History TearJerker / MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain

* Snake's hallucinations of Paz throughout Mother Base. On a meta level, for those who never considered her TheScrappy or wish that she'd survived, the revelation at the end could come across as a heart-wrenching (not to mention [[{{Squick}} gruesome]]) HopeSpot and YankTheDogsChain. On a story level, just imagine what all this must've felt like from Snake's point of view; the idea that all this time, he was wrecked with SurvivorsGuilt, dreaming of what might've been had things turn out different.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mgsv_shining_lights_even_in_death_hallway_scene.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[Music/MikeOldfield Desolation... / Devastation... / What a mess we made... / When it all went wrong.]]'']]

** Not to mention Big Boss and Ocelot torturing Huey as he screams in pain, or the Diamond Dogs soldiers fighting amongst one another. The whole trailer in general could be summed up as one huge tearjerker.

-->'''Kaz:''' That's it...that's good.

''"I won't scatter your sorrow to the heartless sea...I will always be with you."''

*** It goes even further. After the revelation, Paz leaves behind her "final message" to Snake in the form of a "phantom" tape recording, sorrowfully lamenting how she's now but a part of his memories as she bids him farewell, imploring him to never forget her. As heartwarming as it is, it must be even more painful from Snake's point of view, knowing that with her "last" words, another piece of the past has truly gone.

** [[HopeSpot Thankfully]], this is not true in the finished game. Buddies can't die permanently, and if they take too much damage, are fultoned back to mother base.

* From the start, [[ForegoneConclusion you pretty much already know how the game is going to end]]. And there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Desolation... / Devastation... / What a mess we made... / When it all went wrong.'']]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/welive.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[BadAssArmy We]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome live]] [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments and die]] [[UndyingLoyalty by your order]], [[AFatherToHisMen Boss...]]"'']]

* While ParanoiaFuel existed in every Metal Gear game before it, it became much more prominent in MGS V, with all the settings located far away from civilized land. Somewhere out there, ChildSoldiers are marked for a hit by their own commander after serving him loyally. Somewhere out there, nukes are being given en masse to warlords. Somewhere out there, a black operation is being carried out against innocent hospital workers and patients. Somewhere out there, nameless mercenaries kill each other on daily basis. Somewhere out there, world-destroying parasites are being developed. Somewhere out there, a man screams in anguish and proceeds to become a demon that threatens the entire world. Not one soul, be it the Soviet troops stationed ''there'', the private forces, the Afghan citizens and the outside world have a full picture of what going on in those dark corners of the Earth.

* While ParanoiaFuel existed in every Metal Gear game before it, it became much more prominent in MGS V, with all the settings located far away from civilized land. Somewhere out there, ChildSoldiers are marked for a hit by their own commander after serving him loyally. Somewhere out there, nukes are being given en masse to warlords. Somewhere out there, a black operation is being carried out against innocent hospital workers and patients. Somewhere out there, world-destroying parasites are being developed. Somewhere out there, a man screams in anguish and proceeds to become a demon that threatens the entire world. Not one soul, be it the Soviet troops stationed ''there'', the [=PFs=], the Afghan citizens and the outside world have a full picture of what going on in those dark corners of the Earth.

* The ''[[http://i.imgur.com/qUHXy5n.jpg Last Day in Outer Heaven]]'' fancomic in its entirety, heartwarming as it might be. Given that it takes place at the end of ''MetalGear1'' from a dying Venom Snake's point of view. Not to mention seeing Quiet in his last moments. All the while being based on WordOfGod.

* The final tape of the Truth Records set: Secret Recording Of Zero Visiting Snake. It's one of the most heart-wrenching things in the entire series. Zero visits Snake in the hospital as he's unconscious, begging for forgiveness from his friend. He reflects on the ruinous life he's lead with anguish, and nearly sounds on the verge of tears. And the worst part? ''Big Boss never knew this happened.''

