A Fangirl's Explanation of Love Types

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When it comes to complex concepts, language fails us. It especially fails us when we look at the concept of love. English just doesn't do it justice. After all, the Ancient Greeks had many different words for such an important emotion. The main four are Eros, Philia, Storge, and Agape, and I'll be using all types of fandom to describe the distinctions.

1) Eros

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Eros is often defined as physical desire. I couldn't think of a better representation of this than Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn't Exist, an anime that's premise is all about the Japanese government censoring inappropriate material and repressing sexual desire. A group of erotica-terrorists rise up in order to stop them. As one might expect, there are quite a few examples of Eros.

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However, Eros isn't always about physical attraction. It is also a desire to appreciate beauty and is the initial draw one might feel for another. If you’ve watched Yuri!!! on Ice, you can't help but be captivated by the various ice skating routines, especially Yuri's performance entitled (you got it) Eros. His movements and the background music captures Eros perfectly.

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Eros is also that trembling, fluttering, almost manic feeling a person first gets when he/she falls in love. It’s the love that makes someone lose their appetite and see that other person in an idealistic way. In D.N.Angel, the main character, Daisuke, changes into his alter-ego, Dark, if he so much as gets too close to his crush and feels even a stirring of Eros. 

2) Philia 

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Philia is all about the bromance/womance. It’s the feeling you have for a “brother in arms." Philia is at the heart and soul of Final Fantasy XV. I mean, the game is about four bros on one grand adventure. By the end of the game, the player sees how much the guys appreciate each other and that they're stronger together because they've been through so much.

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Philia is also a love that you can choose. In Voltron: Legendary Defender, the Paladins are far, far away from home, so they don’t have their relatives close by. Over the course of the show, they become a team and a family.

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Lastly, Philia is all about making a connection through shared experiences. The perfect example of Philia is shown in Kingdom Hearts, which is about Sora's connection with everyone he meets. Philia, and Kingdom Hearts' main message, means that no matter the distance, you hold your friends in your heart. It means that friendship is a power that cannot be rivaled.

3) Storge 

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Storge is the love of community or family. It’s usually seen as a type of love between a parent and a child. A good example of Storge love is in Saga, an adult graphic novel. Saga’s story centers on the bond of family and the undying love one feels for his/her child. Two parents must risk it all to find a better place for their daughter to live and thrive.

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Storge isn’t always about a parent and child. It can also include the love between siblings, just like in Caraval by Stephanie Garber. This novel is about a girl named Scarlett who will doing anything in her power to save her sister. The reader sees just how far Scarlett will go to save her family.

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Storge can also be a dutiful kind of affection. An example of this can be seen in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. Time and again, we are reminded that demigods must complete the tasks of their parents. But this sense of duty to the gods is questioned throughout the series. As the reader continues, he/she realizes that the gods' “lack of affection” isn’t always what it seems.

4) Agape

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Agape is the purest form of love because it is unconditional. If a person experiences Agape, they will go to great lengths in order to protect the one they love. I can’t help but think about Joyce Byers in Stranger Things. Once she realizes that her son is missing, she never once gives up the search to find him.

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Agape is also a mature love, in that a person loves no matter the circumstances and sees beyond another person's flaws and appearance. This is definitely true of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. She grows to love the Beast for who he is, not for what he looks like.

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Finally, Agape is when one is willing to sacrifice his/her own values and desires, even his/her own life, all for the other person or for other people. Final Fantasy X has a few instances of this. (Highlight for spoilers.) Yuna is a summoner tasked with defeating Sin, but in order to do so she must make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good and give her life to perform the Final Summoning so that she can defeat Sin and restore a temporary peace to Spira. Yuna considers others before herself and will do anything to stop Sin's spiral of death and destruction.

From Eros to Agape, Fandoms are complex and include all versions of love. They deal with a range of emotion and complicated concepts, making it easier for us to understand ourselves and our world. 

What other fandoms illustrated the different kinds of love?

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Video Game Day Reflections

Today, September 12th is National Video Game Day. Due to this wondrous occasion a few of us decided to band together and share a few of our personal favorites in the gaming world.

Anna Gensimore

I didn't start playing video games at all until high school, and it was sporadic. From that point on, my interest only grew, and video games have come to affect me as a story-telling medium just as much as some books or movies.

