Oh yeah, I love that Sylvando is still depicted as being intelligent and skilled while also openly feminine and dramatic.

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

Full agreement here!

@GloriousGrunt

3 жыл бұрын

And also a total alpha as well lol

@littlemoth4956

3 жыл бұрын

He gets serious when people push too far. They assume he’s stupid and he just goes “bruh I know stfu”

@oimate6357

3 жыл бұрын

Reminds me of myself

@DavidJohnson-zu4or

2 жыл бұрын

A nice feature they added was that during the Jade fight in act 2 he is immune to puff-puff

The thing is that sylv goes through everything that a normal knight character goes through. But the whole point is that he overcomes it all by being himself, which I feel should be done with characters in fiction in general.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

Its interesting to me that after the world falls to darkness you pick up with sylvando cheering the world up its like the game itself is saying "dont worry darling" ;)

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

It's one of the best ways to be introduced to the end of the world that we've seen in recent games, haha.

@tanya1145

2 жыл бұрын

I feel this. It’s a way to make things feel a little better for the player.

@davidbird7328

2 жыл бұрын

@@tanya1145 yeah but I mean it did get borderline sometimes you want the player to feel dread like the world is ending.

@caaltaes732

2 жыл бұрын

@@tanya1145 yeah too bad that then it kicks you were it hurts the most at the end.

@matthewsingerii2600

2 жыл бұрын

I heard that in his voice

I love the idea of making “stereotypical gay character” intelligent, capable, and a pretty powerful unit. Feminine acting male characters shouldn’t just be seen as weaker, lesser, or just silly foppish characters. Does Sylvando accomplish this? I think he actually does, but it’s a bit of a slow burn revealing that to the player.

@outrageouslamp4539

2 жыл бұрын

What I also like is that he has these stereotypes, while not having the negative creepy/ rapey 'stereotypes' often seen portrayed in other media. Distancing and reclaiming certain stereotypes from the homophobic ones is really important.

@CaptainCFalcon

2 жыл бұрын

I actually REALLY enjoy the fact that his depth is only subtly hinted at in the beginning. Sylvando breaks the stereotype by fully flaunting the cliches at the start, setting everyone in the mindset that that is what he is: the stereotype. And instead of _immediately_ saying "No of course not you fool" you are forced to REALIZE there is more going on, before it's directly shown to you. When it happens, it doesn't feel like a cop-out, it feels satisfying & natural.

@jamesfreeman6946

2 жыл бұрын

i like how he is a big loud gayzilla it's funny as shit

@AC-mp6xe

2 жыл бұрын

I don’t, he isn’t breaking any stereotypes and it’s just another feminine gay man, I mean that’s what media always portrays us and not a masculine gay man. He could be intelligent and all that but again why do they think every gay man is a flamboyant feminine person?

@outrageouslamp4539

2 жыл бұрын

@@AC-mp6xe just because not every gay man is flamboyant doesn't meant that effeminate gay men don't deserve positive representation. Flamboyant gay men are often the ones negatively portrayed, so I think it's only fair they get positive representation to off set that.

Honestly, there was never a Moment Sylvando was on screen that DIDN'T make me Smile. And he's actually a really great party member too (Better than alot of guides and forums make him out to be), which didn't hurt either.

@Mortified42

2 жыл бұрын

Sylvando was in my main party. He has good synergy with everyone in the party.

@StarlightMagician

2 жыл бұрын

@@Mortified42 Oh I know how good Sylvando is. When I said he was better than alot of Guides and Forums make him out to be, I was referring to those people saying he isn't good at all, or at least was underpowered compared to the other Party Members (Which makes me think they didn't invest into his charm stat at all or used the sword tree only to be disappointed by it because Sylv's sword tree is hot garbage).

@Jugement

2 жыл бұрын

Well he is the best healer option for most of Arc 1, falls a little behind during Arc 2, and becomes an insane support in Arc 3

@StarlightMagician

2 жыл бұрын

@@Jugement tbf, he's still one of the better Healers for most of Act 2 because you get Serena back so late that they end up having to make her Deliberately overpowered specifically to pick up the slack for Veronica since, ya know.

@leifanderson3487

2 жыл бұрын

Old thread, but Sylvando was my boi. Beat the game on Draconian 6. Dude was there almost every step of the way.

The fact that after his flamboyant, jester-knight routine, the entire party went "Ok, this guy absolutely rules" is just so groovy to me

DQ11's story and characters are very underrated imo. In a world where fantasy has become saturated with GoT-style dark deconstructions, DQ11 is unashamedly a classic heroic fantasy, just with modern takes on its tropes and writing. It's not an overly complicated story but it's told very well and its characters are amazing. And that's enough.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

No argument here.

@rokkfel4999

2 жыл бұрын

Omg it’s what I’m feeling put into words I’m tired of dark rpg I want to be happy playing the game

@GameExplorer0115

2 жыл бұрын

@@rokkfel4999 but then DQ11 also make sure it makes you feel sad as fuck. But still hopeful.

@rokkfel4999

2 жыл бұрын

@@GameExplorer0115 it’s the definition of a Dragon quest game is it not?

@nellewoodruff6337

2 жыл бұрын

Too true. These types of games are my favorite and it makes me wish I got into dq sooner. Being greeted with 11 X was a great way to get my foot in the door.

Fun fact! He’s resistant to feminine charm abilities like the puff puff however, unlike the girls, he’s not immune. Therefore he’s likely a male leaning bisexual.

