Has a video game ever moved you to tears?

[AndyAnime]

Inspired by a thread I saw on the TV/Movies board, dunno if this has been done, but I thought I'd post it.

Has there ever been a moment in a game that ever moved you to tears?

I know I get misty-eyed when I play the "Over the Distance" scenario in Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, and even more so with the "You're the Inspiration" scenario in Elite Beat Agents.

What about you guys?

[Super Samurai]

It happened pretty close a few times during certain RPGs but not yet.

[Nyssane]

Shadow Hearts: Covenant had me crying like a baby during "The Miracle" scene and even worse at the ending.

I cried at the end of the second disc of Final Fantasy IX because of Queen Brahne, her last words to Garnet were pretty touching despite Brahne's greed and selfishness.

I'll try to think of more... hmmm.

[nervmeister]

The end of Okami almost.

[Gargus]

Never cried or come close in a game.

But the ghost train scene in final fantasy 3 was sad to me. I actually felt bad for cyan.

Metal gear solid 3 had a couple scenes that got me a little to. The end with boss was a bit melodramatic but still a heartfelt one. I felt kind bad for snake at the end with what eva did.

[cactusmaac]

Aeris, death of. Didn't quite make move me to tears but did make me want to tear Sephiroth several new holes.

Batman Forever nearly did so based on how expensive and completely woeful it was.

[Young Avenger]

Shadow Hearts: Covenant had me crying like a baby during "The Miracle" scene and even worse at the ending.

What do mean by "The Miracle"?

[RickThunderclees]

Never cried or come close in a game.

But the ghost train scene in final fantasy 3 was sad to me. I actually felt bad for cyan.

Metal gear solid 3 had a couple scenes that got me a little to. The end with boss was a bit melodramatic but still a heartfelt one. I felt kind bad for snake at the end with what eva did.
Final Fantasy 3, or Final Fantasy 6 in Japan made me sad in many parts.


But Final Fantasy 7 was one that got me to tear up on several occasions.

Tales of Symphonia also had a couple of sad parts.

[Johnny_H]

I thought the start of Fable was kind of sad, I didnt really feel wierd or sad about it. I thought fable was going to be like Zelda lol I didnt expect his folks to get murdered at the start.

Also another cool thing was in Oblivion, After I had beaten it I noticed allot of the characters that mentored me had died in the last battle, so I went back and did it again ahaha so they would live.

[Frodo-X]

Final Fantasy X.

[Sheldon]

Aeris, death of. Didn't quite make move me to tears but did make me want to tear Sephiroth several new holes.


That moment was probably the most emotionally in a game I've ever been. Didn't cry, but dammit it was pretty powerful.

[DemonJack]

Not to tears but several at points in Final Fantasy IV I was like "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"

Also FFIX, when you get to the Wizard village with Vivi, and the massacre and stuff it was really sad.:(

[Wesley Dodds]

What do mean by "The Miracle"?

The scene where

Yuri and Roger Bacon bring Anne back to life for an instant.

[Leslie Lee III]

No, not even close. Probably won't happen. The only ones I've ever gotten that much into have been Resident Evil and Silent Hill games.

[Grimm]

Whenever I have the misfortune of spending a lot of money on a crap game.

[Serik]

A friend of mine once said that games will never be considered art in the same vein as movies because games rarely make you cry or truly care for the characters. Is this a flaw of the medium itself? Or have designers simply been unable to tap into our deepest emotions with their games?

[The Foreigner]

Metal Gear Solid 3 is the only video game to ever get me misty-eyed. I never saw that ending coming.

[Nyssane]

What do mean by "The Miracle"?

The scene where

Yuri and Roger Bacon bring Anne back to life for an instant.

Yup. :( Bringing her back to life just to crumble up before Yuri. ;_; Me cry long time.

Speaking of Final Fantasy, the ending to VIII and X both had me crying. I still to this day tear up during VIII's ending, but X's was totally ruined by the creation of X-2. I didn't think Aeris' death was all that sad (if only because she had virtually no character development), but Cyan's scene in 6 did make me feel really bad for the guy. Also, Cid's death in 6 made me cry, now that I think about it.

