Awww, that was sweet. One of the more warm-and-fuzzy things Yahtzee's written, as far as I can recall.
Extra Punctuation: Roleplaying Homosexual in Dragon Age 2
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
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Only thing that confuses me is that Anders was straight in awakening, then they just decided to "make" him gay. The retcon is killing me.
I had a similar experience in Origins (though I stupidly rented that title and sent it back in a rush of frustration -- it's been too long to go back...) I originally actively tried to have a gay thing with all the guys in my party. I flirted with everyone really, but I wanted to see how they would handle gay relationships. Especially if it was with Sten. Ultimately it was only that one elf who responded to me, but then... well, when we were getting to the point that it was going to be a romance between us, I started having doubts about his intentions. He was into me, but it seemed like it was all about sex; just a bit of sport he had with other guys. Eventually, I found myself falling for Morrigan. She was smart and callous, but every once in a while you could get a peek through the clouds and see a girl that just wanted some company and love after being isolated, demonized, and kept under the watchful eye of her odd mother for her whole life. I never got to see the romance through to fruition, but I sure as hell wanted to.
Ultimately I found my interactions with my party members to be fulfilling and my emotional attachments to them sincere. My friendship with Alistair, my affection for Morrigan, my contempt for Sten, my theological disagreements with Liliana (which I had eventually gave up as absurd -- I was projecting my IRL atheism into a world where I can walk up and talk to Gods and shoot lighting out of my hands and shit), and my boyish contentment with my warhound all felt authentic. It was rewarding just to walk around camp.
Shame I ate dicks so hard in combat. I might have finished if I could walk ten steps without getting myself killed.
Ultimately I found my interactions with my party members to be fulfilling and my emotional attachments to them sincere. My friendship with Alistair, my affection for Morrigan, my contempt for Sten, my theological disagreements with Liliana (which I had eventually gave up as absurd -- I was projecting my IRL atheism into a world where I can walk up and talk to Gods and shoot lighting out of my hands and shit), and my boyish contentment with my warhound all felt authentic. It was rewarding just to walk around camp.
Shame I ate dicks so hard in combat. I might have finished if I could walk ten steps without getting myself killed.
I'm going to quote Torchwood for this one, when Yanto's sister confronted him over over his relationship with Jack Harkness.Sniper Team 4 said:
"How long (have you known you were gay?)"
"That's not it. Its not guys, it's just him."
I thought this was a great romantic line and it can work the same way for Anders. Just because he didn't hint that he liked guys in Awakining, doesn't mean there isn't a man out there for him. Hawke can just have something special about him that gravitates him more than any other character previously seen. Just because he didn't hint it before, doesn't mean it can't be there with out being forced.
I think the pity is directed at the people who want to get guys fired for writing something that didn't appeal to them, especially when that content was not a dominant part of the experience. Or even a part at all, for the most part, if you didn't want it to be.Jonabob87 said:
He's hawkesexual like the rest, but cheesy as romances are I did enjoy that romance with my whole 2 mages against the world set up female hawke though, awesome read really made me smile 
Oh Sebastian shouldn't count as a romance all he does is get embarrassed and either run away or suggest you become a nun, sadly not acceptable for my hawke
Oh Sebastian shouldn't count as a romance all he does is get embarrassed and either run away or suggest you become a nun, sadly not acceptable for my hawke
So, Yahztee, does this strong reaction and emotional attachment to a character in a game make you want to perhaps revisit your review of DA2?
There are different aspects to every game (and everything else) obviously. But clearly the character development and story in DA2 are better--maybe only in hindsight--than you thought at the time of playing.
And don't forget, in order for you to build a strong attachment to an NPC, you must have invested yourself in and be able to strongly identify with your playable character (Hawke, in this case). So though you mentioned in your review a disconnect with Hawke, it seems that disconnect wasn't so great as to prohibit building that character fully in your mind and remembering his adventures fondly.
Personally, I thought those two aspects were excellent. Gameplay was relatively average--some good, some bad. Art was excellent--until it was overused.
Mostly, I play RPGs for the story and characters--and so I really enjoyed DA2. It wasn't necessarily the way I would do it, but I very much enjoyed that they took a different route and made it work.
Anyway, good article. I greatly appreciate that, almost uniquely amongst large developers, Bioware focuses on story and character so much in their games and for me at least, they didn't disappoint with DA2.
There are different aspects to every game (and everything else) obviously. But clearly the character development and story in DA2 are better--maybe only in hindsight--than you thought at the time of playing.
