Character Customization — build your Marine

Your Marine talks

A quiet but big change from the first game: the protagonist is voiced (GamingBolt). Your Marine — callsign Hotshot per GamingBolt's hands-on — reacts in-mission, which makes the campaign feel less like escorting a silent mannequin.

The appearance system

Character creation splits your Marine into pieces: GamingBolt documents separate upper-body and lower-body slots plus helmets, so you can mix armor sets instead of wearing one fixed outfit. It's a meaningfully deeper system than picking a preset.

Hundreds of cosmetics — earned, not bought

The cosmetic catalog runs into hundreds of items, and the game has no microtransactions (GamingBolt). Cosmetics and attachments are bought from the armory vendor Wrench aboard the Endeavor with Requisition Credits, which drop from chests and mission rewards (GamingBolt). Your look is a progression trophy, not a receipt.

Franchise skins

On top of the earned catalog, official packs add franchise looks — the Ripley and Herk Mondo skin packs confirmed by AvP Central. Those are edition/DLC content; see editions & DLC for what's in which pack.

Class fantasy still rules

Appearance is cosmetic — your power comes from class, weapons, traits and perks (see Combat Rating). So dress however you like; a pink helmet doesn't nerf your Medic.

Sources: GamingBolt — 15 Things, GamingBolt — 10 New Details, AvP Central.