In the 1980s, video games were simple and short. They presented blockchain graphics, simple controls and direct purposes. Even as the games have gained complexity, they don’t offer much in terms of history. We know that Mario was on his way to find Princess Peach (and that he was still in another castle), but we don’t have a ton of specifics. They are advancing rapidly into the modern age and suddenly the games are full of elaborate stories and impressive character development.
Every great story needs action, adventure, drama and, in some unfortunate cases, tragedy. There have been several versions over the years that have been plugged into the tear ducts and sent to tears. Whether it’s a character you know and love, an innocent victim, or even a villain, some character deaths are so devastating that they leave a depressing mark on the storia de l’histoire du jeu.
Updated June 29, 2022, by Gabrielle Huston: It’s always good to cry. They say that time heals all wounds, but we also miss these characters!
10 John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)
John Marston, the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption, was a bit of a villain himself. The Wild West gunman was notorious for kidnapping, raiding, murder and robbery during his early days. It is noted that John lost his father when he was only eight years old and was forced to live in an orphanage. Hating the lifestyle, John Marston eventually escaped the shelter and found himself in the middle of a turbulent gang.
A series of events slowly transforms Marston from a cold foreman to a loving father. We spent a lot of Red Dead Redemption’s journey trying to create a life and a legacy in Breecher’s Hope. On the same subject : Let’s Remember How Amazing 2002 Was For Video Games. That’s why the loss of John Marston was so heartbreaking.
The way John dies is mostly persecutory. The gunslinger is found lying in a corner, on its own ground, in its own stable. His murderous lifestyle had finally shattered him and, to save what was left of his family, John Marston came out in a blaze of bullets.
9 Lee Everett (The Walking Dead)
We were first introduced to Lee Everett in the beginning of Telltale Game’s The Walking Dead. The former history teacher is convicted of the murder of a state senator who found himself sleeping with his wife. On the same subject : 6 Ways to Save on Video Games. The sudden cataclysm of the apocalypse allows Lee his freedom and soon after he meets Clementine, a scared and lonely girl.
It is up to the player to decide what kind of person becomes Lee, through choices and dialogue options. Regardless of her attitude toward others, Lee remains a staunch protector of Clementine and promises essentially to protect the girl with her life. This is perhaps the main reason why Lee’s untimely death is so disturbing.
After suffering an unfortunate stroke, Lee finds himself running towards death. Clementine is forced to handcuff her beloved protector, to make sure she doesn’t hurt him when he resurrects as part of the undead. At this point, it is up to the player to decide whether Clementine shoots Lee to save such a fate or save the psychological burden of a murder of mercy. Every choice is overwhelming, both for Clementine and for the player.
8 Mordin Solus (Mass Effect 3)
Let’s start by saying that it’s entirely possible to save Mordin Solus in Mass Effect 3. However, the series of events that prelude it and the cost at which you saved it aren’t worth the fight. To see also : Atari turns 50 and the godfather of video games tells how we can change the world. For these reasons, Mordin was more likely to perish on Tuchanka during a traditional Mass Effect 3 game.
Whether it’s Paragon or Renegade, Mordin’s death is exceptionally sad. The Salarian scientist has spent much of the plot of Mass Effect 3 working on a cure for the horrible Krogan genophage. A moment comes during this mission that forces Mordin to make the ultimate sacrifice to spread his care well. A quick elevator ride to the top of a rapidly collapsing tower is the only way to end the plague once and for all.
Your choices decide where and how Mordin will perish, but his last farewell is what makes his death so sad. Our friend Salarian was always known for his punctuality and hard work. It is those qualities that we heard in his pursued departure. “It had to be me,” he says. “Someone else might have been wrong.”
7 Roman Bellic/Kate McReary (Grand Theft Auto IV)
There are two names for this particular place in the list because of the choices you make during the final game for Grand Theft Auto IV. Roman Bellic is the bowling cousin of protagonist Niko, while Kate McReary presents a future love interest (and also a dating NPC in the game).
Players spend a lot of the plot of GTA IV getting closer to the two NPCs, though it’s important to note that the entire game can be played without taking Kate out on a single date. Regardless of how well the player knows these characters, the final sequence of events proves to be a harrowing affair for Niko.
If you choose to take a proposed deal at the end of the game, you will be forced to agonize over Roman’s death. If she decides not to take the plunge, Kate will find her way to the door of death. This forces Niko to make the final decision. Does our protagonist value her cousin’s life over a possible future life with a new loved one? Regardless of the choice, this result is always bitter.
6 Tidus (Final Fantasy X)
Final Fantasy X presents a truly elaborate and compelling story that follows the adventure of Tidus, a young Blitzball star from the beautiful city of Zanarkand. This young go-getter aspires to be the best Blitzball star ever, like his father was. Unfortunately, a horrible monstrosity called Sin derails the star of hope and Tidus finds himself in a mysterious land called Spira.
