How Can Videogames Make Us Cry?

[Baldry]

When your hdmi cable breaks when your heavily in FF13!!!!WHHHYYYYY GOODD?!?!?!?

Urmm anyway in games like Final fantasy, fallout, dragon age, KOTOR and most games where theres deep emotion, and I can relate to the charecter and everyone else, and then BAM someone dies, or get kidnapped or worse turns to the darkside. In fallout 3 when Dogmeat died, I shed a tear.

In Dragon age origins When you do the do with Morrigan and she leaves with the child after you make them Love each another

And many other moments, I know I get emotional, and im not sure if I actully have cried but I do get emotional for sure

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

Final Fantasy VII - Sector 7.
Final Fantasy VII - End of Disc 1.
MGS3 - The Boss.
Kingdom Hearts - yeah, I said it - the ending got to me, okay?
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days - if you don't cry, you're a soulless monster and she is more human that you.

Talking about Triumphant moments? V for Vendetta affected me that way, let's get something like THAT in a game.

 

[Korten12]

Okay, I'll man up and admit it. Metal Gear Solid 4 actually brought me to tears on my first playthrough, especially Act 4. Walking in such a familiar area, looking at the broken security cameras, and listening to The Best Is Yet To Come and I just sat there, reflecting on how far the series has come.

It was an emotional moment as I thought about playing the NES port of Metal Gear as a child. I thought about my elementary school friend introducing me to Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. I thought about the day I was browsing the racks at Blockbuster to find Metal Gear Solid, then taking it home and beating it in one day, completely blown away by it. I thought about the day I rushed home from school just so I can pick up a copy of Sons of Libery. I thought about how, despite the deception, I grew to like Raiden. I thought about the day I found a copy of Metal Gear on NES at a garage sale for $0.50, rushing back home to relive the memories. I thought about dominating the forests of Russia in Snake Eater, playing as Solid Snake's father and hilariously meeting Johnny's grandfather (who I spared). And here I am again, as Solid Snake, back in Alaska staring at a broken camera, listening to audio flashbacks, dodging guards that weren't there anymore, and spending the whole level on top-down view (1000 points!).

The hand-to-hand fight between Solid Snake and Liquid Ocelot had it's own emotional weight as well. Two men, who experienced things that no normal solder could imagine. Two men who fought, bled, and gave every ounce of their existence for what they believed. Solid Snake, the hero. Ocelot, the anti-hero. Adversaries for decades. And this was their last duel, their final mission. Only one of them was walking away alive.

Then in the next minute, I'm watching Snake at the cemetery, ready to take his own life. At that point, I couldn't hold back anymore. This was Snake. A character hero since my childhood. A character I played from a pixelated green blob to what he is now. This wasn't just any regular game character, this was my character. And when that screen went black, I sobbed like a *****. Needless to say I actually cheered to see the final ending, the real resolution. I cheered when Big Boss showed up, and I hissed when Zero died. This was a great conclusion to a brilliant series. And it sure went out with a bang. I know there are more Metal Gear Solid games coming out, but Snake's tale is over.

The only game that ever came close to making me feel like this was Episode 4 of Tales of Monkey Island. I had a similar reflection, looking back at all the adventures I had with Guybrush Threepwood, from when my friend introduced me to the series up till now. After that, I was hanging on the edge of my seat waiting for Episode 5 to come out.

yeah MGS4 also made me cry the second time around becuase the first game in the series I got was MGS4 but it was soooooo goood I boughtht the three other games in a collection (never played the nes games) and when I beat them and played over the fourth game it made me very sad. I hope MGSeace Walker is good.

 

[shiajun]

I keep reading a lot about MSG and FF getting to people, but most of the heart jerking moments I've gotten from point and click adventure games. Maybe it's because of the heavy authoring in them, but hey, it works.

Gabriel Knight 3's ending is incredibly bittersweet, especially if you've been following the series from the start. The evolution of the characters and how it all ends up makes you want to intervene. The last fade out marvelous. Actually, the entire series is full of moments that really get you chocked up. Good for you, Jane Jensen!

The Longest Journey and Dreamfall both have moments that just twisted by emotional core. Ragnar Tornquist is a master. There's so much sacrifice and so much aftermath of beauty lost in those games.

Grim Fandango also has one of the most hurtful dying scenes. I won't want to spoil, but those who've played the game will remember a perky goodbye.

Syberia 2 has a strangely nostalgic ending. The whole series is also about decay and clinging on to dying dreams, but the final ending resemebles a heartfelt sigh, a candle burning out, it just moves you. Maybe not to the point of crying, but it certainly leaves an aftertaste for a while.

 

[Mr. Grey]

The only things to make me almost cry are good TV shows, movies and books.

I am immune to video games because as soon as I hit reset, guess what? Everything is as it should be, no one has to die and everyone can hold hands and sing songs. Till I decide to watch said person die again and again, because clearly this person was a token thing meant to instill emotions into me.

