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What are your thoughts on Samus Aran becoming more of a sex symbol?

Started by Jean24, July 03, 2015, 01:16:17 PM

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Jean24

I loved this character. It was love as in the way children adore their heroes or heroines, it's a shame that I have to clarify that but it's become necessary these days because of the how sexualized she has become. I had every game through Prime, and played every game she appears in at least once. Today I saw a picture of her in her new suit in the newest Super Smash Brothers. Granted this suit is based on some stills shown briefly at the end of an older Gameboy Advance title, however it was brief and it wasn't THE GAME. Since then Nintendo seems to be experimenting with how much they can get away with in terms of undressing her - the latest is she's wearing a sports bra, matching shorts, and stiletto jet boots. Because, you know, that's what every girl wears when she goes out to fight giant fire breathing space aliens.

I guess today I just realized how sad it makes me to know that my most beloved fictional character is being used for eye candy.
Trying to take it one day at a time :)
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CalmRage

Quote from: Jean24 on July 03, 2015, 01:16:17 PM
I loved this character. It was love as in the way children adore their heroes or heroines, it's a shame that I have to clarify that but it's become necessary these days because of the how sexualized she has become. I had every game through Prime, and played every game she appears in at least once. Today I saw a picture of her in her new suit in the newest Super Smash Brothers. Granted this suit is based on some stills shown briefly at the end of an older Gameboy Advance title, however it was brief and it wasn't THE GAME. Since then Nintendo seems to be experimenting with how much they can get away with in terms of undressing her - the latest is she's wearing a sports bra, matching shorts, and stiletto jet boots. Because, you know, that's what every girl wears when she goes out to fight giant fire breathing space aliens.

I guess today I just realized how sad it makes me to know that my most beloved fictional character is being used for eye candy.

sounds stupid. samus' appeal is that she isn't just some video game sex symbol. The Zero Suit was only used sparingly and most of the time the message in a male-centric video game market was: Girls can be bad*ss video game characters too.
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FreyasRedemption

Couldn't agree more. I like her better in full armor. Plus, isn't she supposed to have green hair?
There is a better tomorrow.
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Jean24

Quote from: FreyasRedemption on July 04, 2015, 05:18:30 AM
Couldn't agree more. I like her better in full armor. Plus, isn't she supposed to have green hair?

I remember in the first game that you could put in a cheat to play with her without armor and once you switched to missiles in that form, her hair would turn green. I think every game since then it has been mostly blonde and occasionally brown :)
Trying to take it one day at a time :)
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Hazel.A

Samus in her power suit is a playable character and Zero Suit Samus is also playable.

Samus is still a strong female protagonist and these new costumes are actually based on costumes that were used in previous metroid titles. Those extra costumes were extra work that weren't originally going to be included but a female developer put in the effort and got them added.

If we're calling Samus overly sexualized then you have to say that Captain Falcon is too.
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Jean24

Quote from: Hazel.A on July 06, 2015, 10:52:48 AM
Samus in her power suit is a playable character and Zero Suit Samus is also playable.

Samus is still a strong female protagonist and these new costumes are actually based on costumes that were used in previous metroid titles. Those extra costumes were extra work that weren't originally going to be included but a female developer put in the effort and got them added.

If we're calling Samus overly sexualized then you have to say that Captain Falcon is too.

Captain Falcon has not yet been transformed from an otherwise normal guy in armor/costume to the most stunning male supermodel Nintendo could cook up, then subsequently under dressed even further. If he went through the same changes as Samus, he would look even more extreme than this:

http://img07.deviantart.net/8b4c/i/2014/221/4/f/captain_falcon_in_speedo_by_bleyerart-d7ufipz.jpg

That's not to say he isn't serialized, but they're totally on different levels.
Trying to take it one day at a time :)
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FreyasRedemption

I've now looked up this matter, more thoroughly this time.
And, well, I'm honestly disappointed with those game developers who made the Metroid series. Samus has been really, and I mean really heavily sexualized ever since the very first Metroid. I mean, come on. If you finish the first game really quick, she comes out of the armor in a bikini. If that is not sexualization, I don't know what is.
But they've taken it way too far nowadays. When you image search "Samus Aran" you see almost as many pictures that mainly focus on her tits or bottom as those featuring her iconic power suit.
There is a better tomorrow.
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FreyasRedemption

Well, that's hot....wait, what?
Is it just me or is this thread slowly becoming "Super Sexy Bros." or something?
There is a better tomorrow.
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Hazel.A

either way I thought feminism was empowering women not saying "she can't wear this because it's sexy"

idk I feel as though that mindset pushes things backwards rather than forwards. Samus is still a strong female character so idk maybe I'm just a stupid kid who doesn't understand the world.

oh and I like boys so I'm not defending this for those sorts of reasons..
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FreyasRedemption

