Japan makes cooler characters than everyone else...

[SAMAS]

Japan characters are mostly stupid. I mean, how are you supposed to relate to an angsty teen with a stupid haircut?

The same way I'm supposed to relate to a grim gravel-voiced middle-aged dude who doesn't give a damn about anybody else with a huge gun.

All Japanese games usually do this( Catherine is my only exception). They are NOT likeable. They are ALWAYS the same!

Alucard (Hellsing) - A sadistic vampire of immense power

Light Yagami (Death Note) - An extremely intelligent borderline psychotic who decides to fix the world by giving people he doesn't like fatal heart attacks.

Nagi Springfield (Mahou Sensei Negima/Negima! Magister Negi Magi) - a 10-year-old wizard/teacher who has a severe worrywart complex and a penchant for charming the pants off of girls half again his age, desperately seeking to find his absentee father after seeing his hometown

Teruharu "Hideo" Kousukegawa (Change 123) - A teenaged wimp and Masked Raider fan who manages to always have the courage to stand up for his friends, even though said friends are among the deadliest fighters in Japan, if not the world, and the guys he stands up to are capable of breaking him in half without much effort.

Of course, I can also balance this with unique Western characters like Deadpool, Coop, Ben Tennyson (Though he is a lot like a Shounen hero), Snake-Eyes, Optimus Prime, and the like.

Also, when it comes to giant robots, none are better than Battlemechs. Its the only mecha I've ever seen that does giant robots right. Every japanese giant robot thing I've seen fails improbability checks on several levels.

Two things to mention:

#1: Giant robots in and of themselves are improbable.

#2: The mechs that primarily shaped the design themes for BattleTech both came from anime: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross and Fang of the Sun Dougram.

And Mobile Suit Gundam still beats Battletech on several levels when it comes to realism.
a: Mobile Suits are not the kings of ground combat. Gundam Tanks tended to have heavier standard armor and bigger guns. Mobile Suits, conceptually speaking, are Space fighters with some ground combat utility. In fact, before MSV, 08th MS Team and MS Igloo 2 retconned some early GMs and Guntanks into the picture, The Federation actually pushed the Mobile Suit-using Zeon forces off the planet with a completely conventional force.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

Best Character EVER !

- Joneleth Irenicus -

Spoiler

 

[thest3alth]

Japan always makes cool stuff like insane fighting robots, planet-buster characters, guys with crazy hair and outfits, and over the top sword and gunplay.

Other countries like America always create guys with guns and gruff, low voices who don't do much cool stuff.

So How come Japan makes cooler stuff than the rest of us.. They made Power Rangers.. America made Halo Spartans.

The difference is, is that the East makes characters based on their ability, their power. They have no limit. It all gets boring very quickly. Like that mech the size of the galaxy? I mean come on, seriously? Yeah it's powerful, but I can't take it seriously. And power =/= cool.

The west, however, has limits, builds character, weaves morals into a story, delivers messages relative to the real world. That shit is da bomb.

 

[mechashiva77]

Japan characters are mostly stupid. I mean, how are you supposed to relate to an angsty teen with a stupid haircut? All Japanese games usually do this( Catherine is my only exception). They are NOT likeable. They are ALWAYS the same!

What about Dante?

Well I never got around to playing DMC... but now that you mention it, I should probably play them.

I've never played it myself, but based on reviews and first person accounts, he is definetly not your standard "whiny teen protagonist with a stupid haircut".

 

[Archangel768]

Friggin Right! Thank you! It was terrible going through school with my friends telling me that a

"Gundam" could kill an Atlas... WTF? Hmmmm comparison, 100 tons v.s. 7 tons. I'm pretty sure that

that Atlas is going to walk away from the fight.

Not trying to start a fight in anyway but, Gundams from the Gundam Seed universe range anywhere from 60 - 100 tons.

I'm not saying who would win in a fight because I don't know much about Atlas's firepower. Just pointing out the facts.

Although if you look at the Gundam Wing universe, its Gundams are around 10 or so tons. Depends which show you look at really.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Hmmmm....

Spoiler

He may be on to something...

If you're looking for a Dante style of cool then the West can deliver that pree-ty well...

Spoiler: Click to be Assassinated!

And how about a lazer sword duel on a plant-destroying giant gun between a psychic powered cyborg-man and his long lost son to decide the fate of the galaxy?

Spoiler: Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto...

Spandex clad warriors vs rubber monsters are not cooler than armored super soldiers vs alien zealots. End o' story.

Said armored Super Soldiers don't have giant robots.

What about Warhammer 40k, it has mechs and giant robots coming out of it's GRIMDARK ears, and it's British!

Spoiler: He's a big fellow

Spoiler: But if you like anime I think you might prefer this one

Spoiler: And this is probably the most Anime of all, but if you so much as scratch the paintjob you lose the no-claims bonus. Damn insurance!

The Japanese have a notably different style to Western animation and character designs. It's just a matter of personal taste.