But you can start all those things over and decide to watch/read someone's death as well.

Yeah, but they'll always die if you watch or read it through. In a game, you can skip around merrily buying all sorts of stuff and killing dudes for money and never have to see that ending. Unless you walk North, it's always North...

Or South by South by South. Whichever.

 

[clicketycrack]

I've never had a game make me cry. Come to think of it, a movie's never made me cry either (with the exception of cocoon, but I was nine). I guess I'm just a dick.

 

[TyrantGanado]

My eyes leaked three times in MGS4. Once at

Spoiler

Naomi's death

a second during the microwave corridor sequence and a third when

Spoiler

Big Boss died. The sheer finality and simplicity of it, with just the cigar casually falling from his hand made it all the more tear-jerkery

MGS3's ending sequence had me sobbing a bit.

The biggest one however was the absolute shock of

Spoiler

Jenny's death

in The Darkness. The mocking from the Darkness itself afterwards made me rage...while still crying. The Germans suffered my wrath in Hell I tell you.

 

[Goldeneye103X2]

The ending to trace memory/Another Code always gets me choked up.

 

[midpipps]

I would have to agree with most of the others MGS 4, FFVII, Heavy Rain, but am very sad that I have not seen anyone mention
Valkyria Chronicles made me cry at least 3 time the biggy was

Spoiler: if you have not played this game please do yourself a favor and go play the game it is a great game and can be very emotional

Still makes me tear up just listening to that song Isara was my favorite character why did she have to die.

 

[Stabby Joe]

Fallout 3, Mr. Rouse? That game didn't make me cry. It made me angry. It made me think "this could've been game of the year, but the ending sucked so badly that I have to give this award to another game". It's the reason I wouldn't recommend anyone even consider the game without at least Broken Steel added on to it.

Bad example.

I'll agree with it as an example but "not even consider"? It's just one mission at the end, if you don't do it you can keep on playing or at least reload after the ending.

As for this topic, I have yet to get teary from a video game but I think it is possible... still waiting on it though...

With the Game of the Year edition out it's kind of a moot point, but Broken Steel is otherwise the most essential ten bucks you can spend on that game. Not only does it fix the ending but it raises the too-low level cap to a point that makes a bit more sense.

I won't disagree with that, of course you should get Broken Steel. But I don't think that discredits the game entirely without.

 

[Jubilant]

When Anthony Carmine dies in Gears 2. I didn't even play the game! Just watched clips from youtube...

I saw that. Teared like a baby because he was just so innocent. Also when Dom found Maria again. I wanted to throw my controller for some odd reason with that.

As well as in Assassin's Creed 2, the last part of 16's files before you see his final 'memory'. When he was just begging to be let go and telling us that 'his mind is gone' and 'Lucy. I'm just ready to go...' just made me almost bawl like a baby, I had gotten to attatched to him.

Did you come here just because of March Mayhem? If yes, that's my story! If no, Welcome To The Escapist anyway.

Dom found Maria, wait what? Tell me the full-story using spoiler-tags. If you don't know how to use them:

Spoiler: whatever you want to come up as text when someone sees the box7

The Context[/spoiler7]

Without the 7s of course.

Spoiler: whatever you want to come up as text when someone sees the box7

Ah! Sorry! I'm not used to this yet... umm..

Spoiler

Dom and Marcus are on their way to find the Locust Queen, and they find Maria. Dom sees her as being how she was before, but Marcus snaps him out of it and Dom realizes that Maria has, basically been put in a vegetable-like state. Marcus leaves, and Dom tells Maria he loves her

 

[Arella18]

Silent Hill 2...that's all I have to say...that game was the epitome of emotional responses...I'll just list a few of the most emotional scenes...

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oplI6xc3uys

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugNt6PVI18w

3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugNt6PVI18w

4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZE03IKmaSQ

5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA6rAU5DAoo

and my personal favorite from the game

6)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyaLoaUbExk



Scenes 1&2 and scenes 3&4 are following one another

 

[Nouw]

When Anthony Carmine dies in Gears 2. I didn't even play the game! Just watched clips from youtube...

I saw that. Teared like a baby because he was just so innocent. Also when Dom found Maria again. I wanted to throw my controller for some odd reason with that.

As well as in Assassin's Creed 2, the last part of 16's files before you see his final 'memory'. When he was just begging to be let go and telling us that 'his mind is gone' and 'Lucy. I'm just ready to go...' just made me almost bawl like a baby, I had gotten to attatched to him.

Did you come here just because of March Mayhem? If yes, that's my story! If no, Welcome To The Escapist anyway.

Dom found Maria, wait what? Tell me the full-story using spoiler-tags. If you don't know how to use them:

Spoiler: whatever you want to come up as text when someone sees the box7

The Context[/spoiler7]

Without the 7s of course.

Spoiler: whatever you want to come up as text when someone sees the box7

Ah! Sorry! I'm not used to this yet... umm..

