Poll: Do you think the whole romance subplot thing improves Bioware games?

[Vrex360]

Sometimes. If it's fleshed out enough and has enough length that it can start close to the beginning and build up, because then it adds a little bit of emotional investment and maybe even character growth into how the player might view the story (i.e Ashley Williams and Commander Cheesenips Shepard).

But then again, they shouldn't be the main focus of what's going on. That's why they are called 'subplots'. Because they are only part of a full story, and it annoys me when they get focussed on too much. Making a timeless classic should be higher on priorities then appeasing the desire nerds have for a make believe lover.

But worse still is when they don't get focused on enough, like in Mass Effect 2 where instead of one specifically for males (Ashley) one specifically for females (Kaidan) and one for either (Liara)... suddenly we had three for males (Miranda, Tali and Jack) and three for the females (Jacob, Garrus and Thane) and it just becomes a mess.

Each one gets about a fraction of the amount of time and development the ones in Mass Effect 1 had. If I remember right, all scenes in total Miranda was six minutes, Tali was eight minutes and Jack was about five minutes. Each one is just three conversations and then conclusion, and with the exception of Jack (and maybe Thane)... all they were, were glorified 'let's boink' dialogues.
Tali concerned about her immune system, Garrus talking human/turian relations, Jacob thinking about doing it with the commander, Miranda flashing her ass... etc, etc.

Out of all the ones in Mass Effect 2, the only romance I could say appealed to me was Jack, because I like tragic romances and seeing people who have had long and difficult lives find peace, but even then the actual romance itself isn't particularly awe inspiring in its writing. And it didn't impact the plot that much.
Certainly not when compared to Ashley in Mass Effect 1.

I guess to wrap it all up, yes the romances CAN add depth to the story. But at the same time they can also be kind of pointless and gimmicky if done wrong and should be fleshed out to be a major part of the story, not pushed to the side out of convienience.

By the way, I can only speak for Mass Effect as it's the only Bioware game I've played.

 

[Susurrus]

The romances in BG2 were used to flesh out the characters - Jaheria's romance centered around the loss of her husband, for example. I'm unconvinced that the "sex" romances are a good idea, as that seems to become the goal - just something to do, rather than for an actual reason...

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Bioware games are about, above all else, the Characters. They haven't managed to YET make a game that nails it's combat (maybe ME3 can change that), the stories range from excellent to average, but the majority Characters in every, single Bioware RPG to date have been just pure awesome. Whether it be the Cynical, Misanthropic Robot; the childish, inexperienced Blood Mage; or the Logical, overtly Mechanical alien with a fascination for Gilbert and Sullivan....

The characters are almost always fantastic. So if ANYONE in the game's industry should be working on Romance Subplots, it should be them. So yeah I whole-heartedly endorse what Bioware are doing in that regard.

Heck, Dragon Age: Origins, made me choose a Straight meaningful relationship (with Alistair) over pointless Girl-on-girl action. I repeat, it made a 19 year old, straight male choose a man over kinky lesbian sex, PURELY through the power of it's writing. That HAS to count for something!!

 

[Meggiepants]

It really depends on whether or not I like the characters. Romance isn't one size fits all, so, for instance, I didn't care for any of them in DA2 or for that matter, ME2. So I ignored them.

But without the romances in DA, I probably wouldn't have played all the origins.

So, I guess I say, yes, kinda. It's hit or miss though.

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

It's starting to seem forced. I like anything which emphasizes character relationships, but it's become a by-the-numbers mini-game with no real emotional value.

 

[The Ez]

It's not so much the romance as it is the personal connection. This connection adds an additional layer of complexity to any moral choice, how will it affect your party members?

For the more dialogue aversive this won't matter, they're just there to kill and level up, but for actual roleplayers it's a large addition, if done right.

So does romance specifically improve the plot? No, but good character interactions and ties do.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

No. They're all so laughably unbelievable, they always seem to be written by Stephanie Meyers. Real relationships do not culminate in sex, real people do not talk about their feelings every fucking time you meet them and not every person in existence is omnisexual.

hamburger helper was the worst thing to happen to bioware after david gaider. baldur's gate was just a lucky stroke.

