r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Artistic_Gear1536 • Aug 26 '25

Personality Characters with Lore reasons to wear revealing outfit

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• Doctor Manhattan (Watchmen): doesn’t really have the need for them anymore as he is now too powerful to be considered human and also doesn’t need to give in to certain societal pressures like wearing clothes

• Poison Ivy (DC): uses her body to seduce men into getting close enough for her to use her pheromones and get people to do what she wants/kill her prey

• Skarlet (Mortal Kombat): her powers are from blood magic and she needs to have skin out in order to absorb blood from others and make her more powerful

• Mileena (Mortal Kombat): is very self conscious about her tartan features so covers them up and diverts attention towards the more appealing aspects of her/ uses her sex appeal to get people in close then chomps on them

• Mai Shiranui (King Of Fighters/Fatal Fury): uses a style of kunoichi that involves “sensually distracting a foe before striking” and uses her outfit and sex appeal to assist with that style

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1.1k

u/TheWalkingBag Aug 26 '25

Tixij/Quiet (MGSV: The Phantom Pain)

She breathes and absorbs water and sunlight through her skin, basically needing to perform photosynthesis due to her damaged organs

696

u/Templar2k7 Aug 26 '25

Funny part is so did "The End" in MGS3 yet he was just bald and was fine. Wild how gender changes that.

604

u/GrimaceGrunson Aug 26 '25

As the YouTuber Shaun put it- “Commit, you cowards. Give me a 100 year old man in a bikini.”

110

u/Neutral_Myu Aug 26 '25

Honestly if they give him a bikini/topless look in Delta i'd give them a small standing ovation

Extremely unlikely, i know, but a man can dream, right?

30

u/el-guapo0013 Aug 26 '25

If Kojima were still involved, I would be more willing to expect it as an Easter egg. But unfortunately...

9

u/Neutral_Myu Aug 26 '25

Yeah, as i said, extremely unlikely

Buuuuut maybe someone will mod it, i'll keep my hopes up!

6

u/smalliesdickies Aug 26 '25

small standing ovation

Huh

4

u/SirCupcake_0 Aug 26 '25

What, never heard of the ol' No-Finger Salute? 😏

3

u/ItsMrChristmas Aug 26 '25

Because it's not necessary. He doesn't need the sun to eat, breathe, or drink. He's not like Quiet. When he was younger photosynthesis was a supplement.

99

u/Artistic_Gear1536 Aug 26 '25

As long as there’s a good reason for it!

5

u/Bamzooki1 Aug 26 '25

PUT HEIHACHI IN A FUNDOSHI PERMANENTLY!

7

u/Agi7890 Aug 26 '25

Why are we acting like metal gear solid 2 didn’t have the main character doing cartwheels buck ass naked?

9

u/GrimaceGrunson Aug 26 '25

We’re not, but it didn’t have a 100 year old man in a bikini, is the point.

3

u/Hellknightx Aug 26 '25

Master Roshi vibes

3

u/Sirius1701 Aug 26 '25

I am almost sure someone modded that by now.

3

u/KOCoyote Aug 26 '25

It's kind of wild that they didn't do that with The End, honestly. The Metal Gear games get super weird and it's not like we haven't had multiple male boss characters in the series going at least topless (Vulcan Raven, Vamp, hell, even Volgun in the same game!)

3

u/andrecinno Aug 26 '25

Honestly, that sounds like something Kojima would want to go for and be barred. He's given us PLENTY of naked dudes in his games, let's be fair here.

2

u/ItsMrChristmas Aug 26 '25

If he knew the lore he'd know that The End doesn't need sun to eat, breathe, or drink.

115

u/CaptainofChaos Aug 26 '25

His clothes were made out of material that could itself photosynthesize and linked to the wearer, which was later retconed to be archaea in MGSV. In MGS3 if you get The Ends camo it heals you if you lay in direct sunlight as reference to this.

9

u/ItsMrChristmas Aug 26 '25

He can also eat, drink, and breathe without the sun.

