Nothing. In a vacuum. As a general problem, it can be an example of pandering to a certain demographic, create characters that are shallow, undistinguishable, cliche, boring. Create balance issues. Negatively affect tone, lore, setting, credibility of a product. The problems and issues it causes can have their own repercussions as well (and their own positives and advantages) but its a nuance issue, often oversimplified and turned into a "two group" (those against blanket issue and those for) issue. Its not really though...
I am a fan of Tomb Raider games. The older games and the rebooted version. I thought original Lara Croft was super cool, attractive, (despite being polygons yes) sexy, tough, adventurous, intelligent (okay, yeah I guess kid and teenage me had a crush on her) and they eventually had a Tomb Raider reboot and I was skeptical at first, not because they were redesigning her physically to be more realistic, and dressed more conservatively... but because they were creating a younger Lara Croft who seemed more inexperienced and naive... and what I really liked about the original Lara was her confidence. Anyway some of my concerns were realized in the game, but they were also subverted too, and I actually ended up liking the game. I didn't find Lara Croft sexy or as attractive anymore though, she was much younger, and I was older, I felt more protective towards her... not a bad thing. The games were still enjoyable. Okay, hypothetically, lets put Lara in a khaki thong and blue ultra small light blue bikini top. How would this affect the game? Well for a lot of people, myself included, the tone of the game would change. I mean, I did think the original Lara wasn't dressed practically, but their are degrees here. Whilst I wouldn't necessarily dislike the game, it would be different and for many inferior. For a few reasons.
That being said, I can think of two games. Heavenly Sword which starred a character Nariko and X-Blades, which starred a character Ayumi. Both were in a more fantastical setting, with more fantastical combat, both were dressed in what could be said as skimpier attire than Lara. Heavenly Sword was great, X-Blades wasn't. X-Blades wouldn't have improved with a more conservatively dressed Ayumi, and Heavenly Sword would still be good if Nariko was Nathan dressed in a head to toe suit or Nariko was dressed more conservatively... but her aesthetic did work for the feel and sense of the game... so there are variables here. The same people behind Heavenly Sword eventually made another game, called Hellblade, and it also had a female protagonist. Was still a fantastical game, tone wise... but was also a much darker, and mature dark fantasy game, with mental health as theme/direction, with the intent of being serious and considerate around such a topic... Senua, the female protagonist would suffer character wise if her outfit was designed around being super sexy. In that context.
There are a lot more variables to consider. The creative aspects, the business aspects, the creator themselves, the audience. Is the game a single player, single character protagonist, or is it an ensemble cast or a fighter with huge character rosters. How are the male characters depicted? As attractive? As fantastical? As sexual? As diverse? Lots to consider and evaluate. I liked Jade's MK9 design, but I thought Sonya's was silly. i won't be boycotting Mortal Kombat though... but I was always more of a Tekken fan anyway.
Similar issue exists in comics.
Log in to comment