LGBT Couples in Video Games

Valentine's Day is here! In celebration of today (and since I have no plans for the day because I'm single T_T), I decided to do a post about the romantic couples in video games. I could've done the usual. I could've done Link and Zelda, Mario and Peach, and Sonic and Amy, but that would've been normal, and boring. Instead I decided to do a post about LGBT couples in video games. As a gay person who plays video games, it's nice as well as important to not only see me being represented in video games, but to see LGBT couples in games as well. It almost helps spread that message that says that my love is no different than your love and counteracts homophobia that some people have in not only in the gaming community, but in society as well. With no further due, here are the LGBT couples in gaming.

Birdo and Yoshi


Let's get started with the most famous: Birdo and Yoshi. Yoshi, even though is considered to be gender neutral, is mostly associated as a male. Birdo's gender has been controversial from the very start. According to the instruction booklet of Super Mario Bros. 2 (Super Mario USA in Japan), Birdo, or Catherine, is described as a boy who think he is a girl. This is further confirmed with not only the Japanese commercial for Super Mario Bros. 2, but in Captain Rainbow for the Nintendo Gamecube. Birdo and Yoshi have been a couple and have had great chemistry in most of the Mario Spin-offs like Mario Party 7 and Mario Tennis. Mario Kart: Double Dash's japanese website has jokingly stated: "Catherine appears to be Yoshi's girlfriend... or does that mean boyfriend!?" (「ヨッシーの彼女に見えて実は彼氏!?」).

Rudolph Gartheimer and Damian Shade


Rudolph and Damian both hail as the Fighting genre's first openly gay couple. Groove on Fight was released by Atlus in 1997. While not as popular as the Street Fighter series or SNK, Groove on Fight was a cult classic in Japan. Damien (17) is an orphan and was adopted by Rudolph (45). They are polar opposites as Rudolph is considered to be a very aggressive while Damian is a pacifist. They seem to be very protective of each other, Rudolph being more protective as when playing as Rudolph, Damian is usually seen in the back watching the fight when playing as Rudolph.

Venom and Zato-1


Zato and Venom are both characters from the Guilty Gear series. Venom was an orphan that was was about to be kill when Zato-1 saved Venom's life. Ever since then Venom has dedicated his life to Zato. Venom is fiercely loyal to Zato. Most of his action in the series is either doing what Zato says or looking for his master. Even when Zato-1 died, Venom was devoted to tracking down his killer, Millia Rage, and killing her. Sadly the love isn't really returned as Zato has a thing for Millia, who he also hates.

Crystal and Amber Bailey from Dead Rising

Crystal and Amber are twin sisters that both work as hostesses of the show Terror is Reality in Dead Rising 2. They also work as Tyrone King's bodyguards. Both of the twins are very flirtatious saying innuendos throughout the game and even flirting with you during the boss fight. Amber also gropes Rebecca. These two are close. Very close. The cutscene when you kill the one of the twins does say that there is something more to them just being twins.

Ellie and Riley


Ellie and Riley are two characters from The Last of Us. Their relationship pretty much plays like a romantic comedy in a zombie apocalypse. They both meet during a zombie epidemic and mostly everyone is dead and they form a friendship where they pretty much have each others back. Throughout the game, their friendship does blossom into something serious and touching. The creator, Neil Druckmann, has talked about their relationship and confirmed that both Ellie and Riley do both have feeling for each other.

Dragon Age: Inquisition: Your avatar and Iron Bull, Josephine, Sera, and Dorian

When Dragon Age: Inquisition came it, it came with the possibility of your character being able to not only have a relationship with a person in the game, but with a select few people regardless of gender. You can have opposite and same sex relationships. This isn't new. Inquisition isn't the only game in the Dragon Age series to have this option. Origins had the option to marry someone of the same sex. You can pick from four out of the eight characters in the game: Iron Bull, Josephine, Sera, Dorian. Here's how to can court them.

Are there any couples I missed? If so, please let me know in the comments section. Also, Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

(Bad) Tips on Surviving Being Single on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is the day where you spend time with your love one. You prepare to go all out to show that special someone how much you love them. It is a time to go all romantic. Taking you beau out to a romantic dinner, take them to a move, shower them with roses, or even give them a adorable teddy bear with a card saying how much you "wub" them. It is great day to love or be loved, except you're not. Valentine's Day can really suck for the single and lonely. You don't have anyone to call your own and you can hear the world laughing at your. It sucks, but it doesn't have to. So, put down that Romantic Comedy DVD and don't adopt any cats just yet. Here's what you can do to bitch slap Valentine's Day.

1. Stay away from couples 

Being around couples on Valentine's Day can be cruel. It's like dangling a steak in front of a hungry dog. Being the third wheel is NO fun. Seriously, they get all lovey dovey, calling each other cute names, and kissing, while you're sitting there all mopey, bitter, and wanting to shoot yourself. You don't need to deal with the constant reminder that you're forever alone. Avoid place where you think couple might go like restaurants or movie theaters. You'll thank me.

2. Stay away from bitter lonely people

So, what's worst than gushy love couples, bitter lonely people. I know it might sound nice to hang out with your fellow losers in love, but it's not. Just like you don't want to be around a group of people who remind you that you are alone, you don't want to be around people that remind you are alone and then complain about why they're alone and why everything sucks. Plus, the longer you are their, they start letting out all their angry and bitter feelings and it gets awkward and ugly. Quick.

3. Alcohol is your friend

What to do when your life sucks? Drink! Alcohol doesn't judge. It's a major stress reliever. You'll need it to get through this day. Jack Daniel's is a classy gentleman and he knows how to treat you right. Just be a little careful not to be one of those people who drinks and cries, letting all their problems out with every tear (it's not cute) and drink in moderation. Jack likes to have a little too much fun at your expense.

4. Go to the club

So, you're all liquored up and don't know where to go? The club! It will do you good to have a little fun. I know there might be couples and bitter people there, but they're at a good proximity from you, so it's all good. Dance, laugh, drink more! Let all you dating life troubles and the bitterness of singledom melt away on the dancefloor. Plus, if you get to have a bit of a laugh seeing all the desperate people try to hook up and you'll maybe see some of the couples break up in one night.

5. Prepare to pillage the stores for chocolate the next day
What's the best way to end this Valentine's Day? Cheap left over chocolate stores are trying to get rid off. Stores are hell bent to get people to buy a ton of crap for V-Day and are even more willing to get rid of it for the next few days. Plus, they go well with your leftover alcohol!