Can't believe I'm saying this but GTA San Andreas handled romance and dating better from the far and beyond distant year of 2004.
I just finished my first playthrough! I racked up a total of 50 hours and I gotta say this game is amazing especially from a Story and Character perspective.
However I've been heartbroken since I finished the final quest with Panam. It seems like as soon you are getting to know her and as soon as you are getting to know the nomads the questline just ends. Poof! Gone... I looked into and I realized there were only 3 personal quests related to her </3 and only 2 main story quests (besides the you know what). A total of 5 quests that only lasts about 3 hours maybe? Same with River, his questline is even shorter leaving little to no options for straight female V. I've also heard people complaining about how short the time they got to spend with Judy and she has the most content out of all of them!
Maybe this wouldn't be such a big deal to me if you could perhaps do somethings with her afterwards? Like go out to bars, or call her to sleep over or vice versa. Call her to come shoot some bad guys with you. I know she has her responsibilities now, but after you finish her questline, you get 3 short dialogue options with her for the rest of the game, that just repeat over and over. It just feels like as soon as we build a connection with these 3 characters they get taken away from us and that's it with them. Which is a shame because they are some of the most in-depth and most important characters in the game.
Yea you're right, I think that is a huge part about what is missing. Dragon Age and Mass Effect, even FNV followers felt more alive because they would comment on what is happening in the story. Their dialogue would update and they could react to new events. That really helps with bringing them to life even just a little bit more, DAO like you mention doesn't have the option to just hang out with you LI but since they are always 1. following you or 2. commenting on whats going on, it doesn't feel as short or as dead after you finish their little side quests.I got a response from one of the writers of DAO about a DLC that would include these options, of just hanging out with your love interest.
For example the disconnect happens when V tells Panam about the relic, all you get is 3 options like you said, but I think the standard we expect from RPGs are after every mission there should be some more dialogue with your romance.
Yea you're right, I think that is a huge part about what is missing. Dragon Age and Mass Effect, even FNV followers felt more alive because they would comment on what is happening in the story. Their dialogue would update and they could react to new events. That really helps with bringing them to life even just a little bit more, DAO like you mention doesn't have the option to just hang out with you LI but since they are always 1. following you or 2. commenting on whats going on, it doesn't feel as short or as dead after you finish their little side quests.
I think that's exactly what we need (besides more quests/interactions in the DLC) to make them seem more realistic and not just mannequins after their side quest is done.
It's so sad because all they had to do was keep going. They have the framework there, her character is perfectly done. But just as we become a couple, just as we get to know her and get her to open up to us the game cuts us off permanently lmao It's so tragic D;Honestly I've been trying to avoid criticizing this game because there's enough people to that and I've been lucky to have a pretty good experience. Not a single crash, minor graphical bugs and good framerate.
But man, I just finished the Panam questline and what a disappointment. SPOILERS
Apart from it being too short, I felt like there should have been an option at the end where you can encourage her to join with you instead of leading the Eldecados. Also, the fact that the one and only sex/intimacy scene takes place in a car and you are interrupted by enemies is absolutely ridiculous.
The budding romance showed so much potential, the scene where she opens up to you about being scared about being left alone in the desert followed by the campfire moment staring at the stars was one of the most beautiful romance moments I've experienced in an RPG. Like some have said, iy brought me back to Morrigan in DA, which was extremely well done, and even Viconia in BG2. The idea of these tough characters finally showing their vulnerabilities to you is very powerful. But it all comes crashing down so quickly - no further character development, no ability to meet or hang out after the quest. The worst part about this is that she even hints there may be further escapades down the line when you say you'll miss them. She even says to keep in touch as if hinting there will be one last encounter with a proper intimate experience and character connection. But nah.
Really unfortunate.
It's so sad because all they had to do was keep going. They have the framework there, her character is perfectly done. But just as we become a couple, just as we get to know her and get her to open up to us the game cuts us off permanently lmao It's so tragic D;
I try not to be negative because like you said there's so many people on here and everywhere hating on this game already. And tbh I don't even really care about the wonky Police system that much or any of the other big complaints people have that I hear repeated everywhere. The biggest downside to the game for me is that so many of the stories and characters were cut short, whether through cut-content or for the purpose of making everything happen fast. it doesn't give us enough time to do what the game really SHINES at, the story, and the character relationships we build.
Honestly I've been trying to avoid criticizing this game because there's enough people to that and I've been lucky to have a pretty good experience. Not a single crash, minor graphical bugs and good framerate.
The idea of these tough characters finally showing their vulnerabilities to you is very powerful. But it all comes crashing down so quickly - no further character development, no ability to meet or hang out after the quest. The worst part about this is that she even hints there may be further escapades down the line when you say you'll miss them. She even says to keep in touch as if hinting there will be one last encounter with a proper intimate experience and character connection. But nah.
Really unfortunate.
It's so sad because all they had to do was keep going.
I try not to be negative because like you said there's so many people on here and everywhere hating on this game already.
it doesn't give us enough time to do what the game really SHINES at, the story, and the character relationships we build.
I think its ok to share things like you are constructively. 100% agree with story and character relationships, it could've been very amazing. I look at it as a healthy expectation that was actually a gaming standard that they missed. DA, Effect, and BG3 have set the standards for relationships in RPGs. Which is what people expected. The standard at least. For example I think straight male V has only one long term romance option, if you're going to do that, go all in, meeting up with Panam for dates, having come with you in most missions! etc. So with it only being one option, yes they fell short. So either they plan to add more with dlc, or thats it. which makes me sad if thats it.
Agreed! I felt Judy was still a good friend, but it still fell short. I think having them travel with your like in FO4 where they travel with you in the wasteland commenting on things would've close the gap. but we'll see! Hope they do better next time, they sold 13 million copies after refunds so here's to hoping! but i'm not expectation much.The characters are so good, I desperately want more of them. Even the ones I can’t romance have me wanting more content. Panam’s straight but I like to think her and my female V are besties, but we can’t even hang out.
You just said everthing I was thinking about this topic! I loved Kerry but they simple didn't put enough effort into the male romance options. Seriously, I was surprised with the option to kiss Kerry in that scene, it felt like it came out of nowhere. And all the romances end the moment that they actually begin! I really hope the they fix this in the dlcs.yup, the romances were too short, especially in the case of the male options I think. I think River's is probably the shortest? I romanced Kerry and while I loved everything about it (the boat scene was just so entertaining), it felt only like the beginning of an exciting relationship, but let to nothing. Even if you interpret the Nomad or Casino endings as V finding a cure and living longer than 6 months, what happens to their relationship is weird. In the Nomand ending, Kerry ends up dumping V's ass und you can't do anything about it and in the Casino ending, they are together but V suddenly behaves like a distant prick. So weird and disappointing.
Haven't played a really epic romance since DA:I, I think. Really hope they are going to fix this with DLC (and please treat the male options with the same care as the female ones).