It’s the 14th of February. Happy V-Day everyone! Your couple’s dinners and flower bouquet packages are three times the price, but hey, it’s all in the power & glory of love. Like Chicago said.

Since it’s a special day, we at Kakuchopurei will now share our favourite video game romances and one-night stands. Take it away, gentlemen!

Kenn Leandre: Cortana & Master Chief from the Halo series

A 15-year old Kenn would have picked Miranda Lawson from Mass Effect 2 but come on – my best girl in video games will always be Cortana in Halo. Throughout the four main games alongside countless accompanying filler graphic novels, we witnessed how this smart artificial intelligence construct’s relationship with Master Chief develop – from being merely a guiding A.I ensuring Chief’s Mjolnir suit operates in peak performance to a trusty partner in battle into a confidante which we’d do everything in our power to protect.

Despite her not possessing any physical body, she’s the perfect embodiment of a lifelong companion. Goes to show that a perfect relationship can work sans physical contact. She remained by our side since Combat Evolved, growing alongside John-117 until she sacrificed herself to save John in Halo 4. (OK, she didn’t really ‘die’ but that act alone shows how human Cortana is).

I never really cared much about side characters in video games. But that scene at the end of Halo 4 where she manifested herself one last time just to touch Master Chief…. dude. That’d make even the toughest of us shed a tear.

As one YouTube commenter puts it perfectly:

“Women cried to Titanic; Men cried to Terminator 2; Gamers cried to Halo 4.”

Alleef: Geralt And Yennefer from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

While Geralt of Rivia may be infamously known for his many escapades with lady lovers throughout the course of his adventures, his heart has always belonged to only one woman: Yennefer of Vengerberg. The sorceress may seem cold-hearted and unflinching at first but beneath that solid exterior lies the only one who is capable of melting the heart of a cynical and gruff monster-slayer like Geralt.

Geralt and Yen (short for Yennefer) are destined for each other, and not only because Yen is like a mother to Geralt’s adopted daughter, Ciri, but also because their love for each other is pure. An unforgettable side quest in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt had Geralt and Yen hunting down a Djinn.

The reason was to have the magical creature remove Geralt’s last wish (which was to bind the two of them together forever) so that she could see whether they truly love each other or if they are just together because of a forced magical bond. A majority of fans believe that the canon choice is the former and that Yennefer is Geralt’s canon love interest (best waifu!).

Geralt and Yennefer’s romance is one of the few in gaming that has made me genuinely shed actual tears. This happened when I first listened to The Wolven Storm, a beautiful and heartbreaking song about the love between Geralt and Yen. It’s still one of my favorite songs in gaming, and it’s available in over 7 languages. That’s how important and pivotal the song is to their relationship and the story as a whole, even to developer CD Projekt Red.

If you don’t believe me, try listening to the song below. I’ve included both the original version of the song in English and a cover of the Polish version (which is my preferred version, since it sounds even more emotional and melancholy).

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQhQ-7Iaw8Y&w=560&h=315]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ialPtQuMMg&w=560&h=315]

“You flee my dream come the morning,
Your scent – berries tart, lilac sweet,
To dream of raven locks entwisted, stormy,
Of violet eyes, glistening as you weep.”

Syazwan: Zack and Aerith from Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII

Yes, I’m talking about the prequel, the story before the overly popular main game, Final Fantasy VII. The spinoff introduced us to the relationship between all-time fan favourite Aerith and Zack Fair. I was so into the game and characters, I even changed my Facebook name to Zack Fair for a moment. Hey, don’t judge! We’ve all done silly things in our lives.

Zack is an interesting character. He sends out letters to Aerith every time he’s on a mission. But there was this one moment in-game in which Zack and Cloud were incapacitated and infused with Sephiroth cells and were dormant in their incubation tanks of sorts.

The next scene shows that Zack regains consciousness, and it turns out it’s already been four years, and there’s a number of unread letters from Aerith, who thought he was already dead since he was no longer sending him letters. In essence, Aerith sent him her last letters assuming he died.

But the part that never fails to get me, even up to today, is Zack’s Final Stand. That’s the moment he perished in combat. Zack then passes down the Buster Sword and his SOLDIER honour to Cloud. His partner, Angeal descends from the sky like an angel to bring Zack into the Lifestream. Cloud wanders into Midgar as Zack’s lingering voice tells Cloud to say hello to Aerith for him, and asks if he has finally become a hero.

It’s true as the quote on the game cover says:

“Men cry not for themselves, but for their comrades.”

Mr Toffee: Guybrush & Elaine from the Monkey Island series

I REALLY want to touch upon my favourite serious and dramatic relationships in games -Garrus/FemShepard, Professor Layton & Clair, Tidus & Yuna, The Prince of Persia & Elika, Fei & Elly. That’s a ginormous list!

Instead, I’m going straight for comedic adventure gaming’s best couple ever. I’m referring to Guybrush Threepwood (mighty pirate) and Elaine Marley. Both of them met under awkward circumstances and are clear opposites. Elaine’s a badass governess who turns heads and has a fierce disposition. Guybrush is…neither one of those things and more.

However, he tries really hard not only to be a kickass pirate (who can hold his breath for 10 minutes; true story) but also win the heart of a woman clearly out of his league. A few sequels later, he finally did tie the knot with her after a lot of back-and-forth.

It does help that the righteous Elaine has a soft spot for our hero, much like a stern owner has for a pitiful young pup. Guys like myself are basically less-exaggerated versions of Guybrush: always striving for the impossible, no matter how bleak the outcome and results can be. It’s just that all you need is a little gung-ho, confidence, and a little luck on your side.

And even when both of them already hooked up, their bond grew stronger over each sequel. Heck, even a fangirl of sorts and a voodoo curse on Elaine almost stood in the way of their love and friendship, which obviously prevailed because Guybrush never, EVER gives up. He flubs up insult sword fighting the first few times? Sure, but he gets better and triumphs eventually.

Their relationship also proves the power of a timeless adage sung by one 80s Paula Abdul and an animated rapping cat:

“Opposites attract.”

What are your favourite video gaming flings and relationships? Share them with us either here or on Facebook. In the meantime, check out the video for some ideal nominees.

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