* While ParanoiaFuel existed in every Metal Gear games before it, it became much more prominent in MGS V, with all the settings located far away from civilized land. Somewhere out there, ChildSoldiers are marked for a hit by their own commander after serving him loyally. Somewhere out there, nukes are being given en masse to warlords. Somewhere out there, a black operation is being carried out against innocent hospital workers and patients. Somewhere out there, world-destroying parasites are being developed. Somewhere out there, a man screams in anguish and proceeds to become a demon that threatens the entire world. Not one soul, be it the Soviet troops stationed ''there'', the [=PFs=], the Afghan citizens and the outside world have a full picture of what going on in those dark corners of the Earth.

* With the key theme of language and communication not only being integral to Skull Face's plot, but Zero's ideal of unity for the entire world too, it's tragic to think that, at its very core, the problems thrown up in the relationships between characters in this game are rooted in poor communication. Words - or a lack thereof - can literally kill. Big Boss and Zero could have easily reconciled had either of them sought out the other without some grandiose gesture or overzealous threat, and just ''talked it out''. Kaz' tragic hatred towards Big Boss could have been avoided had Boss just taken the time to seek out his friend and confirm that he needed to build Outer Heaven alone, away from prying eyes. Quiet and Venom Snake are unable to fully express themselves due to the enforced barriers between them. Eli's bubbling, seething hatred for his father could have been easily avoided if someone had just taken the kid under their wing rather than letting him go rogue. In short, ''The Phantom Pain'' could easily be '''PoorCommunicationKills: The Game.'''

** There's also Ocelot's message when you kill the first group of infected personnel. He just sounds...empty.
-->'''Revolver Ocelot:''' That's it...that's good.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[BadAssArmy We]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome live]] [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming and die]] [[UndyingLoyalty by your order]], [[AFatherToHisMen Boss...]]"'']]

** And one more scene that manages to be this, NightmareFuel, and a dark CrowningMomentOfAwesome: the trailer's end features an appearance by the sigils of the various factions in the two games. We start with [[HiredGuns MSF]], then [[BigBad XOF]], then [[ALighterShadeOfBlack Diamond Dogs.]] Then the last sigil appears, accompanied by the words [[OhCrap "Venom Awakens"]]. It's a picture of Big Boss's skull (with a hole for his horn) with wings on the side and lighting framing it in a circle. And above it is the name of the unit: [[FallenHero Outer]] [[RogueProtagonist Heaven.]] [[ArcWords "In Outer Heaven, men become demons"]] indeed.

As a Reaction page, all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution.

** [[spoiler: However it's made far easier and completely averted, in the game when you discover all the moral lines he's leaped over in the time-skip, among which include murdering his own wife.]]

** [[spoiler: Except not really, as he's ''really'' The Medic from Ground Zeroes. But that in and of itself is even ''more'' tearjerking: in addition to losing his condition, having that bit of shrapnel lodged in his head…he's also lost whatever his identity was before the helicopter crash. '''''Damn.''''']]
* The final trailer has another scene of coffins covered in the Diamond Dogs flag being cremated out on the deck of the new Mother Base. Amidst those to be burned is one soldier with his face in his palms, clearly distraught over loss. Not to mention Big Boss seeing a woman bearing a striking resemblance to [[spoiler:Paz]].

** Made even worse when it is revealed that [[spoiler:Zero was not actually directly responsible for the mess that occurred during the 1990s onward despite what Big Mama implied to Snake, meaning Big Mama may have not known the whole story - Zero actually has tried to end the war and heal the rift between himself and Big Boss before 1977. Zero didn't hate him, he had Big Boss protected while he was in a coma and even funded Miller and the Diamond Dogs. The question Big Boss posed at the end of ''Guns of the Patriots'' about whether Zero truly hated Big Boss is answered and Big Boss will never know.]] [[PlayerPunch Ouch]].
** [[spoiler:Zero himself by virtue of ForegoneConclusion, in addition to the above. Despite his own attempts to atone for his actions upon realizing that Cipher wasn't such a good idea after all and reconciling with Big Boss (even if it means giving him the chance to destroy Cipher and thus, the Patriots), he's doomed to fail in stopping what he's helped unleash upon the world.]]
* The final launch trailer has a particular one. In it we see Big Boss walking down a long hallway as he shifts appearances, first as his ''Snake Eater'' self, then to ''Peace Walker,'' ''Ground Zeroes'' and ''Phantom Pain'' respectively. Each time we see him get older and more ragged looking. But then flames expand, covering him and burning off his skin, symbolizing his "death" in Metal Gear 2. Then, after the flames die down he shifts one final time, into a fascimile of Skull Face showing that in the end, [[HeelRealization Big Boss became the very thing that destroyed his men, a demon who only cared for revenge]].

