It may not have been needed, but it was there all the same.
Don't even get me started on X.
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Ludiscere - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Sexualisation: A Case Study
- Thread starter GamerJM
- Start date
Don't even get me started on X.
When Japan opened her borders to the digital age I was hoping for unseen gems in anime and videogames. But no. It was always about the titties
The designs are one of the best parts of the game. Loved many of the characters designs, Pyra, Mythra, Pneuma, Morag, Poppi QTπ and Bridhid.
Easy recommendation for this games, it's a must play on the Switch.
Some designs are hit and miss though.
Easy recommendation for this games, it's a must play on the Switch.
Some designs are hit and miss though.
So much subjectivity in this video presented as fact (see; whether a character is sexualizef and why).
Mostly that video gave me cringey flashbacks to how bad the dialogue and character design in this game were (and grinding out gacha boxes forever, not getting KOS-MOS).
Mostly that video gave me cringey flashbacks to how bad the dialogue and character design in this game were (and grinding out gacha boxes forever, not getting KOS-MOS).
This has been bouncing around my YouTube recommendations for a while but hadn't gotten around to watching it. Definitely the best and deepest take on the game's pervasive problems in this area. The fact of the matter is that the game would have been better, and sold better, if 90% of the instances of sexualization were turned down and I hope MS/Nintendo tread a more careful, inclusive path in the future
Sexualization is not an objective statement, there is no way that a character's appearance and the social constructs around it can be construed as absolute facts, as are most of the other statements in the video. It's an informed critique, which is an inherently subjective field. You might not find his argument compelling or valid, although I find that hard to believe given how extensively he cites it, but it is, by it's very nature a subjective take on a subjective matter
Great video that goes really in-depth with the analysis and uses lots of video evidence.
Sadly it also reminded me how bad the VA was in this game.
Sadly it also reminded me how bad the VA was in this game.
I watched the video some time ago, and it explains some obvious things in a too long video IMO.
It's interesting because the author love most characters in the game, like Poppi, Mòrag and Bhrigid while criticizing their outfits, the same I did when I played.
There's some disconnection between how some characters looks and their personality, specially with Pyra/Mythra, and yeah, some rare Blades have over-sexualized designs.
I understand that some people can be uncomfortable playing a game with this kind of characters, but if something was sure after watching the first 2 trailers for the game it was that Pyra and some other characters are over-sexualized, so it shouldn't surprise anyone.
I'd like to see more videos like this talking about other aspects from the game, but for some reason most people is fixated with some character desings que are only a small fraction of a big (and amazing) game.
It's interesting because the author love most characters in the game, like Poppi, Mòrag and Bhrigid while criticizing their outfits, the same I did when I played.
There's some disconnection between how some characters looks and their personality, specially with Pyra/Mythra, and yeah, some rare Blades have over-sexualized designs.
I understand that some people can be uncomfortable playing a game with this kind of characters, but if something was sure after watching the first 2 trailers for the game it was that Pyra and some other characters are over-sexualized, so it shouldn't surprise anyone.
I'd like to see more videos like this talking about other aspects from the game, but for some reason most people is fixated with some character desings que are only a small fraction of a big (and amazing) game.
The embarrassing and pathetic pandering to the soft porn audience (to say it nice, some characters seemed to address a pedophilic audience) in this game was distracting.
I don't mind if characters in games get sexy outfits (but I like an option to dress them otherwise). But in XC2 it was so dumb and obvious pandering to a "subculture". Like Pyra, the "shy little girl with melon titts", every dumb nerds dream, who never touched a real girl. Every scene with her was a laughable.
XC2 was my most anticipated Switch game, because I loved XC and XCX, but some things went so wrong with XC2 to a point I lost my faith in monolith. I am not looking forward to their next game.
I don't mind if characters in games get sexy outfits (but I like an option to dress them otherwise). But in XC2 it was so dumb and obvious pandering to a "subculture". Like Pyra, the "shy little girl with melon titts", every dumb nerds dream, who never touched a real girl. Every scene with her was a laughable.
XC2 was my most anticipated Switch game, because I loved XC and XCX, but some things went so wrong with XC2 to a point I lost my faith in monolith. I am not looking forward to their next game.
Watched the entire video. As someone who is still considering playing XC2 it left me extremely conflicted.
The sexualization in the female designs is blatant to the point of being repulsive, but then it turns out the writing and characterization is often quite interesting and self aware, even being critical of the overly sexual designs.
What are the chances of an optional patch that tones down the excessive physiques and covers them up?
The sexualization in the female designs is blatant to the point of being repulsive, but then it turns out the writing and characterization is often quite interesting and self aware, even being critical of the overly sexual designs.
