When you are playing a videogame, it is natural to want to attack and destroy your enemies. Be it with a master sword, a spread gun, a whip, or some other wicked form of weaponry, when you see an enemy in front of you, tapping the attack button is an instinctual reaction.
When a scary creature approaches you, taking it down with a final, finishing blow results in nothing other than a feeling of great satisfaction. Guilt never enters the equation. Why would you feel any kind of remorse for killing a monster?
At an emotional, surprisingly heartbreaking moment in role-playing game Final Fantasy Adventure for the original Game Boy, this very concept is turned on its snake-covered head. What happens when a particular monster means much more to you than the endless supply of other generic enemies? What if this monster has a life? A family? What is this monster is ... a friend?
The Set-Up
My first experience with a Final Fantasy game on the Game Boy was Final Fantasy Legend, an interesting, if flawed, take on the classic role-playing series. When Final Fantasy Adventure released little more than a year later, I cautiously purchased a copy, worried that it would be more of the same gameplay offered in Legend.
I was so happy to be wrong. The game didn’t play like Final Fantasy Legend at all! It was years later when I discovered that Final Fantasy Adventure was actually the first game in the Mana series -- only a Final Fantasy game in name alone! -- explaining why the game played much more like Zelda than any other game in the “Final Fantasy” series.
In the game, you play as an unnamed hero who is a slave of an evil Dark Lord.
As the game begins, the imprisoned hero must fight a giant beast inside a massive arena. After defeating the creature, the hero escapes, but not before overhearing the Dark Lord and his mysterious sorcerer Julius talk about their evil plot to take over the power of the Mana Tree.
Bruised and barely alive following his escape (he did fall from a waterfall after all), the hero meets a beautiful, kind young woman.
Coincidentally, the woman is looking for a series of magical objects that will help defeat the Dark Lord and Julius from going forward with their plan.
Intrigued, the hero decides to help.
What follows is a massive adventure through many worlds, as the hero and his female companion search for the artifacts that will put an end to the antagonists’ plan.
At several points in the game, the hero is joined by a non-playable partner that helps him fight through many different areas. Sometimes this partner is the main female character, and other times it is a brand new character.
These non-playable characters all have different attributes and help the main hero in many ways.
At one point, the hero boards a giant airship piloted by the sorcerer Julius. After stealing a mystical pendant (one of the items he is searching for!), the hero is knocked from the airship and plummets to the ground below.
Miraculously surviving, the hero drops the pendant and it is abruptly stolen by a young girl named Amanda.
It is here when this week’s Memory Card moment occurs: The tears of a monster.
The Moment
Amanda is not a bad person. Being a slave of the Dark Lord just as the hero used to be, she only steals the pendant to trade it with the slave leader Davias in exchange for her imprisoned brother Lester.
She loves Lester with all her heart and would do anything to free him from his life as a slave.
Because of her intentions, the hero accompanies Amanda to see if he can help her get her brother back.
Offended that Amanda would even attempt such a trade, Davias instead turns Lester into a parrot and steals the pendant away.
Amanda is devastated.
At this point, she learns that the only thing that can save her brother are the tears of Medusa, a horrible, terrifying creature that lives in a far-off cave. By retrieving Medusa’s tears, Amanda can turn her brother back into a human and be reunited with him once again.
Agreeing to help, the hero and Amanda make their way to Medusa’s cave.
A tricky, challenging dungeon awaits the two adventurers.
Once overcoming all the challenges of the cave, Amanda and the hero eventually reach Medusa.
The battle with the scary monster is tough, with the two companions having to use all their skills (and each other) to put an end to the horrifying creature.
With one final blow, Medusa comes to an end.
Before she dies, she begins to laugh. She questions why the two warriors have come for her tears when there are no tears to gather.
Sadly, Medusa is right.
When Amanda steps forward to gather the tears, she realizes Medusa has none. Not a single drop appears on the grotesque creature’s face.
Amanda lowers her head. All hope is lost. Her brother will never be saved.
The hero tries to make her feel better. He tells her they should go back to Davias. Maybe there is another solution?
As Amanda steps forward, she feels a sharp pain.
She looks down and sees a large cut on her body. Medusa must have bit her during the battle.
Her face turns white.
The hero looks at her, confused.
Amanda slowly speaks. “One who was bitten by Medusa turns to Medusa.”
The hero realizes what this means. Amanda will soon turn into Medusa.
She then asks the hero the unspeakable.
She asks him to kill her and use her own tears to save her brother Lester.
The hero refuses.
Amanda insists, saying it is the only way.
She begins to cry as her body starts to transform.
“Tell him that I loved him ... please ... “
Amanda’s final words echo throughout the cold, lonely cave.
