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* Similarly, Corrin from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' is usually depicted with the basic and weakest form of the Yato, rather than any of its other forms. Rarely, the Yato's "[[InfinityPlusOneSword Omega]]" form may be depicted instead.
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* Similarly, Corrin from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' is usually depicted with the basic and weakest form of the Yato, rather than any of its other forms. Rarely, the Yato's "[[InfinityPlusOneSword "[[EleventhHourSuperpower Omega]]" form may be depicted instead.
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* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'': Chrom is consistently depicted wielding the basic form of the Falchion, which has deteriorated in power in the two millennia since [[VideoGame/FireEmblemArchanea Marth]] wielded it. Although it having [[BreakableWeapons unlimited uses]] means it'll never be ''completely'' useless, its low attack power means that Chrom will likely spend most of the game wielding other weapons until the Falchion is upgraded into the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Exalted Falchion]] near the end of the game, a different-looking form that has been scarcely, if ever, depicted outside of ''Awakening''.
to:
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'': Chrom is consistently depicted wielding the basic form of the Falchion, which has deteriorated in power in the two millennia since [[VideoGame/FireEmblemArchanea Marth]] wielded it. Although it having [[BreakableWeapons unlimited uses]] means it'll never be ''completely'' useless, its low attack power means that Chrom will likely spend most of the game wielding other weapons until the Falchion is upgraded into the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Exalted Falchion]] near the end of the game, a different-looking [[PowerGlows different-looking]] form that has been scarcely, if ever, depicted outside of ''Awakening''.
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** In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', Rex is usually depicted wielding Pyra's Aegis Sword (a [[PlayingWithFire flame-spewing]] LaserBlade) in the game's cutscenes and supplemental material much more often than Mythra's Aegis Sword (a [[LightEmUp light-emitting]] [[LaserBlade Laser-]]{{BFS}}). In gameplay, Pyra, while not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, is near-completely outclassed by Mythra, [[OvershadowedByAwesome who is just plain better at everything]]. Once you get Mythra (which is pretty early on), there's not much reason to use Pyra anymore unless you need her fire element for something, or if you just like [[NiceGirl her]] more than [[{{Tsundere}} Mythra]].
to:
** In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', Rex is usually depicted wielding Pyra's Aegis Sword (a [[PlayingWithFire flame-spewing]] LaserBlade) in the game's cutscenes and supplemental material much more often than Mythra's Aegis Sword (a [[LightEmUp light-emitting]] [[LaserBlade Laser-]]{{BFS}}). In gameplay, Pyra, while not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, is near-completely outclassed by Mythra, [[OvershadowedByAwesome who is just plain better at everything]]. Once you get Mythra (which is pretty early on), there's not much reason to use Pyra anymore unless you need her fire element for something, or if you just like [[NiceGirl her]] Pyra]] more than [[{{Tsundere}} Mythra]].
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** Mostly averted in''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': While using upgrade chips on any other blade's weapon can change its appearance, Pyra and Mythra's swords remain unchanged in appearance throughout the game. The game's armor system also doesn't change anyone's appearance, except for special DLC items.
to:
** Mostly averted in''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': While using upgrade chips on any other blade's weapon can change its appearance, Pyra In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', Rex is usually depicted wielding Pyra's Aegis Sword (a [[PlayingWithFire flame-spewing]] LaserBlade) in the game's cutscenes and supplemental material much more often than Mythra's swords remain unchanged in appearance throughout Aegis Sword (a [[LightEmUp light-emitting]] [[LaserBlade Laser-]]{{BFS}}). In gameplay, Pyra, while not terrible by any stretch of the game. The game's armor system also doesn't change anyone's appearance, except imagination, is near-completely outclassed by Mythra, [[OvershadowedByAwesome who is just plain better at everything]]. Once you get Mythra (which is pretty early on), there's not much reason to use Pyra anymore unless you need her fire element for special DLC items.something, or if you just like [[NiceGirl her]] more than [[{{Tsundere}} Mythra]].
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** Mostly averted in''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': While using upgrade chips on any other blade's weapon can change its appearance, Pyra and Mythra's swords remain unchanged in appearance throughout the game. The game's armor system also doesn't change anyone's appearance, except for special DLC items.
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* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'': Chrom is consistently depicted wielding the basic form of the Falchion, which has deteriorated in power in the two millennia since [[VideoGame/FireEmblemArchanea Marth]] wielded it. Although it having [[BreakableWeapons unlimited uses]] means it'll never be ''completely'' useless, its low attack power means that Chrom will likely spend most of the game wielding other weapons until the Falchion is upgraded into the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Exalted Falchion]] near the end of the game, a different-looking form that has been scarcely, if ever, depicted outside of ''Awakening''.
* Similarly, Corrin from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' is usually depicted with the basic and weakest form of the Yato, rather than any of its other forms. Rarely, the Yato's "[[InfinityPlusOneSword Omega]]" form may be depicted instead.
* Similarly, Corrin from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' is usually depicted with the basic and weakest form of the Yato, rather than any of its other forms. Rarely, the Yato's "[[InfinityPlusOneSword Omega]]" form may be depicted instead.
