What Happened to the Female Characters?

[PrinceCold]

It sure has changed a lot from DW 2 when I first played and Empires 4 when I stopped playing. When did this start happening?

Now its all breast implats and scantilyclad women, but don't get me wrong I'm not complaining or anything I just found it odd from the last few DWs I've played.

[Gaz]

Actually it all started when Koei merged with Tecmo, and since then the devs have been receiving character designs from the folks from that made Dead or Alive, a franchise famous for at least two things. This was at a time when DW7 started development and for those that recall DW6 was a disappointment, so changes - changes that feel and look new - had to be done.

Hence in DW7 a lot of midriff and skin-tight leotards (on both boys and girls) start popping up.

However, with DW8 Koei has visibly toned down the kinky outfits. For instance, Lianshi wore a one piece skirt getup but now she has a dress. Shanxiang literally wore a strategically-cut leotard, but now is in an updated DW5 attire. Yueying showed her abs through some see-through fittings but again, she has also covered up.

While I highly doubt a video game can cause Gomorrah levels of depravity to sweep a nation following its release, doubtless, Koei has actually made efforts against that.

[Dinerenblanc]

Originally posted by FLCL:

Actually it all started when Koei merged with Tecmo, and since then the devs have been receiving character designs from the folks from that made Dead or Alive, a franchise famous for at least two things. This was at a time when DW7 started development and for those that recall DW6 was a disappointment, so changes - changes that feel and look new - had to be done.

Hence in DW7 a lot of midriff and skin-tight leotards (on both boys and girls) start popping up.

However, with DW8 Koei has visibly toned down the kinky outfits. For instance, Lianshi wore a one piece skirt getup but now she has a dress. Shanxiang literally wore a strategically-cut leotard, but now is in an updated DW5 attire. Yueying showed her abs through some see-through fittings but again, she has also covered up.

While I highly doubt a video game can cause Gomorrah levels of depravity to sweep a nation following its release, doubtless, Koei has actually made efforts against that.

I took a look at the DW7 outfits and they were atrocious. While I had some qualms with some of the designs in DW8, there isn't a single good outfit in DW7. With that said, Koei still has a bit to go when it comes to capturing that authentic Chinese feel from the early games. I don't mind if they took a bit of creative license, but all of the Jin characters look like they came out of a Twlight movie. They're all pale looking tweens with modern haircuts and European uniforms. I can't even bring myself to finish their campaign. Don't get me started about the scantily clad female characters. Diao Chan barely has anything on. The only saving grace is Yueying and Zhen Ji.

[enge]

Man, people just love using Diaochan as a scape goat. Like she's in some miraculous way representative of all female designs in the game.

I'm sorta with FLCL here - Once you put Diaochan, Zhenji and Zhurong (who's a copy of her DW3 incarnation, by the by) aside, female outfits in DW8 are strategically provoking at worst (Lianshi, Yinping, Wang Yi), and downright modest at best (Xiaoqiao, Wenji, Yueying).

But let's keep that derpball rolling, why don't we?

Originally posted by Psych:

I don't mind if they took a bit of creative license, but all of the Jin characters look like they came out of a Twlight movie. They're all pale looking tweens with modern haircuts and European uniforms.

Mmm, those sexy tweens Sima Yi and Zhuge Dan. Not to mention Deng Ai and Guo Huai. So bishounen, rawr.

[Clever Cloaks]

Originally posted by FLCL:

However, with DW8 Koei has visibly toned down the kinky outfits. For instance, Lianshi wore a one piece skirt getup but now she has a dress. Shanxiang literally wore a strategically-cut leotard, but now is in an updated DW5 attire. Yueying showed her abs through some see-through fittings but again, she has also covered up.

Pretty fun tidbit: You might notice that most DW8 outfits kind of merge elements from pre-DW6 and post-DW6 designs.

Originally posted by わっはっはー:

Originally posted by Psych:

I don't mind if they took a bit of creative license, but all of the Jin characters look like they came out of a Twlight movie. They're all pale looking tweens with modern haircuts and European uniforms.

Mmm, those sexy tweens Sima Yi and Zhuge Dan. Not to mention Deng Ai and Guo Huai. So bishounen, rawr.

Thank you! That had to be said. I love how everyone is all like "DW used to be realistic, now it's all pretty boys and half naked girls"... The last 5 characters to become playable are Yu Jin, Zhu Ran, Fa Zheng, Chen Gong, Lü Lingqi. The only one that even comes close to the "pretty boy" stereotype is Zhu Ran's design, and Lingqi only shows a little leg.

