MK11 female designs are... extremely underwhelming

[Lisbeth]

Also, surprise, Cetrion is the most boring character in the whole damn fighting game universe.

you won me over here

 

[MKF30]

@Professor Oak Nice post, I agree with just about everything you said except the part about Cetrion being boring as a huge Fujin fan, I'll take what I can get at this point. lol I mean I'm still hoping he makes the cut as DLC at some point along with Ermac but time will tell.

 

[CrimsonShadow]

Yo, Ive held saying this bluntly back, but tonight Im on one.

Sex is okay. Being sexual is okay. Liking sex A LOT is okay. Being gay is okay. Being straight is okay. Being both, or trans, or pan, or asexual is okay. The idea is to include everyone and not to exclude anyone. If you are hate talking toward people who want to see tiddies and that juicy bootae, youre just another part of the thought police. I like to think, somewhere, theres a world where guys are fighting for characters like Jax to not have abs because it portrays an unrealistic body standard and objectifies men. Honestly, I myself am a classical feminist. Any person, man, woman, even Mileena player be able to earn anything they are capable of earning and respect them and treat them as they wish to be treated. But that does NOT mean, I am to pretend I dont want to see them Naked. Especially if its just some game Im playing PURELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT. Also, its not even weird to be turned on by picels. Some people atre genuinely into hentai and the like. Its certainly an option on tabs when Im on Pornhub. Theres a market. Lets all be adults. This game is rated mature, lets act mature. Men are half naked. Liu, Jax, Johnny, others, so women can be too. Its fantasy. To please us. Game of thrones doesnt HAVE to show tits and sex and John Snows ass, but it does. Because people love it. I want Mileena with big ole tidders and idc who knows it.

Rant over.

Also, surprise, Cetrion is the most boring character in the whole damn fighting game universe.

I don't really wanna start this whole discussion again, but there's a pretty big difference between a Bruce Lee/Van Damme archetype and literally dressing a character like a stripper. Bruce Lee was considered sexy without being sexualized.. They didn't have to turn him into Magic Mike to have him be an attractive lead. That's a far cry from where most of the female outfits have been, so I just don't think it's a sound comparison.

If you look at female MMA outfits, you can see a good example of what fighters actually look like (read: not bikini tops and thongs)

As always, if it actually fits the character's origin, that's different. But forcing overt sexualization in "because female" is pretty silly.

 

[Professor Oak]

I don't really wanna start this whole discussion again, but there's a pretty big difference between a Bruce Lee/Van Damme archetype and literally dressing a character like a stripper. Bruce Lee was considered sexy without being sexualized.. They didn't have to turn him into Magic Mike to have him be an attractive lead. That's a far cry from where most of the female outfits have been, so I just don't think it's a sound comparison.

It most certainly is a sound conparison, and if you cant see that, I feel sorry for any woman you interact with. Have you ever met a stripper? Talked to one? Actually gotten to know one? Some, many even, are empowered by what they do. The stereotype isnt the be all end all. 100% action heroes, including Bruce Lee, are shown topless and at low body fat percentages for visual appeal. There is not combat advantage to being that ripped. Watch actual combat sports. You lose stamina and endurance.

Its sexual. Its natural. They need three dimensional personalities far more than they need smaller boobs.

 

[Professor Oak]

I don't really wanna start this whole discussion again, but there's a pretty big difference between a Bruce Lee/Van Damme archetype and literally dressing a character like a stripper. Bruce Lee was considered sexy without being sexualized.. They didn't have to turn him into Magic Mike to have him be an attractive lead. That's a far cry from where most of the female outfits have been, so I just don't think it's a sound comparison.

If you look at female MMA outfits, you can see a good example of what fighters actually look like (read: not bikini tops and thongs)

As always, if it actually fits the character's origin, that's different. But forcing overt sexualization in "because female" is pretty silly.

Also, to reply to your edit, yes MMA attire, how much of the thigh or cleavage is covered by that, exactly?

How much sense does it make for Jax to wear an open vest with no shirt underneath even though he is supposedly a member of the straight laced super Army our bare no skin lady pal Sonya is? You are looking through traditionalist eyes that are trying to bend to a progressive light. Trust me homie, aint nothing wrong with a lil thong n bra on a pixelated ninja princess. There will always be alts for the ones who dont like it. Liu Kang has armored, cloth, and bare chest skins and he shines as a very divers character. The females suffer from diversity. Only so many ways you can cover them completely. Lmao.

