Let's talk about Love Interests!

I found Aric, like basically everything about the trooper that wasn't named 4X or Vik, to be a pretty boring guy and not in Garrus's league. That said, this was as a dude trooper so I had no romance scenes to add context.

I thought Aric's romance was pretty adorable. Way better than I was originally expecting, anyway. I admit that he is sort of boring without that extra bit of interaction, though. Vik and 4X were great, and I thought Yuun was alright - he had an interesting design, at least.

I read everything. It feels like an accomplishment.

Personally, I really like the romances where the characters start off as friends and where both the characters need each other, in their own way.

For instance, I don't like characters like Alistair (not using his real name because SPOILER) from Alistair++, because he is an asshole towards the protagonist unless he's in love with her. I won't probably like Koichi from In Your Arms, Tonight for the same reason.

As much as I love Morrigan (and I do) and Silky Fox (God knows I do) or Saeki from TMGS2 (actually I don't love him at all) their romances aren't my favourite because their romance is a bit side-quest like. Saving people, hunting things, romancing that LI.

'd rather have an LI who recites sex poetry just to cheer up the LI (Zevran) or who has things he wants to share with you just for the sake of it (Hikami) or who just passes by to ask how are you doing (Varric, who isn't a romance option but whatever).
Or someone who just cares and wants to have fun together (Isabela).

But what in your opinion makes a love interest good or bad?
His/Her storyline. As long as it's good and it makes sense, preference became just a "not my cup of tea" matter, instead of "What the hell is going on, GET OFF THAT CAR".

(I also appreciate when the MC and the LI aren't the only people in the world.)

Is there a specific type that you always gravitate towards, or does it change based on the story?

It usually changes, but I have some types. The Jerk With A Heart Of Gold, for istance.
I also like the responsible one, the ones who work hard to achieve their goals, the smart ones and the ones who are also a bit stoic and have their heart in the right place - Himuro, Ebi-chan, Hikami. Better if they have some sense of humor, or at least enjoy it a bit.

I also like the snarky ones, as long as they don't are assholes.

And the "big-brother" type Kaneda mentioned before. I just like love interests and romance where both the characters grow up because of it. Or when they both just enjoy themselves at least.

Example:
I really like Hikami, because he really has his heart in the right place. He believes that following the rules is something that will make the world a better place. He gets angry when people don't understand their responsibilities, because it's really obvious for him that they should, but instead they don't and...

So I like that his storyline is about falling in love with Daisy and realizing what was he wrong about and how to fix it, how to became a bit more relaxed.
Also, the heroine grows up as well without turning into his female clone, and I appreciated that. Having the BFF/rival in the same club also adds a bit about the storyline.

Same thing with Suzuka in TMGS1, because they were both all about the entire "Let's be awesome at basketball!" thing together.

Masaki - and Wakaouji - instead don't have any particular "mess to fix" so I appreciate their routes because it's a "we like each other, let's hang out!" situation for both of them. Even when something is important - like Wakaouji background - it doesn't fall upon Daisy. It's just something that happened, and they talk about it because it happened.

Instead of Daisy having to be like a cheerleader forever and ever, which is the vibe I get instead from Harry and Saeki. Chris also has a similar storyline - after school he is going to take the route his father has chosen for you, even if he doesn't want to, and asks Daisy if she's ready for that will happen then. I mean, okay, but that sounds depressing.

Are there specific traits that always appeal to you, or might win you over to a character you wouldn't otherwise go for?
Being fabulous.
WHY MIHARA, WHY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. And Marlain too.
I also like when the romance interests make me want to help them and give them the best life they ever had (which usually happens all the time, at least with companions), as long as it doesn't turn into a "SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS" kind of situation.
And when love interests talk about the future. Since I'm still discovering Mass Effect I only romanced Liara so far, but her (and Traynor later) talking about settling down, having a nice house, a dog and kids? I loved it.
And, on a silly note, accents!
Examples:

Mihara is silly, fabulous and when he graciously agrees to go on a date with you he shows up an hour later. But goddamit, his route is fun. Also, he always involves the Heroine. It's like he lives in his fantastic world of fairies and goddess and whatever, and when they get to know each other better, he includes her in it. When they go around together during the school trip, he just appears and decide to roleplay for three days. And then he goes on a world trip and climb the Everest.