What are the chances of an optional patch that tones down the excessive physiques and covers them up?
Member has been banned (3 days): thread whining, low-effort contribution.
With this epidemic of runts doing long boring videos with their ugly voices and weird accents will ever end?
Getting really tired of it.
Getting really tired of it.
This popped up on my recommendations as well, but I haven't had the chance to sit down and watch it. Hopefully I'll get the chance and can offer my thoughts on the video later.
Although I'm no mega fan of anime, I've watched plenty enough to build up some tolerance to overly sexualized female characters, but it's always disappointing. I wish Japan would move away from how they often treat and depict women in media. The world in general is behind, and Japan by no means is the worst, but I wish a country that produces so many entertainment products I loved didn't often make me cringe or be put off by things in them.
Although I'm no mega fan of anime, I've watched plenty enough to build up some tolerance to overly sexualized female characters, but it's always disappointing. I wish Japan would move away from how they often treat and depict women in media. The world in general is behind, and Japan by no means is the worst, but I wish a country that produces so many entertainment products I loved didn't often make me cringe or be put off by things in them.
I do agree some outfits needs more clothing. but baffled on people saying the breast needs altering even some calling her melon tits? is that how you people react when you see a person with large breast? is it wrong for someone to have overly large ones? i mean pyra's proportion isn't that impossible. and as for dahlia hers can be only achieve by using surgery but whats wrong with that? if the person choose to have it done... we don't have the right to judge or shame them
You can't really alter Pyra as such without altering a lot of the design itself.
When this is acceptable in Japan in 2018 it's no wonder 2010's Metroid: Other M was considered by its writer to be relatively progressive.
Almost zero. It's possible that some characters might be redesigned for the dlc, but I would not expect major modesty improvements if they do happen, and it is likely that those outfits would be limited to the DLC story content. The only likely thing is getting Pyra's shawl from chapter 2 as a selectable option.
This is one of the most dumb things I've ever read. Way to generalise. (unless you're being sarcastic, in which an /s goes a long way)
Shame. I wonder if Nintendo were perhaps too eager to get this out simultaneously globally.
The same chances as a patch that improves image quality, zero.
If Pyra is in Smash (which is probable) I can't see them changing the design tbh.
Corrin got some extra clothing to cover her thights, but Pyra is in another whole level.
Considering how Nintendo marketed the game showing Pyra at every chance (at the end of the day she is the MC of the game) I think that they're fine with the design and the marketing for the game is focused on anime fans and people who don't care that much about fanservice. They even released some japanese voiced trailers in the west.
Sick and tired that people want to censor all of this: if you don't like these games, just don't play it. It's that easy.
While you have ESRB/PEGI ratings to inform parents about what they're buying.
Does this necessarily ruin the game? for some people maybe but objectively no, Nier is a great game despite oversexualized characters.
On top of that i'd say that people are clearly overreacting here, the game is not as bad as other JRPGs like Catherine: there are no sex scenes, no rape,... it's just a couple of teenagers with big boobs, 4-5 oversexualized blades, and 2-3 cringy scenes.
Even the most popular anime like One Piece are worse than Xenoblade.
Takahashi (the creator of Xenoblade) recently said that he wants to do more of this, so...
While you have ESRB/PEGI ratings to inform parents about what they're buying.
Does this necessarily ruin the game? for some people maybe but objectively no, Nier is a great game despite oversexualized characters.
On top of that i'd say that people are clearly overreacting here, the game is not as bad as other JRPGs like Catherine: there are no sex scenes, no rape,... it's just a couple of teenagers with big boobs, 4-5 oversexualized blades, and 2-3 cringy scenes.
Even the most popular anime like One Piece are worse than Xenoblade.
Takahashi (the creator of Xenoblade) recently said that he wants to do more of this, so...
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Is it so hard to give the characters in an RPG optional wardrobes that suit other people's tastes?
Criticism isn't censorship. I doubt anyone here has a problem with sexuality or sexualized characters. The problem is how it's used and whether the character designs end up hurting the game's characters or story by undermining them. The video this topic is about puts forth a very convincing argument that most of the female cast's sexualized designs undermine how they're characterized and hurts the writing. If you disagree then that's fine, but try responding to the actual points put forth rather than resorting to whataboutism.
Incorrect use of the term censorship, check
Bringing up ESRB ratings when people are upset that the content is simply bad rather than obscene, check
Applying "objective" labels to inherently subjective game quality, check
Whataboutism, check
I suggest you watch the full video, much of his argument is specifically structured as a response to flippant comments like this
That's because she's one of the more predominant characters in the story and with more cutscene exposure. The worsts offenders are either optional characters that most people may not even see in their playthrough.
