Tell that to NetherRealm. I guess I should have been clearer, & they started to clean up their act in MKX, but it's all lantern jaw faces, ripped straight from male characters, in Injustice 1 & MK9. The only noticeable exception's Mileena, who has a Get Out of Jail Free card since the lower half of a Tarkartan skull is just teeth. ... And even then, they gave her regular human lips in MKX (Granted, this is because they were pushing the "cinematic" route with X & her dialogue would have made it clearer she has been talking without lips since 1993).
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Worst Female Character Design in Gaming?
- Thread starter DiipuSurotu
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Tell that to NetherRealm. I guess I should have been clearer, & they started to clean up their act in MKX, but it's all lantern jaw faces, ripped straight from male characters, in Injustice 1 & MK9. The only noticeable exception's Mileena, who has a Get Out of Jail Free card since the lower half of a Tarkartan skull is just teeth. ... And even then, they gave her regular human lips in MKX (Granted, this is because they were pushing the "cinematic" route with X & her dialogue would have made it clearer she has been talking without lips since 1993).
poodaddy
Member
You seem like an interesting person. The bolded states a great deal about you.
And GamerGate was just about journalistic integrity, right?
'Women don't need SJWs to defend them;' I'm not defending anyone, man, I'm just stating my opinion. Sorry that riles you up so much.
I cannot begin to fathom how the 'conversation is biased from the other side as well.' Far more female characters are designed from a 'male gaze' perspective than male characters are from a 'female gaze'.
'Video games are for entertainment, let people be entertained by what they like to be entertained by. ' Ok, so we should just let the racist and sexist entertainment that has plagued the world for centuries get a pass because some people are entertained by it? America has a long history of embedding racial and gender discrimination into it's entertainment -- but that's all cool, right? As long as people are having fun.
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Maybe not sexist but if you look to the characters, there's a line you can see, females characters are all sexy and all the guys are power fantasies, speaking about DC
That's your consideration though, Nier Automata got instant fame because the butt of 2B and it became pretty popular.
Does it means that there should be no sexy stuff or sexy characters in games? Nah, there should be but the problem is then they are portrayed as just enablers of sexual inuendos, or sexual/comedy interactions.
I do like Vanillaware and Nier, but I also adress this "problems" to the general public
I was about to say that doesn't look too bad... Then I saw the art for other characters in the game and realized she's supposed to look child-like.
The protagonist of the new The Witch and The Hundred Knight is... I don't know
Ew.
A good example of why context matters for character design.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Except they're not really. It seems to be your own projections really.
And it is a game that talks about the way desires play in between relationships in a pretty serious way. Both emotional and physical.
moustascheman
Member
Lorithia - Xenoblade Chronicles.
She sticks out like a sore thumb when compared to the designs of all the high entia and basically any other character in the game.
Ves - Witcher 2/3
The ripped shirt is what completely destroys an otherwise decent design. It looks ridiculous when Ves runs into battle wearing this, especially considering how armored everyone else is. It's made even worse by the fact that there's quite good designs in Witcher 2 and 3 (Saskia, Triss, Sile, Yen). It's really disappointing that CDPR didn't improve her design at all in Witcher 3.
She sticks out like a sore thumb when compared to the designs of all the high entia and basically any other character in the game.
Ves - Witcher 2/3
The ripped shirt is what completely destroys an otherwise decent design. It looks ridiculous when Ves runs into battle wearing this, especially considering how armored everyone else is. It's made even worse by the fact that there's quite good designs in Witcher 2 and 3 (Saskia, Triss, Sile, Yen). It's really disappointing that CDPR didn't improve her design at all in Witcher 3.
DC? I'm confused, are we speaking in general now, or still about the game
Yeah if you ignore the Elf. And the Dwarf is most definitely not a regular power fantasy male design, he is bulky and stylized to a point of being grotesque.
EXACTLY. The concept of the character is actually pretty charming! but the difference between characters is just abyssmal.
Take a look to the OG protagonist, Metallia, she is more in the tone of the rest of the characters
I'm sorry, DC as in Dragon's Crown
The Elf I think a friend pointed me out that would be lolicon but I'm not sure so just let's make an exception.
