4. Gordon Freeman & Alyx Vance - Half Life 2
Similar to Ico and Yorda, the relationship between protagonist Gordon Freeman and his companion Alyx Vance in the seminal first person shooter Half Life 2 (2004) is one with a foundation in game mechanics. Several years earlier, Valve had released Half Life, a first person shooter that never left the first person perspective, allowing the player to witness the entire game's story from Gordon's (aka the player's) perspective. It was a revolutionary innovation that countless games have continued to imitate to this day. However, one of the earliest, and best, uses of this immersive technique was Half Life's own sequel. Half Life 2 upped the ante in every way over it's predecessor, and one of the most dramatic example of this was the way it brought Gordon's companions to vivid life like in the way that the first game simply couldn't touch. And among all of these companions, arguably none are more memorable than the shy, intelligent, and extremely strong-willed daughter of Dr. Eli Vance, Alyx. Alyx accompanies the silent protagonist Gordon through significant portions of the game, and despite his silence, they develop a very charming relationship. Not only is this due to the excellent characterization of Alyx in the game, but also the way she interacts with Gordon. She gets embarrassed when older characters in the game suggest that her and Gordon start a romantic relationship. She gets visibly worried when Gordon heads out to complete a task with out her, and she often reflects on the pain and sadness she feels as a result of what has happened to the world. The moments of rest, particularly with the robot "pet" known as D0g (see image), only increase Alyx's charisma and appeal. And since everything in the game is unfolding before the player's eyes, it makes the player feel as if him or her is the one fostering this relationship. This is something that only the magic of video games can accomplish, and it is on full display in Half Life 2. Be warned: the expansions to Half Life 2, known as Episodes 1 & 2, as masterful as they are, are very Alyx-centric, and can be emotionally devastating to play. By the time you finish the main game and begin these expansions, Alyx has become someone that Gordon, aka you, the player, comes to deeply care about. It is that emotional bond with Alyx that has caused millions of people all over the world to continually lament the absence of Episode 3 nearly six years later.