I love Sylvando from Dragon Quest XI, but I can't tell if he's supposed to be mocking gay people.

[MulderYuffie]

Now I'm gonna have to really get into thia game. Love the Dragon Quest games and am gay so im interested.

 

[Nordicus]

My two cents as a straight man in this matter is that Sylvando's portrayal is empowering and just great overall, while I find his entourage's portrayal as deeply problematic.

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Sylvando seemed fine but some of the followers he gets in the second half were a bit much and played too hard into the stereotype, I thought.

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This is pretty much where I stand as well. Sylvando is certainly not "a butt of gay jokes", but his followers on the other hand, that's like their secondary function.

 

[Slaythe]

They wouldnt have spent that much effort on the character if they saw him as a bad joke.

He's just cool.

 

[Encephalon]

I think it all comes from a good place, though I'm thoroughly confused as to whether Japan distinguishes between being gay and transgender. He calls himself "Sylvia" in the JP version of the game, and I seem to recall him speaking using feminine langauge, feminine pronouns etc. It's been quite a while though. He's more or less an "okama" stereotype, but the game portrays him in a positive light, and he's more than just the butt of jokes. He's meant to be seen as just as badass and capable as the other characters in the game, and has a character arc that affirms his identity.

 

[Hieroph]

No. He's proud and fabulous.

Never saw any malicious intent in his portrayal.

 

[Redfox088]

Just got to the parade lol this is the bedt

 

[Samanosuke Akechi]

Fantastic game and my favorite character in the game. Currently level 37 in the dundrisal ruins.

 

[Redfox088]

Fantastic game and my favorite character in the game. Currently level 37 in the dundrisal ruins.

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Spoiler

either you're way over leveled or you just spoiled the next beat for me :(