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** To a lesser extent, the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine Shulk with the Monado I, even though he obtains the differently-shaped Mondo II within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and the blade changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
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** To a lesser extent, the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine Shulk with the Monado I, basic Monado, even though he obtains the blade is transformed into the differently-shaped Mondo II "Monado II" within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and the blade changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
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** Outside of the mainline games, it's rare to see any other variant of Poké Ball aside from the most basic one, despite most players opting to use other variants as soon as they become available in order to make catching Pokémon easier.
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** Outside of the mainline games, it's rare to see any other variant of Poké Ball aside from the most basic red one, despite most players opting to use other variants as soon as they become available in order to make catching Pokémon easier.easier. After the red Poké Ball, the Master Ball is the one most likely to appear in other media.
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removed because Aversions are not listed
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*** Averted with Tidus's iconic sword, the Brotherhood. While not quite the first weapon you recieve, you obtain it at the end of the prologue when the journey proper begins, and while its modest stats make it seem like this trope will come into play, it gets an upgrade partway through the game that will likely turn it into Tidus's main weapon for the remainder of the game, only being swapped out for situationally-useful weapons or the InfinityPlusOneSword.
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** To a lesser extent, the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine Shulk with the Monado I, even though it gets a minor cosmetic overhaul within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
to:
** To a lesser extent, the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine Shulk with the Monado I, even though it gets a minor cosmetic overhaul he obtains the differently-shaped Mondo II within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and the blade changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
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* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'': The starter pistols of each ''RE'' instalment is usually the one most depicted being carried by the playable character on each game's respective cover art. It also helps that pistols in Resident Evil have good staying power for most of the game, either for simple [[BoringButPractical ammo-saving reasons]], or tend to be the most powerful of its class when fully upgraded for later instalments.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'': Leon's [=VP70=] handgun, while being a real [[RareGuns/MachinePistols unique weapon]] in it's own right, makes return appearances in later instalments, including the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake Remake]].
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'': The Beretta 92FS features front and centre as the B.S.A.A agents Chris and Sheva's WeaponOfChoice. All cutscenes feature them using the Beretta regardless if it was equipped or not during the level.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'': Leon's [=VP70=] handgun, while being a real [[RareGuns/MachinePistols unique weapon]] in it's own right, makes return appearances in later instalments, including the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake Remake]].
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'': The Beretta 92FS features front and centre as the B.S.A.A agents Chris and Sheva's WeaponOfChoice. All cutscenes feature them using the Beretta regardless if it was equipped or not during the level.
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Many video game genres, such as RolePlayingGames, allow the player to acquire new weapons, armor, and items as they progress through the game. As the game goes, on players will constantly swap out their gear in order to improve their stats, or for whichever gear provides is most optimal for the current situation.
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Many video game genres, such as RolePlayingGames, allow the player to acquire new weapons, armor, and items as they progress through the game. As the game goes, on goes on, players will constantly swap out their gear in order to improve their stats, or for whichever gear provides is most optimal for the current situation.
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** It's not weapons, but armour that has this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armour that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armour exists, such armour stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of [[EquipmentHidingFashion cosmetic overrides]].
to:
** It's not weapons, but armour that has this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is are their default costume, costumes, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armour that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armour exists, such armour stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of [[EquipmentHidingFashion cosmetic overrides]].
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Changed line(s) 70 (click to see context) from:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armour that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armour exists, such armour stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of [[EquipmentHidingFashion cosmetic overrides]].
to:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have has this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armour that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armour exists, such armour stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of [[EquipmentHidingFashion cosmetic overrides]].
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Changed line(s) 70 (click to see context) from:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armor that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armor exists, such armor stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of [[EquipmentHidingFashion cosmetic overrides]].
to:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armor armour that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armor armour exists, such armor armour stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of [[EquipmentHidingFashion cosmetic overrides]].
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Changed line(s) 70 (click to see context) from:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armor that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armor exists, such armor stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of cosmetic overrides.
to:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armor that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armor exists, such armor stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of [[EquipmentHidingFashion cosmetic overrides.overrides]].
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud's Buster Sword is what most people picture him wielding and it's the weapon he wields in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' it's even given MagikarpPower properties so that it stays viable even after the acquisition of other swords.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': Squall's gunblade "Revolver" is his trademark weapon and is the default for his appearances in side media and related content.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': Squall's gunblade "Revolver" is his trademark weapon and is the default for his appearances in side media and related content.
to:
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud's Buster Sword is what most people picture him wielding and it's the weapon he wields in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. all spinoffs, cameo appearances, etc. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' it's even given MagikarpPower properties so that it stays viable even after the acquisition of other swords.
swords, whereas in the original game you'll ditch it and never look back as soon as you get another sword.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': Squall'sgunblade "Revolver" basic gunblade, the Revolver, is his trademark weapon and is the default for his appearances in side media and related content.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': Squall's
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*** Yuna's starter staff is her trademark, in part due to the iconic scene in which she uses it in her first on-screen sending of spirits, and is the default staff she will be shown with in most promotional images and appearances in other media.
to:
*** Yuna's starter staff is her trademark, in part due to the iconic scene in which she uses it in her first on-screen sending of spirits, and is the default staff she will be shown with in most promotional images and appearances in other media. Notably, unlike other characters' starting weapons, who share their appearance with several other more powerful weapons, there are scarcely any weapons that use the same appearance as Yuna's starting staff, which means that once you get another staff, you'll likely never see her more iconic staff again aside from the odd cutscene that uses characters' default weapons instead of their currently equipped ones, which may happen ''before Yuna even joins the party''.