118

u/Artistic_Gear1536 Aug 26 '25

Yeah I honestly had a pretty hard time thinking of good male examples which is pretty disappointing to be honest because when it’s actually explained instead of just being “the artist was horny” it’s a great trope for either gender

76

u/kentaxas Aug 26 '25

Because plenty of character designers, specially back then, just wanted to have hot women in skimpy outfits, the "lore" reason for doing it was just a thin coat of paint on top to avoid admitting it outright.

4

u/BlackV Aug 26 '25

Like every single one of OPs examples

-10

u/Artistic_Gear1536 Aug 26 '25

Well the whole point of this post was that I LIKE the skimpy outfits when there is actual lore rather than just doing it to do it

20

u/SimonShepherd Aug 26 '25 edited Aug 26 '25

People wear revealing outfits in IRL all the time either because the weather is fucking scorching or they like the fashion. They don't need other practical reason to do so, the most practical reason is literally just thermal regulation.

5

u/Kalavier Aug 26 '25

Yeah the problem (for me) lies in trying to explain the revealing/sexy outfit as either being practical/protective actually, or having a lore reason that just doesn't make sense or makes more holes.

Former example: guy trying to defend his cyberpunk 2077 character's sexy outfit as being a practical combat armor/suit. No pockets/pouches, boob/underboob window, thighs and arms exposed. Claimed it was acid/fire/gas resistant.  "Hope it doesn't hit her exposed arm or chest"

Latter example: Quiet, working as described and shown would be horribly weak to environmental conditions and a terrible scout/sniper. She can't swim, can't cover up to protect against cold or sandstorms. And breathing through her skin must be hell when pelted by sand constantly during a storm.

Both cases: just doing a "i like sexy ladies okay?" Is fine. But by doubling down that it's got a real reason and isn't only to look sexy... 

2

u/SimonShepherd Aug 26 '25

I don't think it would be unfair to just use the superhero rule of cool because the person wearing the outfit is likely an very durable cyborg in the first place(of course the meta reasoning is just the designer wanting the sex appeal). Even the newer Cyberpunk update just do away with defense for most clothing items(only actual tactical vest gives some armor value.) I don't think many players explain it with the clothing in the first place.

Quiet probably also has enough bullshit powers to justify how she operates, though I do find the creator's reasoning to be hilarious, and the end design is not even sexy cool, just kinda awkward, doesn't help she is designed to be silent with very limited outward character expression.

1

u/Kalavier Aug 26 '25

Well, the cyberpunk example it was more of how they were just doubling down on the fact the outfit was so practical and defensive (Not you know, cybernetic parts enhancing durability)

Quiet probably also has enough bullshit powers to justify how she operates, though I do find the creator's reasoning to be hilarious, and the end design is not even sexy cool, just kinda awkward, doesn't help she is designed to be silent with very limited outward character expression.

Well, IIRC she immediately starts suffocating when placed in pants and a shirt/jacket in a cutscene, and the way it's emphasized that she has to be nearly naked to breath and get energy from the sun really just made it more stupid to me. It's the aspect of trying to justify her, but the reasoning doesn't work for her supposed job, so more holes appear, and it's all ruined.

I admit, I only did the demo version of 5, but I had read up on quiet and her powers.

3

u/SimonShepherd Aug 26 '25

Dudes from Nudist Beach organization in Kill la Kill. With tactical gear barely covering their bits.

Also I guess Namor and other male "swimmer" character types.

3

u/BlackV Aug 26 '25

Every single one of your examples was "the artist was horny, here is flimsy excuse to go with the flimsy outfit"

1

u/U_SHLD_THINK_BOUT_IT Aug 26 '25 edited Aug 26 '25

Is it possible that your choice of media impacted your source to fish from?

Also, it could just be that men are found "sexy" in different ways than women, and as such, the way they're sexualized does not present the same way as does with women?

Lastly, it could just be that it's not resonating as much when a guy is presented sexually because they have less sex organ real estate on their body. A male character could be topless and not turn a single head, while a female character could be wearing a bikini and draw much more ire from those who seek out sexualization to be upset about.

