114 réponses à ce sujet

[DadeLeviathan]

I'm not all that hung up romances in games. I think they're a wonderful addition when done right, as it's like a good icing on a cake, but some games give you the typical overly sweet, hard to swallow icing, if you'll permit me to continue the confectionery allegory. With Bioware, I've always felt that the romances were extremely well done, and added to a much more rewarding icing so-to-speak, without giving too much, and without making it overly sweet.

As far as Dragon Age, I thought the romances were very well done, which was why I was disappointed and confused with Awakenings. I wasn't expecting to carry on a romance plot in Awakenings (especially after they said there wouldn't be one) But I was at least expecting for some explanation of what happened, even if it was in the form a very short journal entry or something. In the case of Leliana or Zevran, you are able to talk about them travelling with you. This left me with the question of where they were when Awakenings starts.

Alastor is easy to explain, since in any ending of Origins, he's extremely busy (or wasting away in a bar far away, if you're really mean), and Morrigan obviously doesn't need explanation since she's out of the picture by that point. With Leliana and Zevran, however, I was left with the questions of what happened. Eventually I just simply assumed that the two characters (my character and the love interest) just agreed that it was best if we went about our personal business due to the enormity of the Warden's duties, but it still would have been nice to have, at the very least, a little bit of explanation saying what happened and why they weren't there with you.

With Mass Effect 2, most things were explained or didn't have to be. You (Sheperd) were dead for 2 years. It would be expected that your love interest would have gone through the typical 5 stages of grief in that time and come to terms with your death. When you return, you can imagine that their reaction is more along the lines of "HOLY CRAP WTF?!" rather than "I LOVE YOU! TAKE ME NOW!"

Of course there are other issues with Awakening too, but I think most of the continuity issues that arise with fans such as myself with awakenings are the product of expecting so much. You have to remember that this is Bioware's first expansion that continues the campaign of the main game since Throne of Bhaal, which was released nine years ago. All the other expansions that Bioware has done were new campaigns that you could IMPORT your character into, but didn't necessarily continue on the storyline of the original game. And in my opinion, they didn't meet the bar that they set so ridiculously high for themselves.

Modifié par DadeLeviathan, 24 mai 2010 - 07:49 .

[Ulicus]

Fushichou wrote...

The issue with a lot of RPGs that have romances is that your character suddenly forgets about your previous lover, and suddenly the entire point just seems to get into someone's pants, which entirely contradicts the whole idea of a hero.

James Bond and Conan are looking at you funny.

[Dawnielle]

"I do understand why you feel this way about LIs, but having a romance isn't to fill the void of your own non-existent romantic life, nor is it solely made for the sexually repressed gaming nerds. Love is a big part of life, and sometimes it's nice to see two people fall for eachother, especially from a female perspective. Granted, you don't want sappy Alistair talk 24/7 in every game you play, but it is nice to see a sentimental side to a character. It reveals more about them and lets you into their life even more, which adds to the story, even more.[/quote]"

I agree completely. I really cared about my party members. Esp. Dog.
I don't know anything about ME- But I can understand what you are saying.

Modifié par Dawnielle, 25 mai 2010 - 06:56 .

[Elhanan]

Bioware - I agree. But until then, thanks for making such an addictive and compelling game to take my mind off of my lack of a social life.

Modifié par Elhanan, 25 mai 2010 - 07:25 .

[Leon Evelake]

Ulicus wrote...

Fushichou wrote...

The issue with a lot of RPGs that have romances is that your character suddenly forgets about your previous lover, and suddenly the entire point just seems to get into someone's pants, which entirely contradicts the whole idea of a hero.

James Bond and Conan are looking at you funny.

Funniest post i have ever read.