*** Averted with Tidus's iconic sword, the Brotherhood. While not quite the first weapon you recieve, you obtain it at the end of the prologue when the journey proper begins, and while its modest stats make it seem like this trope will come into play, it gets an upgrade partway through the game that will likely turn it into Tidus's main weapon for the remainder of the game, only being swapped out for situationally-useful weapons or the InfinityPlusOneSword.
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** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of cosmetic overrides.
to:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. While armor that uses the same appearance as the characters' starting armor exists, such armor stops being supplied around the midpoint of the game, requiring players to eventually leave the characters' canon looks behind for the sake of continuing to upgrade their defensive power. Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of cosmetic overrides.
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** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to toward RainbowPimpGear. Fortunately the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of cosmetic overrides.
** To a lesser extent the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine him with the Monado I, even though it gets a minor cosmetic overhaul within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
** To a lesser extent the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine him with the Monado I, even though it gets a minor cosmetic overhaul within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
to:
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to lean toward RainbowPimpGear. Fortunately Fortunately, the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of cosmetic overrides.
** To a lesserextent extent, the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine him Shulk with the Monado I, even though it gets a minor cosmetic overhaul within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
** To a lesser
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* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'':
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to toward RainbowPimpGear. Fortunately the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of cosmetic overrides.
** To a lesser extent the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine him with the Monado I, even though it gets a minor cosmetic overhaul within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
** It's not weapons, but armour that have this effect, as the page image shows. InformedEquipment is averted, but the appearance many people remember for the characters is their default costume, which is starter armour normally replaced within an hour of them joining. It doesn't help that the most effective armour sets tend to toward RainbowPimpGear. Fortunately the UpdatedRerelease leaned into the VirtualPaperDoll aspect by keeping a catalogue of every armour piece ever owned for the purpose of cosmetic overrides.
** To a lesser extent the SwordOfPlotAdvancement tends to get this. Most people and art imagine him with the Monado I, even though it gets a minor cosmetic overhaul within the first quarter of the game [[spoiler:and changes dramatically after the WhamEpisode]].
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[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/021ed5a7_7eb3_4273_b988_2efed04c56a5.jpeg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:How most people see Shulk vs. how ''Xenoblade'' fans see Shulk.]]
[[caption-width-right:350:How most people see Shulk vs. how ''Xenoblade'' fans see Shulk.]]
----
!!Examples:
!!Examples:
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!!Examples:
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* ''Franchise/MassEffect'': Commander Shepard is almost always depicted in cover and promo art wielding the Avenger assault rifle, which is the basic starter gun in Mass Effect 2 and 3 and is likely to be traded out as soon as Shepard gets access to any other guns. Similarly, he/she will be wearing the basic N7 armor, which will again typically be traded out as soon as access to other armor is available.
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* Across the VideoGame/{{Doom}} franchise, the Doomguy/Doom Slayer is always seen using one of three weapons: the starting Pistol, the (sometimes starting) Shotgun or the Super Shotgun, the (usually) first weapon he stumbles upon during the first levels of his games.
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* Across the VideoGame/{{Doom}} ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' franchise, the Doomguy/Doom Slayer is always seen using one of three weapons: the starting Pistol, the (sometimes starting) Shotgun or the Super Shotgun, the (usually) first weapon he stumbles upon during the first levels of his games.
[[folder:MMORPG]]
* Virtually all official artwork for ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' and ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2NewGenesis'' depicts the characters using not only the starter weapons but also the starter costumes.
[[/folder]]
* Virtually all official artwork for ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' and ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2NewGenesis'' depicts the characters using not only the starter weapons but also the starter costumes.
[[/folder]]
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* VideoGame/{{Hitman}}: 47's trusty piano cord (for strangulations) has been present in every iteration, due to his noiseless nature, the fact it's unconscious, and the fact it doesn't need ammo.
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* VideoGame/{{Hitman}}: ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'': 47's trusty piano cord (for strangulations) has been present in every iteration, due to his noiseless nature, the fact it's unconscious, and the fact it doesn't need ammo.
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* VideoGame/WatchDogs: The silenced 1911 pistol is made available after the prologue, and is likely the primary weapon used for much of the game, while the description of the counterpart in ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'' describes it as having been used to tear through the Chicago underground in 2014, cementing it as Aiden's iconic weapon.
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* VideoGame/WatchDogs: ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'': The silenced 1911 pistol is made available after the prologue, and is likely the primary weapon used for much of the game, while the description of the counterpart in ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'' describes it as having been used to tear through the Chicago underground in 2014, cementing it as Aiden's iconic weapon.
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* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchandise as using the Kingdom Key Keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting Keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.
to:
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** Sorafrom ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchandise as using the Kingdom Key Keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting Keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.one.
