With the weapons, it depends on how well they are done. If its fun to see your weapon strike the enemy, then yes, I prefer them, but otherwise no. Well, If I have played few games, I choose by what skills they have and how cool they seem to me, so on the first plays, If there are no stats being shown, I select a character by their looks, but I may try others when I have seen them in action and then I stick with the one that suits me most.