different formats definitely offer different vibes and creative freedom. Art-based stuff can explore a wider range of themes without the same constraints, so I can see why that would be your default.
it’s not about the gender so much as whether the character actually matters. A sidekick works when they have agency, their own stakes in the story, and they actively influence the plot instead of just reacting to the MC.
if it’s just thrown in as a gimmick and never built on, it can feel pretty pointless. But when it actually ties into the story or gameplay, it can add something meaningful instead of just being there for the sake of it.
parody games have always walked that line with lookalike characters and slightly tweaked names. It’s kind of part of the genre at this point, so it makes sense it wouldn’t be that surprising here either.
I think you’re being pretty realistic about it there’s definitely still value in professional voice work, but AI closing the gap on cost and quality is hard to ignore. It’ll probably just become another tool in the mix rather than a full replacement anytime soon.