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[Ame Otani]

This topic seemed to stir some interest on other forums I'm on; maybe it'll be appreciated over here. :3

Out of all the games you've played, what three games depressed you the most? Why? For me:


I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream (PC) is an old, visual novel based off of a short story of the same name. Essentially, there are five humans left in the world after a nuclear holocaust that took place during the cold war. You play these five humans and are attempting to escape the ethical torture these characters have been placed in. This game is just creepy. Cutting out of your own heart to feed to a hyena is probably the cutest thing to happen in this game. But, the voice acting was done by the author of the short story; it's hard to get any more "real" than that when you're interpreting a written work into a video game.

Sanitarium (PC) is also an old visual novel. The player controls Max Laughton, one of the patients in a bizarre, medieval-styled asylum. Max suffers from amnesia after a car accident, and he's trying to find out what happened and how he ended up in this creepy place. The game takes the player on a journey through the asylum and its surroundings, as well as through the mind of a mad-man - Max himself. The mature story and eerie atmosphere make this one of the best and definitely one of the scariest horror-adventure games of all time.

Suikoden (PS) is one of my favorite games, and I literally tremble listening to some of the songs from the game. Although the game boasts having 108 characters (each being developed in somewhat of a significant fashion), these characters live and die before your eyes. If you recruit these members, you even get to read what happens to each and every one before, during, and after the war. Beyond that, Gremio's sacrifice, Paul's death, and you killing your father leads to absolutely crushing moments. And if you don't kill your father? He calls you a ∞∞∞∞∞ and stabs himself. Shit's real.

What about you?

[Secret Igshar]

*cough*

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (DS) is the third installment in the Professor Layton series of games and by far and wide the most outstanding of them all so far. The storyline is compelling and interesting and it honestly brought me to tears in the final sequence. After three games of playing alongside the Professor and Luke, the finale of this game really, painfully tears at your heartstrings like no other game I have ever played. The voice acting is phenomenal and is DEFINITELY a primary reason behind how utterly heartbreaking the ending is.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (DS) was the second generation of mystery dungeon games produced in the pokemon franchise. The game takes so damn long to complete that for you to realistically not absolutely adore the characters of the game and get so engulfed in the storyline so as not to be moved by the finale you would have to be without feelings at all. They may just be pokemon, but damn. This game made me like Chimchar, who, previously, I despised. Seeing him cry at the end was simply painful. Unlike Professor Layton, though, this game actually has a happy ending.

Radiata Stories (PS2) is a fanciful, fun RPG on the PS2 where you play the role of Jack Russel, son to legendary hero Cairn Russel. At first glance, the game is lighthearted and fun, but as the game winds toward its inevitable conclusion, it gets darker and more terrifying as friends die left and right, culminating in the death of one of my own personal favorite characters from the game. While it is a rather worthy demise, I still got hit hard when it happened.

[Valor]

Drakengard (PS) - A pretty entertaining hack and slash with a few rather somber characters thrown in. Little admirable traits for any of them, and there are multiple horrific endings where many of them meet gruesome deaths. Every weapon is also wickedly curved and disturbing in its own way, be it in its name or the design of the weapon. There were a few times I cringed while watching cut scenes and I don't think I ever smiled happily while playing it. Only sadistically as I torched hordes of foot soldiers atop my dragon. Not a spectacular game, but I really enjoyed it, for what it's worth.

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core (PSP) - Being one of the largest Final Fantasy VII fans you might ever meet, I needed to get this game when it came out, even if it sucked. I did enjoy Zack and I wanted to see his story while knowing full well his end. When I reached the end of the game, I knew I was about to finish the story. I stopped playing for what felt like at least a week because I didn't have the wherewithal to kill off Zack. When I did, it justified his death more than Final Fantasy VII or Last Order did, but it was still absolutely gut wrenching. Even more so because you spend the entire game with his happy-go-lucky personality and his stout convictions, and then it just kind of ends like that. Very dramatic, and very unnerving, especially Cloud's wail at the end. Maybe it's cheesy, but what's the point of playing a game if you don't get engrossed in the story? After finishing this game I basically never wanted to play it again because I can't put myself through that ending again.

L.A. Noire (Xbox360/PS3) - Not really a monumentally depressing game, but the end of the game it did hit me with a sullen note. The entire game is mildly depressing in that charming film noire kind of way. Some of the cases are absolutely brutal, and it deals with significantly adult themes on a level that few games I have ever played do. There's a case where you question a guy who admits to having sex with children and enjoying it, a serial killer, and other things that just kind of go against most traditional gaming conventions - even ones that are set in realism or quasi-realism. When playing it I didn't think it was inherently a sad game, but I can't say that I was "happy" when playing it. When you bust the right guy, there's a legitimate sense of satisfaction because you put a scum bag behind bars. It's a testament to the writing, characters, and visuals. Maybe not depressing, but sullen I would say.

Honorable mentions:
Dead Space
Alan Wake

[qster]

Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)- Despite the fact that the game had little to no story, the game was still able to deliver one of the most sad, depressing moments I've ever played through. Going through the game, you are questioning whether you are doing the right thing by killing these Colossi, draining their power from them as Wander progresses, growing "stronger" in order to fulfill his deal with the demon, Dormin. The ending is easily the saddest part in the entire game though.

Spoiler

Wander's promise is fulfilled, but the girl that is assumed to be his girlfriend throughout the game was brought back to life as part of his end of the deal. However, Wander gets changed into Dormin and is changed into a baby or sent to an alternate dimension, depending on the ending you got.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) The beginning of the game itself just screams that this game is very depressing, from the opening monologue with Old Snake, to the "ending" that is sure to make true fans of the series cry. Even the real ending is pretty bittersweet, feeling more of the former than the latter. Everything about the game just screams conclusion.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP) Yes, another Metal Gear title. This one, however, isn't as sad as MGS4, but the ending was what really got to me. Just the entire feelings and reasons that were put into the Peace Walker Project makes it pretty sad, especially when you discover who the Peace Walker AI is supposed to be modeled after. A really emotional sequel to MGS3: Snake Eater and easily the best Metal Gear game on the PSP.

[Kazei]

Silent Hill 2.
Come on, it's Silent Hill yo.

MGS4.
The whole game had such a depressing undertone, the main theme was very effective in this, adding musical depth.

Rayman.
That shit was dark. Seriously.

[Dion]

Shadow of the Colossus.

Ico.

Prince of Persia (Next Gen)


Each of these games have a profound effect on me, PoP not as much though. Ico and SoTC give me goosebumps to this day. >___>

Honorable mentions:

Crisis Core
MGS4
Peace Walker
Radiata Stories (Silver Dragon ending)
Shattered Memories

Edited by Dion, 31 May 2011 - 05:14 PM.