History TearJerker / GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas

* When the ending credits roll after you complete final mission, it might not be sad (as the music is now the extended upbeat intro theme of the game) unless you realized this is [[EndOfAnAge the]] [[GrandFinale last major GTA game]] (not counting [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories tw]][[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories o]] {{gaiden game}}s) for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. Also, just like ''Vice City'''s ending credits, the State of San Andreas appears to be abandoned, giving the impression that the State itself ends along with the game (and for being the final ''GTA'' game for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2).
** The PC version did have cars crossing though.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Comicbook/{{Spiderman}} With great power... comes]] [[TragicVillain great tragedy.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Comicbook/Spiderman With great power... comes]] [[TragicVillain great tragedy.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:With great power... comes [[TragicVillain great tragedy.]]]]

** Carl also felt bad about the fact that he killed Ryder, his other homie, although this is ephemeral after Cesar tells Carl that Ryder tried to have sex Kendl.

* The fall of Madd Dog, who after having his rhyme book stolen and his manager (alongside an innocent woman) murdered (All done by Carl under the orders of OG Loc) sees a decline in his musical career, falls into depression, turns to alcoholism, loses his money at the Royale Casino at Las Venturas, and attempts to commit suicide by jumping off of the casino's rooftop, claiming he has nothing left to live for. The two hecklers encouraging him into killing himself for a bet do not help at all. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone C.J. feels tremendous guilt from this]], and makes amends by saving his life and helping Madd Dog and his career get back on their feet.

* The death of Big Smoke and before finding out that the power, cash, and drugs finally corrupted him. His lines "I made it, C.J.! I'm a success!" are particularly hard-hitting, because one gets the feeling that he's not only trying to convince C.J., but himself as well.
** Big Smoke [[TragicVillain in general]], really. He started off as a loyal member to the GSF, but then, before C.J.'s return, he and Ryder had no other choice but to align themselves with C.R.A.S.H. and the Ballas due to the Families' decline, and him seeing the opportunity to profit off of the drug industry. Ryder was [[JerkassBall easily]] convinced by Smoke, the Ballas killed Beverly, Tenpenny framed C.J. for Officer Pendelbury's murder, and the power Smoke gained had corrupted him. First he was TheMole towards the GSF, and then it culminated in him becoming a drug kingpin... [[AllForNothing for nothing.]] Because of Tenpenny's goal of eliminating all street gangs, even if Smoke ''did'' kill C.J., he would've had his power and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness his life]] taken away anyway. This combined with all of his pre-[[TheReveal twist]] scenes, where he and to a [[{{Jerkass}} lesser extent]], Ryder, seemed genuinely friendly even with the {{Foreshadowing}}, and then his AlasPoorVillain scene, [[HeelRealization where he finally realizes what he's become]] and genuinely [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone regrets]] it before his death, really does make you think that Smoke, in spite of his failings, deserved better. No wonder why C.J. felt remorse...

** C.J. also felt bad about the fact that he killed Ryder, his other homie, although this is ephemeral after Cesar tells C.J. that Ryder tried to rape Kendl.

** Big Smoke [[TragicVillain in general]], really. He started off as a loyal member to the GSF, but then, before C.J.'s return, he and Ryder had no other choice but to align themselves with C.R.A.S.H. and the Ballas due to the Families' decline, and him seeing the opportunity to profit off of the drug industry. Ryder was [[JerkassBall easily]] convinced by Smoke, the Ballas killed Beverly, Tenpenny framed C.J. for Officer Pendleberry's murder, and the power Smoke gained had corrupted him. First he was TheMole towards the GSF, and then it culminated in him becoming a drug kingpin... [[AllForNothing for nothing.]] Because of Tenpenny's goal of eliminating all street gangs, even if Smoke ''did'' kill C.J., he would've had his power and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness his life]] taken away anyway. This combined with all of his pre-[[TheReveal twist]] scenes, where he and to a [[{{Jerkass}} lesser extent]], Ryder, seemed genuinely friendly even with the {{Foreshadowing}}, and then his AlasPoorVillain scene, [[HeelRealization where he finally realizes what he's become]] and genuinely [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone regrets]] it before his death, really does make you think that Smoke, in spite of his failings, deserved better. No wonder why C.J. felt remorse...

