I think that this is the first time I have noticed that the plots in Western developed story-driven games are more varied than Japanese developed ones.  Not that the Japanese can't be creative with storytelling(Persona 4, anyone?).

First of all (and gladly) the people that spend so much time on vgchartz are not exactly the people Square is trying to cater to.

And, last but not least, shooters and 'superhero' games and movies perform extraordinary well in the 'West'. It is a little shortsighted point of view, but still, with so many people wanting to shoot/beat up eachother in-game who can really blame them for trying something like this...?

""Saito: We did realize that not all international audiences are the same though – it was thought that Replicant [the girly version] might be suitable for the French, as they have a greater appreciation of Japanese culture.""

yayaya :DDD

that is so........... true.....

damn, Square you really have lost touch!! why not go in the middle and not be too emo or too badass, Zack of Crisis Core was a great example. He wasnt depressed like Cloud but he wasnt a huge douche like some of our western game heroes. He was just a dude doing his job with a huge sword

If that's the case I think it's about time you Japanophiles wake up.

Where is Kratos, Drake and Solid Snake? If those are not "real characters" for you, give me five chracteristics of Mario's personallity without telling me how he looks and his abilities, I double dare you.

Haha good question.  Maybe because a lot of people seem to accept false dichotomies as logical haha. 

Square is reaching a little too much here though.  Need to chill out from comments like this... isn't good PR. 

It's funny 'cos it's true.

Gears of War's cast...

Would probably look like this, if made by a Japanese developer.

Mario.