The Last of Us

Every gamer has a game/series or two that they're exceptionally emotional about. The Last of Us definitely fits into that category for me. The world is visually stunning (even before the remaster), which Naughty Dog is known to perpetuate. Beyond that, it is simply good storytelling.

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Within the first hour of the game, I fell in love with the premise and the two main characters (Joel and Ellie), who have a pseudo father-daughter relationship. Both have been through a lot in life (who hasn't living in a post zombie apocalypse world?) and form a wonderful bond through it. Joel lost his daughter near the beginning of the outbreak, years before the game takes place, and Ellie is an orphan who's lost all that is dear to her. Yet the young girl has a secret; she's immune to the scourge that has taken over the majority of the population. As a fan of zombie fiction to begin with, this is and has always been right up my alley.

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Ellie is fantastic; at fourteen she's been thrust into worse situations than most of us can imagine and come through stronger for it. She's a great example of a teen girl character done right. From the first time I played the game, I've wanted to cosplay her. Her emotional maturity is astounding, yet there are moments when it's clear that she is still very much a kid. Those moments are meaningful and not pandering to her or the player. Although there are only few parts of the game in which you play as Ellie, she's my favorite character to play as. Don't get me wrong, Joel is a pretty great perspective character and helped me a lot during my early days of newer generation console gaming, but Ellie is just my favorite. It's mostly because she's quieter and better at stealth, and that comes in handy.

In fact, the choice to sneak around quietly or go in guns blazing is one of my favorite things about this game. Yes, it is a linear game, but you have options to solve problems and play the game the way that you like to play games. I change my strategies almost every time I play just to see if I can accomplish it. This game has grown with me as I've matured as a player and I'll probably play it a million more times. Of course, I've heard that there's a sequel in the works...

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BioShock

I know that I've mentioned that BioShock was the first game that I played in its entirety in a previous post. I can't help but be excited because the Remastered Collection is going to be released on Tuesday and a special someone got me a copy as a gift! I know that it's going to be gorgeous.

I can't wait to see Rapture and Columbia, only better.

I will never forget the first time I completed the opening sequence or the awe I felt descending into Rapture in the Bathysphere. Something about the concept of an underwater city like this combined with dystopian elements simply fascinated me. The other two games in the series affected me similarly. I found that the plot twists, brainwashing, and alternate timelines were simply inspiring. The steampunk elements incorporated into BioShock Infinite were some of my favorite aesthetic features of the entire series (which is tough to say since I have always loved the art-deco and 1950's style that are the backdrop of the first two games).

Still not sure about that, but she'll definitely hit him in the face with coins.

Before playing BioShock, I had it in my mind that I wasn't going to be a fan of first-person shooters. I didn't so much prove myself wrong as prove that I like quality games beyond the genre. The underlying social commentary provides lots of food for thought alongside its obligatory monstrous beings. I wasn't sure I'd be too keen on horror games until I gave this series a shot. I found much more emotional depth in the second game than I could have imagined and saw humanity, loyalty, and love in the most horrific of beings.

Besides, beyond awesome weapons, the BioShock franchise has some of the coolest powers that I've ever seen for the main character. I could write an entire article about the positive and negative effects of Plasmids and Vigors, but I'll spare you today and just encourage you to play yourself.

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Jaime Heller

I’ve played quite a few games during my childhood and even more as I got older. From Mario Bros. to Kingdom Hearts to every game that has to do with Lord of the Rings, I’ve played multiple genres and types of games. (Yes, I’ve even played Call of Duty. No, I’m not good at it.) It’s hard to choose just a few to recommend, but each one of these holds a special place in my gamer girl heart.

Sly Cooper

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The Sly Cooper games are some of the first I distinctly remember playing by myself. Previously, my brother would let me play with him, but I never played alone. Until Sly Cooper showed up at our house. Sure, the first game is so ridiculously hard I never beat it, but I adore these games. I love the story that goes along with each installation from tracking down the Thievius Racconus to trying to stop Clockwork 2.0 and all the other adventures (time-travel included). The story is written so well that I almost forget I’m playing a game and not experiencing a movie. Each level is distinct, creative, and vital to the story’s progression.