* One of the cassette tapes mentions that Amanda's revolution was a success, Nicaragua is in a better state now and she wishes Chico would be there but he can't because [[spoiler: Chico died in the helicopter's crash in ''Ground Zeroes''.]]

* The ashes scene. If the preceding scenes where [[spoiler:he has to execute around five-dozen of his men (most of whom die willingly) to prevent the pathogen outbreak]] wasn't heartbreaking enough, you have to listen to the sorrow and [[AFatherToHisMen warmth]] in [[Creator/KieferSutherland Kiefer Sutherland's]] voice-acting as Snake clearly starts to buckle under his burdens:
-->'''Snake''': [[spoiler:I won't scatter your sorrow to the heartless sea. I will always be with you. Plant your roots in me. ''[[ManlyTears I won't see you end as ashes. You're all diamonds.]]]]''
* Snake's [[spoiler: hallucinations of Paz throughout Mother Base.]] On a meta level, [[spoiler: for those who never considered her TheScrappy or wish that she'd survived, the revelation at the end could come across as a heart-wrenching (not to mention [[{{Squick}} gruesome]]) HopeSpot and YankTheDogsChain.]] On a story level, just imagine what all this must've felt like from Snake's point of view; the idea that all this time, he was wrecked with SurvivorsGuilt, dreaming of what might've been had things turn out different.
*** It goes even further. After the revelation, [[spoiler: Paz leaves behind her "final message" to Snake in the form of a "phantom" tape recording, sorrowfully lamenting how she's now but a part of his memories as she bids him farewell, imploring him to never forget her. As heartwarming as it is, it must be even more painful from Snake's point of view, knowing that with her "last" words, another piece of the past has truly gone.]]
** [[{{Creator/KieferSutherland}} Kiefer Sutherland's]] BigNo [[spoiler: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iD-c85rdlQ during this scene perfectly captures Snake's anguish and helps sell the drama.]]]] The music playing doesn't help either.
* The [[spoiler: true ending to some extent. Revolver Ocelot and Big Boss share one last smoke before parting for the final time, despite the latter promising that they'll meet again. [[ForegoneConclusion They don't]].]]
** It gets even worse when you consider that it's their final quiet moment together before they each go through significant upheaval in each of their lives with [[spoiler: Big Boss heading off to forge the ultimately failed Zanzibar Land revolution which ends with him near dead at the Patriots' mercy]] and Ocelot being forced to leave the man he loves [[spoiler: going through a series of complex plans and gambits to revive Big Boss, fulfill his dream and ultimately dying, never getting to see each other one last time.]]
* [[spoiler: ''Shining Lights, Even In Death.'' '''[[ShootTheShaggyDog The quarantine mission]]''', dear ''god''. [[TrailersAlwaysSpoil It was expected to happen]], but even then, ''nothing'' can prepare you for what happens. After spending the entire game building up your staff, building ''your'' Mother Base, you are forced into [[MercyKill a situation]] that you can't ignore when it breaks down. There are no words to describe the feelings other than ones that Snake himself utters.]]
--->[[spoiler:I won't see you end as ashes... ''You're all diamonds''.]]
** Made even worse by the fact that [[spoiler:''[[ShootTheDog you're forced to shoot every single one of them]]''. While some beg for their lives and others feel betrayed, the ones that hit the hardest are the ones that [[FaceDeathWithDignity go without a fight or without even protesting]]. They even salute Snake before he shoots them.]]
--->[[spoiler:[[UndyingLoyalty We live and die by your order, Boss]].]]
** It doesn't help that [[spoiler:''the iDroid itself'' sounds so dejected with every announcement of a staff member's death.]]
--->[[spoiler:'''Staff member has died.''' (Heroism -60)]]
** [[spoiler: Or that the last group of soldiers, while saluting the Boss, are humming the iconic, upbeat theme from ''Peace Walker''.]]
** [[spoiler: There's also Ocelot's message when you kill the first group of infected personnel. He just sounds...empty.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Revolver Ocelot:''' That's it...that's good.]]
** [[spoiler: Afterwards, sitting in the ACC (with the Sneaking Suit at least) you'll occasionally notice a sparkle in the Diamond Dogs logo on your uniform. That's right, it's a diamond. The kicker? They're made from the ashes of your fallen Mother Base soldiers.]]
* When [[spoiler: Huey is finally made to face judgment by the Diamond Dogs for his crimes, we learn that Strangelove suffocated in the A.I. pod after being left to die by her husband after she disagreed with him.]] While we don't get to see [[spoiler: her corpse]], we do get [[spoiler: to hear the recording the A.I. made of her last words.]] The sheer [[spoiler: panic and desperation in Strangelove's voice as she realizes just how screwed she is and her despair knowing that she'll never see her son Otacon grow up is utterly devastating. Not to mention her faint, dying gasps to The Boss.]]
