Ok... really? What even is THIS?

By the_grimace 12-26-2012 11:20 PM
Updated by the_grimace 12-27-2012 02:53 AM

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Take a look...

What...?

I understand the sexualization of women in games, but really? I laughed so hard when I saw this. But then I remembered I was supposed to be playing a serious RPG. Then the game kept pummeling we with zoomed in shots of her backside and her crazy unrealistic breasts. I love the great looking ladies of games as much as anyone, but quickly I started to feel uncomfortable. Soon after that I felt a bit disturbed about the whole thing... I'm trying to enjoy an RPG here damn'it!

I can't even begin to understand. For those that are unaware of who the above "lady" is, it is Kaine from "Nier". I recently started playing the game, (about 5 hours in) and my brain sort of explodes in confusion and disbelief every time I see this woman and her ridiculous get up. I'm not very far into the game yet, so maybe more is revealed why this dual sword wielding fighter is wearing the most ridiculous lingerie 24/7, but I'm not seeing any motive so far other than an extreme case of sexualization of women in games.

Think that photo is pretty tame? That's just the start of her get-up. Click the pics below to see more of her "outfit" (NSFW)

Ok, just look at the top of this outfit. WTF IS THIS. First off, and most glaringly, I am wondering where her nipples are. Yes, the top of her "shirt" has triangle cutouts under her breasts, and yes, that is her breasts showing... yet no nipples? The thin fabric also appears to be tied with thin thread at the top in nothing more than a dainty bow. I can't even go on...

The back of her outfit is even more facepalm. To say the least, her entire ass is visible. The area going down her crack is nothing more than some shoe lace loosely tied together. Her entire butt is basically visible every time she turns, and the game just loves to have shots where the camera zooms in on her ass. Just wow.

Yea.... I got no words for that.

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What were the Nier developers thinking with her?! Like I said, maybe events happen in the game that better explain this ridiculous outfit, but so far I'm just seeing it all being done to sex her up in the most extreme way possible. I've talked about the sexualization of women in games briefly in one of my previous blogs, about love and creating false conceptions of what real women were like (My blog about How games warped my perception of Love), but in the end, I actually said we should keep fantasy women looking like fantasy women.

But this? I've never seen such a blatant and over the top case of sexualizing a woman in a game more than this. I look at this image and my brain tries to fathom how this outfit is even possible. It tries to make some sense of why this tough badass women is wearing such ridiculous... lingerie. My brain then gives up and I just laugh, but it's not in a good way. It's in a wow this is kind of uncomfortable so I'm just going to laugh it off way..

So just wanted to share this today and see what other CAG's think of Kaine, the most ridiculously and pointlessly sexed up woman in gaming history. I understand wanting to make women good looking in games, but this tries so hard it just comes off as a bit disturbing. Anyway, thanks for reading and looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments!

33 Comments

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Comments (Total Comments: 33)

panzerfaust panzerfaust is offline

- 12-27-2012, 12:04 AM

If you actually finish the game you'll find that Kaine and her design are meaningful in ways opposite of everything you're accusing the developers of.

This blog post is actually pretty priceless given you've chosen one of the most respectfully presented characters that's come from the industry in a while now.

I won't spoil, though.

the_grimace the_grimace is offline

- 12-27-2012, 12:07 AM

@panzerfaust

I've been surprised before in RPGs with plot twists and what not, but at first glance, I'm seeing this situation hard to redeem though. Now I'm tempted to play this game even more. I'll post my thoughts once I finish.

AkariK

- 12-27-2012, 12:15 AM

Seconding panzerfaust's comments. You'll see.

Also, good job on the second picture, the caption matches your comments.

NoelVermillion NoelVermillion is offline

- 12-27-2012, 12:52 AM

"I've never seen such a blatant and over the top case of sexualizing a woman in a game more than this."

Oh, really!
I guess you don't play many fighter games than.

http://maishiranui.50webs.com/images/ms18.gif

antlp89

- 12-27-2012, 01:14 AM

metaly

- 12-27-2012, 02:58 AM

hehehehehe

tylerh1701 tylerh1701 is offline

- 12-27-2012, 03:00 AM

What Panzer and Akarik said. I haven't actually "played" the game but I know a decent amount about the characters. I won't say anything because I don't know what "is" and "isn't" a spoiler, but from what I've heard Neir has a fairly interesting and unique story, and I'd assume that presenting her in sexy lingerie is probably intentional for some reason, and not blatant exploitation of sex like DOA.

StryderOmega StryderOmega is offline

- 12-27-2012, 04:06 AM

I'll say the camel toe is a bit much for detail, but yes there is a reason for everything. Just keep going.

handsomepete handsomepete is offline

- 12-27-2012, 09:13 AM

dammit now I have to play Nier just to see what the hell everyone is talking about.

gravel

- 12-27-2012, 10:34 AM

Yeah, I still need to play this, but I've heard the spoilers.

Spyder187

- 12-27-2012, 12:30 PM

This is actually a great game. Finish it before you criticize it anymore.

Mixer236

- 12-27-2012, 12:42 PM

I haven't played the game yet, but what I see is actually pretty tame compared to what I've seen in some other RPG's & fighters...

Ivy from Soul Calibur, anyone?

the_grimace the_grimace is offline

- 12-27-2012, 12:59 PM

I don't play a lot of fighters, but yea, I am aware of the women in fighting games and their outfits.

@Spyder187

Not that I'm saying the game is bad, I'm actually enjoying it quite a lot. However, I'm about 10 hours in, and just feel so far her outfit is completely unnecessary. Still, I'm excited to see what happens that could turn my opinions around. I'll probably make another blog following up on this once I beat the game.

Indignate

- 12-27-2012, 03:21 PM

You picked probably one of the worse characters to ever do this to, cuz it's probably one of the only characters to actually have reasons for being like this.

And there are two specific reasons, but you won't learn them until after you have beaten the game.

AvidWriter AvidWriter is offline

- 12-27-2012, 03:40 PM

At least her breasts are pretty good for her size.

Kazaganthi Kazaganthi is offline

- 12-27-2012, 05:32 PM

^What panzerfaust & Indignate said. She has a reason for dressing that way, and it's important to the story.

I admit the thong is shocking at first, but you must not play many games. Above mentioned DOA, any of them or other fighters. Look at X-blades, another thong, game cover had to be censored. Blades of Time, Lara Croft, Final Fantasy X-2 girl trio, Samus in her skin tight suit in various Metroid games, Fran FF12 wears a thong, Bayonetta, etc. List goes on but that's just off top of my head.

GF_Eric

- 12-27-2012, 05:51 PM

Are you sure you're actually paying attention to what you're playing? I always thought Kaine's look fit her personality pretty much perfectly.

It has been a while since I played Nier, but I don't remember being surprised or bothered by Kaine at all. Then again, I watch a lot of anime, so it all seemed pretty normal to me.

the_grimace the_grimace is offline

- 12-27-2012, 06:10 PM

@kazaganthi

I think what makes this so "wtf" for me is that most other games just use something much more normal to sex up their women. Bra and panties, bikinis, tight leather clothing, short shorts or miniskirts, etc etc. Kaine's outfit though goes above and beyond all those tropes with the bizarre and unusual. Trust me, if she was just wearing a thong and bikini top, I probably wouldn't make this blog. But instead she wears heels, one stocking and garterstraps, weird thong comprised of shoelace, lingerie silky top with cutouts under her boobs... the whole thing tied together by some dainty thread bows. It's one of the most outlandish and unnecessarily sexual outfits I've seen in games, but I'll see if the game can make sense of her attire eventually.

That's at least why it's standing out so much to me.