Best and Worst Character Redesigns

[Mr. Carnelian]

The good
From Dragon Age Origins to Dragon Age 2: Anders, Isabela and Merrill
Anders went from wearing a garish drape to a cool feathered number. Isabela went from a boring, standard rogue amour to a sassy pirate queen look, and Merill's outfit in Origins is okay, but again looks markedly better in 2. All three of these characters also got much-needed personality transplants and new voice actors.

The Tomb Raider series: Lara
They generally do a very good job of giving Lara a slightly different look which is still recognisably "Lara".

The FFXIII series: Lightning
I think all of the main outfits (I'm not going to go into the optional outifts for LR) suited her well, and reflected her changing role from soldier to demi-god to messiah.

FFX to FFX-2: Yuna
Yes, undoubtedly there are elements of fanservice in her redesign. But, I think the change to a less formal look suited her shift in outlook. Plus, have you ever noticed how her Sphere Hunter outfit copies elements of Lara Croft's basic design? Hot pants, combat boots, crop top, ponytail, plus they're both looking for ruins for historical artifacts. Just saying.

Assassin's Creed 2 to Brotherhood, to Revelations: Ezio
Each outfit seems to fit well with his new stage in life. Rather flamboyant and fancy in 2 (that slashing in the sleeves is just fabulous) when he's a young man with a lot to prove, a more minimalist colour scheme in Brotherhood when he's gained maturity and self-confidence, and suitably grey and worn-looking in Revelations when he's winding down and looking for one last adventure before retirement. Also, Lucy's redesign from 1 to 2 was pretty good as well. Loved that leather jacket she got in Brotherhood, too.


The bad
From Persona 3 to the Persona 4 Arena games: Akihiko, Mitsuru, Junpei and Yukari
Akihiko forgot how to wear clothes, apparently. He goes from an absolutely adorkable armless red jumper to a red cape and no shirt. Normally, I'm not opposed to a bit of male shirtlessness, but Akihiko just looked like he was on steroids.
Mitsuru decides that a tight-fitting bodysuit would go perfectly with an enormous, fluffy white coat, because of course. I mean, a bodysuit MIGHT be justified by going for something minimalist that won't get in the way of fighting (although really they're nearly always for fanservice purposes, a la Black Widow), but that's completely cancelled out by the billowing coat.
Junpei wears this baseball outfit so bright blue that it makes me want to tear out my eyes.
When it comes to Yukari's pink, Power ranger monstrosity, I can't even. I CAN'T EVEN.

From X to X-2: Rikku
I echo the sentiments others have made: her outfit in 2 was just too fanservicey and ridiculous. Couldn't they at least have given her a crop top? Poor things going to get cold in just that bra.


The ugly
From FFXIII to FFXIII-2: Snow
The hair. THE HAIR. Oh my god, that hair he has in FXIII-2 just makes me want to vom.