I'm not really especially INTO the looks of the cast, but I'm not usually into the looks of any cast. I'm more interested in how they play out in the game. Example: P3 and P4's character art is great, but I don't really care much about them visually. It was only once I played and found the characters to be fantastic that I started to like them more.
I'll admit, I barely even glanced at FFXV's characters, because the way they look isn't really of much interest to me. Lightning looks cool as hell, but she's about the blandiest bland that ever blanded a bland. Zidane has a ruffle and a tail, but he's the most awesome character around, for a positive example.
TL;DR I'm not interested in the cast until I play the game. Although more than one token ladycharacter might be a good way for them to go.
I will say, in terms of friendly/sociable, I think that's really something we'll have to see in the game. I get the impression they're really trying to capture the dynamics between these characters, based on what's been released so far. It'll remain to be seen how that happens, but so far they do have a very generic "cool dudes" vibe.
If they can create an awesome bromance or best buddy vibe, I will probably adore it (all of the Sherlock Holmes iterations coming out these days are a good example, the Avenger-related films from Marlvel, and the 'buddy system' going on in HBO's Entourage also work well on that level). I'm hoping, but I'm saving all judgment till the game is in my hands (
in 5 years from now lolololol).
I definitely fall into that group who thought Lightning-1 was absolutely brilliant looking...till she got a voice, and they kept making her speak up and dress up in newer and stranger outfits (seriously, wtf is that LR outfit trying to do? That thing is a design mess).
I remember not being TOO keen of Zidane at first (I think it's his
CG face/hair that look kinda 'iffy' at times), but his appearance otherwise fits SO well. I love how it's sort of stuck between "hero" and "noble"; what with the frill collar and cuffs; definitely a unique entry to the FF-hero cast.
I always like to think of Auron too. I hate how they feed just how cool he is by drawing him with every damn cool motif you could think of. Muscle? Fine. Scar? Alright. Sunglasses? C'mon. Alcohol? Go on. Silent type? Check. Kinda scruffy? You fucking bet. Silver fox? MMMhmm
MAXIMUM COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!I actually liked most of the P3/4 character designs since they usually aren't terribly extreme. THe designs are practical enough to suit real-world high school life. Junpei is that ordinary buddy who wears a cap and has some dreadful teenaged peachfuzz growing in. x) I also love how the student's outfits differ just that little bit to bring out their personality --- WITHIN school dress codes. :P
I just realized!!!!! I hope they make an SMT actually set in the 80s!!! I mean, Persona loved "retro" but without actually setting the game when things were livin' in retro.
Get that super-gelled/frizz hair back!