@rokkfel4999

2 жыл бұрын

I can see that as well maybe bi leaning more towards men then women?

@theshinypeliper8813

2 жыл бұрын

Yep!

@BlackdragonTheShadow

2 жыл бұрын

I know that resistance helped ATON during a certain boss that shall not be named due to spoilers

@rokkfel4999

2 жыл бұрын

@@BlackdragonTheShadow was a damn godsend in those fights

@joshuaramos6514

2 жыл бұрын

that’s because japanese people truly people gay people can’t be completely gay lol

I'll be honest. I ain't gay. I didn't care that he was. He's the jester with the goal of making people smile. Not the twisted kind you'd see in in many other places; Genuine joy and betterment of everyone is what he wants more than anything. Sometimes it calls for theatrics like in the Big Top or with his troupe, sometimes it's doing small acts of kindness like with a traveler or even the gang that robbed said traveler, sometimes it's taking down monsters that threaten everyone like the Slayer of the Sands or the BBEG. No matter what he's doing, people's happiness is the end goal be it making people forget their troubles for a bit or to kick them in the right direction. And he has the wit, heart, and skill to pull off each stunt. Sylvando says it best himself: he's a Knight in Smiling Armor. Everytime this man is on screen, life feels a little better and easier.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Amen to that!

@rokkfel4999

Жыл бұрын

By far one of the best dragon age characters

Sylvando is the only game character I have seen that can make bobbles work in an outfit without looking stupid. Just my opinion though.

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

No argument here.

I'm Latino and queer so my God when I saw Silvando it made me so happy. I found him to be super relatable with his personality, how he talks, and dealing with machismo with his father which I never expected to see in a Dragon Quest game.

@sebo3e

11 ай бұрын

Excuse me i feel botherded when Lord name is used in vain can you please refrain from it je love you je created you in your actual preferance male is male and female is female other is made up lies from evil because Lord created Male and female

@spiderdude2099

8 ай бұрын

@@sebo3egender is fluid, god isn’t real. Get outta here.

@GTSN38

5 ай бұрын

He didn't use the lord's name in vain. God isn't even God's name.

As a straight man, I have to say that Sylv was probably my favorite character. He KNEW he was campy because that is his persona he took. It wasn't who he was as a man, but the character. Or rather, "Sylvando" is campy and over the top, but "Noberto" is smart, kind and badass. Everyone SEES Sylvando, but few KNOW Noberto. And if you meet Noberto, you love him because he is an example of what it means to be a truly good man.

Sylvando was my favorite character, partially cuz he was the only character whom I could stand to listen to voice acting wise, but mostly because HE WAS SO DAMN LOVABLE AND HILARIOUS! My absolute favorite moment was finding his dad dancing with Sylvando's circus troupe or whatever, and Sylvando's dad just huffs out of the house power walking like Robbie Rotten. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing so hard. Sylvando as a character completely prevented the game from being sad, depressing, and most importantly, boring. There was NEVER a dull moment with him!

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

No argument here!

@josepablobonillajimenez6297

2 жыл бұрын

The best part is this is the typical loud, over the top character the everyone always hates in stories, but they made him so lovable and handled him so well that he's many people's favorite, including me

@littlemoth4956

Жыл бұрын

Bruh what? Erik and Hendrik’s voice-acting are great, and Jade’s is fantastic. The only one I could see that being true for is Veronica, and mayyybe Serena.

SylCHADdo will remain the best character out of this game, simple as. He will be in my party when 9 gets remade.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Looking forward to that!

what i love about sylvando is his perfect balance of good characterisation and comedy relief, neither being sacrificed for the other. he's to be laughed WITH and not AT. which is an aspect sorely missing in many for comedy depictions of feminine men

As a gay man myself, whenever I saw the trailers with Sylvando prior to the game coming out I was aggravated, thinking along the lines of, "great, another character made to make a joke out of myself and my community". I was however, happily surprised to find so much more than that with Sylvando, his flaws, fears, and depth quickly made him my favorite character in the entire game. I was in some disbelief as how well they actually handled him and happy for it.

@forgottenartform

2 жыл бұрын

Same here, when I first played and we first met Sylvando I thought "great a stereotype in a game series I love that's going to show gay people in the same way as always" but the more I played and especially when I picked S up and started that one I was happy that we were getting a complex competent character who brought a smile :) and has a wicked wit

@joshuawidener8407

2 жыл бұрын

he's a stereotypical gay guy rofl

@BH400q

2 жыл бұрын

Slyvando is easily one of my favorite characters.

@skyesfury8511

2 жыл бұрын

Caricatures, aka humorous stereotypes, are meant to be amusing. No one saw Sylvando and thought "This is what gay people are like". No one was making a joke out of you or the community. This is what irritates so many people when dealing with the Alphabet Community. You take offense over things that are not offensive, things that are meant in fun and friendly humor. You denigrate anyone making those jokes as "hOmOpHoBiC". Your reaction, the reaction of the Alphabet Community, is what is creating the negativity you accuse others of. I lost count of how many gay men and lesbian women I've heard say "I want nothing to do with the lgbt community because of how they behave, taking offense over everything, always playing the victim". To put it another way, stop assuming jokes are attacks. Stop assuming a fun character who is clearly a caricature of a stereotype is an attack. Stop being offended by everything. Learn to laugh. You may now proceed to misrepresent what I've said, create strawmen, gaslight me, engage in ad hominens, throw out some whataboutisms, and overall just ignore what I've said because it's easier to plug your ears than it is to hear brutal honesty. Someone will see my comment and it will help them. I hope you'll be one of them, but experience has taught me otherwise.

