I can understand welcome other body types (refusing to use the word diverse), but excluding curvy isn't very inclusive(hate that word too) in itself. I honestly think this mind set is so dudes that think they are women don't feel inadequate. If they'll go as far as to put tampons in men's restrooms, they'll get rid of hips and boobs for them too.
Just say "variety". In these days of modern extreme politics taking over hobbies, "diverse" has become such a negatively loaded term (unfortunately) that I try avoid using it in places that have nothing to do with this culture war stuff but still wanting to describe a good mix of offering.
So "variety" it is.
Another example of that is Lara Croft. She was much more of a character in her earlier portrayal, despite being also built to be sexy (as sexy as a model could be using 3 polygons and half a texture anyway). She had a very clear personality, qualities and flaws, it was all very well realized and recognizable. Not to mention an iconic visual design.
Now cut to reboot Lara: a very sanitized character, with absolutely no recognizable traits to her personality or even visual design. Even her model could be replaced with a "Generic White Female #3" asset from the Unreal Store and not much would be lost in the process.
Man... Most developers need to start going back to the drawing board and learn how to do memorable character design again.
Classic Laura actually gave me slight Italian, Spanish or Greek vibes to me due to her tan, and it wasn't until a bit later I found out her original name was Laura Cruz. I think that's all rather interesting because it gave her classic design some exotic flair fitting her adventurous nature travelling around the world to find lost treasures and whatnot.
Also a bit interesting to me because in this modern age where radical far-left idpol ideas basically want to generalize white character designs to be the same one thing, Laura's design was unique and also showed that yes, you can have shades and tans among white people, too (this of course makes the whole "POC" stuff funny because IMO unless you're an Albino, everyone's a person of color technically speaking).
Anyway, 100% right about how diluted they made Laura's personality in the new ones. She was strong and fearless in the Core games, actually independent, smart & cunny, witty sense of humor and sexy on top of that. In the reboot and sequels to that she's like a meek little girl almost scared of her own shadow, has daddy issues, and was basically a victim the whole time. If you think about it the new games were completely
regressive to her as a woman and character rather than empowering like they thought they were being.
The new games played more into negative stereotypes about woman than the old games
ever did, and the old games also did a great job in making her badass without belittling men just to do so, or excusing any faults of female characters down to the "male gaze" and patriarchy nonsense. They also understood that you can have a sexy female who's still appreciated for things aside from just being sexy. The modern TR games didn't really nail that.
Thankfully it seems like they're going back to the classic design for the new one and hopefully her characterization matches the Core games as well.