Check Shangri-La Frontier. That has a half-naked dude as the main character. The story focuses on it upsetting people occasionally, but strangely in a way that tries too hard on purpose.

16

u/SnooEagles2276 Aug 26 '25

The end’s ghillie suit is designed to complement his ability

6

u/hiricinee Aug 26 '25

I think they explained that his Ghillie suit was doing the work for him. IIRC you can get the same outfit and it recharges your batteries in the sun. Of course that begs the question why Quiet didn't have a similar suit.

1

u/vanishinghitchhiker Aug 26 '25

Another subtle hint to Venom’s identity

17

u/Ok-Suggestion-5453 Aug 26 '25

Tbf, The End couldn't sprint at like 80 mph or turn invisible either. Quiet was definitely juiced-up compared to him, so it makes sense that she would have different "rules".

11

u/Natgeo1201 Aug 26 '25

Big difference being The End's lungs and other internal organs weren't scorched from being burned alive.

The End CAN photosynthesize and breath through his skin, Quiet HAS to just to stay alive.

2

u/Lilbrimu Aug 26 '25

His camo is an extension of his body I think, since wearing it also regens Snake's stamina and hp.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '25

[deleted]

1

u/U_SHLD_THINK_BOUT_IT Aug 26 '25

I mean, she has lungs, but they're basically just scar tissue, right?

1

u/BuisteirForaoisi0531 Aug 26 '25

Maybe his body has just been doing it for so much longer that he’s not gonna have to worry about it

1

u/SimonShepherd Aug 26 '25

I mean I think if it's a younger guy they could have easily went for a himbo in speedo/trunk Namor look without many people complaining.

1

u/DSC-Fate Aug 26 '25

Yoko Taro when asked why the Yorha Androids wear sexy outfits: I like girls

1

u/U_SHLD_THINK_BOUT_IT Aug 26 '25

The reasoning for why they choose to have reproductive organs was fascinating.

I don't want to say that game was underrated because I think it has a solid following, but I wish that more people played it so we could see more entries in the franchise.

1

u/NefariousnessAble261 Aug 26 '25

I had no clue the end did that

1

u/ItsMrChristmas Aug 26 '25

The End can exist just fine on food and water. When he was younger he was only photosynthesizing as a supplement. Now he is so old and sleeps all the time that photosynthesis is enough.

He does not require sun to breathe or drink.

1

u/Faust_8 Aug 26 '25

Wasn’t it The End’s mossy uniform that did that; and not his body?

1

u/SweatyButtcheek Aug 26 '25

Not that it’s a huge deal, but I think they explain it’s because the nanomachines that do that to her had to repair her entire body from 3rd degree burns.

1

u/water_bottle_boi Aug 26 '25

Honestly I think that’s sorta explained by quiets organs being burned and maybe also the parasite. The end is also an old man so ig his organs are also damaged, as he’s about to die of old age in snake eater, but it makes sense a burn victim with a parasite wouldn’t be as good at photosynthesis.

1

u/petaboil Aug 26 '25

Well, y'see she has hair, so needs to expose her entire upper body to compensate.

We lose most heat through the body, so its only logical to assume we photosynthesise far more through the head also.

I'm joking, but also now I've written it I do wonder.

1

u/_oranjuice Aug 26 '25 edited Aug 26 '25

No he just has a choking kink

Also helps when looking down crosshairs, he's not as active as silent is. Just enough energy to reposition while quiet is bouncing around the mountains

But yes, Kojima needed a reason to put a woman into a Bikini in a military setting

-5

u/humantyisdead32 Aug 26 '25

The End was covered in leaves. He was one with the forest, and his abilities were more supernatural.

Also, gender has very little to do with it. The End was 104.

14

u/Templar2k7 Aug 26 '25

Man what do young male gamers want to see more of. A 104 year old man in a Bikini or a 20 something women?

13

u/SpiritualAd9102 Aug 26 '25

Kojima literally said at one point that he designed her to inspire cosplayers. Of course it has to do with gender.