@joshuawidener8407

2 жыл бұрын

@@skyesfury8511 most gay people do act like sylvando tho

i honestly love when writers may gay characters badass, it's why one of my favorite characters in the venture bros is shoreleave.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

I also really liked how they approached the subject of coming out to your father and had the same vibes you’d expect from that towards coming out about his career choice. They just did a really good job overall with him.

Honestly, when Sylvando first shows up in the narrative, I was a bit "he's so much" . But, as pointed out deftly in this video, the writing of his character is actually quite brilliant and he quickly becomes an integral part of your story and team. Having now dumped nearly 500 hours into this game with more to go in the third act, I can whole heartedly agree that Sylvando is one of the best characters in any JRPG I've played. That doesn't even touch on what I think his character portrayal means for representation- the Exp. Up team cover that perfectly - on how he simply is just a badass in his own colorful manner. I really hope that Sylvando's writing emboldens writers in not just JRPGs, but video games in general, as they learn to organically incorporate inclusivity without resorting to cheap-tropes. Also, looks like I'm going to have to cringe a bit as I progress through Persona 5. Sigh. Awesome video as usual squad!! Thanks for doing this during #pridemonth

@speedracer2please

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah that moment in P5 isn't great, but they removed it from the re-release, so they're trying and growing! I wonder if Dragon Quest had a role in that

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

No problem, glad you liked it man! And yeah, in P5 Royal they took out that scene, because well...you saw a part of it.

@neoonewingedren1836

2 жыл бұрын

Persona has literally a button to speed up dialogue.... Honestly, that joke sucks but i never felt anything other than "ok" passing by it Btw Sylvando it's the perfect way to do representation right, i mean we don't even know If he is gay so it's up to your headcanon and that's brillaint, the fact that he is baddass, flamboyant and sparkling makes him amazing

This is a very similar sentiment I have experienced in coaching, where there is this idea that there is a "correct" way to portray yourself and be "gay" and even fellow colleagues of mine who happened to be gay would hold other gay men to that standard. Reducing Sylvando to just the "gay" aspects, rather than his motivations, responses to the story, and overall arc is a little bit like saying a character like Walter White is just any old white man, while totally ignoring literally everything else about the story. Likewise, to gate keep a specific brand of how to be gay doesn't really do much for the realism of the character - it makes sense one of the worlds greatest performers might be a naturally flamboyant character, it's a quality we look for in performers regardless of orientation.

To be honest, before this video, I didn't know that most of the trops around Sylvando meant that a person was homosexual. I just enjoyed his wit and skills on and off screen. He never did something without making someone smile as the end goal. In my opinion, that makes him the best comic relief of the game.

I feel they threaded a space where while Sylvando's behavior is sometimes the punchline, it is never the butt of the joke. We're just invited to have a giggle at how constantly extra he is but never told his behavior is wrong (but occasionally inappropriate)

My favorite character’s Veronica, but I love Sylvando. It’s interesting that of everyone in the party, he’s kinda the guy who is just there. The Hero is the hero, Serena and Veronica are destined to help him. Erik sought him out, Rab is his grandpa, Jade is a royal, and Hendrik is a royal guardsman. Sylv is just there, and I think that’s what makes him special. He just wants to make people smile, and joining our heroes is the way to do it.

‘Nother important thing about this guy that isn’t brought up too much in this video. He isn’t infallible. He’s got design weaknesses in battle, just like everyone else. He has completely valid insecurities, fears, and troubles. His brief slip into nihilism is justified and earned, as well as further emphasizing the tone shift that is the game’s second act. He is not an automatic win button or someone who is constantly in control, but rather a developed character with his own list of strengths and weaknesses. Adding in his ability to lose, as with any character, makes him extremely compelling and interesting. I guess the only thing I don’t quite like about him overall are his costumes. His outfit you get based off his father in act 3 and the “Head-Turner” line are great, but I don’t quite vibe with what else he has on display. But that’s obviously just a personal taste thing.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

That's an excellent point and that's absolutely true! Thanks for bringing it up! The most endearing thing that can be done with any character is relatable flaws, and they do a really good job in DQ11 with that generally. The writer for this video (who is a big JRPG fan) even noted internally that it's one of the few times he's seen a stoic, silent JRPG protagonist burst out crying after suffering major loss, and it was such an unexpected but relatable human response to the situation that he started tearing up too. Sylv is no exception to this rule as you deftly pointed out, and it's played extremely well in humanizing him. And yeah, the head turner set and the Don suit are pretty cool looking. Though the way the parade and superstar costumes mess with the cinematic camera so there's random feathers in people's faces during dramatic scenes, is...just great, haha.

Sylv is probably my favorite character in jrpg’s this gen. That’s huge praise when you consider how good the casts of persona and yakuza are.

This is such a great video! As a gay man myself, I was nervous about Sylvando initially because JRPGs had such a poor track record in representing people like me. But it was clear very quickly after meeting Sylvando in the game that Sylvando was going to be a very different case, in a good way. He's strong, intelligent, loyal, honorable - every character trait a hero is usually portrayed with. His story arc of acceptance was really well done. He really quickly became my favorite character in the whole game, possibly even the whole series. And you touched upon all the reasons why. Bravo!

