“How could something so beautiful, exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness. In a lot of ways, I think the same thing when I look at you.”
He says, as he hands me a rose. I melted, right then and there. If I wasn’t in love before, I absolutely was now.
And that’s how it SHOULD be. Character development in video games has come a long way from the 2-d fighting action of Link and Mario trying to save their respective princesses. It’s moved miles away from the video cut-scenes of Final Fantasy VII. Even more real and in-depth than the more recent Knights of the Old Republic, but at least they were on to something huge!
Who knew that Bioware would be able to create a relationship in a video game that would be so real, so tangible, that so many of us were completely crushed and heartbroken when the game was over, simply because we couldn’t marry the Alistair of our dreams.
For those who don’t know, I’m talking about Dragon Age: Origins.
Romance and chivalry are hard to come by these days, and not from anyone’s direct fault. We just don’t put such emphasis on things like this anymore, as it just seems so outdated, but if there’s one thing that playing this game has taught me, it’s that it is totally NEEDED, at least, once in a while.
I fell head over heels in love with a video game character. His name is Alistair. He is the bastard son of a dead king. He is adorable, handsome and sarcastically witty. He is romantic, sweet and unbelievably realistic, even if he only exists as 1′s & 0′s. I don’t know HOW they did it, but Bioware managed to create something and someone so real, that I genuinely got attached, cried & even grew jealous of a particular ending in the game. And I’m not the only one!
So many of my other friends were the exact same way with Alistair. We all were shocked that there wasn’t an open ending, or a video of the lovely couple running off together, or SOMETHING to give us that satisfaction that the relationship had gone the way we’d built it up.
And anyone who knows me, knows that I don’t really give a shit about that mushy, romantic notions shit… normally. But for some reason, I honestly felt completely ripped in half at the end of the game. I spent 58 hours playing it, and felt lost and sad when it was over, instead of that happy & accomplished feeling I normally get when I finish games. This was such a strong feeling, I resented the game and didn’t touch it for an entire week (which was a huge deal to me, because I have so many more achievements to get O.o).
Video games are the new romance novels. If done correctly, they will enthrall you into a relationship on a level you hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever. I always thought those Fabio books were silly, and over the top. I never thought I’d ever want to do anything like in those books. Unfortunately for me, Bioware at least, has figured out how to tap into that special part of my female brain that makes me gushy inside (both figuratively and literally >_>). So, bravo Bioware. Keep this up, and you’ll keep getting my money. I want more Alistair in Dragon Age 3, though. LOTS more.
