The 8-bit death montage

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Home Nintendo

5:07 PM on 02.27.2007, Hamza CTZ Aziz

38 comments | 138117 views

The above video is a quick compilation of death scenes from popular Nintendo games. Before seeing this, I really didn't care how my character died in games. But now I'm much more appreciative developers take that extra step and make deaths scenes oh so pretty.

What do you guys and gals think are some of the best death scenes in gaming?

(Bonus: Can you name all of the characters in the video?)

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33 comments | showing # 1 to 33

BFeld13

Elite Beat Agents

Because nothing is worse than losing the rhythm and messing up your moves.

BluDesign

There was entirely too much drama in death in early video games.

I mean, who spins in circles when they die? Normally you're hooked up to some sort of a machine or you just drop. Nope, Solid Snake, Kickle Cubicle, Mappy, et al. All spinners. Way over dramatized. How did we ever convince ourselves that this was realistic or lifelike with poorly done death scenes like those?

When I'm about to go when I die, I'm going to have it written in my will that my casket must spin horizontally 7-8 times before they toss it into the ground. Then we'll match up the experience for comparison to a non-spinning casket.

DannyBoy

A bit beyond this gen, but I always liked the animation in the first Turok when a guy got shot in the neck.

momiji58

Character/Game:
1. Ms. Pacman
2. Digdug
3. -
4. -
5. Excitebike
6. Mappyland
7. Link
8. -
9. -
10. Burgertime
11. -
12. -
13. Metal Gear
14. Jumpman
15. Bionic Commando
16. Arkanoid
17. -
18. Moon-something (very familiar)
19. -
20. Asteroid
21. -
22. -
23. -
24. Balloon Fight
25. Pit
26. Mario Brothers
27. -
28. Pacman

Topher Cantler

My own should be pretty impressive. Guess we'll see.

momiji58

<sputter> <sputter> <gasp>... AAARRGGHHH!

Joseph Leray

@momiji -- I think Kid Icarus is in there somewhere.

mandlebaum123

1. Ms. Pacman
2. Digdug
3. q-bert
4. -
5. Excitebike
6. Mappyland
7. Link
8. Frogger
9. -
10. Burgertime
11. Ghost N goblins
12. Mr. Do
13. Metal Gear
14. Jumpman
15. Bionic Commando
16. Arkanoid
17. -
18. Moon-Patrol
19. -
20. Asteroid
21. Defender
22. Galaga
23. -
24. Balloon Fight
25. Pit
26. Mario Brothers
27. Missle Command
28. Pacman

Those shumps are tough. Whats the penguin?

mandlebaum123

Clearly I copied momijis list and added the ones I knew. I knew all the one she pointed out.

And Pit is the name of the character in kid icarus

DrEvilbones

Not exactly a death scene I guess, but easily the best game over screen ever:
<img src="http://www.mobygames.com/images/i/48/39/331239.jpeg" />
Also involves things spinning.
(from Goemon's Great Adventure on N64)

DrEvilbones

urg, bbcode sucks...

Jordan Devore

Where's yo head at?

broham

That frogger death has some bass.

masterledz

# 19 is Galaxian

Barbara

This would make a better gif.

primitiveworker

Gameover Loser

Seifersythe

Where the hell is megaman?!

SuperDave

@Seifersythe

For real!

And the first thing I thought is where the hell is Mario? Who can forget that classic music? Plus you have to love the way he looks at you with the "Home Alone look" before he falls off the screen.

BLOOP! Dun dun de dun dun deh dun dun dun dun.

van

4. - the nameless(?) guy from Donkey Kong 3

9. - Pengo

17. ?

23. - ?

van

wait a minute...
the guy's name from DK 3 was apparently "Stanley the Bugman".

from wikipedia: "Not much is known about him, but he is said to be the cousin or friend of Mario."
"...he did appear as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee..."

Burnt Meatloaf

Most humiliating death: Outrun.

Car flips over multiple times, passengers are thrown from vehicle, and... your girlfriend slaps you upside the head. Ouch!

momiji58

Of course I'm a bit biased on this, but any type of death in the Sims and Sims 2, especially if you do it intentionally.

Like the pool ladder accident.. XD

teknohed

I'd say the best death scene is Dragon's Lair's Dirk the Daring melting into a skeleton and then crumbling to the floor all the while smirking at you with a "you really suck at this game, you know that?" expression on his big dumb face.

Mxyzptlk

So much death...

thetitan

great, but now I am reminiscing.

lordgrunk

17. centipede

flaakmonkey

where Clash at Demonhead? that had a great death sequence.

Nobody

There are 29 death scenes, not 28. The list from 17 onwards (after Arkanoid) should read:

17. Centipede
18. Moon Patrol
19. Galaxian
20. Asteroids
21. Defender
22. Galaga
23. Scramble
24. Gyruss
25. Balloon Fight
26. Pit
27. Mario Brothers
28. Missile Command
29. Pacman

momiji58

Nobody's right there ARE 29 deaths... O.o

bmdubya

I think the best death scene in a game is the decapitation in Resident Evil 4 when you get attacked by the people with chain saws. The first time it scared the shit out of me. But after that it was entertainment. Not saying I like watching people getting their heads cut off, but it was interesting in RE4.

anomalous underdog

@bmdubya: it was even more surprising when that alien head (i think its called ganado 2nd stage) ate leon's the first time it happened to me. i was waiting for it to get close since i was using a shotgun. next thing i know my head was missing.

Fony

Jesus, that one minute brought back so much anger and pissyness... KHAAAAAN!!

ridley80

Oh man, best death was in Metal Gear Solid. You would die and you hear Meryl or someone scream "SNAKE!!! SNAAAAAAKKKEEE!!"
If you played the japanese version you would hear "SNAAKU! SNAAAKU!!!" Epic.

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