 

[Axelhander]

Japan always makes cool stuff like insane fighting robots, planet-buster characters, guys with crazy hair and outfits, and over the top sword and gunplay.

Other countries like America always create guys with guns and gruff, low voices who don't do much cool stuff.

So How come Japan makes cooler stuff than the rest of us.. They made Power Rangers.. America made Halo Spartans.

There is only one place, and the Rock means ONLY *one place*, where Japan makes cooler characters than everyone else: the minds of people who haven't the first clue what makes a strong, compelling character (e.g., MovieBob, you).

 

[SAMAS]

Also, when it comes to giant robots, none are better than Battlemechs. Its the only mecha I've ever seen that does giant robots right. Every japanese giant robot thing I've seen fails improbability checks on several levels.

Friggin Right! Thank you! It was terrible going through school with my friends telling me that a

"Gundam" could kill an Atlas... WTF? Hmmmm comparison, 100 tons v.s. 7 tons. I'm pretty sure that

that Atlas is going to walk away from the fight.

Not trying to start a fight in anyway but, Gundams from the Gundam Seed universe range anywhere from 60 - 100 tons.

I'm not saying who would win in a fight because I don't know much about Atlas's firepower. Just pointing out the facts.

Although if you look at the Gundam Wing universe, its Gundams are around 10 or so tons. Depends which show you look at really.

More like it depends on what Mobile suit you use. A Leo would stand no chance. The Atlas would most likely take down a Zaku, but would be hurting if it got too close first (especially a SEED Destiny ZAKU). Against the RX-78-2? The Gundam could take it down at a distance or if it gets the jump on it up close, but the right model Atlas could give it problems. Ironically, the 7-ton Wing Zero could vaporize an Atlas with no problems whatsoever.

And if you include something like the Destroy [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0qR0iac1m8]...? Yeah, Atlas is DOOMED. Any Battlemech you care to name is DOOMED. Hell, most Regimental Combat Teams could lose against the Destroy.

 

[Grabbin Keelz]

I think it's more because Japan just makes a shit load of characters and a handful of them are good. They've made way more bad characters than good ones.

 

[Blueruler182]

Um... The entire Marvel lineup. Ok, most of it. "America came up with Halo Spartans" go outside one medium, damn it!

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Well they certainly make much more vibrant and colourful characters, that's for sure. Certainly a stark contrast to all the interchangeable grizzled short brown haired guys.

EDIT: Talking strictly of game characters of course.

 

[Nazulu]

I know what you mean even though I don't agree it's only Japan that can make awesome characters. A lot of anime characters look bad ass through slick design as well as showing off their weird or insane powers along with demon speed, while speaking with a deep tone. I really like some anime even though most of them a drawn exactly the same way and become incredibly silly with their Pokemon designs and stupid looking fashion styles, but it works.

 

[MordinSolus]

Damn right Japan makes cool stuff.

So do American and European developers.

1) You ninja'd me.
2) Funny avatar.

 

[spacecowboy86]

yeah, I see what you mean. Americans only ever make gritty badasses with guns and insane passion for what their fighting for, Japanese make whiny superpowered kids with big rainbowlicious hair and swords all the time!

 

[Lt. Vinciti]

...Im going to agree with some of these people calling you a troll...


Also while we all make gruff men w/ gruff voices w/ large guns...

my japanese choices are:
Loli
Pedo
Angst
Emo
Annoying
Cool

Now go ahead and combine some of those choices


I enjoy a both but Im not going to apply for my weeaboo card and say:
Japan is better then America

 

[NickFury90]

This thread got real weaboo, real fast.

And I have a Cowboy Beboy avatar

Well you're right.

But we have Marv.

And his mitts.

I think you might be on to something, good sir.

 

[springheeljack]

Man we got Batman
and hellboy
is this strictly limited to video-games or is he bringing all forums of media into this?

 

[aescuder]

If that's what you think "cool" is, then yes I suppose the Japs does have a certain flair for that kind of style. It's fun, although it could get rather juvenile pretty quick though. (DMC has definitely hopped through that line)

And i do love me some armored core! <3 <3 <3

Don't get me started on some of the dialogue/plot/storylines they make though (honestly, those guys need to get better literary sources other than crappy anime/manga). Yeeeesh, i guess "coolness" comes with a price.

 

[ckam]

Well, we got our first Virtual Diva live concert of awesomeness ever from Japan...

 

[Vigormortis]

Damn right Japan makes cool stuff.

So do American and European developers.

Exactly. The real dilemma is all of the studios that DON'T make "cool characters". Of which, all countries are inundated with.

Besides, it's all subjective. The OP thinks big, crazy hair and wild outfits on androgynous characters, who are holding giant swords and fighting crazy looking giant robots, are cool.
I, on the other hand, do not.

I prefer a slight bit of realism or, in the very least, some believability in my favorite characters. I tend to prefer characters that display a touch of humanity and depth. (even if they're not remotely close to being human) Crazy looks and over-the-top character designs don't interest me. They did when I was eight. But, I quickly grew tired of them.