** The fact that all this paints [[spoiler:Otacon's]] already pained backstory in a new light. [[spoiler:Especially given that he might never even have known how much Strangelove loved him, if he still remembered her at all.]]
** A minor one is Huey's insistence that the Mammal Pod is "just a machine" - despite how, throughout ''Peace Walker'', he explicitly compares the AI functioning to that of a human brain and mind, and remarks in the ending that it was behaving based on its "heart". Somewhere along the way, he decided that this machine - that he knows was based on a real person, that he saw sacrifice itself in order to keep the world safe - should not be listened to, because it's "just a machine," something that completely undermines the positive aspects of ''Peace Walker's'' ending. Of course, this could also be due to it [[spoiler:knowing what he did to Strangelove,]] and his desire to discredit that evidence as much as he could...
** As well-deserved as it is, there's something almost tragic about [[spoiler:Huey's exile. He's set adrift in a small raft too fragile for his robot legs, with enough food and water to make it to the mainland. As he's cast off, Huey yells that the Diamond Dogs are the real murderers, finally petering out with a weak "It's not my fault..." As he drifts off, Kaz ruminates on how Huey will make it to the mainland and tell the world tales of "the black-hearted Diamond Dogs," painting them as villains and himself as a DoomedMoralVictor. Ocelot responds that eventually, Huey [[ForegoneConclusion will have to face up]] [[DrivenToSuicide to the reality of his actions]], which takes on a whole new meaning coming from [[DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent Ocelot]].]]
* As revealed through cassette tapes, despite Tretij Rebenok appearing as a malicious puppet master, [[spoiler:it's the other way around. The boy, who is merely a child, by the way, is almost completely incapable of controlling anything he does, as his volatile psychic powers are almost entirely controlled/influenced by those around him, particularly the incredibly evil and hateful Man on Fire, Skull Face, and Eli. In fact, the only time the boy's ego leaks out is when he mercy-kills a suffering child. The tapes reveal the only emotion the boy's extremely repressed true personality can muster anymore is bitterness, as he's lived his entire childhood pecked on by emotionless scientists, treated as nothing more than a tool of war. He also unintentionally caused a plane crash, probably killing dozens. Made even MORE sympathetic when it's implied he's Psycho Mantis, who found out his father secretly hated him, accidentally murdered dozens of people including his friends and family in a village fire, and when he finally grew out of his SatelliteCharacter role, tried to use his powers for good by helping the FBI...only to get practically possessed by a psychotic serial killer until his painful death. Geez.]]
* [[spoiler: Quiet's death. After Venom Snake protected her from soldiers in the middle of a sandstorm, he gets bitten by a desert cobra. The toxins instantly render Snake unable to speak, leaving Quiet no other option but to finally speak English in order to get rescue and save him. Doing so, however, activated the parasites within her since, if she ever spoke English, they'll slowly kill her. When help arrives, she ends up walking far away from Snake so the that parasite won't spread as [[DyingAlone she slowly dies from activating the strain]].]]
** Also, [[spoiler:her tape-recorded goodbye message to Venom Snake, which goes: "I did not choose to be Quiet. I wanted to express my feelings to you. If only we shared a common tongue. Vengeance was what drove me to them... The only language left to me, revenge. But the words we shared... No, that was no language at all. That's why I... I chose the language of gratitude instead, and go back to silence. I am Quiet... I am... the absence of words."]]
** Finally, [[spoiler:as the credits roll, Quiet's Theme plays, which reinforces the DownerEnding of the mission]].
** What makes it even worse is that [[spoiler: even if she had stayed, her interest toward Snake would never fully be realized, [[HarsherInHindsight given how the game ends.]]]]
* From the cut episode, [[spoiler: Snake accidentally shoots Eli, which results in him rushing forward to his son, in disbelief as he desperately starts to mutter "No" over and over. It ends with Snake screaming skyward in the air, with tearful music playing in the background.]]

