uuhh Blaze design is as simple as it gets. Its fanservice girl #120, she has nothing that stands out, especially when they sexed her up in 2 and took her out some stuff like her bandana. I mean I don't care if they keep the designs or change them ,I don't have a problem with NuAxel, it's not a bad design, neither I have a problem with Blaze per se considering is pretty much her 2/3 design, even though 1 is the better design., But sure is weird one having drastic changes and the other being barely touched (and what a surprise who's that character, c'mon it can't be more transparent).
I really like Axel's dad bod and beard combo. I dunno why Blake's skirt is so short, though. They cover about as much as hotpants but at least those would look decent. I like her design, but the skirt is definitely way too short.
What's transparent, exactly? That they gave her the classic design? Wouldn't it be more 'transparent' if they gave her a new over sexualized design and phoned in Axel with barely any work or thought put into him?
Both characters have had similar levels of changes though. Both characters have had changes to their proportions, both characters have gained a jacket, Axel's gained a beard, Blaze has gained big earrings, Axel's gained a shirt wrapped around his waist, and Blaze has gained a loose belt/sash.
Axel looks like a middle-aged man living in the past. On the streets it's 20XX, but in his closet it's the phone booth from Bill & Ted. The full beard and wider torso are classical signs of aging - compare Zeus with Apollo. Meanwhile, the high tops and layers are just an exaggerated caricature of how we dressed in 1991. Blaze looks to have aged a lot more gracefully, in both wardrobe and physique. Perhaps it could point to a parting of ways between them after their previous adventures? Or maybe it's just an example of how wide the window of acceptable appearance is for men, and how narrow it can be for women. Either way, they're both looking good!
I think it's because Blaze doesn't have any stand out features. Brunette lady, red outfit, does backflips - that's all she's got. The real question is - Where is Skate?
Im not necesary talking simply about sexualizing. Its about how uncommon is to display a woman ageing in a game, compared to men. They could have made Blaze looks more aged (like they did with Axel). It could be worse for sure but its dissapointing how few risk designers take when they have to go out of the "design a hot women" template. Whynotboth.gif
Sorry, I can't read 35 pages right now and have limited access to to being on mobile: I'm fucking psyched reading this but has there been a hands-on from anyone on how this actually plays? It took me a few views of the OP's video to get used to the art. First look = yeah, no... Later = yeah, sure, why not!
I don't think this game is set that much later on than the originals. The brief look at the office environment shows crt monitors and old style corded phones, I genuinely think it's still in the 90's. Axel hasn't been aged up beyond just having a beard, it could literally just be a few months after the third game. The art style is just more exaggerated with body proportions, Axel's a lot more muscular and squat, and Blaze is more "thicc". For what it's worth, I'd much prefer Blaze to be more svelte and elegant like the previous games too. I think the loss of her stockings accentuates just how much leg she's showing as well. Part of the issue is her presentation in the trailer, the first shot has her sticking her ass out then she thrusts her chest out, it's pretty blatant and just seems kind of out of character to me.
Thanks, definitely a buy from me. I played so much SOR2 with my sister back in the day. We always cracked up about pot roasts or whatever popping out of broken benches etc.
Yep that's definitely what I said. Because it's an archaic character design that relies on titillation for the sake of objectifying a woman. You'd think that within the past ~5 years of increased awareness around women and women's rights they might at least put her in some leggings or an entire shirt. MUH ARTIST INTENT
Blaze's design is about the only thing I like of what I've seen so far. She's badass and hot as always, versus Axel, whom looks like he's literally been living on the streets. I also don't agree with aging up any characters because it's "realistic" ether, especially when there's no timeline. I even hope they keep Skate as a kid too.
Ayano Koshiro ought to be ashamed of herself. I wish I could buy you a plane ticket to go scream this in her face.
Oh no you caught me, I always forget that women are excused from poorly representing their own gender.
I don't like either characters designs for different reasons. Nothing "funny" about that. Things don't have to be either or, not sure what picture you are trying to paint about people's opinions here to be honest. I mean why do I have to accept a design I don't like because it might be as bad or worse if they change it? That's terrible logic. "That will do because imaginary scenario might be worse" may as well just give up and accept everything as fine then no matter how poor or average. Could be worse right? XD
Oh no, I wasn't being facetious. I would genuinely like to see you punch her in the stomach so hard she pukes. I hate women and love violence, just like the woman who designed Streets of Rage 2.
Christ, is that needed? In any event, they likely consulted Ayano Koshiro on Blaze's design. I am certain this is what she would want.