** Zigzagged with Aqua from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', who is most commonly depicted with her starting Keyblade Rainfell. However, starting from ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts02BirthBySleepAFragmentaryPassage'', official art swaps this out in favor of the Master's Defender, which is a late-game Keyblade in ''Birth By Sleep'' but is the starting Keyblade in ''0.2''.
** Sora
** Zigzagged with Aqua from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', who is most commonly depicted with her starting Keyblade Rainfell. However, starting from ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts02BirthBySleepAFragmentaryPassage'', official art swaps this out in favor of the Master's Defender, which is a late-game Keyblade in ''Birth By Sleep'' but is the starting Keyblade in ''0.2''.
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud's Buster Sword is what most people picture him wielding and it's the weapon he wields in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.
to:
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud's Buster Sword is what most people picture him wielding and it's the weapon he wields in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' it's even given MagikarpPower properties so that it stays viable even after the acquisition of other swords.
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud's Buster Sword is what most people picture him wielding and it's the weapon he wields in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrothers''.
to:
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud's Buster Sword is what most people picture him wielding and it's the weapon he wields in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrothers''.''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.
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* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchandise as using the Kingdom Key keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'': From ''VideoGame/Persona3'' onwards, the games' main characters are distinguished by their ability to use multiple personas. They're given a [[StarterMon persona to start out with]], but as is typical for the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, these Personas fall behind fairly early on in the game, and the player is incentivized to fuse them into better ones. Nonetheless, the protagonists' starter personas feature heavily in official artwork, spinoff media, and adaptations such as the manga and anime, where they are often depicted as far more useful and powerful than they are in-game.
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'': From ''VideoGame/Persona3'' onwards, the games' main characters are distinguished by their ability to use multiple personas. They're given a [[StarterMon persona to start out with]], but as is typical for the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, these Personas fall behind fairly early on in the game, and the player is incentivized to fuse them into better ones. Nonetheless, the protagonists' starter personas feature heavily in official artwork, spinoff media, and adaptations such as the manga and anime, where they are often depicted as far more useful and powerful than they are in-game.
to:
* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchandise as using the Kingdom Key keyblade, Keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting keyblade Keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.
*''Franchise/{{Persona}}'': ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
** From ''VideoGame/Persona3'' onwards, the games' main characters are distinguished by their ability to use multiplepersonas. Personas. They're given a [[StarterMon persona Persona to start out with]], but as is typical for the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, these Personas fall behind fairly early on in the game, and the player is incentivized to fuse them into better ones. Nonetheless, the protagonists' starter personas feature heavily in official artwork, spinoff media, and adaptations such as the manga and anime, where they are often depicted as far more useful and powerful than they are in-game.in-game.
** Zigzagged with the rest of the main cast in each game, who are given evolutions of their starting Personas in each of their debut games but depending on the spin-off/sequel material may either keep their evolved Personas or revert back to their original ones (HandWave optional) depending on how iconic they are.
*
** From ''VideoGame/Persona3'' onwards, the games' main characters are distinguished by their ability to use multiple
** Zigzagged with the rest of the main cast in each game, who are given evolutions of their starting Personas in each of their debut games but depending on the spin-off/sequel material may either keep their evolved Personas or revert back to their original ones (HandWave optional) depending on how iconic they are.
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Cloud's Buster Sword is what most people picture him wielding and it's the weapon he wields in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrothers''.
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Many video game genres, such as RolePlayingGames, allow the player to acquire new weapons, armor and items as they progress through the game. As the game goes, on players will constantly swap out their gear in order to improve their stats, or for whichever gear provides is most optimal for the current situation.
In spite of this, it is often the StarterEquipment that becomes the most iconic, with characters often depicted using it in official artwork, spinoffs, or other media aside from the original game. This can result in a weird dissonance where the player character spends most of the game looking very different from their "official", "iconic", or "canonical" appearence.
In spite of this, it is often the StarterEquipment that becomes the most iconic, with characters often depicted using it in official artwork, spinoffs, or other media aside from the original game. This can result in a weird dissonance where the player character spends most of the game looking very different from their "official", "iconic", or "canonical" appearence.
to:
Many video game genres, such as RolePlayingGames, allow the player to acquire new weapons, armor armor, and items as they progress through the game. As the game goes, on players will constantly swap out their gear in order to improve their stats, or for whichever gear provides is most optimal for the current situation.
In spite of this, it is often the StarterEquipment that becomes the most iconic, with characters often depicted using it in official artwork, spinoffs, or other media aside from the original game. This can result in a weird dissonance where the player character spends most of the game looking very different from their "official", "iconic", or "canonical"appearence.appearance.
In spite of this, it is often the StarterEquipment that becomes the most iconic, with characters often depicted using it in official artwork, spinoffs, or other media aside from the original game. This can result in a weird dissonance where the player character spends most of the game looking very different from their "official", "iconic", or "canonical"
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!Examples:
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* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchanise as using the Kingdom Key keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.
to:
* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchanise merchandise as using the Kingdom Key keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.
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* VideoGame/{{Hitman}}: 47's trusty piano cord (for strangulations) has been present in every iteration, due to his noiseless nature, the fact it's unconscious and the fact it don't need ammo.
to:
* VideoGame/{{Hitman}}: 47's trusty piano cord (for strangulations) has been present in every iteration, due to his noiseless nature, the fact it's unconscious unconscious, and the fact it don't doesn't need ammo.
