Rehab Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Probably because Japan is obsessed with good looking people and if you're ugly, chances are you wont make it very far in the popularity polls. Outside of that, it's meant to represent the fanasty of medival times. Would you want all of your lords to struggle with acne like they should be for their age? When I was an early teenager, I was indeed kind of confused why none of the characters around my age in anything I saw had acne unless they were supposed to be totally disgusting joke characters I almost got to the point of seeing it as a representation thing. I saw it as a noble goal to aspire for media more inclusive of more skin conditions, so as to better reflect reality (so, I guess, a lot of white guys still, but also ones with acne) By now, I've realized that a key difference between me and any various sorts of people who felt (and still feel) underrepresented in media growing up is that I was (and am) just mad that I have acne Gonzales isn't even that ugly guys, the only real problem is his teeth. Most of the enemy bandits look way worse in their portraits. My preferred cranium artillery is that those teeth sticking out aren't his only teeth left Jesus Christ man what happened, they're just weirdly sticking out in odd directions/way too big for his mouth in random places. He just has the mouth of an Englishman who didn't get braces and didn't pull out his baby teeth as quickly as he should've (raises hand) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magical Glace Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) Gonzales isn't even that ugly guys, the only real problem is his teeth. Most of the enemy bandits look way worse in their portraits. Compared to Steve and co... I think I'd take Steve. He looks like a Frankenstien monster. That said, it might not alway be the case (Gonzales and Dorothy for example) but it usually is... As others have mentioned, it's a maketing thing, and a lot of the lords have magic super powerful heretaige that may aide appearance... Ike has no excuse, and I wouldn't mind if he looked worse. Edited October 9, 2014 by Glaceon Princess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) He has kind of a glazed look there, but there's plenty of people who actually have features that resemble his who aren't shrieked out of town or anything. Sideburns, wild/windswept hair, steep forehead and austere, blocky facial features are building blocks that could easily be used to make a male character who easily fits at least some notion of "traditionally attractive." (E: Admittedly his hands and feet are fuckin huge, and there's probably a bunch of other stuff that I'm missing being not-somebody-who'd-know, but ain't nobody in Fire Emblem got truly realistic proportions) Speaking of Frankenstein, I think Boris Karloff ain't a bad-looking dude. For his age, he looks pretty normal IMO- pretty good, even Gonzales' sprite portrait, on the other hand, comes pretty close to looking like a regular dude I could easily sit down and have a chat with. IMO that's the kind of expression/face that says "yeah, I know I ain't perfect," but almost everybody looks a little weird from the right angle if you get close enough Edited October 9, 2014 by Rehab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tryhard Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) that bulk, tho if anything he has a kinda-dopey expression like Marty. You're probably right, though. Edited October 9, 2014 by Tryhard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 that bulk, tho Damn straight that bulk tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 When I was an early teenager, I was indeed kind of confused why none of the characters around my age in anything I saw had acne unless they were supposed to be totally disgusting joke characters I almost got to the point of seeing it as a representation thing. I saw it as a noble goal to aspire for media more inclusive of more skin conditions, so as to better reflect reality (so, I guess, a lot of white guys still, but also ones with acne) I have also noticed this, and yes, it is weird. They probably do it for marketing, but come on, there's got to be at least one character you can leave out of the promotional materials. You know what? What about fat people?! As a bona fide fat person, I FEEL THE OFFENSE AT THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF THE PROPORTIONALLY CHALLENGED IN FIRE EMBLEM! You can't tell me there are no far people in Japan, they have a whole wrestling sport based on obesity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoncat Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 You can't tell me there are no far people in Japan, they have a whole wrestling sport based on obesity There are no far people in Japan? *bricked* I think Meg and Brom mightve been a bit overweight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 ...huh, they were. I'd say I stand corrected, but 1) I'm sitting right now, and 2) those are two fat people in the Tellius games, and there are no incredible units who are fat. Or...a lot of things, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuru Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Beauty leans to the good side, ugliness to the bad side. Okay, so maybe that's not entirely true. I don't know what to say on this matter, but having good looking characters is always a plus in the games. And as to the enemies, you want to give an impression that you're tough and scary, thus they make them like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nostalgia Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Ralph also has like two lines To be honest I barely remember anyone from Thracia because they all had like 2 lines and there were two or three characters who were notorious for having zero lines in the entire game (Kein and Alva are two of then). Robert I think is the other one? He had the smooth wavy hair. At least they were nice enough to give them death