Gaming’s Greatest Love Stories
Love is in the air here at the Hard Reset offices. So before we all head out to smother our girlfriends with love and presents or head home to attempt to smother ourselves in loneliness, let’s have a look back through the annuls of gaming history to see which couple left us with a twinge in our hearts.
Mario & Peach
My favorite gaming love story is the classic tale of Mario and Princess Peach. I mean this romance is the entire basis of the entire Super Mario series so it is a pretty 
important one and It is not as simple as you may think. It could be glossed over as a straight up affair but their relationship is complicated and deep. How many of us can say that we would still be with our partners after they have been taken hostage many times!
Poor Mario he never gets time off to relax because Peach is being constantly taken hostage by a barrel wielding gorilla or an evil dinosaur if she could not be kidnapped for like what an hour? Maybe Mario could invest in some home security but no our stalwart hero trudges ever on after his Princess without a bad thought or a frown crossing his Italian moustached face.
Nintendo have done the right thing with this relationship by keeping it simple and pure, they could have gone with times and turned into ‘real’ relationship akin to something we might see in a Grand Theft Auto game.Which would probably leave Luigi beaten and bloody crawling through the Mushroom Kingdom, Toad the Koopa informant surrounded by stars and goomba hookers relishing the highlife, Bowser the head of the west kingdom mafia has whacked Peach and is regaling his cronies with the story, finally Mario, loaded to the nines with fire flowers is coming like the spirit of fucking vengeance for his beaten brother, his murdered princess and his own vendetta. Luckily it’s not, its lovely and sweet and innocent and is a firm classic. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the Plumber and his Princess who is always in another castle.
-Ben Quy
Scott & Ramona
Two years ago when asked “what is the greatest love story in gaming?”I would have immediately told you the tale of a heavy set man and with his one hundred fifty kilogram love Sasha. But thanks to Xbox-Live Arcade, I can say with a happy heart, that Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers are the top of my love ladder. They fight, they disagree, at times they flat out hate each other. They cheat on each other, and yet, there is nothing you could do to keep them apart. Scott also chases his girl ferociously, but instead of finding a castle with nothing but a repentant toad holding a flag and crying for the love that will never be reciprocated, Ramona comes with open arms to her saviour, and don’t forget, they kiss at every opportunity they have.
It is a complicated but delightful love story, that despite its ups and downs, leaves you with an elated heart, knowing that at least 2 fictional characters have found true lesbian. Because of it’s fast pace, roller-coaster highs and lows and the general brilliance and realism, Ramona and Scott get my top spot!
-Jack Butler
Wander & Mono
I want to stress how difficult this choice was, but this story not only covered the true love one man can have for a woman, attempting the impossible at all costs just to see her for one more moment, but also the tragic downfall or what being that deeply in love can do. My valentine’s game is – Shadow of the colossus.
I can almost hear you gasping as you read this. The flaming of questions such as, what about Zelda? Or final fantasy? And yes, you are all right; the overall storyline is better orchestrated, but the love between the two protagonists of SotC is undeniable. Taking upon the gods known as colossus, not by name but also by size to resurrect the women of your dreams means the love between them holds no boundaries.
The game mechanics are simple and I mean that in the best possible way, drawing you into the world instantly, which helps bridge the connect between the player and the women. 
You feel drawn to resurrect this woman, although knowing very little about her through the entire game. There is no need for understanding personality, her likes and dislikes, it’s as simple as you – you love her thus you must save her.
Without giving too much away, the ending of SotC will have you reaching for tissues, and you cant help but wonder if its due to joy or woe. This is one adventure no one should miss, as everyone will connect with the wanting of bringing back a loved we miss. This is not only true love in its perfect form, but also a pure love, the kind that could be spoke about not just your other half, but your family and friends – which is why I rate this my top love story of all time.
-Samuel Wigmore
Nathan & Elena
From using her as just a way to get to his mission objective in Drake’s Fortune – he cons her into paying for a trip to recover Francis Drakes coffin – to staring into the future atop a snowy mountain in Nepal, Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher have morphed in Sony’s power couple.
When you take a strong female lead and push her up against the cocky character of Drake, sparks will fly. She’s isn’t just another useless damsel in distress, she follows Drake into the jungle, grenades in one hand, Nathan in the other.
Keeping fans in suspense was the key reason in building this relationship. Nathan and Elena are the Ross and Rachael of video games. After two 13 hour adventures, combined with a whole bucket of sexual tension, they end up apart at the start of Uncharted 3. It takes almost losing her forever for Drake to realise that she grounds him. Elena is his reality, away from the rope swinging, gun toting adventures of the Uncharted series. It’s that extra level of depth that pushes this relationship above all the others?
-Dan Hobbs
Chell & The Weighted Companion Cube
“That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.” – Mia Wallace.
Never have truer words been spoken by someone empty headed enough to snort heroin. Except perhaps “This isn’t heroin!”
Regardless, the relationship between Chell and the beloved companion cube is one of heart break, regret and ultimately, REVENGE! Everything a good love story requires. Apart from the sex, but… There’s a line…
"But I like it when we're being watched…"
Just because her other half was inanimate, doesn’t make the love she, and we had for it any less real. I myself have a deep and resounding love for my Lord of the Rings coffee cup. And my crisp in the shape of R2D2. And neither of these have ever helped me escape the clutches of a crazed killer robot. Though, one day I hope they may. Obstacles overcome together. Life sacrificed. Tears shed. We miss you, you beautiful, weighted bastard.
-Benjamin Hayhoe
About the Author
Ben Quy+ Hard Reset's Personnel Manager, Fan of MMA & Pro-Wrestling. reader of many books & comics. Administrator by day, Xbox warrior by night. Card carrying member of the FGC. Enjoys Monty Python.
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