Yeah. Samus is, and has always been a strong character.
However, people nowadays focus more on her sex appeal than what makes her the strong female character she is.
Plus, the game designers could have just as easily made her dress in less sexier clothes, and it wouldn't have altered her characterisation at all.
And who said that I'm a feminist?
This is still a video game character we're talking about. Samus wears precisely what the developers want her to wear.
And the main issue that we're discussing is still that she used to be regarded, despite her even more sexualized clothes in the past, primarily as a strong female character, and now as more of a sex symbol. I might have gone too far ranting about the first Metroid games, but.....you know, she's one of my childhood heroes. I don't care if people #%&# off to her, but when that becomes the main reason why she's in the games, that is taking it too far.
There is a better tomorrow.
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Jean24

Quote from: Hazel.A on July 08, 2015, 01:56:06 PM


shulk costume in smash bros.
'

Judging by some footage that I watched on youtube, it looks like part of Shulk has been greatly enhanced in that picture. Still though, this makes what they are doing more disappointing.
Trying to take it one day at a time :)
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Hazel.A

the zero suit is what she wears under her power suit and it hardly even appears in the games. in real life people wear skintight clothing under heavy armor and such.

idk I should just kill myself because i'm always wrong and stupid
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FreyasRedemption

Quote from: Hazel.A on July 08, 2015, 05:37:43 PM
the zero suit is what she wears under her power suit and it hardly even appears in the games. in real life people wear skintight clothing under heavy armor and such.

idk I should just kill myself because i'm always wrong and stupid
No, you're not wrong with this. Nor are you exactly stupid, you've made some quite intelligent points that I didn't figure out myself. My opinion on things is just, well, an opinion.
Don't even start thinking about suicide again. Especially because of a minor thing like this. I thought that a friendly argument about what seems to be one of your favourite things would help, by giving you something that is not depressing to think about......maybe I was wrong.
Everything will get better, but only if you live.
There is a better tomorrow.
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Jean24

Quote from: Hazel.A on July 08, 2015, 05:37:43 PM
idk I should just kill myself because i'm always wrong and stupid

I don't think you should kill yourself, that's awful :( - and you're not wrong, we're just having a debate.
Trying to take it one day at a time :)
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Valwen

I am sure I am late to the party but on a only slightly related note, I saw a article yesterday saying that in a old 1993 game guide to super metroid one of the developers/animators, when asked for a secret about samus only he knew stated that she is a transsexual woman which sorta cool.

I now return you to your debate still in progress. Also please don't hurt yourself. Though I am the last one that should be saying that today.

Serena
What is a Lie when it's at home? Anyone?
Is it the depressed little voice inside? Whispering in my ear? Telling me to give up?
Well I'm not giving up. Not for that part of me that hates myself. That part wants me to wither and die. not for you. Never for you.  --Loki: Agent of Asgard

Started HRT Febuary 21st 2015
First Time Out As Myself June 8th 2015
Full Time June 24th 2015
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Jean24

Quote from: Valwen on July 16, 2015, 11:55:10 PM
I am sure I am late to the party but on a only slightly related note, I saw a article yesterday saying that in a old 1993 game guide to super metroid one of the developers/animators, when asked for a secret about samus only he knew stated that she is a transsexual woman which sorta cool.
I now return you to your debate still in progress. Also please don't hurt yourself. Though I am the last one that should be saying that today.
Serena

I've heard so many things lol. I remember the early 2000s when Prime and Zero Mission came out and I think it was hinted that she was engineered in one and the other I recall that she was an orphan raised by giant bird people (The Chozo) who designed her suit as well.
Trying to take it one day at a time :)
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Serenation

You probably mean the wii game "other M" which isn't liked that much, was mean't to explore her emotional side, but just makes her weak (so my bf tells me) , from memory it was made by a third party for nintendo.

Zero suit in other M


Super Smash brothers on wii U has two samus characters, one in armour one without armour from other M. Both have different move sets.

The latest game for 3ds announced et E3 was Metroid Federation Force. People actually had a petition to cancel this game.
I will touch a 100 flowers and not pick one.
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Jean24

Quote from: Serenation on July 20, 2015, 03:13:55 AM
The latest game for 3ds announced et E3 was Metroid Federation Force. People actually had a petition to cancel this game.

Why do they want to cancel it?
Trying to take it one day at a time :)
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Serenation

people had been asking for a new side on 2d scroller metroid for years, the genre metroid and castlevania invented, retro studio just finished the new donkey kong on wiiu, nintendo started hinting they were now working on metroid, everyone was hyped for the inevitable 2d masterpiece and then they showed 3d multiplayer 3ds game.

It probably will be years before opportunity comes around again
I will touch a 100 flowers and not pick one.
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