Established in 1979,Capcomremains one of the most recognizable video game enterprises out there. With fan-favorite franchises such as platformerMega Manand fighting hitStreet Fighterremaining as some of the most iconic video games ever made, it’s no surprise thatCapcomis still out there pumping games for players to enjoy.
RELATED:The Best Capcom Games, According To Metacritic
And for the lore-savvy, it’s also no surprise that some Capcom games inevitably cross over to the realm of romance with characters eventually falling for each other. Be it through natural friendship or relationships formed during trials and tribulations, some of the most popular video game couples have indeed come from Capcom games. However, just which couples hit the mark and qualify as a fan’s OTP?
7Dante & Kat (DMC: Devil May Cry)
Given the suave nature of Dante in theDevil May Cryseries, it’s natural for him to be a ladies' man. Unfortunately for him, his first female companion looks exactly like his mother, and his second female companion is a more serious demon hunter than him. Thankfully, players finally get a more grounded female love interest in the form ofKat, the psychic guide ofDanteinDmC: Devil May Cry.
Despite itsinfamous reception as a rougher, grittierDevil May Cryreboot, the story ofDmC: Devil May Crydoes a more realistic take on Dante’s growth and acceptance of his nature as a supernatural. Now a Nephilim (half-angel, half-demon), Dante has to come to grips with his role as one of mankind’s saviors, which Kat and his brother Vergil were there to help him with. Contrary to other female leads, Kat being the ever-helpful guide is instrumental in grounding this new Dante’s more callous, foul-mouthed nature. She’s often the one to show him the error in his ways.
6Claire Redfield & Steve Burnside (Resident Evil)
WithResident Evilintroducing one vicious virus after another, overcoming these trials are surefire ways to start budding romantic relationships. This happened throughout the cat-and-mouse chase betweenClaire RedfieldandSteve Burnsideduring their team-up in the T-Virus-infested Rockfort Island prison. Despite their awkward encounters, it was evident in Steve’s constant arrival to Claire’s defense that he had taken a liking to the young woman.
Unfortunately, no relationships remain concrete inResident Evilcanon. To protect Claire fromtwins Alfred and Alexia Ashford, Steve was captured and infected with the T-Veronica Virus. Much to Claire’s grief, she had to fend for her life against a rampaging Steve, with his last act of consciousness being that of protecting Claire against a monstrous Alexia. He finally confesses his feelings for Claire shortly before dying. Despite the tragedy of this relationship, Claire and Steve (while unreciprocated) remain one of the more concretized ships in the franchise canon.
5Nero & Kyrie (Devil May Cry)
WhileNeroreplacing Dante inDevil May Cry 4turned some heads with the former’s more brash attitude opposing the stylish latter, Nero became a household name in theDevil May Cryfranchise. Compared toDevil May Cryprotagonist Dante’s cocky-selfish exterior, Nero’s brashness and natural selflessness transformed him into a younger, more relatable protagonist for fans. And whereas Dante had rather complicated friendships with supposed love interests Trish and Lady, Nero had someone more obvious:Kyrie.
RELATED:Best-Selling Capcom Franchises of All-Time, Ranked
Originally simply a songstress of the Order of the Sword, she bore witness to Nero and Dante dismantling the Order’s demonic corruption and ran away with them. And while Kyrie is absent mainly inDevil May Cry 5, her presence and influence on Nero are reflected throughout his character. In the previous game,Nero was an arrogant teenwho wanted to fight everyone who opposed him, with Kyrie only reeling him in. This time around, Nero’s more heroic nature would’ve been due to Kyrie’s influence, something made evident when a phone call from her renewed the spirits of Nero and even helped him unleash his true potential.
4Zero & Iris (Mega Man X)
With the hitMega Manseries taking a more mature turn inMega Man X, fans of the franchise are introduced to a future where a police force called the Repliforce is put in charge of hunting down Mavericks, or rogue Reploids that have begun to use their advanced technological powers for evil. Opposite Mega Man isZero, his brother-in-arms, who bears a more serious outlook in his task of fighting Mavericks with his Z-Saber compared to the more compassionate blue bomber.
Despite his strict sense of duty, Zero has had frequent encounters withIris, the Navigator of the Repliforce and the twin sister of its leader, Colonel. While Zero and Iris had a professional relationship, Iris' caring nature managed to soften up the red warrior. Unfortunately for both of them, tragedy would hitwhen Zero kills Colonel for betraying Repliforce, ultimately forcing her to turn on him. It’s Zero having to turn his blade on his life’s only love that transformed him into the more brooding Zero inMega Man Zero, to the point where he knowingly accepted his new quest to save the Earth even if it would cost him his life.
3Samanosuke Akechi & Kaede (Onimusha)
When one has to face the constant threat of death in the vicious Warring States period in Japan, a companion is always something to be thankful for. This is especially the case in theOnimushaseries, where monsters called Genma have become a common-enough threat to the populace - similar tothe premise ofNioh 2. It’s thanks to the efforts of warriors such asSamanosuke Akechiand his confidant and partnerKaedethat much of Japan was saved.
RELATED:Capcom: Best Games Of All Time (According To Metacritic)
While theOnimushagames frequently had different protagonists, it’s Samanosuke Akechi that perhaps served as the star of the series. It’s only thanks to Kaede grounding him in reality that Samanosuke could control the deadly power of the Genma within him. Even the way they met was mysterious, with the games simply revealing that Kaede was initially sent to assassinate Samanosuke but didn’t push through for reasons unknown. And throughout their journey together, their bond blossomed into a lasting romance. Such was their affection for each other that Kaede searched for a missing Samanosuke for years throughout the games. At the same time, Samanosuke swears vengeance to kill the Genma warrior Gargant after he slays Kaede in combat.
2Ryu & Chun-Li (Street Fighter)
WithStreet Fighterbeing one of the most iconic Capcom franchises, it makes sense for players to have some OTPs within its ratherexpansiveStreet Fightercast. Chief among them is stoic fighterRyuand elegant martial artistChun-Li. Between Ryu’s Hadoukens and Chun-Li’s Lightning Legs is a rather tight friendship with the slightest hints of a budding romance.
While Ryu and Chun-Li were never immediately declared to be in a relationship, various instances in the game indicate they weren’t simply mere friends. For instance, Chun-Li was the only one with Ryu as a sub-boss inStreet Fighter Alpha 2with no canon explanation, and its sequelAlpha 3had Chun-Li as one of the people that influenced Ryu to snap out of his Dark Hado state. With Chun-Li’s presence being substantial enough forStreet FighterprotagonistRyu to stop his evil self, there’s likely a subtle hint of special feelings there.
1Phoenix Wright & Maya Fey (Ace Attorney)
When enthusiasticPhoenix Wrightbegins his first case in theAce Attorneyseries, his outlook toward law is almost turned upside down with the unexpected death of his mentor, Mia Fey. Thus begins his friendship with her sister, the youngerMaya Fey, who also hilariously becomes one of his most frequent clients in his career in the Wright Anything Agency. While Maya Fey’s access to the Kurain Channeling Technique has become an invaluable asset in Phoenix Wright’s quest for the truth, it’s without a doubt that fans are divided as to whether the two should become a couple, to begin with.
Aside from the fact that some characters already ship the both of them, none of them have demonstrated any desire to engage each other on a romantic level actively. However, one might notice that the games have only brought the two closer through various cases. None of theAce Attorneycharacters have had serious relationships,with only Phoenix Wright and Maya Feyhaving known each other long enough for the game to take this romantic route. And with their willingness to help each other to the bitter end, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Phoenix-Maya ship may set sail.