And don't forget, in order for you to build a strong attachment to an NPC, you must have invested yourself in and be able to strongly identify with your playable character (Hawke, in this case). So though you mentioned in your review a disconnect with Hawke, it seems that disconnect wasn't so great as to prohibit building that character fully in your mind and remembering his adventures fondly.
Personally, I thought those two aspects were excellent. Gameplay was relatively average--some good, some bad. Art was excellent--until it was overused.
Mostly, I play RPGs for the story and characters--and so I really enjoyed DA2. It wasn't necessarily the way I would do it, but I very much enjoyed that they took a different route and made it work.
Anyway, good article. I greatly appreciate that, almost uniquely amongst large developers, Bioware focuses on story and character so much in their games and for me at least, they didn't disappoint with DA2.
I usually play female characters in RPGs, though I am myself a male. I was amazed in ME1 how much I latched onto Shepard's romance with Liara. It really struck a personal note with me. I'm glad to see Yahtzee address such relationships, as I see them as one of the strongest emotions I've experienced through video games.
Bravo, Yahtzee. A fantastic read!
And was that a subtle hint that perhaps Pokemon is next on the review block?
And was that a subtle hint that perhaps Pokemon is next on the review block?
Anyone who has ever played "Gay Chicken" has no reason to be upset at DA2 or any other such folly. Honestly, Homophobe is well on it's way to being "racist' in the common vernacular. And yet, all these decades later, Racism exists (and thrives) too...
People will always be stupid, but we should at least force them to innovate.
People will always be stupid, but we should at least force them to innovate.
I believe that the backstory changes according to your character's gender: they aren't all bisexual.monnes said:
Well, only two girls, you can flirt with Aveline, but she's too oblivious to notice and hooks up with a guardsman regardless.ZP said:
You can never really play as yourself in RPGs because quite frankly, who would volunteer to go to be the great sacrificial hero. You also don't start with a blank slate, you have backstory and family which obviously aren't your own. So why not roleplay as a girl, someone of a different sexual persuasion or ultra-paragon/renegade?
That was beautiful. I was cracking up because I wasn't sure how much you were playing it up, but that was beautiful nonetheless.
Because gays are scary dude... O.OLuthir Fontaine said:
Haha. Thats prolly the truth. But seriously, I have gotten into fights with gays who think its cool to hit on me. Why? Because I have to prove I'm manly and not gay. I know I'm not into homosexual stuff but the ladies don't. And yes, its necessary.
I wish it wasn't like that but thats just how it is.
Awwww =)
I too have Anders as a staple party charachter, but once again it's cos he has healing magic!
I found myself in a similar situation to Yahtzee, actually. Although I am straight, I found myself almost unconsciously roleplaying my Hawke (female warrior) as a lesbian. And no, it wasn't cos she had short hair and manly armor! I genuinely found Merril to be the most appealing romantic choice (although Isabela is fun to, er, play with) in terms of an actual 'romance', and so have gone after her.
Although Fenris has a sexy voice, he's a little bit too girly-looking for me - Despite his power I always had the feeling my Hawke would, I don't know, break him or something =P Plus, I know he maybe has reason to be, but he's a bit to angry and bitter....
I also just can't get over Anders' stubble. It's gross =P Bioware, stop with the stubble already. It looks like someone painted glue on the character's cheeks and then threw iron filings at them. ;-)
I too have Anders as a staple party charachter, but once again it's cos he has healing magic!
I found myself in a similar situation to Yahtzee, actually. Although I am straight, I found myself almost unconsciously roleplaying my Hawke (female warrior) as a lesbian. And no, it wasn't cos she had short hair and manly armor! I genuinely found Merril to be the most appealing romantic choice (although Isabela is fun to, er, play with) in terms of an actual 'romance', and so have gone after her.
Although Fenris has a sexy voice, he's a little bit too girly-looking for me - Despite his power I always had the feeling my Hawke would, I don't know, break him or something =P Plus, I know he maybe has reason to be, but he's a bit to angry and bitter....
I also just can't get over Anders' stubble. It's gross =P Bioware, stop with the stubble already. It looks like someone painted glue on the character's cheeks and then threw iron filings at them. ;-)
I haven't even played DA2 yet and I find Anders to be the most attractive love interest. I mean that in terms of looks and overall romance. However, I am straight (very much so).
...
But if Anders was real, I'd totally tap that.
...
But if Anders was real, I'd totally tap that.