You know what’s great about video games? The way we can go in and make them our own. While the stories are often preset and experiences shared, developers go out of their way to offer options that help make each person’s endeavor different. This often happens with character customization options that slightly alter the appearance of a character, without changing the way we play. People get to be unique and have fun. Everyone wins!
Except sometimes, things get weird. Costumes get a little more… creative than you’d expect. Not that this is a bad thing. Diversity is fantastic. Just there are times when games go a little too far. The following are 10 of those times.
Cable-pool
Deadpool is one of the playable characters in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, partially because he’s great. He’s also there because it makes sense. If you’re going to have a mashup of characters from multiple franchises, go ahead and toss in the one that’s constantly breaking the fourth wall. He gets a rather unusual costume called Cable-pool. It’s Deadpool cosplaying as the X-men’ s Cable, which is about as odd as you’d expect.
Yet, out of all the entries in this list, it’s the one that makes the most sense. Deadpool and Cable are kind-of, sort-of, maybe friends? They’ve worked together. There’s clearly some admiration on Deadpool’s side. Sure. Dress as your buddy.
Panda Chun-Li and King Cammy
This entry is a two-for! In Street Fighter x Tekken , Chun-Li and Cammy get some really unexpected duds. Cosplay in fighting games happens from time to time (see: Cable-pool!). Tekken has a giant panda fighter, named Panda of course, and a wrestling priest in a jaguar mask named King. So, if you buy the applicable DLC, you can dress Cammy as King and Chun-Li as Panda. Except both women look more like they’re wearing themed pajamas than costumes honoring the other characters, so it ends up being super weird.
Doughnut Drake
If Doughnut Drake is this far down the list, you know there’s good stuff ahead. This is a skin for Nathan Drake that people can unlock in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. It’s an overweight version of Nate with a deeper voice. He doesn’t play any differently. He’s just there to show that Drake would still be an amazing adventurer if he put on a lot more weight.
Tekken Tag Tournament 2’s Nintendo Costumes
In Tekken Tag Tournament 2 , people can dress up members of the cast as iconic Nintendo characters. This sounds great, in theory. There are other Wii U games that have pulled this off well. The girls in Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water look great as Zelda and Samus, and Bayonetta is pretty when cosplaying as Fox and Link. The cast of Tekken, however, looks horrendous. No effort was put into making these outfits look authentic. Whenever someone’s dressed up as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Bowser, Fox, Link, Zelda, Sheik, Ganondorf, Samus, or Captain Falcon, it’s both disappointing and jarring. Not cool, Bandai Namco.
Kokoro’s String Bikini
There exist string bikinis in this world. That’s fine. Some of them look absolutely stunning. More power to women confident enough to pull that look off. However, Dead or Alive: Xtreme 3’ s DLC bikini that Kokoro is wearing in the screenshot above looks like… well… let’s say certain people may enjoy wearing that for romantic activities with a trusted partner. (Judgement-free zone!)
Listen, Dead or Alive: Xtreme 3 is all about fanservice. That’s fine. Go ahead and put the most revealing outfits ever in there. But, at the very least, make them something people would actually wear at the beach?
Kenka Bancho’s Banana
Did you ever play Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble on the PSP? It’s a beat’em up along the lines of River City Ransom , starring a street tough that fights other gang members and trash talks them.
He can also dress up like a banana, and then still trash talk and take out opponents with the best of them.
Unfortunately, he never breaks into a round of “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time.”
Cod of War
Kratos, the God of War himself, is a fish. Or he can be, if you beat God of War II on any difficulty level. Since the folks at Santa Monica Studio are good sports, this costume is called the Cod of War and carries a description that says, “Kratos’ life has always been an upstream battle.” It’s hilarious. Plus, he gets fishhooks instead of the Blades of Athena!
At least this crazy cosmetic option also offers quite a bonus. Kratos’ orbs are worth twice as much while he’s the Cod of War. What a catch!
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos’ Strawberry & Banana Surprise
The women of Onechanbara Z2: Chaos have serious business to attend to. They have so many demons, werewolves, zombies, and other monsters to slay. Many of these foes would, in traditional mythology, infect innocents with a bit or scratch. You’d think they’d be well dressed for the occasion, right?
The Strawberry & Banana Surprise DLC costume sends them into battle wearing two strawberries and a banana. It’s implausible.
Cheerleading Riptor
Killer Instinct’ s Riptor is a dream character for everyone who grew up loving dinosaurs. She’s a velociraptor with the intelligence of a human and cybernetic components. She’s also a pretty, pretty cheerleader.
The Xbox One and PC version of Killer Instinct gives Riptor a cheerleader costume. There are no pom-poms, unfortunately, but she has some adorable scrunchies on her wrists and is wearing a cute mini-skirt.
Because Riptor is a classic, peppy lady and wants you to know it.
Saints Row IV’s Toilet
Think of this as the pinnacle of gaming achievement. Your Saints Row IV hero or heroine was the Saint’s leader. He or she saved the world and became president of the United States. This same avatar is fighting back against aliens in their own simulation. The character also happens to maybe be a toilet.
You’re an actual, gun-toting, superpower-wielding porcelain throne in Saints Row IV , if you get the right outfit. It’s the oddest costume you’ll ever wear and weirdest character you’ll ever be. Props to Volition for going above and beyond with this one.