Mostly male, mostly white, often gruff - that's what is on offer in video games. Too me, that is not a bad thing. And only playing charakters that are white and male for the rest of my life - I probably would not mind. White and male are so broad, non-descriptive descriptions, that characters fitting into that, could still really be anybody.
But I can see why people would want something different, just for the looks. It is superficial, but good graphics can also be seen as superficial, and I for one am a total sucker for those.
And maybe its not just superficial. Men and women are often profoundly different, and not just because how they were socialised. I think the wohle spectrum of charakter is open for both sexes, but there are tendencies.
I often like playing as a woman. Hellblade left a huge impact on me. I never knowingly played as a black character. Would be cool, if the game was cool. If the charakter is compelling, i like playing them.
And this is, where I take issue. The IGN reviewer assumed a trope. He/She saw white, male, gruff and rolled his/her eyes. That is not okay. I dont see a woman in a game and assume: wow, I bet she cries a lot. I dont see a black men in a game and think: well perfect, another thug. Those preconceived notions about charakter based on race, that is wrong.
Be against done to death tropes all you want. I know I am. But please dont assume a trope just by looking at somebody.
