One good thing about Japanese games in the days of sprites

[badgenome]

16-bit Cecil >>>> Cecil from FFIV DS, for sure.

I agree with Khuutra that it's more of a stylistic choice rather than a cultural thing, though. There are tons of ubermasculine Japanese characters. Show me a Western character who is even half as manly as Kenshiro from Hokuto no Ken or Burns from Vanquish!