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for such a lovely comment! Yeah, he's internally our favorite character as well, for all the reasons both the video and you mention. Really glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you again for your kind words!

@IsraelLlerena

2 жыл бұрын

It was mindblowing getting to play though his story in the beginning of ACT 2. Having a character like him be the main character (even if it was temporary) genuinely put tears to my eyes and that memory is one of the best from playing the game. I was worried about him at first, but they added so much to him so he seemed like a real person.

Sylvando was like the tour guide of this game. I mainly kept him on the fighting party, besides Sir Hendrik.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Good call!

I remember reading a book in his father’s house that said that, when they were younger, Sylvando soundly defeated Hendrik in a duel. That stuck with me as to how, had he followed his father’s path, he probably could’ve been the greatest knight who ever lived. But yeah, Sylvando is 100% the best character in the game, followed by Erik. Almost everytime this man was on screen, I left the scene with a grin on my face. Also, Puerto Valor is 100% named after Puerto Rico, which is where I’m from, and that endeared me more to him. But even if that wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have loved him any less.

I loved Sylvando so much and I definitely didn't expect to at first. Some don't like how "stereotype" hyper flamboyant he is but I Love that that part of him wasn't compromised for him to be the strong capable character he is (people also often forget that stereotypes are built from that there ARE many people who are like that) and he's a LEADER! I seriously think that is a first in Any game. Even the flamboyant evil characters are usually not leaders, mostly they're loners, some may have grunts they can command but being a leader will never be in their character

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

No argument here!

Great Video!! Sylvando is bae, but props to my boy Rab for keeping the accent consistent and unique all game, while making the character sympathetic and enjoyable and not just a typical Master Roshi lechur copy.

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, his character and accent are great. He's certainly got plenty of layers, and his parts are honestly the most emotional and tearjerking in our opinion- aside from a few deep Erik story moments.

@mikewally5762

3 жыл бұрын

I know it's an easy-punch trope but memory loss always manages to strike a cord! Love Erik and his beats with Mia.

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that aspect was extremely relatable - especially if someone has ever been a sibling, haha.

In a hundred years, I never would have guessed that Sylv was going to be one of my favorite characters in the game, but he's absolutely the heart of the party and not only loveable but supremely capable, it's practically impossible to dislike him

Sylvando was always in my party after I got him. Also he is one of my favorites also along with yangus from dq8 and Eric from 11.

@franciscor390

2 жыл бұрын

Great characters!

Personally, I always loved how campy Sylvando was. I think positive representations of more effeminate men are particularly important due to the abundance of negative depictions. He was hands down my favorite character in the game. Low key wish he and Dave were an item or at least hinted at.

@josepablobonillajimenez6297

2 жыл бұрын

In the "S" version you can sort of marry him (he moves in to live with you but the devs leave the rest to your imagination)

Sylv is such a great character, be it their portrayal as a transgender woman in the original release, or their portrayal as a gay man in the localization; one of the best LGBT characters in a modern franchise to this day. Treated with respect, by their peers and by the narrative.

@Mario87456

Жыл бұрын

Actually he was a onee (a Japanese term) a term that really has no equivalent in English (look it up) and he was always male even as child as confirmed by Hendrik and his father. Also it is never outright stated he is gay for all we know he could be a flamboyant straight man especially since he can be affected by the Puff Puff techniques even if he very resistant to them.

@jalifritz8033

Жыл бұрын

@@Mario87456 or bisexual or pan

@Mario87456

Жыл бұрын

@@jalifritz8033 Well it’s up for the player to decide overall since wherever he is gay or not is deliberately left up to interpretation.

@Crybaby-Media

Жыл бұрын

@@Mario87456 I think it’s funny your name is Mario and OPs name is Luigi. Haha I think Sylv is gay, mainly because of the storyline with his father .

@NicoNicoNessieSub

Жыл бұрын

​@@Mario87456 her name is literally Sylvia in the Japanese versions.

Sylvando was a mainstay in my party through my whole playthrough. His portions of the game were also my favorite parts. He was so confident and positive, I adore him.

I think Sylvando being a gay stereotype is part of a larger trend in DQ 11 to use stereotypes while trying to a) not be hurtful; and b) not rely on them exclusively. This extends to stereotypes about class roles, for instance, but also pretty much every location is based on stereotypes about a specific real world location (the Japanese inspired city has hot springs, a sword smith, and haikus, for instance). I wonder if anyone has made that video essay yet.

@CodaBlairLucarioEmperor

2 жыл бұрын

Another example is Erik who at first seems like this stereotypical rogue but ends up actually being a very kind and determined person. His part of the Act 2 intro was honestly ptobably my favorite along with Jade's. I honestly just love the whole game though.

@TatankaTaylor

2 ай бұрын

Except that Sylvando undermines the stereotype of how a gay person is usually represented in video games. That seems to be the whole point of this video. He destroys the stereotype by not being one. Another example is Princess Leia. In the original 1977 movie, she did the same thing when it came to the damsel in distress stereotype that was so prevalent in the 20th century (and the previous centuries). She turns out to be anything but a stereotypical weak damsel. And she even ends up rescuing her rescuers who had no escape plan at all. So its not about pasting a "stereotype" on media exactly as people expect stereotypes to be like. Instead, its about subverting those archaic expectations about a specific stereotype.

