Poll: Best Character Customization in a Game

[MiracleOfSound]

Forgive me if I've misunderstood your point, but this is a thread about what game has the best character customization, right? So if what Chupathingy is saying about the whole "No personality choices, few moral choices, etc." thing is true, that does have an impact on your argument.

If you guys enjoy those kind of customisations then good for you.

I like the customisation in Oblivion. I don't care if it's the best or not (which in itself is a stupid thing to try and find as it is a completely subjective term) - it's the one I like.

And if we're operating on a purely physical standpoint (Which is what I think the OP was talking about), I don't think Oblivion is really the best game if you're looking for customization in that way.

You guys aren't big on the whole 'opinions are subjective' thing, are you.

 

[Aggressor and Usurper]

You guys aren't big on the whole 'opinions are subjective' thing, are you.

Opinions are fine! As long as they're THE EXACT SAME AS MINE. >:/

OT: I'm with Miracle on Oblivion. I've got hundreds and hundreds of hours on that game and I'm still not 100% sick of it: I just never get tired of all the possible builds.

 

[Vrex360]

Saint's Row 2. Everything from gender, ethnicity and body shape are present. But also available is what voice and accent your character will have, as well as how they walk, their prefered compliment and insult and their facial expressions.
As well as empty handed fighting styles.

It's crazy how much stuff you can tweak in that game.

 

[IronicBeet]

Forgive me if I've misunderstood your point, but this is a thread about what game has the best character customization, right? So if what Chupathingy is saying about the whole "No personality choices, few moral choices, etc." thing is true, that does have an impact on your argument.

If you guys enjoy those kind of customisations then good for you.

I like the customisation in Oblivion. I don't care if it's the best or not (which in itself is a stupid thing to try and find as it is a completely subjective term) - it's the one I like.

And if we're operating on a purely physical standpoint (Which is what I think the OP was talking about), I don't think Oblivion is really the best game if you're looking for customization in that way.

You guys aren't big on the whole 'opinions are subjective' thing, are you.

Honestly, the whole "Opinions are subjective and videogames are subjective and opinions are subjective opinions opinions subjective NOTHING IS DEFINITE" angle doesn't really work here. The OP is asking for games with awesome character customization. Oblivion's character customization in terms of stats and physical customization are decent, but probably not the best choice for someone who's specifically looking for games with in-depth customization systems. You have every right to like the customization, I'm just saying that I don't think that's the main point of the thread.

For instance, if you asked me to recommend to you a high quality movie with an excellent story and engaging characters, I wouldn't tell you to check out Baseketball. I like Baseketball, but it doesn't fit the criteria of what you're asking for.

I'm sorry if I'm sounding rude here, I'm trying not to.

 

[Extragorey]

I think the character customisation in Dragon Age Origins was the best I've seen so far - not the most extensive, perhaps - but all the options actually have a noticeable effect.
Oblivion is up there too, of course.

 

[Lt. Vinciti]

Gotta go with Oblivion myself, so many races/classes to pick from and you can mix and match the armour types, unlike in Fallout 3 - the Wasteland Of The Onesies.

Really?

You can't even develop your character's personality, can't develop backstory, can't make your own decsions when it comes to guilds (Blackwood, Necromancers etc) and there is no homosexuality or any perks that may describe a certain way your character acts or fights.

Your own mild personal pursuits arent enough? You need them to be given to you on a silver plate? You cant make your own story? You want some sorta trophy or perhaps special powahs to show that you are a Homosexual? +5 Against Vagina Owners? +10 to Speechcraft +2 to Fabrics
Furry? Animal Tongue +10 Horse Speed?

On Topic:
Oblivion/Fallout
Saints Row Series
City of Heroes (i diddled more with the Creation then I did Gameplay during my 7 days)

 

[ChupathingyX]

Your own mild personal pursuits arent enough? You need them to be given to you on a silver plate? You cant make your own story? You want some sorta trophy or perhaps special powahs to show that you are a Homosexual? +5 Against Vagina Owners? +10 to Speechcraft +2 to Fabrics
Furry? Animal Tongue +10 Horse Speed?