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In addition, the characters make the story work. In the first game, we only get to play as Sly, but Murray, Bentley, Carmelita, and all the villains are just as memorable. As we move into the other games, we get to play as other characters, and they became even more distinct. (Honestly, the best level of the second game is the first time you get to play as Murray and just whoop on the henchmen.) I also love that some characters from the first games return in the later games, whether they help or hinder Sly’s quests.

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Some of the aspects of the Sly Cooper games are awesome as well. Since we’re playing as a thief, it was cool to learn sneaky moves or interesting tricks, especially with Sly’s noteworthy Cooper Cane. In addition, the third game even had levels you could play in 3D! While the 3D wasn’t that spectacular, the concept was just intriguing for my middle-grade self.

Overall, Sly Cooper remains a favorite video game franchise because of the story, the characters, and the gameplay. While I have yet to beat any of the actual games (that just proves it’s a worthwhile game because of the challenge), I still look forward to hopefully more installments. And also the upcoming movie!

Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I’ve discussed in-depth my adoration for many of the Lego video games. However, I haven’t had a chance to discuss the latest Lego game: Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Like the other Star Wars games, it follows the main story line of Episode VII. You get to play as Finn and break Poe out of the First Order ship. You can fly the Millennium Falcon as Rey. And you get to battle Kylo Ren in the snow at Starkiller Base. But there is so much more to the game than just the main story line. There are characters galore--even some from previous films that you can get to unlock. There are multiple versions of The Force Awakens characters--such as Rey with just her staff or Rey with a lightsaber or even Young Rey.

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In addition, there are bonus levels that take place before The Force Awakens. As Poe and BB-8, you rescue Admiral Ackbar. With Han and Chewie, you can hunt Rathtars. And there are many more--even one that explains why C-3PO has a red arm…

For the gameplay, The Force Awakens is the best Lego game to date, in my opinion. They’ve improved greatly on the lightsabers, which were kind of terrible in the other Lego Star Wars games. They’ve added cool things like microfighters or close-range battles where you have to target Stormtroopers and other enemies to fight them. The graphics are improved and look awesome. Plus, as Legos, the game is just fun to play!

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Animal Crossing: New Leaf

One of my favorite Nintendo games ever--and the only 3DS game I currently own--is Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I used to play Animal Crossing: Wild World for ages when I was in middle school. Countless hours were spent tidying up my town, fishing, catching bugs, and annoying my neighbors. So when New Leaf was released, I needed to play it. And it’s wonderful.

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New Leaf takes the well-known world and controls of the other Animal Crossing games but improves on them. There is more to do and more to see in New Leaf. No longer are you a regular resident, but you are the mayor of the town. This gives you more options for building things and making decisions. There are new shops and new characters to interact with. And there’s also an island you can travel to that has mini-games and other opportunities to catch rare bugs and fish. You can also go deep-sea diving.

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There are more holiday-related days that include activities and special opportunities. I love this game because of how much there is to do and because the entire world is made of animals, except you. It’s like a fantasy-version of The Sims. The conversations are hilarious, and everything is just adorable. Plus, there is endless fun since the game doesn’t really end. There’s always more room for fun and adventure!

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Kelly Chaplin

Oh, heck yes. It’s Video Game Day! Thank the gamer gods. 

Sonic The Hedgehog

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? When I was five, I was introduced to Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis.

Back in my day (wow, feeling old saying that), I didn’t have games that connected to the internet. Rather than play online with friends, I would play in the same room as friends. My friends and I would pass the controller whenever one of us died, simple as that.

But Sonic was special to us. We cursed Dr. Robotnik’s name (by which I mean, we said things like, “you darn meany”). It was a bonding experience, especially since I was the only girl and in a way I had to prove myself. Thus, I proved myself via video games, especially when the game required skill. Sonic made you hone your skills. You had to jump at an appropriate time, you had to flip and bounce off enemy robots, you had to dodge lava flows, etc.

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Sure, maybe the storyline wasn’t the most intricate, but the game was delightfully fun and challenging. Everyone worked as a team in order to beat the final boss. And it was in that camaraderie that I began to love video games.

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Final Fantasy X

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Okay, so I have a confession to make...I played Final Fantasy X-2 before I played Final Fantasy X. I know, blasphemy (also, confusing). You see, my mom got it for me for my birthday and thought I’d like it. And my, was she right. But I wanted X as well! I kept hearing that it was this beautifully constructed masterpiece of melancholy and strategy. My kind of game, even back then.

