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[Seraphis Cain]

This is something I've been wondering about for a long time. Fighting games often have absolutely fantastic character design. But I've heard the argument made a few times that "character design is wasted on fighting games", because pro players look for a character with a style they like above all else, and character design is a secondary concern. In some ways, I can understand this argument. For instance, I play Paul Phoenix in Tekken. I don't like his character design at all, but I'm decent with him and I like the way he plays, so I use him. Conversely, I love Guy's character design in SSFIV, but I'm absolute shit with him so I don't use him. But at the same time, I sometimes wish that there were something like a beat 'em up or a musou game or a character action game that incorporated as diverse a cast of characters that SSFIV or Tekken has. Something where you could pick a character just because they look cool and still have a lot of fun with them. Something a bit less skill-intensive, I guess. Or at least, something non-competitive (since character action games are arguably just as skill-intensive as fighters).

Or to put it another way, would you play a fighter that was extremely deep and balanced, but had no character design whatsoever? Like, if all the characters were just different color variations of Dural from Virtua Fighter (or something similar to that)? How much does character design matter to you versus depth/balance/playability?

 

[thatsafakewebsitebro]

Guy's design sucks. All I need in this world is Cammy. Kreygasm.

 

[Sentenza]

Fighting games often have absolutely fantastic character design.

Can't say I ever noticed.

 

[Seraphis Cain]

Guy's design sucks. All I need in this world is Cammy. Kreygasm.

What can I say, I love Final Fight more than is probably healthy. :lol

 

[mishakoz]

It says a lot when the three most well-known characters of Mortal Kombat are 3 color variants of each other (scorpion, sub zero and reptile.)

 

[Glass Rebel]

If the character looks cool and I can pull off crazy moves by randomly mashing buttons, I'm good. I main Eddy Gordo btw.

On a serious note, character design is pretty important to me but I pay more attention to the overall art-direction and I don't look for specific archetypes. If I like a character's design I'm more inclined to try him out though.

 

[G-Fex]

Guy's design sucks. All I need in this world is Cammy. Kreygasm.

That's right.

 

[MrGummy]

Design is a big deal for me, but I'm not a pro player.

 

[Dereck]

My problem with character design arises when in a sequel to a fighting game a character looks completely different, so different that the explanation for this visual difference does not make sense.

 

[Mr.Wreckless]

Guy's design sucks. All I need in this world is Cammy. Kreygasm.

Whats wrong with a ninja rocking Jordan 1s?

 

[Tesseract]

i wanna say it doesn't but then i see aquapazza.and shame.

 

[CommandThrower]

Character design for me is super important for fighting games. Design is more than just aesthetic look, design is also the character moveset, character voice and dialogue, theme songs, and character personality. Not all fighting game characters nail every single one of those points, but those that do nail those certain design points or "traits", make for a good fighting game character.

As far as the competitive aspect goes, sometimes character loyalty can only get you so far. Folks who like Dan in Street Fighter are doomed to bad results, but sometimes that's just how it goes. Me, personally, I play a lot of characters that struggle in a competitive environment. Big grapplers rarely break Top 8 in major tournaments, but that to me doesn't matter. I live for those small moments that give you great satisfaction, like landing a command-throw with my favorite grapplers or that big combo that shaves off half the opponents' life.

I don't really adhere to the super competitive aspect of fighting games too much, so I say use whoever you like best, regardless of skill ceiling. If you're the type of player who fancies himself the next EVO superstar, then the unfortunate reality is that some characters just can't cut it unless you've put an obscene amount of work into them.

 

[MrCookiepants]

It matters. This chick is hella fun to play. But just look at her.

As long as the design isn't offensively bad like this, I'm not bothered.

 

[Keasar]

I usually pick the characters I think look the coolest and go for them, discovering their playstyle afterwards. Iron Tager in Blazblue, Dudley in Street Fighter, Brad Wong in Dead or Alive, Potemkin in Guilty Gear are examples of it. Usually though I aim for larger characters cause they commonly play slower but sturdier.

 

[BocoDragon]

This is why I'm bad at fighting games. I totally pick characters based on their style. I want to play as an angry schoolgirl goddamn it... I don't care what tier you say she's in!

 

[Bleep]

I've been playing fighting games since Street Fighter II hit arcades here in Australia and I have never used any character I didn't like the art design of as a main choice. That said, I also won't play as a character I dislike the gameplay design of even if I like their look and story. It's always a mix between the two, the gameplay design let's me sink my teeth into the game, learn the mechanics and improve how I play while the aesthetic design supports that and inspires me to stick with my choice.

