Why is Kaiden Alenko so popular?
- Thread starter bluebrino
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Well, you are going to get horrible responses here because Kaidan, and Alistair for that matter, were made for people who are sexually attracted to men. Seeing as this board is like 90% straight male, you're not going to get a satisfactory answer, though she:
Because despite what you may have read about über macho men and their rather lackadaisical attitude toward women being the most attractive kind of guy, most women are happy to have a fella who will talk to them, understands them and is kind to them. Both of these characters fit that bill.
As far as attractiveness goes, if you aren't attracted to men, it would be difficult for you to determine what it is about men that attracts women. As far as video game males go, he isn't bad.
As for the whole fanfiction thing well...
Is a good example of a lady who these characters were created for. I am also a good example of the demographic Bioware developers were thinking of when they created these guys.Jenova65 said:
Because despite what you may have read about über macho men and their rather lackadaisical attitude toward women being the most attractive kind of guy, most women are happy to have a fella who will talk to them, understands them and is kind to them. Both of these characters fit that bill.
As far as attractiveness goes, if you aren't attracted to men, it would be difficult for you to determine what it is about men that attracts women. As far as video game males go, he isn't bad.
As for the whole fanfiction thing well...
This answers that question quite well.Souplex said:
It's rather interesting and yet frustrating to read some of the things posted. Some of it is untrue, some is just narrow minded and then, some is just meant to cause a negative reaction in others. I won't ignore the fair personal opinions and simple statements - but the haters are just a mystery to me.
Some people say he whines... does he? What do you consider whining? I am just wondering because I played as FShep and MShep and talked to all characters and I don't see any whining. He talks of his past and his experiences but he doesn't whine.
He is bland - is he? Did you actually spend time with the character - both genders and talk? I did with both genders and while he has less to say to an MShep, he is an interesting character for FShep.
I actually like most characters in Mass Effect 1&2 and Kaidan is among them. Do I like him better than most? Yes, I do. He is a mature character, who has dealt with his problems and didn't need or ask for help. He has a history - but that is exactly it; it is history and while he shares it in conversations he also points out that he has come to terms with it.
Additionally, he remains in his role as soldier throughout the game, never forgetting his duty and even continues it in ME2, when he doesn't follow Shepard blindly (this is shared with Ash).
So, yes I like him and I enjoyed the chance to choose him as LI and would like to see him in ME3 again. Of course I am aware that I will be branded as sad/rabid/delusional fangirl by some and I can't change that but it doesn't change anything.
As a little note for the few fair-minded: Forgive me the upcoming use of generalizations and clichés but the constant meetings with haters is getting really tiering. Also, I don't expect all female gamers to like Kaidan - they are entitled to their opinion and preferences of course but they tend to bash less, so I am not addressing them separately.
Of course I am aware that among the majority of slightly homophobic and often immature male gamer community - we are fighting a hard battle. To actually see characters that actually stepped away from a stereotypical path is very delightful change and as sad as it is - the motivational picture shown just recently, speaks more the truth than it should.
It is rather sad to see how many people just go on bashing and hating a character, for the bashing and hating sake. Why not just leave it to those that like it? Why not just accept that some people will prefer different characters, games, paths, ways, classes or what not.
I feel for you - Haters. May you find your own personal joy one of those days...
Some people say he whines... does he? What do you consider whining? I am just wondering because I played as FShep and MShep and talked to all characters and I don't see any whining. He talks of his past and his experiences but he doesn't whine.
He is bland - is he? Did you actually spend time with the character - both genders and talk? I did with both genders and while he has less to say to an MShep, he is an interesting character for FShep.
I actually like most characters in Mass Effect 1&2 and Kaidan is among them. Do I like him better than most? Yes, I do. He is a mature character, who has dealt with his problems and didn't need or ask for help. He has a history - but that is exactly it; it is history and while he shares it in conversations he also points out that he has come to terms with it.
Additionally, he remains in his role as soldier throughout the game, never forgetting his duty and even continues it in ME2, when he doesn't follow Shepard blindly (this is shared with Ash).
So, yes I like him and I enjoyed the chance to choose him as LI and would like to see him in ME3 again. Of course I am aware that I will be branded as sad/rabid/delusional fangirl by some and I can't change that but it doesn't change anything.
