Gatsu
[14] Master
1- So apparently because DOA doesn't have over-the-top designs it's apparently mediocre artistically? If I'm not mistaken DOA is consistently the best looking fighting game out there combining a sense of realism with a light cartoonish and pseudo-anime look (DOA5 scaled back on the anime look though). SC's designs are nice but that more so has to do with the time period's influence and the supernatural tilt of some characters. SF's designs are ok, but I do love SF4's visual style.
2- Also your points about the male characters being "weak" is plain wrong. There's just as many male characters as female characters and they're just as likely to be top-tier. Check out Jann Lee, Gen Fu or Bayman for example. Jacky Bryant also is in no way any more "charismatic" than a DOA character especially Hayabusa. Akira maybe though, but he's just plain badass.
1- Herp Derp character design =/= "mediocre artistically"
Chara design is one of the element of the whole art side
DoA ever got great graphic (specially stages), have weak chara design doesn't erase that
Sometime weak ideas get great realization, sometimes epic concepts get a poor translation into reality
SC have great tradition of this
Graphic is ever improving chapter after chapter, chara design not so much
2- Was ever about the chara design, DoA male concept are weak as fuck
When the designer had to stop do the #34 hentai looking inflatable doll with random martial art stick in her ass and they tell him that he have to do a male one, you can feel his panic
Males in the cast have more than anything a variety function, they're there to give fight game cast feeling, but basically the artistic focus is all about the females, and again, aside eye-candy bonus they're nothing special