Yeah, I'm a wimp.

[Young Avenger]

What do mean by "The Miracle"?

The scene where

Yuri and Roger Bacon bring Anne back to life for an instant.

I wasn't aware that scene was named. Wasn't effect by that scene because I knew it was going to end in failure. Also thought it was lame.

[Sean Whitmore]

I came close several times during Final Fantasy IX, most notably the part where Zidane learns his true origins, and the end while "Melodies of Life" played.


SEAN

[Mike Pothier]

The end of Zelda 3 made my eyes water. Nothing to do with the story, just the fact that the greatest adventure I've ever experienced was over. The sad music during the credits didn't help.

[yeoman]

Shadow Hearts: Covenant had me crying like a baby during "The Miracle" scene and even worse at the ending.


Yeah, if any game ever came close to making me cry, that would be it.

What do mean by "The Miracle"?

The scene where

Yuri and Roger Bacon bring Anne back to life for an instant.

And Yuri, tears streaming down his face, forces back a lovecraftian entity trying to enter our world through her body with a look.

[Sanagi]

Final Fantasy 6 and 7.

RPGs have a way of getting you really emotionally invested in a character.

[yeoman]

A friend of mine once said that games will never be considered art in the same vein as movies because games rarely make you cry or truly care for the characters. Is this a flaw of the medium itself? Or have designers simply been unable to tap into our deepest emotions with their games?

Anyone that can watch the aforementioned scene in Shadowhearts: Covenent, and not even feel a twinge of emotion has a heart of frigging stone.

Virtually any medium can be used to create art. Film, novels, animation, sequential art, all have been panned in their early stages as being unable to be art.

Video games are a new medium. And most creators are either just trying to make a buck or make something fun.

The critisism I see used most often to say that video games can't be art is that how the piece is experienced depends as much on the viewer as the creator.

To which I respond that pretty much every medium is the same way. Relying on the experiences and emotions that the audience brings to it.

[Serik]

Or to put it another way: watching a cinematic scene within a game can be very emotional. But isn't this scene just another variation of film? Can actual gameplay be emotional or move you to tears? Or just the conclusion of this gameplay (for whatever reason)?

I think videogames are a fantastic art form, but many people, including Robert Ebert, dismiss them as nothing but mindless entertainment. Just playing a little devil's advocate.

And RPGs are the only games that ever make me emotional. War games probably should, but most of them present the characters as nothing but mindless meat shields. It’s hard to care about a character when you know nothing about them…

[The Fury]

A friend of mine once said that games will never be considered art in the same vein as movies because games rarely make you cry or truly care for the characters. Is this a flaw of the medium itself? Or have designers simply been unable to tap into our deepest emotions with their games?
I care for the characters but I have never cried or been moved to tears because of a game.

I think people who really are that stuck up to deny games as an art form need to be shown what goes into it. Not only is the music within games art in itself but many programmer might see their work as art, the conceptual artists and graphics designers as well, and lets not forget the modern cinematic FMV sequences which can look better then some CGI movies.

Just because you do not cry at an event in a game does not mean it is not art...I get emotional enough that if I die and am losing in a fight in an FF game or even when I am fighting the boss my emotions are high, I don't know what's going to happen what big moves this boss is going to throw at me, what I need to defeat it. My fight for survival just to try in vein to beat it even when I don't know how to. I am nervous because of victory and because I know I have little chance of winning yet excited at the prospect of winning. Then angry when I fail.

I never feel like that when watching movies.

[Nyssane]

I wasn't aware that scene was named. Wasn't effect by that scene because I knew it was going to end in failure. Also thought it was lame.

Well... you're lame. Bish. But the ending was totally sad and unexpected, GIVE THEM THAT. :p

I remember crying from Lunar: Silver Star Story back in the day, but I can't remember why. I think it was the ending, too.