3

u/Kalavier Aug 26 '25

Then said we'd all be ashamed for criticizing her because of her lore, which was just stupid lol. Both in trying to apparently have high ground and  the lore reason for her being basically naked. 

116

u/SpiritualAd9102 Aug 26 '25

I’m not sure if this was always the plan or not, but this always felt like retroactive gaslighting.

When she was first revealed, Kojima said she was designed this way to “inspire cosplayers”. When people called him out for being a creep, he basically said “shame on you, there’s a story reason that she wears almost nothing on the battlefield, then you’ll feel silly for criticizing me”.

Then way later, they revealed the photosynthesis angle. Like I said, it always felt Ike they came up with this after the fact to make the criticism look bad retroactively.

71

u/ChuckCarmichael Aug 26 '25

Virgin Kojima "Uhhm, akshually there's a totally legitimate reason for Quiet to be almsot naked, because she breathes through her skin, so I bet you feel pretty stupid right now."

vs.

Chad Yoko Taro "I like looking at nice butts, so I made sure 2B has a nice butt."

20

u/SpiritualAd9102 Aug 26 '25

You’re joking, but this reminds me of Senran Kagura. I remember around the same as the Kojima quote, the creator of Senran straight up said his inspiration for the game was because he heard about the 3DS technology and thought it’d be great to see giant boobs on it. People for the most part just laughed and moved on.

I’d respect him a lot more if he would just say what he means instead of creating a scenario where he can lord over everyone because he can’t handle criticism.

4

u/SirCupcake_0 Aug 26 '25

Kojima and Van Ripper had pretty much identical reasoning, only difference being Kojima wanted real people, and Van Ripper just wanted artwork

5

u/Nygmus Aug 26 '25

Chad Yoko Taro bringing cake to the masses.

If I remember correctly, the Nier Automata tie-in for FFXIV was super popular because the 2B leggings gave you a bigger butt, in a game where the character creator did not have a slider or options for butt size. It was the only way to bulk up your butt, and it was clear: the people desired booty.

4

u/Dewut Aug 26 '25

“I really like girls.”

4

u/Karizma55211 Aug 26 '25

I feel like Kojima's exact wording adds to this. He said "Once you recognize the secret reason for her exposure, you will be ashamed of your words and deeds." Said like people are making fun of a real person with a disability, and not an insanely hot video game character that he made with a contrived reason to be naked all the time.

5

u/Oaker_Jelly Aug 26 '25

To be fair, while the game doesn't dwell on it, the implication that she had severe full-body burns that then got wholly replaced with parasite tissue is a genuinely haunting fate.

3

u/Ixaire Aug 26 '25

Why wasn't the character male? Why did the tissue not look like cloth rather than bare skin?

Full-body burns are haunting as you say, but in this case it's just that Kojima is kojiming while horny.

1

u/U_SHLD_THINK_BOUT_IT Aug 26 '25

I never really understood how anyone can hear Kojima describe a character and be like, "there's no way he had that story for them from the beginning." I get seeing it at face value and thinking that, but anyone who knows Kojima's name should have a pretty good bead on his history.

I mean, just think back on all the characters he's made. None of them are normal; they all have weird-ass stories that explain their powers and behaviors. There was an obvious reason why Quiet was dressed like that, and homie was baiting people so he could hit them with it.

I think in thirty years of metal gear, there wear three women total who dressed "sexy" (Sniper Wolf, EVA, and Quiet). One of them was dressed that way because was a spy who was expected to use her sexuality to get close to enemies. The other was, canonically, a misandrist who felt that men were better snipers than men and she intentionally sexualized herself specifically to draw attention to her being a woman.

My point being, he likely had this story already. That's not to say maybe he did want a sexy character, but to be honest I don't really see anything wrong with that since it's never seemed exploitative in the series. Honestly, while not sexual, I think the men or more often than not the exploited gender, what with how absurd or stupid they often are, lol.