Tidus may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but there’s no denying that his heart is pure. There are many cases in which this sports star puts his own neck on the line to save his friends. Ask someone who played Final Fantasy X on Tidus and you’ll probably come across a sea of different answers. Some saw adolescence as a responsibility of the air, while others applauded his grit and tenacity.
Regardless of how you feel about Tidus as a character, we can all agree that his death was depressing. This hero spent his time in Spira working towards the elimination of Sin, only to discover that it was created specifically for this purpose. Once the creature was defeated, Tidus found himself erasing existence. It’s not all bad though, since he was reunited with some very special people on the farplane.
5 Noble Team & Noble 6 (Halo: Reach)
The Halo franchise has seen its fair share of harrowing death sequences, but Halo: Reach is in a category all its own. The campaign for this release is presented as one of the best single player experiences in the series and with good reason. You play as Noble 6, a member of the Noble Team tasked with defending Planet Reach from The Covenant. The mission was of vital importance since the capture by Alliance forces meant some fatality for Earth.
You will not face most of your mission alone and you will find yourself accompanied by four other Spartan soldiers. Throughout your journey, you will come to love and respect Kat, Emile, Carter, and Jorge. This makes their inevitable and devastating loss even harder to bear.
To make matters worse, you’ll find yourself in more numbers and only during the finale of the title. Noble 6 takes his last breath on Planet Reach, eventually suffering the same fate as his companions. The ending is bittersweet, praising Noble 6 for his heroic efforts to plant the Alliance, while noting how close he was to surviving the business.
4 Wander (Shadow of the Colossus)
Shadow of the Colossus is a beautifully made game. The title had players take control of Wander, a young hero in a quest to save a girl named Mono. A mysterious voice gives Wander an epic quest, telling him that Mono will be resurrected if he is able to kill sixteen powerful colossi that roam the surrounding lands. The journey is long and features sixteen unique head fights.
A faithful crow named Agro accompanies Wander in this quest, allowing him to cover the fastest expanding world and kill some of the fastest colossi. Along the way, Wander loses his partner, which is quite heartbreaking for himself. The final head-to-head fight is a bittersweet fight through hard mechanics and timing, with fresh wounds of probable loss touching the mind.
What happens next is a shock and frankly one of the most painful losses in the game’s history. He finally sees Wander perish, right after the conclusion of his search. He left the world without seeing Mono resurrected, which is a punch in the gut to any player who has finished his arduous task.
3 Dominic Santiago (Gears of War 3)
The Gears of War universe is full of tragedy and struggle. The Locust order is responsible for the destruction of many places, as well as countless human lives. The second title, Gears of War 2, sees a particularly harrowing moment in which Dominic Santiago is forced to kill his own wife (it’s a murder of mercy). From that moment on, Dom becomes obsessed with Mary’s vengeance and the slaughter of the responsible species.
Unfortunately, his valiant mission comes to an abrupt end during a single-player mission in Gears of War 3. Dom and his teammates find themselves cornered, overwhelmed by a copious amount of Locust. Even if everything seems lost, Dominic has a plan to save the rest of his team, at the cost of his life. Moving quickly, he drives a nearby truck and stuffs it into a fuel container.
This devastating moment is underscored by a small moment in which Dom speaks to his dead wife, saying “he never thought it would end that way, eh ?! Eh Mary ?!” A sad instrumental for “Mad World” echoes feelings of sadness as the whole place erupts in flames.
2 Thane Krios (Mass Effect 3)
Thane was a Drell assassin, teammate, and possible love interest in Mass Effect 2. Players loved the computer assassin for his obsession with spiritual enlightenment and his general respect. Thane was an assassin (perhaps the best in the entire galaxy) who preferred to eliminate his targets from close range, ensuring that the job was done quickly and correctly.
What made him such a powerful character was how he tried to pass a target. After each mark was removed, Thane said a prayer and asked for forgiveness. He was so firm about this practice that he would even do so, even if there were other enemies or people still around. His adoration for life and the simplest things was admirable and Drell had an adoration for the beauty of nature.
Thane has a peaceful but sad past, going to sleep in a hospital bed. We have a moment to say goodbye to our friend Drell and that almost makes it harder to deal with. Like Mordin, it is possible for Thane to escape death, but someone else will take his place in the result.
1 Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy VII)
When someone talks about sad moments in games, this name usually appears. The tragedy of Aerith’s death is perhaps the saddest moment in the history of Final Fantasy and is enough to make even the most stoic of gamers cry. This simple flower seller had a relationship with Zack from Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and then met Cloud for some very curious circumstances.
If only he knew that the Cloud meeting would change his life and then inevitably end. Later in the game, players will get to know and love Aerith for her kindness and adorable personality. His death was nothing short of shocking and shocking and maybe that’s why it was so devastating to watch. When Cloud and the crew tried to pursue the evil Sephiroth, the silver-haired villain tried to slow down the hero by “forcing” him to kill his new friend. When Cloud refused, Sephiroth took matters into his own hands and impaled Aerith on the legendary Masamune sword. We want the remake of this game not to allow us to kill it after all.
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