Exactly what I was going to say. They went too far with trying to show the player they're in love by having them say it in almost every line of dialogue. No couple I know speak to each other that lovingly lol.
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Any other game with as good of a depiction of romance as The Last of Us 2?
- Thread starter Samiya
- Start date
Ehhhhhhhhh....no.
If video games are going to be the ultimate narrative experience, why do most video game stories still suck?
I'm all for being positive and upbeat and "anything is possible" but the basic three act structure has been around
for thousands of years. Games still can't that shit right most of the time. Then you end up with Bioshock Infinite...
The one good thing about The Last of Us 2 is representation at a very base level. Everything else as a story or romance...ehhhhhhh
Blazko and Anya in the new Wolfenstein games. Their relationship deepens into the second game with Anya now pregnant, tied with Blazko's fears and depression is quite heavy stuff.
I legit cried at the end of The Darkness and then Darkness 2 dance with Jenny.
I must have forgot! Need to get back to it, thanks for the reminder.
Lol. You got me ha
But yeah OP you're right. They are the most realized characters ever in a game.
As a lesbian, their relationship meant the world to me. It felt incredibly natural and reminded me of a lot of my relationships incl. my current one. It's not only the dialogue, but especially the little glances & touches, the body language that does a lot for me & other lesbians I know. There's so many little things. I genuinely can't explain it, but it felt so incredibly loving, tender & intimate. Something we sadly aren't often allowed in media. Was the relationship & their portrayal perfect? Of course not. But I can't think of many - if any - that were handled better & with more care. I adored their playfulness too - you can't forget they're barely of age, they're not a boring 30smth cishet couple for who it's just all the same or however you wanna say it. They're young, they're excited, they're just being silly sapphic women in love. Ellie especially is just such a useless lesbian around Dina for a while, it's beautiful & reminded me a lot of myself. Also crazy to me that people feel like they were too loving when that's how I act with my beloved. Some people are very affectionate all the time & aren't scared to show it, it's okay.
EDIT: Also, the game made me want to pick up playing guitar again, even though I suck so fucking much at it. But if I won't be able to serenade my future wife at our wedding I might as well die now. Also, this thread reminds me that I desperately need to play Fatamoru.
Can only speak from my dating experience, but that's how a lot of lesbian & in general wlw couples flirt, especially at the beginning stages & if they're younger. It's cute and stupid, but I adore that. It's playful when it needs to be and serious when it needs to be.
EDIT: Also, the game made me want to pick up playing guitar again, even though I suck so fucking much at it. But if I won't be able to serenade my future wife at our wedding I might as well die now. Also, this thread reminds me that I desperately need to play Fatamoru.
Can only speak from my dating experience, but that's how a lot of lesbian & in general wlw couples flirt, especially at the beginning stages & if they're younger. It's cute and stupid, but I adore that. It's playful when it needs to be and serious when it needs to be.
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Since everyone has already mentioned most of the great stuff, I wanted to chip in for Spider-Man. I could really feel every step of Peter and MJ's relationship, it was quite a ride.
Okay well, when I think of all the stories I really level across all the mediums I engage with.
Video games are dead last. I wish they were better, I really do,
I did like the story for the first Last of Us and the fourth Uncharted game.
But even those are only special on a curve. They don't stand up to most
tv shows or movies. It's just not there.
So for me the last of us 2 wasn't effective. It sadly never felt really romantic.
I'm just saying, the best examples of romance ever in video games wouldn't
ever remotely come close to most basic cable stuff. So it's not a big surprise
to me that it didn't work. But I really wouldn't highlight it as well done.
It's been a long time since I played through this but I do remember thinking the ending was impactful and believable.
Some real chemistry between those two.
agreed. when i think last of us 2, 'subtle' isn't the first word that comes to mind. & that includes the ellie/dina relationship aspect...
I found
Abby-Owen way better romance than Ellie-Dinas. It was more forbidden actually and more passionate.
OP is right. The characterization was nuanced and so well done.
That's what falling in love as a teenager is like though...
People seem to forget that Ellie is 19 years old.
Really? I find most romances in movies (and basic cable tv most definitely) to be not that good most of the time. Not exactly many pairings that I can think of that I find miles better than Nate & Elena or Ellie & Dina.
Especially not lesbian romances sadly.
I agree entirely with your take on the game. "Meant the world to me" is the exact phrasing I've been using. This meant so much, and it is so well done.
I was looking for a Dina avatar before I beat the game, and the first thing that showed up on Google top search was
Dina dies
This is a really good callout. The story elevated those two games, especially the second one.
Blazko and Anya in the new Wolfenstein games. Their relationship deepens into the second game with Anya now pregnant, tied with Blazko's fears and depression is quite heavy stuff.
