Character design serves as the cornerstone of a video game’s identity, encapsulating the essence of each character’s personality, role, and cultural impact within the gaming community. As the medium progresses and visual standards rise, character designs must also evolve to resonate with contemporary audiences.
However, while some redesigns meet with enthusiasm, others fall short, leaving fans disappointed. At their best, these new interpretations merely echo the originals, and at their worst, they entirely distort a beloved figure, inciting outrage among long-time followers.
When character redesigns stray too far from their recognizable roots, they often provoke backlash. Even when designers envision a fresh perspective, the gaming community can respond intensely to changes they perceive as detrimental to a character’s legacy.
10 Viktor
A Contentious Evolution
The recent controversy surrounding Viktor from League of Legends illustrates this phenomenon. Initially presented as the Machine Herald, the leader of a robotic cult, many fans were captivated by his cybernetic aesthetic, which drew inspiration from the Adeptus Mechanicus.
As Viktor’s character arc suggested a deeper alignment with Hextech, players were thrilled. However, this anticipation was met with disappointment when Viktor’s redesign veered towards a biomechanical look, integrally fused with the Arcane instead of retaining his rugged cybernetic roots. What was once a distinctive character became a version unrecognizable to his core followers.
Fans initially suspected this would merely be a skin update, but the announcement of an in-game overhaul left them enraged. Critics argued that this change diluted Viktor’s unique identity amidst a sea of sorcery. Personally, I find his new appearance intriguing, and perhaps it might eventually find favor with others.
9 Chris Redfield
Get Back To Punching Boulders!
Unlike his iconic counterparts like Leon and Ada, Chris Redfield has endured inconsistent design iterations throughout the Resident Evil series. Although his portrayal in Resident Evil 5 presented a traditionally tough soldier image, subsequent titles have portrayed him as visually older, a mark of time that fans have struggled to reconcile.
At 48 during the events of RE Village, Chris’s aging reflects his long tenure in the franchise, yet seeing him diverge from his classic look remains disconcerting to those who have followed his journey.
8 Joanna Dark
Three Games, Entirely Different Looks
During the recent Xbox Games Showcase, fans were met with a trailer for the reboot of the beloved classic Perfect Dark, featuring Joanna Dark. Her redesign, which stripped away the previous emphasis on sex appeal, generated a swift backlash from audiences.
This dissatisfaction stems from a lack of cohesive identity across her iterations—each game portraying Joanna with differing features and visual styles. While earlier designs relied heavily on a femme fatale aesthetic, the new approach appears more realistic, reminiscent of the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. Whether this redesign gains acceptance in the years to come remains uncertain, with the game slated for release in 2025.
7 Frank West
He Has A “Fivehead”Now
Frank West has long been the charming protagonist of the Dead Rising series, even acting as an unofficial mascot. However, his transformation in Dead Rising 4 was met with disappointment when it was revealed his character would be portrayed with a more serious tone—and without the return of his original voice actor, Terence J. Rotolo.
This decision drew significant ire from the community, with fans lamenting the loss of the endearing goofiness and humor of his earlier portrayals, overshadowing the game’s otherwise enjoyable gameplay and narrative.
6 Ken
Ahead Of Its Time
As Ryu’s perennial rival, Ken Masters has seen his design relatively unchanged since the advent of Street Fighter. However, his appearance in Street Fighter V attempted modernization, attempting to differentiate him from Ryu.
Despite a promising concept, the console generation and vivid color palette ultimately rendered Ken’s character model visually unappealing, drawing ridicule for what looked like an unflattering haircut. Thankfully, subsequent iterations appear to have rectified this misstep, enhancing his overall look.
5 Megaman
A Gaming Icon Turned Into A Joke
Megaman, a stalwart of the gaming world since the 8-bit era, boasts a classic design characterized by oversized hands, boots, and an iconic blue palette. However, when he was pitched as a DLC character for Street Fighter X Tekken, the design adopted for him was poorly received, reminiscent of a bizarre earlier art style.
This change rendered Megaman a laughingstock, further exacerbated by the grotesque redesign that stripped him of the youthful charm for which he was known.
4 Spyro
What Happened To Him?
Spyro was a beloved figure representing Sony during the PlayStation era, yet he underwent a regrettable redesign with his transition into the Skylanders franchise. The revamped version adopted a darker, more aggressive look that contrasted sharply with his friendly original persona.
However, the release of the Reignited Trilogy provided a much-needed update and restoration of Spyro’s original charm.
3 Dr. Eggman
Four. Golden. Nipples.
Dr. Ivo Robotnik, popularly known as Dr. Eggman, is one of gaming’s most iconic villains with a design that showcases his cartoonish stature. However, during the infamous reboot of Sonic the Hedgehog in 2006, the character strayed from its roots with a redesign that aimed for realism.
This attempt to create a gritty portrayal of a whimsical antagonist fell flat, with many preferring the original animated style that had defined Eggman throughout his storied history.
2 Bomberman
Everything Is Gritty!
The Bomberman franchise is celebrated for its cheerful aesthetic and simple, fun gameplay. Yet, this was drastically altered with the release of Bomberman Act: Zero, which introduced a dark, dystopian narrative and visual style that was a far cry from the series’ light-hearted roots.
The backlash was swift and severe, leading Konami to steer away from such risky redesigns in the future, showcasing the importance of maintaining the essence of beloved characters.
1 Dante
Crazy How They Missed The Jackpot
The Devil May Cry franchise embodies an aesthetic of teenage rebellion and impressively badass characters. However, the redesign of Dante in DmC: Devil May Cry was an example of the “dark and gritty”trend gone awry—a new portrayal that was both edgier and far less relatable.
Fans were struck by the stark departure from the playful character they had come to love, resulting in widespread criticism. This misjudgment further fueled the desire for a return to the classic portrayal that resonated with audiences. It wasn’t until Devil May Cry 5 released in 2019, showcasing Dante in all his iconic glory once again, that fans truly rejoiced.
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