10 Bullsh*t Video Game Deaths You Just Had To Live With

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia introduces players to the titular Dracula-battling group. The founder of the organisation, Barlowe, came into possession of the remnants of Dracula’s soul, professing to want to find a way to destroy it forever.

Shanoa, the game’s protagonist, is trained by Barlowe to destroy Dracula. Only she can harness the power of Dominus, a three-part Glyph (soul weapon, essentially) that is the greatest weapon against the villainous vampire.

Albus, Ecclesia’s chief researcher, knew the harm that this powerful magic would inflict upon Shanoa and entreated Barlowe to let him serve as bearer in her stead, regardless of the consequences. When this didn’t work, he stole a piece of Dominus and Barlowe sent Shanoa after him to retrieve it.

On encountering Albus, the player discovers that he’s been corrupted by the magic and a boss battle begins. If the player loses the fight, Albus will beg her to kill him before the game fades to black, and on achieving the good ending, they find out why.

Albus, as Shanoa’s adoptive brother, risked everything to protect her, absorbing magic he couldn’t possibly control. Not only did he give his life for her, but in the good ending, he gives his soul after death (and Barlowe's betrayal) to save his sister’s own. The player only learns all of this after the fact, making it hit all the harder.