Silky Fox, from Jade Empire. I romanced her with a female character. I just like her the entire enemies-not enemies - just helping - I like helping - we're friends - lovers development. And for some reason I just like end up playing as a bloody knight in a shining armor all game - because +*DESTINY*+ - and it kinda fitted when she had the entire "let's save my father" thing. And she is a princess. Game, what have you done to me.

Examples are great!
Atton Rand is a favourite of mine, because he is funny and really supportive of the MC. Even if it was funny having him threatening the Hand Maiden, his desire to do the best he can for the MC, to be strong, to be accepted and loved, really made me love him.

Same thing about Zevran and Isabela. As I said, what I really love about Zevran romance is the way he is...easy about it? I don't know, the others are all SRS BUSINESS and then he just recites bad sex poetry to the MC because he/she looks tired. I probably just like his approach to life. And his accent.

Isabela has a similar things going on, but with more trust issues. I just really like the chemistry she and fem!Hawke have - also, I'm a bad person and I actually like that she's jealous - as well as her "let's make the better out of everything" approach.

Fenris instead has just a great storyline and I like how it works with Hawke. And he likes sarcastic!Hawke. And his voice...!
Also, all the previous ones are very loyal and support the MC as well, in the same way the MC supported them.

...and then for some reason I also like Anders, even if the ending broke my heart, he wasn't doing it for fun and he does it to every Hawke ever.
I can forgive him doing things for the Greater Good . And he knows what he has done.
I didn't romance him with a fem!Hawke however, because I couldn't stand the entire "I'M DANGEROOOUUUUUS" thing.
Hawke got the memo first time he/she saw your glowing eyes, stop it. But his voice!

I may or may not have also a thing for characters like Sesshomaru and Shaka, who go around being handsome, cold and with a "I'm so better than you" attitude. But it's not like I have to romance them in that case, and it becames a more general "What kind of character do you like", I think.

Hyoga, the mighty man who pissed off his own teacher because of the froze mother he keeps in the Titanic under the sea! You keep him, Shun.
I still like him more than Seiya. SAORI-SAAAAAAN!

EDIT: I forgot to say, but when a character is a teacher or and expert about something, they became immediately more interesting.

Adam Howden's voice has a LOT to answer for. And Greg Ellis'. And Gideon Emery's, but SERIOUSLY, Adam Howden. When I couldn't even talk to Silas more than a few times in Leliana's Song I was very sad. He just sounds like such a fun, happy guy when he's not doing drama voice for plot reasons.

Adam Howden is probably the main reason I liked Anders in the first place. How can he make that heartbreakings lines sound so good, how. Hawke has even some of the sillier lines in that romance - Do you want a sandwich, like for real - but then Anders talks and everything is right in the world.

Fuck, the sandwich line. I have a love/hate relationship with that line. On the one hand, it really drives home that my sarcastic Hawkes cannot be trusted with any human interaction ever, so I kind of love it, but at the same time, if I don't want to sound like a blithering idiot, my only other choice makes me sound like a different sort of psychotic (I WANT TO BE WITH YOU FOREEEEVEEEEEEER), so I kind of hate it because I means I'm crazy no matter what. There is a time and place for I Wub You So Much I Want to Stay With You Always declarations, but that was not (for me) the correct time or place. ><

I guess everyone is broken in the Anders romance (both versions, even), so I should just accept my Hawkes are crazy.

Yosh, read everything (or almost, at least) so now I can make my own post :D

I haven't played that much dating games, so most of my examples will come from regular ones. First off, I love smart guys who are convinced they're awesome, and tease everyone else because, hey, they're not as awesome as he is.

Well, okay, that's mostly Joshua. I love that guy. The MC from his game (The world ends with you) has no idea of what, who, why and how, and Joshua loves to annoy him with those things. Did I mention I love smart guys? If Joshua actually explains things for once, he does so at university level, because you totally should be able to understand at least that much. And I love smug smiles.

Of course, if smug smiles are to be mentioned, you have to mention Souji. (WHY HAS NOBODY MENTIONED SOUJI SO FAR?!)


Every time I heard him saying that he'd kill me, I was just looking at his face, thinking: Yes! made him grin again! I kinda love how little things (like death threats) make him smile a genuine happy (though somewhat sadistic) smile. I also love how he refuses to take things seriously.

