How do you feel about romance options in games?

Do you ever enjoy and engage in it? Or is it just cringey shit that has no place in a game?

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One of the main reasons hate Mass Effect, puppet sex, and not in the deliberately bad Team America way.

Hate it.

Love it.

Big fat "meh."

The way it’s currently done, I like it.

I hate shows like The Bachelor so I wouldn’t play a pure romance game.

I liked The Sims, KOTOR 1.

It’s mostly meh so far. The problem is the majority of options you have in regards to romance have to do with direct interaction with potential partners. A smart person that courts doesn’t just look at how they are treated but also how a mate treats, family, friends, and strangers. I haven’t played many games where romance played a big part but if things like that played a part I wouldn’t have a problem with it.

Its cringy af. Outside of TW2 and TW3, it is poorly done in 100% of games.

it depends how it's implemented in the game , for instance if I can use it as a way to gain charisma experience points or seduce my enemies , it would be great otherwise I hate those cringy softcore cut-scenes

I'm only ok with it if I see nudity.

As long as waifus have good character models because that sh*t is ridiculous:

I'm fine with it being an option as long as I can completely ignore it (which I always do).

What I'm not fine with is games that force it on you and penalise you if you don't reach a certain affinity level with characters (JRPG devs I'm looking at you, asshats).

It is generally cringy, especially with the really forced attempts at inclusion; gay, lesbian, trans, and so on...don't get me wrong, I think they should be included, I just think how they are included has been relatively ham fisted.

Arguably the best game so far was Dragon Age: Inquisition. I thought they did romance relatively well in that game.

And if you're just doing it for the T and A, I think The Witcher did a good job at that. Did not objectify women too much, and you got to see some hotties.

It's alright though rarely implemented in a way that makes me really care.

Makes me sad about being forever alone.

Meh. Usually ignore it.

Absolute useless. I wanna play games to make me feel like badass. not some titanic hero leon kennedy who make promise in iceberg.

LOL!!

lol

Well considering people like casual4ever for example have never seen a breast in real life (outside of a KFC bucket) I think it could educate people like him lol.

Either you have it or you don't.

Don't care for it.

I enjoy actual romantic character development in story-based games. But "romance" for the sake of virtual sex games is best saved for H-games/visual novels and other related adult material.

Dumb

I like it for how bad it usually is in video games. It is great for the laughs.

Its meh. The whole relationship thing was to keep you invested in characters and its either you love it or ignore it.

In the best case they are kinda irrelevant, but they tend to be awkward.

I like it. I was fine with the ones in Mass Effect and Dragon Age.

I am ok with romance in games. I find Sex in games on the other hand to be really really weird and off putting.

I prefer games to focus more on the feelings aspects of romance. Not in a cheese way, but something sincere and meaninful.

They are typically terrible and bad

I don't think I've watched The Bachelor before (except maybe some clips a long time ago). I heard that's similar to Love Island (which is popular here in the UK).

Don't you mean Leonardo DiCaprio?

The Last of Us 2 romance will be excellent

Btw, is the op's picture the sister of kim jong un? Because if it is, the op has quite an interesting taste...

They don't bother me as long as they aren't forced (if we're talking about options that is). When it's part of the plot it doesn't usually bother me unless it's cringe... like The Last of Us 2 is looking like is going to be...

Have you heard of the game Mills & Boon? that game would be right up your alley.

@i_p_daily: to be honest i don't really actively seek for romance in video games. Its not something that interest me for that form of media

Just that, if they must do it, i rather they focus on feelings rather than having 2 mannequins with dead eyes humping each other. Specially if they are aliens. That makes it even more weird.

Its never bothered me.

They are same guys.

RE2 Leon > RE4 Leon

If it's there. It's there, and I may or may not use it. I can put it's awkwardness to the side, mostly. So...

Yup, it is. Yikes...

Sometimes its ok, but sometimes its just cringeworthy. In Bioware games it takes cringe to a new level.

Had some fun with Leisure Suit Larry, and The Sims: Bustin Out, in that regard but I guess truth be told there was really nothing "romantic" about the things being done. lol :P

@ghosts4ever said:

@Jag85 said:

@ghosts4ever said:

Absolute useless. I wanna play games to make me feel like badass. not some titanic hero leon kennedy who make promise in iceberg.

Don't you mean Leonardo DiCaprio?

They are same guys.

I've got just the game for you:

Resident Evil 4 Turned into Dating Sim By Fan

If you're looking for games with well-written romance, you can always check out some visual novels. For example, the romance in Clannad and Steins Gate feels natural and compelling, and drives the story forward.

But of course, VNs involve a ton of reading. Hence why plenty of VNs get anime adaptations for those who don't want too much reading.

Romance in storytelling really only works when it's believable and has a purpose for the narrative.

So that will be my question to decide whether or not it's welcome in a video game.

Take a game like Catherine, for example. Romance in that game is crucial because romance is a major focal point of the game's narrative and the messages it's ultimately trying to convey.

In any good story, every narrative device should have its purpose to satisfy the bottomline story.

If romance or any plot device can't satisfy the story, then chances are it was forced in.

Most games with romance have a high level of cringe.

That's what I don't like about Bioware games in general. You collect characters like Pokemon and they just, hang around you're little hub waiting to be used. They are either the most loyal motherfucker ever, or the biggest asshole ever. Nothing natural feeling about it, aside from being overused, it's mechanically transparent, like trying to win over a pie-chart.

@uninspiredcup said:

@jaydan said:

Romance in storytelling really only works when it's believable and has a purpose for the narrative.

So that will be my question to decide whether or not it's welcome in a video game.

Take a game like Catherine, for example. Romance in that game is crucial because romance is a major focal point of the game's narrative and the messages it's ultimately trying to convey.

In any good story, every narrative device should have its purpose to satisfy the bottomline story.

If romance or any plot device can't satisfy the story, then chances are it was forced in.

That's what I don't like about Bioware games in general. You collect characters like Pokemon and they just, hang around you're little hub waiting to be used. They are either the most loyal motherfucker ever, or the biggest asshole ever. Nothing natural feeling about it, aside from being overused, it's mechanically transparent, like trying to win over a pie-chart.

It's the most simple thing so many fail: believability and purpose in romance.

Unfortunately many capitalize on the "sex sells" strategy to peak attention in video games more than creating something that's actually authentic.