* Miller's debriefing to the entirety of Diamond Dogs after they [[spoiler: exact their revenge upon Skull Face]]. Special mention to him finally acknowledging that the quest for revenge hasn't brought back what was taken from them, and that it never will, but at the same time resolving to see it through to the bitter end.

* The fact that [[spoiler:the ''real'' Big Boss, aka Ishmael, as part of having Venom Snake serve as his double, had to leave behind everyone he still cared about in what became Diamond Dogs. All so he could pursue his own war against Cipher, and eventually, the Patriots in secret while the world turns its attention on Venom's Outer Heaven. This, in turn, makes his final descent into the villain Solid Snake (seemingly) kills in ''Metal Gear 2'' all but complete.]]
* In the post credits conversation of the True Ending, [[spoiler:Miller is furious that the real Big Boss, whom he considered his best friend, seemingly abandoned him by replacing himself with Venom Snake to serve as his body double. This is a man who has had his dreams shattered, his comrades killed, and his limbs taken. After going through hell for the sake of vengeance, then finally getting it only to realize that he is still empty and that his best friend left him behind with an impostor to fill the void, Miller's sense of betrayal is so strong that he vows to help Venom Snake and Big Boss' sons in the hopes one of them would eventually kill Big Boss. Ocelot then sadly notes that this means he and Miller will eventually become enemies, foreshadowing how they both end up on opposite sides during the events of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid''. It's heartbreaking so see how bitter Miller has become to his former friend.]]
** It may be even worse. [[spoiler: Until he got word from one of Ocelot's sources, who's saying the REAL Big Boss was intending to PERMANENTLY sever contact with Kaz, as opposed to a few years while he strengthens his own position? Miller's knee-jerk response could well have been a self-fulfilling prophecy.]]
** And even if we can take the above promise to mean that Miller remains allied to Venom Snake, this immediately becomes incredibly harsh and sad when you discover that it was [[spoiler:Venom Snake who was killed at Outer Heaven, not Big Boss.]] By training Solid Snake, he eventually got his revenge - but he also [[spoiler:ensured the death of someone who may have still been a good ally and friend.]] Knowing the role, however small, that Kaz would have in [[spoiler:the deaths of both Big Bosses and, as a result of this, Ocelot]], entirely as a result of this vow and his eventual position as Solid Snake's "master", makes his friendship with everyone involved incredibly tragic.
* It might well be CryForTheDevil, but even ''Skull Face'' of all people has a moment [[spoiler:when it's revealed that he's infected with a strain of the parasites [[HoistByHisOwnPetard that targets his own native language of Hungarian]]. In other words, he's denied one of the few traces of his old identity that he still has left.]]
* The final tape of the [[spoiler: Truth Records]] set: [[spoiler: Secret Recording Of Zero Visiting Snake]]. [[spoiler: It's one of the most heart-wrenching things in the entire series. Zero visits Snake in the hospital as he's unconscious, begging for forgiveness from his friend. He reflects on the ruinous life he's lead with anguish, and nearly sounds on the verge of tears. And the worst part? ''Big Boss never knew this happened.'']]