Another character I truly like is Auron (don't judge me!)

The guy is somewhat like a war veteran and looks experienced, serious and grumpy. The grumpy and experienced parts are pretty much true, but I love those times when you could nearly see him thinking: Fuck this shit. After which he proceeds to charge in with no plan at all and starts killing stuff. Of course, he does so looking very experienced, serious and grumpy. Somehow, Auron now has turned into an older Souji in my mind... Somehow, I'm liking this...

And, as a complete opposite to the sadistic and the killing, I love Yosuke Hanamura. (Which is my main reason why I hate not being able to play Persona 4 as a girl. The boys are so much more dateable!)



I like Yosuke because. He is just too cute. He makes huge arrangements to get the girls to wear swimsuits, but all he really wants is to be liked by his sempai, Saki. (though he might have enjoyed the swimsuits too.) He talks before he thinks, he is a flirt and really cheerful, but can be pretty dependable too (though he has a habit to fail) If you want to make a shota, make a yosuke, because they're so much cuter.

And with that I think I've made my post long enough. Though I feel it has too little SOUJI!! in it. I could probably keep on books about guys I like, but these are my absolute favourites. I haven't forgotten anyone, have I? And no, I don't know Garrus :P

Hahahaha Auron... that makes me laugh because he's actually a character in the FF-based tabletop RPG that I'm in, and he and my character butt heads constantly. This is made even funnier by the fact that my character can summon him, which he takes about as well as can be expected.

I'm playing Okita's route in Hakuoki right now, because I've actually never played it - I just read Matt's LP. My oh my, if I thought my crush on him was bad before...

lolJoshua. Oh man, that guy is such a troll. And I love him for it anyway.

Blasphemy!

Oh, here's someone I forgot.

Joey Mallone (blue dude on the right with the sweet hat)



Joey is the ghostly partner of Rosangela Blackwell, a spirit medium. He's been passed down through the Blackwell family's female line and aids them in helping stuck spirits find peace. Why does he have to do this? We don't know yet. There have been 4 Blackwell adventure games so far (one is a prequel but the rest are with Rosa), and they're really really good. I highly recommend them. Anyways, I've had the hugest crush on Joey ever since I played the first game. He's a smooth-talking funny guy straight out of film noir. While he may act like a joker most of the time, you can sometimes glimpse a sort of world-weary bitterness in his demeanor. His voice actor, Abe Goldfarb, has done an incredible job bringing him to life (er...in a manner of speaking). Here's a short flash animation that Wadjet Eye commissioned in order to promote the third Blackwell game.



He's not really a love interest (though I'm a shameless RosaxJoey shipper >.>) but he's an awesome character.

Also also, I love that he uses a lot of different terms of endearment for every woman he comes across. The way he called Rosa "bright eyes" in the first game made me swoon~ (okay okay, enough fangirling).

I like the kiddy ones... And the crazy ones.
And the sad ones.
Honestly? I like the ones that are light-hearted and energic, the optimistic and innocent, or sad and downcast. They're just incredibly adorable. I love the guys who laugh and smile and try to keep everybody else afloat, who do silly things and get in trouble and just laugh about it the whole time. That's usually reserved for the childish characters, but oh well! Kids are cute.

But people look so adorable when they're sad, so I love some of those too... Don't overdo it though! I want them to be happy sometimes too, or at least try to be optimistic. A broken sad smile is far cuter and sweeter than someone too depressed to even try.

And I always seem to love the batshit crazy characters. Again, because they're gleeful! I love bad guys. I don't care about the guy who's crazily possessive, or serious, but if you can kill someone while laughing cheerfully? I'm going to love you forever. It's probably telling that every time I try to think of a psycho, they're smiling. I especially like pyromaniacs, nothing brings out that happy cheerful side like watching things/people burn.

Strangely, I got a soft spot for doctors/scientists and knights. Not sure when or why, but again, I like it if they're light-hearted or gleefully energic. It sure is a shortcut to being loved though. I'm also hugely prejudiced to robots. I love robots so much. There are some exceptions, of course, characters I love that don't seem to fit any of those categories, but this is about as much as I can pin down.

I don't normally play VNs, so I can't exactly give many game examples, but...

