The sad part is, Ciri’s shoes here actually look wearable compared to way too many designs we’ve seen.

Most designers not only put female warriors in high heels inappropriate for the character’s activities. They also create footwear that ignores how feet work and would require them to be broken or liquefied… because body horror is sexy?

The ubiquity of “women’s feet = high heels” thing is quite scary. Awkwardly arched, nearly vertical “Barbie” foot shape is so prevalent in portrayals of women that there’s a generation of artists who apparently think that’s how female anatomy works.

It still amuses me that parodies of Samus Smash Bros “jet boots” understand that a heel this high needs thick platform under the ball of the foot, while the original barely had any sole in front part of the shoe.

~Ozzie

Personally I love this bizarre tendency for people who are are emotionally attached to having high heels in games insist that there’s a scientific reason for Samus and other women having high heels.

Like, high heels have these great and obvious martial applications – but literally no military or martial art has ever chosen to employ them… because it would be unfair to the enemy?

– wincenworks

more about why high heels on action heroines break the suspension of disbelief in fiction | general high heels tag on BABD