Gaming Romances that just don't work

[Gamegirl22]

I've never been a fan of romance but I find them in games often enough (especially in JRPG). I try to ignore it for the most part but sometimes I find romance to be added for the sake of romance and comes out feeling forced.

I'm curious if anyone else feels the same about this subject matter and what could possibly be the worst couple in a game.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Nero and Kyrie from DMC 4. I'll also give special mention to Raiden and Rose from MGS 2 oh christ what a bunch of whiny cunts

 

[Julianking93]

Most JRPG romances fail miserably

 

[Chechosaurus]

I'm gonna say most of them. I very rarely see one that I actually care about or think is worthy of my attention in anyway.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

Worst couple in a game.....hhhhhhhmmmm, King Kong and the woman from the King Kong game? Donkey Kong and Candy Kong?

 

[bouncymike999]

definitely Dom and Maria in gears of war 2, my god that was annoying

 

[David Bray]

Ashley Williams in Mass Effect 1. Nothing down there at all. Drake's broad...most really.

On the contrary, Tali's romance in ME2 touched me almost as much as my real life romance.

 

[Daniel Cygnus]

definitely Dom and Maria in gears of war 2, my god that was annoying

Truth. What makes it worse is that it really could have been moving if they'd simply invested a little more into the characters.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

The romance between Drake and blonde chick whose name I couldn't be bothered to remember.

Though to be honest, the worst one in recent memory is Starkiller and pilot chick in Force Unleashed. It's like someone told George Lucas that he sucked at writing love stories, so he was like, "Aw, fuck it. I won't write any kind of romantic build up at all. Just have them kiss at the end."

- J

 

[aPod]

They are almost always bad in my opinion.

I really couldnt care about guy getting girl or vice versa, i mostly just want to blow stuff up. I's say from a game i've played recently Mass Effect and DA:O even biowares romance is tacky and shallow.

 

[Eumersian]

I've always thought that romances in videogames could work if they wouldn't make them so sappy. Also, back to Mass Effect 1: For God's sake BioWare! If you want to have nudity in your game, just put it in! It's lame to try and work around it as if you're making some kind of prime-time cartoon!

Gratuitous or not, a romance makes room for more emotional connection with the game's characters.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

CloudxAerith.

You know, because of the whole

Spoiler

Her being dead and all.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

I've always thought that romances in videogames could work if they wouldn't make them so sappy. Also, back to Mass Effect 1: For God's sake BioWare! If you want to have nudity in your game, just put it in! It's lame to try and work around it as if you're making some kind of prime-time cartoon!

The word you're looking for to describe Mass Effect 1 and 2's love scenes is "tasteful". It's a good thing.

We had an article about it.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98112-Mass-Effect-2s-Nudity-Level-Decided-by-Dictatorship

- J

 

[Altorin]

I think the Garrus FemShep romance is a little strange. I mean... Asari, I can get... Quarians, I might be able to get... Turians? It would literally be like making out with a statue of a spikey cat

 

[Amethyst Wind]

One romance that apparently doesn't work:

Spoiler: This was kinda dissapointing

Mass Effect 2 Male Shephard romancing Miranda and Jack at the same time, just can't happen, Miranda won't advance in the conversation until you break it off with Jack, no word yet on romancing Tali at the same time as one of them, haven't got that far, here's hoping...

 

[w@rew0lf]

Kairi and Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series. The plotline to the romance is so incredibly horrible and drawn out it makes me cringe whenever I think about it. Still, I love the series to death so it doesn't really matter.

 

[Always_Remain]

The only romance I can think for caring of is Tali from ME2 because her character is one of the most . . . err Human characters in the game and it's not based off appearances. Shepard loves Tali for who Tali is. Unlike the PARAGON dialogue line for a romancing option for Miranda. ("Love? I just want to get you into bed" YEah I know it's a joke but come on.)

I've always been fond of Master Chief and Cortana's "relationship" also. At least the writers can do something right.

Edit: OH Romances that don't work. whoops. Umm You and your wife in fable 2 LOL

 

[Glassesguy904]

Fable 2 romance stinks. It's like having a real wife, 'cept no making love for real, and more needy.

 

[Theron Julius]

The romance with Ashley Williams in ME1. I chose her during my first play through. She's a xenophobic ***** who's personality never changes at all. She starts out a racist and ends a racist.

Spoiler

Then when you end up with Cerberus, the human supremacists, she acts like she suddenly loves aliens and thinks you're going too far! Throughout the entire conversation she's just bitching about how awful you are for working with them!

I want to note that I went with Liara on all subsequent play throughs.

Thank god they made Tali a love interest in ME2. She was probably the best love interest so far and will probably stay the best in the next game. Sorry Liara.

 

[TheRocketeer]

While Yuna and Tidus in FFX make a wonderful specimen of a shallow, fatuous romance a la Romeo and Juliet that the developer and fans alike end up taking way, waaaaay too seriously, I've got to hand it to Squall and Rinoa in FFVIII, who make a star example of two people ending up together because the developers said they should, and for no other reason.

Those stink-bombs actually made Vaan and Penelo's just staying good friends in FFXII a very refreshing change by comparison, despite the game's plot and characters standing as some of the worst of the series.