If you look further most of the characters designs in the game are sexualised, for example the store keeper, the fairy, the siren... Not that they are WRONG the way they are but they could be pointed as problematic and I will agree, that's it.
shadowstar
Member
[QUOTE="D";242785219]I'm gonna go out on a limb and say most of them, ESPECIALLY in JRPG or Asian-inspired games. I feel like overly exposed or unnecessarily busty female characters with tit armor or whatever else stupid shit...I just can't take them seriously.
I feel like they just there for eye candy mostly while their ACTUAL reason for being there is secondary. I like more grounded, realistic designs...it always seems to me these types have much more personality than the half nekkid barbies we see all too often. Some of my favorites include:
Lenneth Valkyrie
[/QUOTE]
It's a good thing I read your post, because I would've been so triggered if you included Lenneth as part of the bad examples.
The Makoto guy however...
I feel like they just there for eye candy mostly while their ACTUAL reason for being there is secondary. I like more grounded, realistic designs...it always seems to me these types have much more personality than the half nekkid barbies we see all too often. Some of my favorites include:
Lenneth Valkyrie
[/QUOTE]
It's a good thing I read your post, because I would've been so triggered if you included Lenneth as part of the bad examples.
The Makoto guy however...
poodaddy
Member
Oh wow, using SJW unironically huh? My suspicions are confirmed at this point.
Dr_Boris_Goltz
Banned
Literally just popped into my view while playing HotS.
wat
Out of the entire thread this is the worst. I hate the Heroes of the Storm artstyle.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
You don't think this is designed straight out of the handbook of how to design to female otakus?
Also i don't know how you see 9s as a power fantasy.
Ah, ok. If it was technical, i.e. not creating unique models, that's definitely a different story.
Bruh I ain't Lionel Messi I can't keep up with that shit
SolidSnakex
Member
Sure, but i'd argue that in order for it to achieve that iconic nature then enough people have to actually find it appealing in the first place. In the case of Lara, it's not like there was some shortage of sexy female characters back then. But there was something specific about her design that clicked with people. So much so that it's the design that Square leans on to represent Lara.
Mobile Suit Gooch
Grundle: The Awakening
Nobody seemed to mind, especially those who actually bought the game.
This thread exists to "counter" the other one. And I noticed a lot these designs are from Japanese games, I wonder why... (I know I posted one but that's besides the point)
LordKasual
Banned
Sexualized doesn't mean bad
Or maybe it does, to you, but all that means is that your taste is conservative when it comes to fantasy
Disclaimer, when reading this, please don't think of Anime, because in that case i'll probably agree that it's really bad
Or maybe it does, to you, but all that means is that your taste is conservative when it comes to fantasy
Disclaimer, when reading this, please don't think of Anime, because in that case i'll probably agree that it's really bad
Knuckle Sandwich
Member
I dunno about worst but I don't like what they did to Cortana or EDI in Mass Effect.
that alt costume is terrible, her normal one is fine though
malboroking
Banned
"Nothing wrong with video games making girls sexy, what's wrong with a little sexuality in the female characters? Also, it's really troubling how girls are dressing like sluts nowadays, very disrespectful. Also you're all SJW cucks if your offended by female video game characters."
Those games were extremely popular, and that design has become synonymous with that popularity. So, I'd agree with you that 90s Lara's attire is 'iconic,' but I think the idea that a skin tight tube top and short shorts can be iconic says more about the audience being considered than the design by itself.
Ves - Witcher 2/3
The ripped shirt is what completely destroys an otherwise decent design. It looks ridiculous when Ves runs into battle wearing this, especially considering how armored everyone else is. It's made even worse by the fact that there's quite good designs in Witcher 2 and 3 (Saskia, Triss, Sile, Yen). It's really disappointing that CDPR didn't improve her design at all in Witcher 3.
Even more strange, Roche comments on Ves' lack of armor when running into battle in TW3. The game acknowledges its own silly design and yet, there it is.
Nier: Automata got popular because it was a damn good game, not solely because of 2B's shapely ass.
I agree, but unlike most games Nier: Automata doesn't use its sexualization for comedy or basic ass interactions. A significant aspect of 9S's relationship with 2B is tinged with sexual tension.
The unhealthy kind.
Alpha Centauri
Member
Literally just popped into my view while playing HotS.
wat
I hate chromie. her model is hideous, her outfits are hideous, and I hate when my teammates pick her
Yeah EDI felt like someone at EA was like 'how can we sex up every single female character in the game...even the AI?!?!'
hanspampel
Banned
Seems like naked and good looking is the new bad, lol
You don't think this is designed straight out of the handbook of how to design to female otakus?
