QuickJump QuickList: Top ten most memorable deaths
It’s been a few days since Halloween, so we’d rather honor the most memorable deaths that made gamers shriek, throw tantrums, and cry. Of course, along the line are deaths so dramantic, shocking, or simply sad that they’re difficult to forget. In other words, a list of characters who died in ways that scarred our minds, or those we felt so attached to that seeing them perish became emotional. If it’s not obvious enough, we’ll have to warn you about major spoilers that await.
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It’s been a few days since Halloween, so we’d rather honor the most memorable deaths that made gamers shriek, throw tantrums, and cry. Of course, along the line are deaths so dramantic, shocking, or simply sad that they’re difficult to forget. In other words, a list of characters who died in ways that scarred our minds, or those we felt so attached to that seeing them perish became emotional. If it’s not obvious enough, we’ll have to warn you about major spoilers that await.
Steve Burnside (Resident Evil: Code Veronica)
Before Leon Kennedy expanded his vocabulary and learned what bingo is, the only cheerful fellow in Resident Evil was Steve. Spending time in world’s dirtiest prison and surviving a viral outbreak apparently weren’t enough to break his spirit, but the waterworks went offf when he had to kill his own zombified dad. This is Resident Evil, however, so things are bound to get worse.
Soon enough, he was captured by some biological monstrocity and turned guinea pig for the T-Veronica virus. Eventually, he transformed into a menacing monster and suffered death by tentacles. That’s right, poor guy was put to rest before he could score with the redhead babe he spent cheesy moments with. He did confess his newly developed, made-in-Antarctica love to Claire during his final moments, but there’s not much point if he’s dead.
Luca Blight (Suikoden II)
It’s either you jumped in joy after finally defeating this tyrant, or fell into tears because one of the best villains in video game history just died. Either way, everyone who played Suikoden 2 ’til the end deserve praise. As most of us now, it was no easy task to take down the bearer of the Beast Rune.
With painful memories of a not-so-nice childhood in the back of his head, The Mad Prince knew no fear. He continously gained power while trampling down anyone in the way, and took everything his father king had. Only with the help of elaborate traps, three squads among the Stars of Destiny, and hundreds of archers was the hero of Suikoden 2 able to slay Luca Blight. And what an epic death it was.
Yuri Hyuga (Shadow Hearts: Covenant)
Badass he may be, but a relic to the chest was enough to screw Yuri’s life over. The Holy Mistletoe did provide an explanation to why the “Godslayer” lost all his abilities, but it was also a major pain in the butt. By the end of Yuri’s journey, the curse left him two options: lose all his memories but survive from the Holy Mistletoe, or meet his demise.
Well, since the “good ending” means getting spiked through the chest, it’s probably what most would go for. Both good and bad end game scenes are equally tear jerking, but calling one conclusion better over another is almost mortifying enough to warrant a spot on this list.
Wander (Shadow of the Colossus)
He only had a puny sword, a cranky bow, and a trusty horse, yet he was able to make towering colossi bow to his knees. Wander fought a monstrous fish, a gigantic bird, and other creatures big enough to challenge skyscrapers just to revive a girl we have no idea about.
Unlike the typical prince charming, he wasn’t gifted with a magical kiss that can save a damsel in distress – he ran miles, swung his blade a few hundred times, located weak points while eating dust and hanging on huge furries for his dear life.
What did he get in return? Died colossus-style, got possessed by the head honcho of the big baddies, then the cavalry came in to cast a spell that seals him and the colossi in one stinking ditch. Mono, the girl he successfully back brought life, was stuck in the forbidden land because said cavalry destroyed the bridge that leads home.
Alisa (Front Mission 3)
Among the strongest aspects of the first Front Mission title to ever reach western shores was its story, which left players with two sides of the coin. There were two available scenarios, and one path was more heartbreaking than the other. To be fair, nobody really asked if you’d rather let your sister die or let a hot potential girlfriend go through traumatic torture, but after reaching the end of Emma’s story, you’d avoid the first choice.
Right off the bat, Kazuki makes it’s clear how much he wants to save his sister. He’s not piloting mechs to save the world from political distraught, he only wanted wanted to save his kidnapped sibling. Unfortunately, when the Alisa was almost within his reach, the girl blew herself up along with a weapon of mass destruction into smithereens, then left a very depressing letter that will either make you feel fuzzy or angry at war.
Ovelia (Final Fantasy Tactics)
When other girls her age were enjoying their teenage years, Ovelia was stuck in political conflict as replacement for a really influential princess. She was betrayed by her supposed guardian and was kidnapped by the ambitious Delita (who eventually became her husband), all after being tossed around as nothing more than an important political figure.
As if things can’t go any worse, Ovelia got killed in the end with a dagger by her the only man she used to trust. She wanted to break free from her husband Delita’s manipulative clutches, but the plan backfired. Delita could cry self-defense in court because he was stabbed first, sure, but he’s still mean guy that made fanboys cry.
Mayu Amakura (Fatal Frame 2)
For the entire game, we had to chase this girl while resisting the urge of running to the toilet and hide in fear. In a game where magical cameras can beat ghosts and the dead can conveniently record their creepy conversations in spirit stones, playing as a skinny Japanese girl was strangely involving. It didn’t end well though, because as some players predicted, the older twin had to kill the other ala shrine maidens.
Mayu had to die in the hands her sister by getting choked to death, all while freaky spectral cultists were making weird noises with theirs staffs and eerie voices. Despite the “together forever” promise, even through all the trouble of solving puzzles and collecting film scattered around an ancient mansion, Fatal Frame 2 ended with one of the most memorable deaths. Unless you beat the game in ultra-hard difficulty for the “best ending,” that is.
Gray Fox (Metal Gear Solid)
He may have been one masochistic cyborg ninja, but getting trampled by a walking nuclear warhead launcher is still too harsh. Gray Fox is weird and all, even in his first apperance on Metal Gear during the time plumbers on mushrooms and bad dudes saving the president’s daughter were normal, but getting stepped on by a giant robot is still foul play.
Gray Fox made little sense with all the cryptic CODEC messages, but he did put up one memorable boss fight. The mysterious man codenamed Deepthroat almost didn’t deserve to die, but the events happened turned him into a favorite of MGS fans. Then again, being half-cyborg, half-ninja with a high-frequency sword makes you the pinnacle of “cool’ and an instant hit to gamers.
The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
Even after repeatedly giving the OG Snake much pain, The Boss was difficult to hate. It’ll be a field day trying to find any MGS follower who hates her, especially not after seeing her dramatic death. We find out how she actually gave her all to her motherland only to be ditched and erased from history books. Not to mention, she got killed by her own Patriot gun in the hands of the apprentice she spent a good chunk of her lifetime with.
After serving the U.S. as a major factor that led to victory in World War II, giving birth while avoiding stray bullets, and proving her patriotism once more by taking on a mission only someone worthy of her title can do, nobody was there to shake her hand and express gratitutude. Quietly, in a field of flowers, the snake on her body slithered away in the most stylish death scene we’ve seen from Hideo Kojima.
Aeris (Final Fantasy VII)
You should’ve seen this coming, and expected why she tops the list. Back when games were still transitioning to 3D, it was Aeris who starred in the first console RPG to feature full-motion 3D CG videos only to be stabbed by some maniac with Oedipus complex and a big sword.
For many, it was the first time a lovable main character was killed in a very gruesome way. The sugary sweet flower girl who aided the party with her healing skills and was an obvious romantic interest to the male protagonist died in the most disarming moment, and provoked emotions from gamers for the first time. That alone, warrants Aeris the top spot on this list.