[frostajulie]

I do not want a dating sim. I do not view Zevran as mine. I do not veiw Leilani as mine. I do veiw them as characters that are with my characters I have created. Except for Darrian, Morrigan is his sweetheart. I play RPG for the roleplay experience the little vacation from real life. Bioware blew the top off the genre with DA:O and it was the relationships with the characters that did it, the party bantar and origins and DEFINITELY the romance options. This is what makes it so replayable to rp gamers that love the character driven story. Until I played Bioware games I never had a character with a love interest. I always played bad ass females kicking butts and taking names. When I got a love interest for my characters in ME and DA:O I was so enchanted. The romance storylines add depth and emotional connection to a story in a way i had never experienced before it was as if the tenuous immature connection I felt the first time Mario went to save Princess peach suddenly grews up. It was Awesome! I would never buy a dating sim because that would be boring but I would buy a game that expanded on the universe and adventures of my cast of characters from DA:O and I would LOVE romance DLC if it included story. I want to go to Orlais with Leiliana, I want to go to Antiva with Zev, I want to find Morrigan, wasn't she seen serving the empress in Orlais? I want to save AListair from the wardens in Anderfell I imagine they are mad we are both still alive. The romances have added such immersion other games just don't compare. Fable 2 said it would grab your heart but they lied. Bioware delivered on Lionheads promise.

[Leon Evelake]

frostajulie wrote...

I do not want a dating sim. I do not view Zevran as mine. I do not veiw Leilani as mine. I do veiw them as characters that are with my characters I have created. Except for Darrian, Morrigan is his sweetheart. I play RPG for the roleplay experience the little vacation from real life. Bioware blew the top off the genre with DA:O and it was the relationships with the characters that did it, the party bantar and origins and DEFINITELY the romance options. This is what makes it so replayable to rp gamers that love the character driven story. Until I played Bioware games I never had a character with a love interest. I always played bad ass females kicking butts and taking names. When I got a love interest for my characters in ME and DA:O I was so enchanted. The romance storylines add depth and emotional connection to a story in a way i had never experienced before it was as if the tenuous immature connection I felt the first time Mario went to save Princess peach suddenly grews up. It was Awesome! I would never buy a dating sim because that would be boring but I would buy a game that expanded on the universe and adventures of my cast of characters from DA:O and I would LOVE romance DLC if it included story. I want to go to Orlais with Leiliana, I want to go to Antiva with Zev, I want to find Morrigan, wasn't she seen serving the empress in Orlais? I want to save AListair from the wardens in Anderfell I imagine they are mad we are both still alive. The romances have added such immersion other games just don't compare. Fable 2 said it would grab your heart but they lied. Bioware delivered on Lionheads promise.

Just about all of fable 2 was a lie.

[Sezso]

The problem I had with the romances in Awakening was that we didn't hear from Leliana or Zevran at all. As someone who doesn't go online all that often, I was incredibly confused about where they went. Five minutes ago, Zev was telling me that he wanted to follow me around forever and now he's just vanished? I mean, yeah, of course, Morrigan shouldn't show up in this game, and Allistair has stuff to do as king, but if you don't make him king, where's he at? It wasn't because I was obsessed with Dragon Age: Dating Sim, it was because I was confused. I don't spend time in the forums all that much, and I finally did just to figure it out. It drew me out of the gameplay, and I think that ends up becoming a story flaw.

[asaiasai]

The characters in DAO were just like every other character in any book or movie you have seen/read, Bioware did such a good job on them that the amount of love or hate espoused by the posters here is a true testament to the quality of the writing. I do not play DAO because of the romance options, i play DAO because of the quality of the immersion, the quality of the story, the freedom to play my warden in any way i want. The romances while not part of the over all story, as in a major plot point, contrary to the belief even Morrigan's romance is not a major plot point, still facilitate immersion. The romances invest the player in the world, if done well as DAO's were, the player begins to care what happens to the character, not unlike Tristessa, Aragorn and Arwen, etc. They are not the reason to play, thay are a tool the writers can use to draw the sympathies, affection, compassion of the player to a degree emotionally bond the player to the PC and the LI. They add dimension, depth to a realm that would be less if they were not included, as if Tolkien himself removed Aragorn or Arwen.



Asai

[ShaggyWolf]

asaiasai wrote...

