What are some well-sexualized male game characters?

[Vorpal_Smilodon]

I aspire to be a game dev, and one thing that I simply can't find is good examples of sexy male characters that women think are good looking. Unfortunately, being a 99% hetero male myself the only two male characters I can recall being attracted to are Godot from Ace Attorney and Vyers (Mid-Boss) from Disgaea, and the opinion doesn't come from a female anyway.

Anyone want to share examples? (preferably characters that are actively sexualized - I know some people are hot for batman, but that's the last thing intended by his design)

Do women like butt-cam (like in Metal Gear Solid 4 for example)?

The one thing I think I know is that abs = boobs

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

My girlfriend has the hots for the Prince of Persia (Sands of Time version, specifically). Not a very sexualized character but she did chuckle at the "fanservice" involving him losing his clothing as the game progressed, usually in unnecessary ways. Coindidentally, I find Yuri Lowenthal's voice kind of attractive. On the other hand she hates Kratos, so abs may not = boobs after all.

I can't think of butt-cam examples right now though.

EDIT: Leon S. Kennedy, of course. How could I forget him. Such pretty hair.

 

[Angelowl]

Let's see...

Adam Jensen, damn that guy was just hauwt. The voice worked, the clothes were stylish and cyberpunk, decent hair-cut, nice beard. Not many points for personality tbh, but he is a noir detective mixed with a sci-fi actio hero and does that well. He was cool, badass and totally a guy one would sleep with just because one can.

Big Boss, really good characterization in MGS3 (compared to most white, brown-haired male protagonists). Good personality, nice beard, shirtless fanservice, far from invincible. Much better character than Solid Snake tbh, the whole "genetically modified cloned supersolder" thing kind of goes into dragonball territory at times. Honestly I bought Peace Walker just to get to see and experience more of him. The whole beard+beret+eye-patch gives a pretty awesome look tbh.

Can I count John Marston even I don't consider him "sexualised"? He is a western bounty hunter and a gunslinger, that got to count for something right? Reminded me a bit of Big Boss when it came to personality and motivation, but a lot more grounded and emotional. The whole game is all about getting his family back and it is a crucial part of his character. In a game that... well, historically correct I guess... He kind of stands out a fair bit as a generally likable guy that you can trust, but still is a badass gunslinger taking down smaller armies while wearing a damn nice hat.

Bonus point goes to Garrus, not sexualised but still get all the girls (and guys it seems) on the virtue of just being Garrus Vakarian.

 

[Mikejames]

Flip that hair for me Leon.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Leon and Dante (The old one) are the two main ones that come to mind.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I often hear that I am quite pleasing to the ladies:

Flip that hair for me Leon.

See? Why yes, I do share the same name as him. ;-)

But anyway, Leon is really the only character I've ever heard girls swoon (for lack of a better term) over. I think it comes from the fact that, since we (straight males) don't tend to notice whether a male lead is attractive, a lot of it just goes over our heads.

 

[Mikejames]

But anyway, Leon is really the only character I've ever heard girls swoon (for lack of a better term) over. I think it comes from the fact that, since we (straight males) don't tend to notice whether a male lead is attractive, a lot of it just goes over our heads.

Ay I don't need to be gay to see that he's got it going on.

 

[saintdane05]

Vaan from Final Fantasy

Dunbar from Xenoblade

"Born in a world of strife! Against the odds! We choose to fight! Blossom Dance!"

Why does Japan have all the hot dudes...

 

[OpticalJunction]

But anyway, Leon is really the only character I've ever heard girls swoon (for lack of a better term) over. I think it comes from the fact that, since we (straight males) don't tend to notice whether a male lead is attractive, a lot of it just goes over our heads.

Ay I don't need to be gay to see that he's got it going on.

*swoons*
He is very nice.
I like John Shepard from Mass Effect too. He has a cute face.

 

[IllumInaTIma]

Let's just say, if I were a lady, Akihiko Sanada would make me cream my panties.
<img src=http://www.egmnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Akihiko.jpg>

 

[Valnyan]

First thing : Abs ? Boobs. Not every woman likes muscles. While it's quite hard to find a man that doesn't like breasts there are plenty of women that don't like muscles. Even if some men like small breasts the general idea is more is always better while, for muscles, even the women that like them tend to like a defined muscle tone but not the massive, shape altering, bulging muscles like Kratos or Marcus.

Usually males characters are not sexualised and, as you probably noticed with this thread, it's very hard to find one male character that is sexualised. But there are quite some character that are sexy.

For example Resident Evil's Leon is very sexy but not sexualised.
For another example Solid Snake, Big Boss or Raiden are sexy and sexualised a bit. Their design is not sexualised but, as mentionned already, Kojima loves to give ass shots and shirtless (or even naked) action.

Generally Kojima is very good at sexualising a bit his characters, both males and females, even if males are sexualised a bit less directly.
Also Square Enix are good at making sexy males with appealing attires and features. A lot of girls are crazy over Sephiroth, as for Seymour or Kuja ... or Seifer ... or about any badguys of FF. The good guys are also quite popular.

If you want an example of blatant sexualisation of male characters. Sorry but it's another from Square. Vagrant Story.
Sydney and Ashley (respective "badguy" and protagonist) are blatantly sexualised, especially Sydney.

Usually when hetero male gamer finds a character or a design or a game "looks gay" it's a good indicator that this particular piece will appeal to women.

 

[EstrogenicMuscle]

"Women think are good looking".
Well, women like different things.

Most Final Fantasy characters, or at least protagonists, have has female fans in mind for a while. Hence why they put off so many American dudes. Final Fantasy, like most shounen anime, intends to put a bit of female fanservice in its games.

This is cheating a bit, but obviously most Otome games. Though even those have a limited degree of what one could call the "female gaze". As in, bodies tend to be depicted in a more abstract fashion while personalities are focused upon. There aren't a whole lot of torso shorts or so forth.

Another obvious example would be Raiden from Metal Gear, who is very often actually sexualized. Whether or not everyone finds him attractive. I do.

Also, whether you consider it "well sexualized" or not, the characters of Cho Aniki are sexualized.

Guy from Tales of the Abyss. Not hugely so, but his for of dress is form fitting and purposely draws attention to his buttocks.

I would also say that in Tales of the Abyss, Jade and the Peony are purposely given gay undertones to be attractive to women.

While it's quite hard to find a man that doesn't like breasts

You'd be surprised at how many there are. There are definitely a few million men who seem to strongly prefer breasts on the smaller or flatter side.

But yes, a great many women like slender men. I tend to agree with most of your post.

 

[piinyouri]

I would say John Marston.
Aside from having the stereotypical "grizzled western hero" look, he wasn't sexualized on the exterior at all.
He seemed incredibly life like most of the time, and I constantly found myself wanting to know more of this kind, but contradicted man.
That is sexier to me than any muscles or outfit could convey.

 

[Souplex]

...People have listed Adam Jensen (A character designed to look and sound as douchey and unlikable as possible) and ShepLoo (Default male Shepard, who was designed to be fugly).
All results are now invalid.

 

[axlryder]

For successfully erotic portrayals of sumptuous male characters, one must look no further than MUSCLE MARCH

BEHOLD

or, if you're feeling REALLY sassy

CHOU ANIKI!

 

[Abomination]

...why is the significant majority of these from Japanese developers?

Try the same question with Western games only. I think it's interseting how men - while they might want some of the bodies of those Japanese characers - do not want the complete look of some of those protagonists/characters. They've all got that fey like appearance... and Vann from FFXII, isn't he only 16 or something?