Poll: Gaming Romances.

[Bara_no_Hime]

I get the feeling that if I start listing some of my visual novels (many of which are based on the romance and succeed well), I'll be accused of cheating. So, sadly, no <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.135672-Neutral-Drow-reviews-A-Drug-That-Makes-You-Dream>Aeka/Kouhei, <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.223721-TYPE-MOON-Review-anniversary-Fate-Stay-Night>Saber/Shirou, or <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163769-Neutral-Drow-reviews-Kanon>Nayuki/Yuuichi.

Actually, I prefered Shirou/Sakura myself, but then I like the psychotic homicidal loonies. And her shadow form is terrifying. ^^ Plus, when she murdered Shinji. Priceless. ^^

As for best in-game romance...? Hmm... Persona 3. Yukari and Mitsuru both had great romantic plotlines. I hope Persona 3 Portable (girl version) will be as good. Akihiko-sempai, here I come!
(I just didn't like the romances as well in Persona 4)

Oh, and I also quite enjoyed Dragon Age. I really liked romancing Leliana and Zevryn. Morrigon was okay too. Didn't much care for Alistar. Too bad you can't romance Logain. ^^

Also, if you're talking about pre-scripted romance that the player can't effect - then Xenogears. Fei and Elly are one of my favorite couples from video game history. Too bad that time and budget screwed over the second disk. I'd have liked a little more time for that to be played out before the plot kicked in.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I get the feeling that if I start listing some of my visual novels (many of which are based on the romance and succeed well), I'll be accused of cheating. So, sadly, no <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.135672-Neutral-Drow-reviews-A-Drug-That-Makes-You-Dream>Aeka/Kouhei, <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.223721-TYPE-MOON-Review-anniversary-Fate-Stay-Night>Saber/Shirou, or <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163769-Neutral-Drow-reviews-Kanon>Nayuki/Yuuichi.

Actually, I prefered Shirou/Sakura myself, but then I like the psychotic homicidal loonies.

Loved her, myself, and loved Heaven's Feel, but I'll probably always be a Saber man (yeah...guess which choice in that route ripped my heart out ;_.

Kinda like how I loved everyone in Tsukihime, but I'll always be more devoted to Kohaku. Rinse and repeat for Aeka, Nayuki, Marumu in <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.146260-Neutral-Drow-reviews-Heart-de-Roommate>Heart de Roommate...and almost a certain person in Princess Waltz (I didn't like Angela).

 

[Gigano]

I get the feeling that if I start listing some of my visual novels (many of which are based on the romance and succeed well), I'll be accused of cheating. So, sadly, no <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.135672-Neutral-Drow-reviews-A-Drug-That-Makes-You-Dream>Aeka/Kouhei, <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.223721-TYPE-MOON-Review-anniversary-Fate-Stay-Night>Saber/Shirou, or <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163769-Neutral-Drow-reviews-Kanon>Nayuki/Yuuichi.
...

There should always be room for a mention of Aeka/Kouhei. Thinking back to that ending still puts a smile on my face, and I usually don't do nostalgia. The path to it was just that great.

As for more traditional games, I really liked the semi-romance thing going on between Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance. While never overt, and with nothing coming from it so far, there are definitely some elegantly handled hints at an attraction. It was well written and executed, never pushing itself on you, but making you feel for the characters all the more for being there.

For games which don't feature it as an integral part of the plot, I quite liked the way Uncharted 2 handled its relationship: never more serious than they were treated by the game. Great big love stories as a side dish annoys me a fair bit, so kudos to that game for treating it lightheartedly and in tune with the rest of the game.