 

[Espio]

I admittedly haven't seen all the female gear of course, but Kitana, Jade, D'vorah, Skarlet and Jacqui look lovely and varied enough.

I think it's mainly just Cassie (and to a lesser degree Sonya), her outfit pallet/variety is just awful and I definitely wouldn't argue otherwise.

There's not enough variance. Her sports gear, the military attire, and something else cool and different alongside the space suit would be nice.

What I'm thinking is some of these characters might have some of their most stylish stuff as DLC too, it's an easy sell honestly.

 

[Evil Canadian]

Its ok to be able to play a character without having to jerk off to them.

 

[Professor Oak]

Its ok to be able to play a character without having to jerk off to them.

Absolutely! But its okay to play a character you wanna masturbate to as well. Im a grown man, and I dont have to be immature about the fact that sexual arousal happens for many people for many different reasons. Is that too taboo for the people of Evil Canada?

 

[Evil Canadian]

Absolutely! But its okay to play a character you wanna masturbate to as well. Im a grown man, and I dont have to be immature about the fact that sexual arousal happens for many people for many different reasons. Is that too taboo for the people of Evil Canada?

over here its taboo and shameful to talk about how much you are angry video game characters do not meet your masturbatory needs, yes.

 

[Lisbeth]

Funny how I always saw Mortal Kombat characters as something like He-man, the He-man/She-ra situation. Both are equally dressed scandalously.
Dudes look like Adonis with most (~70% percent the last time I checked) of them having bare chested options (some even pantless) and their designs have followed the historical design philosophy of male MK characters: strong, muscled, great physique that they show off.

But not the girls, they're dressed even more conservatively than MKX which I don't really get because I think MKX did a really good job at distancing itself from the skin clad designs of MK9 which was NRS' goal while still being very ''tastefully sexy'' and as far as body shape goes none of them looked very conservative, some had their curves and looked very good, a happy middle-ground.
And the most important thing, MKX outfits were interesting looking, now some characters look so boring that they look like npcs. I think MKX nailed it with Revenant Kitana and Vampiress Mileena.

 

[Professor Oak]

over here its taboo and shameful to talk about how much you are angry video game characters do not meet your masturbatory needs, yes.

Well, Im not angry at them not meeting my mastubatory(not a word at all) needs. Im angry, and only mildly so, at the vocal crowd of people shouting, “lul cuck u cant play wit ur smol dick now haha its game respek female.”

That isnt respecting females, its placing yourself above others. I cannot respect Kitana. She is not a person. I have a friend who is in porn, I respect her. She is thrilled to hear that Ive watched her performances.

I just get confused, are we empowering females or trying to fix them? Are the womens outfits really what were blaming? Seems suspect.

Its my fault for being turned on by the women in lingerie, so cover up the women in lingerie. Okay, bro. That sounds way more logical than its no ones business what anyone masturbates to and anyone can wear anything they want and MAYBE some women LIKE to dress in a way that men perceive as sexual. Big idea, huh.

 

[Evil Canadian]

Well, Im not angry at them not meeting my mastubatory(not a word at all)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masturbatory

looks like your FACE isn't a word bitch haahHAHAHHA

 

[Professor Oak]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masturbatory

looks like your FACE isn't a word bitch haahHAHAHHA

Fair enough

 

[Professor Oak]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masturbatory

looks like your FACE isn't a word bitch haahHAHAHHA

In my defense, Im stupid

 

[Briggsfan]

Jacqui's skins are alright. I think the NRS employees kinda overhyped them.

Not really, they're actually legitimately good.

 

[Briggsfan]

I don't really wanna start this whole discussion again, but there's a pretty big difference between a Bruce Lee/Van Damme archetype and literally dressing a character like a stripper. Bruce Lee was considered sexy without being sexualized.. They didn't have to turn him into Magic Mike to have him be an attractive lead. That's a far cry from where most of the female outfits have been, so I just don't think it's a sound comparison.

If you look at female MMA outfits, you can see a good example of what fighters actually look like (read: not bikini tops and thongs)

As always, if it actually fits the character's origin, that's different. But forcing overt sexualization in "because female" is pretty silly.

I always preferred how games like King of Fighters handled it.

