Poll: Favourite Bioware Love Interest
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Truth.Konatacalypse said:Garrus Vakarian.
Mikeyfell said:
Ninja'd very hard.
While I love Tali to death, it was just more enjoyable to watch Garrus fumble about in his final dialog.
Garrus had my favorite lead up and scene I just love Tali a lot (don't reveal her face)[sub]I feel like if I say it enough it won't happen[/sub]
^Troof.Thunderhorse31 said:
Bioware annoys the crap out of me with their romances. 95% of them seem like they're aimed at hitting as many target demographics in their fanbase as possible versus actually telling a good story. They're laboring under the delusion that the purpose of a love interest in a game is to appeal directly to the player as attractive vs. serve as a storytelling element just like any other character in the game. Occasionally they'll throw in one that actually works as a storytelling element (Alistair and Morrigan, for instance) but they're so obviously trying to pander even with those that it's pretty apparent that incorporating a love story into their game in a mature fashion almost happens by accident.
You know what game did romances better than your average Bioware game? Witcher 1. As in the hilariously sexist game that gives you pokemon cards when the protagonist sleeps with women. At least in Witcher 1 the two actual possible relationships are treated as storytelling elements and the two actual love interests actually do stuff instead of becoming complete doormats the moment they realize they're in a romance subplot.
Can't say I particularly enjoy any of the 'romances' from Biowares more recent games. They just seem rushed, superficial, and ultimately simple pandering to me. There's one or two exceptions, but largely that's how I feel.
Before Bioware works on making a character sexable they should work on making them likable, and from there working on making them someone you'd genuinely want to spend time with. Friendship. Relationships are built up from there after all, something a good number of these 'romance' options seem to be missing. Give the relationship some depth, some conflict. Make the characters the stars of the show rather than just some pretty pixels and a cute voice. And instead of spending the budget on some stupid pandering 'sex scene' where a bunch of pixels mash up against each other awkwardly in some sort of lame attempt to copy what was cliche in movies and TV years ago, make the experience rewarding in terms of narrative and overall story. Make it mean something!
What's more don't make it a reward. Don't make relationships impossible to fail. Make them difficult, make them have consequences and pitfalls. Make it something you can go the entire game without even knowing is there but which can add an extra dimension to the game should the player choose to pursue that particular path.
Instead Bioware seems to like throwing them at the player, Dragon Age 2 is especially guilty of this. Throwing a big flashing *THIS CHARACTER WANTS TO F%^# YOU* across the screen and then practically adding in a few lines of dialogue as a yes/no option thereafter. The only way to 'fail' is to deliberately sabotage things as well, which is stupid.
Probably why I prefer how it worked in Baldur's Gate over any of the more recent options. When the character in question is nothing more than a blob of 2D pixels and only one tenth of the lines are voice acted, you've gotta ensure that the dialogue is sharp and the character endearing. Similarly in Baldur's Gate it wasn't just possible to 'fail' the romance, it was likely. Aerie for example will literally flee the group if she feels she's being used. Jaheira has an entire sub-plot built around her and her relationship with her dead husband as well as her faction that makes any sort of romance with her genuinely difficult. And Viconia... well she's got a whole slew of issues that make it one screwed up relationship.
Similarly the romances had consequences. At one point in the game if you're pursuing a romance option one of the villains will take advantage of that to try and tear the group apart. It's possible right there and then to lose that character forever! Things don't always end happily either.
Peril, drama, suspense, sadness and redemption. That's what I want from any sort of romance subplot. It's also why the vast majority are shit. Even BG had its flaws as much as I praise it in the above.
But then that's my rant on the subject. I'm sure others see it differently.
Before Bioware works on making a character sexable they should work on making them likable, and from there working on making them someone you'd genuinely want to spend time with. Friendship. Relationships are built up from there after all, something a good number of these 'romance' options seem to be missing. Give the relationship some depth, some conflict. Make the characters the stars of the show rather than just some pretty pixels and a cute voice. And instead of spending the budget on some stupid pandering 'sex scene' where a bunch of pixels mash up against each other awkwardly in some sort of lame attempt to copy what was cliche in movies and TV years ago, make the experience rewarding in terms of narrative and overall story. Make it mean something!
What's more don't make it a reward. Don't make relationships impossible to fail. Make them difficult, make them have consequences and pitfalls. Make it something you can go the entire game without even knowing is there but which can add an extra dimension to the game should the player choose to pursue that particular path.