quotes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjaMonkey Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 I think Meg and Brom mightve been a bit overweight... Also Oliver, possibly as a result of all those senate banquets he's presumably attended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoncat Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Also Oliver, possibly as a result of all those senate banquets he's presumably attended. Oh how could I forget! *headdesk* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shinehollow Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Because artists are artists,and they want their work beautiful.Unless,of course,they're forced to draw something that the developers want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjaMonkey Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Beauty leans to the good side, ugliness to the bad side. Okay, so maybe that's not entirely true. I don't know what to say on this matter, but having good looking characters is always a plus in the games. And as to the enemies, you want to give an impression that you're tough and scary, thus they make them like that. Ursula, Selena and Aversa are enemies, but I wouldn't describe any of them as "looking tough or scary"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topazd Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Ursula, Selena and Aversa are enemies, but I wouldn't describe any of them as "looking tough or scary"... The results might vary, but I'd say it's very apparent that they were intended to look at least somewhat intimidating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cymbalina's Revenge Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 The results might vary, but I'd say it's very apparent that they were intended to look at least somewhat intimidating. Also you're supposed to feel bad about Ursula and Selena and you can "redeem" Aversa via spotpass. Just look at the Grado generals in FE8. Glen is handsome-- arguably moreso than Cormag. Selena is a nice-looking woman. Duessel is a fine-looking older man. Riev looks disgusting. Valter looks deranged and half-dead. Calleach isn't that bad but he has a hard face and he's sure not pretty. Right there you have two decent people you're supposed to feel sorry over, the guy you recruit, two out-and-out despicable villains, one bad dude who's an antihero in his own mind. And you can pretty much figure where they fall on the moral spectrum from a mug shot. It's not subtle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWill Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I'd be pretty surprised if someone felt bad for Ursula, she had a pretty vile personality. Given, she was overshadowed by a lot of the other members of the Black Fang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Also the Reed brothers were pretty handsome and even if they were somewhat sympathetic doesn't change the fact that they're murderers who take pride in their job. Ludvec in FE10 also looked pretty nice, Jarod looked evil but not ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cymbalina's Revenge Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I'd be pretty surprised if someone felt bad for Ursula, she had a pretty vile personality. Given, she was overshadowed by a lot of the other members of the Black Fang. Compare her to Sonia, though. Sonia's detestable and if she's pretty it's "pretty like a house on fire." FE doesn't stick to the rule "pretty = sympathetic" 100% but it's at least good for 90%. Sure, Tellius has Jarod and Petrine but compare all the revolting Begnion nobles with buff prettyboy Zelgius and doe-eyed Levail. Again, not subtle. Oliver deserves some kind of medal for bucking the trend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Refa Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Just look at the Grado generals in FE8. Glen is handsome-- arguably moreso than Cormag. Selena is a nice-looking woman. Duessel is a fine-looking older man. Riev looks disgusting. Valter looks deranged and half-dead. Calleach isn't that bad but he has a hard face and he's sure not pretty. Right there you have two decent people you're supposed to feel sorry over, the guy you recruit, two out-and-out despicable villains, one bad dude who's an antihero in his own mind. Everyone is the hero of their own story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shin Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 It's fiction in general, characters are generally only ugly if they're designed to be. Good looking characters sell better too. I can't imagine many people would waifu Lucina if she were morbidly obese with a uni-brow and buckteeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cymbalina's Revenge Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Everyone is the hero of their own story. I'd play a spinoff based around Calleach and his minion Aias but that's a thread for another day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 True, Oliver is a lumpy fellow, but he did start out a villain and I presume came back because his massive ego made him popular with fans. I'd play a spinoff based around Calleach and his minion Aias but that's a thread for another day... ...yeah, that should be a thing, same here. I quite liked both of them, actually. I know Calleach isn't someone you're supposed to like but I personally can't find myself disliking him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etria Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I'd play a spinoff based around Calleach and his minion Aias but that's a thread for another day... That'd be an interesting perspective and it would be a great opportunity to flesh out Magvel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magical Glace Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Half the Armorknights in the series look pretty chubby compared to the rest of the cast. Except Wendy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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