To take one of your examples, I like the gameplay design of Paul Phoenix, but as a character he kinda comes across as a doofus to me so I don't really use him. It's fun to pick him and mess around trolling with death fist, but because of his look, voice and story I don't really want to stick with him as much as I do other characters. I often like dorky and silly characters, but Paul doesn't really stand out as either amusing or cool, so he comes off as bland to me. I like playing as grumpy old dudes with high execution and high damage, so in Tekken Heihachi is my go to character.

 

[Dash Kappei]

50% is the art's appeal (design, variety, animation etc,) and 50% the mechanics.
So yeah, it matters A TON to me and I won't get near a FG if the art is bland, while I might casually play a couple of games of Naruto or whatever just cause I enjoy the art.

This is why I'm bad at fighting games. I totally pick characters based on their style. I want to play as an angry schoolgirl goddamn it... I don't care what tier you say she's in!

Also this.

 

[LordJim]

Basic design may determine who I try out first, but I only stick with characters whose gameplay I find interesting.
Like, in last Blade 2, I started with Moriya, but ended up with Hibiki.
Or started with Necro in SF3 and ended up with Yang

 

[toddhunter]

It is a huge deal. If I like the character design? I'll tend to adjust to the mechanics for a while at least before moving on. This has in particular been a problem with Blazblue where the characters I somewhat like don't really click with me long term.

If I don't like the character design then I don't buy skullgirls.

 

[Seraphis Cain]

It is a huge deal. If I like the character design? I'll tend to adjust to the mechanics. If I don't like the character design then I don't buy skullgirls.

Ahahaha, ouch. :lol

 

[SolarPowered]

It won't stop me from trying a new game, but it would affect how long I'll stick with it. For example... I would most definitely play Darkstalkers or Guilty Gear way more than Arcana Heart 3 even though all three are good games.

 

[CosmicGroinPull]

Can't say I ever noticed.

Same here. Wat?

 

[Frostinferno]

Pretty important to me. I always pick my characters based on looks and personality and just adapt to whatever playstyle suits them. If a fighting game's cast doesn't appeal to me at all, I wouldn't bother with it in any serious capacity.

 

[Rhapsody]

Character design does matter to me to an extent. When I'm new to a fighter, I'll pick based on looks since most likely I'll have no idea how they play.
It also helps that I'm pretty comfortable with any style in fighters, so I'm able to adapt.

Most of my mains do end up being characters I choose from the start too. Rarely ever do I keep searching through each playstyle to find the right character.

 

[RockTurtle]

Character design is why i didn't buy skullgirls (that hair monster and hat monster look stupid!)

 

[LordJim]

Same here. Wat?

Indeed, no single good or interesting design the last 20 years from all the varied series developers like Capcom, Namco, SNK, Sega, Arcsys have put out.
Or from western developers like NRS or other smaller teams .
Or adaptations of comics, tv series or other videogames

 

[Freshmaker]

Usually it's not a huge factor for me though I avoid fan service games and tacky stuff like skull girls.

I mainly look for characters that don't demand tons of execution that have some good mix up potential.

 

[Shadow Ranger]

Initially, yeah. But it does boil down to who is fun to play. I use Fei in SFIV and we all know how simple his character design is.

 

[CosmicGroinPull]

Indeed, no single good or interesting design the last 20 years from all the varied series developers like Capcom, Namco, SNK, Sega, Arcsys have put out.
Or from western developers like NRS or other smaller teams .
Or adaptations of comics, tv series or other videogames

That's too few. I'm gonna need more.


(My only frame of reference is Tekken/SC/DOA/VF)

 

[IvorB]

Yes, character design is very important to me. If the character design is wack I just won't play that character no matter how nice the moves. I used to specialise in Tekken and when they introduced the new characters for Tekken 6 I wrote them off without even trialing their style because the designs were just so lame. This is part of the reason I quit Tekken. When they introduced Dragunov I thought his style looked interesting but the design really turned me off so I didn't bother with him.

DOA is another game with terrible character designs and I just won't play the poorly designed characters. Even in Virtua Fighter which I play now, some of the characters I only started playing with when I had customised them into something decent.

So, yeah, design is big for me. I like to kick a*s but I need to look good while doing it .

 

[Dereck]

I used to specialise in Tekken and when they introduced the new characters for Tekken 6 I wrote them off without even trialing their style because the designs were just so lame. This is part of the reason I quit Tekken.

Que?

