Born in 1989, Prince of Persia is a cinematic platformer that borrows heavily from One Thousand and One Nights. The eponymous Prince was introduced as an unnamed youth dodging spikes and guards in the Sultan’s dungeon, but he was recognized as royalty by the time the credits rolled. We saw him as an agile trickster, a sword-wielding savior, and the embodiment of the Arabian hero archetype. Ubisoft’s 2003 Sands of Time reboot introduced us to a new iteration of the Prince, whose repertoire now included wall running and time manipulation. The 2008 cel-shaded reboot introduced yet another “Prince,” swapping royalty for a roguish wanderer. Whether he’s an arrogant thief who yields to humility or a pragmatic folk hero who vaults fate itself, the Prince has a way of turning peril into poetry. He’s often rebooted, but eternally suave.