8 Emotional Video Game Deaths (We Couldn't Help Laughing At)

5. Anna (Final Fantasy IV)

Tellah Final Fantasy IV
Square-Enix

Emotions are understandably bound to run high in the event of the senseless death of a beloved daughter during a wartime air-raid, and you can't blame a grieving father for his unfiltered utterances in the heat of tragedy.

That's exactly the awful plight Final Fantasy IV's Tellah goes through, when his darling Anna is caught by the Red Wings' bombs, whilst off in neighbouring town Damcyan on a lovers' tryst with dashing songster Edward. Throwing all reason into the fires of fury, the Great Sage of Mysidia takes aim at his daughter's lover, blaming him for her demise.

Staring the lutist down in battle, Tellah unloads with a torrent of anguish:

"You spoony bard!"

With that immortal line, any and all pathos in the scene evaporates like the Mist Dragon. It's perhaps the most memorable - and most quoted - phrase in Final Fantasy history.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.

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Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.