Well I guess it's important to mention that these are those most powerful to me
Basically, these are the moments that hit you like a ton of bricks, for whatever reason. Games/movies/books all resonate differently with people depending on who you are, and the reaction you get from them can teach you things about yourself and even alter your views on life in general (oh man this blog is deep!)
Anyways, after removing any sort of nostalgia from this selection to make it at as accurate as possible for me, these are my personal picks (if you are interested in playing the games yourself, please don't open the spoilers):
The ending to this game is absolutely chilling. I know people are starting to say Braid is overrated but really -- the design of this last level is genius. The interactivity itself is the plot device, and when I realized what was happening, my hands were shaking. The tragic story of Tim, a story that almost all of us can relate to on at least some level, ends with you finally reaching your beloved princess, so excited to do so that you fail to realize your view of the world is actually reversed. Wow.
Despite being labeled as the worst game ever by butthurt FF fanboys, this actually may be one of my favorite games of all time -- and the ending, oh man the ending. The story this game tells is just heart touching on every level, and when you're at the last boss, at the world's end with a group of characters all who've battled against fate itself to find meaning in their lives -- it's just beautiful. When Lightning gives the final speech, before you cut down Orphin, "We live to make the impossible, possible -- that is our focus!" it's an absolutely amazing moment, and the most climatic scene prior to a boss fight I've ever witnessed (corniness and all), a boss fight that represents absolute doom upon defeating it, but a testament to the power of the human spirit as well. Fucking beautiful ending.
This may very well be tied with FFXIII, I don't really like ranking these, it's more for your entertainment to be honest. Anyways, we all know the deal here -- Tidus is a dream and holy shit is it emotional. This is the best love story in gaming, period. For it to end this way was just tragically perfect in every way. Everything Yuna and Tidus represented as characters just made this game into a beautiful message, and I'm truly happy I was able to grow up with it when I was younger, and be able to revisit it time and time again. I've chosen the Japanese voices as the definitive version, but it's a solid scene regardless.
Agro's fall is the one moment in gaming that I legitimately felt torn up about, not just sad, not just watery -- torn the fuck up. Agro is the only thing that feels like home to you in that tragically beautiful land of the colossi. He's the only one you can actually call out to, and you know he's going to come running. He is hands down the best side kick in anything I have played, watched or read. He is the enduring, self-sacraficing friend in the wake of your selfishness -- and unconditionally he loves you. After he falls and you can no longer call him to your side, the feeling is just unlike anything out there.
Yes, two times this game shook me up, and I have to say the 2nd time was the ending itself. Discovered in your selfish act, you are cut down in front of the women you had been trying to bring back the entire time. The one woman that you left everything for,that you lost your best friend for, that you battled unfathomable odds for just for a chance to bring her back. A girl we don't know anything about but the undying loyalty this man has to her -- an emotion not brought by written dialogue or back story, but by the adventure that you played through. And to end it with you trying to claw your way back to her, only to be sucked away, and then the player witnessing her wake without knowing of anything that has happened -- truly one of the most powerful moments in gaming.
For me it would be Kefka poisoning the river, I was like "oh sh-! now this guy is serious business"!
then the most of the "epic" moments come from really tough boss battles, stuff that you struggle so hard to kill that once you made it you had a feeling of accomplishment. You rarely see that difficulty/epicness in games nowadays.
I almost forgot! everything in Eternal Darkness is powerful, I loved when the game began screwing with me making me beleive my tv was going nuts or that my memory card was corrupted.
and finally, I feel ashamed for not playing Shadow of the colossus xP, I've seen the ending so many times and It really looks like an awesome game
On September 18 2010 03:18 Ko1tz wrote: For me it would be Kefka poisoning the river, I was like "oh sh-! now this guy is serious business"!
then the most of the "epic" moments come from really tough boss battles, stuff that you struggle so hard to kill that once you made it you had a feeling of accomplishment. You rarely see that difficulty/epicness in games nowadays.
I almost forgot! everything in Eternal Darkness is powerful, I loved when the game began screwing with me making me beleive my tv was going nuts or that my memory card was corrupted.
and finally, I feel ashamed for not playing Shadow of the colossus xP, I've seen the ending so many times and It really looks like an awesome game
agghh why would you watch the ending without playing it!? Ah well, just wait for The Last Guardian.
The ending to Mass Effect and the ending credit music. The song is just epic and just fits the game so well. I get nerd chills every time I listen to it!
made me quit the game for more than half a year. Not because it was bad. Because I was so emotionally affected that I simply couldn't continue.
Various, no, many scenes in Tales of the Abyss brought tears to my eyes. Gotta love the Japanese voice actors, especially Tear's.
The ending of Lufia2. Especially the part where Tia starts crying and doesn't know why.
The battle against Undine in Tales of Symphonia and the battle against Maxwell in Tales of Phantasia totally engulfed me. Reality didn't exist anymore.
Ico hell yes but Shadow of the Colussus is the most overrated game ever. Of course to each his own. Guess you and me are both excited to hear that they're rereleasing Ico and SoTC in HD for the PS3.