As a little note for the few fair-minded: Forgive me the upcoming use of generalizations and clichés but the constant meetings with haters is getting really tiering. Also, I don't expect all female gamers to like Kaidan - they are entitled to their opinion and preferences of course but they tend to bash less, so I am not addressing them separately.
Of course I am aware that among the majority of slightly homophobic and often immature male gamer community - we are fighting a hard battle. To actually see characters that actually stepped away from a stereotypical path is very delightful change and as sad as it is - the motivational picture shown just recently, speaks more the truth than it should.
It is rather sad to see how many people just go on bashing and hating a character, for the bashing and hating sake. Why not just leave it to those that like it? Why not just accept that some people will prefer different characters, games, paths, ways, classes or what not.
I feel for you - Haters. May you find your own personal joy one of those days...
I totally sacrificed the crap out of Kaiden, to express I didnt like him.
But then I did a second playthrough, and sacrificed the girl instead, for you know, achievements >.> So my ME2 file showed Kaiden being alive, in all his boringness.
I guess the girls like him because he's normal? I mean he's more or less a standard soldier, no crazy, nor deranged or creepy or anything, just your typical enslisted trooper, doing what it takes to make things safer. So he's the easiest to put into relatable settings? Personally, I found these things to make him incredibly boring. I want my party crazy, dammit!
But then I did a second playthrough, and sacrificed the girl instead, for you know, achievements >.> So my ME2 file showed Kaiden being alive, in all his boringness.
I guess the girls like him because he's normal? I mean he's more or less a standard soldier, no crazy, nor deranged or creepy or anything, just your typical enslisted trooper, doing what it takes to make things safer. So he's the easiest to put into relatable settings? Personally, I found these things to make him incredibly boring. I want my party crazy, dammit!
For everyone's consideration, the Renegade KaidanRobCoxxy said:
Yes, he can be actually. Clearly he was just persuaded into the dark side by a renegade and how here he is calling out some pretty severe racial hate and pro human extremism. Now I actually think this is kind of sad because he had the right mindset about aliens but he was so easily swayed into the wrong path, by someone manipulating his past traumas to make him into a true monster.
Also while we are on the subject:
Yes, that is Ashley moving on past her pat prejudices towards aliens and moving on to trusting aliens and the Council in general. Not how she also makes clear that she doesn't think humanity is 'superior'. It's also made clear that her distrust of aliens is based on bad family history and not a personal irrational fear and hatred of the unknown.
So there you have it, a reformed racist Kaidan and a reformed alien loving Ashley. They are both opposites of each other that can be influenced either way at the behest of the player.
Why is Kaidan black in that video?Vrex360 said:
In any case, you only get the full picture of a character if you're able to romance them. Kaidan is the better character if you're FemShep, Ashley is the better character if you're MaleShep. Simple.
Yeah, I think that was the general idea and I see what you mean.BlastedTheWorm said:
I like how there is optional character development though and I think it is a little bit of a shame that this is only for romances. But still at least it's something.
Also clearly the most evil thing about this bizarre evil version of the once nice guy Kaiden is his terrible fake skin tan.
I agree with this mostly. I also want to comment on the Fan Fiction for Kaidan... If you will look at most of them you will see that most stem from the fact that ME2 was highly unsatisfying for Kaidan Alenko Fans. A three minute conversation where both characters are OOC. Most of us chose to deal with it in a fun way... we wrote fan fictions. You don't have to read them. We wrote them for people that felt the way we did and want to commiserate together. Mostly we just wanted time with our favorite squadmate and in the fan fictions we get to do that. Each Fiction also shows that not everyone sees the game or the characters the same way. But one thing they mostly agree on is that he is a nice guy who fights alongside Femshep and is a good moral compus as well as an interesting LI.BloodMoonDancer said:
You don't have to like him. Just respect that some of us do like him. I respect that you don't.
I disagree. Jack couldn't cope with her past and took it out on herself, her crewmates, and you. You had to go blow up her past to give her closure.Gralian said:
Kaidan had dealt with what happened and only relayed it to you as an illustration of what happens when you cut corners. In fact, that was almost exactly what he says, bad things happen when you cut corners. He's not looking for you to fix him, he's looking to protect you.
