Greatest emotional investment

[Madame Adequate]

Okay, my turn!

Pretty much all of Suikoden II. There's a sense of belonging in some places, like Muse and Greenhill, there's anger at Luca Blight, joy when you triumph over unlikely odds, sadness, all sorts. And very few things in this world make me happier than listening to Beautiful Morning.

The Halo series. I feel outrage and xenophobia bordering on advocacy of genocide. Humans are awesome and these dirty alien bastards aren't going to get away with their crap. (See also: Dawn of War)

Deus Ex. It might be a dystopian nightmare but it is still amazing and mindblowing. Standing on Liberty Island after having ended a terrorist occupation, looking at the New York skyline, with that music, it makes me feel... I don't know quite how to describe it. It's the complete and polar opposide of Suikoden II but it makes me feel home, in a different way.

[krissy]

Shame on you all

Shadow of the Colossus Which feelings?ALL OF 'EM!

OK FINE i felt wonderful playing that game
ico was great too
actually ico got me euphoric
because the scenery is spectacular
and it got me deeply frustrated and pissed
because the battle system is ass

[PeTeRL90]

Lufia II was the first game to bring a tear to my eye. Everything was fine, but noooo, the ending just had to eventually come along.

Tales of Legendia also got to me.

[sephireland]

ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, the end of Shadow Hearts: Covenant, the end of FFX.

[black orb]

>>> Suikoden 1 and 2..

[Aydin]

FFX, FFVII, Persona 4...

[Wolf Kanno]

I will have to come back to this one... I have too many games that mean a lot to me. Games have probably influenced me more than other mediums. I'll be back to bore you all with a couple of paragraphs and some cake.

[Jiro]

While I could list almost every RPG I've ever played, I'm going to say Suikoden V. There are so many likeable characters, and the deaths of certain characters are quite saddening. It also has an element of awe, but it's been a while since I've played it so I can't think of examples :/

[Dreddz]

Deus Ex. It might be a dystopian nightmare but it is still amazing and mindblowing. Standing on Liberty Island after having ended a terrorist occupation, looking at the New York skyline, with that music, it makes me feel... I don't know quite how to describe it. It's the complete and polar opposide of Suikoden II but it makes me feel home, in a different way.

I'm with you on Deus Ex. One of the few games that actually built characters that I cared for. I remember the first time I witnessed Jock die I had to pause the game in disbelief. Plus just listening to Walton Simons and Bob Page taunt you throughout the game gets me so pumped with adreneline. If only more games paid as close attention to dialogue and characters.

Plus I love the atmosphere and music in the game, just walking around New York and Paris gives me goosebumps.

[Madame Adequate]

Dreddz knows exactly what is up

Another game which deserves particular kudos for atmosphere is Sid Meier's Alpha Centuari. You wouldn't think a TBS game could really do very much in terms of atmosphere, but this is just genius. The use of quotes, both real and fictional, is amazing. You get into the leader's minds more with SMAC than with games featuring real people, like Civilization. The technologies are believable and the whole thing is cohesive.

[Wolf Kanno]

I have quite a few games that have impacted my life, I feel I've spoken enough about certain FF games so I see no reason to repeat myself on them.

FFTactics - My first real introduction to the job class system since III and V never saw the light of day here by this point. It was also my first SRPG and made me come to love using real strategy in my games. What really got me was its story and plot. The political intrigue and how even nobility can be just pawns to a social system or greater problem. Yes, it has its supernatural Lucavi but what always seemed more interesting was the Lion War and the battle for succession. Ramza uncovering the conspiracy while Delita used it to seize powers.

There was a lot of gray in the cast and events and that was something that I never really saw in any game up until that point and sadly, I still don't see much of it by today's standards. It was what I considered to be one of the first "adult games" not for violence or explicit content but because its themes and characterization was written for a mature mind to feast upon and explore its subtleties. Its something that even the mainstream FFs can't really do cause they feel childish in comparison.

Metal Gear Solid 3 - Another title that is just remarkable from beginning to end and one of the few that makes me tear up towards the end. Quite possibly the greatest story of one man's decent into darkness. The historical setting added so much weight to the events and Kojima backed away too much from the hair raising techno super babble that plagues MGS2 and 4. It felt more like the original in the sense that it felt very believable. The relation between the characters was very strong and I loved the gameplay but it was the philosophy of patriotism and the times that stood out. Despite only being in one title, I feel most would agree that The Boss is one of the most amazing characters in the series if not in gaming. The game's use of merging gameplay with cutscenes seamlessly was also amazing. My heart still gets all pump up in the escape from the last base. Its still one of the most amazing games on the PS2.

Xenogears - Gears was everything to me that people keep saying VII should have been for me in terms of story and character. A complex and highly convulated tale that is actually just complex and deep rather than purposely being told in a convulated manner to make it feel deep. Xenogears touches on a wide range of themes that most games don't even come close. Politics, religion, psychology, faith, drugs, social engineering, loyalty, and even finding meaning in our lives.

Its cast was rich and even its more underdeveloped characters were more developed than other games major cast. Its story was a grand experience that kept you guessing and explored one of the most well defined worlds in RPG history. Its use of symbolism was also exceptional and I found myself learning more about different religions and philosophy as explored the meaning. Unlike other games that may drop religious names and referece, Xenogears use of it tended to embody the whole concept of it rather than its face value. Even its "re-imagining" with Saga wasn't as sharp and as strongly used as it was in Gears. Its story telling was already complexed but when you actually look into its meaning the story reaches greater and more exciting depths.

Its a game that I feel no one has yet to actually top in terms of well... everything. Its the game I wish the FF series would move towards as it was probably one of the most mind-blowing games that Square ever made and really secretly set the bar higher than its own flagship series can't even come close to. Xenogears made me go out and learn more about the world, which is something very few games have ever done.

Both Gears and Tactics made me really question things and expanded my world. They changed my expectations of what I look for in storytelling and even game design. Both titles are emotional roller coasters for me as I can easily become so immersed in both there worlds. Even discussing the games brings me back to such strong feelings as I had when I first played them.

Well I spoke long enough on these titles but I may have to come back to do Ico, SotC, Persona 3, Suikoden and CT. I'll stop here for now.

[Jojee]

I must be a cold, heartless sonuva bitch because I don't get emotional during video games.

Yeah, I can't remember a game that I ever shed a tear at. :mog:

Probably because most games I play have already been spoiled for me. xD

[theundeadhero]

I can't ever remember crying over a video game, but they do bring out several other emotions.

[Raistlin]

If we're allowing for a wide range of "other" emotions, Suikoden IV had a significant emotional investment ranging between laughing at Snowe and wanting to punch him in the face.

[Madame Adequate]

"What games made you cry?" is a fairly common question amongst our rabble. I'm not sure why, it's not like sadness is the only emotion which exists or can be stirred by games.

So in this thread, we're going to discuss games that had an emotional impact on us, and those we are/were emotionally invested in. (FFFFFUUUUUU RAGE doesn't count.) Not just sadness, but anything!

GO~