Nia is way worst in her second outfit, but that can be largely avoided if you maintain her original form and reducing so the exposure of that second oufit
I made my peace with it last June when we saw the E3 trailer. I didn't like it, I thought it was ridiculous, but at this point what is there left to say? Either you like it, or you don't but put up with it, or you don't play the game. We reached saturation on these arguments almost a year ago.
It is odd though that such a family oriented company as Nintendo didn't have issues with bringing this game unchanged to the west.
Way to completely miss the point.
While Catherine has its own problems, the complaints against Xenoblade do not work here. Catherine is game all about sexuality, it would be kinda weird to have a game all about sexuality without any sexual stuff (ironically, for a game all about sexual stuff it handles its character designs much more gracefully than Xenoblade 2 does).
Even Nier Automata deal with it better than XB2 does by having all its Fanservice in 2B (note: all while still using a better costume than XB2), not interrupt story heavy moments with pantyshots and still being honest about it.
Remember for the future: It's never, never just about having sexualized outfits. It's also about everything around it. There always is context.
Everything could have been toned down for sure, but in general I like the designs and were never particularly bothered during intense moments. At this point I probably have a high tolerance though. I still need to beat it though and im reminded constantly to do so by some people :p
The minor changes made to Tokyo Mirage Sessions caused such a shitstorm among the JRPG/anime crowd that I can see why they shied away from any here, especially if they wanted a quick localisation and global release date.
I see. It's a shame they couldn't add additional outfits after release at least.
My issue with Pyra was the fact her proportions and design do not go together. You could still keep the body type but maybe like have a costume that doesn't just... not work with it.
I haven't watched the video because I do actually want to finish XC2 at some point. I dropped it about chapter 4, but it was more to do with the game being super tropey and unoriginal and I just got bored. The bad designs of the Rex and Pyra didn't help either.
Mythra has the same body proportions. But her boobs don't stick out nearly as much because she has a good design? I know what I mean, I think.
I haven't watched the video because I do actually want to finish XC2 at some point. I dropped it about chapter 4, but it was more to do with the game being super tropey and unoriginal and I just got bored. The bad designs of the Rex and Pyra didn't help either.
Less than zero. The opposite happening is actually more likely.
Nia never came across as "child-like" to me in design, more just extremely short, although that might have been due to her english voice actor giving her an adult sounding voice. I didn't play through the game with the JP vocals so I don't know if she had a younger sounding counterpart.
Her transformation outfit is a bit ridiculous though, and does kind of ruin what was up until that point a relatively non-sexualized character.
Dahlia's...... "design" comes from the designer being a former eroge artist/animator. The person used to straight up draw porn, so I'm not entirely shocked that's what they ended up with. Still a bit much.
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What if i like the game and also thinks the oversexualization is ridiculous? Like, at the same time!
I love JRPGs, it's my favorite genre and Xenoblade stuff is top tier on it, but the fact i love a good adventure, gameplay structure and combat, doesn't mean i need to like embarassing designs in the same package.
I also love One Piece and also thinks this should be criticized in One Piece as well, no matter which "has more". I also love a lot of other anime/manga and lots of them needs to be criticized.
Catherine is pretty great design wise imo, i can't see the same problem in this game. But it deserves criticism for other stuff like the transphobic jokes against the redhead girl.
Saying that anime was better and less sexualized in the past is even more generalizing
Yeah, that was what I'm talking about. Her transformation outfit is just outright disgusting. I've had my suspicions since the beginning. Like even though she's so young, she already has that quite woman-like hips. And of course, it was all according to plan. They are going to expose them just like that.
I actually love her as a character and I like the English voice act, but too bad that they had to do that to her.
I've always been interested in this topic in relation to XB2 as it's one of the things that turned me off the game.
Will definitely watch later.
Will definitely watch later.
X had controversy because they censored the game in the West and remove the ability to change bust size minus Lin
Now X2 has controversy for being sexualized plus Nia.
I haven't played the new game yet but the only problem I see was the bunny girl.
Now X2 has controversy for being sexualized plus Nia.
I haven't played the new game yet but the only problem I see was the bunny girl.
Do you think both of those controversies were from the same group of people?
You can't please everyone at the same time, for sure.
But don't you think a role playing game should have options?
They shouldn't have hired hentai artists to do the character designs. Or at least they should have put some damned restrictions in place. I wish they hadn't rushed this out so fast...
They made the right move with X. Fuck anyone who complains that they can't put a 13 year old in a bikini that lets you know if she has any hair. Pandering to trash is never the right play.
Well, didn't take long for the brainwashed weeb defense force to come out in full.
They said literally the exact same about Bayonetta.