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[[/folder]]
to:
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* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' depicts the player character with the basic, weathered Nail in most artwork instead of any of the upgraded Nails obtained from the Nailsmith.
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[[/folder]]
[[folder:Wide Open Sandbox]]
* VideoGame/WatchDogs: The silenced 1911 pistol is made available after the prologue, and is likely the primary weapon used for much of the game, while the description of the counterpart in ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'' describes it as having been used to tear through the Chicago underground in 2014, cementing it as Aiden's iconic weapon.
[[folder:Wide Open Sandbox]]
* VideoGame/WatchDogs: The silenced 1911 pistol is made available after the prologue, and is likely the primary weapon used for much of the game, while the description of the counterpart in ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'' describes it as having been used to tear through the Chicago underground in 2014, cementing it as Aiden's iconic weapon.
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Created from YKTTW
Added DiffLines:
Many video game genres, such as RolePlayingGames, allow the player to acquire new weapons, armor and items as they progress through the game. As the game goes, on players will constantly swap out their gear in order to improve their stats, or for whichever gear provides is most optimal for the current situation.
In spite of this, it is often the StarterEquipment that becomes the most iconic, with characters often depicted using it in official artwork, spinoffs, or other media aside from the original game. This can result in a weird dissonance where the player character spends most of the game looking very different from their "official", "iconic", or "canonical" appearence.
The reasons for this are varied. The developers may not want to spoil the appearance of a SwordOfPlotAdvancement or an InfinityPlusOneSword in the promotional art. Oftentimes in games [[RainbowPimpGear the combination of gear that offers the most optimal stats is not the most attractive]], and so the starting equipment might be chosen simply because it looks the best and/or is most cohesive. The developers may also use their preferred or best character design as the starting equipment in order to leave a good first impression on players. Also, in many games, the equipment that the player wears vary for each playthrough because of StoryBranching, leveling choices, or simple player preference; thus, the starting gear is the sole common denominator that all players will be familiar with regardless of what gear they used later in the game.
Compare Level1MusicRepresents, where early game music becomes the most iconic and emblematic of a game.
!Examples:
[[folder:Action-Adventure]]
* In ''VideoGame/LEGOCityUndercover'', Chase doesn't immediately start the game with his police uniform seen on the cover and his physical minifigure, but he does unlock it early in the game before any of the action starts. In Chapter 5, when Chase decides to go undercover in Chan Chuang's gang, the uniform gets replaced with an undercover disguise that Chase wears for a good chunk of the rest of the game. Fortunately, the game does give you the option to go back to the police uniform by going into a disguise booth.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** Generally averted with the Master Sword, the SwordOfPlotAdvancement in most of the series, with Link using it in most official art, and the sword is a veritable part of the series iconography. There are exceptions though. Link from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' uses the early-game Hero's Sword in all of his official art, and Link from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' uses the early game Ordon Sword in most of his official art as well, though he does have a few pieces with the Master Sword.
** That, said, some games do feature swords that are more powerful than the Master Sword, but these are typically (a) upgrades to the Master Sword itself, or (b) have some tradeoff that might make the player want to switch back to the Master Sword, such as the Biggoron's Sword from ''Ocarina of Time'', which is a two-handed sword that prevents Link from using his shield.
** Link's iconic outfit is his green tunic. In some games he can find other outfits that offer some benefit over his standard one, meaning that the players will rarely use his default one after acquiring them. ''Twilight Princess'' averts this because while Link's alternate outfits of the Zora Armor and Magic Armor give him the ability to breathe underwater and invincibility, respectively, they each have their respective downsides of making him extremely weak to fire and ice attacks and draining his rupees, giving players a reason to equip his standard outfit again. In ''Ocarina of Time'', Link can swap out his green Kokiri Tunic for the Goron or Zora tunics, which respectively grant him the ability to withstand high temperatures and breathe underwater. Unlike in ''Twilight Princess'', there's no benefit to switching back to the default outfit, meaning that once you acquire them, you'll probably be wearing the Goron or Zora Tunics for the rest of the game. This makes for an awkward moment with the introduction to ''The Wind Waker'', in which young boys are said to wear green tunics to mark their coming of age in commemoration of the green-clad Hero from ''Ocarina of Time'' who defeated Ganon, even though many players probably defeated Ganon wearing the red Goron or blue Zora Tunic in the latter game.
** Zigzagged in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', with most official art depicting him wearing the Champion's Tunic and Hylian Trousers. The Champion's tunic averts this, due to it not being starter equipment as well as offering good protection at each upgrade level without compromising stealth too much, so players have a reason to keep using it throughout the game, but the Hylian Trousers play this straight since they are one of the first items of clothing you can acquire and have only modest defense and stealth, and no protection from extreme elements, meaning that players will likely be wearing something else most of the time. Link is also [[HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic depicted without any headgear]], even though it is usually optimal to equip one since doing so will raise your defence and/or offer some other benefit.