** [[spoiler: There's just something so depressing listening to the awkward silences after Zero finishes saying something, so he forces himself to keep talking as if he's holding a conversation with his old friend. In addition to that, he references that he isn't feeling well: most likely he's referring to the parasites that Skull Face infected him with. He ''knows'' he doesn't have long.]]
* The ''[[http://i.imgur.com/qUHXy5n.jpg Last Day in Outer Heaven]]'' fancomic in its entirety, heartwarming as it might be. Given that it takes place at the end of ''MetalGear1'' [[spoiler:from a dying Venom Snake's point of view. Not to mention seeing Quiet in his last moments.]] All the while being based on WordOfGod.
* The fates of the poor doctor and the rest of the hospital staff at the start of the game. They've performed their given task in caring for Big Boss [[spoiler:and Venom Snake]] to their utmost abilities, with the full knowledge that they're all treading closer & closer into dangerous ground with each passing year. They, too, deserve credit for [[spoiler:both Snakes']] second chance at survival. And in the end, all of them are [[KickTheDog mercilessly gunned down by the XOF]], as a testament of [[LackOfEmpathy Skull Face]]'s cruelty.
* Several of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4uSkAACoHc cutscenes]] that ''[[ForegoneConclusion would]]'' play if players got together and [[spoiler:scrapped every single nuke held in player hands.]]
** It is revealed that in the process of [[spoiler:dismantling the LAST nuclear warhead in existence, it was somehow ruptured and exposed a group of Diamond Dogs soldiers to several hundred rads of radiation (anything above 300 rads is generally held to be severe, and above 500 the prognosis reaches near hopeless).]]
** Perhaps most crushingly of all, ''another'' seemingly post final credits sequence reveals that [[spoiler:Venom Snake ''and'' Naked Snake decide that their ultimate goal should be to create a world in which soldiers, especially men like themselves, are no longer needed. After everything, Venom undergoes a true HeelRealization and decides that to bring about this dream, he has to cast aside the evil within him and become a true hero. And knowing that, in the end, [[ShaggyDogStory both men die before their dream becomes a reality]].]]
* While ParanoiaFuel existed in every Metal Gear games before it, it became much more prominent in MGS V, with all the settings located far away from civilized land. Somewhere out there, ChildSoldiers are marked for a hit by their own commander after serving him loyally. Somewhere out there, nukes are being given en masse to warlords. Somewhere out there, a black operation is being carried out against innocent hospital workers and patients. Somewhere out there, [[spoiler: world-destroying parasites are being developed.]] Somewhere out there, a man screams in anguish and proceeds to become a demon that threatens the entire world. Not one soul, be it the Soviet troops stationed ''there'', the [=PFs=], the Afghan citizens and the outside world have a full picture of what going on in those dark corners of the Earth.

* With the key theme of language and communication not only being integral to [[spoiler:Skull Face's plot, but Zero's ideal of unity for the entire world too, it's tragic to think that, at its very core, the problems thrown up in the relationships between characters in this game are rooted in poor communication. Words - or a lack thereof - can literally kill. Big Boss and Zero could have easily reconciled had either of them sought out the other without some grandiose gesture or overzealous threat, and just ''talked it out''. Kaz' tragic hatred towards Big Boss could have been avoided had Boss just taken the time to seek out his friend and confirm that he needed to build Outer Heaven alone, away from prying eyes. Quiet and Venom Snake are unable to fully express themselves due to the enforced barriers between them. Eli's bubbling, seething hatred for his father could have been easily avoided if someone had just taken the kid under their wing rather than letting him go rogue.]] In short, ''The Phantom Pain'' could easily be '''PoorCommunicationKills: The Game.'''