The hero has to act fast.
At this point, the player is given full control. Amanda starts to turn into Medusa. You, the player, must step forward, hit the attack button, and actually slay the hero’s sweet, loyal, brave companion.
You must kill Amanda.
With all the courage and sadness in his body, the hero steps forward and commits the awful act.
Amanda’s newly mutated body collapses on the ground. The hero apologizes, gathers her tears, and turns away from the horrific scene.
With Amanda’s tears in hand, the hero returns to Lester and turns him back into a human.
Telling him what happened, Lester joins the hero, determined to get revenge on the evil Davias and bring peace to the world that took his beloved sister away from him.
You can watch Amanda’s shocking death right here:
The Impact
Yup, this scene actually happens. IN A GAME BOY GAME!
Before I played Final Fantasy Adventure, I had never really experienced any real emotional scenes in games on the original Game Boy. Sure, I got a little teary-eyed when I watched the Space Shuttle take off at the end of Tetris, but that was mainly because I finally beat the legendary puzzle game after hours and hours of playing. (Keep in mind, my favorite game on the Game Boy, Link’s Awakening, had not been released yet.)
When I had to kill my friend Amanda the moment caught me completely by surprise. It even happens so quick in the game. One minute you are battling a tough boss, the next minute you are being asked to kill your own friend.
It is a very abrupt transition and comes out of nowhere, made even more shocking by the fact that it happens on the Game Boy.
At that point in time, my Game Boy was reserved for “simpler” games, or, to be more fair, games without rich stories that actually challenge the player to look at videogames in a different way.
When Final Fantasy Adventure was released, I went into the game thinking it wasn’t going to be more than a fun, yet mindless, role-playing game. And for the most part, it is. While the story in Final Fantasy Adventure is good, it is not much more than the traditional sword and sorcery stuff found in most Square games.
But this one, specific moment, really pushes the boundaries of what can be done in a videogame.
First off, the subject matter is unbelievably dark. A young girl, trying to save her brother, is turned into a monster, where her new friend is forced to kill her -- murder her in order to save her brother.
That is pretty dark stuff.
But, more importantly, you, the player, have to deliver the finishing blow.
It would have been easy for the game designers to let this all play out in a cutscene. Amanda could have been killed in the cutscene, and the scene would have still been very emotional and sad.
But, no. You must kill her. You must look her in the eye, push your attack button, and watch as this sweet, lovely girl dies in front of you. All because of your button press.
Granted, by killing her you are, in turn, saving her brother, but that doesn’t make the scene any less powerful.
This detailed choice by the designers to have the player kill Amanda is a small one, but completely changes the dynamics of the moment. With this one choice, Final Fantasy Adventure goes from a stellar role-playing game, to something that is altogether sad, shocking, disturbing, haunting, beautiful ... and unbelievably memorable.
Chad Concelmo is Destructoid's features editor. He loves hanging out with awesome people. That's why Destructoid makes him so happy, since it is full of THE MOST AWESOME PEOPLE OF ALL TIME! Also, dolphins.
Likes
Chad enjoys punching old ladies in the face, Super Metroid, Zelda: A Link to the Past on the SNES (best system ever!), Final Fantasy VI, Day of the Tentacle, Shadow of the Colossus, Mother 3, Beyond Good & Evil, Contra III, Valkyria Chronicles, Punch-Out!!, Half-Life 2, and Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Meet the rest of the team
The music made it even worse too. It suddenly shifts from one score to the sad music. There's also that scene at the end of the Dime Tower that's one of two times I've cried in a video game. The other being the baby Metroid.
Fantastic write up! I'll never forget this moment; it's always stood out as one of the more emotionally wrenching moments in any game. On my first play through, the gravity of the situation didn't full register until after I had defeated Davias (who I still think has the best boss theme in the game, by the way).
Unlike the other 9 billion sad moments in Final Fantasy Adventure, this one is nested within the primary battle mechanic - it never really comes out and throws the act of killing Amanda in your face, it just presents it as another obstacle. For me, those are always the most effective moments in gaming.
It's why I can't start Kevin's story in Seiken Densetsu 3 without having a tissue nearby.
Also don't forget that damn puzzle that stopped thousands of people from actually finding the damn Medusa cave. Figure 8? What kind of clue is that? GIMME BACK MY BAG OF FANG YOU LITTLE SHIT.
Years, years ago (Exactly when FFX was launching) here in Mexico; a magazine made a special edition talking about all Final Fantasy games so far.
Each editor of the magazine talked about each (and i guess their favorite) entry of the series. The one who took all my atention was extly the one who talked about this exactly moment in FF: Adventures.
I searched for years for this game in and near my city for the it, but never-ever found it. But reading, i still think it should be one of the greatest moments in any RPG!