[GodSmackingReptile]

Whenever I have the misfortune of spending a lot of money on a crap game.
same here man....same here

[Young Avenger]

Well... you're lame. Bish. But the ending was totally sad and unexpected, GIVE THEM THAT. :p

I got the good ending. I didn't find it sad but it was unexpected.

[Agent Helix]

Cobra Triangle made me cry and throw my NES controller at a wall.

[titanfan]

But the ghost train scene in final fantasy 3 was sad to me. I actually felt bad for cyan.

My eyes were definitely misty during this one. Probably the closest I've come to bawling over a game.

[RickThunderclees]

My eyes were definitely misty during this one. Probably the closest I've come to bawling over a game.
What about the whole story with Celes? I always felt horrible for her too...

[Nate Grey]

Magic Knight Rayearth for the Sega Saturn. When the little kid villain (Ascot?) died (plus a kid getting killed. Interestinginly he lived in the anime). Almost got me, cause by that point he had switched sides. Also the resolution right before they went back, cause they (we ;)) went through a lot.

[yeoman]

Or to put it another way: watching a cinematic scene within a game can be very emotional. But isn't this scene just another variation of film? Can actual gameplay be emotional or move you to tears?

FFVII. The battle directly after Aeris' death.

I've seen a few others. It's difficult, but with the proper lead in, yes, even game play can be emotional.

Also, anyone with a City of Heroes account can tell you how dang creepy hanging out in Dark Astoria is.

I think videogames are a fantastic art form, but many people, including Robert Ebert, dismiss them as nothing but mindless entertainment. Just playing a little devil's advocate.

I've read Ebert's critique on the subject. I found it short sighted, uninformed and unwilling to give the same breaks to games that he would to films.

And RPGs are the only games that ever make me emotional. War games probably should, but most of them present the characters as nothing but mindless meat shields. It’s hard to care about a character when you know nothing about them…

Which is why a lot of games have cut scenes. Sands of Time and Two Thrones anyone? You watch as the Prince grows as a person, both through cut scenes, during game play, and, maybe, just occasionally, even through game play.

[yeoman]

I wasn't aware that scene was named. Wasn't effect by that scene because I knew it was going to end in failure. Also thought it was lame.


That it failed wasn't the point. It was about what makes Yuri try and the emotions he goes through during it.

[Leslie Lee III]

Which is why a lot of games have cut scenes. Sands of Time and Two Thrones anyone? You watch as the Prince grows as a person, both through cut scenes, during game play, and, maybe, just occasionally, even through game play.

I didn't see anything much in the stories of either POP 1 or 3, but Warrior Within had a really compelling story that actually tried to capture what a good story for a VIDEO GAME should be, instead of just inserting movies here and there. It, like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, put the protagonist's survival at the forefront. That works because whenever the player is actually interacting with the game he's attempting to survive. It's not falling in love with a princess or saving the planet, it's making sure you don't die. When you take the interaction of the game and make it central to the story that's when you hook me as a gamer. I shouldn't be able to sit back, watch cut scenes, and still "get" the game. I should have to play it and experience it in and that experience should be a primary part of the narrative.

I think one of the main hurdles video games have when it comes to making something emotional is that whenever someone does either 1) you just restart or 2) it was during a 20 minute cut scene you had no control over that took you out of the experience of the game.

[yeoman]

I didn't see anything much in the stories of either POP 1 or 3, but Warrior Within had a really compelling story that actually tried to capture what a good story for a VIDEO GAME should be, instead of just inserting movies here and there.


I have to strongly disagree. I found Warrior Within boring for what little of it I was able to play before the game play and bizarre Metal soundtrack caused me to put the game down for good. By far the weakest of the three on every level.

Meanwhile the first game is about the Prince growing as a person, from a spoiled brat to a man that takes responsibility for his actions, and Two Thrones is about the Prince deciding what kind of man he will be, a desicion mirror by the game play difference between the Prince and his dark alter ego.

