Many people are discovering the importance of love and relationships through video games. These games are not only fun but they can teach us a lot about the subject. They also allow us to develop important character traits like loyalty, empathy and patience, which are all essential for real life relationships. But how do we know which games to play?
Dragon Age
In the early 2000s, Bioware reigned over the RPG plus romance genre with their Dragon Age series. Set in the high fantasy land of Thedas, Dragon Age games feature characters you can fall in love with. Some of these characters have romantic motives that run counter to your own. Others are more straightforward than others.
While romance is never an overwhelmingly important part of the Dragon Age game experience, the series has made it an integral part of its world. The first game included four different romantic options, and the sequel, Dragon Age II, added more choices. The choice of which character you fall in love with has an impact on the dialogue and steamy scenes throughout the game. The romance options in Dragon Age are a wonderful way to enrich the characters’ personalities, which makes them more appealing to players.
However, there are still some areas that need improvement. For example, Dragon Age: Inquisition has some love stories that are hard to accept. While the characters are typically supportive of each other, they often face rough patches. Sometimes, a single decision has an enormous effect on the dynamics of the relationship, and one lover may have more power than the other. Overall, Dragon Age: Inquisition does a great job of portraying love, despite the shortcomings.
Another difference in these games is how they handle sex. Dragon Age II introduces a rivalry system that can result in romantic relationships based on disagreement and hatred. Because of this, it acknowledges that the attraction between two characters is not always based on the same beliefs and interests.
Saints Row 4
The first Saints Row video game was released in 2004, and this sequel takes place five years after that game ended. The gangs are different than in the first game, and a new faction has risen. The gang leader Boss tries to restore his gang’s status in the area, and he recruits new allies to do so. The game also introduces new challenges, like the Genki Bowl, which involves throwing Genki items or people through floating rings. In addition, there are also classic activities like the Insurance Fraud missions and vehicle thefts.
While the game’s storyline is fairly standard, Saints Row 4 takes things a step further with a new city. The game’s world is set in the fictional city of Stilwater, and the player is tasked with leading a group of misfits and criminals in this new city. These misfits include the brainy entrepreneur Eli, the artistic mechanic Neenah, and the fun-loving DJ Kevin. The city’s name is a nod to Kevin Nguyen, the Asian rave bae persona of fame and legend.
Another aspect of the game that draws players in is the ability to customize weapons. While Saints Row II was a bit of a sandbox-style game, Saints Row IV is a more grounded experience. The player takes control of the fastest growing gang in history. They’ve even made their way to the White House. While this game is wildly popular, it still has a dark side.
As a series, Saints Row has a reputation for being offensive. It’s important to understand that embracing the best of the Saints Row games means to tolerate its worst moments, too.