I find it really sad that persona games always do a poor job with LGBT characters nowadays considering that Jun in persona 2 is incredible well written

@franciscor390

2 жыл бұрын

That's because the majority of so called "representation" in the west is often done to check a tick box, it's lazy and not done with any effort or honesty.

@powerfulech0356

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I’ll always hate that they took out Yosuke as a romance option in P4

@lunavioleta001

2 жыл бұрын

@@powerfulech0356 And Kanji for me. He was very masculine and manly, so it would of been so great for him to be actually gay. Even if the game makes him straight, I still think of him as gay.

@cosmicspacething3474

2 жыл бұрын

@@lunavioleta001 Bisexual people exist too

@lunavioleta001

2 жыл бұрын

@@cosmicspacething3474 That is why you have the main characters. They are the bi icons, if the game developers and writers actually let them date both males and females at the same time.

A little detail I like that isn't mentioned by many people is one of the books you can read states that Sylvando actually beat Hendrick back during Hendricks training. A guy who is more or less considered the stongest knight in the country and Sylvando beat him back in the day.

When I very first met this guy I didn't think you would be anything but then Dave showed up the pink muscle Man himself they drove that glorious ship to victory and I will sold on the entire thing

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, really sets the awesomeness of the tone to be sure.

Sylvando is absolutely perfect to me. His writing and voice acting are both among the best I've ever seen in a video game. Even in a game where all of the characters are fantastic to me, Sylvando goes above and beyond to something truly special.

this man needs more recognition

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you liked the video!

My favorite thing about Sylvando is that he chooses to join you of his own accord. This dude has his own life going on and is clearly successful, but sees us and takes a liking to us so much that he puts his well being on the line to help us, not mentioned ever in the prophecy and always puts the biggest grin on my face whenever he does absolutely anything

They had a great way of bringing out his character to the point I can’t say there wasn’t a moment where I didn’t like him. Thinking about it now, I never cared about his sexuality. I just looked at him as a flamboyant knight with a mix of cheer and chivalry. Nothing wrong with that in the least. He also taught us to be honest with ourselves and others.

Kind of a side-note but Sylvando has one of my favorite bits of video game animation. You played it at the end of the video (18:40) - this is from the S version specifically but it's featured earlier in the game as well at the end of his introductory chapter. The way he waves, turns, and at the last moment sort of cocks his head to the side playfully as he walks away is so perfect. It looks so natural, I'm always struck by how unusually realistic the movement is. I love it.

Sylv beat Hendrik when they were younger. (You can find this in a diary in Don Rodrigo's villa) This guy will literally do a pirouette on your grave. Total chad.

Sylvando was my favorite while playing through the game. I just loved his courage and ability to express himself without shame.

You know, though I knew he was gay, I never attributed Sylv's flamboyant personality with him being gay, I attributed it to him being a circus performer. That sort of 'everything is exaggerated' that you see in most shows.

@justacuteonigiri

2 жыл бұрын

it's a stereotype that if a man acts flamboyant hes automatically gay no questions asked

The entire main cast of this game is superb tbh. They all have a light trope they are created around, like being a born hero, or descended from royalty or a sage, or a thief who grew up in tough times. But the characters tend to defy their own tropes or at least be willing to see or act outside of those things, which makes them feel really human. Nobody in real life is exactly a stereotype, we all have our differences and nuances. So when it comes to Sylvando, they basically put even more effort and thought into how to expand him. He is the most empathetic character in the roster, while also being strong and willing to poke fun at others and himself. He feels the most human out of the whole cast and is definitely a star of the show. I just played xi s recently since i had only played vanilla xi, and they only made the game better. Sylvando especially, by showing how he became the leader of that traveling band.

i love how sylvando can be really famboyant and feminine yet still have a lot of depth, he's not one note or superficial, this is how queer characters should be represented in games, usually japan always make gay character some weirdos to make fun of, so it was surprising and refreshing to see someone like him, it sure make me love DQXI even more!

@CodaBlairLucarioEmperor

2 жыл бұрын

I played a game called Isu 9 Monstrum Nox. Although he's not a party member there is a character who acts as a barkeep and is very clearly meant to be a flamboyant gay man. He actually is a cool character though and as you progress your relationship with him you learn stuff like how he was a gladiator and he wanted to escape that life along with his partner. That partner ended up dying and he was able to get out. He decided to then act this way in order to make people happy in his partner's memory.

I was so uncomfortable when I first came across him. But then I played with him and he's brave, wise, strong, and kind. He's actually pretty amazing.

Sylv ended up being my favorite character pretty quickly during my playthrough. He's so charming and motivated and knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. Despite his confidence he also has the most depth with regards to seeing his weakness and hardships. Not only that but he's a permanent front line team member for me cause he's an absolute tank that also keeps everyone alive pretty much. I ended up living with him at the end of the game and his special cutscene did not disappoint!

I think the only time anyone had an issue with Sylvandos personality in game was when Erik expressed annoyance at his condescending attitude, and he got over that real quick after Gondolia.

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, he proves himself pretty quickly, and it's awesome!

Queer here and very much my interpretation of Sylvando. When he first appeared, I was suspicious. I was waiting for him to be a punchline. But he never was. He was consistently accepted as he was. And he was seen as strong and powerful. I think femme queer people need more positive representation and this was a solid example of that. (And in my head canon, Dave was clearly his partner. And I loved it!)

