Aesthetics in player choice

Yes and no. I think Aesthetics are more about just a particular "look", though.

For example: If I saw a still of Voldo just standing in a normal pose (not contorting and looking all freaky which is part of the reason he's so awesome), I wouldn't really care about him. I might give him a go because Katars are my favorite weapons but I didn't just see him and think "Oh man, a bondage gimp! I gotta get me some of that".

However, as far as Aesthetics as a whole image or appearance, though, that's definitely what drew me to Voldo. The way he moves, the way he attacks, the way he combines grace and control with completely bizarre almost inhuman style, and even the creepy gurgle breathing all come together to complete the total image, and that image is badass in a completely creepy and unsettling way.

If the character's style doesn't visually appeal to me (movement and fighting), then I can't bring myself to be interested enough to care to play them.
 
Well, I'm a aesthetics guy, so when it comes to games, I focus first on aesthetics and then the fighting style.

Some of the chicks in this game like Setsuka and Taki are really hot but hard to use.
Not for the casual or noob players like me.

It's a pity, though.
 
I have to admit, Im totally about aesthetics in character choice. I think it was the March '96 issue of GameFan magazine where I first saw and knew that Taki would be my main character in this series. She was like nothing that came before. Prevous kunoichi were always air heads like Mai, and were always dressed in some stripper kimono wrap. Taki was/is hardcore, bold, serious, smart, has a deep and interesting back story, and was a central character. Namco literally redefined the kunoichi class standard character with Taki, a standard that has yet to be surpassed.

Over the years she has lost her story centric role, and more or less been put on the sidelines. But she is probably the only reason I keep hoping the story goes somewhere and gets some real plot again.

So, yeah Im totally for aesthetics in selection. Even beyond fighters, in RPGs, MMOs (GW > WoW for this very reason), and any single player game, if I don't like the way the main character looks (and Ill further admit if the character is male its -1 right off the top) I probably wont play the game. OTOH, even if the game is crap and I like the main/playable character(s), chances are Ill try and finish it.

-DeathCom
 
I initially learned Nightmare because he had a batwing helm, a giant deformed claw arm, and a giant zweihander with an eye. Aesthetics usually takes precedence for me, but if someone as visually appealing as Nightmare had a boring game like BB, 2A, block-punish, etc. then I'd be turned off. Fortunately Nightmare and my other mains can be considered unconventional as far as their play style.
 
for me it's kind of the whole package under consideration. i like faster-paced characters typically, but not if their moves and animations are dull. i tend to lean towards more serious demeanours too, and away from bratty annoying or goofy characters. i like characters that inherently pose a challenge and come with handicaps or shortages in some areas (i suppose most characters in SC4 fit this). win buttons are a turn off-- i'd rather use an underdog. evasive moves are a definite plus. flashy or exaggerated moves are a plus. gimme a varied moveset, but not an overly complex one.

and i like ninjas cause they're totally sweet.
 
My very first main, E.Honda, was picked due to simplicity of moves (I could do charge moves, but not fireballs or uppercuts) and availability (untill SF2:CE, you couldn't do mirror matches - I originally was gonna use Guile, but back in the day you had to beat Guile if you wanted to use Guile). Anyway, ever since then it's been all about aesthetics (even though I still use the fatman to this day). Move aesthetics are just as important as character aesthetics. The character has too look cool or the moves they do have to look cool.
 
I pick my character based on how they feel. I just play through a dozen or so characters until one just plain feels right. Then after I practice with that one, I look for another that feels close to right, and drill with them forever until I can learn them pretty well. After a while, I end up with 3 or 4 characters that I can use, but 1 that I love.

In SCIV, my main is Mitsu, and I can play with Voldo, Kilik, and Amy.

In Brawl, I main Pikachu, and I can play with Metaknight, Snake, Donkey Kong, and ROB.
 
BillyPatches said:
I wholeheartedly agree. I think the only male character I've ever played in a fighting game was Kazuya in Tekken 2, his shiny lightning moves was just badass

Also i feel like that i need to have a "connection" with that character. You know... that it just makes it feels right to be playing them. I must sound like a crazy person haha
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Nah I know what you are saying, I'm same way.
 
Countee said:
Move aesthetics are just as important as character aesthetics. The character has too look cool or the moves they do have to look cool.
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That's exactly it. There are two factors, for me, that go into characters I like to play and again, for me, they are just as important. The overall comprehensive aesthetic of the character (the visual appeal of both the character and the way they fight) and the way their fighting *feels*.

I used to think that it was just that I liked quicker characters but I've found that, more than anything, I need a character who feels like they flow. I have a hard time defining that, but for me (and I"m sure this varies from player to player) some characters feel more fluid than others. Sometimes there are characters I would *like* to play because I find their style or appearance to be cool but they just don't feel fluid when I play them.

Yoshimitsu, for example. (remember, again, this is for me personally). I know what a great character he is, hsi moves are very strong, but he doesn't feel fluid to me. Same with Setsuka. Even when I combo with them, it doesn't feel like one combo, it feels like a whole bunch of separate moves that I just happened to perform in succession.

However, characters like Voldo, Xianghua, Taki, even slower characters like Seigfried and Astaroth have that fluid feel to their style when I play them. The moves flow into one another.
 
I've liked Astaroth since SC2, and it began with just his mean-looking exterior. Then when I began doing moves and combos, I liked him even more. I then began liking Nightmare in SC4 for these reasons.

Overall, I like slower characters anyway. Fast characters feel like they're on autopilot to me. Slow and steady wins the race... ^_^
 
I tend to choose the prettier characters, which is usually why i only use soph, cass, talim, xianghua, mina, tira, and strangely enough yeoung seoung O_O. And someone said Tira's outfit in SC3 was better, and I agree when she had that greenish blue hair and outfit it was really cool, dunno why they didnt keep it.

But the cool thing about SCIV is that if a character has an ugly costume, you can change that shit lickity split. So you can make your own eye candy basically..
 
Bootyclap said:
I tend to choose the prettier characters, which is usually why i only use soph, cass, talim, xianghua, mina, tira, and strangely enough yeoung seoung O_O.

But the cool thing about SCIV is that if a character has an ugly costume, you can change that shit lickity split. So you can make your own eye candy basically..
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So...that's why you used that purple thong-wearing Yun on me...O_O;;

It all makes sense now...
 
Loli_Drizzle said:
So...that's why you used that purple thong-wearing Yun on me...O_O;;

It all makes sense now...
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lololol i dunno why i like yun-seoung. I have other costumes but they look stupid. Im gunna make a cool one eventually, but the thong will do for now. hahah plus it pisses people off, and some sexy cam time when he wins???
 
Aye... Like for example, Setsuka's first player costume is absolutely beautiful. But the face... No thanks...
 
Setsuka's 1P costume . . . beautiful?

Plume, what have I done to you to make you tell me such horrible, horrible lies?
 
...You don't like that shiny, red costume? With flowers on it? Partially open...with a beautiful tattoo on the shoulder...

Her costume is beautiful, and this is a fact. Saying otherwise is an absolute sin. Repent immediately.


(She has a tattoo on her leg as well. Bonus points!)
 
Plume said:
Aye... Like for example, Setsuka's first player costume is absolutely beautiful. But the face... No thanks...
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Setsuka's face is totally hot. And that 1P costume is hot as hell too.
Same with that 1P hairstyle.
 
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