It's a matter of taste and personal preference I guess. And for me the MC doesn't seem like an underdog, if anyone does I'd say that Michael fits the term better. An underdog is if I haven't misunderstood, taking an example from today's female tennis competition matches, when an unknown ranked 116th in the world of tennis beats the one ranked number 3. Michaels start as as a superhuman is the very definition of that, beating the Lei long or w/e it's called with his tenacity and no powers.
But to explain further of why I say it's probably a matter of taste and personal preference; I am the type of person who cheats heavily in single-player games and get more joy and many more hours of gameplay in a game by cheating, whereas if I can't cheat at all(in my single player game, I like playing co-op multiplayer where we don't cheat) I simply don't play.
I don't know if it's because of my childhood, having some rough teenage years and living the glory of being an adult with responsibilities, but I struggle and get challenged enough in real life and don't want more of it during my spare time and in my hobbies.
But I also know that I'm a minority in this. And for something to grow from popularity to proper followings, you have to cater to the most stable and populous group. Ergo, not me.
And again, I do not mind GrimDark™ and happen to be a wh40k fan who likes to play Thousand Sons and Necrons, but I am also of the opinion that good GrimDark™ doesn't have to mess with the main character in this manner. Tragic ends and events sure, but when nerf your own MC because you can't move the plot forward otherwise, that's bad writing according to me. If I start to relate to such an MC then I start feeling the abuse they get. And since the MC of this game is almost constantly getting battered one way or the other, yeah that just ruins all joy I get from the amazing characters, lore and plot.
Also as a final side-note; Jared showing up powered up(evo 1 or 2 artifical?) and getting his ass kicked would've made sense with how he was written before that point. He was a school bully with hooks in the Dean and a rich daddy, that you had to overcome whilst hiding your superhuman-ness. Jared isn't skilled in anything except brute manipulation of women and sports, and has lived a sheltered life. You're telling me that a spoilt and sheltered new-made artifical superhuman can't be beaten no matter how drained the MC and gang was? That no one could prevent a bloody crystal being shot at Laura?
Sorry, I don't know what's in the mind of WW but anything regarding Jared past the school phase is trash writing and for me forcing your own ideas upon your readers. Jared is bullshit and should have monsterified and died in a similar manner to Kenny, when he notices that daddys money didn't make him better than MC in a fight and overdraws his powers.
Instead we get the bullshit we have. Fuck Jared.