FR
Era is either "screw all this anime teenager bullshit" or "man you can't do shit once you're 40" or something.
Game Franchises where Character ages are sorta becoming a "problem" (Yakuza, Resident Evil)
- Thread starter Akiba756
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Era is either "screw all this anime teenager bullshit" or "man you can't do shit once you're 40" or something.
I suspect this could be an issue for street fighter. But SF definitely aims more for the "age builds power" which is incredibly valid.
That being said, they just introduced a brand new bad ass villain, and he is possibly the oldest person in the roster.
Look at martial artist in their 50s and 60s that still have careers and sometimes even older. Hell look at Bolo in Bloodsport.
That being said, they just introduced a brand new bad ass villain, and he is possibly the oldest person in the roster.
Look at martial artist in their 50s and 60s that still have careers and sometimes even older. Hell look at Bolo in Bloodsport.
Age isn't a problem, and in fact we need more older playable characters in games.
It's appearance count that's the "problem" here - LAD doesn't have too much more it can do with Kiryu not because he's old but because he's been in focus for ten or so games at this point.
It's appearance count that's the "problem" here - LAD doesn't have too much more it can do with Kiryu not because he's old but because he's been in focus for ten or so games at this point.
Gimme older characters over thirsty high school students any day. It's one of the reasons Like a Dragon 7 & 8 are so great.
It's one of the things I like about the Yakuza games tbh.
I thought about this too, I wonder if that's part of the reason they changed the name in the west. They've shown with the Judgment games that they can do a great story without relying on involving the Yakuza so much, so I'm not worried.
I thought about this too, I wonder if that's part of the reason they changed the name in the west. They've shown with the Judgment games that they can do a great story without relying on involving the Yakuza so much, so I'm not worried.
I think the actual answer to this is just to be loose about when games are set. It's a bit harder for games like Like a Dragon/Yakuza, where being contemporary feels like a signature of the series (setting aside period pieces like Yakuza 0, which honestly I'd love to see more of), but most games don't literally need to be set in the exact year of its release every time. Just because a sequel takes six years to come out doesn't mean it also needs to be set six years after its predecessor. Done!
Regarding the "ageist" stuff, I feel like the OP's conundrum is less about "should old people be allowed to exist/lead a game" and more about "should old people be able to beat up a thousand people like they used to two decades ago." Which is still maybe not that big of a deal because hell, action movies used to do it all the time too.
Regarding the "ageist" stuff, I feel like the OP's conundrum is less about "should old people be allowed to exist/lead a game" and more about "should old people be able to beat up a thousand people like they used to two decades ago." Which is still maybe not that big of a deal because hell, action movies used to do it all the time too.
I mean, have you seen how hot Kiryu is at 55? Kasuga is nearing 50 too. I think the weirder thing is that not one character in the RE universe besides Barry (and Ethan I guess) had a kid. I get that not everyone has to have kids but not one of these dudes? Go home and be a family man/woman.
Not exactly related, but it's still an interesting coincidence that I just watched an Ethan Hawke video last night where one of the things he talked about was the movie Boyhood. I've never seen it (but really want to now!) that in a way addresses the issue of characters who age and how it's either handled via major time skips or the actor is replaced, which are both jarring. But here they literally filmed the movie over the span of a decade+. What an amazing concept that is made even more amazing by the fact that they actually followed through, made it happen, and from the looks of it, created a very memorable/great film.
On contrary, the RE characters ripe with age turning more and more into super humans.
Exactly. Like, that Death Island movie was ridiculous because if I was the villain i'd immediately give up if the people who are famous for stopping bioterrorism showed up out of nowhere.
I don't think it's really an issue with RE. The older generation can slowly transition into being the grizzled vets, while a newer generation like Rose and others can carry things on. And really, the cast follows Hollywood rules, where 48 is still a perfectly fine age to be an action hero. You only have to start worrying a little once Leon's in his 60s. And even then, you can always just do a remake or a story set earlier in the timeline if you want to do young Leon/Chris/Jill/whoever.
As for Yakuza, they dealt with Kiryu's age pretty explicitly in the last game. They're not shying away from it.
As for Yakuza, they dealt with Kiryu's age pretty explicitly in the last game. They're not shying away from it.
Tom Cruise is still playing action hero in his 50s. 48 is nothing.
The main audience for these games are gonna keep aging, so it's not an issue on the audience side either. Same with the developers.
What's really an issue is that these franchises are afraid of having women leads. Women are clearly seen as more risky. Doesn't help there is more demand for male chars too. In part because these franchises have been so scared for so long of using the female cast.
The main audience for these games are gonna keep aging, so it's not an issue on the audience side either. Same with the developers.
What's really an issue is that these franchises are afraid of having women leads. Women are clearly seen as more risky. Doesn't help there is more demand for male chars too. In part because these franchises have been so scared for so long of using the female cast.
Halo & Master Chief. I think he should've been kept on ice for a bit longer (10,000 years) after the events of Halo 3, and 343 introduce lead characters of their own.
For the record:
John Cena - 47
Adam Copeland - 50
Billy Gunn - 60
What exactly is the issue with a 50 year old Kiryu or Leon, people who undoubtedly live athletic lifestyles, doing athletic things?
As long as the TRT flowing, they'd be fine, just like these guys.
Well, its their fault for never ending the franchise and keeping the same characters in an advancing timeline. If theyre too iconic to ever phase out or kill off, guess theyre gonna stick as particularly fit and good looking grandpas.
I sincerely hope that they have Ryu throwing Hadokens one-handed like Gouken does in the next mainline SF title to show how much better he's gotten
I thought this was gonna be a thread about how characters dont look their age which I do somewhat agree with but yeah no. Older protagonists is great, yo
This. I don't have a problem with "old" characters still doing cool shit, but I think a lot of franchises in all forms of media would be better off if they knew when to call a character done.
There's no reason any property can't easily fit new stories into these character's lives. The games themselves don't span a decade in time, they just like to skip a decade between telling a new story. Also, they're videogame characters. They don't actually age. One little plot device and whamo, they de-age or are immortal or stop aging. So no, it's certainly not a problem if they don't want it to be. Fear not! :)
Tekken does not give a single shit about age when it comes to fighting ability and I love that about it. Heihachi was in his mid 70's and still throwing hands like the best of them. If a work of fiction is playing fast and loose with realism then honestly I don't think it's an issue.
Yakuza is essentially real time, so I don't see a problem, honestly.
If anything, it's interesting.
If anything, it's interesting.
This is Ernie Hudson at 78 in real life.
And you expect me to believe 48 in fiction is a problem?
Holy shit.
Characters aging is a problem? We have enough games with protagonists in their teens and twenties. Having a few in their 40s shouldn't be controversial. As long as they are aged accordingly.