Warrior Within, from what I was able to play of it, just seemed to be about the Prince surviving.

But that's just my opinion, like I said, poor gameplay and soundtrack as much as plot casued be to never finish it.

[Leslie Lee III]

Warrior Within, from what I was able to play of it, just seemed to be about the Prince surviving.

Which is what all three games are actually about when the player is interacting with them. That's why it works better for me than a story that I have no active participation in. I can watch a movie, I'm supposed to be PLAYING a game.

[Young Avenger]

That it failed wasn't the point. It was about what makes Yuri try and the emotions he goes through during it.

The scene did nothing for me. Maybe I'm heartless and lack a soul.

[Mikl C]

FF7. I freaking loved Aeris :(

[DrewTheXenocide]

When I was in elementary school, before I knew what crappy voice-acting was, there was this little anime clip in Megaman X4 after you fight Iris, that got me pretty misty.

The only other time was in Chrono Trigger, when Robo's brothers start beating up on him. That got me bad.

[Gladiaria_Alata]

Don't actually have the game. But....



When Tidus had to leave Yuna/go back to his time. :( *sniffles*

[The Fury]

FF7. I freaking loved Aeris :(
:evilsmile

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/43558981/

:evilsmile

[Sanagi]

When I was in elementary school, before I knew what crappy voice-acting was, there was this little anime clip in Megaman X4 after you fight Iris, that got me pretty misty.

The only other time was in Chrono Trigger, when Robo's brothers start beating up on him. That got me bad.
To me, the saddest part in Chrono Trigger was in the main ending to the game, when Robo returned to the future, not knowing if he would still exist.

[yeoman]

Which is what all three games are actually about when the player is interacting with them.

However, the first and third move beyond that and actually develop the Prince as a character.

[Leslie Lee III]

However, the first and third move beyond that and actually develop the Prince as a character.

A character you have no control over and no choice in. A character you sit back and watch with a story you sit back and watch. They even go so far as to tell the story of the first game retroactively making your interaction even more irrelevant to the story. If we wanted to sit back and watch this story (and it's nothing new) there are plenty of films and shows where it's told better.

Now a video game that actually melds gameplay survival with the story? That's a lot more fresh and that's something video games can do BETTER than movies.

[yeoman]

A character you have no control over and no choice in.

I also have no control over Hamlet.

You also have no control over the Prince's destiny in Warrior Within. You can merely fail to perform well enoguh for the game's standards, or succeed. The same for most any other action game.

A character you sit back and watch with a story you sit back and watch. They even go so far as to tell the story of the first game retroactively making your interaction even more irrelevant to the story. If we wanted to sit back and watch this story (and it's nothing new) there are plenty of films and shows where it's told better.

There is nothing new under the sun. That there is another work that tells a similar tale better is not a strike against a story that is still told well and intrestingly.


Now a video game that actually melds gameplay survival with the story? That's a lot more fresh and that's something video games can do BETTER than movies.

Except the point of virtually *every* Video Games' gameplay is survival. The point of it in Warrior Within wasn't some artistic melding of story and game play. It was to give the most basic story possible for the Prince to hit things in and "smolder with generic rage" to quote Penny Arcade.

[Leslie Lee III]

I also have no control over Hamlet.

Yeah, but Shakespeare made Hamlet a play and not a video game, and POP is no Hamlet.

You also have no control over the Prince's destiny in Warrior Within.

You do control whether he lives or dies. That's ALL you do in the game. You don't control "character development."

Except the point of virtually *every* Video Games' gameplay is survival.

That was my point. This game actually addressed that in the same way games in the survival horror genre do.

The point of it in Warrior Within wasn't some artistic melding of story and game play.

Why not? You state it but offer no justification for it, and I don't see how there can be one. Gameplay is about survival and the story of the game was about survival. I don't see where there is room for disagreement with that. Yeah it was basic and got at the basic elements of what a video game is. That's why it was good. It didn't pretend to be a movie when it wasn't a movie. Video games make poor movies.