As a more fem gay man, Sylvando's representation felt really empowering. His personality traits that are commonly depicted as 'feminine' are not only accepted - they are often his greatest strengths. He is empathic, in tune with his emotions and empowers the people around him. It's refreshing to see in a world where masculinity is so obviously valued more than its counterpart. I'd like for JRPGs to delve deeper into positive representations of 'femininity' in general. Women in JRPGs are often reduced to being a seductress or a sensitive and soft spoken healer. 'Strong' women end up predominantly representing masculine traits. While those characterizations definitely have a place in storytelling I would love for JRPGs to explore femininity more in depth rather than relying so much on the same old tropes. We see it a little bit with Jade but I hope JRPGs will take it further. Great video btw!

@Flygonite

Жыл бұрын

Honestly, in much the same vein as Sylv, I'd argue the "strongest" female character in DQ11 is Serena. It's not in the forefront in most of the game because she's most comfortable in the role of a follower and lives at a slower pace than the rest of the party, but when she's pushed to extremes in Act 2 she shows genuinely impressive resilience and strength of will, taking charge exactly when she needs to and no one else can. In the S edition even Sylv needed support in his darkest hour, whereas Serena compartmentalized, processed, and overcame her pain basically on her own (silent protagonists everyone!) as soon as she had the downtime to do so. (It's absolutely not a weakness to need help from the people around us, but Serena's ability to stand on her own after generally coming across as the tagalong twin is quite notable) Some people argue that Act 3 ruins the development Serena had, but I'd argue she's still exactly as resolute and capable as she was, she just isn't in a situation that needs her to show it. dragon quest writing good I love this party so much

Gosh I saw this vid some weeks ago without even knowing what DQXI is and now I'm halfway through the game, Sylvando is an absolute gem of a character

@GudetamaSit

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, found it a month or so ago (no idea why, hadn't touched DQ as a series when this was in my reccomended) and I bought it since. It's been my comfort food whenever I get a spare hour in exam season. Props to these guys for introducing me!

I love how you called the Hero “Trunks”

Silva is the oldest, most common surname in Brazil... It comes from an old version of the word "Selva", which means "Forest" in Portuguese. And it's pretty obvious from that his costumes take inspiration from Carnaval and other parties around the world. As I slowly came to know him in game, I became slightly proud that something of his design was inspired by my place of birth. He's just such a nice person. Shine on.

Dragon Quest in general is the king of turning stereotypes on its head. My favorite will always be your son being the hero of DQ V and not your main character.

DQ XI brilliant script makes you see the main cast as people no cardboard of, that's why you can empathize and care for them and also feel the pain of their own decisions and sacrifices.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

Sylvando was my absolute favorite character. His second act and beast slaying scene were so absolutely stunning and perfected His second act is the thing that made me cry in this game

What a genuinely phenomenal video. You've earned yourself a new subscriber. I hope that new JRPGs, and media as a whole, learn a lot from how Dragon Quest 11 handled Sylvando's character.

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the sub! Glad to hear you liked the video, and yeah absolutely! We look forward to when videos like this are no longer necessary.

Wow, I just finished watching all your videos and I’m repeatedly shocked at how well your video essays are! Keep up the great work!

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for your kind words, we're happy you like our stuff enough to watch it all! And we're certainly going to do our best to continue!

One of the many gripes I have with the localization of this game is the fact that they changed Sylvia's name into Sylvando. It's a name the character chose for themselves in the game, wanting to really underline the way they play with gender. I feel masculinizing the name works against who the character is and simplifies them.

I remember I wasn't sure how to receive Sylvando when I first got him in the party, but very soon he became a pretty cool guy to me. And the more the store progressed, the better I found him. His personal arc made him very endearing too, and he became my favourite, if not second favourite character in the game (which, by extention, means the whole franchise, since it's gotten pretty plain characters until now).

Erik and Jade might be my favorite characters but Sylvando is definitely one of the best in the game

You brought up the main point that I always think about when it comes to Sylvando's character. Sylvando isn't treated any differently than the rest of the cast. There isn't a single moment in the game where it tries to portray Sylvando's personality or sexuality as something to be ashamed of. Instead, we get an intelligent badass who definitely excels at making others smile. I know I definitely ended up smiling during multiple scenes that involved Sylvando. I love the cast of DQXI. The character relationships just feel so genuine. There was never a single moment where I doubted how much the characters care for each other.

This game was my first experience with Dragon Quest, but after playing Persona and some other JRPGs ((as well as knowing how gay men tend to be in Japanese media)), my heart sunk a bit at first when meeting Sylvando. Like, we are going to be stuck with this dude for 100-ish hours? Oof. I was fully expecting the worst- some horribly offensive and oversexualized gay man that was at some point probably try and make a move on one of the younger guys in the party. But the way he handles himself, how genuine and wholesome he is, and not to mention strong ((his diary even mentions he kicked Hendrik's ass!)), I fell in love with him soon after he joined the party and he quickly became my favorite character! Some of his actions are silly, and he's extremely over-the-top, but his writing more than makes up for it in my eyes. I will definitely miss him

I've seen a whole bunch of artwork and gifs of this funky little guy, so I'm glad I finally have a name to the face through this nice video.

Late to the party but I genuinely love this breakdown! Probably the most entertaining deconstruction of a character I've watched, editing and humor on point and supplemental. Amazing effort!

