Your Favorite Male and Female Design

[Dramatic Flare]

Spoiler: image

First up: the male.
I have to say I love Darth Revan. Such a conflicted character, yet so bad ass. He can be as kind or black hearted as you choose him to be, as it is an RPG, but his entire form is of calculated evil. Unlike Vader's mask suit and mask (and breathing apparatus) which made Vader seem like more of a thing than a man, Revan's suit and mask makes him ultimately human and ultimately incalculable. He is less of a brute, and more of a grand master chess player- someone whose blade you do not want to be on the wrong side of. Even in comparison to Vader, Revan just seems smarter. He wears a robe and cowl rather than cape and helmet. His armor is the color of rust, Vader is just black.
And even when he walks (in the few cut scenes you get of him) he is of a constantly musing posture, someone who can not be fazed.

My woman favorite would have to be Alyx Vance or Jade.
Possibly Kerrigan.
I can't decide.

 

[EzraPound]

I like Charlotte Christine Colde, from Samurai Shodown:

http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/Image:Charlotte_ss5.jpg

...And the new Chun Li, whose breasts aren't sized ridiculously and who looks like she could actually be a martial artist:

http://arcade.svatopluk.com/street_fighter_2/chun-li_capcom_vs_snk.jpg

As male designs go, I do like the new prince:

http://sanrag.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/prince2.jpg

...Or speaking of Arabian sword-slingers, perhaps Aladdin - who had his own game?

http://history-help.com/Aladdin/aladdin02kp01-497-301c.jpg

EDIT: Adult Link, too.

 

[antipunt]

male: Train Heartnet

http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/6429/blackcat0103tg.jpg

female: Saya

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9074/saya0032wn.jpg

 

[Meta Like That]

male: Train Heartnet

http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/6429/blackcat0103tg.jpg

female: Saya

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9074/saya0032wn.jpg

Please say where your picks came from, guys. Not everyone here is simultaneously anime/comic/game savvy.

 

[Quick Ben]

As far as female characters go, probably the strongest I have ever seen in a game is Kreia [http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kreia] from Knights of the Old Republic II. She is not particularly attractive (certainly no Lara Croft), and is the driving force behind the game's excellence - I'd say that she is worth the price of admission alone, and not for simple surface factors. She completely changed my perspective on games as a narrative device.

What makes her so excellent in my mind, though, is how right from the beginning Obsidian construct her as being a central figure in the game, yet do a perfect job of never telling you exactly why. In a sense, she is more the main character than the player is. She has all the game's best dialogue (and that is saying something), with stuff that still sends shivers up my spine even though I've heard it five times before. Her voice actress is incredible and plays the role amazingly. It's not so much stopping the Sith that brings you through the game, but rather the want to unravel Kreia's mysterious background and figure out her intentions. Of course, they wind up being malicious, but when you find out some of the things that she orchestrates throughout the game, it hits you like a ton of bricks and you gain a new respect for her, only to have to topped yet again later in the game. More than anything, she feels real, with a background, motivations, methods, and proper ones at that, not just excuses to keep the game going. She's the kind of character that is disgusting, frightening, compelling, inviting and incredibly likable, all at once, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I totally agree on all points.

 

[antipunt]

male: Train Heartnet

http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/6429/blackcat0103tg.jpg

female: Saya

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9074/saya0032wn.jpg

Please say where your picks came from, guys. Not everyone here is simultaneously anime/comic/game savvy.

They are both from the manga/anime: Black Cat (though I note the anime adaptation is horrible).

Train would be 'lesser' without Saya and likewise, Saya would be n/m without Train. Their awesomeness spawns from their interaction together: Train, a cold-blooded killer who is moved by Saya's care-free/loving lifestyle. He pretends he does not care for her friendship, but is inspired by her lifestyle that is free of chains and blood-stained organizations. She also strikes him as odd, because as a 'sweeper' (essentially bounty-hunter), she refrains from killing. When she is murdered, he struggles between the choices of obsessed revenge or following in her old footsteps.

Train is one of the 'Chronos Numbers'. He is the strongest of all 13 special-'assassins', and his number is XIII

 

[Meta Like That]

Spoiler

They are both from the manga/anime: Black Cat (though I note the anime adaptation is horrible).

Train would be 'lesser' without Saya and likewise, Saya would be n/m without Train. Their awesomeness spawns from their interaction together: Train, a cold-blooded killer who is moved by Saya's care-free/loving lifestyle. He pretends he does not care for her friendship, but is inspired by her lifestyle that is free of chains and blood-stained organizations. She also strikes him as odd, because as a 'sweeper' (essentially bounty-hunter), she refrains from killing. When she is murdered, he struggles between the choices of obsessed revenge or following in her old footsteps.