It was to give the most basic story possible for the Prince to hit things in and "smolder with generic rage" to quote Penny Arcade.

So he didn't hit things in 1 and 3? "Generic rage"? Sounds like people who didn't play the game.

[jchichuv]

final fantasy 7 when Aeris die.
it still hurts

[yeoman]

You do control whether he lives or dies.

No. You don't. You either suceed and he lives, or you fail to advance in the game.


Why not? You state it but offer no justification for it, and I don't see how there can be one.

Because a game that well put together doesn't have a completely out of place and game ruining metal soundtrack.

Gameplay is about survival and the story of the game was about survival. I don't see where there is room for disagreement with that. Yeah it was basic and got at the basic elements of what a video game is. That's why it was good. It didn't pretend to be a movie when it wasn't a movie. Video games make poor movies.

No, but a good video game does one of two things, it either weaves a story through it's game play, advancing the story as you play, or totally forsakes story and creates a simple set of goals for you to overcome.

The difference between what makes a game that does the former succeed at what it is meant to do and what makes a film succeed is largley based on how well the game portion is constructed.

So he didn't hit things in 1 and 3? "Generic rage"? Sounds like people who didn't play the game.

No, in the first and third games he displayed emotions other than rage driven emo. He also *learned* and *changed* as the game went on. Which is what made it work on an artistic level beyond fun gameplay.

[Alex]

I just wanted to confirm that everyone who cried is indeed a woman.
But that goes for crying at anything, crying ain't the domain of men, ya'll.

[Jmacq1]

I've gotten a little misty-eyed in various games (Mostly the FF series), but never actually moved to tears.

[Leslie Lee III]

No. You don't. You either suceed and he lives, or you fail to advance in the game.

But that's not controlling whetehr he lives or dies? I'm not talking about the cut scenes at the end, I'm talking about the active partcipation. You succeed, he lives. You fail, he dies. It's simple and the most emotional games for me are the ones that make that struggle and those themes a part of the story, since they're almost always a part of the gameplay.

Because a game that well put together doesn't have a completely out of place and game ruining metal soundtrack.

1. That doesn't address the point at all. 2. The metal soundtrack certainly fit the mood of the game and the story and I wish more video games would step out of the fanboy orchestra box a bit.

No, but a good video game does one of two things, it either weaves a story through it's game play, advancing the story as you play, or totally forsakes story and creates a simple set of goals for you to overcome.

But how is sitting back and watching cutscenes every hour or so "weaving a story through it's game play." I'd say a great game story is one that let's you experience the story instead of just showing it to you in pre-rendered cut scenes that you have no interaction with. A game that actually make sthe themes of it's story an active part of the gameplay or vice versa.

No, in the first and third games he displayed emotions other than rage driven emo.

I wasn't aware that "emo" was an emotion, but you said yourself you didn't play the game through so I don't see how you're commenting on it.

But this points out the problem, why do you care about what emotions he's showing in cutscenes you take no part in if you aren't experiencing those emotions yourself? The protagonist should be going through what the player goes through. Unless someone happens to be going through puberty at the time of playing the game, the coming of age story isn't something you're going to be feeling during gameplay. It's going to be fear, excitement, frustration if not anger, fatigue perhaps, the joy of victory at times, etc. If you want players to feel something, make them feel it with the gameplay. Shadow of the Colossus and the latest Splinter Cell did a great job with this.

[Agent Helix]

I'm sorry you got eaten by a ghost, Pac-Man.

I failed you.

[Lester C.]

It's a chore to get through but Magna Carta tears of blood is a tear jerker.

[MaxofSteel]

I don't know why, but I got a lump in my throat in Kingdom Hearts 2 when Sora leftTwilight Town for the first time and saids bye to his would-be friends. Just before he got on the train to leave, a tear suddenly left Sora's eye, and I was all like "awwww".

It must have been that damn twinkle music. :(

[The Fury]

MaxOfSteal, not your fault but could you possibly put what ever you just said about KH2 is spoiler brackets? Some of us have not yet played the game as it is still new.

