With Valentines’s Day once again here, we here atDualShockers(as in years past) wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate our favorite gaming characters, aka our own Video Game Valentines. You don’t have to be single, in a relationship, or anywhere in-between to admire these incredible characters, and we hope that you love them all as much as we do.
James Bowers, Staff Writer
Liara,Mass Effect
I love a good RPG, and getting to see a character grow into themselves is where narrative design rocks the most. This is nowhere more prevalent than intheMass Effecttrilogy, which has a rich cast of memorable characters. That said, Liara T’Soni is the best of the bunch. When Shepherd meets her, she is an introverted scientist, digging away at the grandest secrets that the galaxy has to offer. She’s work-driven, with barely any social skills, and that’s what makes her so endearing. Despite how bleak things get throughout the saga, her upbeat and dependable persona anchors the team; it’s an attractive trait.
She’s genuinely a good person, without an ulterior motive to speak of. This is incredibly surprising, given she is the daughter of two Asari, something her culture frowns upon. Despite the taboo nature of her conception, and the ostracism she must have experienced because of it, she still sees the good in people. Her vendetta against the darkness of the Shadow Broker goes to show that her morale compass is in the right place, even if it gets her in hard to handle situations. Her rise from nervous scientist to the new Shadow Broker, is an example of her strength of character in the pursuit of the greater good. She’s stubbornly loyal to those around her to the bitter end, and I wouldn’t want any other teammate watching my back. Also; she’s cute.
Otto Kratky, Staff Writer
Doomguy,DOOM
What do you look for in your Video Game Valentine? I know some folks are going for their Lara Crofts, or maybe you want someone who can cook, like Link a laBreath of the Wild. But what I’m looking for in my Valentine isn’t just good looks or coolness. I want someone who could lift me up and help make me a better version of me.
My Valentine this year is Doomguy. Sure, we’ve only ever seen Doomguy on the battlefield, eviscerating hordes of demons, but what do you think he’s like when he gets home and takes off the praetor suit? Based onwhat we’ve seen ofDOOM Eternal, he’s a hobbyist; tinkering with his suit, and adding new blades and flamethrowers to it. He’s a bodybuilder - let’s be honest, demon stomping is just cardio - so you’ll have a great gym partner.
But most of all, Doomguy has an indomitable spirit. He never bends, never breaks, and as a partner, wouldn’t let you do the same. On the outside, Doomguy might seem like a war-machine, a husk of a man. But under the gore, armor and scars, he’s a supportive person, brimming with their own imagination that strives to be the best they could possibly be. The only thing he won’t rip and tear out is your heart.
Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor
Dante,Devil May Cry
What can I say? I can’t resist a bad boy.
For our Video Game Valentines every year, I’ve usually had a mix of newer characters introduced in recent games and some old favorites, and this year I just couldn’t resist getting to admire one of my all-time favorite characters,Devil May Cry’s Dante. I have been a huge fan of the series for some time, and a large part of that comes from his endless charm, charisma, and badass demon-hunting skills. But even more than that, it’s the fact that Dante is just Capital H Hot, pure and simple.
Sexy red leather jacket? Check. Humor and wit? Check, and check. Bigass sword to defend you with? Check. For me, Dante checks pretty much all of the boxes right away, and what more from a partner could you ask for? I mean, the man can DANCE. For me, there is no other character I’d want to get a SSStylish combo with.
Logan Moore, Managing Editor
Sonic the Hedgehog
For many, Valentine’s Day might be a day filled with love and happiness, but for me this year, it is a day filled with sadness and sorrow. In 2020, Valentine’s isn’t just a day when we celebrate love, but it’s also the day thatSonic the Hedgehogreleases in theaters around the world.
While some might be happy to go see this film in the coming days, for me, it is just another reminder that my one true love,Sonic’s original character design, is no longer with us. Yes, while you were hating on what Sonic looked like and demanded that the powers that be make a change, I was enamored with the blue hedgehog. His demonic looking teeth and nimble eyes were the epitome of attractiveness to me.
When I first heard Sonic say “Meow?” I knew my life was forever changed. But alas, my former love is now dead and in his place stands a hideous looking monstrosity. Valentine’s Day this year does nothing except remind me of the broken heart that I still have all these months later. The only hope that I have moving forward is that Sega will right these wrongs in Shadow’s feature length debut.
Laddie Simco, Staff Writer
