I've been a gamer for many many years (about 18 years now) and I really have enjoyed how in the last few years more and more games are focusing on having intense, involving storylines and characters that make you really care about them.

What I wanna know is what parts of what games have moved or really affected people to the point where they almost shed a big soppy tear...

For me, without a doubt the moment that left me reeling and I have never had the balls to play through again was the ending to Half Life 2: Episode 2. Anyone else find this absolutely harrowing?

Sorry if this has been done before, I'm new here!

I know how old this'll sound, but the FFVII bit where Aeris dies was actually pretty moving for me.
Yes, I know, this has been done to death but hear me out.

I hadn't actually played through FF7 the first time it came out (LArgely due to the fact I was only about 5 years old) and I've only managed to pick up a copy of the PC version in the last year.
I'd known going into the game that Aeris was going to die, and I had accepted it fully and largely detached myself from her for the entire game and spent most of her scenes wondering how anyone in the world could feel sorry for her.

But then it happened. She got stabbed. While bloody PRAYING. Seeing the scene myself really made me think and I felt genuine emotion (Urgh, I know) and after doing activities with her, and the date mission and etc. I found I had become somewhat sub-conciously attached to her and seeing Sephiroths sword poke out of her, well, it made me sad.

Let's see. Chrono Cross is definately a game rife with moving moments, given that you take the time to put your mind in the situation. Gears of War 2 actually had some moments, like

The ending of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Josdeb:
the FFVII bit where Aeris dies was actually pretty moving for me.

That's what my buddy's choice in the pub last night was too... never played FF7, must give it a go!

The end of Episode 2, absolutely. I think the big ones for me were some of the romance discussions in Baldur's Gate 2, though - the principle female love interests (Jahiera and Aerie) or both very damaged people, in their own ways, and you did feel a sense of connection.

There a scene later in the game where a Drow priestess basically orders your character into her bed. Given that you're magically disguised as drow at this point and are deep in the heart of a Drow city, refusing to obey her would probably have been a really bad idea, so I obeyed.

Aerie's betrayed response afterwards was almost heart-breaking.

The bit when you guide the ghost back to his grave in Link's Awakening sorta tore me up a little... But then again, I was only about 7.

-Zen-:
Let's see. Chrono Cross is definately a game rife with moving moments, given that you take the time to put your mind in the situation. Gears of War 2 actually had some moments, like

Spoiler: Click to View

Gotta agree with that too... the music in Maria's scene is stunning

Some points in the darkness.

whenever damn otacon crys.

-Zen-:
Let's see. Chrono Cross is definately a game rife with moving moments, given that you take the time to put your mind in the situation. Gears of War 2 actually had some moments, like

Spoiler: Click to View

Ah, I really have to disagree with the Gears deaths, the first is now just becoming a running joke that was somewhat amusing but not upsetting. The middle one was probably the worst of them all but still, not wholly devastating. The latter though, I just didn't care. It was reasonably well done but you're only just introduced and my friend and I (We were both playing it through co-op) found it just, well harder to relate to I guess but again didn't really care and looked upon it was a state of apathy.

Edit: That does sound rather callous in hindsight and I'm not the most emotionally robust character, I guess games just don't phase me as much.

Recently, I would have to say the Call of Duty 4 Nuke sequence, and the aftermath. I felt genuine dread for that character and sadness when he collapsed.

miracleofsound:
For me, without a doubt the moment that left me reeling and I have never had the balls to play through again was the ending to Half Life 2: Episode 2. Anyone else find this absolutely harrowing?

That was upsetting; actually Episode 2 was book-ended with upsetting moments... two members of the same family... Wow, that was depressing.

Puppeteer Putin:

That was upsetting; actually Episode 2 was book-ended with upsetting moments... two members of the same family... Wow, that was depressing.

Gordon better give Alyx a hug in episode 3.

I don't consider to be one of my "greatest games", so I don't know it in detail, but Zelda OoT

At the end of the begining, when you leave the village training area, you say goodbye to a friend at the gate. I found that moment to be quite moving.

(Although I did read it as a love story between the two. which may not be true to the actual plot)

Nothing has really affected me in the past. Most character deaths were either deemed as necessary to move on, or just a very dramatic way of getting rid of a nuisance. The most moving things in games, for me, are beautiful set pieces. A background that makes everything feel EPIC.

In Bioshock, you're in an underwater city, a screen comes out of nowhere and the scares the shit out of me, and then he makes a speech.
Epic.

In Assassin's Creed, you're a descendant to the Hashashin organization and while you try to eliminate certain men from existence in the time of the Crusades, you, in the process, discover the thing that basically made Jesus the son of God.
Epic.

Those are some things that feel epic, but the characters almost never feel as epic. Maybe if they were in a book... I can think of a few other examples of "epic" set pieces, but i'm almost to the bottom of the "Reply to Thread" box.

That's long enough.

I think one of the most moving moments is a very old school game "champions of krynn", its different from most games in that the romance portrayed doesnt directly involve the main characters, you observe what happens, how it progresses and the tradgedy that occurs still hits me to this day almost 20 years on.

hubertw47:
Some points in the darkness.

Agreed. That game had a surprisingly good plot for a game with such busted gameplay, it should have been a movie a la Sin City.

