Ultima VII: The Black Gate

Ultima VII: The Black Gate

Released: 1992
Developers: Origin Systems
Publishers: Origin Systems
Platform: PC

The Ultima series is known for many things—most notably for establishing the conventions of the modern computer role-playing game (RPG) and giving players unprecedented amounts of freedom. In Ultima VII: The Black Gate, that freedom was well illustrated, as there were little stopping players from "gettin' it on." As "The Avatar," virtuous protector of the medieval world of Britannia, players were not only given the choice between being a hero or heroine, but the opportunity to swing either way… and I don't mean their sword.

Ultima VII: The Black Gate

In the land of Britannia, there's the memorable seaside, moderately sleazy town of Buccaneer's Den and its most infamous establishment: "The Baths." Players who paid the entry fee and ventured within found three attractive young "attendants" waiting (two women and one male): Martine, Wench, and Gilberto. Any of them were happy to give massages, or accompany clients to into the so-called "community room"—though, as Wench inevitably stated, "It really isn't a 'community room' at all. We shall be all alone!"

If the Avatar agreed to go to the community room with one of the attendants, the screen would fade to black. A title card appeared, reading thus: "A while later, after the woman/fellow has shown you more tricks than a mage on stage, you emerge from the community room a much happier Avatar."

One interesting fact about this potential encounter is that it didn't have to be heterosexual—male characters could go into the community room with Gilberto, and females could go with Wench or Martine. Consequently, Ultima VII may well be the first RPG to allow one the choice to play as a gay character and engage in gay sex. This was a bold move on the part of the designers, but it's only logical: if a game allows players the chance to customize their character's gender and race, why not their sexual orientation as well?

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix

Released: 2001
Developers: Kronos Digital
Publishers: Eidos
Platform: PlayStation

Publisher Eidos may have played up the girls-gone-wild lesbo angle by having the two female protagonists of Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix, Hana Tsu-Vachel and Rain Qin, straddling each other in their underwear for the print ads, but the actual game wasn't the promiscuous orgy that ads teased.

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix

The only two instances of actual sex take place off-screen in the opening introduction movie. Hana is shown showering in a hotel room while her latest assassination target lies dead and naked on the bed. The implication of Hana showering hints that the deathblow was delivered while in the throws of passion. The other instance of sex taking place involves one of the other main protagonists, Deke Decourt. Our first glimpse of Deke has him rising from a bed with a naked hooker lying beside him after she has serviced him.

As far as the hyped hot lesbo action goes, Hana and Rain do have a Madonna and Britney-like lip lock in an elevator to "distract" guards while breaking into a facility, but two never get past first base. The only other questionable S&M-like hook-up involves Rain and tentacle machine when she is captured early in the game. While the player is in control of Hana, she discovers and rescues Rain who is strapped upright to a platform with her arms crucified and her legs spread eagle. Gyrating pump-like contraptions are clasped on to her breasts and over her private parts. Is it interrogation, torture or rape? Even director Stan Liu isn't saying and says it's open to player "interpretation." Uh, I say "yes."

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