Gaming's Best Couples

 

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my fellow gamers out there. May you enjoy today with whomever you share that lover's embrace with, or just want to enjoy the day happily single as well. Today is the perfect day to spread love, but most importantly happiness and good feelings all around.

The video game universe is no stranger to having amazing characters and complex relationships within its vast array of games and their stories. Some are so popular their relationships have affected multiple games and canons throughout, not to mention the huge library of fan fiction available on multiple sites for those official or non-official couples. That's a whole different world I will not explore here. Below are three couples in gaming that have been a part of my gaming history.

1. Sonic the Hedgehog and Amy Rose

Ok, lets get something clear here. There is no official canon for these two as a couple that I can find outside of teases from the comic book and some self-referential humor from the excellent and underrated Sonic Boom cartoon series (seriously, go watch just for the humor). One of the most self-confident characters in gaming and one of the biggest fangirls in platformers (this has changed and her self-confidence is even stronger in later media) is a very interesting form of the phrase "Opposites Attract" although its more a one-sided attraction. This is a case where the community headcanon is much stronger than anything else. Whenever you see SonAmy, you know what is about to go down. Still, Sonic and Amy's dynamic in the game, as well as in the companion media, is one of the more intriguing relationships in gaming. How they got away with referencing SonAmy in the cartoon is beyond amazing.

2. Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher

Nate is me when the game screws me over!

Nathan Drake from the Uncharted universe may not seem like the type you would put within the category of "relationship" but his off and on, but then permanently on relationship with Elena is such a cool dynamic. What began as a quip-laden explorer and a reporter who loathed each other's personalities because of how much they completely contradict each other blooms, over 4 different games and different scenarios, into one of the most consistent and dynamic relationships among the PlayStation franchises. Their dynamic from reluctant partners on the biggest treasure hunts of all time to a grounded dynamic of a married couple looking to live that normal live that it feels like no protagonist in a long running series ever lives is very refreshing. It should also be said that them being canonically gamers, with Nate being the gaming boomer of the bunch, is a sweet touch.

3. Mario and Peach/Link and Zelda

Ok let's get slightly real about this. Do these two relationships count and should they? Yes this is the typical "damsel in distress" pair that is a constant presence in gaming over the last 35 years, which was celebrated at the beginning of 2021. However, at no point has a real relationship been officially canonized between the two couples. Link and Zelda have been close as friends and as protectors of the Triforce throughout history and multiple timelines (too many to think about), but no relationship has been official. Mario and Peach is close, with some kisses on the nose I guess, but its basically a princess looking to be saved by her knight in denim armor. Let's not complicate the dynamic any further in a kid's game.

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I guess that about wraps up the most known couples dynamic in my history of gaming. Comment below which couples dynamic stands out to you throughout history. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day one way or the other, whether in a loving relationship or just by yourself with chocolates and food. If you are looking for that perfect partner yourself, just know that everyone is worthy of love and you can have that special someone. If Mileena from Mortal Kombat 11 can do it, you can too. (Time manipulation counts.)

Their baby will be the most savage fighter in MK22!

Backlogging + 4 in February

 

One of the best things about console gaming is the shelf in the room with all the games you own. It houses so many memorable experiences of stories you played, rare items that can feel like they are one in a million, or pride in owning a complete collection of a certain console or franchise. Physical media in entertainment will always be one of the most satisfying parts of our hobby just because of the tangible nature of what collections bring to us. But what if there was a bad side to wanting to own every game ever?

Welcome to the world of the gaming backlog, the evergrowing mountain where games you bought sit to collect as much dust as humanly possible. Sales and discounts, such as Black Friday deals, make it worse. Multiplayer games that are infinite in replay value compound that severity. Who wants to play some Deathloop right now when I can play 60 rounds of Fortnite or COD Warzone, right? Theres the backlog curse striking. Oh Cyberpunk 2077 is on sale for 30 bucks right now? Cool let me grab that now, but time to collect those skins in Halo Infinite Multiplayer! Buying games just to put them down is a curse for those in our hobby and while visually impressive, you lose so much from the experience of what this medium should provide to people.

My house about to look like a Gamestop shelf, but less messy.

This is why events like the Four in February Challenge exist, to help a gamer like me focus and experience games that I completely missed out on or re-experience in some cases. For those new to this, the Four in February began in 2013 through the classic gaming blog Joystiq, now Engadget, which encouraged gamers to take down their backlog one title at a time. In this case, 4 at a time. Pick any 4 games you own, and just beat them all within the month of February. It is my favorite time of the year because it helps me to focus my gaming time to specific titles. Last year was the first year in the history of the challenge where I was able to beat all 4 in one shot and this year I look forward to doing it again. 

For all my fellow gamers out there, take pride in your gaming collection, but stop and smell the roses amongst your collection. Appreciate some of the stories that you have available to play at any time. Strive to play more games from your backlog, which I hope to do myself outside of just February. Take pride in your collection of games on that shelf, unless the gaming overlords turn it all to dust and take is to a digital age, then who knows what to do.