I've only played the Bioware games where you can take it or leave it or Uncharted where it's part of the story. If there were romances in other games I've played I don't remember them, I've been gaming a very long time and have played hundreds of games, whatever romance may have been there is buried in my memory under gameplay and story elements that DO stick with me. (maybe some old final fantasy's, Mario Bro's heh?). In any case, I couldn't care less if it's there or not as long as it doesn't interfere with gameplay and my enjoyment of it.