** Big Smoke [[TragicVillain in general]], really. He started off as a loyal member to the GSF, but then, before C.J.'s return, he and Ryder had no other choice but to align themselves with C.R.A.S.H. and the Ballas due to the Families' decline, and him seeing the opportunity to profit off of the drug industry. Ryder was [[JerkassBall easily]] convinced by Smoke, the Ballas killed Beverly, Tenpenny framed C.J. for Officer Pendleberry's murder, and the power Smoke gained had corrupted him. First he was TheMole towards the GSF, and then it culminated in him becoming a drug kingpin... [[AllForNothing for nothing.]] Because of Tenpenny's goal of [[KillEmAll eliminating all street gangs]], even if Smoke ''did'' kill C.J., he would've had his power and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness his life]] taken away anyway. This combined with all of his pre-[[TheReveal twist]] scenes, where he and to a [[{{Jerkass}} lesser extent]], Ryder, seemed genuinely friendly even with the {{Foreshadowing}}, and then his AlasPoorVillain scene, [[HeelRealization where he finally realizes what he's become]] and genuinely [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone regrets]] it before his death, really does make you think that Smoke, in spite of his failings, deserved better. No wonder why C.J. felt remorse...

* A sadder moment is certainly the end of the video "The Introduction", where Tenpenny and Pulaski sent some Ballas to kill C.J.'s mother. And what makes this scene even sadder is the music. Unlike other deaths in the videogame itself, which are even PlayedForLaughs, this scene completely played for drama despite the viewer didn't see anything except for [[https://youtu.be/daw8xhaGj2s?t=1226 a car shooting at the house]], and then we see Sweet and Kendl [[AdultFear panicking over]] Beverly getting shot to death by the Ballas.

[[quoteright:450:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/th_7_4.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:450:With great power... comes [[TragicVillain great tragedy.]]]]

** Big Smoke [[TragicVillain in general]], really. He started off as a loyal member to the [=GSF=], but then, before C.J.'s return, he and Ryder had no other choice but to align themselves with C.R.A.S.H. and the Ballas due to the Families' decline, and him seeing the opportunity to [[MoneyDearBoy profit off of the drug industry]]. Ryder was [[JerkassBall easily]] convinced by Smoke, the Ballas killed Beverly, Tenpenny framed C.J. for Officer Pendleberry's murder, and the power Smoke gained had corrupted him. First he was TheMole towards the GSF, and then it culminated in him becoming a drug kingpin... [[AllForNothing for nothing.]] Because of Tenpenny's goal of [[KillEmAll eliminating all street gangs]], even if Smoke ''did'' kill C.J., he would've had his power and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness his life]] taken away anyway. This combined with all of his pre-[[TheReveal twist]] scenes, where he and to a [[{{Jerkass}} lesser extent]], Ryder, seemed genuinely friendly even with the {{Foreshadowing}}, and then his AlasPoorVillain scene, [[HeelRealization where he finally realizes what he's become]] and genuinely [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone regrets]] it before his death, really does make you think that Smoke, in spite of his failings, deserved better. No wonder why C.J. felt remorse...

** Your mileage may vary with this one, but the fact that unlike Big Smoke, Ryder is completely forgotten after his death, as in spite of his [[{{Jerkass}} many]], [[TheStoner MANY]] [[DeadpanSnarker faults]], he was still a close friend of C.J.'s and has even showed far more genuine loyalty to Grove Street than Smoke ever did. It's rather depressing that not only do one of the protagonist's friends betrays him, he's completely forgotten about after his demise.
*** Actually, the fact that C.J. kills his two friends in general can qualify. If you watch the introduction, you'll see that neither Smoke nor Ryder had any intentions of betraying their gang. Also, even though C.J. made a lot of new friends, he also lost two of his childhood friends as well.

* Sweet, who spends more than half of the game in prison while recovering from his gunshot wounds, wants to return home once he's released. Despite CJ insisting that there's nothing waiting for him at the Grove, Sweet insists that he return home. Once he gets there, he's devastated to see that Grove Street is now full of crackheads loitering the streets and stealing from homes (CJ and Sweet's home especially). The Grove Street families are under the influence of crack as well. Later, Sweet gives in and nearly takes a hit of crack until CJ arrives in the nick of time to convince him otherwise. Sweet explains that he's just tired of everything falling apart no matter how much work he puts into the hood and he's also sick of seeing his own family torn apart. For such a hard ass and a hardcore gangster, it's pretty depressing to see him completely give up and it makes his earlier outburst to CJ about him abandoning the hood a bit more understandable.