Where you had female characters like Mai, but also female characters like King that wore a suit.

They had a balance. It wasn't all one side.

 

[NothingPersonal]

Its ok to be able to play a character without having to jerk off to them.

No it's not.

 

[Kitana Fan]

I don't really wanna start this whole discussion again, but there's a pretty big difference between a Bruce Lee/Van Damme archetype and literally dressing a character like a stripper. Bruce Lee was considered sexy without being sexualized.. They didn't have to turn him into Magic Mike to have him be an attractive lead. That's a far cry from where most of the female outfits have been, so I just don't think it's a sound comparison.

If you look at female MMA outfits, you can see a good example of what fighters actually look like (read: not bikini tops and thongs)

As always, if it actually fits the character's origin, that's different. But forcing overt sexualization in "because female" is pretty silly.

I would argue such outfits fit the female ninjas, whom always wore a leotard-like outfit since MK2, plus their agility and everything, combined with the fact that Edenians tend not to wear a lot of clothes. It was only in MKX they started changing that.

 

[Tanya-Fan-28]

Funny how I always saw Mortal Kombat characters as something like He-man, the He-man/She-ra situation. Both are equally dressed scandalously.
Dudes look like Adonis with most (~70% percent the last time I checked) of them having bare chested options (some even pantless) and their designs have followed the historical design philosophy of male MK characters: strong, muscled, great physique that they show off.

But not the girls, they're dressed even more conservatively than MKX which I don't really get because I think MKX did a really good job at distancing itself from the skin clad designs of MK9 which was NRS' goal while still being very ''tastefully sexy'' and as far as body shape goes none of them looked very conservative, some had their curves and looked very good, a happy middle-ground.
And the most important thing, MKX outfits were interesting looking, now some characters look so boring that they look like npcs. I think MKX nailed it with Revenant Kitana and Vampiress Mileena.

Except bale chested males intent is different from the intent of skimply dressed females. When ever people see a bare chested, muscular male in action movies, they are never seen as 'sex symbols' the way expsed skin dressed females. It's seen as masculine and heroic to the majority of the audience whereas a female fighter showing lots of skin is seen as a sex object. Ask any woman what a sexualised male might be in their mind and they aren't going to be mentioning 'Khotal Khan or 'Kano' the way nerdy males talk about Ivy Valentine. Its something like a sensetive male wearing a sweater and flowers on the cover of a magezine. Sure, ppl CAN be sexually attracted to bare chested males but generally the intent of their design isn't to be for sexual enjoyment. So the whole 'double standard' statement doesn't really work in terms of tropes, and is an emergency-pull chord argument I see most players use at best.

 

[NothingPersonal]

There's no doubt NRS went with double standards on this one. They say they want to go with realism, yet they have monsters and gods in their game. They say no one would go in a fight in a bikini, yet their characters were fighting in bikinis for 20+ years and most males in this game wear only pants and shirts. It's just that they aren't honest about it. And that saddens and worries me at the same time. I want a classic skin pack for females. But if they do make one for sale, then it will mean they will literally sell sexappeal. Which will make it even worse and more unprobable.
Also half of the female costumes are unpractical af for combat. Long tunics and heavy armor aren't convenient for hand-to-hand combat at all.

 

[MBZ_Gaming]

I dont know why people assume that when you hate female outfit it means that we want skimpy outfits.

I’ve been through every costume video/pic posted and to be honest it not just the female characters got awful design costumes.

The good I found are so few and most of them are returning costumes somehow.

 

[NothingPersonal]

Also, give me Noob Saibot ghoul nipples nao!

 

[Hacenit]

The skins are such a mixed bag.
On one hand, I really like the way the new Kitana outfit looks. Her masks are kinda cool. Jacqui skins are very varied. There's a dress, a vest and everything. She looks really good. D'vorah is creepy as hell, I love it.