Not too long after, we purchased it. But much to my surprise, the game didn’t start off with Yuna, who I was familiar with, but with Tidus, a peppy hyperactive Blitzball jockey who’s whisked away to Spira, a land a thousand years into the future. Just the juxtaposition of East meets West, the comparison of old versus new, the divide between technology and magic, were all nicely interwoven. I couldn’t help but be swept away right along with Tidus.

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Then there’s the love story! The greatest in Final Fantasy history (in my opinion). It was this tragic roller coaster of up and down. I mean, Tidus was forbidden from becoming romantically involved with Yuna (a summoner). Her mission was to defeat Sin, her destiny was...well, just play the game to find out.

Final Fantasy X had gorgeous graphics and high end voice-acting (at least for its time), and the battle system was fine tuned and brilliantly customizable. You actually had to think through attacks, you couldn’t button mash your way out of a boss battle (phew, especially near the end).

The music was heavenly, the villains were dastardly, and the concept of existence and death and love completely rocked my point of view to the point where I sat awake for hours just thinking about it.

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Kingdom Hearts

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The Kingdom Hearts series. Boy, where to start? Whelp, It’s my absolute favorite game series of all time. As mentioned in Sonic, it was one of those games where I played with a group of friends (into the wee hours of the night, mind you). There was just something about the game that made me want to play more, whether it be to find out which Disney World I’d be visiting next or if I’d finally find Kairi and Riku or what outrageous antics Sora, Donald, and Goofy would pull next.

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Not to mention that the characters were all amazing. I went from angrily cursing Riku’s name to wanting to fold him into my loving embrace. I saw Sora grow from a baseball bat swinging naive little kid to (though still naive) a more mature, much more skilled Keyblade wielder. Though, I’m still waiting to play as Kairi...but I had a plethora of characters to love as the series went on.

There’s a lightheartedness that was intoxicating, that was pure and right and simple. It harkened back to a more innocent time, a time where all that mattered was playing with my cul de sac brethren and believing in Santa Claus and...well, you get it.

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Then there were games like Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II, which introduced more complicated concepts and emotions. Maybe darkness isn’t evil, maybe I’ll have to say goodbye to friends, maybe making mistakes is all part of life. And the first Kingdom Hearts touched on that, but later games really brought that into the light. Beneath the fake smiles and puntastic jokes, there was something more tragic and complicated (if you looked hard enough). And that was perfect, that was me as a player and as a person growing up with the game.

As for gameplay, I mean, it’s still my favorite go to game for both button mashing and (if played appropriately) strategic planning. From summons to drive forms to shot locks, every game introduced something new and fun to add to the experience. And that’s the thing, Kingdom Hearts keeps surprising me. Now I just have to wait for Kingdom Hearts III.

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What are your favorite video games?

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Top 3 Favorite Female Final Fantasy X Characters

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WARNING: In order to gush properly, there may be Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 spoilers throughout the post. If you haven't played them and want to keep the gaming experience fresh and free of spoilers, please refrain from reading.

Final Fantasy X (FF X) was my first Final Fantasy, and though it wasn’t my last, it is still my favorite. FF X was the first in the series to offer voice acting, it had stunning visuals for the time (gorgeous in HD), it effortlessly meshed eastern and western cultural elements, and it had thought-provoking philosophical and ethical questions.

Even without all that, the Final Fantasy series is excellent with character development and character design. FF X is no exception. It has a cast of characters who are multi-layered, likable, and memorable. It even has fantastic leading ladies, and can you believe that not one of these gals are damsels in distress?

So, I’m counting down my top 3 favorite Final Fantasy X ladies. Starting with...

3. Lulu

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It took a while for Lulu to actually open up, especially about her past, but when she did, we saw her true colors (besides black, that is).

Rock Hard Exterior, Mushy-Gushy Interior
Lulu could be prickly at times, but she had every right to be. After all, her fiancé Chappu was killed by Sin, Yuna (someone who is like a sister to her) was planning on sacrificing herself for Spira’s sake, and Seymour waged multiple surprise attacks and spouted lengthy, death-related ramblings. (Shut up and just stay dead, Seymour! Quit turning into a zombie-thing and attacking me.)

