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[snoopeasystreet]

If you play video games, you realize that death is a regular occurrence. Both you and your enemies die or are killed countless times over the course of an adventure and it got me thinking of characters who didn't die because a bullet hit them in the head or they fell off a cliff or they stepped on a electrified surface or whatever other wacky way video game characters die, but from old age or an illness of some kind. I couldn't think of one. It's really odd to me that for an industry where death is one of it's core pillars there isn't really anything that delves into the subject matter of death and loss outside of a party member being self sacrificing in order to save the player or something along those lines.

I understand games tend to take place over an incredibly short time scale so that usually precludes aging or illness being a mechanic and that morbid subjects don't tend to translate to fun gameplay. I could be completly forgetting about games that do this or maybe I'm just playing the wrong games, so if you know any games which deal with death and loss outside of the traditional video gamey circumstances, please post them here. I'd love to try them out to see if they're successful at it.

Reading through what I wrote again, I seem a bit dark looking for games about a thing so depressing. It's just been stuck in my head for the past while how the industry accepts death and killing so easily without ever particularly reflecting on the matter.

 

[Betty]

 

[DanteGhost]

In the Metal Gear series Solid Snake gets old during the series. At the end of MGS4 he is on his final days awaiting death, and you are led to believe he is going to die. Right now is one of the few series that I can come up that tackles death in that manner.

 

[MCN]

The Sims 2 onwards is made of this.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Oh you mean mechanics wise, then just the end is what i can think of.

 

[Het_Nkik]

To the Moon

 

[FluxWaveZ]

It was a poignant moment in Assassin's Creed: Revelations.

Spoiler

It was really effective as players had practically followed Ezio's life with him.

 

[Jawmuncher]

I have a feeling were going to see more series next gen that tackle that subject. Especially as older heroes seem to be getting more and more popular.

 

[GrayFoxPL]

All I know Mishimas don't die. Ever.

And even if they do... They don't.

 

[Hsieh]

To the Moon is about an old man who is on his deadbed and end of life issues is one of the main themes of the story.

 

[Lumpy Onion]

The Flame Champion in Suikoden 3 gave up his true rune immortality to grow old and die with his true love.

 

[FrostuTheNinja]

I have a feeling were going to see more series next gen that tackle that subject. Especially as older heroes seem to be getting more and more popular.

As long as the character's health, stamina and animations change, it should be pretty cool.

 

[Mr-Joker]

The Tamagotchi and Digimon world series had characters that die of old age or natural causes.

I miss you Metal Greymon. ;_;

 

[Timeless]

Holy eff, please mark your spoilers. Thanks.

I think it's easy to find such characters if you include references to other characters -- like "oh, that was my grandfather's sword". Grandfather didn't have a world to save. He was just a farmer dude who lived a nice normal life. Etc.

 

[jiggle]

.

 

[B.K.]

Characters age and die in Venus and Braves. I believe that they even start losing stats and become weaker as they get older.

 

[snoopeasystreet]

Oh you mean mechanics wise, then just the end is what i can think of.

I don't just mean mechanics wise, prescribed narrative is fine too.

 

[Lightning Lord]

First post picked a prime candidate. I'll go for another one that immediately comes to mind:

Akinari Kamiki from Persona 3.

 

[Manmademan]

Flame champion in Suikoden III- but you never actually meet that guy, happens offscreen.

First post picked a prime candidate. I'll go for another one that immediately comes to mind:

excellent choice

 

[koji kabuto]

In FFVII Bugenhagen dies of old age.

 

[RobotHaus]

Monster Rancher had this mechanic, which sucked when you invested a lot of time into a single monster. The game even made a big deal about it when they died which just made you feel worse.

 

[bomblord]

.

Played the game and I have no idea what your talking about.