* In the cutscenes and official artwork of ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', Amaterasu is always shown with her starting weapon, the Divine Retribution.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:First-Person Shooter]]
* Across the VideoGame/{{Doom}} franchise, the Doomguy/Doom Slayer is always seen using one of three weapons: the starting Pistol, the (sometimes starting) Shotgun or the Super Shotgun, the (usually) first weapon he stumbles upon during the first levels of his games.
* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' and [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 its sequel]], the most iconic weapon is the crowbar, which is also the very first weapon you acquire. Being a FirstPersonShooter, there are a number of firearms that the player acquires during the game, and would certainly prefer to use if possible, and yet Gordon's close-range ImprovisedWeapon remains his most iconic.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Metroidvania]]
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Samus is mostly commonly depicted wearing her basic Power Suit or the Varia Suit, which are typically starter equipment or fairly early game items, instead of her more powerful late-game suits such as the Gravity Suit.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Role-Playing Game]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'': The player character is commonly shown wielding the Saw Cleaver and wearing the Hunter Set, the former being one of the choices of starter weapon, and the latter becoming available very early in the game.
* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'': Promotional materials tend to portray the player character in the default armor of the knight class, even though there's tons of other equipment in the game that the player will likely upgrade to as they play.
* ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'': The detective is almost always depicted in the 'disco' outfit obtained in the first five minutes of the game. Most players will have replaced every item of it by the game's midpoint.
*''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': The [[PlayerCharacter Dragonborn's]] most iconic outfit, depicted in virtually all promotional material, is a set of iron armor that most players will stop wearing by hour three [[note]] and if you choose to [[StoryBranching follow Ralof at Helgen]] will be outclassed before you even get it[[/note]] and a steel sword that will last for a few hours past that at most.
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': The blue and yellow Vault-Tec jumpsuit is one of the most recognizable symbols of the franchise, heavily featured in marketing and worn by Vault Boy, the series' mascot. As such, almost every game in the series starts out with the player character wearing the jumpsuit... even when they aren't a Vault dweller (like the Courier in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''). The basic jumpsuit itself is a fairly average piece of clothing that quickly gets outclassed once the player obtains far better armor and clothing items, including the series' ''other'' most iconic outfit: [[PoweredArmor Power Armor]].
* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'':
** The player can unlock various Mystic Codes to grant different abilities mid-battle and act as costumes for their character, but most depictions of the protagonist in media and merchandise portray them with the default "Mystic Code: Chaldea", even after Arc 2 introduced the "Chaldea Uniform - Arctic" as a new default Mystic Code. Averted for anime adaptations starting with ''Anime/FateGrandOrderAbsoluteDemonicFrontBabylonia'', which create their own original Mystic Code designs for the protagonist to wear.
** Most Servants, such as the heroine trio consisting of Altria, Mash, and Jeanne d'Arc, are depicted in merchandising and promotional material in their Second Ascension (and returning characters from other ''Fate'' media are likely to have their default form as their Second Ascension), but media depictions that don't use a Servant's Second Ascension are far more likely to use their First Ascension than their Third. Servants like Ereshkigal and Rider Leonarda Da Vinci are depicted in their First Ascension so often that it becomes easy to forget their designs become quite different as they level up.
* Very common in the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' franchise:
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': Squall's gunblade "Revolver" is his trademark weapon and is the default for his appearances in side media and related content.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'': Many of the weapons one can buy or create in-game share the same appearance such that weapons with different names and abilities will often look the same despite having different effects on players and enemies. That said:
*** Yuna's starter staff is her trademark, in part due to the iconic scene in which she uses it in her first on-screen sending of spirits, and is the default staff she will be shown with in most promotional images and appearances in other media.
*** Auron appears the most with his basic katana, a barely stylized scaled-up version of a blade, in subsequent games and spin-offs.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'': The red daggers Rikku wields as part of her base "Thief" dressphere has become part of her signature look. This is quite surprising, since in her appearance as a main party member in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', Rikku uses claws instead of daggers and the now trademark red daggers do not show up in the entire game.
* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes'', new units are almost always based on the design and mechanics of that character's starting class, while promoted class designs are usually saved for special alts, such as legendaries and brave alts. Likewise, the ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' characters have all started out in their pre-timeskip designs, despite the later post-timeskip costumes usually being more popular. However, it's also common for unit's weapons to be named after late-game items, as those are more likely to be personalised to the character, which can lead to odd situations where a hero looks and acts like they just joined the army but are using weapons from much later on.
* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchanise as using the Kingdom Key keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'': From ''VideoGame/Persona3'' onwards, the games' main characters are distinguished by their ability to use multiple personas. They're given a [[StarterMon persona to start out with]], but as is typical for the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, these Personas fall behind fairly early on in the game, and the player is incentivized to fuse them into better ones. Nonetheless, the protagonists' starter personas feature heavily in official artwork, spinoff media, and adaptations such as the manga and anime, where they are often depicted as far more useful and powerful than they are in-game.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** Downplayed with the starter Pokémon. In the games, by virtue of EvolutionPowerUp, the {{Starter Mon}}s remain useful throughout the game; however, with a few exceptions, the first stage starters tend to remain the most popular and heavily featured in promotional materials and merchandise. Characters in the anime will often not evolve their Pokémon, likely due to the base forms being more popular, recognizable, and [[MerchandiseDriven merchandisable]].