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But even though she may look like a tough, tormented goth girl, she's really just as sweet and soft as cookie dough. In fact, she helped raise Yuna and treats her like a sister throughout the game. Yuna looks up to Lulu, and Yuna continues to consult her throughout FF X and FF X-2. Not to mention, Wakka and Lulu are so sweet together. Oh, and it's hilarious to see her interact with Tidus, especially when she later warms up to him and starts messing around.

Overpowered
Lulu is extremely powerful. She was a fixture in my party and eventually was strong enough to go toe to toe with Seymour. Maybe that's why he always targeted her first…

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Anyway, she was one talented character. Thank goodness she used her black magic for good and not for evil. I always thought it was funny, though, that she conjured earth-shattering magic by channeling it through a cute and cuddly stuffed doll. Guess wands are for sissies.

2. Rikku

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I remember Rikku speaking Al Bhed for the first time, and I absolutely loved it. The fantasy world seemed so big to my 16 year old brain. I also recall learning a few phrases of Al Bhed and speaking it to a friend of mine in high school.

Quirky Comments
In video games, RPGs especially, your characters have battle cries or just looped dialogue they say during battles or off the field. Rikku's (in both FFX and FFX-2) comments were downright hilarious. Not only would she belt out a string of Al Bhed phrases, she would comment on the silliest things. Here are just a few of her terrific lines:

“Rikku-approved item coming up!”

“Sometimes, when I got a lot on my mind, it just helps to go, ‘AAAAAAAAAAAH!’”

“Disasterriffic!”

“Oh, poopie!”

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Energetic and Positive
Rikku has way too much energy. She's always moving, grooving, and talking (a mile a minute, I might add). That’s why it was amusing to see Tidus (who is upbeat and lively) interact with Rikku. It was especially entertaining to hear what they both had to say in battle.

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With her endless energy, Rikku also has a sunny disposition throughout most of the game.

Final Fantasy X (and at times, Final Fantasy X-2) is depressing. Like...extremely depressing. The player questions whether or not all the characters will survive, questions how he/she is going to defeat Seymour for the fifteenth time, and heck, the player even questions his/her own existence. But Rikku (and Tidus) makes Yuna’s pilgrimage (and the game) cheery and hopeful, which is sorely needed since all the other guardians seem to be serious and dutiful. Yuna HAD to have someone liven things up a bit.

Just *ahem* don’t tell Rikku about any thunderstorms.

1. Yuna

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At last! My favorite Final Fantasy character. Out of all the other characters, Yuna is the one who changes the most drastically throughout the games. She goes from a quiet, sweet, and passive girl to a more rebellious, strong-willed, and independent young lady.

Strong-willed
At the start of her pilgrimage, Tidus and the player don't realize that Yuna’s quest is supposed to end with her sacrificing herself for the good of Spira. That's right...sacrifice. She needs to die to end Sin. She's willing to lay down her life so that Spira can enjoy two years of peace (I know, not even an everlasting peace). Even knowing that she must die, she continues on her journey. It gets more difficult when she realizes she’s falling for Tidus. Of course, Tidus convinces her that there must be another away and that he’ll find it...for her. She continues on though, still hoping to defeat Sin and end its spiral of death.

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She’s also strong-willed and persistent in FF X-2 when she finds a sphere of Tidus (He’s alive?!) and decides to go in search of him. After each trial and tribulation, Yuna continues, all for the sake of finding him.

Rebellious
We see this a bit in FF X when Yuna decides to stray from her summoner path after falling in love with Tidus and is convinced that they should try to defeat Sin a different way. The alternative is to kill Yevon, a being (really, a summoner from years ago) that Spira has been worshiping like a god for a thousand years. And they defeat him. Yup, Yuna and her band of guardians take down Sin and a god (ahem, crazed summoner).

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Then, in X-2 Yuna breaks out of her shell and develops more pluck. Besides her wardrobe change (actually, the entire game features the Gullwings in various outfits), Yuna becomes the leader of her sphere hunting group, makes major political decisions, and becomes a performer. She isn't the sweet, goody-two-shoes any more. She now has sass and flare. It must come with being a pop star, or a Square Enix "Charlie’s Angel", or maybe she’s just had it in her the whole time.

Do you have a favorite Final Fantasy girl?  Favorite video game gal in general?   

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