There’s nothing more captivating than a well-written friendship in a video game. Some games feature lovable characters who share a strong bond to appeal to the player’s hearts, but some games take these connections and turn them into something sinister.
Friendships can fail depending on the actions and intentions of the two sharing one. Certain characters will change their mind because of their own ideologies, the influence of others or bad programming. The sudden shift in loyalty usually comes as a shock, but only if their friendship was convincing.
6 2B & 9S – NieR: Vending Machines
2B is a bit distant during the opening of NieR: Vending Machines, but as the story progresses, it becomes apparent that she has strong feelings for 9S beneath her harsh looks. Although their relationship is presented as purely platonic, it’s hard to ignore the subtle romantic feelings that echo through their interactions.
2B and 9S become extremely close throughout the game, but unfortunately their bond doesn’t last. During the final moments of the game, it is revealed that 2B was created to keep an eye on 9S and eliminate him if he got too close to the truth about YoRHa’s mission. She’s been forced to execute him countless times, but 9S doesn’t remember any of these murders. Their adventures together are always doomed to end in heartbreak because of 2B’s programming. They are enemies not because they want to be, but because of the way they are made.
5 Gregory & Glamrock Freddy – FNAF Security Breach
To find out the whereabouts of some missing children, Gregory devises a plan to sneak into Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex and search the facility for clues. While wandering the haunted hallways and amusement arcades, he stumbles upon a Glamrock Freddy animatronic, and the two quickly form a strong bond.
Unlike his robotic counterparts, Freddy has no intention of harming Gregory — that is, until he runs out of power. It’s up to the player to keep his power levels full or Freddy will lose control and attack. The relationship between Gregory and Freddy is downright adorable, but only if the player is careful about how they approach this unpredictable machine. Although they remain friends throughout the story, their relationship will quickly turn sour if they are not treated carefully.
4 Chell & Wheatley – Portal 2
Chell and Wheatley spend the first half of Portal 2 team up in an attempt to escape the Aperture Science Center. After GLaDOS, the central core of the Aperture Science center, is accidentally reawakened, the pair’s escape plan is made much more difficult. To deactivate her, Chell exchanges the core of GLaDOS for that of Wheatley, corrupting her once faithful companion.
Wheatley condemns his ties to Chell and, with the uncontrollable force flowing through his system, causes Aperture Science to begin to deteriorate. To escape, Chell is forced to either destroy her once loyal friend or accept her doomed fate. It’s a tough choice to make, mainly because of the endearing relationship the two have formed, but completing the game requires making it.
3 CJ & Big Smoke – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
CJ runs into his childhood friend Big Smoke after he returns to San Andreas for his mother’s funeral. The two reminisce about old times in CJ’s kitchen before embarking on a series of new adventures to restore the power of Grove Street in Los Santos. It is made abundantly clear that the two share a strong bond, making Big Smoke’s betrayal even more shocking.
Smoke reveals to CJ during the game’s climax that he chose to betray his friends in hopes of gaining fame and fortune. He then goes on to say that he is driven by greed, so he had no choice. CJ stays by Smoke’s side when he passes away as a mark of respect, but given the events unfolding as a result of his unforgivable actions, it could be years before he can truly be forgiven.
2 Cecil & Kain – Final Fantasy 4
After questioning the king’s reason for attacking Mysidia, Cecil is stripped of his titles and ordered to deliver a magical ring to the Village of Mist. Cecil embarks on his quest to deliver this mysterious piece of jewelry with the help of his old friend Kain, a dragoon who shares the same view of the attacks as Cecil.
After arriving at the Village of Mist, the ring unleashes a series of powerful monsters that quickly destroy the city and all its inhabitants. The world falls apart at the feet of Kain and Cecil, and the two become separated for quite a part of the story. The next time they meet, Kain reveals that he works for Golbez, the main antagonist of Final Fantasy 4. Though it takes time for Cecil to come to terms with Kain’s betrayal, he eventually decides to stand up to him for the sake of humanity.
1 Sora & Riku – Kingdom Hearts
the opening of Kingdom Hearts introduces the player to three childhood friends who are gathering supplies for their newly built raft. During their two days on Destiny Island, it becomes clear that these young children share a strong bond, but Riku’s desire to see what lies beyond his small world undoes the friendship.
After their house is plunged into darkness, Sora and Riku are driven to different parts of the galaxy. When they finally cross paths again, Riku becomes jealous of Sora’s new comrades and decides to take a more sinister path to achieve his goals. His jealous ways lead him to confront Sora in Hollow Bastion, where he steals his keyblade and manipulates Donald and Goofy into joining him. Though he eventually denounces the darkness, it’s hard to forget the time he spent as Sora’s enemy.
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