Carbon Costume Games
Vinnie from Sift Heads
Vinnie is the legendary assassin and bounty hunter at the heart of the Sift Heads game series. Vinnie’s life of violence began early after his father was killed, and later, while still in diapers, Vinnie assassinated his first target when his cat destroyed a beloved stuffed animal. In the game, Vinnie is designed as a shadow-like humanoid figure, often seen wearing silver sunglasses and smoking a cigarette. Though you may have to give up some of your ability to eat and drink to achieve his look, a hooded zentai suit makes recreating this shadowy figure fairly simple.
Melina from Elden Ring
Melina (voiced by Martha Mackintosh) is an important character in the action RPG Elden Ring. Melina aligns herself with the Tarnished to help them on their journey in exchange for them accompanying her to the Eldtree. If you want an exact replica of Melina’s costume, you can find full cosplay sets available for purchase. Pair this one with a wig and boots to really pull the entire look together. Otherwise, you can layer a cloak and tunic over a skirt and add a brown cinched belt to evoke a similar feel.
Kingpin from Marvel Puzzle Quest
Wilson Fisk, better known by his villain moniker Kingpin, has gone through many different iterations on both page and screen. In the Marvel Puzzle Quest video game, Kingpin is the premier crime lord in New York City. He has been the leader of both the Maggia and the Hand, and he has no qualms about sacrificing his subordinates if it means gaining the upper hand in a fight. This version of Kingpin has him wearing a dapper-looking suit with a purple cravat and grey trench coat with matching purple lining. His cane includes a diamond-like gem on the top. When choosing a coat, you’ll likely want to focus on either the correct shade of light grey or the lining, as finding both in tandem can be difficult. Either way, make sure if you aren’t ready to bic your head you take time to get your bald cap right to really pull off the look.
Female V from Cyberpunk 2077
V (voiced by Cherami Li when female) is the main character in the RPG game Cyberpunk 2077. V is a fully customizable character and the decisions you make about V’s appearance and other attributes can all impact the story. The female V has an asymmetrical haircut and wears a bomber jacket with moto-inspired pants. If you don’t want to shell out for a replica jacket, you can recreate the look with a brown bomber jacket by adding light strips to the inside of the collar.
Adrian Shephard from Half-Life: Opposing Force
Colonel Adrian Shephard is the main protagonist of the video game Half-Life: Opposing Force. Colonel Shephard is a member of the United States Marine Corps sent to Black Mesa Research Facility to help eliminate alien invaders. Shephard wears white camo with a green tactical vest, camouflage helmet, and a gas mask. To recreate his mask, you can use some window tint film to update a cosplay mask with clear lenses, which is much easier to find.
Frank West from Dead Rising 2
Despite not being the primary protagonist of the second installment to the Dead Rising game franchise, Frank West (voiced by T.J. Rotolo) does return in its epilogue Dead Rising 2: Case West where he works with Chuck Greene, and becomes a playable character with the release of Dead Rising 2: Off the Record. Frank’s updated look includes rectangle sunglasses, a pendant necklace, and open-front white dress shirt splattered with plenty of blood.
Mulbruk from La-Mulana 2
Mulbruk is an ancient who remained dormant within the ruins of La-Mulana before they were destroyed and she was awakened. In La-Mulana 2, Mulbruk has undergone a modern makeover. Though she still often falls asleep when her mind wanders, she has traded in her traditional robes for striped socks, boots, and a purple tank top. Her hair is wrapped in golden thread with a large purple bow tied on top. If you don’t want to commit to holding a cold cheeseburger all night, a chew toy can make for a more convenient prop.
Hugo from Street Fighter
Hugo is a character in the Street Fighter video games. He first appeared as an enemy in Final Fight, referred to as Andore before his debut as a playable fighter in Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact. His character is a professional wrestler managed by Poison, who are both members of the Mad Gear Gang. Hugo bears a strong resemblance to real life wrestler Andre the Giant.
Ezreal from League of Legends
Ezreal is a fearless explorer and champion in the video game League of Legends. Ezreal’s gift in the magical arts is unknown to him at first, though he eventually wields the Shuriman gauntlet to devastating effect. Ezreal has blonde hair and wears a brown jacket with dark blue pants. To recreate his knee pads, you can use iron-on patches for comfort and simplicity. Finding a replica of the Shuriman gauntlet might prove difficult, so don’t be afraid to either purchase a pre-made cosplay outfit or use gold gauntlets meant for medieval cosplay to recreate the look.
Jill Valentine from Resident Evil 1
Jill Valentine (voiced by Una Kavanagh) is a former member of the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.), an elite unit of the Raccoon Police Department, in the Resident Evil video game series. Jill eventually leaves S.T.A.R.S. and co-founds the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance. Though Jill has had several different costumes throughout the series, her first appearance is one of her most iconic, wearing a blue beret and matching uniform. In the updated version of Resident Evil 1 released in 2002, Jill’s costume receives a more realistic upgrade, though it maintains many of the same components. Whichever version you choose to emulate, you’ll want to splurge on a S.T.A.R.S. patch to update your shirt, and make sure you wear fingerless gloves and sturdy combat boots.