I swear, I promise, get into arthouse/world cinema. There's so much good stuff. And the relationships are actually about something! Decades and decades of LGBTQA+ films
I haven't played it in a long time but I remember then love story in Xenogears being well done and there's a bit of romance as well.
Not to mention early on in the game, Ellie was conflicted. She didn't want to think she was reading into things and ruin her friendship with Dina, which Dina picks up on. So it makes sense for her to keep reminding Ellie that she loves her, as Dina is more confident in their relationship, in terms of the one who makes the first move and continues making moves as Ellie is still unsure until their second kiss and 2 to 3 weeks of bonding on the way to Seattle. One of the things we know and I'm sure Dina knows, is everyone leaves Ellie, while that might have changed in the last 4 years, it's still something that probably haunts her, Dina wants Ellie to know she'll never leave her.
It totally makes sense within their characters, and pretty realistic to young adult love.
Yeah probably, was just the "basic cable program" part that I reacted more on, since most relationships on them aren't that deep or good
It's honestly such a bizarre feeling? I always thought I'd have to live with subpar lesbian romances in media outside of a few movies, but TLOU2 did it so well. It's so natural, even it having ups and downs is just.. normal. It doesn't feel like it's done just for misery porn. Also loved how Halley talked about their relationship in interviews. That Dina is Ellie's light & Ellie is just a huge ass lesbian who gets nervous & sweaty hands around a pretty girl. And when she's not sure if Dina actually likes her? God, they're my fucking babies.
Blazko and Anya in the new Wolfenstein games. Their relationship deepens into the second game with Anya now pregnant, tied with Blazko's fears and depression is quite heavy stuff.
I legit cried at the end of The Darkness and then Darkness 2 dance with Jenny.
Likewise, I appreciate the Wolvenstein callout! Very well done with those two.
Teenagers who've been in a relationship for like 3 months flirt and say I love you a lot ? Totally unrealistic ! Trying too hard !
Really ?
When I was that age I'm absolutely embarrassed reminiscing some of the shit I did when I started dating.
It's the best depiction for this kind of romance there's ever been. Other games do older couples very well (Uncharted 4, Witcher 3)
Really ?
When I was that age I'm absolutely embarrassed reminiscing some of the shit I did when I started dating.
It's the best depiction for this kind of romance there's ever been. Other games do older couples very well (Uncharted 4, Witcher 3)
Nate and Elena are my favorite couple.
The conversations during gameplay between them is so organic and believable.
The conversations during gameplay between them is so organic and believable.
The one note in Ellie's journal was really good, where she talks about how nervous she was when Dina asked her if she was going to the dance, and how she didn't want to read into Dina touching her arm in fear or ruining their friendship.
Yeah, I never thought I would get something so perfect. Certainly not from a video game. I love them. And Like you say, even their break up was handled so well. It is so real and earned by the characters, they didn't just "split for drama" as often happens with fictional couples.
"Don't fuck up your friendship" is like the official motto of many young lesbians.
"Ah yes, I hear Stockholm Syndrome is very nice this time of year."
Blazko and Anya in the new Wolfenstein games. Their relationship deepens into the second game with Anya now pregnant, tied with Blazko's fears and depression is quite heavy stuff.
As good as their relationship is, I just never found it believable in New Order t hat she'd be so quick to sleep with him after he's spent 15 years as a litteral brain dead drooling slob and she just saw her parents
executed right in front of her.
This is the answer I was looking for, was going to post it myself if no one else had. Yuna and Tidus' romance was and still is one of my favorite in gaming, and I think it was pretty realistically depicted too (yeah yeah, laughing scene, I know).
Cloud and Tifa also qualify, especially in Remake.
Selan and Maxim in Lufia II as well. Not to mention...
Yea they did a good job of characterizing Dina as a flirt, so you can see why it would've made Ellie extra nervous on how to read any signals Dina was putting out
I loved Dina and Ellie's relationship and
That said, Drake and Elena are the best. I think that's mostly because they had four games to really make it grow and evolve. UC4 was the culmination of their relationship and every moment was gold.
I'm still heartbroken over the ending.
That said, Drake and Elena are the best. I think that's mostly because they had four games to really make it grow and evolve. UC4 was the culmination of their relationship and every moment was gold.
There were parts that I remember in Life is Strange and Before the Storm that really spoke to me and captured that kind of awkwardness and uncertainty that comes with adolescent relationships.
Nathan and Elena in Uncharted 4 are up there. Cloud and Tifa in FF7R are good too, though their story's still at an early stage.
But yeah, TLoU2's depiction of romance is insanely realistic.
But yeah, TLoU2's depiction of romance is insanely realistic.