Spoiler

Dom and Marcus are on their way to find the Locust Queen, and they find Maria. Dom sees her as being how she was before, but Marcus snaps him out of it and Dom realizes that Maria has, basically been put in a vegetable-like state. Marcus leaves, and Dom tells Maria he loves her

Spoiler: whatever you want to come up as text when someone sees the box7

How sad...

 

[bakonslayer]

I once had a Chao/
Its life ended, So I cried/
Nobody warned me.

Why'd you kill my Chao, Sega?

 

[bakonslayer]

Edit: Oopsies. Sorry. Double post! X_X

 

[y8c616]

Okay, I'll man up and admit it. Metal Gear Solid 4 actually brought me to tears on my first playthrough, especially Act 4. Walking in such a familiar area, looking at the broken security cameras, and listening to The Best Is Yet To Come and I just sat there, reflecting on how far the series has come.

It was an emotional moment as I thought about playing the NES port of Metal Gear as a child. I thought about my elementary school friend introducing me to Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. I thought about the day I was browsing the racks at Blockbuster to find Metal Gear Solid, then taking it home and beating it in one day, completely blown away by it. I thought about the day I rushed home from school just so I can pick up a copy of Sons of Libery. I thought about how, despite the deception, I grew to like Raiden. I thought about the day I found a copy of Metal Gear on NES at a garage sale for $0.50, rushing back home to relive the memories. I thought about dominating the forests of Russia in Snake Eater, playing as Solid Snake's father and hilariously meeting Johnny's grandfather (who I spared). And here I am again, as Solid Snake, back in Alaska staring at a broken camera, listening to audio flashbacks, dodging guards that weren't there anymore, and spending the whole level on top-down view (1000 points!).

The hand-to-hand fight between Solid Snake and Liquid Ocelot had it's own emotional weight as well. Two men, who experienced things that no normal solder could imagine. Two men who fought, bled, and gave every ounce of their existence for what they believed. Solid Snake, the hero. Ocelot, the anti-hero. Adversaries for decades. And this was their last duel, their final mission. Only one of them was walking away alive.

Then in the next minute, I'm watching Snake at the cemetery, ready to take his own life. At that point, I couldn't hold back anymore. This was Snake. A character hero since my childhood. A character I played from a pixelated green blob to what he is now. This wasn't just any regular game character, this was my character. And when that screen went black, I sobbed like a *****. Needless to say I actually cheered to see the final ending, the real resolution. I cheered when Big Boss showed up, and I hissed when Zero died. This was a great conclusion to a brilliant series. And it sure went out with a bang. I know there are more Metal Gear Solid games coming out, but Snake's tale is over.

The only game that ever came close to making me feel like this was Episode 4 of Tales of Monkey Island. I had a similar reflection, looking back at all the adventures I had with Guybrush Threepwood, from when my friend introduced me to the series up till now. After that, I was hanging on the edge of my seat waiting for Episode 5 to come out.

Haha your recollection of the final 2 acts of MGS4 almost had me welling up, as i remembered my first play through of the game. I think its because I'd pretty much grown up with the MGS series, having played MGS1 when i was 10. But yes, the sheer epicness of the final half of act 5, and the ending, definatly had me in tears!!

 

[TheImpar]

Are you so jaded at such a young age that you can't be sucked into a story- can't become emotionally committed to the point where you are moved to the deepest levels of sorrow? If you can't, then I frankly pity you: you're life is going to be pretty emotionally empty. If you can't experience the lows in life, you will never appreciate the highs. (Sorry to sound so sanctimonious, but it's true.)

call me a 'sap' if you want. I call myself 'human'.

I can't believe it. Someone seriously just said this. Hey, you know what? You can go fall off a bridge. And land on something really soft and be escorted safely away from said bridge back to your home.

Just because I went, "pffft," when Aeris died, it doesn't mean that I felt nothing seeing my brothers teary eyed saying "I do" at their respective weddings. It doesn't mean that I didn't cry tears of joy when the doctors said my mother's cancer was going away. It doesn't mean that I didn't completely break down and bawl like a baby (something I didn't even do when I was a baby) when she passed away.

"If you can't experience the lows in life, you will never appreciate the highs." Sure, I can agree with that. I'm just saying that I don't really count Aeris dying as a real "low" in my life.

Now, if you had just said, "you guys who can't become emotionally committed to these games are really missing out, man. Crying at video games is flipping beautiful," without the "I pity you. Your life is pretty emotionally empty," part, then this would be a different conversation.

With that said, I don't think we should be worrying about making people cry at their video games so much as just focusing on creating well-written, compelling stories. Like Silent Hill 2. I didn't cry, but I did say to myself for the first time in response to a video game, "Wow. That was actually really well done!" Games reached a new level for me after that. That's what I'd like to experience more of.

 

[Carlston]

Story, Plot, characters you accualy want to care about?

The threads be up before, and no matter what games are a just a new media to tell stories and yes a game characters death can be as tear jerking as the end of Gladiator or the death of character in a book...