Character design and fashion are often underestimated elements, yet they wield immense power in elevating the gaming experience. Game developers understand the demand for this aspect of world-building, dedicating entire meetings to brainstorming characters’ unique styles. These visual elements serve as the unspoken storytellers that whisk players into the heart of a game’s world, creating an experience that’s not just engaging but also unforgettable.
Before any words are exchanged, a character’s armor, attire, and accessories convey their backstory, personality, and role in the game’s narrative. One little-mentioned accessory we’ll be focusing on today will be the eyeglasses worn by iconic video game characters.
4 iconic video game characters with glasses
Ichiban Kazuma from Yakuza: Like a Dragon
As the protagonist of Yakuza: Lika a Dragon, Ichiban is a dedicated follower of the Yakuza lifestyle and their code of chivalry and loyalty. He is known for his exuberance and willingness to take on challenges with a sense of humor. His distinctive, rectangular, half-framed glasses serve as a visual identifier. It can also be construed as a nod to the idea that beneath his brazen and comical exterior, there’s more to him than meets the eye.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced the November 2023 release of a new installment called Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. For the first time, the new release offers players the opportunity to customize the protagonist’s clothing, including shoes, glasses, hats, and suits.
Bayonetta from the Bayonetta series
Bayonetta is a charismatic and powerful witch who takes center stage in the action-packed, hack-and-slash adventure developed by Platinum Games. Players follow Bayonetta on her journey to uncover her forgotten past whilst confronting formidable adversaries. She is frequently seen wearing unique cat-eye glasses that have become integral to her character design. Her glasses contribute to her mysterious aura and add a touch of sophistication to her overall look.
Gordon Freeman from the Half-Life series
The Half-Life series is a critically acclaimed first-person shooter franchise developed by Valve Corporation. Dr. Gordon Freeman is a brilliant theoretical physicist who does not speak in the game despite being the main character. Dr. Freeman becomes an accidental hero, fighting for survival and unraveling mysteries in a world plagued by otherworldly creatures and scientific experiments gone wrong. He is typically depicted wearing black, thick-framed glasses.
Killjoy from Valorant
Killjoy is a tech-savvy character in Valorant known for her engineering skills and playful personality. She wears protective, round, wire-framed glasses that convey her intellect and quirkiness. Her real name is Klaudia Orzechowski, and she’s an agent originally from Germany. Killjoy’s ability to deploy turrets and nano swarm grenades makes her a valuable asset for her team, as Valorant is a team-based tactical shooting game that combines precise gunplay with unique character abilities.
Protective eyewear for gamers
While we’re on the subject of eyeglasses and how they can sometimes be used by characters as a form of eye protection, avid gamers can also benefit from having their own form of protective eyewear through blue light glasses. These are important because when we are exposed to blue light from screens for too long and too often, this can lead to eye strain, eye irritation, and computer vision syndrome. These types of glasses act as a shield with lenses that filter blue light rays, preserving your vision health and making them ideal for gamers. Eyebuydirect even has styles similar to the game characters we mentioned above, like their Motif frames, which resemble the glasses worn by Killjoy in Valorant.
Spending long hours immersed in the universe of your preferred video game can affect your vision. To reduce the symptoms of excessive screen time and prevent it from affecting your gaming performance, take screen breaks, get your eyes regularly checked by an eye doctor, and, of course, make sure to wear blue light glasses.
For more game reviews, tips, and other news on the gaming world, be sure to check the rest of our articles here at COGconnected.