 

[sheah1]

I didn't until Merril moved in with my female mage. I genuinely feel affection for that character.

 

[Vrach]

Often, yes, depends on the romances. However, what's more important is that it's bringing those kinds of stories to light, particularly cause it doesn't focus only on heterosexual romances. From the triple A games studio, that's a very good thing industry-wise.

 

[ThisIsSnake]

The romance subplot isn't really the problem.

It's those stereotypical Bioware-love interests that I'm getting tired of. Mainly the shy nerd girl.

There wasn't a shy nerd girl in dragon age: origins... You had Leliana who was a semi-crazy, socially awkward posh girl.

And then there was Morrigan, the moody emo girl...

Sten was the shy nerdy one.

I always go for the psychotic ones Jack, Morrigan, Fenris.

OT: I like them, they add some hours to the game and it allows yo to find out more about the characters and lore. They add some realism as well, if you and the other members of your scooby doo gang are fighting to save the world/universe/city you're bound to grow 'familiar' with one another

 

[Shydrow]

Both cause some players may delve deeper into a game because of it but some may not even delve into it cause they enjoy the game already and see it as an annoyance. It is a personal taste in this case cause it isn't needed but can be a big part if you want it to.

 

[ThisIsSnake]

I'll add that I don't think they go far enough(impact wise). One thing I'd like to see is less of a cult of personality around the player character, have members of the team develop relationships with each other rather than all of them going for shepawkewarden.

 

[Nimcha]

I've always liked them, they do add something for me. I thought Isabela's romance plot was really well done in DA2, my favourite so far.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Not really. It seems more like a distraction for horny teenagers, and kinda sad at the same time...

 

[GaryH]

Sometimes. The relationship with my FemShep and Garrus in ME2, considering how far they've come together and the events that both characters knew would be happening, was one of the most touching scenes in any video game that I've played so far. It just seemed to fit, somehow.

What I don't like is when every character you ever meet is automatically attracted to you regardless of how you act and every last member of your crew/party seems to be a shell with no specific sexual preferences of which to speak (except playercharacter-sexual, of course). I'd like, just once, for some of the characters to pair off with each other instead of you or for some of them to turn -you- down for a change. Those would be viable storylines too, that go beyond "Hey, I like you" "I like you too/I don't like you too." "*sex scene*/Oh never mind then. I wont mention it anymore."

There is so much more to be done with romantic plots in games. At least Bioware seems to be trying to tackle tackle the subject, which is a start, I suppose.

I have high hopes for ME3, what with the developers warning of the ramifications of being unfaithful (which my FemShep was). If done right it could be the highlight of the game for me.

 

[captainwolfos]

Eh, I do love me a bit of adorable blood mage. So yeah.

I would say 'yes', but with a bit more development. I've likely been ninja'd several times already by saying this, but in short, a few badly delivered flirting dialogues and then sex, doesn't give me the sense of any sort of relationship going on.

It was at its worst in DAII, I think. A few years inbetween flirting, love interest moves in (or not, as the case may be), and then you can't even have a conversation with said person without a specific item you find while looting.

I found it was slightly better in DA Origins; at least you could talk to your love interest every now and then. At least having the option to have a chat is gratifying, or at least I think so.

 

[funksobeefy]

the only one I genuinely liked was the Bastila Shen romance, I really cared about getting her to be on the light side again. The whole thing I thought was built up rather well throughout the whole story.

The big problem I think, is that the end gaol always is to get sex with them, then call it a relationship. Its really just hooking up, no actual relationship has been started

 

[Twad]

As opportunities for character development - Yes

As opportunities for G-rated "sex" - Not really, imho.

 

[Closet Superhero]

Kinda. I think it's okay for it to be there for those who want it.

Myself, I'm finding them all a bit cliche after having played all the bioware console titles. I find it silly that certain gamers think they have to praise the 'maturity' of it all (usually citing the same-sex relationships) when they are all on about the same level as daytime soap operas.