Lost Ark became Steam's fourth-biggest game one day after its launch in the United States and Europe), its limited diversity of female character designs and its depiction of women in general is disappointing.
For the most part, players have been drawn in by Lost Ark's captivating story, adorable pets, and crisp combat mechanics. In Lost Ark, players choose from a host of five archetypal fantasy classes, within which there are 15 subclasses. Each class invites a distinct way of playing with various attacks and abilities that suit all manner of preferred playstyles. For instance, Mages can attack from a distance with area-of-effect spells that deal massive elemental damage, while Warriors get up in the enemy's face with melee attacks and huge, two-handed weapons.
While the inclusion of 15 subclasses within each Lost Ark class is beneficial and allows for varied character options for new players, the same cannot be said for the game's depiction of women specifically. Not only are the classes currently gender-locked, the limited choices for female character design in of cosmetics and animations feel extremely two-dimensional and a little fan service-y. The silly animations and high heels feel especially dated, and showcase how far the game has to come in order to achieve better non-masculine representation.
Lost Ark's Gender-Locked Classes Feel Extremely Dated
The major problem with Lost Ark's design of female characters comes from the limitations induced by the gender-locking of classes. Disappointingly, the game seems to take a rather outdated view of feminine and masculine stereotypes: only women can be delicate Mages, while only men can wield greatswords as Lost Ark's Berserker class. While some classes do offer a range of genders, such as the female Gunslinger subclass, this inclusion feels somewhat undermined by the overtly sexual starter outfit, which consists of booty shorts, high-heeled boots, corset, and shirt.
Not only does this gender-locking feel restrictive and archaic, it makes it seem as if Lost Ark is oblivious to the debates of the last decade surrounding the representation of female characters in video games. Further, the Western dislike of gender-locking classes has been acknowledged in a blog post posted on the official Lost Ark website from last year. Smilegate RPG stated that it has heard the complaints about Lost Ark's gender-locking "loud and clear" and plan to release more counterparts for classes that are still gender-locked, though there is no indication as to when this may happen.
Lost Ark's Female Characters Are Forced Into High Heels
Once a class is selected, Lost Ark players can alter the character's hair and features down to tiny details. Within this stage, four typical outfits are offered to demonstrate the type of clothing that players are likely to obtain. For instance, Mages, specifically Lost Ark's Sorceress class, have intricate, detailed, extravagant outfits that provide flourish and excitement for players eager to sink their teeth into the game. However, when players load into the game, a jolting difference occurs: The fantastical outfits of female characters are exchanged for short shorts, mini skirts, and revealing tops, not to mention the impractical high heels on every single female subclass.
On a positive note, Smilegate RPG included three out of the four Martial Artist subclasses to be female, with the Striker being the only male option. This class is based on agility and strength, with fighting-based gameplay that includes kicking, stomping, and flipping. It is somewhat understandable that these characters need to be able to move freely in their armor to achieve these moves, but the revealing nature of the female Martial Artists' early outfit options compared to that of Lost Ark's Striker subclass feels a little cheap and underwhelming. Moreover, the fact that all three female Martial Artist subclasses are forced into high heels seems incredibly impractical and unnecessary.
Of course, as the game progresses, the cosmetic and clothing options also increase. Yet, the clothes for female characters mostly follow a similar theme, leaving these hardy adventurers scantily clad in revealing and impractical outfits, especially in the early stages of the game. While the sexiness of female characters is not an inherently bad thing, it's the lack of options and diversity that hinders Lost Ark's gender representation and non-masculine character design.
Lost Ark's Lack Of Diverse Female Designs Has Drawn Criticism
Despite breaking Steam records, Lost Ark's lack of options in female character design has left many in the community conflicted. Design problems persist in how the Mage's running animation consists of an extremely exaggerated hip-swing that is laughable and has received much criticism from players. In general, the animation of female characters feels rather fan service-y and out of place in a modern game.
Of course, female characters can still be portrayed as strong and tough despite the suggestive outfits and silly animations, but it's the lack of diversity and options that hinder Lost Ark's character design, as players that do not like this sexy aspect or feel uncomfortable as a result are restricted in their choices. These outdated depictions of gender also go both ways - those wishing to play a masculine character are forced into typical 'strong' tropes with little variety.
Despite the range of subclasses that players can choose between to find their best fit, Lost Ark class choices are heavily limited due to this restrictive gender design. Smilegate RPG's gender design choices invite questions surrounding why - in a fantasy game - a woman is not allowed to wield a greatsword, or why a man is unable to utilize elemental magic. Hopefully, future updates to the game will rectify this odd and outdated gender-locked system, but some of Lost Ark's community is questioning why the game was released in this manner to begin with when these issues were acknowledged late last year.
Although there may be further opportunities for Lost Ark to modernize its depiction of gender, the current state of female characters and their designs feels restricted and outdated. It is positive that Smilegate is aiming to add more genders to classes, but at the very least Lost Ark should receive a greater variety of cosmetic and clothing options regardless of gender restrictions, especially in the early stages of the game.
Source: Lost Ark
