I’ve been exploring vintage fitness magazines from around 1997, and it’s fascinating how different the ideals were at that time. The view of the perfect male physique nearly 30 years ago is so different from what we see today. The muscle tone, body proportions, and overall look that men aimed for back then were truly remarkable. I’m interested in discussing how these standards have shifted over the years and what might have caused these changes. Does anyone else notice how much our perception of the ideal male physique has changed since the late 90s? It really makes me think about what influenced those beauty standards back then, especially with the impact of social media and today’s fitness trends on our current views of attractiveness in male bodies.
Street Fighter and Tekken characters back then had way more realistic proportions too.
Totally agree! Back in the 90s, it was all about that athletic frame. Now it feels like games are going for more exaggerated, muscular looks. It’s interesting to see how those trends evolve over time.
The shift’s crazy when you think about it. Back then it was all about being lean and cut, not just massive. Look at game characters like Leon from RE2 or Solid Snake - they had that athletic build, not the roided-out look that got popular later. Social media changed everything by making extreme physiques more visible and normal.