To start a contrarian debate, SoA already tried toning down Blaze in the US version of SOR3 and it is easy to argue that it backfired. Also: There is actually way more point to Blaze being sexy than just for the heck of it, and it primarily goes back to SOR1's look and thematics - the player characters not only blend in with the "late night street life" aesthetic, but also blend in with their enemies. If you swapped the player/enemy characters around, it would be difficult for an outside observer to know the difference. That is part of why people consider the game's "bad ending" where you DO become the bad guy so effective. It would not have worked nearly as well if Blaze looked stylistically out of place compared to the dominatrix-with-whip archtypes she was kicking the butt of. Old lady or nerdy glasses teenager girl becoming a crime lord? While a narrative-driven genre might be able to pull that off, i doubt an arcade brawler could.
Well as an art student I tend to draw all of my female characters voluptuously and in attire that is somewhat revealing, why? Because I just like it, I find beauty in the female form, sue me.
Kind of needed yeah. When the post responded too was just "nothing can be changed because that's how they were designed 20+ years ago" is a simple fallacy anyway. Changing things can go wrong (Axel imo here) but equally can be bad leaving them as they are. Sometimes old designs just don't translate going forward and while Blaze isn't that terrible compared with some I feel her newer design could be better reflecting the current climate personally. Your second paragraph though, purely hypothetical, it's equally possible they did no such thing :p I would be interested to know if they did though.
You tell me. Hey mate you want to show me where I wrote anything about being "fucking ashamed" in my original post you're all losing your minds over? It's an archaic, tone-deaf design. I don't care who designed it or what the "intent" of her being in a crop-top and mini-skirt is; it's a bad design in 2018.
It's freedom of expression. If you don't like it, go play something else. Why isn't Axel a fat mess? He's burly and built like a brick shit house. Is that wrong too?
Yeah I don't intend to purchase this game; but as a long-time fan of this series and franchise (despite how well some of it's aspects haven't aged) I'm entitled to express an opinion about it. Thx tho.
I don't mind Blaze's design here, but I think something more in line with her Streets of Rage 1 design might have gone over a bit better. Her Bare Knuckle mobile design for example, was pretty much the SoR1 outfit with black leggings, IIRC.
My two cents: I'm all for updating old, outdated sexualized designs and I understand the complaints, but in Blaze's case it works for me because it's an intentional throwback to the over the top, sexy artstyle of the originals. If the game was going for a modern, serious look the lack of pants would bother me a lot more. Also I don't think "less sexualized designs" should mean "no design is allowed to look like this again, ever" but I'm just a guy so idk.
Someone doesn't like Blaze's classic attire? Well, the dev shouldn't change her outfit because some gimp is "offended" about a fictional video game character's outfit so what's the other option for this "oh so upset" person? Oh yeah, go play something else. No female video game character is ever allowed to be sexy. Talk about fucking facism.
I appreciate that, I mean this design doesn't make me mad or anything just for my personal view Blaze could still be sexy, in colour and dressed to fight with pretty minimal design changes. She could be updated without changing her core if you know what I mean? I actually have bigger issues with the art style than character designs to be honest. Don't think I can get over how clear cut, crisp everything is. Hard to explain. Need to see more footage.
I think her design wouldn't be nearly as uh, out there if her proportions were a bit more modest. I mean, look at the trailer and how it focuses on her butt and cleavage, right after Axel is just shown as a badass. But yeah, her original design would have been a nice compromise, although I'd rather just give her pants.
I bet that is the story. Blaze probably has to dig his drunk ass up to help save the city, which has become ensnared by a new syndicate, formed from the remnants of Mr. X's... Put me on the project too, SEGA, I'll write you gold.
Because we were talking about an artist's intent and I thought I would share my point of view on the matter. Feel free to ignore my opinion and don't respond to it if it bothers you so much.
Ah so no one can have an opinion about a design if they disagree with it or point out that characters can be both sexy and practical at the same time, got it. For the reference, I'm not upset, I can just see how the design could be better without sacrificing anything. It doesn't bother me at all, I just genuinely didn't get the relevance of it to be honest :)
So basically a not-lame Max Payne 3, I'm listening. Start a Go Fund Me for this man's beat 'em up writing career!
Yeah, for all the skin she showed in the original trilogy (Well, SoR 2 and 3, anyway) she at least had a toned, athletic build to go with it. Seems like there's way more emphasis just on her curves and proportions here, which is the only real issue I have with it. I think the actual design itself is fine, though.
Yeah, I’m not really understanding the pushback and criticism of her design? It’s not like she had a more modest design in the originals and they completely sexualized her for 4 - her design is relatively the same. Axel’s is the same with the addition of a flannel. And the suggestion that women can’t/shouldn’t dress like that? Lol what?
Did anyone actually say that? If they did I missed it. Sure the original design was fine but those games are decades old. Are you telling me it would really hurt you if she had 80's style leggings under her skirt to fight in?
