1. Final Fantasy 7 - Sephiroth Murders Aerith
Shall we have a moment of silence for the beloved Aerith? Okay, we'll start now... It's hard to recall a time in gaming history that hit gamers across the globe quite as hard, as Aerith's death. A shocking moment that, to this day, many people I know claim Final Fantasy 7 made them shed a tear. Aerith dying at the hands of Sephiroth is a tragic event for many reasons other than simply being the death of a major character. In the blink of an eye, Sephiroth murders another person close to Cloud, and the effect ripples through the rest of the story. Her death serves as the final breaking point to spark Cloud in a final confrontation with One Winged Angel. Aerith's death broke the normal routine of the hero sacrificing himself for his love by unexpectedly, sacrificing the one person we had been accustomed to seeing survive. Numerous themes run through the core of Final Fantasy 7. A rich history within the game universe fed fans with story and struggles to latch on to. Many can argue that the game holds a very significant environmental awareness message, and this is just one of the many themes you can take from the title. With great turn-based RPG combat, a rich story, and characters that seem to still come to life, Final Fantasy 7 is one of the greatest samples of gaming excellence. There you have it, a small sampling of games that remain great examples of gaming excellence. Which ones are your favorite? Be sure to leave a comment below, and let us know which games hold a special place in your heart! Stay on the lookout for more examples in the future.