 

[raven777]

When I pick my "main" character for a game, the first thing I consider is their design, not their fighting style or how good the character is. If I like the character design a lot, I will try to main him/her unless its like one of the worst tier in the game.

 

[IvorB]

Que?

Miguel, Zafina, Leo, the chick with the detachable head, Lars and most crucially Bob killed Tekken for me (in combination with other factors). And I used to be a Tekken diehard. It's pretty sad I know but such is life *sigh*.

 

[abstract alien]

None. How they animate and move matters a shit load though.

 

[Noisepurge]

i only play badass characters i think look, sound and move great
can't play with stupid looking characters.

Kazuya, Feng, Miguel in Tekken
Cammy, Alex in Street Fighter

 

[akachan ningen]

Miguel, Zafina, Leo, the chick with the detachable head, Lars and most crucially Bob killed Tekken for me (in combination with other factors). And I used to be a Tekken diehard. It's pretty sad I know but such is life *sigh*.

You're like that old man who complains, "Back in my day, we didn't have these weird fatsos and guys with capes. I liked it when it was like this..."

 

[danmaku]

Basic design may determine who I try out first, but I only stick with characters whose gameplay I find interesting.
Like, in last Blade 2, I started with Moriya, but ended up with Hibiki.
Or started with Necro in SF3 and ended up with Yang

This. If I try to play a character, it's because I like the way he/she looks and fights but I'll switch if don't like the gameplay style.

 

[VanillaCakeIsBurning]

Picking a character is half design, other half is how they actually play.

I like how games like Blazblue have a pretty diverse cast of characters in terms of both design and playstyle.

 

[Dereck]

Miguel, Zafina, Leo, the chick with the detachable head, Lars and most crucially Bob killed Tekken for me (in combination with other factors). And I used to be a Tekken diehard. It's pretty sad I know but such is life *sigh*.

OK

 

[Blackage]

Character design for fighting games is usually awesome, you fall in love with a character's look and you want to play that character.

Alternate costumes are sometimes hit and sometimes so far fucking miss I have no idea what the devs were thinking at the time of conception. x_x

 

[Prime crotch]

I like my characters with personality, I can abide with classic karatekas like Ryu and Akira but I want some flavour, be it voice or animation or looks.

 

[Zukuu]

The initial impact a character design has on me, often determines if I'm interested in said character or not. When a new FG comes out or I'm new to a series, the looks and style of a character let me pick him up / try him out. Only after, I've spent a good amount of hours with the game I check out other characters, if at all. That's not limited to FGs tho, I usually stick to a character or class after I've decided on one.

 

[PsionBolt]

Character design is about 90% of how I choose a character in every type of game. I almost absolutely refuse to ever play as someone whose design I don't like, full stop. The remaining 10% of leeway is enough that among the characters who look good-to-great, I'll choose whoever plays the best - but those who look average-to-terrible just never enter my consideration.
I've dismissed entire games based on artstyle. That sounds a bit sad, but I have way too many games to play already, so I have to thin the numbers somehow.

 

[IvorB]

You're like that old man who complains, "Back in my day, we didn't have these weird fatsos and guys with capes. I liked it when it was like this..."

Yes, I am exactly that guy . Tekken used to introduce such excellent characters with each new installment. Lei, Jun, Jin, Hwaorang, Xiouyu, Eddy, Marduk, Steve Fox, Feng Wei, Raven -> Lilly, Dragunov, Miguel, Zafina, Leo, Lars, Bob, detachable head lady. Something went very wrong after Tekken 5 as far as I can see. But I guess some people dig them so whatever. Tekken is for them now. I retired.

There is nothing that is okay about this:

 

[abstract alien]

I love Bob though. Even his name is awesome.

Bob.

 

[Zephyrus]

Guy's design sucks. All I need in this world is Cammy. Kreygasm.

leave.

OT: It means a lot to me. If the character looks cool I'll play him.

 

[IvorB]

I love Bob though. Even his name is awesome.

Bob.

I appreciate that it is a matter of taste but these are the types of characters I would expect to see in a Tekken game:

Iconic designs. They look great. Feng Wei only just came out in Tekken 5 and he was already classic.

This is just not on that level:

It's pretty poor. He looks like some random dude.

 

[abstract alien]

Feng is my second main. King is my first :^)

 

[Stone Ocean]

As long as the design is decent enough, I'm in. How a character plays is king, but I wouldn't use something like SF4's Rufus even though he's really fun to play.

 

[Schuhu]

I look at the character design first, then I exclude the charge characters (newest example: Leona in KoF xiii) and go on from there :x