Final Fantasy tops poll

By Tom Bramwell Published 21 September, 2005

Of games that make us cry.

Respondents to a survey on emotion in videogames have voted Square-Enix's Final Fantasy titles as the most emotionally rich games ever made, citing the death of Aeries in Final Fantasy VII as the series' most tearjerking moment.

Analysts from Bowen Research conducted an online survey of 535 gamers and found that more than two thirds of those questioned felt that games already surpassed - or would soon equal - music, movies and books in terms of emotional impact delivered.

More than 75 per cent of gamers ranked role playing games as being emotionally powerful, with the figure hovering around the 50 per cent mark for action, adventure and first person shooter titles. 39 per cent said fighting games had the power to move them, with one respondent noting that they can "help solve rage issues."

Perhaps surprisingly, MMOs scored only 32 per cent, followed by racers, RTS and puzzle titles. Flying games were ranked last.

When asked which games had most powerful emotional impact respondents mentioned the Final Fantasy series a total of 104 times, followed by Resident Evil and Halo with 27 and 15 mentions respectively. Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid were referred to 11 times.

"I will never forget the feeling of love between Squall and Riona in Final Fantasy VIII, nor the broken-heartedness of Yuna at the end of Final Fantasy X," said one respondent.

But it was Aeries' death that really moved those questioned - "Friends still talk about their surprise, shock and denial when they reached that point in the game," said one gamer, while a father of two young sons wrote: "For months, we couldn't even listen to the musical theme... Without one of the boys bursting into tears."

You can read more about the survey on the Bowen Research website.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (67) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • tengu #1 6 years ago

    Sniff... I know the feeling ;_;

    Learn to spell the names though, eh?

  • MikeD #2 6 years ago

    Aeris dies?!?!

    You BASTARDS!

    :-)

  • itamae #3 6 years ago

    "Just use a Phoenix Down you fools!" was my first reaction. Anyway, no mention of ICO? Ignorant people. /shakes fist

  • knif3r #4 6 years ago

    snake?? SSNNNAAAAAKKKKKEEEEEE?!?!?!?!?! - truly tearjerking

  • spazmo #5 6 years ago

    I think the random battles in FF7 created more emotion in me.

  • Wobbler #6 6 years ago

    /agrees with spazmo (if emotion = rage)

    ICO should have been up there, and Fatal Frame/Project Zero for sheer amount of fear it could generate. Nasty (but in a good way).
    Edited by 1 at 21/09/05 @ 13:22

  • Tweakmonkey #7 6 years ago

    "Friends still talk about their surprise, shock and denial when they reached that point in the game,"

    Must admit I thought she was coming back and wasn't that bothered by it...

  • Kami #8 6 years ago

    It's Aeris or Aerith (Even then, Aerith is very much debatable), not Aeries.

    But yeah, that moment of FF7 was pretty powerful stuff. I liked Aeris... and when I played it, I didn't expect her to be killed off in that manner. Strong writing from the then Squaresoft people...

  • absolutezero #9 6 years ago

    For me what made that scene all the more powerful was the score, fantastic use of music and image to create something that quite rightly has'nt really been matched since.

    *remembers Hope falling* *blubbers like child*

    Phoenix Down only works on characters who have been knocked out, not killed.

  • kangarootoo #10 6 years ago

    I smacked my gibbon about in Black and White and then felt immediate regret it after seeing the sad and confused look on his face.

    I then felt further regret at ever getting involved when its halfarsed save game system prevented me from recovering my game after a single save game file became corrupted.

  • space_ace #11 6 years ago

    also we shouldn't forget the mix of rage helplessness and sense of tragic loss each time we see "challenge everything". gets me every time...

  • ecureuil #12 6 years ago

    I cried my eyes out at the end of Kana Little Sister. :( Far more emotional than any FF has ever been.

  • Phishy #13 6 years ago

    I must admit it....i too did cry at Aeris dying in FFVII....Whats going to happen to me ... :'(

  • knif3r #14 6 years ago

    I killed my Nintendog - shed a few tears for that, but the b1tch deserved it anyway...

  • Kami #15 6 years ago

    True space ace, whenever I hear that introductory slogan I feel a mixture of rage, pity, resentment, fear and pain. I don't know why. "Challenge Everything"... more like, "Challenging your patience".