Train is one of the 'Chronos Numbers'. He is the strongest of all 13 special-'assassins', and his number is XIII

Whoa whoa, spoilers man. Somebody may not have gotten that far reading it.

 

[D0WNT0WN]

Will The World Implode If I Say A Male Final Fantasy Character.

 

[Meta Like That]

Will The World Implode If I Say A Male Final Fantasy Character.

As long as it's not one of the newer leads, I think you'll be safe.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

+ 10 to Gothmogll for suggesting Ben Throttle. He's my fav; right up there with the cowled and cloaked figure of Garrett from Thief. They are both dark, brooding and mysterious in their own ways.

For females, I have to admit I can't go past Ivy from Soul Calibur or Rayne from BloodRayne. Although if I had to pick one it would be Rayne. They are both tall, lithe, kind of aloof and errr well endowed.

 

[poet_lawreate]

I find it hard to get behind a lot of female characters, because so many of them seem to be those big-titted vacuous 'heroines' with faux-bravery and not very much clothing. I don't even like Lara Croft (though I wouldn't say no). Uglier female characters are often portrayed a little better but to be honest what's the point in saying that all beautiful women are dumb and slutty and all plain women are intelligent and soldierly?

However I am loving Zoey from L4D. Yes, it's not quite the right sort of game for character discussion but her few lines do sum up what kind of female character she is- she's a girl gamer. She is the character for us to pick when we play because she is like us. I love her a bit.

Also, hai there Escapist, this is only my second post.

 

[RebelRising]

For best male design, I nominate an alien species, the Turian, from...

Mass Effect

Spoiler

For female design, the Shtriga from...

The Witcher

Spoiler

...

What?! They're technically male and female!

 

[Seydaman]

well...altier, AWESOME everything just clicked with him, his voice, his cloths his movement

 

[Ezzay]

Best male and female? Too hard to decide, there are so damn many...

I didn't ask what was the best. I'm not talking about something that stands the test of time. I asked what your personal favorite is. Which character is so cool/likeable/deep that you wish you had thought of it?

Well in that case

Female: Claire Redfield from Resident Evil

Male: Sephiroth From Final Fantasy 7

Love both of them, pure awesome.

 

[Meta Like That]

I find it hard to get behind a lot of female characters, because so many of them seem to be those big-titted vacuous 'heroines' with faux-bravery and not very much clothing. I don't even like Lara Croft (though I wouldn't say no). Uglier female characters are often portrayed a little better but to be honest what's the point in saying that all beautiful women are dumb and slutty and all plain women are intelligent and soldierly?

It's more a poignant reflection of the industry than anything. But that's a whole 'nother topic.

I would welcome you to the site, but I'm new here myself. Nub power!

 

[Neuromaster]

Illidan (of the Warcraft universe) was always a favorite of mine, both for his appearance and for his complex backstory that (I thought) was very much that of an anti-hero but still sympathetic.

Spoiler: Illidan

Alyx Vance is my obvious choice for female character, but since a couple of people have mentioned her already I'll put forth Jeanette (of Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines). She's good to look at (which is always nice) but the thing that puts her ahead of any other tramp in half an outfit is her personality & dialogue in-game. She's manipulative, playful, vicious, and without giving away any real spoilers, totally insane.

Spoiler: Jeanette

 

[IsoNeko]

Formed from nothing but a cloned brain, a 9001 trillabyte motherboard chip that's smaller than a playing card. Having a horribly inappropriate sense of humor, and the chirpy voice of a backseat driver. Oh and being naked at all times, and being blue. Heres to you Cortana.

 

[Rhayn]

Female I'll have to go with the Dark Lady, aka Sylvanas Windrunner:

Spoiler

And with best male desing I'll go with James:

Spoiler

I just reckon he is one of the, if not the best, characters ever made. Perhaps it has something to do with him being voiced by Liam Neeson.

 

[poet_lawreate]

I find it hard to get behind a lot of female characters, because so many of them seem to be those big-titted vacuous 'heroines' with faux-bravery and not very much clothing. I don't even like Lara Croft (though I wouldn't say no). Uglier female characters are often portrayed a little better but to be honest what's the point in saying that all beautiful women are dumb and slutty and all plain women are intelligent and soldierly?

It's more a poignant reflection of the industry than anything. But that's a whole 'nother topic.

I would welcome you to the site, but I'm new here myself. Nub power!

I suppose that's the gist I was making... I'm bound to prefer female characters that deviate from that DOA norm. Not that jiggling boobies can't be fun, but I like to feel like I am a character every once in a while.

Also, thanks ^_^ People seem to be very friendly here.