I completely understand people's revulsion at these deaths scenes, but I don't get where they're morally reprehensible or inherently in poor taste. They're supposed to be horrifying and a deterrent from failing in-game.
Most deaths in RE4 were contextual and graphic. Dying meant more than just being set back a ways. You had to watch your character be eviscerated, beheaded, Etc. If that bothers the player (which the game does a good job at making possible), then they'll want to avoid failing even more, in turn making dire situations all the more intense. It helped reinforce that Leon was mortal and vulnerable, no matter how many enemies he dispatched or impressive feats he performed.
RE5 was neutered in that regard. Ignoring all other aspects of the game that made it less scary/intense than RE4, the deaths were tame. The chainsaw man couldn't behead characters and the executioner's downward slash finished didn't cleave them in half. While the effect woul dsurely vary from person to person, overall, dying in that game will lack something RE4's deaths has: a believable out come to in-game actions.
Believable results to everything that occurs in games does a lot to help make the gameplay feel more substantial. Metal Gear Rising lets you play as a cyborg ninja with a high-frequency blade capable of cutting through anything. Throughout the game, you can do just that: Cut through anything. Well, not absolutely everything, but what you can cut, you can cut however you like. If you tried cutting a box and nothing happened, it would lessen the impact of performing that cutting action. You can cut boxes, and Ferris wheels, windows, missiles, enemies, Etc. That plays a big part in making the game awesome.
It's the same situation with Max Payne 3's enemy hit-reactions and environments. You're a guy in a realistic setting getting into shootouts. If I shoot someone who's shooting at me, there needs to be a proper reaction to that shot, or else it won't at all capture the feel of the situation and in turn lessen the importance of playing the game.
I've never seen someone impale their head on a spike, and I never want to, so I can't comment on how over-the-top/over-the-line that Tomb Raider gif is. However, I imagine something like that to be exceedingly disturbing, and that death animation really bothers me. If I play this game, I will definitely want to avoid that spike and I'll probably lean forward/pay more attention/get more into the game in order to avoid that. I'd say that's mission accomplished.
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