I love, i love that he’s overly effeminate but also be a complex character. Both still being powerful and strong

never seen your channel before- stellar intro you've got there; pun unintentional- but realized it as i'm typing omfg

The thing I like about Sylvando is he IS stereotypical... because there isn't anything wrong with being a gay man who is feminine and dramatic. But he's also still clearly a fleshed-out character, and THAT'S what matters. He also behaves like a stereotype, yeah, but the game never treats him like a joke, which makes all the difference. They accept him as he is - I don't think even the bad guys take a swipe at him, or anything like that - and what he is is absolutely fabulous. DQ11 also recognizes which stereotypes are harmless (being "feminine") and which ones are harmful (being predatory) when it comes to rep. I legit think Sylvando is some of the best gay/queer male rep I've ever seen. He's amazing.

I say this as a straight, cisgendered man, but also as someone who unambiguously loves Sylvando as a character: Sylv works because on the surface, he's a campy gay joke character, complete with the trappings of such a character. That said, he works because the traits that create the joke, that is, flamboyance, exuberance, and unbridled confidence, are removed from the negative connotations they normally have, which means what you are left with is a brilliant, smartly written, and empathetic character. Great Sylvando, indeed.

On first meeting i often followed up his statements with a mocking "for I am the great Sylvando" because i wasnt digging his clown-like performers attitude. Now i say the same with no mockery because hes my favorite party member. The late reveal that he was raised to be a knight clicked a lot of his character into place for me. And now i see him as a challenge to the classic ideas of machismo and masculinity. Hes a knight *and* a circus performer. Honourable yet playful, strong _and_ sensitive. A badass who isnt an ass. Knight characters tend to be a little one dimensional and Sylv is so much more than that.

Found your channel thru this video and wanted to show my support. I started playing DQ11 in 2021 and haven't finished (it's such a big JRPG lol). I'm now realizing that I probably didn't even get halfway thru, given the in depth topics you discussed here. But have no fear, I didn't mind the spoilers since I wanted to watch the full analysis video. I'll admit that Sylvando rubbed me the wrong way at first introduction because of said negative stereotype. But he quickly became my favorite character in the game and made it very difficult to determine my main party once I had acquired about 7 playable characters to pick from. Sylvando is a great character and your analysis only opened my eyes to his deeper role in the story, as I haven't yet progressed that far. But your analysis is spot on: he's got character, personality, depth and a great arc. He's far from a negative stereotype or a cheap joke or a comic relief. He's definitely a great example for future games to take inspiration from as well.

You did such a good job analysing Sylv, wow. I'd love to see you do more of DQ11's characters, since I think they're all fun and unique enough that you could do a lot with them! Personally I'm a big fan of Hendrik and Erik, in that order

Sylvando is easily my favorite character

@ExpUp

2 жыл бұрын

Yours and ours both!

While I understand the core argument of this visual essay, I think that even though there have been more improvements in portraying 2SLGBTQ+ community, there are inherent stereotypes that code the entire community which need to be broken down. Many of the stereotypes are then subverted, but reaffirm an underlying bias against the queer community. For example, many people are pleased that Sylvando is a fully fleshed character rather than a joke character. Considering he is in the main cast, that should be the bare minimum rather than a goal. People are saying he is one of the strongest characters in the game. The implication is that as a queer character, we first must assume he must be weak. Sylvando doesn’t break any stereotypes, but rather breaks the rule about not having queer characters in the main party. Not every queer or gay male would go by she/her pronouns (despite what Rupaul’s Drag Race would lead you to believe). Not every queer or gay male are flamboyant. If there were only a few queer characters that were like that, it wouldn’t be an issue. It is rather the fact it is a go to to identify characters becomes jarring. Also, FF7R is not a good representation of the 2SLGBTQ+ community (which is ever so slightly an improvement from FF7 bathhouses scene). It is just as bad and reinforces a lot of negative stereotypes and makes our Trans and non-binary siblings a joke for entertainment.

What! Sylvando is GAY?! Lol, but seriously, he was probably my favorite companion, always made me chuckle.

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

He is the best boy, no question haha.

@taluca8474

2 жыл бұрын

I actually thought he was transgender but was just flamboyant

this is an incredibly well put together video, thank you for talking about sylvando in such a perfect way of incapsulating everything about the character!

Genius video, just discovered your content and are enjoying it greatly. Gj keep going!

He was also the party member first approached by the child Dora, who only takes on that form for people who wouldn't be tempted by the supposed good luck provided by the mural. This implies that Sylvando is less interested in having good fortune for himself, but is very interested in helping others (especially young people who need parental figures, such as Son and the members of the Soldiers of Smile, which mirrors his arc with his father).

I’ve never even played a dragon quest game before, but the way you articulated everything made it really easy to follow while still being packed w info. Completely agree w how the newer persona games absolutely fuck up any kind of positive rep with Kanji, Yosuke, the scenes in p5, etc. it’s really sad to see especially after P2 had Jun, even if that game had its weird moments. I can’t really comment on who Sylvando is since I don’t know jack about him except for the content shown here, and I’m kinda late to the party for this video. Loved it, please keep going!!!! this is great work. you’ve earned a sub.

I remember playing through the game for the first time and my mom taking note of how stereotypical Sylv was. This made me look more into what people thought of him and getting really surprised when the consensus was that he is still a good character because he portrays said stereotypes well. I've never seen any character reception quite like it, so it makes him very special in the best way in my book.

