Oh please elaborate on that.

I don't recall a single thread here where members were outraged over a character being too sexualized. But I recall well over a hundred threads where members were complaining about women not looking hot enough though, not white enough, too smart, too strong, etc.

That "other side" of gamers you're talking about usually enjoy hot looking men and women in their games as well. They just usually don't mind if they're not either. There may be an activist group here (who probably don't play games), and a journalist there that has issues with it. But read the room. 
You guys doing this every single time are just being annoying to every other member, who are not doing the reverse.

Jin Sakai was described as "not handsome" in the traditional sense by a Yakuza developer.

It worked for that Ghost of Tsushima, and there was no controversy.
Why are women not allowed to be as poorly written as men, or as average looking as men, etc?

As for the God of War analogy, there's nothing unrealistic about being normal looking. It worked for Jin.
Besides, Kratos main opponent in GoW 2018 was quite a bit smaller/leaner than him.

Was it an agenda with Jin as well?
There was no outrage over the fact that he just looked like a normal person.
Women should be allowed to be as poorly written as men, or look as plain as men. Should they not?

It's honestly getting really tiresome hearing this every single time a female main character doesn't look like a model.
Every.
Single.
Time.

I don't know how people live like this, being miserable and paranoid constantly.
But you're spreading it to everyone else who didn't do anything to deserve seeing threads constantly derailed by you guys.

I also must add that I absolutely love the way Astu looks *now* and that is important.



I was never on the hate train because frankly I think that's *redacted insult* but I did not immediately gravitate to her features despite appreciating her overall design. However, What is key is that she was immediately distinguishable in the sea of current protagonists. Imagine taking an amazing artist like Tilda Swindon and complaining that she doesn't look feminine or hot enough. Her distinct looks which may initially pull some eye brows eventually becomes the cherry on the top of her amazing talent



What I know with casting and any piece of creation is that you have to allow it to sit with you. To learn the intention and selection choice of the creators through actually experiencing it. I will reference cinema again because that is what the game is drawing from... Acting aside, there is such magic in casting people with distinct features which leave a lasting impression. Attractive or not. And then also in casting people who look average or non remarkable pedestrian and letting them fill the roll with their personality, or even just allow the story to speak for itself. Essentially casting should be diverse and robust and I'm happy to see game devs branching out a bit more from generic clothes catalogue models.

As far as Agenda's, did the guys complaining also cry "agenda!?" when the Infamous DLC came out 11 years ago? lol

My problem isn't that she looks ugly but that she doesn't look distinguished at all, she looks like a background actress in a film rather than the main star. She has no aura, no gravitas, no coolness factor. She's not believable as someone who has trained for a fight of revenge against strong foes. At any rate, she could be distinguished and attractive, yet they go for neither. 

It's fine to think a character looks bland or forgettable, that argument was thrown against many of the generic white/brown haired male leads since the PS3 era. I would say it never gets in the way of quality writing and believable performances... But for this discourse to run this far and instigate claims of an agenda amongst other things derailing the review thread, it's clear the topic is not just about a forgettable face.

What about Tomb Raider? Do you play that? 

A little bit, yes. I own the second game. Played a bit of it, but I'm waiting to get the first because I don't want to jump ahead.

What makes Jin more 'distinguished' than Atsu? 

See, this is my issue with all of this. Daisuke Tsuji also wasn't the best looking guy and never had a lead role before Sucker Punch hired him for Ghost of Tsushima. Nobody gave a shit.

Now, when they do the same thing with a woman, suddenly she's not beautiful enough, her character is a magical girl boss, or she was only hired due to some far left agenda.

lmao.

^ I'd reply but I'm kinda sick of drawing out this line of discussion but I will say, to wrap it up that Jin Sakais actor is in no way ugly, he is very good looking nor does he have a forgettable face. They weakened his Jaw but it's his story, the coward ir the honourable that it doesn't matter than they made him bland, it fact it benefits his story of the coward or the honourable. It's nothing got to do with men or women for me, it's what the story and themes call for. Atsu may pull a Walter White and her brains and wit may make up for her lack of gravity but making her goodlooking, a strong jaw and a model like intensify in her eyes would go a long way off the bat, she wouldn't beed to peak out from under her hat to look cool. Erika Ishi isn't bad looking either, she's not a model but I don't see why they couldn't just model her face and strong, distinct features instead of weakening them. It makes no sense. It made a little sense for Jin, story wise (still stupid imo) but there is just no good reason here. 

@OT. The question now, is to buy and preloaded or not to buy and preload it. I feel confident I will enjoy it to some degree but I'd also enjoy it 6 months from now at a lower cost. The main thing that is attracting me is the ammount of times it's been compared to RDR2 and that artstyle and world will help me escape reality for many more hours than the main campaign

I think I might go in day one.