[TitoJones]

I don't know why, but I got a lump in my throat in Kingdom Hearts 2 when Sora leftTwilight Town for the first time and saids bye to his would-be friends. Just before he got on the train to leave, a tear suddenly left Sora's eye, and I was all like "awwww".

It must have been that damn twinkle music. :(

I wasn't moved to tears or anything but I felt for Sora whenever he got depressed about wondering if he would ever see his friends again.

And that twinkle music was depressing.

[The Fury]

You people hate me, don't you?

People please don't post spoilers and please don't quote them either. :(

(PS I'm guessing they are spoilers as I've not read the post as I'm trying to avoid it because of possible spoilering, so if they are not spoilers sorry, but I have to be safe)

[MaxofSteel]

MaxOfSteal, not your fault but could you possibly put what ever you just said about KH2 is spoiler brackets? Some of us have not yet played the game as it is still new.


D'oh, my bad!:eek:

But really, that scene is not a big plot element. So if you haven't played it, there's still many surprises in store for you. Worry not.

And I suggest buying KH2. STAT.:D

btw how do you add spoiler brackets? I've never done it b4.

[Agent Helix]

If you go into a thread about the most "emotional" moments in videogames historic and recent, you should expect heavy spoilers.

[Nate Grey]

If you go into a thread about the most "emotional" moments in videogames historic and recent, you should expect heavy spoilers.

Beat me to it. Otherwise it'd be like, "Yeah, that scene in FF7 when, you know, did, that. Yeah, really got me."

[Agent Helix]

Spoiler: Car #2 in Pole Position doesn't make it.

;_;

[Alan Lynch]

Never cried at one yet, but a couple have really, really moved me. FFIX, where the Black Waltz blasts the mages off the ship and Vivi gets upset. Actually, most times Vivi felt bad I shared it. Love that wee guy.

The bit in Wind Waker where you descend into the black and white Hyrule under attack is just so gorgeous and powerful. Anyone who slams the cel shading in that game is dead to me.

[sun tzu]

Fiction usually doesn't make me cry (and not because I'm tough or anything), but...I was certainly moved by what happened to the "final boss" in "Tex Murphy: Overseer".

[The Fury]

If you go into a thread about the most "emotional" moments in videogames historic and recent, you should expect heavy spoilers.
Well, ys and no. I should expect them but feel safe that they are hidden.

I expect to here about how a game brought someone to then if it is a recent game at least that many might want to play but can't afford see spoiler tags LIKE EARLIER IN THE THREAD.

btw how do you add spoiler brackets? I've never done it b4.
[ spoil ] [/spoil ] ...just without the spaces.

And I plan to buy it as soon as i get my PS2 back (hopefully in 2 weeks, it be at my family home after I have just moved out).

[The Fury]

Beat me to it. Otherwise it'd be like, "Yeah, that scene in FF7 when, you know, did, that. Yeah, really got me."
In that case most people will know what you are on about.

But my case still stands, especially in a thread where spoiler tags have already been used for games older then kingdom hearts 2.

[Nate Grey]

In that case most people will know what you are on about.

Not really since there's several events in FF7 that I could be referring to, not just one.


But my case still stands, especially in a thread where spoiler tags have already been used for games older then kingdom hearts 2.

*shrugs* I think its a bit odd to expect spoiler tags in a topic that's very nature requires spoilers. Kinda hard to talk about something that makes you emotional or close to tears and talk about it in vague terms. I personally came in knowing some games would get spoiled silly, otherwise I'd have stayed out and stayed in the dark on what would/wouldn't be spoiled. But that's just me.

Still, you said you preferred spoiler tags, so maybe if this drift hasn't killed the thread people will NOW use them. Or rather use them MORE.

[standupguy]

Never cried about a video game, but the ending in Final Fantasy X was sad. Did not see that coming...

Final Fantasy Tactics made me want to choke somebody. No ending has angered me like that one.