[RiO]

Originally posted by わっはっはー:

Man, people just love using Diaochan as a scape goat. Like she's in some miraculous way representative of all female designs in the game.

It's hilarious when people point to Diaochan and then claim the game oversexualizes its females. Diaochan is one of the few cast members that has actual reason for the scanty clothing: the RotTK novel has her introduced to Dong Zhou's court as a concubine.[/quote]

[enge]

Originally posted by TheOverlyMadHatter:

Thank you! That had to be said. I love how everyone is all like "DW used to be realistic, now it's all pretty boys and half naked girls"... The last 5 characters to become playable are Yu Jin, Zhu Ran, Fa Zheng, Chen Gong, Lü Lingqi. The only one that even comes close to the "pretty boy" stereotype is Zhu Ran's design, and Lingqi only shows a little leg.

Make sure not to show anyone the Musou Blast designs. The diversity in that one may prove fatal.

Originally posted by RiO:

It's hilarious when people point to Diaochan and then claim the game oversexualizes its females. Diaochan is one of the few cast members that has actual reason for the scanty clothing as she is introduced to Dong Zhou's court as a concubine.

[/quote]
Yeah, Internet does funny things to logic.

[Dinerenblanc]

Originally posted by TheOverlyMadHatter:

Originally posted by FLCL:

However, with DW8 Koei has visibly toned down the kinky outfits. For instance, Lianshi wore a one piece skirt getup but now she has a dress. Shanxiang literally wore a strategically-cut leotard, but now is in an updated DW5 attire. Yueying showed her abs through some see-through fittings but again, she has also covered up.

Pretty fun tidbit: You might notice that most DW8 outfits kind of merge elements from pre-DW6 and post-DW6 designs.

Originally posted by わっはっはー:

Mmm, those sexy tweens Sima Yi and Zhuge Dan. Not to mention Deng Ai and Guo Huai. So bishounen, rawr.

Thank you! That had to be said. I love how everyone is all like "DW used to be realistic, now it's all pretty boys and half naked girls"... The last 5 characters to become playable are Yu Jin, Zhu Ran, Fa Zheng, Chen Gong, Lü Lingqi. The only one that even comes close to the "pretty boy" stereotype is Zhu Ran's design, and Lingqi only shows a little leg.

You're kidding me right? Plenty of the characters can be characterized as pretty boys, from Zhang Bao to Guo Jia. I'm not referring to the newest characters here, but the redesigns we've seen over the games. Does anyone even remember how Cao Pi looked like in his first game(DW5). Here's a hint, nothing like he does now. You can't honestly think these well-teased haircuts look right in a DW game if you've followed the series from the beginning. Did I mention Jia Chong by the way? Can the man look anymore like a character that came out of Twilight?

Originally posted by わっはっはー:

Man, people just love using Diaochan as a scape goat. Like she's in some miraculous way representative of all female designs in the game.

I'm sorta with FLCL here - Once you put Diaochan, Zhenji and Zhurong (who's a copy of her DW3 incarnation, by the by) aside, female outfits in DW8 are strategically provoking at worst (Lianshi, Yinping, Wang Yi), and downright modest at best (Xiaoqiao, Wenji, Yueying).

But let's keep that derpball rolling, why don't we?

Originally posted by Psych:

I don't mind if they took a bit of creative license, but all of the Jin characters look like they came out of a Twlight movie. They're all pale looking tweens with modern haircuts and European uniforms.

Mmm, those sexy tweens Sima Yi and Zhuge Dan. Not to mention Deng Ai and Guo Huai. So bishounen, rawr.

What's that, 3 characters out of how many that's from Jin? And no, Zhuge Dan is the epitome of a tween in a European uniform.

[Gaz]

The Westerner-like appearance of the Jin faction characters are actually deliberate design choices. The devs wanted to make them appear distinct from the other three factions to sort of signify that they were the harbingers of a new era, advocates of change and so on. Whether you approve of their look really depends on personal taste.

[Clever Cloaks]

Originally posted by Psych:

You're kidding me right? Plenty of the characters can be characterized as pretty boys, from Zhang Bao to Guo Jia. I'm not referring to the newest characters here, but the redesigns we've seen over the games. Does anyone even remember how Cao Pi looked like in his first game(DW5). Here's a hint, nothing like he does now. You can't honestly think these well-teased haircuts look right in a DW game if you've followed the series from the beginning. Did I mention Jia Chong by the way? Can the man look anymore like a character that came out of Twilight?

