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[PJX]

It feels like majority of the characters in games these days are just... dull. They're either overly serious, broody, or feel like they're just going through the motions. Like where's the fun characters at? Where's the charm? Even Dante in DMC5, feels toned down and less alive. I miss characters who actually enjoy what they're doing—ones that brought energy, personality, and make the game fun just by existing. Now it's nothing but a bunch of stereotypical tropes filled with memes and woke garbage.

 

[Cakeboxer]

Shut the cuff up!

 

[PJX]

Shut the cuff up!

Damn. Who peed in your anal cavity this morning?

 

[Roberts]

I liked the characters in Avowed and they all seemed to like what they are doing in one way or another.

 

[winjer]

That's because characters are designed by committees made of consultants.
Not by talented artists and writers.

 

[Cakeboxer]

Damn. Who peed in your anal cavity this morning?

Someone didn't get the reference.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Like where's the fun characters at? Where's the charm?

Loved those lads in their respective games.

 

[Hudo]

I am mostly annoyed as hell by Marvel-writing and dialog. It's an immediate turn-off when characters/companions start dropping California-style quips at each other.

 

[PauloRoberto]

Generaly speaking, agreed.

 

[PJX]

Someone didn't get the reference.

I honestly didn't. So apologies if I misunderstood what you were saying.

 

[Pejo]

I am mostly annoyed as hell by Marvel-writing and dialog. It's an immediate turn-off when characters/companions start dropping California-style quips at each other.

Yea, I wonder which games OP is playing, because most of the bigger releases always have this Marvel-quip type writing where they take literally nothing seriously, and that's what I'm personally tired of.

 

[Cakeboxer]

I honestly didn't. So apologies if I misunderstood what you were saying.

No worries, it was risky and didn't pay off. It was a reference to a Forspoken thread with that name since you talked about dull characters and woke garbage.

 

[Branded]

All characters these days sound like they're under constant supervision by the HR department. Only approved quips allowed!

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

No way, just look at all the awesome protagonists we have been getting lately. Golden age of character design.

 

[PJX]

Maybe it's justthe writers that are bad or being forced by upper management to write these characters like that. Also I don't mind characters not taking anything serious, it's just that they're badly written or delivered horribly.

 

[TintoConCasera]

DonkeyPunchJr

Spoiler

 

[Bieren]

That's because characters are designed by committees made of consultants.
Not by talented artists and writers.

So much this. They have to be "safe" these days.

 

[lh032]

No way, just look at all the awesome protagonists we have been getting lately. Golden age of character design.

looks like a blueprint on "how to create a female protag"

 

[Toots]

If you are bored with fastfood, go eat in a nicer restaurant.
If you are bored with AAA design by committee, go play some indie games.

That being said, it seems that writers at big studios are getting dumber by the minute i'll give you that.

 

[Connificent]

 

[MayauMiao]

Every female character in Fallout 76.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

DonkeyPunchJr

Spoiler

Ahh I was only including main protagonists. There are plenty more to choose from!

 

[nemiroff]

When it comes to character design, I don't have strict demands per se, it's entirely contextual to the overall experience. As long as the design isn't politically shoehorned, I usually appreciate whatever the developer envisions as part of their artistic direction, especially when the experience itself is well-crafted.

F.ex. Kingdom Come 2's very realistic visual character design is lifted by strong dialogue, charismatic personalities, and the game's overall quality.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

 

[rodrigolfp]

After this dude every character is boring.

 

[GulfCoastZilla]

We are slowly scraping our way out of the politically approved characters. Whether that be looks, demeanor, attitude or perspective. Give the industry another 5 years to course correct out of the bs

 

[Humdinger]

Yeah, it's hard to find interesting characters in games. It always has been, because writing isn't a priority in most games, and videogame writers are often mediocre. Even the good ones are hamstrung by the limitations of the medium. There are exceptions, of course.

It's a shame, because a good character with good dialog can really make a big difference. I'm thinking of Yakuza, for example - without characters like Kiryu or Majima, it would've been half the game.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

We are slowly scraping our way out of the politically approved characters. Whether that be looks, demeanor, attitude or perspective. Give the industry another 5 years to course correct out of the bs

Has there even been any halfway decent male protagonist introduced this generation by a western developer? I'm struggling to think of any. Maybe Gustav + Verso from Clair Obscur but that's sort of a stretch.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

 

[Toots]

I imagine all these characters are heterosexual just to laugh at how castrated must be their respective husbands to accept staying with them.

 

[MakeMudosGreatAgain]

Yeah, mainly the users on video game forums.

 

[SpokkX]

Kratos in Ragnarok was a total disgrace

Was totally filed down for non offensiveness

 

[killatopak]

You should expand your gaming purchases outside of mainstream stuff.

Indies have plenty of great and novel way of presenting characters.

For example, try out No Skin. It's a fucking rabbit hole of lore and character development.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

 

[Parazels]

But I was told artists have a soul unlike the soulless AI!

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

You need good writers for that, something most videogame studios are lacking.

Very frustrating, because many people believe that creating a story or character using a template is actual writing, and it's not.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

But I was told artists have a soul unlike the soulless AI!

These aren't artists. They are human AIs, working by the same set of rules.

 

[Durin]

There are still plenty of games with good characters, it's just that they're not coming from AAA.

Millennial writing has infected some bigger studios to produce toned down characters, or the smarmy kind that can't express themselves outside hipster irony, references to older better things or passive-aggressive whining about the world.

 

[Lethal01]

They look decently cool though
Visual design wise I blame how much realism everything is going for,

Like these characters look super uninteresting,you gotta fight extra hard to not look generic when everything is realistic

 

[Facism]

Modern characters feel like self-inserts by people who think they're really interesting and deep in real life.

 

[Kacho]

I can't wait to see how relatable the main cast in Borderlands 4 are.

 

[Shubh_C63]

I am at a complete disconnect with 'modern audience' on relating to game characters.
They have always been a controllable husk for me.

Maybe Shephard and Geralt stood out. Most are bad because overall story, writing, pacing etc around them is bad.

 

[Magic Carpet]

I've been calling it the, "Grrrr, Drama, Drama" for many years now.
Where is the fun?

This is something my Daughter said one day while I was playing, Can't remember what I was playing but I remember her saying this and it stuck.

 

[Boralf]

This place is such a circlejerk sometimes.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

They look decently cool though
Visual design wise I blame how much realism everything is going for,

Like these characters look super uninteresting,you gotta fight extra hard to not look generic when everything is realistic

Yeah admittedly the Clair Obscur cast does not look interesting at all. Thankfully there is not even the slightest hint of "modern audience" sensibilities or quippy Marvel "humor" in the writing.

 

[Hawkeye2890]

All I've ever asked for is let me make my own character. Ala mass effect. Record two sets of voices and get out of the way.

 

[Abysse]

I'd much rather have a serious, normal-looking character than those clowns who posted as examples in the thread.

 

[saintjules]

Do silent Protagonists count?

 

[Sub_Level]

Just play older games. Unless you're unemployed there is more than a lifetime of older games to play.