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[Triggerhappytel]

Samus is 6'3" 198 pounds? WTF

She's very tall and is probably very toned and muscular. 198lbs is probably fairly accurate based on that. However, she's clearly not the small curvy meek woman seen so frequently in recent years.

 

[zoukka]

She's very tall and is probably very toned and muscular. 198lbs is probably fairly accurate based on that. However, she's clearly not the small curvy meek woman seen so frequently in recent years.

Well she's whatever she's being portraited as.

 

[spirity]

This thread is -really- giving my scroll wheel abuse. Great pictures all.

 

[spirity]

Got to be Ghosts and Goblins, right? The lance is unmistakable.

 

[Origami Superman]

Garrett from the Thief series. Hopefully I'm not the first person to post this!

 

[dstarMDA]

Serves the gameplay design immensely, gives two main characters to allow glorious interactions (Kazooie being the hilarious bad cop), and yet very iconic and instantly understandable.

 

[Mista Koo]

I don't like throwing terms like best, but I choose Ryu:

Super simple yet awesome and iconic. Sure the other characters are more colorful and interesting but he will always be the Street Fighter.
While DK's tie is great for his design it's not very recognizable. On the other hand throw the red head band on a worm, a pink puffball or even a punching bag and the reference isn't lost.

 

[edeo]

Eh, I really dislike the modern DK compared to the brick-toothed DK of the arcade.

Megaman X by far is my favorite.

Kefka is an iconic villain.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

It doesn't get more simple, effective and emblematic of the industry than this, really.

Yep, Mario for this reason.
All the Mario cast really, work as iconinc as Mickey and pals, and thats its extremely difficult to accomplish in character design.

 

[bLaiSe]

Raziel

Helghast soldiers in KZ: SF

 

[spirity]

It doesn't get more simple, effective and emblematic of the industry than this, really.

Pac Man's design is even simpler than Mario's. It would be interesting to see a poll of non-gamers asking which one they recognised.

 

[DistortionOfReality]

Plenty in here I love, but because I haven't seen these cheeky fuckers mentioned yet;

The cartooney vibe, the lombax ears, and clanks's ethereally green eyes (and the heli-pack!) brilliant
EDIT: Also Dr Nefarious for that green clockwork head

 

[Red Arremer]

Got to be Ghosts and Goblins, right? The lance is unmistakable.

Yes, that is indeed Sir Arthur from the GnG series.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

Pac Man's design is even simpler than Mario's. It would be interesting to see a poll of non-gamers asking which one they recognised.

Yeah, PacMan's design is also really great.

 

[MoogleWizard]

OOT Link:

Balthier:

Solaire of Astora:

Richter Belmont:

Fang:

Vivi:

 

[spirity]

Ahh, Vivi. So awesome.

It really would be a fine thing indeed if there was ever a hardcover art book that had all these characters in it, with maybe interviews from the artists. Has there been such a thing, and if not, why not?

 

[Elvick]

Terra Branford

She's perfect. I don't think Nomura's rework is quite as elegant for her human form, but I don't mind it much. And I don't think his Esper redesign looks anywhere near as amazing as Amano's vision. Looks more feral in Amano's art. Nomura didn't do justice to her Esper form at all.

*sigh* Such a shame. Would love to see FFVI fully remade, or at least see SE do some 'fanservice' CG. One of which being Terra transforming for the first time into her Esper form. <3 <3 Would love to see a game with Amano art actually represented in it's in-game graphics.

 

[NHarmonic.]

- Fang -

Fang is so awesome, one of the best characters out of the XIII Universe.

 

[Boogybro]

Fang is so awesome, one of the best characters out of the XIII Universe.

THE best character in that universe.

 

[Host Samurai]

Say what you want about the game, but Boogerman is an excellently designed character. Designed like an out of shape superhero that smells like crap and farts all day. Dirty and ripped up attire and all. Looks like he came straight out of a garbage can which is perfect for the character

 

[Raijinken]

.

 

[Htown]

Samus has already been posted, so I'm just going to put her here in her Light Suit.

 

[michaelx]

Helghast for sure

 

[Annubis]

Adam Jensen (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)

- Aegis (Persona 3)
- Jehuty & Anubis (Zone of the Enders 2)

Good choices.

