Games that made us cry

Based on the scene in Inazuma Eleven which Zero mentioned all up in here, I want to talk about those really emotional scenes that have gotten to us in games. I've probably had loads as I'm a pretty touchy feely guy and my favourite kind of beauty is the slightly melancholic, but here are the two which come to mind:

Elite Beat Agents
You're the Inspiration
Everyone knows where I'm going with this. Playing as a trio of male cheerleaders, I used dance moves to encourage the ghost of a little girl's dad to make it home one last time at Christmas. Heart-wrenchingly, tragically beautiful.

Mass Effect 3
The final part of the Mass Effect Trilogy was packed full of character moments and powerful emotional scenes, but it was the ending that properly got to me. Partially thanks to seeing the love story I'd been so invested in fall apart, partly due to the simple fact the game was going to finally end, I was an emotional wreck for days.


I'd also recommend listening to the end of Cane and Rinse' episode on Dark Souls II, where they talk about a friend of the show's connection to the game due to his own stepfather's alzheimers. The speaker tears up and so did I...

Metal Gear Solid 4. "Snake... had a hard life."
Undertale. The true pacifist ending. Once or twice during the genocide route.

Those are the only two I can think of right now. There'll be more. I'm a bloody sap when it comes to games.  

As Captain Inspire for this thread, I see it as my duty to respond. *salutes Drill Instructor Drunkalilly*

Inazuma Eleven
Already accounted for in the Favourite RPG thread. 'Nuff said.

Ghost Trick
The absolute loyalty to his mistress displayed by Missile, the dog, reminded me of the dog that we had at home when we were young who was put down in 2004 because of cancer.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village
When the reason for the curious village's curiousness is unveiled by the Professor. This is the only time the storyline of a game has made me cry.

Near Miss - Super Mario Galaxy 2
When the Super Mario Galaxy hub music popped up out of nowhere. I love that tune and how it layers up as you beat more levels so the surprise of it entering my ears filled me with a rush of nostalgia.

Persona 3

That death.  Actually the game had two absolutely soul crushing deaths, I'm referring to the second one. I'm sure some would think saying that openly was a spoiler, but given the game's themes it's not that there's death, it's the hows and whys.

Tales of Xillia 2

One of the few times I've ever genuinely shed tears for a video game.  Xillia two had its fair share of issues, but a specific scene near the end of the game was utterly devestating.  

Super spoilers:

While the main character being silent for most of the game was mostly a negative, I feel the lack of his dialogue in that specific scene made it that much more powerful.  

Xenoblade X

Massive chapter 11 spoilers, I'M NOT KIDDING, HUGE SPOILERS:

I think I'm a pretty emotional chap, and it's not hard for a game to get me welling up: I'll tear up at the end of any big one player adventure that doesn't have a rubbish ending (XC, Metroid Prime, Okami).  SM64 was the latest one, and you can bet that any Zelda worth its salt has that effect too.

But actually getting the tears out of the eyes?  I don't think a single game has managed that.  One gaming-related thing has, though: this bloody video.  I don't even like Earthbound!

Interesting - and potentially slightly embarrasing (must preserve manliness!) Most videogame writing is a bit ham-fisted, and a lot of supposedly-emotional moments leave me cold, or worse, laughing. But there are a couple:

Ghost Trick - Zero's reason is a lot sadder, and I feel guilty for talking about this game after that . But this was actually happy tears; when (to avoid spoilers) the cake comes in during the end sequence. Not even Shu Takumi's writing can turn me into a fan of Visual Novels, but this was pretty damn clever.

Mega Man 3 - look, I was very young at the time! At the end where (no point in worrying about spoilers) Mega Man looks up to the sky and has a vision of his once-again-lost-brother Proto Man. Although I think there were other non-game factors involved...

Tomodachi Life - If a couple has a kid, the kid grows up, and you're treated to a montage of childhood memories. If you've got kids, cherish them people . In fact I haven't been back to TL since, despite the funny bits, because I don't wanna sit through that again.




Also
Any emotional part in a David Cage game - Why doesn't he have any idea how to make you care for the characters? Why does he put these interactive cutscenes out as "games"? Why do publishers keep giving him money? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY *sobs*

JayMoyles wrote:

Metal Gear Solid 4. "Snake... had a hard life."

Oh, Metal Gear definitely had a few! None come to mind just now....

ZeroJones wrote:

*salutes Drill Instructor Drunkalilly*

Oh. Yeah.

She sacrificed her life and her honour for her native land.

*casts Zing, successfully*

Just cried at part of the storyline for the town of Nottagen in Dragon Quest VII.

Spoiler:

Oh, I've got a contribution for this thread!

Final Fantasy XV, or more specifically, its ending.

Ending Spoilers:

2017 seems to be the Year Of Zero's Tears. I can now add To The Moon to the list: the ending is overwhelming for many reasons and, thus, I was overwhelmed.

I almost cried when my mate saved over my almost-complete Gran Turismo 3 file with his pishy not-nearly-complete Gran Turismo 3 file, does that count? I had all the F1 cars and the Endurance Races done as well. That was a travesty.

ZeroJones wrote:

2017 seems to be the Year Of Zero's Tears. I can now add To The Moon to the list: the ending is overwhelming for many reasons and, thus, I was overwhelmed.

I'm interested to hear your overall thoughts on the game, Zero. To The Moon is a rollercoaster of emotions through and through and I'm shocked I never mentioned it in my first post in this thread!

The Cappuccino Kid wrote:

I almost cried when my mate saved over my almost-complete Gran Turismo 3 file with his pishy not-nearly-complete Gran Turismo 3 file, does that count? I had all the F1 cars and the Endurance Races done as well. That was a travesty.

Doesn't completing a Gran Turismo game involve like 700 hours of gameplay as well? I can understand your pain if so!

I think I made my mate cry when he stood on the controller of a paused PS2 and quit out of a 24-hour Le Mans (or some other ridiculously long race) we'd all put a whole night into.

I think I came pretty close at the end of Breath of the Wild, and I definitely cried at the Zelda concert. Not for any real reason, I was just well emotion.

Drunkalilly wrote:

I think I came pretty close at the end of Breath of the Wild,

That it was finally over

I can't imagine Cappa playing GT with being a simulation and his fav games being arcade like stuff.

Gran Turismo 3 struck the right balance between being a sim and being arcade-like, and it was still at a point in the series where it was more like 'Pokémon with cars', rather than something that only a complete dobber could get into.

On-topic, I almost cried when I completed Ren & Stimpy: Stimpy's Invention on the Mega Drive when I was six; it was thirty quid (£2 billion in today's money) took about half an hour to complete, and I knew that my Mum wouldn't be buying me anything else for ages. Gutted.

Great game though, still got it on the Mega Drive.

I cried with joy when they announced Monster Hunter double cross for the Switch.

How'd you get the salt out of your beard?

Salt?

From those joyful tears!

Oh I have special glasses that catch the tears.

Jas is always salty, I doubt he bothers to try and clean it any more.

Ye caught me my beard is in fact 90 percent salt.

Then all I can say is that you rock salt!