Genuinely moving moments in games...

[MiracleOfSound]

I've been a gamer for many many years (about 18 years now) and I really have enjoyed how in the last few years more and more games are focusing on having intense, involving storylines and characters that make you really care about them.

What I wanna know is what parts of what games have moved or really affected people to the point where they almost shed a big soppy tear...

For me, without a doubt the moment that left me reeling and I have never had the balls to play through again was the ending to Half Life 2: Episode 2. Anyone else find this absolutely harrowing?

Sorry if this has been done before, I'm new here!

 

[Josdeb]

I know how old this'll sound, but the FFVII bit where Aeris dies was actually pretty moving for me.
Yes, I know, this has been done to death but hear me out.

I hadn't actually played through FF7 the first time it came out (LArgely due to the fact I was only about 5 years old) and I've only managed to pick up a copy of the PC version in the last year.
I'd known going into the game that Aeris was going to die, and I had accepted it fully and largely detached myself from her for the entire game and spent most of her scenes wondering how anyone in the world could feel sorry for her.

But then it happened. She got stabbed. While bloody PRAYING. Seeing the scene myself really made me think and I felt genuine emotion (Urgh, I know) and after doing activities with her, and the date mission and etc. I found I had become somewhat sub-conciously attached to her and seeing Sephiroths sword poke out of her, well, it made me sad.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Let's see. Chrono Cross is definately a game rife with moving moments, given that you take the time to put your mind in the situation. Gears of War 2 actually had some moments, like

Spoiler

Carmine's death, which was pretty depressing, Tai's death, which was really depressing, and Dom finding his wife was surprisingly well done, leaving a genuinely moving moment.

 

[Ace of Spades]

The ending of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

the FFVII bit where Aeris dies was actually pretty moving for me.

That's what my buddy's choice in the pub last night was too... never played FF7, must give it a go!

 

[AngryMan]

The end of Episode 2, absolutely. I think the big ones for me were some of the romance discussions in Baldur's Gate 2, though - the principle female love interests (Jahiera and Aerie) or both very damaged people, in their own ways, and you did feel a sense of connection.

There a scene later in the game where a Drow priestess basically orders your character into her bed. Given that you're magically disguised as drow at this point and are deep in the heart of a Drow city, refusing to obey her would probably have been a really bad idea, so I obeyed.

Aerie's betrayed response afterwards was almost heart-breaking.

 

[ganpondorodf]

The bit when you guide the ghost back to his grave in Link's Awakening sorta tore me up a little... But then again, I was only about 7.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Let's see. Chrono Cross is definately a game rife with moving moments, given that you take the time to put your mind in the situation. Gears of War 2 actually had some moments, like

Spoiler

Carmine's death, which was pretty depressing, Tai's death, which was really depressing, and Dom finding his wife was surprisingly well done, leaving a genuinely moving moment.

Gotta agree with that too... the music in Maria's scene is stunning

 

[guko84]

whenever damn otacon crys.

 

[Crudler]

Let's see. Chrono Cross is definately a game rife with moving moments, given that you take the time to put your mind in the situation. Gears of War 2 actually had some moments, like

Spoiler

Carmine's death, which was pretty depressing, Tai's death, which was really depressing, and Dom finding his wife was surprisingly well done, leaving a genuinely moving moment.

Ah, I really have to disagree with the Gears deaths, the first is now just becoming a running joke that was somewhat amusing but not upsetting. The middle one was probably the worst of them all but still, not wholly devastating. The latter though, I just didn't care. It was reasonably well done but you're only just introduced and my friend and I (We were both playing it through co-op) found it just, well harder to relate to I guess but again didn't really care and looked upon it was a state of apathy.

Edit: That does sound rather callous in hindsight and I'm not the most emotionally robust character, I guess games just don't phase me as much.

 

[Puppeteer Putin]

Recently, I would have to say the Call of Duty 4 Nuke sequence, and the aftermath. I felt genuine dread for that character and sadness when he collapsed.

For me, without a doubt the moment that left me reeling and I have never had the balls to play through again was the ending to Half Life 2: Episode 2. Anyone else find this absolutely harrowing?

That was upsetting; actually Episode 2 was book-ended with upsetting moments... two members of the same family... Wow, that was depressing.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

That was upsetting; actually Episode 2 was book-ended with upsetting moments... two members of the same family... Wow, that was depressing.

Gordon better give Alyx a hug in episode 3.

 

[CeeJay]

I don't consider to be one of my "greatest games", so I don't know it in detail, but Zelda OoT

At the end of the begining, when you leave the village training area, you say goodbye to a friend at the gate. I found that moment to be quite moving.

(Although I did read it as a love story between the two. which may not be true to the actual plot)

 

[Crowghast]

Nothing has really affected me in the past. Most character deaths were either deemed as necessary to move on, or just a very dramatic way of getting rid of a nuisance. The most moving things in games, for me, are beautiful set pieces. A background that makes everything feel EPIC.

In Bioshock, you're in an underwater city, a screen comes out of nowhere and the scares the shit out of me, and then he makes a speech.
Epic.

In Assassin's Creed, you're a descendant to the Hashashin organization and while you try to eliminate certain men from existence in the time of the Crusades, you, in the process, discover the thing that basically made Jesus the son of God.
Epic.

Those are some things that feel epic, but the characters almost never feel as epic. Maybe if they were in a book... I can think of a few other examples of "epic" set pieces, but i'm almost to the bottom of the "Reply to Thread" box.

That's long enough.

 

[CoverYourHead]

Some points in the darkness.

Agreed. That game had a surprisingly good plot for a game with such busted gameplay, it should have been a movie a la Sin City.

 

[WingedFortress]

Braid. And whomever said Metal Gear Solid 3's ending, was right as well.

 

[mark_n_b]

There are few games that are as emotionally moving as Rule of Rose for the PS2, Especially the good ending where young jenny goes walking through the orphanage recounting how truly wonderful her friends were (who played the part of some of the most torment-inducing villains I had ever seen in a video game).

The game-play is off, but I highly recommend this game to anyone who wants to see sophisticated and mature writing and emotion in a game.

For the record, I have yet to play a game that is as achieved in emotional connection.