BUT

• The outfits all have that injustice quality of having useless chunks slapped on top of perfectly normal designs. It makes them busy and cluttered, taking away some of characters individuality.
• I abhore the Edenian aesthetic being changed from vaguely Persian outfits to vaguely chinese (?) outfits. It's annoying enough with the women but if Rain shows up (you know, I hope) wearing not his cool prince of persia style look from MKX but wearing a kimono or some trash it's riot time.
• Every Kronika themed skin is boring as hell. I'd be alright if every character had a Kronika skin similar to God skin in Injustice 2, but for some characters it feels like an integral part of their design.
• Some of Geras skins look like reused Green Lantern parts.
• EVERY female character except for I think Sonya and Cassie has this weird loincloth hanging between their legs. Give some of them a proper dress or something. On some characters it looks very unnecessary. Again, very samey.
• A certain cyborg doesn't look like a cyborg at all due to similarities with other fully human characters.
• I greatly dislike that the change in designs came from ideological place and not just a general desire to make better more varied character designs. I defended Skarlet redesign to my friends saying "come on, she looked too similar to the others in MK9, now they are doing her as a proper character and giving her an actual design". When that interview came out I felt like an idiot. Like an absolute buffoon. Like an incredible moron. Like an utter imbecile.

< This Sonya outfit looks like Bebop from TMNT cosplay

 

[MKF30]

Not to offend anyone with this viewpoint, but I think it's a really weak argument to just assume "oh those who want the skimpier outfits/classic outfits just want to get off, masturbate to them" What about those of us who just want ohh I don't know, variety? Classic nostalgic outfits that you know made these characters who they are? Just because a chick in a game dresses sexy or clad doesn't mean she's an automatic "stripper" lol. "oh she's in a bikini looking she's a stripper" I'm sorry, but by this logic every woman who goes to the beach would be considered a "stripper" And that's clearly not the case.

I'm pretty sure most who want them don't wack it to that let's be realistic here lol. I mean I love the classic outfits and it's not because I want to rub one out (like others here seem to think or because I want them to look like strippers) I just think they look cooler and it's what defined them to begin with. For the former, as others including myself have mentioned already that's what A. real women/GF's/wives etc and/or B. porn are for) I'd also like to point out that I knew a girl who used to car model and they made her dress in clad, sexy outfits does that mean she's a stripper? I also have a friend who does modeling part time still, yet she's very conservative with how she dresses at the job I met her from(which was Target) and believe me there were women at that job I worked with who went out of their way to show cleavage, their asses with tight jeans etc, etc yet this girl did not. So did that make her a stripper? No, it was just her job. My point is not every women who dresses real or especially in a fictional video game is a stripper, degrading or sexualized. Some women actually want the attention, others just like wearing things that look good on them. But back on.

@Professor Oak also brings up a great point regarding MMA/UFC, I actually mentioned that in that other thread that got closed. Sure, a woman may not want to wear a shoelace top to a fight but she sure as hell ain't wearing leather from head to toe either. You want to be comfortable yet not have so much clothing to wear your opponent can grab onto it and use it to their advantage either. I can definitely see someone fighting in Sonya's MK 9 outfit, combat boots, muscle undershirt, hat and shorts before I can see someone fighting in all leather in heels.

 

[CrimsonShadow]

Also, to reply to your edit, yes MMA attire, how much of the thigh or cleavage is covered by that, exactly?

How much sense does it make for Jax to wear an open vest with no shirt underneath even though he is supposedly a member of the straight laced super Army our bare no skin lady pal Sonya is? You are looking through traditionalist eyes that are trying to bend to a progressive light. Trust me homie, aint nothing wrong with a lil thong n bra on a pixelated ninja princess. There will always be alts for the ones who dont like it. Liu Kang has armored, cloth, and bare chest skins and he shines as a very divers character. The females suffer from diversity. Only so many ways you can cover them completely. Lmao.

It's just a giant false equivalency. Fighters never wear shirts. Not in Boxing, not in MMA. But they're also not sexualized. Doesn't mean that they can't still be sexy or whatever, but it's not the main point.

Female boxers and MMA artists wear gear that doesn't cover everything, but it's also not shaped like bikinis/thongs etc. It's not intended to be sexualized. It also generally minimizes cleavage a bit (since it's designed to keep things comfortable for fighting) rather than overemphasizing it the way sex-themed underwear does. They don't look like they're dressed for seduction.

Then you have say, ring card holders, who are most definitely intended for aesthetic appeal. The issue is that from MK9 the female combatants were close to ring card girls than something resembling a fighter. It's not that people should have a problem with it, but if the franchise decides to grow up a bit, that should also be fine.

But this "Bruce Lee-style fighters without the shirts is the same as wearing stripper-eque outfits" is just a very poor connection to draw. It's not really true, and doesn't do justice to the legacy of fighting in media.