5. Zidane Is Not Alone (IX)
'You've always protected us. But you still don't understand that we looked out for you, too! We watched your back while you watched ours. And we believed in you the same way you believed in us! Just like you protected us...we want to protect you'
Throughout his life, Final Fantasy IX's hero Zidane dreams of a blue light, which transpires to be a vague memory of his early childhood on the planet of Terra, where he was originally created as an 'angel of death' to replace Kuja. Though kidnapped by his predecessor and left for dead on the world of Gaia, Zidane eventually returns to Terra with a host of companions. Unaware of how he was created at this point, he encounters a group of individuals that look just like him (humanoids with tails) called genomes, which are soulless vessels that Garland intends to use as the hosts for some of Terra's souls when he eventually assimilates the planet with Gaia. Soon after, he is informed of the nature of his existence by Garland, becoming crushed at the revelation and abandoning his friends, believing that he has no purpose in life apart from assisting in the destruction of Gaia, which he is unwilling to do. Alone in the depths of Pandemonium, Garland's castle, Zidane is forced to take on an assortment of powerful monsters, only to be joined each time by a selection of his allies in a tremendous display of camaraderie. Each of his comrades inform him in turn about how he has changed their life for the better, and attempt to convince him that his purpose in life is the protection of everybody and everything that he holds dear. It takes the arrival of Garnet, the woman he has fallen in love with, in the final battle to nail the point home, as she finally manages to convince the game's lead that he has a duty, and that he won't be short of friends to help him fulfil it. 'You're Not Alone' is the title of the scene's musical accompaniment - it couldn't be more fitting.
4. The Opera (VI)
'Oh Maria! Oh Maria! My beloved, do you hear, My words whispered in your ear, As if I were by your side?'
There are still people in this world who claim that video games can't be taken seriously as an art form. This sequence from Final Fantasy VI begs to differ. Needing an airship, Locke, a member of the player's party, formulates a plan to trick a man named Setzer into letting them use his. Knowing that Setzer plans to launch a kidnap attempt on an opera singer named Maria; he replaces her in the performance with fellow party member Celes, who is a dead ringer for the star performer despite her insistence that she is a soldier and not some 'opera floozy'. Despite an unplanned intervention from the octopus Ultros, who seeks revenge on the party for an earlier defeat, Celes improvises her role to perfection, performing in a simply beautiful sequence whilst the 'Aria Di Mezzo Caraterre' plays in the background. Technical limitations on the SNES prevented the inclusion of actual singing, but the need for it is transcended by the sheer majesty and grace of the scene, which is a phenomenal display of artistic expression.
3. Sephiroth Kills Aeris (VII)
'Aeris will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry or get angry...'
You knew this was coming. Soon after Cloud drops into her church early on Final Fantasy VII, Aeris begins to develop affection for the man, ironically finding him similar to her previous boyfriend Zack (who Cloud has assumed the memories and personality of, though neither of them know this). When she is sought out by the Shinra Company, it is revealed that Aeris is the last member of an ancient race called the Cetra, something Sephiroth mistakenly thinks that he is. She travels with the party, who keep her safe from her pursuers until she disappears following Sephiroth's acquisition of the Black Materia, which gives him the ability to summon Meteor. Able to talk to the planet through the Lifestream, Aeris goes to the home of her ancestors, the Forgotten City, praying to them in an attempt to call forth Holy, the only magic that can combat Meteor's devastating effects. The party track her down and find her in this state, where Sephiroth attempts to remotely take control of Cloud's mind and have him kill her, something he resists and refuses to do. In a shocking turn of events, he then proceeds to do the job himself, descending from the ceiling and impaling the innocent Aeris with his sword, making her collapse in Cloud's arms and die. Nobody saw it coming, given her importance, and the internet (a fairly new technology in 1997) was awash with rumours of how to revive her. Sadly, they all proved to be untrue and to this day, Aeris' passing lives long in the memory of players, many of whom are unashamed to admit the emergence of tears from their eyes when they witnessed the event for the first time.
2. Squall's Speech (VIII)
'... ... Everybody, this is Squall. How's everyone doing? You're all probably too tired to even stand up after all the fighting. But I want everyone to listen to me... We still have a chance to win, and I need your help. This is going to be our final battle. We're going to attack them before they come in again. To do that, we're going to head straight into their Garden. So I want everyone to prepare for a major collision. Take care of all the junior classmen. Irvine, Quistis, Zell and Selphie will lead the attack into their Garden. As for everyone else, please support them if you can. SeeD was formed to fight the Sorceress, at least, that's what I heard. And Garden was created to train SeeDs. So this battle is Garden's destiny and also our destiny. It's a gruelling battle, and I'm sure you guys are all exhausted. But I don't want to have any regrets. I don't want anyone to look back and regret this day. So just this once, I want you guys to give everything you've got! For yourselves and for me!'
This speech actually occurs during Final Fantasy VIII's destructive battle between Balamb and Galbadia Gardens, but deserves its individual (and higher) placing for being the iconic moment where Squall transforms from a cold and stoic lone wolf into the born leader that he was meant to be. Through the power of words (and 'The Oath', one of Nobuo Uematsu's finest musical creations), he encourages his people (who he finally realises look up to and respect him) to never give up and admit defeat, and inspires them to fight on for what is right as he signifies their intent to counter Galbadia's initial attack despite the heavy losses that they have incurred. It's a powerful moment that's hard to describe in words, but is one of the finest few minutes of gaming that the Final Fantasy series has ever given the world.