so, have you guys ever stopped to think about romance in rpgs? like, is it really necessary? i've been playing these games for years, and it's crazy how common it's become to have romanceable companions. it's almost expected now, even in games that aren't traditionally rpgs.



i think this trend really started with bioware, specifically with baldur's gate 2. they kind of pioneered the whole romanceable companion thing, and now it's just a standard feature in a lot of rpgs. but is it actually adding anything to the game? i'm not so sure. don't get me wrong, bioware has done some really great stuff with romance in the past. like, the relationship between the grey warden and morrigan in dragon age is seriously important to the story.



but sometimes it feels like romance is just tacked on, you know? like, you have a few conversations with a character, and then suddenly you're in a relationship. it's all very formulaic, and it doesn't really feel like it adds depth to the game. and let's be real, sometimes it can feel kind of creepy. like, the relationship with liara in mass effect - it starts off feeling really off, especially given her age and innocence.



one game that's doing romance really differently is baldur's gate 3, though. the developers, larian, have taken a much more nuanced approach to relationships. they're not just about sex or romance, but about actual connections between characters. and it's not just some reward you're working towards - it's a natural part of the story. i love that they're experimenting with different types of relationships, and that they're not afraid to make them complicated andRead more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com

What do you think about this?