@Chad Concelmo- I've played maybe about 20 of the memory card entries (not very much) but these write ups are hands down my favorite part of Dtoid.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing quite like Jim and the inevitable shitstorm that he throws the gasoline on, but its good to open up a "Memory Card" and every commenter is unified with the same kind of wonder and remembrance that your articles evoke.
i totally looooooved that game,my friend gave me his gameboy with that game when i was younger and trust me id play it allll the time, you just brought up some old memories for me yo
awesome to see something that challenges the players emotion like that in such an early game.
Slightly related note, have you played Nier, Chad? Once you beat it, it starts the game halfway through to play to a second ending, you slowly piece together the truth of the world and realise how morally grey it is, revealing new context for what you've done.
So many serious memory card moments in that game, not to mention the fact it plays like a tribute to so many old school games, if you havn't played it, i hiiiighly recommend! :)
Wow, I haven't thought at about game in a while, but this was one of the most haunting moments in that game for me. While I didn't cry at that point in the game, the moment was very unsettling. It was one of the first times in a video game where I felt genuine guilt for my actions. And to think so many people think video games didn't have moving stories back then....
I'm actually playing through this for the first time right now. I recently bought a Gameboy, and this was one of the first games I picked up for it based on Topher ranting on about it on RFGO. I think I might have been spoiled for this event, unfortunately, because I remember being ready for it. But it still hit me with the force of a dump truck. Quite easily one of the more heartrending moments I've experienced in video games.
Chad, I find it unfortunate that I haven't played many of the games you've been doing Memory Cards on lately, and therefore can't bring myself to read them. I'm glad I could finally enjoy another of your finely crafted articles.
Man I remember this one I got it used from game stop I never got around to finishing it now I regret I never did play it I missed such a great moment. NOw I am going to dig out my sp and play it tonight.
i remember this game very well! i used to play it when i was 10.. but the title was Mystic Sword. Mysteries of the European market or fool Italian localization?
Thanks for another wonderful article, Chad. On a semi-related note, did you ever end up playing Final Fantasy Legend 2 or 3? They were much better than the first. Also, the Saga 2 (FFL2) DS remake is soooo gooood...
I remember this segment from the game. I even asked friends if they actually made it past that sad moment during their quest. Most did, but oddly couldn't remember it clearly as I did. Nice to see that another fellow gamer never forgot this epic moment in a game, everyone grew up with. And it wasn't followed by some cg cutscene, just cause and effect.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
4:00 PM on 07.28.2011 | 
Yup! They remade it. :)
Euryale was gross.
Unlike the other 9 billion sad moments in Final Fantasy Adventure, this one is nested within the primary battle mechanic - it never really comes out and throws the act of killing Amanda in your face, it just presents it as another obstacle. For me, those are always the most effective moments in gaming.
It's why I can't start Kevin's story in Seiken Densetsu 3 without having a tissue nearby.
Exactly! Perfectly said. :)
Yes. Yes, she was. :)
Years, years ago (Exactly when FFX was launching) here in Mexico; a magazine made a special edition talking about all Final Fantasy games so far.
Each editor of the magazine talked about each (and i guess their favorite) entry of the series. The one who took all my atention was extly the one who talked about this exactly moment in FF: Adventures.
I searched for years for this game in and near my city for the it, but never-ever found it. But reading, i still think it should be one of the greatest moments in any RPG!
Great memory card moment Chad!
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing quite like Jim and the inevitable shitstorm that he throws the gasoline on, but its good to open up a "Memory Card" and every commenter is unified with the same kind of wonder and remembrance that your articles evoke.
I got that feel, man.
Aw, thanks so much. Your comment made my day. <3
Please bring it to the 3DS Virtual Console, Square-Enix!
I'm not sure how I would have handled this moment at the time. Just reading about it now makes me pretty sad.
:(
Slightly related note, have you played Nier, Chad? Once you beat it, it starts the game halfway through to play to a second ending, you slowly piece together the truth of the world and realise how morally grey it is, revealing new context for what you've done.
So many serious memory card moments in that game, not to mention the fact it plays like a tribute to so many old school games, if you havn't played it, i hiiiighly recommend! :)
I have not played Nier, but I really want to. Thanks for the recommendation! I have heard great things. :D
Chad, I find it unfortunate that I haven't played many of the games you've been doing Memory Cards on lately, and therefore can't bring myself to read them. I'm glad I could finally enjoy another of your finely crafted articles.
What happens if the timer runs out? Game Over? Or a second boss fight?
Funny you should bring that up ...
http://www.destructoid.com/the-memory-card-15-snake-pulls-the-trigger-42617.phtml
Love that moment! :D