Plus, the man has an uncanny knack for using lift whenever I'm faced with a krogan charging. Always amusing.
True, however, if you take them from their base values, he's the emotional dude with a pretty shitty childhood and she's just a racist *****.Vrex360 said:
If the player affects them, they change, yes, but that's a "different" them.
So, I killed the one who was inherently racist. It was logical.
OT - You want to know why people like Kaidan then don't ask the (mostly) male escapists, PMSL! How would you like me to define what is attractive about a well adjusted fully functioning, attractive man who has dealt with his issues, isn't whiny (btw)? If you think he is whiny - prove it ;-)
He tells you about his past, doesn't dwell on it and deals with things in a mature fashion. I am more curious as to why men don't like him............ Oh, wait, no I'm not, he is all the things I said above and men think that makes him 'gay'!
Also, if you don't auto level him, he is a bloody squad mate!
I personally think you're all jealous cos while Sheploo is saving the galaxy Kaidan is getting all the hot chicks with those smoky brown eyes and that very sexy voice (Ash even has a crush on him, but denies it) ;-)
If you pop onto the SN at BioWare take a look at the appreciation threads and you will see the Kaidan one is one of the busiest and most on topic forums on there, with male and female fans.
Seriously though? Attractiveness is all subjective anyway, as is the whole concept of friendship, as my old gran used to say ''Wouldn't do for us all to be alike'', or put simply there are real people you like and dislike, but (and here is the shocker) just because you don't like someone doesn't mean everyone should, or will, revile them along with you. We'd all be trying to be mates with the same people and that is just dumb - horses for courses and all that! HTH
Rant over ;-)[/quote]
I see what you're saying and I probably overreacted saying I hated him. I don't really hate him. The only time he actually annoys me is when he hits on my FemShep cuz I see him more as an older brother than a romantic interest. And I wasn't trying to make a hate thread. In fact, I told people not to post why they hate him. I was mostly just trying to understand what people found attractive about him romantically.
He tells you about his past, doesn't dwell on it and deals with things in a mature fashion. I am more curious as to why men don't like him............ Oh, wait, no I'm not, he is all the things I said above and men think that makes him 'gay'!
Also, if you don't auto level him, he is a bloody squad mate!
I personally think you're all jealous cos while Sheploo is saving the galaxy Kaidan is getting all the hot chicks with those smoky brown eyes and that very sexy voice (Ash even has a crush on him, but denies it) ;-)
If you pop onto the SN at BioWare take a look at the appreciation threads and you will see the Kaidan one is one of the busiest and most on topic forums on there, with male and female fans.
Seriously though? Attractiveness is all subjective anyway, as is the whole concept of friendship, as my old gran used to say ''Wouldn't do for us all to be alike'', or put simply there are real people you like and dislike, but (and here is the shocker) just because you don't like someone doesn't mean everyone should, or will, revile them along with you. We'd all be trying to be mates with the same people and that is just dumb - horses for courses and all that! HTH
Rant over ;-)[/quote]
I see what you're saying and I probably overreacted saying I hated him. I don't really hate him. The only time he actually annoys me is when he hits on my FemShep cuz I see him more as an older brother than a romantic interest. And I wasn't trying to make a hate thread. In fact, I told people not to post why they hate him. I was mostly just trying to understand what people found attractive about him romantically.
But you kind of gave your unspoken permission for people to hate on him by saying that you do (in your OP) hence my reply and the replies of other Kaidan fans, iyswim?bluebrino said:
Anyway, no matter, thanks for the polite and well reasoned response
The thing is you can't actually define what makes someone romantically attractive, it would be like trying to work out why my husband and I are attracted to each other, lol!
Put simply, if you are a heterosexual guy, you aren't meant to find him attractive, just as I don't find Ashley sexy at all, but I do like her (as I mentioned) You are looking for something you will never see in the same way that I will never understand what men see in say, Jennifer Tilly, I just don't get it at all, it befuddles me ;-)
To condense it - He is an attractive character model, has the single sexiest voice ever (and yes we have all seen Sbarge and don't care) he is just the right level of manly + romantic without being a girl about it and when he says ''Shepard, you are hard to step away from....'', well *swoons*
Anyway I hope you have some answers now ;-)