Also i don't know how you see 9s as a power fantasy.
I could see that, but I also see the other example, more clear than this one, and I was talking about Dragon's Crown!
Basketball
Member
To sum up
Showing skin or form fitting = bad
around here
Showing skin or form fitting = bad
around here
Realism isn't always good design and can be boring. Style is always more interesting. That's why superman and batman are so popular. There's no justification for capes or pointy ears but they're interesting to look at and make the characters memorable. If batman just had a facemask and bullet proof vest he'd be a really boring character.
You don't think this is designed straight out of the handbook of how to design to female otakus?
Also i don't know how you see 9s as a power fantasy.
Yeah 9S is totally the "little pet boyfriend" archetype. (A little like Krillin is to Android 18 only a much sexier design.) The boyshorts really drive it home.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Ah sorry about that. Too many thread trees to follow.
It is a good game, it got also pretty popular even with non gamers for both the ost and the ass, at least, from my experience with the game.
Don't even worry, you made a very good and valid point though!
Not inherently, but if every single female character is sexualized then it definitely strips them of their agency and defines female characters by how men view them and not on their own merits.
(And yes, I know that not every female character is sexualized. Just a lot.)
Rickenslacker
Banned
That's an unusually aggressive response.
There are a ton of Monster Hunter armors I could throw here. Zinogre armor is especially bad. Just a clusterfuck of gaudy detail and impractical revealing areas.
Ironically, the most famous skimpy armor, Kirin, is equal opportunity fanservice for both the guys and gals. It also looks better than shit like the Zinogre armor because at least it makes no pretenses about looking like armor.
Ironically, the most famous skimpy armor, Kirin, is equal opportunity fanservice for both the guys and gals. It also looks better than shit like the Zinogre armor because at least it makes no pretenses about looking like armor.
uncredited male
Member
The best part is after he chastises her for not having at least the undershirt tied together she sports the same look when he brings her along for a later fight.
This, it also a disgrace considering that her SOTN depiction is so greatQuiet looks fucking awesome. Kind of a lame character though.
Any who, Maria from Castlevania Judgment is so real shit.
I mean seriously how do you fuck up such a great design?
Crossing Eden
Hello, my name is Yves Guillemot, Vivendi S.A.'s Employee of the Month!
And yet that's undermined by egregious character art and designs as well as the ability to self destruct in order to destroy your skirt. It's almost like this medium has a history of games that even tho they try to have a good message they undermine it with ridiculous character design. Hmmm.
Jimnymebob
Member
My problem with reboot Lara is that she's too plain. Like, I think the isometric games got the balance between her classic design but not as overly sexualised more on the right tracks.
Reboot Lara just looks like if Guile on SF6 was the Van Damme look. It's not bad, it's just a less visually interesting look than the classic one.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Nier automata also like to play around with gender in either case. Like how the 2 sexy brothers are named adam and Eve, and Pascal being referred to as uncle despite using a female va.
Ves - Witcher 2/3
The ripped shirt is what completely destroys an otherwise decent design. It looks ridiculous when Ves runs into battle wearing this, especially considering how armored everyone else is. It's made even worse by the fact that there's quite good designs in Witcher 2 and 3 (Saskia, Triss, Sile, Yen). It's really disappointing that CDPR didn't improve her design at all in Witcher 3.
As I said in another thread today, I find the Ves situation pretty funny. There are characters in both the games she appears in that actually comment on the inappropriateness of her outfit, and she even responds. It almost feels like they wanted to say something more about the matter (who knows, maybe even have her be a satire of certain gamey outfits) but something got cut during the development of the games.
I never really went along with this. Sexiness can be an expression of women's interactions with men, but it doesn't necessarily rob them of agency unless it's a character who's personality is that she doesn't have agency and is weak willed. Characters have multiple fascets to their personalities and sexuality can absolutely be a good and solid part of any strong man or woman. It just depends on what is being said and communicated, and what the character as a whole amounts to. Saying sexualized characters are removed of agency and dont have merit of their own feels like wires are being crossed. A doesn't exactly connect to C or D here and it feels like some wide nets are being cast.
Depends on the design. Like something like Twintelle, you'd be very hard-pressed to find something to complain about, as it's very tasteful imo.
Something like this on the other hand, not so much:
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