  • absolutezero #16 6 years ago

    ahhhhhhhh Kana that old fish, I have a treat for you then check out this site for a similar experience.

    http://narcissu. insani.org/down.html

    Damn nice visual story.
    Edited by 1 at 21/09/05 @ 13:59

  • Lutz #17 6 years ago

    Flying games were ranked last.

    They haven't played FreeSpace 2 then!

    And the revalation of the fate of Nanaki's father was much more tear jerking than the death of Aeris.

  • Spiral #18 6 years ago

    For me what made that scene all the more powerful was the score, fantastic use of music and image to create something that quite rightly has'nt really been matched since.

    Not just Final Fantasy. For me, the music in Ocarina when Zelda flees the castle, Halo's soundtrack in New Mombasa and the beach and the music in Metal Gear all added something to the scene. A good toon seems to be they key in getting emotional resonance from a game.

  • Ryu #19 6 years ago

    anyone seen Advent Children?

    It is a fine piece of videogaming cinema (the only fine piece?), definately made me relive all the fond memories I had of FFVII, cried tears of joy :D
    Edited by 1 at 21/09/05 @ 13:41

  • daveo #20 6 years ago

    Snoppy, c64, I cried when I realised it was only 10 screens long. "Look out Snoopy!"

  • Umbala #21 6 years ago

    Just came to think of it, completely off topic and so forth. I like FFVII and all, but there's one thing that I keep ranting on about;

    Guns, bombs, apocalyptic attacks, supernovas just KO your characters. Then some angsty silver-haired teen slashes Aeris and it's game over. What the hell? Brainfart, etc.

  • #22 6 years ago

    citing the death of Aeries in Final Fantasy VII as the series' most tearjerking moment.

    WTF? Where's the 'spoilers' tag!

  • Rociel #23 6 years ago

    Although Aeris' death was emotional, I must say the only part of a game that has brought a tear to my eye was the end of Metal Gear Solid 3.

  • Blerk #24 6 years ago

    Riona

    Rinoa.

  • tpfkanep #25 6 years ago

    Just came to think of it, completely off topic and so forth. I like FFVII and all, but there's one thing that I keep ranting on about;

    Guns, bombs, apocalyptic attacks, supernovas just KO your characters. Then some angsty silver-haired teen slashes Aeris and it's game over. What the hell? Brainfart, etc.
    ----
    It's called a game for a reason. But not for long...

  • aabyssx #26 6 years ago

    Cried when I ALMOST defeated Nightmare in DMC1 on Dante Must Die! difficulty.

    And at the end of FF-X, too. ;)

    Aeris? Who cares? I was angry because the lost EXP.

  • hailstorm #27 6 years ago

    Yes, I would agree with the person who posted Kana Little Sister. I was like heartbroken for a week after playing that. Had to keep on reminding myself, it's a game, it didn't really happen. I did find all of the alternative endings very upsetting. Sad to think that many people probably won't play this game because of its controversial themes such as incest or thats its quite graphic in parts of that game.

  • absolutezero #28 6 years ago

    On my second play through I got her 4th Limit Break, Great Gospel. Its kinda crappy so you don't miss very much when she dies. Which means even if she did survive I would'nt have used her anyway.

  • Cosmopolitan #29 6 years ago

    What Rociel said. Plus one of the most emotional videogame moments for me: (haven't played FF7 so far): Saving Rinoa from open space in FF8.

  • tengu #30 6 years ago

    The 'perfect ending' to FFX-2 is another good one, yes :)

  • Dizzy #31 6 years ago

    Crying for a video game? You guys are sick!

  • Lynchman #32 6 years ago

    bah...no mention of Grim Fandango or Paper Mario cause obviously emotional can only mean made you cry like a baby....

  • freedumb #33 6 years ago

    I thought the MGS games are quite emotional at times. MGS1 with the Ninja, Sniper Wolf and MGS2 with Meryl. I haven't played the third, but by the looks of it theres also more melodrama in it.

  • The_Aardvark #34 6 years ago

    I'm a couple of hours in to fahrenheit and so far its delivered fear and tension more convincingly and immersively than anything I can remember (though there were a couple of bits in GK1 that come close). I guess both of them depend on a genuine identification with the lead character - something that's a bit tougher when they're wielding a sword half again as tall as they are or have biceps the size of my head.