This may be subjective, but Cao Pi's DW8 design is more faithful to DW5 than any of the past games have been. :|

Sure, there ARE pretty boys. But they constitute a healthy 1/6 of the cast.

Characters that are more handsome than pretty: Xiahou Dun, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Zhang Liao, Xiahou Yuan, Xu Huang, Cao Pi, Pang De, Jia Xu, Yu Jin, Sun Jian, Taishi Ci, Lu Meng, Huang Gai, Zhou Tai, Sun Ce (if anything, he used to be one), Sun Quan, Ding Feng, Lu Su, Han Dang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, Sima Yi, Deng Ai, Zhuge Dan, Guo Huai, Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo, Meng Huo, Zuo Ci, and Chen Gong.

Pretty sure the pretty boys are still a minority.

Originally posted by Psych:

Originally posted by わっはっはー:

Mmm, those sexy tweens Sima Yi and Zhuge Dan. Not to mention Deng Ai and Guo Huai. So bishounen, rawr.

What's that, 3 characters out of how many that's from Jin? And no, Zhuge Dan is the epitome of a tween in a European uniform.

I don't see how Zhuge Dan looks anything close to a tween. His facial structure is nothing like that of one. Also, it makes perfect sense for Wen Yang to be as young as he is. Historically, he entered military service for his father when he was about 16.

Originally posted by RiO:

It's hilarious when people point to Diaochan and then claim the game oversexualizes its females. Diaochan is one of the few cast members that has actual reason for the scanty clothing as she is introduced to Dong Zhou's court as a concubine.

Yeah, characters like Zhen Ji, Diao Chan, and Zhurong kind of get a pass. Zhen Ji was always showy since her first appearance, Diao Chan is an alluring temptress that creates conflict between Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo, and Zhurong lives in an environment where everyone prances around half naked.

[Rymthély]

Totally agree

[Lie Chen Zhou]

Originally posted by ImmortalBard:

Originally posted by Lie Chen Zhou:

Really? I find the armor in DW still decent compared to many other games. sure, the costume makes the girls (and boys) looks hot but Soul Calibur costume reveal more.... and no one seems to mind

The fact that so few people mind is a bad sign - snip -

Then why not complain about Soul Calibur or just go with the blatant sexy Dead or Alive? why picking on DW's costumes?

So far I have only see Lianshi wears alluring costume. Diao Chan, Zhu Rong, and Zhen Ji wear costume appropriate for their characters while the rest mostly wear leggings for battle.

[ImmortalBard]

Originally posted by RiO:

Originally posted by わっはっはー:

Man, people just love using Diaochan as a scape goat. Like she's in some miraculous way representative of all female designs in the game.

It's hilarious when people point to Diaochan and then claim the game oversexualizes its females. Diaochan is one of the few cast members that has actual reason for the scanty clothing: the RotTK novel has her introduced to Dong Zhou's court as a concubine.

[/quote]
I'm afraid you are mistaken, the attire of Dianchan is not at all accurate, traditional Chinese attire was quite modest even for their "concubines" if you don't believe me google it. I'm afraid the video game designers of today think that we are of a bunch prepubescent perves without any real relationships

[ImmortalBard]

Originally posted by Lie Chen Zhou:

Originally posted by ImmortalBard:

The fact that so few people mind is a bad sign - snip -

Then why not complain about Soul Calibur or just go with the blatant sexy Dead or Alive? why picking on DW's costumes?

So far I have only see Lianshi wears alluring costume. Diao Chan, Zhu Rong, and Zhen Ji wear costume appropriate for their characters while the rest mostly wear leggings for battle.

You are also wrong, please read my post right before this one, the chinese were one of the most sophisticated of the pagan cultures perhaps the most, they did not dress their women not even their ♥♥♥♥♥♥ like that.

[Gaz]

I don't think anyone would reference a video game for accurate depictions of authentic ancient Chinese courtesan attire. More so when it is as highly romanticised one such as Dynasty Warriors.

[RiO]

Originally posted by ImmortalBard:

I'm afraid you are mistaken, the attire of Dianchan is not at all accurate, traditional Chinese attire was quite modest even for their "concubines" if you don't believe me google it. I'm afraid the video game designers of today think that we are of a bunch prepubescent perves without any real relationships

Some liberties should be taken to ensure that content and presentation reflect modern standards, which ensures the original intent of the setting connects with current-day audiences.

This is a romanticized story, not a historically accurate account.