Sylvando is a great character. While he may be a bit overbearing at times, it's his character and charm at the same time. I especially liked the scene where he confronted his father and the only problem his father had was that he hasn't yet succeeded in making the world smile.

This was a thoughtful and interesting breakdown of Sylvando. I think the Exp. Up channel is going to be one of the big ones some day.

I was definitely surprised by sylvandos character when he first showed up, but he was such a unique character that it added some fun levity to the story.

Man you make really good videos I just watched both this and Majimas yakuza 0 videos and I am new to both Dragon quest and Yakuza by starting both earlier this year cause if Xbox Game pass. Keep up the great work.

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you like our stuff, you certainly had excellent taste even before you started watching our videos it sounds like. Thank you again for your kind words!

I absolutely adore this deep dive into the best boy - in what I think is almost any video game (personally to me that is.) I love him, his ideals, his portrayal - but when I first started? I was convinced by his design alone that we was like, a "dirty backstabber type." Or at the very least, he was going to be that type of flamboyant and fem gay that they'd make fun of or like he'd be cruel and self centered. Yet what stands before us is not only a gay character we can be proud of - but a true role model REGARDLESS of gender or sexual orientation! And you did an AMAZING job at pointing that out. I look forward to seeing your growth!

@ExpUp

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, glad you like the video! And yeah, Sylvando could have gone so wrong like many did before him, but they did a great job and we definitely thought he was worthy of discussion - not just because of he's our favorite character in the game or anything, haha...

Though he is the flamboyantly gay character, he is also a brave, strong and caring character. And the resolution with his father, instead of being all “I want you to be more manly!” It’s all about “I want you to keep your promise and continue chasing your dream!”

Great video. Happy it have had this pop up in my recommendations!

Honestly, my one issue with Sylvando is that he is never confirmed to be gay in-game. A lot of games tend to do this, as it makes the character more "palatable" to homophobic players. That being said, Sylvando is my favorite character in this game. Love this zany dude.

@stevenhiggins3055

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah. The only thing we get is that he and Erik are the only male party members who aren't interested in Ooglers Digest. Sure Rab is the most open about it, but the Luminary can wish for their own copy and even the last party member to join, the one who's the most uptight and straight-laced, gets excited over Rabs copy.

@SeanHiruki

2 жыл бұрын

I don’t think it’s necessary for it to be confirmed. Nor should it matter.

@NicolasMendoula

2 жыл бұрын

I think it's because that's not the point of his character to be gay. I meant it's not his most important quality

@josepablobonillajimenez6297

2 жыл бұрын

Well they never say Erik is straight either, what I mean is that, the character's sexuality is not the character himself, the game is not trying to say "look, he's gay, we are so inclusive" he just shows you the character and you assume whatever you want out of that, Sylvando is a member of the party like the rest, the same way Erick doesnt come out and say "hey im straight by the way" Sylvando's sexuality is not really important to mention, I know what you mean, but personally I think its better to let the character's action's and personality speak for themselves

@undeadwaluwugi758

2 жыл бұрын

It allows for any sort of headcanon without as many people hating on it. Like if he was canon gay, it would be hard to call him bisexual in my case. I like it being open to interpretation.

I think out of all the gay characters I’ve seen in anything Sylvando is the greatest. Not only is he just a great party member to have, his character is funny, brave, smart, and lifts the entire group up with his personality. He’s gay but it doesn’t define every aspect of his character, he’s a proud knight at heart with true strength. A lot of games and movies can learn a thing or two about making a character that represents LGBT culture without having it feel like it’s there only for representations sake. All the characters were pretty cool but he really stood out to me as a great part of the game.

Sylvando made me very uncomfortable at first being a walking breathing stereotypes at first glance... But I'll be damn the dude could be gay or straight as a pole i would be fazed in any way Sylvando is simply a bubbly showman bringing joy all around This man became one of my favorite characters in fiction

I think another thing to take from it because there isn't even a moment as far as I'm aware that outright does say that he's gay is that your personality has nothing to do with your sexuality.

The fact that he said "he could be queer" when it showed Erik is so funny to me because erik, the gaydar is going ballastic

@JeanKP14

Ай бұрын

Erik is honestly ALMOST as overtly gay as Syvlando, it's just far less in your face lol

I typically find extremely flamboyant people annoying to be around, but in my over 100 hour playthrough I loved every second with this man. How could you not? Hes such a pure spirited person at heart that just wants to make people happy!

I've always wanted to make a video on Sylvando because of this, thank you for the video it was great

This kinda reminds me of the game Enchanted Arms (A game I fondly remember playing) There was a very open gay and flamboyant character called Makoto. He was a bard like side character who is very in love with Toya (who isn't offended by it though doesn't reciprocate his feelings) I don't want to go into spoiler territory but he turns out to be very important and not only that but a true friend. Sure in the English playthrough he came off as annoying and maybe over the top but I really liked his character. The only real 'issue' with his character is that he would do anything to kiss Toya and even better, be his Boyfriend. But that's a trope that can be placed on many types of love struck female characters too. The nickname that his friends give is "yellow otomegokoro." Which practically means "Blonde and girl at heart."

I love DQXI to death, and Sylvando is my favorite character in the game. I had no idea about that sidequest with him, Hendrik and Don Rodrigo! Amazing video. Thank you!