The 3rd Birthday

[Bells]

i don't disagree with you. I really don't. But you did, however missed a couple of points.

First of all... Technology. If Squeenix could render Aya like they did in PE3 back in PE2 and PE1, they would. It was just not doable. It's not about the same View point that was used for Lara Croft in the PS1 though, in it the entire point of Lara's Sexiness were large Polygon breasts and Short & tight clothing.

That didn't serve the purpose of what PE1 was trying to do, so they went with NYPD Basic look. But just compare some cutscenes from PE1 and PE2, you can see that they work around Technical limitations. They can render a monstrosity like Even in beautiful detail, but Aya is quite bland on those CG's... On the other hand, all press material for both games point out to some Flirty looks and overall sensual presentation without being gratuitous.

Hey, they try to explain via plot why Aya looks 25 when should be nearing 40's ... it's boneless excuse for "MILFing" her up... but that's also Japanese culture for ya. And let's face it... it's also quite a bit of International Culture more than anything else.

You could make a case for the constant nod towards some nudity being actually related to the mythology of the game itself, by being about Eve, Evolution, Birth, conception, Purity and all those other themes that in a way co-relate to a feminine aspect, to childbirth, to a "Motherhood" sub-theme, and all that...

You can make that connection. It's there. But then you can also see Squeenix taking that connection and putting it in Fishnet stockings because their market research team concluded that it will help sell another 400k copies... afterall, it is still a game made by a company to sell and make money.

As for the Cutscene in PE2, i actually think you got it wrong... although not by much. I never saw it as being suggestive, nor even about Fanservice... to me it felt more connected to the "survival Horror" feeling the game was trying to pull, as it was a "breather" in the middle of all the Chaos Aya was going through, a "Human" moment if you will. Much so that it ends with the ending to that same peace, when Aya notices something big (and probably nasty) is coming. She is in her most vulnerable momment, in reflection, nude in the shower, as we all would be, and then comes another threat... it was atmospheric to me.

[Krylo]

Originally Posted by Bells

i don't disagree with you. I really don't. But you did, however missed a couple of points.

First of all... Technology. If Squeenix could render Aya like they did in PE3 back in PE2 and PE1, they would. It was just not doable. It's not about the same View point that was used for Lara Croft in the PS1 though, in it the entire point of Lara's Sexiness were large Polygon breasts and Short & tight clothing.

Doesn't hold water. Aya Brea, promotional material aside, was anything but a sex symbol. Sure, she was attractive, but she was attractive while wearing a leather coat, a t-shirt, some jeans, and tossing around SMGs, Pistols, Shotguns, and Rocket Launchers.

Her clothes never came off. There wasn't a shower scene. There was only her, one cop, trying to stop the creature that was Eve, and finding out about her connections to it. Her gender was never an issue, beyond the feminine/matriarchal tones of the mitochondria in the game.

I didn't play two, or even follow it, so I won't comment on that, but in three you have the same character's personality being changed to make her more 'vulnerable', which--while a rather vague term--is most certainly something that should set off warning bells in anyone who has at all followed modern media vis a vis women and their personalities.

Then you have her clothes coming off, which happens far too completely to be realistic. I mean there were some energy blasts, fires, etc, that one could use to kinda sorta justify this (even with her body being relatively uninjured), but unless every enemy she fights fires mitochondrial energy or whatever from every limb it doesn't come close to excusing it. And even if they DID there's no reason for all her clothes to fall away like that. Singed holes, blacked tears, etc. could all work. THIS doesn't.

There's just a lot here, from gameplay, to cinematics, to the way they talk about writing the character that says, "we were tired of having a strong female protagonist, and figured Slutty McMissVulnerable would sell better." It's really indefensible.

[Kim]

Originally Posted by Krylo

but unless every enemy she fights fires mitochondrial energy or whatever from every limb it doesn't come close to excusing it

IIRC the game's enemies aren't mitochondria this time around anyways.

[Azisien]

I think we can all agree pretty well that the clothing thing is so we can get close to seeing a video game character's tits and ass without actually seeing tits and ass. This isn't so much a point of discussion as a point of potential disgust and boycotting/moving on.

[Bells]

Originally Posted by Krylo

Doesn't hold water. Aya Brea, promotional material aside, was anything but a sex symbol. Sure, she was attractive, but she was attractive while wearing a leather coat, a t-shirt, some jeans, and tossing around SMGs, Pistols, Shotguns, and Rocket Launchers.

Her clothes never came off. There wasn't a shower scene. There was only her, one cop, trying to stop the creature that was Eve, and finding out about her connections to it. Her gender was never an issue, beyond the feminine/matriarchal tones of the mitochondria in the game.

I didn't play two, or even follow it, so I won't comment on that, but in three you have the same character's personality being changed to make her more 'vulnerable', which--while a rather vague term--is most certainly something that should set off warning bells in anyone who has at all followed modern media vis a vis women and their personalities.

Ah! There really is a link you are missing for not knowing about the changes from 1 to 2, Although it's absolutely nothing major. Just fine print stuff. Actually, there is nothing a quick Wikipedia search or even Just Watching the FMVs in youtube can't tell ya. But overall, i can see what you're saying

Then you have her clothes coming off, which happens far too completely to be realistic. I mean there were some energy blasts, fires, etc, that one could use to kinda sorta justify this (even with her body being relatively uninjured), but unless every enemy she fights fires mitochondrial energy or whatever from every limb it doesn't come close to excusing it. And even if they DID there's no reason for all her clothes to fall away like that. Singed holes, blacked tears, etc. could all work. THIS doesn't.

I can actually make your case stronger for you, but this is from a "haven't played yet" perspective.

If, in the game Aya takes control over the mind of characters around her, and we see Aya just to give the player a "visual anchor" to connect to the main character, then, it just doesn't justify the cloth Damage, because it's not Aya's Clothing that is being ripped apart.

If she is not not mind controlling, but actually Metaphorming into anybody she chooses, then after Each dive she should repair her clothing, just like her HP Heals up when she changes bodies.

So, Squeenix Argument is undermined by their own Game Mechanics.

There's just a lot here, from gameplay, to cinematics, to the way they talk about writing the character that says, "we were tired of having a strong female protagonist, and figured Slutty McMissVulnerable would sell better." It's really indefensible.

Bayonetta was predictable, Other M was an Oddball, 3rd Birthday is a curious case, if one more game like this comes out ill say we have a Syndrome...