Ooh, for characters that you actually are not able to romance, I have a special fondness for Professor Hershel Layton!

He's such a gentleman~! <3
And less gentlemanly but just as beloved:

Feliks Łukasiewicz, the personification of Poland. He is the best and also funny but his serious side is cool too and he looks good in anything including tiny miniskirts I have so many pictures of him in tiny miniskirts you know it takes a real man to wear tiny miniskirts as a hobby.

Lance from Pokemon Special. He is genocidal. I like him anyway.

Aaaand Nougami Neuro! He's a demon! And a sadist!
...
Sometimes I wish I had a consistent taste in two-dimensional men.

But that would be boring!

I just noticed that you mentioned Avalon Code. I adore that game. I could never take Duran seriously, though. I like him, but he's a bit too doofy for me.

My favourite love interest from Avalon Code was Rempo.



He was funny, and I liked that he was always such good buddies with the MC. He doesn't put you on a pedestal, or resent you, or act all cold and distant. He likes you and supports you right from the get-go. And I like that he actually shows his emotions. When he's enthusiastic, or mad, or depressed, you'll know (unlike Ur who's too cool to have feelings).

I have to say I'm having a bit of a back-away-from-the-keyboard-slowly moment seeing how many people cite Atton from KOTOR2 as a good one. I'm kind of surprised anyone can get past his uh, backstory issues, let alone a bunch of people.

I have been biting my tongue very hard on the Atton thing too. Partly because I hearted the Anders romance, and that romance is twelve kinds of unhealthy in its own way. And partly because I believe I already made my stance on Serial Killer Atton clear somewhere or other.

Last night I was bored and played Magical Diary. I was intending to do the Virginia route, as I hadn't done it before, but then I re-met her brother Donald and was like "Oh that's right, you're fucking adorable" and did his route instead. His "bawwwww middle chiiiiiiild" issues grate a bit (I am the oldest of my siblings, and thus so not sympathetic to his mewling by Sibling Law), but he is a scamp and he's funny and he thinks the protagonist is cool because she's brave and spunky and he has character growth and I just really like him, okay?

I see where you're coming from, and I really hate it when a love interest is an abusive dick but people try to make excuses for said love interest. However, my feelings on Atton are complicated. When I first played the game, I saved Nar Shadaa til last, so I had already had a lot of adventures with Atton before his backstory came to light. And during all that time, he was friendly and considerate. I grew really attached to him, in fact. He was a sarcastic smartass but he seemed like a good guy, all things considered. Then I got to Nar Shadaa and I found out about his backstory. It did freak me out a bit, not gonna lie, but he'd come forward and told me about it himself. He wasn't trying to deny what he'd done. And I was rather touched that he'd chosen to reveal it to me himself, when it had been previously established that he thought that if he did he would be automatically rejected and abandoned.

I think I don't get squicked out over the Exile's relationship with Atton because it's very understated. He never tries to pressure her into anything, he just supports her as an ally. And for all of his sarcasm, he doesn't pull any bullshit mindgames. It's more of a very strong frienship plus a one-sided crush, depending on how you choose to view it.

I think it was in the main game forum KOTOR 2 thread, but I'm not 100% certain.

And pretty much everyone on the Ebon Hawk is some sort of killer. The protagonist is always responsible for blowing up a planet's worth of people no matter if you play her as an evil puppy-murderer or a shiny happy idealist.

The second the words "I killed her because I loved her" came out of his mouth, he went from "guy who is intensely loyal to me who says funny things and sort of has a cute little crush on my PC" to "NOPE" for me. I don't ask for a lot, really. I mean, one of my favorite romances is an assassin who was sent to kill me, who really enjoyed being an assassin, among other issues. But I have limits, and claiming killing someone was an act of love? That goes sailing over the "forgivable for the sake of ~romance~" line for me.


EDIT: Basically, it wasn't the killing that bugged me. It wasn't even enjoying being a killer that bugged me. It was the I DID IT BECAUSE OF LOOOOVE that was all kinds of Fuck No for me. The Exile killed a planet of people, but I am pretty sure s/he didn't do it because s/he loved it.