Instead Bioware seems to like throwing them at the player, Dragon Age 2 is especially guilty of this. Throwing a big flashing *THIS CHARACTER WANTS TO F%^# YOU* across the screen and then practically adding in a few lines of dialogue as a yes/no option thereafter. The only way to 'fail' is to deliberately sabotage things as well, which is stupid.
Probably why I prefer how it worked in Baldur's Gate over any of the more recent options. When the character in question is nothing more than a blob of 2D pixels and only one tenth of the lines are voice acted, you've gotta ensure that the dialogue is sharp and the character endearing. Similarly in Baldur's Gate it wasn't just possible to 'fail' the romance, it was likely. Aerie for example will literally flee the group if she feels she's being used. Jaheira has an entire sub-plot built around her and her relationship with her dead husband as well as her faction that makes any sort of romance with her genuinely difficult. And Viconia... well she's got a whole slew of issues that make it one screwed up relationship.
Similarly the romances had consequences. At one point in the game if you're pursuing a romance option one of the villains will take advantage of that to try and tear the group apart. It's possible right there and then to lose that character forever! Things don't always end happily either.
Peril, drama, suspense, sadness and redemption. That's what I want from any sort of romance subplot. It's also why the vast majority are shit. Even BG had its flaws as much as I praise it in the above.
But then that's my rant on the subject. I'm sure others see it differently.
Ashley Williams, easy. I love hot military chicks with a chip on their shoulder and a lot of wisecracks. I also like that Ashley has real flaws and feels like an actual real human being as opposed to some vapid damsel in distress who swoons at the sight of you.
Ashley's not perfect, but she's still the closest to feeling like a real person with actually relatable problems and issues to communicate with, and that's why she consistantly makes it to number one.
Nice to know I'm not the only one who likes her, kudos to the other fifteen people who voted.
Also as a side note, second favorite is Jack (Subject Zero) from Mass Effect 2. While romancing her is not a 'canon' choice of mine, I still did it once because I couldn't resist. The whole tragic backstory and sweet resolving romance scene was impossible to resist.
Ashley's not perfect, but she's still the closest to feeling like a real person with actually relatable problems and issues to communicate with, and that's why she consistantly makes it to number one.
Nice to know I'm not the only one who likes her, kudos to the other fifteen people who voted.
Also as a side note, second favorite is Jack (Subject Zero) from Mass Effect 2. While romancing her is not a 'canon' choice of mine, I still did it once because I couldn't resist. The whole tragic backstory and sweet resolving romance scene was impossible to resist.
I'm pissed that you don't acknowledge the existence of any other BioWare games than Mass Effect or Dragon Age, and just to spite you I shall go with Bastilla. Honestly, how many times do you have the chance to literally stroll off with your love interest and start killing your companions? That was awesomely worked in to the plot.
Oh, and I probably just spoiled the second biggest "ZOMG!" in KOTOR for you. But that's ok, because you've never heard of it.
(But to be honest, I do like Tali as the best character - just not her love interest plot, that felt... blockish, for the lack of a better word)
Oh, and I probably just spoiled the second biggest "ZOMG!" in KOTOR for you. But that's ok, because you've never heard of it.
(But to be honest, I do like Tali as the best character - just not her love interest plot, that felt... blockish, for the lack of a better word)
In the order in which I fell for them
1. Ashley, a hot tough soldier
2. Liara, long living brainpower
3. Miranda, genetically engineered perfection
4. Subject 0, so extremely tough and covered in tattoos
Girls I wish I could've been with
1. the doctor on the Normandy whose name I can't spell, yeah she's older then me but I'd still go for it.
2. The redheaded secretary of the Normandy, so glad I saved her from the collectors.
1. Ashley, a hot tough soldier
2. Liara, long living brainpower
3. Miranda, genetically engineered perfection
4. Subject 0, so extremely tough and covered in tattoos
Girls I wish I could've been with
1. the doctor on the Normandy whose name I can't spell, yeah she's older then me but I'd still go for it.
2. The redheaded secretary of the Normandy, so glad I saved her from the collectors.
As cute as Merill's was in DA2, they really did everything right with Tali's in ME2. The buildup, the moment.. everything was perfect. She as a character evolved, and the scene filled you with just enough "awwh" and "hell yeah" feeling to make up for the lack of purple boobies.
Don't get me wrong: I really like Ashley, Isabela, Merrill and pretty much all other Bioware love interests. But there's just a certain charm to Tali that I find quite compelling.