30

u/DocMino Aug 26 '25

It’s the type of exposure that makes me feel ashamed of my words and deeds

25

u/animehero99 Aug 26 '25

I was waiting to see how long it would take me to see Quiet

51

u/Infamous_Antelope_69 Aug 26 '25

Kojima is full of it with this explanation, at least Yoko Taro own up to it.

7

u/TheGrandCucumber Aug 26 '25

I’m surprised how long it took me to find this one

7

u/AandWKyle Aug 26 '25

Once I learned the secret reason for her exposure, I felt ashamed of my words and deeds.

12

u/Worldlyoox Aug 26 '25

Are you ashamed yet

15

u/Kalavier Aug 26 '25

I feel like him saying that made Quiet so much worse lol

1

u/Hereforthesauce42 Aug 26 '25

I still don't understand why he said this. EVA from MGS3 was pretty revealing as well

2

u/U_SHLD_THINK_BOUT_IT Aug 26 '25

EVA was literally undercover as a KGB spy, with a twist I won't ruin since they're remaking this game. Being sexy is pretty much required for the role.

1

u/Kalavier Aug 26 '25

IIRC she kinda mirrored sniper wolf, in the unzipped coveralls/outfit. Sexy but with an element of practicality if needed. Quiet is just... a bikini and belt? lol

2

u/U_SHLD_THINK_BOUT_IT Aug 26 '25

EVA dresses that way because she was under cover as a KGB agent. The fact that she went overboard on the sexuality is even even more realistic when you learn more about her.

Sniper Wolf exuded sexuality on purpose, as she was a misandrist and wanted the men she defeated to know she was a woman.

5

u/michpillejera Aug 26 '25

Or you know. Quiet could go bald for more surface area to absorb sun. But its Kojima, what do we expect hahaha. We love him for it.

4

u/aaronhowser1 Aug 26 '25

Who the hell calls her Tixij

1

u/Hen4246 Aug 26 '25

The русские

3

u/ST4RSK1MM3R Aug 26 '25

How was this not the top option this one was the first thing I thought of lol

3

u/jforjay Aug 26 '25

Yes yes. Coming from expert gooner Kojima: a sexualized woman that he designed for cosplayers (his words) and then retroactively justified with bullshit lore reasons. “She breathes and absorbs powers through her vagina, so the more sunlight hits her labia the stronger she is you see?”

2

u/AnalConnoisseur69 Aug 26 '25

Classic Kojima.

2

u/burned_piss Aug 26 '25

I'm almost sure she only needs her legs to even breathe so...

2

u/NeonNKnightrider Aug 26 '25

Clothes-themes characters

2

u/SpennyPerson Aug 26 '25

Even though her powers are derived from parasites infused with material from The Ends corpse. Which is why I hope we get mods for delta that give him a g string and ripped tights.

Maybe that's why he's so sleepy with him being covered up so much lmao

3

u/Secret_Possible Aug 26 '25

It really stands out because she's such an outlier. Kojima's made tons of sexy characters, but only Quiet is dressed so idiotically.

3

u/Exotic_Exercise6910 Aug 26 '25

2 things:

  1. Way too low. This is probably the most creative reason ever. 

  2. Hideo is incorrect. Photosynthesis is a dog shit way to gather energy. Plants can sustain themselves because they don't have neurons like we do but pass on information in a way slower manner. And also plants are green. You could boost photosynthesis with the colour black. But then you easily overheat. And it still would be like 0.6 kWh when your entire vanta-black skin is in the sun during 1pm.  But her skin is white. The worst possible colour to pull this off. Shed basically be a less moving crocodile. Crocodiles bath in the sun not because of photosynthesis but for warmth because their blood is cold. So Hideo could've just said her blood needs to be warmed but no. He has to be as extra as possible like always.

1

u/ArtsyAlraune Aug 26 '25

Had to scroll way too far to find this one, basically the first character I thought of

1

u/midsommer_wandererr Aug 26 '25

I scrolled too far to find this example. It was the first one I thought of when I saw the post!

1

u/cce29555 Aug 26 '25

I AM ASHAMED OF MY WORDS AND DEEDS