I absolutely love badass ador(k)able characters.
I love it when a character is happy, friendly, cute and/or free of judgement, just going along with whatever strange things they encounter... but also capable of blasting everything into oblivion with the sheer power they possess. Characters, who can look genuinely nice and encouraging as if they were saying “Hey, let’s go and have fun! It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like - we can do this, so let’s team up!” Triple points if they have a simple/fun/really friendly design. For star~ters~
gimme Bomberman and Rooies! Gimme Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee! Gimme Mario or adorkable characters like Luigi and (certain incarnations of) Link!
Gimme characters, who get really and noticeably serious about kicking arse, but can also be ridiculously cute, when the world lets them! Gimme folks, who can get really enthusiastic about small things or enjoy life and openly SHOW it. I love it as it shows that characters can have so many more facets than “is male and strong, so they HAVE to be a gruff, deadpan action hero by default”. (nothing against that type of character, mind you, but against that “they’re male, so they just have to be like this”-mindset)
Mario’s saving entire galaxies with a spring in his step. Bomberman’s one of the cutest robots around and here to protect the universe. Kirby’s an emotional, pure-hearted, floaty pink sphere thing, but fights eldritch abominations. And once you have seen any of them in action, none of this feels out of character.
A character can be joyful or innocent or emotional - even as an adult male - and STILL kick arse for a living, you know? Without feeling “weird” or “out of character”, that is. It works and honestly I enjoy seeing this kind of thing. It makes them more tangible as people and lets you know you’ll have a great time with them on your adventures, because they can just have genuine fun and be good company in general.