Emotional Game Endings

[TundraWolf]

So I just finished Red Dead Redemption. I don't want to ruin it for the people who haven't finished it yet, but I actually found myself very emotionally invested in what was going on. I didn't think I would feel that way, truth be told: RDR is an amazing game, for sure, but I didn't feel involved in the story to any great extent. I was taking part in the story, playing as Marston, but I didn't feel like I was invested in what was going on.

Then the ending came along and kicked me in the teeth. Honestly, I felt a little betrayed by the end of the final cutscene. I'm assuming that's what they were shooting for, but still. It was an emotional voyage for me.

I've encountered a few other games where I've been emotionally invested in what's going on. Shadow of the Colossus is a great example of that, as is Beyond Good & Evil, or the Brothers in Arms series (Road to Hill 30 and Hell's Highway, in particular). Even the ending of Half-Life 2: Episode Two had me near tears. There are a few others as well.

So the question is as follows: have there ever been any games that you've been really emotionally engaged in? If so, what are they?

(Search bar provided a topic from a year ago, but I figured a newer one wouldn't hurt.)

 

[King of the Sandbox]

So I just finished Red Dead Redemption. I don't want to ruin it for the people who haven't finished it yet, but I actually found myself very emotionally invested in what was going on. I didn't think I would feel that way, truth be told: RDR is an amazing game, for sure, but I didn't feel involved in the story to any great extent. I was taking part in the story, playing as Marston, but I didn't feel like I was invested in what was going on.

Then the ending came along and kicked me in the teeth. Honestly, I felt a little betrayed by the end of the final cutscene. I'm assuming that's what they were shooting for, but still. It was an emotional voyage for me.

I've encountered a few other games where I've been emotionally invested in what's going on. Shadow of the Colossus is a great example of that, as is Beyond Good & Evil, or the Brothers in Arms series (Road to Hill 30 and Hell's Highway, in particular). Even the ending of Half-Life 2: Episode Two had me near tears. There are a few others as well.

So the question is as follows: have there ever been any games that you've been really emotionally engaged in? If so, what are they?

(Search bar provided a topic from a year ago, but I figured a newer one wouldn't hurt.)

I loved the ending to RDR. Very deep story, with a lot to think about there. It's honestly my favorite game of all time now, not just for the amazing sandbox of wild west fun, but the gripping, realistic and moving story.

I don't think another game has made me as misty eyed or made me think about the human condition and the need for redemption. And this is definitely the only game that has ever made me truly feel for the characters involved as though they were people.

GOTY, indeed.

 

[Gentleman_Reptile]

There have been a few yes. Conkers Bad Fur Day had a suprisingly emotional and thought provoking ending which managed to make me respect it even more. It also had a great little depressing cutscene after the credits which felt like a nice little cookie.

This might also come across as an odd choice, but Pandora and Hepheastus in God of War 3 were such great characters emotionally.

Kratos: "Hope is for the weak Pandora......."

Pandora: "Hope is what makes us strong! It is why we are here! It is what we fight with when all else is lost."

That line of Pandora's echos in my head daily.

 

[P.Tsunami]

Oooh, how appropriate; I get to post the exact same thing back-to-back in two different threads! One of the most emotional game endings I've ever seen has to be for Project Zero (that's Fatal Frame for you non-Europeans out there) III. I'll throw the video into spoiler tags (for good reason), but I'll say that it had me crying like a little b*tch for minutes.

Spoiler

 

[The Root Beer Guy]

Half Life 2: Episode 2 has the distinction of being the only game to make me cry. The ending to that game is so emotional and so wonderfully voice acted that it gets me every time. In terms of getting that smug feeling that I just totally saved the day, Mass Effect takes the cake.

 

[MortyMnemonic]

Kratos: "Hope is for the weak Pandora......."

Pandora: "Hope is what makes us strong! It is why we are here! It is what we fight with when all else is lost."

That line of Pandora's echos in my head daily.

Yeah, I know that feeling but not in a positive sense. More in a "Whhhhhyyyyyy?" kind a sense.

OT: Grandia had a pretty nice ending. And I liked Devil May Cry 3's as well. I am all in for brotherly love.

 

[Cuacuani]

The ending of The Darkness (and the game in general) was fantastic.

