>>3908156Ness really is the basic kid hero archetype (brave strong boy, on an adventure far from home, meets a sweetheart girl, etc.). He's a mostly silent hero and most of the game's personality comes from the other characters and all the wacky stuff that happens.
Lucas is more developed, and has more moments where his actual personality shines through beyond just being a player avatar.
I think the reason the mother heroes are so well liked is that they're relatable *because* of their simplicity. Also they're all sexy