* [[spoiler: The death of Big Smoke and before finding out that the power, cash, and drugs finally corrupted him. His lines "I made it, C.J.! I'm a success!" are particularly hard-hitting, because one gets the feeling that he's not only trying to convince C.J., but himself as well.]]
** [[spoiler:Big Smoke [[TragicVillain in general]], really. He started off as a loyal member to the [=GSF=], but then, before C.J.'s return, he and Ryder had no other choice but to align themselves with C.R.A.S.H. and the Ballas due to the Families' decline, and him seeing the opportunity to [[MoneyDearBoy profit off of the drug industry]]. Ryder was [[JerkassBall easily]] convinced by Smoke, the Ballas killed Beverly, Tenpenny framed C.J. for Officer Pendleberry's murder, and the power Smoke gained had corrupted him. First he was TheMole towards the GSF, and then it culminated in him becoming a drug kingpin... [[AllForNothing for nothing.]] Because of Tenpenny's goal of [[KillEmAll eliminating all street gangs]], even if Smoke ''did'' kill C.J., he would've had his power and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness his life]] taken away anyway. This combined with all of his pre-[[TheReveal twist]] scenes, where he and to a [[{{Jerkass}} lesser extent]], Ryder, seemed genuinely friendly even with the {{Foreshadowing}}, and then his AlasPoorVillain scene, [[HeelRealization where he finally realizes what he's become]] and genuinely [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone regrets]] it before his death, really does make you think that Smoke, in spite of his failings, deserved better. No wonder why C.J. felt remorse...]]
-->''[[spoiler:"Oh, damn, man... [[WhatASenselessWasteOfHumanLife what a waste..."]]]]''
** [[spoiler: C.J. also felt bad about the fact that he killed Ryder, his other homie, although this is ephemeral after Cesar tells C.J. that Ryder tried to rape Kendl.]]
** [[spoiler: Your mileage may vary with this one, but the fact that unlike Big Smoke, Ryder is completely forgotten after his death, as in spite of his [[{{Jerkass}} many]], [[TheStoner MANY]] [[DeadpanSnarker faults]], he was still a close friend of C.J.'s and has even showed far more genuine loyalty to Grove Street than Smoke ever did. It's rather depressing that not only do one of the protagonist's friends betrays him, he's completely forgotten about after his demise]].
*** [[spoiler: Actually, the fact that C.J. kills his two friends in general can qualify. If you watch the introduction, you'll see that neither Smoke nor Ryder had any intentions of betraying their gang. Also, even though C.J. made a lot of new friends, he also lost two of his childhood friends as well.]]

* From [[https://lparchive.org/Grand-Theft-Auto-San-Andreas-(Screenshot)/Update%2049/ Jerusalem's Let's Play]] of the game: the "[[https://lparchive.org/Grand-Theft-Auto-San-Andreas-(Screenshot)/Update%2049/ Snail Trail]]" mission. [[spoiler:Tenpenny and Pulaski manage to track CJ in San Fierro, appear in his garage with no warning, and threaten Sweet's life to force CJ into helping them]]; as a result, CJ is forced into killing an innocent journalist and a cop informer. CJ [[ItGetsEasier has absolutely no problem or remorse killing people when he has to]], but murdering two innocents (even if under duress) causes him to [[HeroicBSOD completely break down]] in remorse and fear.

* When the ending credits roll after you complete final mission, it might not be sad (as the music is now the extended upbeat intro theme of the game) unless you realized this is [[EndOfAnEra the]] [[GrandFinale last major GTA game]] (not counting [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories tw]][[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories o]] {{gaiden game}}s) for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. Also, just like ''Vice City'''s ending credits, the State of San Andreas appears to be abandoned, giving the impression that the State itself ends along with the game (and for being the final ''GTA'' game for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2).

* A sadder moment is certainly the end of the video "The Introduction", where Tenpenny and Pulaski sent some Ballas to kill C.J.'s mother. And what makes this scene even sadder is the music. Unlike other deaths in the videogame itself, which are even played for laughs, this scene completely played for drama despite the viewer didn't see anything except for [[https://youtu.be/daw8xhaGj2s?t=1226 a car shooting at the house]], and then we see Sweet and Kendl [[AdultFear panicking over]] Beverly getting shot to death by the Ballas.

* A sadder moment is certainly the end of the video "The Introduction", where Tenpenny and Pulaski sent some Ballas to kill C.J.'s mother. And what makes this scene even sadder is the music. Unlike other deaths in the videogame itself, which are even played for laughs, this scene completely played for drama despite the viewer didn't see anything except for [[https://youtu.be/daw8xhaGj2s?t=1226 a car shooting at the house]].

* A sadder moment is certainly the end of the video "The Introduction", where Tenpenny and Pulaski sent some Ballas to kill C.J.'s mother. And what makes this scene even sadder is the music. Unlike other deaths in the videogame itself, which are even played for laughs, this scene completely played for drama despite the viewer didn't see anything except for a car shooting at the house.

* When the ending credits roll after you complete final mission, it might not be sad (as the music is now the extended upbeat intro theme of the game) unless you realized this is the [[GrandFinale last major GTA game]] (not counting [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories tw]][[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories o]] {{gaiden game}}s) for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. Also, just like ''Vice City'''s ending credits, the State of San Andreas appears to be abandoned, giving the impression that the State itself ends along with the game (and for being the final ''GTA'' game for UsefulNotes/PlayStation2).