Coats

Q is easily one of the most mysterious figures in the Street Fighter universe. His past is never explored, he’s the only character in 3rd Strike who doesn’t have their own stage, and his mannerisms make you wonder if he’s even human. Q’s face is concealed by an expressionless metallic mask and his dialogue is pretty much unintelligible, so he’s defined by his appearance even more than most people are. On that note, his entire outfit is archetypal of a master detective and he looks like he shares a closet with Humphrey Bogart. It’s hard not to think of classic comic characters like Rorschach or The Question when you look at Q, but the most appropriate comparison might be with H.G. Wells’ Invisible Man. It’s possible that he’s just a creepy pervert in a trench coat, but his outfit encourages speculation.

I appreciate chainmail bikinis as much as the next guy, but I also admire how Alyx Vance dresses like a real person. She’s a resistance fighter pushing back against an alien invasion, so I guess it’s important for her to wear practical clothing. Although Alyx is an attractive woman, she doesn’t seem overly concerned with her appearance and probably doesn’t care about making a fashion statement. Her clothes fit nicely and they seem trendy enough, but they obviously have mileage on them. There’s nothing especially remarkable about her brown leather jacket, but it’s a perfect fit for her character. The duct tape on the right sleeve speaks to her resourcefulness and paints a picture of a jacket that has actually been worn. If you’re at war, you should expect your clothing to take some damage along the way.

Sephiroth’s long coat would look ridiculous on most people, but it’s a great fit for his personality. The color black is typically associated with the unknown, but it also represents power and authority. Trench coats were prevalent in the trenches during the First World War (hence their name) and they are often used in a military context, so they’re appropriate garb for an elite soldier like Sephiroth. The coat is apparently comfortable enough to be worn without a shirt, and I’m legitimately impressed with how color coordinated his outfit is. The silver pauldrons on his shoulders not only make him seem more physically imposing, but they also match his flowing hair and oversized sword. Sephiroth has a flair for the dramatic, so it benefits him to have a billowy coat that blows in the wind whenever he makes an appearance.

JC Denton wore a dramatic black trench coat in the original Deus Ex not unlike the one that Neo wore in The Matrix movies, but I’m acknowledging Adam Jensen’s coat from Human Revolution instead because it had more features and was a lot more detailed (even though his escapades technically took place before the events of the first game.) Adam’s coat had slits for his hidden arm blades and numerous openings that allowed him to use mechanical augmentations without requiring a change of clothes. Human Revolution was released 11 years after the original game, so the graphics were a lot more detailed. You could actually make out the leather texture in Adam Jensen’s coat, and the floral print on the shoulders was surprisingly intricate. JC Denton’s coat looks like a garbage bag in comparison.

There are a number of characters in the Metal Gear universe who are adorned in full-length dusters, but no one wore it better than Revolver Ocelot. Nothing against Liquid Snake and Psycho Mantis, but Ocelot looks like he was ripped right out of a spaghetti western and his outfit simply wouldn’t be complete without the coat. The guy wore a gunbelt, his boots had spurs on them, he had a cowboy moustache, and his codename was Revolver! He’s the quintessential gunslinger, so it would be weird if he wasn’t dressed in a archetypal gunslinger coat. Full-length coats are not necessarily cool by default, but Revolver Ocelot’s outfit somehow makes him seem more distinguished and experienced. Seeing him without his duster is almost like seeing Superman without his cape

Katakura Kojūrō acts as a retainer for the legendary warrior, Date Masamune, but Kojūrō might be the stronger of the two. Nevertheless, he has unwavering faith in his master and values loyalty above all else. He’s even willing to lay down his life in the name of honor. Kojūrō looks and dresses like he belongs in feudal Japan, but his personality and mannerisms are more in line with a yakuza-style gangster. Everything from his speech patterns to the way he treats his subordinates was inspired by yakuza films. Kojūrō seems more contemporary than other Sengoku BASARA characters, and his clothing reflects this. His full-length duster has intricate details that fit with the Sengoku period, but its a lot more modern than samurai armor and I could just as easily see the coat being worn in a futuristic setting.

Terry Bogard is the face of Fatal Fury and the only fighter to have appeared in every game in the series. The “Legendary Hungry Wolf” trained alone and developed a unique fighting style which combined boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and street fighting moves. I’ve always viewed Terry as an Americanized version of a martial arts master, and his fighting attire was anything but traditional. When SNK reinvented the Fatal Fury franchise with the 1999 release of Mark of the Wolves, Terry was the only returning character on the roster. He ditched his trademark baseball cap, but his new bomber jacket fit nicely with his usual blue jeans and white t-shirt ensemble. If nothing else, his leather jacket looked a little more grown-up than the sleeveless vests he wore in earlier games.

Dante’s coats differ slightly in design from one game to the next, but they’re always the epitome of style. The paranormal mercenary has an affinity for the color red and is obviously a fan of coattails and upturned collars. His coats are usually worn over long-sleeved shirts or elaborate vests, but he doesn’t bother wearing anything underneath his coat in Devil May Cry 3 and goes shirtless for the entire game. Dante is known for his flippant and fearless personality and he’s certainly not shy for attention. It’s only fitting that someone with a bold personality would have an equally bold wardrobe. Much in the same way that Dante’s white hair makes him stand out from typical gaming heroes, it’s impossible not to notice his long overcoats. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress, and Dante’s coats are as brash as he is.

I haven’t talked much about Shenmue on this site, but the game was a major step forward for open-world gameplay. As the originator of the “open city” sub-genre, Shenmue offered players an unparalleled level of freedom. The young martial artist Ryo Hazuki could partake in a large number of activities throughout the course of the game, so his brown leather jacket is put through the paces. During his quest to avenge his father, Ryo fights street thugs, races forklifts, and plays arcade games. There’s no scenario where his jacket looks out of place. Shenmue was known for its dynamic weather patterns, so it was important that Ryo’s jacket be appropriate for all seasons. It’s a majestic sight when it starts to snow in the streets of Yokosuka, and Ryo will be happy he’s wearing his jacket when it does.

Leon Kennedy’s brown leather bomber jacket is both fashionable and practical. Not only does it look comfortable, but it also highlights one of the most significant differences between Resident Evil 4 and its predecessors. While earlier games in the series mostly took place in confined spaces like mansions or police stations, Resident Evil 4 took the action outdoors. The European countryside can become quite chilly in autumn, and this setting made it a necessity for Leon to wear a jacket in the first place. The sheepskin collar is completely appropriate for the climate, and you could probably guess what type of environment he’s in simply by looking at how he’s dressed. Leon’s jacket looks cool, but it keeps him warm. Replicas of the iconic jacket can be found at a number of clothing outlets.