The characters in DAO were just like every other character in any book or movie you have seen/read, Bioware did such a good job on them that the amount of love or hate espoused by the posters here is a true testament to the quality of the writing. I do not play DAO because of the romance options, i play DAO because of the quality of the immersion, the quality of the story, the freedom to play my warden in any way i want. The romances while not part of the over all story, as in a major plot point, contrary to the belief even Morrigan's romance is not a major plot point, still facilitate immersion. The romances invest the player in the world, if done well as DAO's were, the player begins to care what happens to the character, not unlike Tristessa, Aragorn and Arwen, etc. They are not the reason to play, thay are a tool the writers can use to draw the sympathies, affection, compassion of the player to a degree emotionally bond the player to the PC and the LI. They add dimension, depth to a realm that would be less if they were not included, as if Tolkien himself removed Aragorn or Arwen.

Asai

I agree 100%. Especially about the no Aragorn. No Aragorn in LOTR would be as bad as swooping Barbarians.

[thegoldfinch]

Romance has this phenomenal capability to complement a story. Han and Leia in the original Star Wars had a classic romance to play side by side to an epic main story of good versus ultimate evil. It started with mutual contempt that transformed into something sweet and genuine. They were each the reason the other became a *better person*. A great romance can show you that even in the hardest of times, something as powerful as love can and will find a way. It's a nice sentiment, and for someone playing a video game looking for a bit of an escape from the hum-drum of the everyday, seeing that ideal in action feels good.

And can I just say that I love everyone who's ever worked on the Bioware romances (save for the ME ones)? Also, can I thank you forever and ever? I am so damn sick of Hollywood "love" between a plastic, busty young woman and a SUPER MASCULINE MAAAAN RARRGH TESTOSTERONE IN MY POWER THIRST. Or better yet, romances like the whiney, lip-bitey Bella and that creeper Edward. It's so unrealistic that it infuriates me! Great romance doesn't work like that, and watching that sort of thing in action is just embarassing.

And I surely didn't fall in love with my boyfriend because he broke into my house at night to watch me in my sleep. I'm looking at you, sparkle boy.

In products like Dragon Age, we're given something that would actually work in real life. The romance between my city elf and Alistair, for instance, was incredibly touching. There was the teasing, there was the fighting, there was a bit of flirting and adoration. Best of all, it was gradual and awkward, because that's how life works. I feel like many storytellers today just don't understand that, and so they stick a blonde babe and a muscular dude together, throw in some sexual innuendo, call it a day, and hope people will eat it up because they're pretty and smiling at each other. It's depressing because while I am indeed a hopeless romantic, I am also a sensible and realistic lady.

I know a lot of people didn't like Carth from KotOR, but hell, I loved his character. The dynamic between him and the female PC was so fascinating to unfold. That romance felt so sprawling and epic, full of doubt and remorse, that it completely overshadowed the garbage that was Anakin and Padme. (derp derp I hate sand. It's so sandy and gets everywhere, because it's sand. But not like you because derp derp soft skin and you're not sand, LOL OK CAN WE HAVE SEX NOW)

So, I'm glad the nice fellows over at Bioware give us the romance sub-plots that they do. They do good work and I genuinely appreciate them. Because, my friends, love, by it's very nature, makes people feel good and that's what I really play a game for.

...

Oh, and while we're at it, it's up to US to keep the Broodmother alive and as a LI in DA2!!!!!11

Modifié par pixieface, 30 mai 2010 - 05:53 .

[MerrickShep]

The Reunion with Liara in ME2 was just sad but in Awakening you get nothing you would think Morrigan might have played a part is some of the happenings but no I understand awakening was all about stopping a new threat and no romance but you don't even encounter your love interest.

[Devil Keyz]

i just want more diff armours that ain't jsut retextures

[Leon Evelake]

Devil Keyz wrote...

i just want more diff armours that ain't jsut retextures

 Or some with moving cloth parts, some hooded mage outfits. And a few more armor's with symmetrical arm gear.
not that it has anything to do with continuity.

[Sharn01]

As much as I would like continuity of the romance in Awakenings, from reading posts on this board it seems that npc's often have a difficult time identifying the race and sometimes even the sex of the main character, let alone any past decisions you made. They put it together so hastily that they cant even get the basics of the game down that would apply to any player, let alone specific decisions from the previous installment.