The one thing that annoys me most is that game developers often assume the only people that play their games are young, horny males who have never had a girlfriend and probably will never get one. Female characters, if present at all, are frequently given over-exaggerated "hot" bodies jammed into revealing and too-tight outfits.
Bioware is no exception, but to their credit they often made a joke out of it to mock their cheap pandering to a seventeen-year-old's erection and backed off on the whole boobies thing when it wasn't appropriate. For example, take ME1: it had an entire race of sexy babes, but Bioware was able to get away with this because they poked fun at the trope and also gave the asari an interesting culture and deep characters. There was only one case of extreme cleavage (Matriarch
And then came ME2. Suddenly, boobs, boobs everywhere (plus a few manly bits this go-round: check out Jacob and Thane. Specifically, check out Jacob's butt, which really is as bad as Miranda's save for it got less screen time). Now, I didn't complain too much because for the most part it fit the characters and again they mocked themselves for doing it (Miranda's buttshots and her encounter with a certain Eclipse commando). It only really got stupid when people started running around with naught but a breather mask, and at the very least all the characters were interesting enough as people that I was able to look past the cleavage. However, Tali's reduction into a "shrinking violet" type of character set off alarm bells in my head, and the presentation of all female characters in Genesis (the PS3 comic) would have made me punch Casey Hudson in the teeth had I not been able to transfer my blame to the Dark Horse team, who tend to kind of suck anyway. At least they didn't try to sex up FemShep apart from some really agressive flirting which I usually avoided or skipped over anyway. So again, Bioware got a pass. A very shaky pass, but at least it wasn't Soul Calibur or Dead or Alive.
But now, looking at the new information trickling in about ME3, I am beginning to suspect things are going to get worse (perhaps better for those of you who play alone and with one hand). I know we know next to nothing about ME3, but Ashley's new look (sans bun, bigger ******, and a tight body suit) plus their comment about Jack being softened and matured raised a few red flags. The PS3M article, which I shouldn't pay attention to because it was written by a bunch of very randy morons who didn't bother to do their homework, only made matters worse by reminding everyone how hot and sexy all the female characters are.
Listen, fellas: Jack and Ashley were cool because they didn't conform to the role of typical female lead. Now, I'm hopeful these two characters will retain their unique (albeit somewhat abrasive) personalities, but after Tali... I really don't know.
Yeah, I know I'm complaining too much. But honestly, one of the reasons I enjoy the Mass Effect series is that I can play it without feeling like the developers think I'm some sort of half-wit mouth-breather. I mean, seriously Bioware, you don't have to objectify your characters when your fans do it for you. Put what you do best--your characters--first, and save the energy wasted on over-abundant sex appeal for something more important.
And yeah, I know I probably shouldn't be worrying. I'm sure ME3 will be an awesome game, but nonetheless, consider me mildly concerned.
EDIT: Fixed a typo. Seriously, "Asley?" Boy oh boy, I don't even...
Modifié par AdmiralCheez, 22 avril 2011 - 04:10 .
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Thane's chest cleavage was also pretty off putting. The worst was the massive shot where Miranda's ass took over the whole screen. Kotor and ME1 didn't sex up the characters, but ME2 felt the need to. One of the few things I dissaproved of in the sequel.