Some moments are:
1.The ending of Half-Life 2:Episode 2, that just came out of nowhere and shocked me.
2.Portals credit sequence.
3.When the world comes down in FFVI
4.The COD4 Nuke sequence in the city, and the end battle as well.
5.Leaving one of your teammates behind in Mass Effect.
6.The reveal of your identity in Star Wars:KOTOR.
7.The destruction of the Valuan Empire in Skies of Arcadia.
8.The suicide in the Darkness.

All moving and memorable to me to this day.

Braid. And whomever said Metal Gear Solid 3's ending, was right as well.

There are few games that are as emotionally moving as Rule of Rose for the PS2, Especially the good ending where young jenny goes walking through the orphanage recounting how truly wonderful her friends were (who played the part of some of the most torment-inducing villains I had ever seen in a video game).

The game-play is off, but I highly recommend this game to anyone who wants to see sophisticated and mature writing and emotion in a game.

For the record, I have yet to play a game that is as achieved in emotional connection.

AngryMan:
The end of Episode 2, absolutely. I think the big ones for me were some of the romance discussions in Baldur's Gate 2, though - the principle female love interests (Jahiera and Aerie) or both very damaged people, in their own ways, and you did feel a sense of connection.

There a scene later in the game where a Drow priestess basically orders your character into her bed. Given that you're magically disguised as drow at this point and are deep in the heart of a Drow city, refusing to obey her would probably have been a really bad idea, so I obeyed.

Aerie's betrayed response afterwards was almost heart-breaking.

I know, eh? The whole series was strewn with those types of character connections, though. Jahiera's battlecry against Jon Irenicus was moving to me since I loved Khalid from the first one, and knew what she lost. Yoshimo's betrayal (WHY??). And choosing between Jahiera and Aerie was a very interesting conversation that always led to one having a really hurt response.

*sigh*...Favourite series, by far.

I'll also add the the end of Mafia (For the PC) was very moving. A few parts in that game were, actually...but the ending inparticular.

EDIT: Got one more for Baldur's Gate (Can't help it): Anomen's quest involving his father. You could just understand how hard it was for him. MAN I gotta play it again! Love it!

the only one recently that made you feel for the character was dom and his wife in gears, side from that games in the last few years have been more about "look a this!, look what we can do!", eehh, maybe lost odyssey when kaim finds his daughter but thats about it in the last few years.

Having played through both Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 in my earlier years and once again before I purchased Fallout 3...Harold. Thats all I gotta say. That poor ghoul, I wish there was something I could do >_<

In Mass Effect when you have to leave someone behind

Star Wars KOTOR When you find out you're true identity

Star Wars KOTOR: The Sith Lords. When Kreia...I won't finish that.

I think there are more, i just can't think of any.

Yay someone mentioned Mafia on the PC. I thought it was a nice twist the way the family turns against you towards the end - the in-game cutscenes had excellent production values.

Death for Jenny - The Darkness
End of HL2:Ep2
Death of B. Carmine - GOW2
Ends of Sly Cooper 2 & 3
Ending of UT3

every single thing those square-enix bastards come up with always moves me. they can make me cry or feel invincible, or even make me fall in love with a character or feel that they need me to protect them. i don't know... final fantasy 7, from star to finish, is living proof. and final fantasy 9, and 10. well, and 8. stupid mind-controlling japanese.

I remember when the Palace in Jak 3 collapsed...and afterward when you finally came back to the city and it was all messed up...

EDIT: When one of my buddies in Far Cry 2 asked me to shoot them when I didn't have anything to help them with.

Far Cry 2
Didnt expect it to be very emotionally pulling
But when i was forced to mercy kill my best friend as i had no syringes, i was actually sad. And surprised at being sad. =[

Puppeteer Putin:
Recently, I would have to say the Call of Duty 4 Nuke sequence, and the aftermath. I felt genuine dread for that character and sadness when he collapsed.

The amount of times i played that part trying to get to the open doorway in the park. I dont know what was in there i was just convinced that everything would be alright if i reached it.

KOTOR has plenty of moments.
End of episode 2 for sure.

Baby Tea:
I know, eh? The whole series was strewn with those types of character connections, though. Jahiera's battlecry against Jon Irenicus was moving to me since I loved Khalid from the first one, and knew what she lost. Yoshimo's betrayal (WHY??). And choosing between Jahiera and Aerie was a very interesting conversation that always led to one having a really hurt response.

Man, sometimes the game even tear-jerked without trying. One time, I was playing through the whole graveyard/vampire bit of the quest, and Minsc wound up getting petrified then blown apart by another attack (for those who don't know, that means the character is permanently removed from the game with no hope of resurrection). Seeing as I was playing the game through in a kind of "iron man" mode where the only acceptable reason for loading from a save is the game over screen, I actually screamed "NO!!!" at my computer.

That said, the fight went downhill very swiftly after that, and I wound up loading from a save point anyway, but for a few seconds there I was scared that I'd have to spend the rest of the game without Minsc and Boo.

Call of Duty 4. The nuke scene and the end.

That being sad, Half-Life 2 (EP2) was pretty depressing.

A friend of mine found the fountain scene and the end in Call of Duty: World at War quite moving.

I would say that the end of MGS3 pulled at my heartstrings, and I felt genuinely sorry for The Boss and Snake. The ending was filled with emotion and I thought I was going to cry.

the ending in fable 2 was moving, as in it moved me so much that i now hate the game and wish that i had rented it first