What are your picks, and why?

I loved the ending of The Last of Us. The characters, music and emotion are all top notch. So fucking good.

Xenoblade Chronicles! That's the way a video game should freaking end! The opening is also one of the best openings of all time! And the game itself! Holy cow, so much to explore and customize!

Let's face it, it's one of the greatest games ever created.

Shadow of the Colossus' ending is my favorite I'd say, it made me cry

ICO Watermelon ending. Because 1000% less broken heart.

Xenoblade , all those plot twist and then the ending!!! and the meaning of the ending.

Shadow of the colossus. I really liked the game and it's ending. Legacy of Kain plot line was probably my favorite story across multiple games.

MGS3 when Eve takes the apple from the Snake.

How can I use the spoiler tag?

This is good...Isn't it?

• Red Dead Redemption. As Marston, you have done all the Gov't has asked of you and returned to your family life. Rockstar even lulls you into a false sense of security by having you do chores with the family for a while. Then BAM, here come the Government officials to shoot the hell out of you while the family you worked hard to regain escape. It was a real kick in the nuts. I really liked John Marston and his son is quite unlikable in comparison IMO. That ending in itself was quite well done, but then you get the chance (as Jack) to avenge John by peppering that Government asshole's fancy suit. Great ending.
• Final Fantasy X, for being well executed and sad without being cheesy. The entire game had a sad tone to it, but I think I was still expecting things to be all right in the end, since that's more or less what I've grown used to seeing. They defeated the bad guy and returned Spira to normal, but instead of the lovers living happily ever after like so many stories, Tidus fades away and Yuna is left alone. The whole scene was executed extremely well.
• Metal Gear Solid 3, for being damn good. Naked Snake has to kill his mentor, Big Boss, because she tells him he must do it for reasons that are completely out of either of their control. It's just.. I don't know the writing and dialogue is very well done. I especially liked Eva's speech about the Boss at the very end of the game, and Snake's salute in the graveyard. This ain't no cheesy 'press F to pay respects' bullshit. This is Kojima at his finest. It's like FFX in a way; the world is saved, but who is celebrating?
• Shadow of the Colossus: I felt bad killing the 16 great beasts. I'm sure Wander didn't feel too great about it either, but he did it for the girl. When he is finished? Surprise! You have been used to help raise a great power that will do nothing to help you or the girl, and you will be killed in the process.
• The Last of Us, for being satisfying and realistic, despite leaving me wanting more. It's also why I don't want a sequel. It left me feeling hollow, but it also felt right. If they had been laughing and joking like they were in Pittsburgh, it just wouldn't have felt right. If they had shown them settling in and enjoying life, it wouldn't have had as big of an impact. After all they had been through, this was the proper send off.

You may ask why I picked all those bittersweet endings and not any happy ones. Maybe it's because they are more memorable, or maybe because I've seen an over-saturation? I hope you guys can bear with me here, but another reason is because of how I relate to them. I like this community, and this is a story I have shared many times before, so I feel comfortable sharing it again.

When I was 14, I found out my father had terminal brain cancer. My Grandma and Grandpa died in the same year, so you could sarcastically say I got two chances to prepare for the inevitable day, but it only made it harder. It shook my family to the core, seeing the strongest man in my life fade away. He was my Boss; my mentor. He didn't miraculously recover after I found some mysterious space rock or something, he just gradually deteriorated until he inevitably passed away. I couldn't fight 16 magical beasts to bring him back either; he was just gone. After he died my accomplishments felt worthless. He did not live to see my valedictorian speech at graduation, or my first college ball game. Why should I feel proud, when the biggest reason I pushed for those things was gone?

That's why I like what these ending's portray. Life isn't fair at all, it really is just a fleeting dream. Sometimes people close to you die, or leave your life for reasons you do not understand, and there is nothing you can do to stop it from happening. You can't bring them back either, so you try to carry their legacy, and stand tall instead of dwelling on how unfair it may be. And you know what? I have grown to become ok with that. None of those characters just rolled over when they were faced with death and adversity. Like Snake, I gave a silent salute to my father and mentor, and I continue to try to make him proud. Life isn't fair and loss does hurt, but no matter what, there will always be something to fight for. He was strong up until he was gone, and I honor him by doing the same.