** Outside of the mainline games, it's rare to see any other variant of Poké Ball aside from the most basic one, despite most players opting to use other variants as soon as they become available in order to make catching Pokémon easier.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Stealth Game]]
* VideoGame/{{Hitman}}: 47's trusty piano cord (for strangulations) has been present in every iteration, due to his noiseless nature, the fact it's unconscious and the fact it don't need ammo.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Survival Horror]]
* ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'': Isaac Clarke, the series protagonist, is shown wielding the Plasma Cutter in most promotional art.
[[/folder]]
In spite of this, it is often the StarterEquipment that becomes the most iconic, with characters often depicted using it in official artwork, spinoffs, or other media aside from the original game. This can result in a weird dissonance where the player character spends most of the game looking very different from their "official", "iconic", or "canonical" appearence.
The reasons for this are varied. The developers may not want to spoil the appearance of a SwordOfPlotAdvancement or an InfinityPlusOneSword in the promotional art. Oftentimes in games [[RainbowPimpGear the combination of gear that offers the most optimal stats is not the most attractive]], and so the starting equipment might be chosen simply because it looks the best and/or is most cohesive. The developers may also use their preferred or best character design as the starting equipment in order to leave a good first impression on players. Also, in many games, the equipment that the player wears vary for each playthrough because of StoryBranching, leveling choices, or simple player preference; thus, the starting gear is the sole common denominator that all players will be familiar with regardless of what gear they used later in the game.
Compare Level1MusicRepresents, where early game music becomes the most iconic and emblematic of a game.
!Examples:
[[folder:Action-Adventure]]
* In ''VideoGame/LEGOCityUndercover'', Chase doesn't immediately start the game with his police uniform seen on the cover and his physical minifigure, but he does unlock it early in the game before any of the action starts. In Chapter 5, when Chase decides to go undercover in Chan Chuang's gang, the uniform gets replaced with an undercover disguise that Chase wears for a good chunk of the rest of the game. Fortunately, the game does give you the option to go back to the police uniform by going into a disguise booth.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** Generally averted with the Master Sword, the SwordOfPlotAdvancement in most of the series, with Link using it in most official art, and the sword is a veritable part of the series iconography. There are exceptions though. Link from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' uses the early-game Hero's Sword in all of his official art, and Link from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' uses the early game Ordon Sword in most of his official art as well, though he does have a few pieces with the Master Sword.
** That, said, some games do feature swords that are more powerful than the Master Sword, but these are typically (a) upgrades to the Master Sword itself, or (b) have some tradeoff that might make the player want to switch back to the Master Sword, such as the Biggoron's Sword from ''Ocarina of Time'', which is a two-handed sword that prevents Link from using his shield.
** Link's iconic outfit is his green tunic. In some games he can find other outfits that offer some benefit over his standard one, meaning that the players will rarely use his default one after acquiring them. ''Twilight Princess'' averts this because while Link's alternate outfits of the Zora Armor and Magic Armor give him the ability to breathe underwater and invincibility, respectively, they each have their respective downsides of making him extremely weak to fire and ice attacks and draining his rupees, giving players a reason to equip his standard outfit again. In ''Ocarina of Time'', Link can swap out his green Kokiri Tunic for the Goron or Zora tunics, which respectively grant him the ability to withstand high temperatures and breathe underwater. Unlike in ''Twilight Princess'', there's no benefit to switching back to the default outfit, meaning that once you acquire them, you'll probably be wearing the Goron or Zora Tunics for the rest of the game. This makes for an awkward moment with the introduction to ''The Wind Waker'', in which young boys are said to wear green tunics to mark their coming of age in commemoration of the green-clad Hero from ''Ocarina of Time'' who defeated Ganon, even though many players probably defeated Ganon wearing the red Goron or blue Zora Tunic in the latter game.
** Zigzagged in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', with most official art depicting him wearing the Champion's Tunic and Hylian Trousers. The Champion's tunic averts this, due to it not being starter equipment as well as offering good protection at each upgrade level without compromising stealth too much, so players have a reason to keep using it throughout the game, but the Hylian Trousers play this straight since they are one of the first items of clothing you can acquire and have only modest defense and stealth, and no protection from extreme elements, meaning that players will likely be wearing something else most of the time. Link is also [[HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic depicted without any headgear]], even though it is usually optimal to equip one since doing so will raise your defence and/or offer some other benefit.
* In the cutscenes and official artwork of ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', Amaterasu is always shown with her starting weapon, the Divine Retribution.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:First-Person Shooter]]
* Across the VideoGame/{{Doom}} franchise, the Doomguy/Doom Slayer is always seen using one of three weapons: the starting Pistol, the (sometimes starting) Shotgun or the Super Shotgun, the (usually) first weapon he stumbles upon during the first levels of his games.
* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' and [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 its sequel]], the most iconic weapon is the crowbar, which is also the very first weapon you acquire. Being a FirstPersonShooter, there are a number of firearms that the player acquires during the game, and would certainly prefer to use if possible, and yet Gordon's close-range ImprovisedWeapon remains his most iconic.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Metroidvania]]
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Samus is mostly commonly depicted wearing her basic Power Suit or the Varia Suit, which are typically starter equipment or fairly early game items, instead of her more powerful late-game suits such as the Gravity Suit.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Role-Playing Game]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'': The player character is commonly shown wielding the Saw Cleaver and wearing the Hunter Set, the former being one of the choices of starter weapon, and the latter becoming available very early in the game.
* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'': Promotional materials tend to portray the player character in the default armor of the knight class, even though there's tons of other equipment in the game that the player will likely upgrade to as they play.
* ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'': The detective is almost always depicted in the 'disco' outfit obtained in the first five minutes of the game. Most players will have replaced every item of it by the game's midpoint.
*''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': The [[PlayerCharacter Dragonborn's]] most iconic outfit, depicted in virtually all promotional material, is a set of iron armor that most players will stop wearing by hour three [[note]] and if you choose to [[StoryBranching follow Ralof at Helgen]] will be outclassed before you even get it[[/note]] and a steel sword that will last for a few hours past that at most.
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': The blue and yellow Vault-Tec jumpsuit is one of the most recognizable symbols of the franchise, heavily featured in marketing and worn by Vault Boy, the series' mascot. As such, almost every game in the series starts out with the player character wearing the jumpsuit... even when they aren't a Vault dweller (like the Courier in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''). The basic jumpsuit itself is a fairly average piece of clothing that quickly gets outclassed once the player obtains far better armor and clothing items, including the series' ''other'' most iconic outfit: [[PoweredArmor Power Armor]].
* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'':
** The player can unlock various Mystic Codes to grant different abilities mid-battle and act as costumes for their character, but most depictions of the protagonist in media and merchandise portray them with the default "Mystic Code: Chaldea", even after Arc 2 introduced the "Chaldea Uniform - Arctic" as a new default Mystic Code. Averted for anime adaptations starting with ''Anime/FateGrandOrderAbsoluteDemonicFrontBabylonia'', which create their own original Mystic Code designs for the protagonist to wear.
** Most Servants, such as the heroine trio consisting of Altria, Mash, and Jeanne d'Arc, are depicted in merchandising and promotional material in their Second Ascension (and returning characters from other ''Fate'' media are likely to have their default form as their Second Ascension), but media depictions that don't use a Servant's Second Ascension are far more likely to use their First Ascension than their Third. Servants like Ereshkigal and Rider Leonarda Da Vinci are depicted in their First Ascension so often that it becomes easy to forget their designs become quite different as they level up.
* Very common in the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' franchise:
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': Squall's gunblade "Revolver" is his trademark weapon and is the default for his appearances in side media and related content.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'': Many of the weapons one can buy or create in-game share the same appearance such that weapons with different names and abilities will often look the same despite having different effects on players and enemies. That said:
*** Yuna's starter staff is her trademark, in part due to the iconic scene in which she uses it in her first on-screen sending of spirits, and is the default staff she will be shown with in most promotional images and appearances in other media.
*** Auron appears the most with his basic katana, a barely stylized scaled-up version of a blade, in subsequent games and spin-offs.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'': The red daggers Rikku wields as part of her base "Thief" dressphere has become part of her signature look. This is quite surprising, since in her appearance as a main party member in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', Rikku uses claws instead of daggers and the now trademark red daggers do not show up in the entire game.
* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes'', new units are almost always based on the design and mechanics of that character's starting class, while promoted class designs are usually saved for special alts, such as legendaries and brave alts. Likewise, the ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' characters have all started out in their pre-timeskip designs, despite the later post-timeskip costumes usually being more popular. However, it's also common for unit's weapons to be named after late-game items, as those are more likely to be personalised to the character, which can lead to odd situations where a hero looks and acts like they just joined the army but are using weapons from much later on.
* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is most often depicted in official artwork and merchanise as using the Kingdom Key keyblade, which in most games in the series is the most basic, starting keyblade that players will stop using as soon as they acquire another one.
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'': From ''VideoGame/Persona3'' onwards, the games' main characters are distinguished by their ability to use multiple personas. They're given a [[StarterMon persona to start out with]], but as is typical for the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, these Personas fall behind fairly early on in the game, and the player is incentivized to fuse them into better ones. Nonetheless, the protagonists' starter personas feature heavily in official artwork, spinoff media, and adaptations such as the manga and anime, where they are often depicted as far more useful and powerful than they are in-game.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** Downplayed with the starter Pokémon. In the games, by virtue of EvolutionPowerUp, the {{Starter Mon}}s remain useful throughout the game; however, with a few exceptions, the first stage starters tend to remain the most popular and heavily featured in promotional materials and merchandise. Characters in the anime will often not evolve their Pokémon, likely due to the base forms being more popular, recognizable, and [[MerchandiseDriven merchandisable]].
** Outside of the mainline games, it's rare to see any other variant of Poké Ball aside from the most basic one, despite most players opting to use other variants as soon as they become available in order to make catching Pokémon easier.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Stealth Game]]
* VideoGame/{{Hitman}}: 47's trusty piano cord (for strangulations) has been present in every iteration, due to his noiseless nature, the fact it's unconscious and the fact it don't need ammo.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Survival Horror]]
* ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'': Isaac Clarke, the series protagonist, is shown wielding the Plasma Cutter in most promotional art.
[[/folder]]
