7 Best Couples In Capcom Games

Established in 1979, Capcom remains one of the most recognizable video game enterprises out there. With fan-favorite franchises such as platformer Mega Man and fighting hit Street Fighter remaining as some of the most iconic video games ever made, it’s no surprise that Capcom is still out there pumping games for players to enjoy.

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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?

7

Dante & Kat (DMC: Devil May Cry)

Given the suave nature of Dante in the Devil May Cry series, 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 of Kat, the psychic guide of Dante in DmC: Devil May Cry.

Despite its infamous reception as a rougher, grittier Devil May Cry reboot, the story of DmC: Devil May Cry does 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.

6

Claire Redfield & Steve Burnside (Resident Evil)

With Resident Evil introducing one vicious virus after another, overcoming these trials are surefire ways to start budding romantic relationships. This happened throughout the cat-and-mouse chase between Claire Redfield and Steve Burnside during 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 in Resident Evil canon. To protect Claire from twins 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.

5

Nero & Kyrie (Devil May Cry)

While Nero replacing Dante in Devil May Cry 4 turned some heads with the former’s more brash attitude opposing the stylish latter, Nero became a household name in the Devil May Cry franchise. Compared to Devil May Cry protagonist 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.

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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 in Devil May Cry 5, her presence and influence on Nero are reflected throughout his character. In the previous game, Nero was an arrogant teen who 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.

4

Zero & Iris (Mega Man X)

With the hit Mega Man series taking a more mature turn in Mega 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 is Zero, 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 with Iris, 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 hit when 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 in Mega Man Zero, to the point where he knowingly accepted his new quest to save the Earth even if it would cost him his life.

3

Samanosuke 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 the Onimusha series, where monsters called Genma have become a common-enough threat to the populace – similar to the premise of Nioh 2. It’s thanks to the efforts of warriors such as Samanosuke Akechi and his confidant and partner Kaede that much of Japan was saved.

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While the Onimusha games 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.

2

Ryu & Chun-Li (Street Fighter)

With Street Fighter being one of the most iconic Capcom franchises, it makes sense for players to have some OTPs within its rather expansive Street Fighter cast. Chief among them is stoic fighter Ryu and elegant martial artist Chun-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 in Street Fighter Alpha 2 with no canon explanation, and its sequel Alpha 3 had 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 for Street Fighter protagonist Ryu to stop his evil self, there’s likely a subtle hint of special feelings there.

1

Phoenix Wright & Maya Fey (Ace Attorney)

When enthusiastic Phoenix Wright begins his first case in the Ace Attorney series, 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 younger Maya 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 the Ace Attorney characters have had serious relationships, with only Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey having 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.

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