10 Most tragic deaths in video games

Death and video games are synonymous with each other because let’s face it some of the best, most loved video games out there are shoot em ups. However, there is still a place for the human heart amongst all the bullets and bloodshed and sometimes no matter how tough we are, a lump forms in our throat when a beloved character falls.What makes their death even harder to accept is the fact that they were longstanding, righteous characters who we could form a connection with, so much so that they seemed almost human despite being a work of CGI. Keeping that in mind, let’s browse through the 10 most tragic deaths in video games.

#1 John \"Soap\" Mactavish

Joseph Stalin’s quote about the death of one man being a tragedy, but the death of millions a statistic is extremely apt in this case. You cannot have a war without casualties, but the deaths of some people tear at your heart even more than the rest, especially if the person in question is Soap MacTavish. Soap was a character almost every Call of Duty gamer has a special attachment to mostly due to the fact that he was highly skilled, had a strong sense of honour and to top it all was just so bad ass.

I really thought Soap would survive the wounds inflicted on him by an explosion in Modern Warfare 3 due to the fact that he survived the worst of the worst in the previous two games but, unfortunately, that wasn’t to be. However, Soap will always live on in our hearts and will undoubtedly be one of the COD series’ greatest characters.

#2 John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)

Most Westerns have extremely happy endings with the heroic cowboy vanquishing all evil, but now this one. Red Dead Redemption’s John Marston’s death was extremely heartbreaking due to the fact that he did what he did to erase the sins of his past only to be brutally killed by people who are supposedly on the side of the law. So, instead of a fresh chance at life with his family, all Marston got as a reward was a hail of bullets.

The way he meets his end is extremely tragic as we develop a sort of attachment to his character as the game progresses. However, his death is avenged in the most fitting way by his son, who deservedly shoots the living daylights out of the man who betrayed him at the game’s climax.

#3 Mona Sax (Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne)

Max Payne loyalists initially disliked the character on Mona Sax, considering that she was the one who drugged Max and left him for dead in the first game, during which she supposedly met her demise. However, her character really grows on you during Max Payne 2, where you realize that her feelings for Max are indeed genuine.

Mona is at Max’s side throughout the events of the second game, so much so that it’s safe to say that Max wouldn’t have made it through without her invaluable help (and badass sniping skills). Unfortunately, Mona couldn’t cheat death for the second time and perishes from a bullet wound inflicted by the game’s antagonist Vladimir Lem, putting a tragic end to her romance with Max.

Mona’s death affected Max deeply and was one of the main reasons for his steep decline seen in Max Payne 3.

#4 Simon Ghost Riley (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)

Another character that I grew really fond of only to see him perish was COD Modern Warfare 2’s Simon “Ghost” Riley or simply Ghost if you prefer. Not only was he an excellent, honourable soldier willing to do anything for his brothers in arms, but was also the wearer of one of the most badass pieces of headgear I’ve ever seen in the form of a Skull Balaclava.

The most tragic part of his death was that it wasn’t at the hands of an enemy, but at the hands of General Shepherd – somebody who Ghost looked up to as an ally and a leader. Fortunately, Ghost’s death is avenged by Captain Price and Soap, who rightly dispatched Shepherd with a knife to the eye.

#5 Joker (Batman: Arkham City)

The Joker’s death shouldn’t make tears well up in people’s eyes mostly due to the fact that he’s a mass murdering maniac with no sense of humanity. However the complexity of his character is so intriguing that it’s made him one of comic books’ most loved villains, so much so that he’s held in equal regard to his arch nemesis – the Dark Knight.

The Joker’s demise in Arkham City really got people choked up for two reasons 1. He was just so gosh darn awesome and 2. His death also meant that his equally brilliant voice actor – the legendary Mark Hamill wouldn’t feature in any more games. Let’s hope that the Joker and Hamill make a return in the upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight, even in the form of one of Scarecrow’s illusions.

#6 Cortana (Halo 4)

If you thought Master Chief didn’t have a heart under all those layers of his famous armour then think again. It turned out that, after all, the countless missions he went through with his trusted AI Cortana a close bond developed between the pair. Sadly fate had other plans for the pair, and Cortana’s life was snuffed out while protecting Master Chief from the effects of the nuclear detonation aboard Didact’s ship.

However, there’s a silver lining on the horizon as Halo’s developer 343 Industries announced that Cortana is all set to make a return in the upcoming Halo 5. Her resurrection seems very likely as it shouldn’t be forgotten that she’s an artificial intelligence capable of being rebuilt in the aftermath of any eradication.

#7 Aerith (Final Fantasy VII)

No list of tragic video deaths can be complete without mentioning this one. The saddest part about Aerith’s death is that it came at a time when it was completely unexpected, and for absolutely no fault of hers. What made her death even more heart wrenching was the pain of watching Sephiroth’s sword plough through her heart, with the now iconic “Aerith’s Theme” playing in the background.

The death of Aerith is now considered as one of video games’ most shocking deaths even though it’s been over a decade since Final Fantasy VII’s initial release. Her demise will continue to occupy the top spots of such lists for years to come.

#8 Jenny (The Darkness)

Another death that truly saddened me was the death of Jackie’s beloved girlfriend Jackie in the first game of the Darkness series. The sweethearts were both orphans and became inseparable since childhood even though Jenny was unaware of Jackie’s life as a hitman for mobster Uncle Paulie.

Jenny’s life was tragically snuffed out in the most brutal way by Uncle Paulie after differences crop up between him and Jackie – who becomes devastated after her death and uses the power of a supernatural force called the Darkness to reign hell upon Uncle Paulie and his crew.

#9 Roman Bellic (GTA IV)

Although Roman was the one who dragged his cousin Niko to the crime infested Liberty City under the false guise of the “American Dream”, the two still shared a close bond and continued to look out for each other during their time in America. Roman does eventually make it big after striking gold while gambling, but it was never meant to last.

Roman tragically gets caught in the crossfire of Niko and Dimitri’s rivalry, and meets his demise at his own wedding from an assassins’ bullet that was originally meant for Niko. What makes Niko’s death even sadder is the fact that his would be wife Kate was pregnant with Roman’s son. Roman’s death is soon avenged by Niko, but the fact that he didn’t fully get to live his American Dream still seems a tad bit unfair.

#10 Louise (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories)

The Grand Theft Auto series has had its fair share of character deaths, but this one was extremely hard to digest. Louise developed a special bond with Vic Vance, the protagonist of GTA: Vice City Stories, who rid her of her abusive husband Marty and even took over his many illegal rackets together.

Unfortunately, Louise gets caught in the crossfire of a feud between Vic and his rivals the Mendez brothers, who kidnap her and mercilessly beat her before shooting her to death. She professes her love for a devastated Vic in her final moments and makes him promise to take care of her baby daughter before passing away. Her death is ultimately avenged by Vic who savagely kills the Mendez brothers at their own stronghold.