Are you thinking of her? I never completed the second one so I can't be sure

 

[iMax]

Jack in BioShock

 

[batfax]

In Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life you just kinda die at the end. It takes ages to get that far though, and it's kinda weird that some of the older characters from when you start the game outlived you.

edit: Also I guess in a few of them your animals can die of natural causes too.

 

[Toad.T]

Wrinkly Kong. Apparently died in her sleep according to Rare.

 

[bomblord]

In Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life you just kinda die at the end. It takes ages to get that far though, and it's kinda weird that some of the older characters from when you start the game outlived you.

edit: Also I guess in a few of them your animals can die of natural causes too.

The

Spoiler

old woman

dies after the first year

 

[abstract alien]

There we go.

 

[George Claw M.D.]

Cid from Final Fantasy VI can die of illness. http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cid_Del_Norte_Marquez

 

[Brofield]

Pretty sure everyone cried like a little bitch when her time came in Harvest Moon: A(nother) Wonderful Life.

I know I did.

 

[joe2187]

All I know Mishimas don't die. Ever.

And even if they do... They don't.

Apparently they get stronger, bigger,balder and grow gigantic winged beards that they use to fly into space.

 

[UrbanRats]

It was a poignant moment in Assassin's Creed: Revelations.

Spoiler

It was really effective as players had practically followed Ezio's life with him.

It was in the short released afterwards, not in Revelations.

 

[someguyinahat]

First post picked a prime candidate. I'll go for another one that immediately comes to mind:

Akinari Kamiki from Persona 3.

GAAH! Damn it spoilers! Why did I read this thread...

Spoiler

First Shinjiro and now I learn of this?

 

[FluxWaveZ]

It was in the short released afterwards, not in Revelations.

I didn't even watch that short, so it must have been a false memory or I was thinking of

Spoiler

Altair

, which was also pretty good.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Dr. Cain, from Megaman X. It's not mentioned in the games and happens off screen, but it's implied that it happens around the time of or a little after X4.

 

[braves01]

Apparently they get stronger, bigger,balder and grow gigantic winged beards that they use to fly into space.

That is the way of the Mishima.

 

[jiggle]

I never completed the second one so I can't be sure

gotta get further in that

 

[remz]

GAAH! Damn it spoilers! Why did I read this thread...

Spoiler

First Shinjiro and now I learn of this?

isn't his whole social link kind of about dying from when you first meet him though

 

[Fandangox]

The first Kuma from Tekken.

Scamp from Mother 3.

Multiple characters in Dynasty/Samurai Warriors die of natural causes as the story progresses depending on which story/character you are playing.

 

[Seven Force]

It happens over the course of a few generations in Phantasy Star III.

Also, Dr. Light between the Mega Man and Mega Man X series. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion by the time the latter series starts, but the unlockable mini movie in the Maverick Hunter X remake kinda sorta touches upon it a bit. You see Dr. Light working on X in two separate flashbacks: One where X is about half complete, and Dr. Light doesn't look or sound a day older than he does in the classic series games. You then get a second flashback where X is further along, but Light clearly isn't in good shape. He's visibly and audibly fatigued, coughing, and it's apparent that he doesn't have much longer left. It was kind of a neat way to show the writing on the wall without actually showing said death.

 

[StevePharma]

Spoiler

Ezio.

Although it could be supernatural murder but his death scene seemed peaceful and natural.

 

[whytemyke]

I feel like there was something like this that happened in either Shadow Hearts or Shadow Hearts Covenant, but I can't be certain. (both games ahead of their time, imo.)


As far as games that deal with death in a way that isn't just "Oh my character dies/ my enemy dies," which I think is kinda what the OP is getting at, I kinda think Shadow of the Colossus needs to be in this convo.

 

[SilentTristero]

Spoiler

Passage

The first game that came to mind. Pretty much the point of the thing.

 

[Colocho]

In every sport game where your players retire of old age it's sort of like they "died", no?

 

[Mother Green]

In King of Dragon Pass your council members can die of old age.