** A minor one is Huey's insistence that the Mammal Pod is "just a machine" - despite how, throughout Peace Walker, he explicitly compares the AI functioning to that of a human brain and mind, and remarks in the ending that it was behaving based on its "heart". Somewhere along the way, he decided that this machine - that he knows was based on a real person, that he saw sacrifice itself in order to keep the world safe - should not be listened to, because it's "just a machine," something that completely undermines the positive aspects of Peace Walker's ending. Of course, this could also be due to it [[spoiler:knowing what he did to Strangelove,]] and his desire to discredit that evidence as much as he could...
* As revealed through cassette tapes, despite Tretij Rebenok appearing as a malignant puppet master, [[spoiler:it's the other way around. The boy, who is merely a child, by the way, is almost completely incapable of controlling anything he does, as his volatile psychic powers are almost entirely controlled/influenced by those around him, particularly the incredibly evil and hateful Man on Fire, Skull Face, and Eli. In fact, the only time the boy's ego leaks out is when he mercy-kills a suffering child. The tapes reveal the only emotion the boy's extremely repressed true personality can muster anymore is bitterness, as he's lived his entire childhood pecked on by emotionless scientists, treated as nothing more than a tool of war. He also unintentionally caused a plane crash, probably killing dozens. Made even MORE sympathetic when it's implied he's Psycho Mantis, who found out his father secretly hated him, accidentally murdered dozens of people including his friends and family in a village fire, and when he finally grew out of his SatelliteCharacter role, tried to use his powers for good by helping the FBI...only to get practically possessed by a psychotic serial killer until his painful death. Geez.]]
* [[spoiler: Quiet's ending. After Venom Snake protected her from soldiers in the middle of a sandstorm, he gets bitten by a desert cobra. The toxins instantly render Snake unable to speak, leaving Quiet no other option but to finally speak English in order to get rescue and save him. Doing so, however, activated the parasites within her since, if she ever spoke English, they'll slowly kill her. When help arrives, she ends up walking far away from Snake so the that parasite won't spread as [[DyingAlone she slowly dies from activating the strain]].]]

* In the post credits conversation of the True Ending, [[spoiler:Miller is furious that the real Big Boss, whom he considered his best friend, seemingly abandoned him by replacing himself with Venom Snake to serve as his body double. This is a man who has had his dreams shattered, his comrades killed, and his limbs taken. After going through hell for the sake of vengeance, then finally getting it only to realize that he is still empty and that his best friend left him behind with an impostor to fill the void, Miller's sense of betrayal is so strong that he vows to help Venom Snake and Big Boss' sons in the hopes one of them would eventually kill Big Boss. Ocelot then sadly notes that this means he and Miller will eventually become enemies, foreshadowing how they both end up on opposite sides during the events of MetalGearSolid. It's heartbreaking so see how bitter Miller has become to his former friend.]]

* It might well be CryForTheDevil, but even ''Skull Face'' of all people has a moment [[spoiler:when it's revealed that he's infected with a strain of the parasites [[HoistByHisOwnPetard that targets his own]] native language: Hungarian. In other words, he's denied one of the few traces of his old identity that he still has left.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[BadAssArmy We]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome live]] [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming and]] die by your [[UndyingLoyalty order]], [[AFatherToHisMen Boss...]]"'']]

** [[spoiler: Or that the last group of soldiers, while saluting the Boss, are humming the iconic, upbeat theme from Peacewalker.]]

** Made even worse when it is revealed that [[spoiler:Zero was not actually directly responsible for the mess that occurred during the 1990s onward despite what Big Mama implied to Snake, meaning Big Mama may have lied to her son, he actually have tried to end the war and heal the rift between himself and Big Boss before 1977. Zero didn't hate him, he had Big Boss protected while he was in a coma and even funded Miller and the Diamond Dogs. The question Big Boss posed at the end of ''Guns of the Patriots'' about whether Zero truly hated Big Boss is answered and Big Boss will never know.]] [[PlayerPunch Ouch]].

** Even sadder is that, if you think about it, since [[spoiler: we're really playing as the medic, it's entirely possible that he is projecting his own regret in not thinking that there would be more than one bomb, and his subconscious mind is merging it with his implanted memories to form the hallucination. To summarize, he's feeling the SurvivorsGuilt of ''two'' people instead of one.]]

* From the start, you pretty much already know how the game is going to end. And there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it.

* There's the fact that you know how the game is going to end and there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it.