How important are character relationships to you?

[The Witch]

Relationships between the characters is one of the most, if not the most important aspect of the game to me. You can have a potentially good storyline but the game could still be poor if there's no relationships (either romantic or non-romantic) which was obvious in Final Fantasy XII where the relationships were dire. However, relationships can make up for where the storyline lacks. Certainly in terms of Final Fantasy the character relationships are extremely important as even Kitase/Toriyama have said Final Fantasy titles are almost 100% story driven.

Agreed. It's one of the reasons why I play the games besides the good looking men.

For me, I believe relationships between the hero and heroine or other characters are very important. Love is another side of a life. And we're supposed to see these characters go through so much and then find love.

I can't explain it very well, but what I'm saying is the love side of a characters story is half of who they are and we HAVE to see that side of the character. It completes them.

Kind like the line, a man's not a man till he's loved someone...or somethin' like that.

So, yes love stories in FF series are very important to me.

 

[SapphireStar]

To me, they are important. I love games with a hint of romance in them ... SHUT UP!! I just think its nice to see a spark between 2 characters. Its like in soap operas, movies and books. You desperatly want these 2 people to get together and be together. You cant help it. Its nice to see something blossom. Im gonna shut up now ...

 

[The Witch]

To me, they are important. I love games with a hint of romance in them ... SHUT UP!! I just think its nice to see a spark between 2 characters. Its like in soap operas, movies and books. You desperatly want these 2 people to get together and be together. You cant help it. Its nice to see something blossom. Im gonna shut up now ...

Don't. I love it too. It's just something a person wants to see. It makes ya feel all fuzzy inside to see super-duper cute scenes between two people <3 That's why it's so important to me.

 

[Laitnin]

I like character relationships in the games. I'm not fond of romantic relationships though, I prefer it when they begin as a group of strangers and develop friendships along the road. I don't know why I prefer it that way, I just do. ^^ I loved Final Fantasy X's story, but I didn't feel too much for the romantic side of it. But that being said, relationships between the characters are important to me. When the story develops, the characters relationships should develop, and that makes it a lot more personal and I would say adds more to the experience.

FFXII lacked greatly in this, hence why I'm not fond of the story at all. There was not enough ... personal interaction between the characters, it was all srs business. :\

 

[Harlequin]

Character relationships = really important.

Can't tell a good story with bland and boring characters. In addition to gameplay, I like my RPG's with a bit of an epic feel to them and you can only really achieve something like that with an engrossing plot and deep and well-thought out characters.

I couldn't agree more. If it's just gameplay you're playing an rpg for you're essentially forcing yourself to play the 'role' for the sake of it. To me it feels as unnatural as a handstand.

Agreed. It's one of the reasons why I play the games besides the good looking men.

 

[TempierVires]

Character relationships are a big part of the whatever story, and authors who emphasize both on this and the intricacy of the plot often recieves positive feedback. To me, Final Fantasy has been great fun and still is just because of the individual character complexity and their personal profiles. watching them 'grow' throughout the game, develop strengths and traits, it's like they're living! It's great fun like said, and i can't say that enough simply because of how the cast is presented. It's original

 

[Robbiedbee]

I'd probably rank character relationships behind a good character development system, the storyline, and even possibly the game music in terms of importance to me. In earlier FF games, I think the music was far more important, because given the graphical limitations, it was a far more important storytelling tool, and was great for conveying themes and emotions.

These days though, with more complicated plots and deeper characters, I'd say character relationships are about on par with music in terms of importance, but I'd still put them both firmly behind the character development system and plot.

 

[MVP]

Pretty important. They can make a good game into a great game with all the emotion that can be added from there love/hate relationships.

 

[Golgotha9]

I think Barrets hatred for Shinra is inspirational, although shinra is not a character.
and as oerba has said the tidus/ wakka relationship in X was good

 

[Rydia]

As much as I think that video games do not need a romance, I think that XII could have used one between Ashe and Vaan. That way, they would have had to have some real interaction between the characters that didn't revolve around the dawn shard or what ever they were doing. We might have actually gotten some character development from some of the characters.

And also Vaan would have had a reason for actually being there.

 

[Somnus Noctis]

I do believe relationships being either romantically or growing friendships is important.
it is one of my important aspects of a game for me, secondary to plot.
It doesnt neccesarily need to be oh my love you so much kind of relationship!!!
it can be the awkward, or cool, or even aww inspiring love or friendship.
it really helps hooking me into games,
with relationships in games it helps build character persona and likability development.

 

[Tyler Breeze]

I like character relationships and all that, but I don't think it needs to be in every game. XII had Ashe & Reks which was more than good enough. If the characters are interesting enough, they can make up for not having a relationship in the game (See: Balthier). Anyway, they are important no doubt, but not necessary if the characters can entertain on their own.

 

[Linnaete]

You can't really get away without building some form of character relationships in fiction, unless you want a bunch of dull antisocial types skulking around who aren't interested in interacting with anyone and don't change that particular mindset. Then you're simply in the zone of constructing a narrative full of aloof and static caricatures than actual characters. A good story needs to focus on as much as what happens to the characters individually and collectively, as much as what is generally going on. Character development needs some essence of a relationship being built or torn down.

And I'm sure it's been said many times in this old thread already, but relationships are not strictly romantic. And romances certainly don't have to be stuffed everywhere. I do like romantic relationships when they're competently handled and/or serve some form of purpose beyond just being there for fan appeal or the sake of it. There's nothing more I hate than abrupt romantic pairings with little sense of an organic development.

And no, Final Fantasy XII did not need a romantic relationship between Vaan and Ashe. It did not whatsoever. The point of Ashe's character is that part of her desire for vengeance was due to the loss of a man she was married to in a political arrangement, but whom she genuinely loved. That is why the Occuria tried to lure her into accepting a weapon of mass destruction to exact that desire for revenge with a ghostly vision of Rasler. Rasler also represented not just her own kingdom that has been misplaced, but the total destruction of another kingdom in a recent war. To have Vaan in there as another man for her (at least during the course of the game) would be incongruous and unnecessary. There was already a non-romantic, but significant relationship at work between Ashe and Vaan in the game. It was just handled inadequately. Without Vaan, I suspect that Ashe would eventually be goaded into being a mass murderer.

Likewise, no romantic undertones between Ashe and Basch towards the end of the game were necessary either. Or Ashe and Balthier. Or Balthier and Fran. Any romantic undertones between Vaan and Penelo were wisely kept relatively discreet and up to the player to decide how close they are. Final Fantasy XII rightfully minimalised and avoided romance, but could have expanded on its approach to general character relationships.

 

[CrazedMonkey]

Extremely. Without individual relationships between the characters, the story loses a lot of impact. Relationships need to be established in order to aid character development. These same relationships must also be tested at times to add drama to the story. Without character relationships the games would be bland and uninteresting.