I like Atton as a character, but I'm not sold on him as a love interest. It does kind of bug me that 90% of all romantic KOTOR2 fanfic I find is f!Exile/Atton. Write some f!Exile/Bao-Dur or something, people! /non-canon shipper problems

EDIT: I should confess that I have totally written f!Exile/Atton fic and thus am part of the problem =(

Yeah, that line. :/ It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I'm not quite sure what Obsidian were trying to do there because it just doesn't jive everything else about Atton. The first time I played I thought that he was saying that he killed her, but then realized that he'd loved her immediately after and that grief motivated him to stop being a Jedi-killer. That made sense, and it's sort of like what happened to Zevran in his backstory.

Bao-Dur is adorable. It sucks that the Disciple is a love interest and he isn't. Then again, I also really like the platonic friendship that he and the Exile have. It's reassuring to have a friend when you're on a ship full of crazy people.

Bao-Dur, in my hazy recollection (that's saying something about Atton, that creepy conversation is like ... burned into my memory), was not particularly interesting to me but had by far the hottest voice on the ship, so I didn't care if he was boring, TALK TO ME BAO-DUR.

And he was kinda your bro, which was nice. And as far as I remember, he wasn't crazy at all. Refreshing!

Bao-Dur was sort of forgotten about halfway through in the rush to develop the game. But that's what fanfic is for...

Yes. His voice was pretty unique, it had a sort of whispery quality to it.

Atton is a prime example of a character who interests me very much as a fictional love interest but who I would never consider getting myself involved with in real life. Within the boundaries of fiction, though, I don't see a need for his past to be a dealbreaker. Yes, he did horrible things in the past. He also pretty clearly is ashamed of his past and pretty much hates himself. Having a dark and troubled secret past for which one is eventually given the opportunity to atone is a time-honored characterization trope, and Atton's better than a good many examples in that he's never cruel or abusive toward the Exile, never betrays her, and is in fact quite protective of her even before the game has gone on long enough for romance to be an issue. The appeal of the character is not that he's a messed-up person who's done terrible things, but that he's haunted by it, and that he's capable of being a much better person than he was if only he's guided by the right influences and not simply rejected wholesale as unforgivable.

If Atton weren't ashamed of his past, if he were able to justify it to himself as okay, if he continued to do those kind of things for his own benefit and/or enjoyment - or if he didn't, but expressed his dark side towards the Exile in manipulative or abusive behavior - then that would be a dealbreaker and I wouldn't have any interest in him as a love interest character. But he doesn't (barring possibly being specifically turned to the Dark Side; I've never felt the need to do that, so I wouldn't know).

See, I didn't read that line that way at all. In the context of how he described the whole event, I'm not even particularly convinced that he meant "loved" in any kind of romantic sense, but whether he did or not, I interpreted it to mean that it was partly him lashing out in confusion over feelings that at that time he was not capable of dealing with, and partly a mercy-kill given the condition the woman was no doubt in by that point.

And, again, it clearly haunts him. He's not using "I loved her" to try to justify what he did, and he certainly doesn't give any kind of impression that he equates killing someone with loving them in any general sense. He's describing a very messed-up and powerful moment that permanently changed him as a person, and it makes him interesting to me as a character.

It's just the whole torturing-someone-to-death-while-telling-yourself-that-you-love-them thing is so very, very far over the line that I can't see myself ever getting immersed enough to get past it.

That too. I would never consider dating a serial killer irl, no matter how sorry or supportive he was. However in a video game, and especially a video game like KOTOR 2 which is painted in shades of grey, I can accept it because Atton's a fascinating character.

That he meant it romantically or not is besides the point for me (in fact, I believe he himself specifically says "not that kind of love."). And sure it haunts him. It should haunt him. But it still makes him utterly unacceptable as anything coming close to a love interest for me.

Your interpretation is fine, obviously, and puts a nicer spin on it for sure. It may well be how it was meant to come across, but that's not how it came across to me, and while I can deal with fucked up romances (again: I liked the Anders one, and that one is super fucked up), the way it came across to me was TOO fucked up. Certainly far too fucked up for me, even had I liked him after that, to focus on "gosh he's so loyal!" over all else.

Dang, I found this thread too late! I need to go to university now, and I'll read the whole thread later
but I want to show my favorite forever and ever character right now I have a feeling that I have already showed him but oh well

Outenkun from Houshin Engi manga

But usually I'm into comic relief characters. Or stoics. Or muscular men. It depends.

