Shan wrote:Considering that this is based more off of shounen anime tropes, the younger appearances aren't surprising. The game is made in Japan, where the demographic appeal is quite different than in the US and the developers are working on what the Japanese demographic wants more than what we want. The models and customization are based on a different demographic appeal than ours.
Also, I have been watching anime and reading manga since the 80s, the customization is not that out of character for them, as anime and manga largely go with paler skin tones to save money, only investing in them to either make a point, stress wildly different ethnicity (look at some of the older anime portrayals of Africans and Native Americans, which are so stereotypical that it would be offensive in the US), or artistic choice. This game follows a more middle ground approach.
I'm not asking for racial features, just simple skin tone. Every anime I've seen has at least a handful of characters of distinct skin tone, even this game itself has characters of distinct skin tone. Also to note, as far as Japanese appeal, there is a trend( as of the last few years) there known as B-style where they dress and stylize to western black culture, and of course theres ganguro. Not that I find either of those appealing, just saying there is notable appeal for darker tones in Japan. at least enough to justify a simple color slider for skin tone.