I would argue that visually distinct is a better goal, and allowing appeal to fall where it may. Take Mass Effect 2. Each squad mate has a reasonably distinct look to them and as such they are found appealing to different people. Miranda and Jack are a pretty good example of this in both directions. Miranda is a classic slinky femme fatale with a bodysuit worthy of Selina Kyle. The way she moves and speaks is (mostly) graceful and refined. Jack is such a 2010s criminal badass it’s almost parody; the tattoos, the constant swearing, needling Shepard to go pirate or complaining about doing things in a less than totally violent and destructive manner. Yet last I remember the statistics, they both come out reasonably evenly in popularity for romance paths.Eh, my stance with with Abbie was always that making your character visually appealing is important. I merely talked about balance. Bluegate was the one who started about realism by posting the model, so I responded to that. Need to clarify that I read fast, which is why I said "Who look" instead of "Who looks like shit." Thought he posted random bodybuilders rather than the model. But yeah, that model looks like shit. Won't deny that her dedication is commendable. Why anyone would want that kind of a design in a protagonist is beyond me.
Reminds me, those big human enemies are hilarious. The ones who will go on with bullet holes in their faces. That guy whose jaw you cut in half, was he on PCP? Just dumb.
Certainly more than Jacob. Fuck that guy.