I can be sure in only one thing - I do hate jerky not-badass jerks and shotas.

YonYonYon your linked images are broken.

I've recently been replaying Magical Starsign and I'm remembering just how awesome Mokka is.

That's one sassy robot.

He's the sassiest.

Oooh, here's another really nostalgic one for me (and not actually a love interest but I can pretend).

Gurdy from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles



He's a con artist that you encounter during your travels over the years as part of your town's Crystal Caravan (I always played singleplayer, so I was a lonesome caravan of one). He's a combination of amusing and annoying at first, but once you put together some of the pieces of what happened to him and what the miasma really is, you realize that he's an enormous woobie. Poor Gurdy. I really wanted to help him out, even if he has utterly ridiculous hair.

An aside: I always played Selkie because I'm a fan of speedy characters, and I always chose Owl Head because she is the only one with pants.

Yes, Gurdy is so cute! I also loved Alhanalem from Ring of Fates.

Hell, I just really like Yukes in general.

One thing I like that hasn't been explored as much is gap moe.

"Gap moe" is stuff like, say, Kanji from Persona 4, this big tough delinquent-looking guy, loving sewing and cute things. Or Madarame from Genshiken.



Yeah, look at that handsome devil.

Madarame, at least in the original Genshiken, is a hotblooded unabashed 2D-perv in-too-deep otaku who hotbloodedly and passionately defends things like body pillows while standing in line at conventions for entire days. He's also using that as a front to hide his introverted and highly insecure personality, has the best character arc in the whole series and I was rooting for him to end up with Kasukabe, even though it was never going to happen. Even the creator said he was the most moe character in the series.

For personality, my favorite guy is reserved, intellectual, and sarcastic, but with a passionate core and one who is impressed/delighted by banter, teasing, or the protagonist being legitimately clever (that Sand in NWN2 wasn't romanceable is a horrific tragedy!). A strong runner up is the guy who is a bit out of touch and adorkable because he's been devoted to something else in his life (Hellooooooo, Akihiko Sanada). If the game is on the more explicit end of the scale, I don't mind either one being forceful or a bit dommish (even coercive), but out and out assault is a turn off.

For appearance, I admit, I'm a sucker for a good megane in a business suit, or period/genre appropriate equivalent. Slender, broad shouldered, dark hair, glasses. Mmmmm. Second place goes to a dignified looking older gent.

I find that I usually gravitate toward the characters that wouldn't be considered the 'main love interest' i.e. the type that would be friendzoned in a manga adaptation of the game. I don't know, I just feel all, 'THEY NEED LOVE TOO' and so I give them love. In my playthroughs. As for examples... childhood friends like Toru from Love Revo, instant bros like Heisuke from Hakuoki, simply sweet and nice guys like Oure from X-Note.

However, the one character I will never fail to squee over (and then feel weird for squeeing over but continue to squee anyway) is Shuuya from Nise no Chigiri. Seemingly cool and stoic, but actually a complete and utter derp.



Anyone who goes that apeshit over cookies is a winner in my opinion.

Ah I love Madarame so much you have no idea <3 I don't think I've ever seen that picture before!

Also for note, it wasn't the creator of Genshiken but the creator of Hellsing who said that.

Anyone else with the hots for Izaya and Shizuo?



Izaya is a massive douche bag but he's so UNF at the same time! I love him and hate him! His voice, his condescending speech and observational skills, the way he manipulates people and he's general attitude makes me want to be put off but I just can't. I just can't. He's childish but careful in what he does and he just seems to know the meaning of FUN. His love for humans is creepy and it breaks my heart that he can't love individuals but yearn for their love with no return. I KNOW i'd probably hate him if I knew him irl BUT HE'S SO HOT I JUST CANNT.



SHIZUO HAS SO MUCH ANIMOSITY. Biggest tsundere out. He's strong and easily ticked off but when you're nice and straightforward to him he's like a little blushy bear. He's like a little kid with a massive tantrum. My gawd. *fans self* He has SO much testosterone too. I'm getting woozy~

I think I have a thing for Yanderes too. I'd eat Yuuya 7 times over for Shuu no i'm kidding Yuuya ;-;

I guess it's obvious who had a Durarara!! Re run re read spree and dug up past loves

Shizuo yes, Izaya no.