    Also - let's not talk about the death of my lvl35 warrior at 2000 feet in Zangband TK. Shellshock.

  • PearOfAnguish #35 6 years ago

    "For months, we couldn't even listen to the musical theme... Without one of the boys bursting into tears.""

    Time to get new kids, they're girly-men.

    "smacked my gibbon"

    Tee-hee.
    Edited by 1 at 21/09/05 @ 15:14

  • mastertigurius #36 6 years ago

    Games have never made me cry, but the love-scene between Tidus and Yuna, in addition to the ending, were pretty damn close. Haven't played FFVII yet. Maybe I should, just to find out if it's as good as everyone says. *sniffle*

  • w00t #37 6 years ago

    Fahreheit rocks. The scene with the ex-girlfriend when she turns up to your flat shook a few old memories out into the open...

    @ Aardvark

    Zangband really does make you rue what you did - it's almost always your mistake. The rage at the game/your own stupidity turning into grudging acceptance and a desire to do better is an emotional change I have rarely experienced in other games.

  • The_Aardvark #38 6 years ago

    @w00t

    Aargh - I'm not that far yet you spoilin' spoily spoiler spoil

    /forgives

  • Cloudane #39 6 years ago

    I STILL think FFVII is the best game ever.

    Sure, the battles get repetive and some are too prolonged (depending on your LV/EXP), but the storyline, characters and soundtrack is without a doubt the fnest to be put together in any game - that is a difficult task too.

    End of Disc 1 > ALL.

  • KillerK #40 6 years ago

    Halo!!!???? I must have missed something there. Can't believe Kingdom Hearts isn't on the list though. Can't wait for KH2!!

  • Feanor #41 6 years ago

    "What Rociel said. Plus one of the most emotional videogame moments for me: (haven't played FF7 so far): Saving Rinoa from open space in FF8."

    FFVIII SPOILERS

    I just missed her the first time and she floated off... I couldn't believe it. The ending sequence was even more emotional. I remember thinking that if I've played this game for this many hours, only for them to kill Squall off at the very end then I'm going to go outside and hang myself, hehe.
    Edited by 1 at 21/09/05 @ 16:01

  • kangarootoo #42 6 years ago

    ""smacked my gibbon"

    Tee-hee."

    Finally someone caught it, top work.

    I saw a review once of the add on for Black and White, where your creatures could get pets of their own. They had a picture of the gibbon thing looking down at this yellow fluffy bird, and the caption read,

    "if he chokes that chicken, he'll get a spank"

    This was years ago, but it still makes me chuckle.

  • Jammy #43 6 years ago

    MGS3 ending. need i say more

  • Carrybagma #44 6 years ago

    What sort of weirdo would be emotionally impacted by Halo? Good grief!

  • ChocNut #45 6 years ago

    Yeah FF7 was brilliant. Very emotional for me - I remember the scene where one of the Midgar plates comes down - that was a disturbing moment too...

  • Donglebomb #46 6 years ago

    > Crying for a video game? You guys are sick!

    I'm finding all this a bit hard to identify with as well... the nearest I've come to genuine sustained emotion from a video game is CACKING MY PANTS when a load of tentacle-headed dogs jumped on me in the middle of a pitch-black rainstorm in RE4.

  • w00t #47 6 years ago

    @ Aardvark

    Oops. My bad!

    /accepts free smack

  • GuiltySpark #48 6 years ago

    AAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

    resi 2 rocked. in an upsetting way.: )

  • Xerx3s #49 6 years ago

    You ppl do know that they are video game characters, dont you? As in not real? ;p

  • w00t #50 6 years ago

    In the same way film, TV and book characters are?

  • Nillsens #51 6 years ago

    I cried when Emma died in MGS2... it was so sad. She's finally reunited with her brother and then she dies :(
    I also felt immense guilt after seeing one of the guards tremble in pain after shooting him in the arm... haven't tortured a single one of them since... doesn't make collecting dog tags any easier...

  • kangarootoo #52 6 years ago

    People saying it is sad to get emotionally involved in a video game are either missing the point or just putting on a front. Games are just a type of media, that doesn't dictate the content.