On September 18 2010 03:28 zerglingsfolife wrote: How about KOTOR? Anyone who has played it knows exactly what part I'm talking about. Complete twist of the plot.
One of the greatest plot twists and moments in any video game.
Probably the single most powerful moment in any game I have ever played is the fight between Tyrael and the Dark Wanderer in Diablo 2.
The Kane "Peace through Power" speech and more recently Dragon Age Origin's ending, but also some of the choices along the way would fill out my other top spots.
On September 18 2010 03:56 Nyxs wrote: Ico hell yes but Shadow of the Colussus is the most overrated game ever. Of course to each his own. Guess you and me are both excited to hear that they're rereleasing Ico and SoTC in HD for the PS3.
Indeed I am. I know the constant SOTC praise can be a bit sickening, but it really is a fantastic piece of work.
The canon ending, where Mio strangles Mayu to death. Terrifying, terrible, dreadful, powerful. The game itself is considered one of the scariest games ever and the ending did nothing to stop it.
This whole mission. When the Belkans nuke themselves to prevent invasion. I think that game had one of the most compelling "grand-scale" stories in recent war games, as Galm 1 (player) turns the tide, and as the war escalates at an accelerating pace while the scale tips from one extreme to the other, the atrocities finally reach a climax. And at the end of it, your trusted wingman, frustrated by escalating violence, fires on you.
The release of Final Fantasy VII, period. It was the first time we really saw the true potential of the PSX with FF7's amazing graphics and cutscenes (those were the days, haha). Not only that, it revolutionized the RPG genre, especially in the United States. I feel like prior to FF7's release RPGs were under appreciated and FF7's release got a lot of people to try RPGs, and fall in love with them.
On September 18 2010 03:28 zerglingsfolife wrote: How about KOTOR? Anyone who has played it knows exactly what part I'm talking about. Complete twist of the plot.
I shit bricks when I got to this part, even now it still gives me goosebumps.
Surprised to see no mention of 343 Guilty Spark from Halo 1. Huge plot twist straight out of left field, and the entire atmosphere of that level was just incredible.
I liked FFX over all. I didn't like the game play, but the emotions it stirred and the great cut-scenes were wonderful. I personally found the following scene more emotional than the ending, but both were good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxDVVNyXYs The wonderful music. The wonderful coordinated actions that suites the music so well. I get chills just listening to the music. When I had watched that scene I felt like the entire game was worth playing just to get that scene in its proper setting. (ends around 2:30 or so.)
Other than that I will mostly have to turn to visual novel games for a top 5. Since they often have great stories and that is what makes moments for me.
Very cool list, even though I have no idea what was going on in Braid. There were many scenes in FFXIII that were both very touching and very sad. I remember even my gf who I tried to explain the game to but only understood very little (mostly that she liked snow lol) was quite touched by the ending.
mgs1: -vulcan (2nd fight) and psycho mantis boss fights I don't know about the vulcan fight but everyone who has fought psycho mantis will DEFINITELY remember the experience.
mgs3: -the End and the Boss fights. nuff said
mgs4: -going back to shadow moses gives a huge rush of nostalgia also:
I can't speak for FF or Shadows of the Colossus, but that Braid in ending was intense. There's something about the game that draws you in, maybe for how creative it is.
Emotion: Starcraft: Stork's OSL win KOTOR: Bastila's redemption FFIX: Reunion with Princess Garnet Valkyria Chronicles: Isara's death The World Ends With You: Beat's backstory FFXIII: Sazh's backstory FFVI: Terra's flight
Gameplay and/or Presentation: Tyrian: The Dreadnought fleet Valkyrie Profile 2: Palace of the Venerated Dragon Valkyria Chronicles: Selvaria's Last Stand Dragon Age: The Deep Roads Tales of Symphonia: Temple of Lightning Ys Origin: Roof of the Tower Mass Effect: Feros Skyway Chrono Trigger: Black Omen
Ugh I just spent far too much time just thinking about my gaming history.
I played the majority of FFX's main storyline (absolutely no time spent on side quests) at my friend's dorm a couple years back, but I didn't finish it because I didn't feel like looking up all the penultimate content I could indulge in. I also didn't pay much attention to the story or anything because I'd be watching anime and chatting with my friends at the same time. Is the game worth revisiting and clearing?
The ending of The Darkness leading up to the song song Capt Midnight by Tomahawk in the credits, one of Mike Pattons bands. Mike Pattons voice work in that game was amazing as well.
I don't know about endings, but the Tales of Symphonia opening cinematic that plays before the 'Press Start' screen was the most powerful I've ever seen. I remember playing co-op with it at a friends house and every time we booted it up we watched the cinematic in its entirety. I've never done this with another game.
mine's OoT, at the end when they play the lost woods song and everyone's partying it up jersey shore style at lon lon ranch. as you watch it, you just get that good feeling, like the weight of the world's just been lifted, and everyone gets to celebrate together.
EDIT: now that i'm watching it again, i'm half expecting ghost yoda, obi wan, and anakin to be smiling beside the zora king and the kokiri leader. fucking epic, great job Nintendo!
EPT
. And im defiantly going to try braid