Izaya is funny and entertaining to watch, but he's too much of an unrepentant, gleefully crazy douchebag for me to find him attractive or to be able to root for him in any way. I've only seen the anime and haven't read any of the novels or other material so I don't know what additional development those might add to his character, but at least in the anime he comes across as someone who, for all that he professes to love humans, seems to "love" them in the way that an entomologist loves insects or a kid loves a particularly entertaining toy, with no sense of empathy for other people or regard for their wishes or well-being - the kind of person who sees other people as subjects for fun games and social experiments.

As a character and an antagonist, he's very interesting, but as a person I find him almost entirely repellent.

Shizuo, on the other hand... yeah, Shizuo pushes a bunch of my buttons, what with how underneath all that rage he's a quiet, socially awkward young man who dislikes violence, is deeply disturbed by his own violent tendencies and lack of self-control, and would very much like to be able to lead a normal life. Aw, punkin. :c

Of course this has wandered off the subject of actual "love interest" characters and more to characters I do or don't find attractive, but while we're on that road and talking about the Naritaverse, of course I have to mention Luck Gandor.

He's a nineteen-year-old Depression-era Mafia executive who exerts every effort to act ice-cold and ruthless... because he can't afford to show any weakness that could be exploited to disadvantage his family, because he values his family over everything else. Inwardly he's thoughtful, highly philosophical, considerate of and compassionate toward others, friendly with and violently protective of everyone under his employ. He intelligent and well-read, reads poetry in his spare time, doesn't believe in violence against women, is unfailingly calm, classy, and polite even while explaining to someone what a complete waste of space he thinks they are, and if you harm someone who works for him he will never stop hating you with a cold, rigidly-restrained, implacable hatred and you'll be lucky if he personally beats you to death with a piece of furniture.

Also he has the voice of Takehito Koyasu. Om nom nom.

I ship him with Eve Genoard, which is mostly the fault of the fourth novel.

Shizuo is way too manly and rugged for me to see him as anything other than a particularly badass bro, and Izaya is too troll. If I had to go for anyone from Durarara it would probably be Masaomi, if only because of this song:



Though I'm partial to Shinra, too. I have a thing for my bizarre and twisted but strangely cheerful and functional loves.

I...this song...whoa. At first I was like, "lol, Masaomi's trying to be punk", but it grew on me. And now I realize that I've been listening to it nonstop for hours. O_O

Help! It won't get out of my head! Linda Lindaaaaa~

I don't really have a set type, I can be into anything as long as it's well written. While I tend not to like Tsunderes and Shotas, this generally because Tsundere seems to be code for abusive asshole, and Shotas are generally eight year olds claiming to be your age. I also prefer when I don't know how the route is going to play out just by looking at the character for five seconds. While Kennosuke from Love Revo subverted my expectations by looking and actiong his age despite being younger than the MC, I was pretty sure howw the route was going to play out. Sure, I didn't know all the details, but there wasn't anything surprising besides him being a very likeable character. It's one of the reasons I have trouble getting into the voltage games. They tell you the personality of each person, you don't get to discover it for yourself. Another is the fact that you have to pay for each individual route. Not only does it feel kind of like they are tricking you into spending more money, but it also robs you of the experience of exploring which options land you which characters and put you on their routes and figuring out why that might be. Also, many of their dialogue options make no sense.

It's the reason I enjoy games like Hatoful Boyfriend and Hakuoki so much. The chracters are well rounded, interesting, and are more than just the same character types you've seen before. Hakuouki, for instance, really took me by surprise. The characters at first glance appear to be the same tired tropes, Hijikata as the Tsundere, Saito as the kuudere, Tails as the shota, etc. But while they all have characteristics of their character types, they are developed beyond that, and their character is explored in a very meaningful way. Unless you're a major Japanese history buff, you never know what's going to happen, and even if you are there are several things that can take you by surprise. While it's not without its flaws, it is an extremely well written and well thought out game.

Hatoful Boyfriend took an absurd, silly idea, and gave it depth, humor, and gave the MC some personality, which is usually lacking.I went in expecting nothing more than laughter, and ended up actually shedding a couple tears.

I can enjoy pretty much anything if it's well written, even if it's iin an ''oh god why" way. So I guess that's my type.