    I read a book review a while back, and the reviewer said the book was shallow and had "no more depth than a video game". For a journalist to say something like that is ridiculous, they of all people should be able to differentiate between media and content.

    A video game can scare you, just like a film. It can make you feel happy, just like a film. So why not generate feelings of sadness also?

  • 8bitMofo #53 6 years ago

    Ya'll act like women.

  • Daryoon #54 6 years ago

    Bah, FFVI had tons more emotional moments than VII.

  • brombeer #55 6 years ago

    Oh yeah..Aeris. I almost did reach for the box of Kleenex.

  • Spiral #56 6 years ago

    What sort of weirdo would be emotionally impacted by Halo? Good grief!

    Not all emotions involve weeping like a girly man ya know? If taking stupid, unnecessary risks to save a couple of marines who've just helped you through half a level doesn't indicate emotional involvement then I don't know what does.

  • Tweakmonkey #57 6 years ago

    If taking stupid, unnecessary risks to save a couple of marines who've just helped you through half a level doesn't indicate emotional involvement then I don't know what does.

    Does shooting said marines in the head at the start of the level make me a murderer then? ;-)

  • yagisencho #58 6 years ago

    Mario Sunshine still inspires a near-homicidal rage in me each time I play it. Talk about a game that needs its control scheme simplified.

    (On the teary side, the original Grandia had some fine moments...)

  • fantabulo #59 6 years ago

    Most games are so ham fisted in their execution I find it hard to feel anything but ridicule. MGS2 my dad mistook for a soap opera, though ICO was one game that did peirce my stony heart.

  • The12thMonkey #60 6 years ago

    Okay, but the emotion was more annoyance than sadness. Yes, I was attached to Aeris, but only because I had put mountains of work and effort into her and was planning to have her in my end-boss thrashing party. Ho hum.

    I much prefer FF9 anyway, it's a more complete narrative experience, both in terms of emotion and entertainment. And FF6 addressed some issues with more impact than FF7 ever managed.

    SPOILER


    Celes trying to commit suicide, for instance


    /SPOILER

  • Spiral #61 6 years ago

    Does shooting said marines in the head at the start of the level make me a murderer then? ;-)

    Nah, that just makes you evil. Stickying them makes you a murderer. :p

  • alimokrane #62 6 years ago

    Surprised not to see Prince of Persia The sands of time mentioned ...

  • Shadar #63 6 years ago

    The Final Fantasy-series is a barren wasteland of calculated sappiness and shallow, boring characters.

    It's a sad day when people think *that* is emotionally engaging.

  • WulfBane #64 6 years ago

    A game is just a game, there is nothing to relate you to the game except when you get to play the role of the main character. For that moment in time you are the game and the story, you are playing is just a little distraction from you're normal life. So enjoy the moment.
    Playing a good game is like watching porn, if your brains triggers a reaction you can jerk off and turn off the screen and go to sleep.

    That's my two cents regards to this survey. 535 people surveyed out of the countless millions playing games around the globe, what a shame.
    Edited by 1 at 22/09/05 @ 21:27

  • firefly #65 6 years ago

    Personally my most emotional FF moments came from IX. Whilst there was no death of a particular character for me to care about I found much of Vivi's story highly emotional, especially as he struggles to accept the actual idea of death. I also loved it during the latter half of the game when Vivi becomes less prominent and we learn of Zidane's mysterious origins (has there ever been a FF protagonist who has full memories of a normal childhood which actually turn out to be completely true) and the two characters' roles are reversed.

  • caligari #66 6 years ago

    'tis True, the new Final Fantasy 7 movie is actually pretty gawd damn kewel.

    Still looks a little 'too' Western though me thinks...but then anything is better than having Kylie as Cammy!

  • Reapergold #67 5 years ago

    Aeris's death is the ONLY thing thats moved me to actual tears in a game. Therefore to say its ahead of movies books etc is just silly. Developers are far to busy cashing in to make emotional games.

    If you were to say which games created the strongest emotion in a person then thats differant. Every EA games moves me to a level of anger that even chavs/scally cant manage while games such as AVP, Fear etc created such tension and scares that surely they deserve a mention.
    Metal gear solid. METAL FUCKIN GEAR FUCKIN SOLID! This is what happens when you give the vote to the braindead majority. Bring on communisem please.