On Topic:
Oblivion/Fallout
Saints Row Series
City of Heroes (i diddled more with the Creation then I did Gameplay during my 7 days)

No, by all means make up your own story I encourage that and do it myself, however, when a game allows yout to actually make that kind of character a reality in the game even better!

No I don't want a trophy but if I do make my character homosexual and that can actually be reflected in the game then adds to the role-playing experience.

It isn't the bonuses that count, it's just the....errr... how to say it, "meaning" of the perk that matters more.

Yeah in Fallout: New Vegas the "Confirmed Bachelor" perk gives you 10% bonus damage to males, however, that is not why I take it, I took it because I wanted that certain character to be homosexual and that perks allowed me to make that decision affect the game literally. The "Sneering Imperialist" perk is another example, yeah sure it gives you bonus damage to tribals, fiends and raiders but what the "meaning" of the perk is, is that your character does not like "primitive" people and is more civilised.

Like I said, imagining what your character is is great, but actually being able to show that in game is even better.

 

[Mr Pantomime]

If were talking which has the most extensive customisation, probably either a WWE game I cant recall, or Saints Row 2.

My favourites would be Mass Effect 2 and The Last Story. Mass Effect 2, far more than 1, gave you the ability to create your own Shepard, one that you felt was yours. I really liked that.
The Last Story has a really neat and extensive clothing customiser for each of your characters. You can switch out their clothing and accesories (which you get more of during the game), recolour, change trims, add random appendages. Its really quite neat. My only complaint would be that the starting selection is rather odd. You can get one character looking good, and the females will look pretty good too, but the remaining males will look like outcasts from the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

On a side note, I always hated the character creation in Fallout 3 and NV. The outcome always makes me feel like im in the valley.

 

[Hides His Eyes]

It's an interesting discussion. When I play Oblivion and other similar games, I tend to have a rough idea in my head about my character's personality, values, ways of thinking and so on. None of it has a bearing on the game itself but I am incapable of creating an avatar without coming up with some ideas about who he/she is as a person. And that's enough for me. I don't need the game's programmers to address the fact that I might have decided, in my head, that my character is gay or hates pickled onions. I mean, how could they possibly accommodate every possible character trait a player could think of?

 

[sindremaster]

Really?

You can't even develop your character's personality, can't develop backstory, can't make your own decsions when it comes to guilds

Really?
My characters have personalities and a backstory and they can decide which guilds they join.

and there is no homosexuality

The last time I checked there were no heterosexuality either. That's because the game doesn't have any romances, but that doesn't stop your character from being gay or straight.

or any perks that may describe a certain way your character acts or fights.

Why do you need perks to choose how your character acts or fights? Why can't you just decide how (s)he acts or fights and then act/fight that way.

You should stop expecting the game to roleplay for you and start roleplaying yourself.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Really?

You can't even develop your character's personality, can't develop backstory, can't make your own decsions when it comes to guilds

Really?
My characters have personalities and a backstory and they can decide which guilds they join.

and there is no homosexuality

The last time I checked there were no heterosexuality either. That's because the game doesn't have any romances, but that doesn't stop your character from being gay or straight.

or any perks that may describe a certain way your character acts or fights.

Why do you need perks to choose how your character acts or fights? Why can't you just decide how (s)he acts or fights and then act/fight that way.

You should stop expecting the game to roleplay for you and start roleplaying yourself.

Well, if we're using ability to roleplay a character multiple ways as the definition of character customization, then character customization peaked with Myst.

Personally, I'm more of the opinion that customization should actually influence the game somehow.

 

[GonzoGamer]

As for my vote for best character customization. Gonna have to go with Saints Row 2, with all the options given, there is almost an endless amount of ways to make the character your own, including being able to choose a voice actor. (Cockney Gang Leader FTW!)

I gotta say Saints Row 2 too. Not an RPG but in one play through I played as a replica of Dr Girlfriend (Venture Bros) and another I had made the ugliest, fattest, dorkiest kid you could imagine.

And of course I also have to recommend the game that inspired SR2: GTA San Andreas. You're stuck with the same guy but you can make him Disneyworld fat, Crackhead skinny, or anything in between. Then give him all sorts of clothes, tattoos, and hairstyles.