 

[TheBluesader]

So I just finished Red Dead Redemption. I don't want to ruin it for the people who haven't finished it yet, but I actually found myself very emotionally invested in what was going on. I didn't think I would feel that way, truth be told: RDR is an amazing game, for sure, but I didn't feel involved in the story to any great extent. I was taking part in the story, playing as Marston, but I didn't feel like I was invested in what was going on.

Then the ending came along and kicked me in the teeth. Honestly, I felt a little betrayed by the end of the final cutscene. I'm assuming that's what they were shooting for, but still. It was an emotional voyage for me.

I've encountered a few other games where I've been emotionally invested in what's going on. Shadow of the Colossus is a great example of that, as is Beyond Good & Evil, or the Brothers in Arms series (Road to Hill 30 and Hell's Highway, in particular). Even the ending of Half-Life 2: Episode Two had me near tears. There are a few others as well.

So the question is as follows: have there ever been any games that you've been really emotionally engaged in? If so, what are they?

(Search bar provided a topic from a year ago, but I figured a newer one wouldn't hurt.)

I loved the ending to RDR. Very deep story, with a lot to think about there. It's honestly my favorite game of all time now, not just for the amazing sandbox of wild west fun, but the gripping, realistic and moving story.

I don't think another game has made me as misty eyed or made me think about the human condition and the need for redemption. And this is definitely the only game that has ever made me truly feel for the characters involved as though they were people.

GOTY, indeed.

Word. I'm a huge western fan anyway and this just hit me right in the sappy dramatic sweet spot.

Kinda like sappy country songs. You KNOW what's coming and you KNOW it's totally cheap, but it makes you misty anyway.

Maybe I should hand in my man card. But still.

 

[vivadelkitty]

Not endings but

Spoiler

Axel's death

in Kingdom Hearts 2 and

Spoiler

Xion's death

in 358/2 Days both brought me to the verge of tears. The distinction to actually making me cry, however, is the ending for Twilight Princess. I know that she had to destroy the Mirror in the end, but dammit, at least say a proper goodbye to your companion before!

 

[Blackdoom]

As I have mentioned a couple of times Crisis Core has an emotional ending after Zack escaped from being tortured by the people he worked for and is on the run with Cloud he eventually is confronted by the entire Shinra army a fight ensues but the emotional part is in the final moments of his life when the DMW is destroyed the only part of his mind that remains is Aeris and he keeps on experiencing memories about her until his final moment when he asks Cloud to live on as his living legacy.

Metal Gear Solid 3 had an emotional ending after the truth is revealed about what happened I felt sad for Snake who had to kill his mentor.

 

[VivaciousDeimos]

Then the ending came along and kicked me in the teeth. Honestly, I felt a little betrayed by the end of the final cutscene. I'm assuming that's what they were shooting for, but still. It was an emotional voyage for me.

This was the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title.

Now have you

Spoiler

played the mission Remember My Family as Jack? Because that almost got me as much as John's ending. They were both very emotional but in separate ways, the latter having quite a bit more catharsis.

The ending of Mass Effect 2 was also pretty emotional, but more in a fuck yeah kind of way, unless you lost squad mates, then it was quite a bit sadder, but still very emotional and engaging.

 

[Vrex360]

I have to admit I got an emotional pull at the end of Halo 3, both the 'credits' ending with the Arbiter and Lord Hood paying homage to the soldiers lost in the war and the 'after credits' ending with Cortana and the Masterchief exchanging a few last words before the Chief puts himself back into cryogenic sleep.
Something about that felt like a solid and well done ending for some reason.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

I think the ending to GTA IV was really, really well-done and actually managed to get some emotional response out of me.
Other than that, Heavy Rain, of course.

 

[MattyDienhoff]

The ending of Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven comes to mind.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

Final Fantasy X?

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

Final Fantasy X, Call of Duty 4 (The actual ending, not the epilogue).

 

[P.Tsunami]

Other than that, Heavy Rain, of course.

To me, that's not obvious at all. Your mileage may vary, but I found the ending to be a huge disappointment. I kind of felt cheated.

 

[Elric_de_Melnibone]

Mass Effect got me.

I can't point at why, but I just felt like "Whew, what a ride. Wow." when the credits finally started rolling, while listening to the excellent credits song.

I know some people don't share that opinion, but when I sat back and watched the credits of Mass Effect, it was at that moment when I realised just how great it is, and how much I enjoyed it.

*Applause to Mass Effect*