My Top Five Moving Moments In Games
Author's Note : Before I begin this countdown, I'd like to take this opportunity to warn all readers of this blog that it contains a lot of pretty major spoilers. Usually, I abhor spoilers and I like to avoid them at all costs. However, when dealing with a game's most moving scenarios, it's unavoidable. Therefore, I'm suggesting that if you haven't finished any of the games on this list and don...
- Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy X
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Shadow of the Colossus
You have been warned!So, now that little disclaimer is out of the way, let's progress.
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I finished Half-Life 2: Episode Two this morning. The ending was incredibly saddening, and reminded me of the power of games as an entertainment medium. It also got me thinking about other moments in games that have moved me in the same way. After giving it a little thought, I came up with this: My Top Five Moving Moments In Games. Bear in mind these are my personal top five. If you don't agree, that's cool. I'd love to hear about other people's moving moments too, so feel free to leave a comment with your own favourites.
5. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - The Final Boss
Metal Gear Solid 3 is one of the most cinematic games I've ever played. Admittedly, it suffers from the same problems as its predecessors; the cut-scene-heavy format, the clichéd and often awkward scriptwriting, and the insufferable attempts at making jokes. Despite all this, though, MGS3 tells an interesting and captivating story, and one of the most interesting threads in that story is the relationship between Snake and The Boss. The set up is pretty clichéd: The Boss, Snake's former mentor, betrays both her country and her protegé by defecting to the Soviet Union. Shortly afterwards, Snake is given the task of stopping her. Thus, the expected inner conflict begins.It's no secret that Snake is going to have to fight and kill The Boss. It's set up as a mission objective right from the start of Operation Snake Eater. Still, that doesn't stop you, the player, from hoping that things will change before the end of the game. When Snake finally does take on The Boss in a field of white flowers, the battle that ensues is almost as memorable as the scene that follows it. To really cap it off, though, there's the incredible and unforeseen plot twist in the game's closing scenes. After learning of The Boss' true mission, Snake (now known as Big Boss) stands over her grave and cries. The relationship between Snake and The Boss is a highlight of MGS3, and a springboard for one of the series' most moving moments.
4. Shadow of the Colossus - Everything
Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games that in my mind everybody should experience. The main reason for this is the emotional attachment that develops between the game and the player, despite the lack of storyline. The game's plot is almost non-existent; you are Wander, and accompanied by your horse Agro it is your task to slay the Colossi that roam the gameworld in an attempt to revive the fallen Mono. It's a simple set-up, granted, but the player can't help but be drawn into Wander's plight.The game does a fantastic job of creating a vast gameworld for the player to traverse on horseback. One notable thing about the gameworld is its emptiness, which really emphasises Wander's isolation in this foreign land. Then there are the Colossi themselves: each one is huge, and appears to be a living entity. After slaying each Colossus and watching it fall to the ground, you can't help but be sucked in, both awe-struck and guilt-ridden by your deeds. The big moment, though, is Agro's death. After spending so long in the game, with only Agro for company, losing him at such a late stage is a major emotional blow. Team ICO have a knack for drawing out the emotions of the player. and Shadow of the Colossus is a great example.
3. Final Fantasy VII - Aerith's Death
The calm before the stormYou all knew it was coming, didn't you? Final Fantasy VII is a landmark RPG title, being the first 3D game in the series and the first instalment to make it to the UK. Despite the grandeur and epic nature of the game, one of its biggest and most poignant moments was the death of one of its main characters. Aerith is the first person we see after booting up the game for the first time; she is our introduction to the world of Gaia, the city of Midgar, and the story of protagonist Cloud Strife. As said story progresses, the characters' lives and emotions become deeply intertwined. Early signs of blossoming love become apparent as Cloud, Aerith and the rest of the AVALANCHE team continue their journey to stop Sephiroth.Then comes the deathblow. After 25-30 hours of this blossoming romance, we witness a scene where Cloud tries to kill Aerith. Beyond that initial feeling of "what the fuck?!", the player is still trying to work out what's going on when Sephiroth falls from the sky and plunges his sword into Aerith's back. Then, the emotions begin to flow. Anger, sadness, disbelief, confusion, everything Cloud is feeling as he cradles Aerith in her dying moments. It's a deeply moving sequence, and directly affects Cloud's actions throughout the rest of the game.
2. Half-Life 2: Episode Two - Eli's Death
It's not prettyEpisode Two revealed a lot more in terms of story than any other Half-Life game. We start to learn more about the G-Man, and his influence over other people and events going right back to the original Half-Life. There's also further development of the relationship between Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance, and more insight into the bond between Alyx and her father, Eli. All these parts of the story start to become connected after the G-Man uses his influence over Alyx to convey a message to Eli. It turns out Eli has a thing or two to tell Gordon about their "mutual friend", and promises to tell him more after he and Alyx return from the Borealis.Except, he doesn't. Right at the end of Episode Two, Gordon, Alyx and Eli are attacked by two Combine Advisors. Control is relinquished, and Gordon and Alyx can only watch helplessly as one of the Advisors kills Eli. The closing scene of the game shows Alyx crying over her father's lifeless body, whispering through her tears, "Don't leave me". The fact that the scene is so moving is a testament to the developers at Valve for making Alyx such a believable character.
1. Final Fantasy X - Tidus' Vanishing
Why couldn't it be like this?Top of my list is another scenario similar to MGS3. We knew the end was coming. We just didn't want to believe it was coming. Final Fantasy X was the first instalment in the series to make use of the PS2's capabilities, and the developers at Square used it to draw us even further into the plights of the characters. About two thirds of the way in, we learned that the main character Tidus was a dream of The Fayth, and that once Summoner Yuna completed her quest to defeat Sin, he would disappear. It seemed like a cop-out at first, and many players, myself included, chose to ignore it.Boy, I wish I hadn't. The game's closing scene revealed the grim truth, and Tidus began to vanish. The moment when Yuna runs towards him and passes straight through him, before whispering "I love you", is the most moving moment I've ever witnessed in a game. I know this because, to date, it's the only time I've cried at a game. After over 120 hours of gameplay, 120 hours of growing attached to these characters, and a large portion of those 120 hours hoping Tidus and Yuna would end up together at the game's close, Tidus' vanishing was enough to move me to tears. That's why it sits at the top of this list.
DanK
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Currently playing - Resident Evil 4 (PS2)