Vic Viper from the Gradius series.

What about ZoE2 Vic Viper? That transformation is just magical.

Here's some others I like:

Shining Force 2 - master monks (any)
I really like the design of the Master Monks from Shining Force 2. It's even funnier to see Sarah, the bookworm cleric transform into a kickass monk.

Valkyrie Profile - Lenneth Valkyrie
Look at those hovering shields! Why do people always forget to draw those?

Xenosaga 1 - Shion
I love how Shion in xenosaga 1 is completely mundane. They didn't exaggerate her design and kept it clean and simple. Since she is a 'normal' person, it fits really well.
I really loathe the fact that they sexualized her every game after.

Tales of Vesperia - Yuri Lowell
Look how smug that guy is. He radiates self-confidence. Smuggest character ever.

 

[Train of Midnight]

Man, tons of great designs in this thread.

My favorite will always be Alucard from SOTN.

But some others that came to mind:
Millenia from Grandia II

You might be thinking "hurr hurr, nice boobs", but I mean, she was the embodiment of a piece of the devil. Makes sense that she's a bit seductive.

Anima from FFX

While the design is fucking awesome, it's even better knowing that this Aeon is Seymour's

Spoiler

mother

 

[TekGryphon]

Japanese RPGs before the men became effeminate cry babies wielding 10 foot long swords and the girls became one dimensional sex toys.

 

[Crimsonsky]

Now that's a power suit.

I also have to give it to Samus, they really nailed the iconic look there and only make slight improvements when technology allows.

 

[Ikon]

Previous poster just put up a bunch of KZ characters so I'll just note that I think they're all badass but I think that the Helghast sniper design is the best of the bunch.

 

[robotzombie]

damnit!

I'll redo this later...

But until then, Tsuchibayashi Makoto, Sengoku Basara, etc. etc.

 

[Nymphae]

I really enjoy Auron's character design from FFX

 

[R0ckman]

Love the design and color. Concept is what drew me to this character.

 

[Stone Ocean]

So many to pick from, but off the top of my head I'd go with Ulala

Kaneko's finest work IMO.

 

[Alienous]

I find myself partial to Old Snake (MGS4).

Not many soldiers get to look as old as he has

Spoiler

accelerated aging or otherwise

 

[Mr Swine]

The one and only:

 

[Sojgat]

Raziel - Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

 

[HolyBaikal]

It took me a lot of time thinking about it, but I finally decided.

Agria the Shadowless - Tales of Xillia

Spoiler

It's a good thing they brought the best Chimeriad back for Tales of Xillia 2.

Possibly not my one favourite, but I had to choose, and I like Agria a lot.

Some other designs I find appealing:

Hibachi - DoDonPachi

Jill - Drill Dozer

Raspberyl - Disgaea

Patty Fleur - Tales of Vesperia

I think you may notice a trend.

 

[Race to be King]

Deus Ex: Human Revolution has some great character designs, but I particularly like what they did with Eliza. The flower on her head is weird, but very distinctive and it works, and the purple really makes her stand out from the rest of the game's palette, which is basically yellow.

 

[Eksmannnn]

This and also followed by..

 

[MyWhiteRequiem]

I really hate the guy, but:

Incredibly badass design. It even makes me play him from time to time in spite of my hatred of all things Sol.

 

[MrJTeera]

As for the horror side

 

[danmaku]

Japanese RPGs before the men became effeminate cry babies wielding 10 foot long swords and the girls became one dimensional sex toys.

This style looks familiar... is this from the same artist? (and who is he/she?)

 

[Lord Scrambles]

Stukov from SC2

Combination of Junpei and Tresmegistus from Persona 3

Samara from Mass Effect

 

[Portugeezer]

 

[cart00nero]

wohoho man, DAT head!

 

[revthejedi]

Ryu is just the epitome of bad ass. I was very surprised to see he wasn't named in the first few pages.

WW Link was very well done, he embodies the slightly mischievous persona I always figured child Link had.

Probably my favorite story in gaming, his character design is top notch.

I love practically all of the designs in Mass Effect, Legion is my favorite though.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Black knights from dark souls

really iconic design

 

[Polioliolio]

In this thread:

Every game character ever.

 

[Kopite]

\

More recently, Joel from TLOU. Mostly because of dat beard.