Of the RPGs, I would have to go with a Bethesda game like Fallout 3 or Oblivion. They also have tons of mods that allow for even more customization.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I love character cusomization due to getting at feeling of being a individual than being the generic hero however it also depend on the game. Games with no multiplayers and base around on a sole character like Link and Samus will be pointless to have it (you suppose to play that character not your own).

The best customization got to be Champion online since I spend the entire time making a superhero/ villain than playing the game itself (I found the gameplay to be dull). Despite being the best still got some flaw like certain options are remove because you're wearing something it isn't suppose to have. Dammit I want gorilla head AND be allow to have headwear! Even some of the options are srill limited (E.g. only one set of rock skin).

Games like Guild Wars and Monster Hunter had a decent customization although it mostly facial which make sence due to you buyingyour own armour (I can't wait to try out the character creation in Guild Wars 2 as in making a non human race).

The worst character creation I have seen is Phantasty Star Zero but it's because of the DS capability. It was face too limited like only 4 faces, hair colour, costume colour etc while Phantasy Sta Online had 5 times that many!

 

[pendragon177]

Hats. Hats are very important for customization.

Spoiler: Comics

Part 2 Conclusion

 

[Dalek Caan]

Gotta go with Oblivion myself, so many races/classes to pick from and you can mix and match the armour types, unlike in Fallout 3 - the Wasteland Of The Onesies.

Pretty much my choice as well. Also Halo Reach where I can change my armor and color itas I want. White and blue all the way.

 

[mirror's edgy]

Aesthetically? Saints Row 2 had the best character customisation of any game I've ever played. It was great. You had oodles of outfits, complete with colour selections, you could choose your race, voice, walking style, and change your face and body shape in infinity billion different ways.

In terms of customising your actual character and play style...Hmm...I'm not even sure what the best of those would be, because I can think of a fair few. Actually, come to think of it, a few old school online MUDs come to mind. They have such a wide scope of abilities and different paths you can choose that you can do just about whatever you want. Hell, you can even forgo combat altogether and just be a craftsman or fisherman.

This is the point I want to make as well. Visual customization when done well can be a good way to get immersed in an RPG, but I've always been far more interested in character customization that changes how the game plays. Fallout 3 was the first game in the series to add the custom facial customization, but I never liked it because the changes were so minimal and needed to be taken gradually, one at a time. And you played either over the shoulder or first person style, so your appearance was largely meaningless. But that wasn't a big deal.
What disappointed me about Fallout 3 was how your skills and attributes impacted the game far less than previous installments and other popular RPGs. The game was much more combat heavy than previous installments and many goals could only be achieved in one way. Your tag skills were meaningless by level 8 or 9 when you had enough skill points to invest in any skill, your SPECIAL points were meaningless with the perk that lets you add 10 points at any given level, and you could even change your face when you found a plastic surgeon... which doesn't even stop bounty hunters from finding you! My point being that "roleplaying" is much more difficult when specialization is meaningless.

Another good example is Deus Ex and its (first) sequel. The original's skill point system meant that you would need to specialize in certain areas to achieve goals, where the sequel would let you try any approach on the fly, which led to a more unfocused and shaky experience. Many RPG players prefer to have goals that can be achieved through a variety of noticeably different methods, rather than just deciding whether to pick the lock or kill the guy after you've killed your way to the end of the level.

I don't mean for this to come off as a rant, and I'm definitely not bashing on either series I mentioned, (they are both excellent) I just mean to say that building a character in an RPG should be an important series to decisions that affect the game's mechanics based on personal preference. Visual customization is nice, but it can sometimes lead to art design clashes when the fellow with neon green hair crosses the dark and desolate wasteland.

 

[Redalert9r9r]

Some game are much better for it, western RPGs are a big one, not so much on the character centric ones, but we all know what I mean.

Personally, I think the greatest character customization is in Saints Row 2. it is hardly integral to the gameplay, other than some stat increases, but there's so much stupid fun to be had in it, and it simply adds to the enjoyment of the game.

 

[Stabby Joe]

I remember one good example, going far back: WWF Attitude.

Anyone remember that? While the body molding wasn't the best, the amount of random stuff and custom introductions and music was much better than nowadays.

 

[Jakub324]

Technically, Oblivion had the best if you ask me, due to the spectrum of races, but Fallout had the easiest to work with.