History TearJerker / DragonQuestVIII

* Poor King Clavius. His brother was supposed to take the Argonian throne, but disappeared, leaving him to [[UnexpectedSuccessor rule instead]]. He [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure does his best]] at it; sadly, however, his ''own'' heir is, well... [[PrinceCharmless Prince Charmles]]. The way his RiteOfPassage resolves is quietly heartbreaking; you can tell he was sincerely hoping the hunt would do his son some good... Unfortunately, unlike [[VideoGame/DragonQuestV past]] [[VideoGame/DragonQuestVI princes]], Charmles learns ''nothing'' from his ordeal. Clavius starts to [[WhatTheHellHero call you on it]], but profusely apologizes after learning the truth.

** And how about the last time they meet (as far as we know anyway)? [[spoiler: After Angelo saves Marcello's life, who was so reluctant to be saved that it becomes an actual suicide attempt. He only shows spite towards him for it]] and the unspoken question of why Angelo even bothered lingers in the air:

* Dominico's HeelRealization after [[spoiler:David's death]], and the truth coming out: [[spoiler:Dominico wasn't an heir to the sages; ''David'' was. Dominico's family used to ''protect'' David's line, and switched places with them in order to draw any evil attention away from the true lineage. Unfortunately, by Dominico's time that truth was forgotten, and he'd spent his days flaunting his wealth and picking on poor David, never realizing he was failing his greatest duty...]]
* Then there's what happens with the Empyrea: [[spoiler: the monsters stole the legendary bird's egg, and you try to recover it... only for the kidnapper to pull a TakingYouWithMe ''on the egg''. As she and your party mourn, the unborn chick's spirit rises from the ashes and not only forgives you, but begs to be allowed to ''assist'' you, giving you access to flight... one of the most bittersweet powerups ever acquired. This one act cements Rhapthorne as the most vile monster in the entire series. Also qualifies as a PlayerPunch as said tears are tears of rage.]]

* The post-ending bonus dungeon leads to you eventually learning about a pair of StarCrossedLovers who echo the angel and woodcutter from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'': [[spoiler:While exploring the human world, a daughter of the Dragon Tribe met and fell in love with Prince Eltrio of Argonia. The leaders of her tribe disapproved of their match, and so forced her to return to their hidden village. Desperate to be reunited with her, the Prince left his kingdom and searched the whole world for any sign of her... eventually expiring just as he had finally located the village and was climbing up that last incline. As for his lover, she passed away shortly after giving birth to their son. The tribe allowed him to grow there for a short time, but eventually voted to kick him out, over the protests of his grandfather. They forced him to leave the village, erasing the boy's memory so that he wouldn't remember and return. Said boy would turn out to be none other than the hero himself.]]

* Just about any time [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh2WwTk1Z_4 Remembrances]] is used as the background music, really, but special mention needs to go to Abbot Francisco's funeral. [[ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals The rain,]] the look of complete sorrow on everyone's faces (particularly Angelo, as the Abbot was pretty much the only one to truly accept him). And then that music plays... it's like the game is grabbing your heart and twisting it.

** [[NiceGuy David]] spends most of his screen-time being TheWoobie because of how harsh Dominico is treating him, then is killed by Rapthorne. And it happens after another HopeSpot during which the party thought they had stopped the menace after defeating the possessed Jessica.

* In the 3DS version, Dhoulmagus' [[ExpansionPackPast backstory]] is made of AlasPoorVillain. He really wasn't such a bad guy before stealing the scepter, simply frustrated after years of his master refusing to teach him magic. After one particular scolding from Rylus however, his anger and desire for power got the better of him. ''The'' detail that kicks you in the gut is the DramaticIrony that he ''did'' have a dormant power that could have made him a great magician. Master Rylus was about to finish an elixir that would awaken this magical power when Dhoulmagus sought Trodain's scepter to become a powerful magician. [[PoorCommunicationKills If only Rylus told him that...]] For an extra dose of irony, Rylus manages to finish his elixir right when Dhoulmagus comes back in Farebury. But by this point, it's already too late for Dhoulmagus as he is possessed by Rapthorne. And the saddest thing is learning about this doesn't even become available until after defeating Dhoulmagus.

* In the 3DS version, Dhoulmagus' [[ExpansionPackPast backstory]] is made of AlasPoorVillain. He really wasn't such a bad guy before stealing the spectre, simply frustrated after years of his master refusing to teach him magic. After one particular scolding from Rylus however, his anger and desire for power got the better of him. ''The'' detail that kicks you in the gut is the DramaticIrony that he ''did'' have a dormant power that could have made him a great magician. Master Rylus was about to finish an elixir that would awaken this magical power when Dhoulmagus sought Trodain's scepter to become a powerful magician. [[PoorCommunicationKills If only Rylus told him that...]] For an extra dose of irony, Rylus manages to finish his elixir right when Dhoulmagus comes back in Farebury. But by this point, it's already too late for Dhoulmagus as he is possessed by Rapthorne. And the saddest thing is learning about this doesn't even become available until after defeating Dhoulmagus.

** When he gives Charmles a chance to confess shortly afterward, and he doesn't take it. More proof of his son's true character...

* The post-ending bonus dungeon leads to you eventually learning about a pair of StarCrossedLovers who echo the angel and woodcutter from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'': [[spoiler:While exploring the human world, a daughter of the Dragon Tribe met and fell in love with Prince Eltrio of Argonia. The leaders of her tribe disapproved of their match, and so forced her to return to their hidden village. Desperate to be reunited with her, the Prince left his kingdom and searched the whole world for any sign of her... eventually expiring just as he had finally located the village and was climbing up that last incline. As for his lover, she passed away shortly after giving birth to their son. The tribe allowed him to grow there for a short time, but eventually voted to kick him out, over the protests of his grandfather. They forced him to leave the village, erasing the boy's memory so that he wouldn't remember and return.]]

* Late in the game, you try to rescue the legendary bird Empyrea's egg from monsters. One of them pulls a TakingYouWithMe after his defeat... on the egg. Empyrea's grief at losing her baby hits ''hard''; the fact that her chick's spirit chooses to become a party power-up doesn't help the sense of guilt much...
** It does, however, make his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vamr7qq6hoA theme song]] that much more endearing.
* Angelo's backstory. While not one of the most emotional ones in the series, his father never told him that he had a half brother who was cast out of the house once Angelo was born -- but Marcello at least found a good home in the Abbey where he studied hard. Unfortunately, Angelo as a ''very'' young boy came to the abbey looking for a place to call home after his father died and left him with nothing to his name sans a few possessions he could carry. Still crying from the loss of his family, the first person Angelo met in the Abbey was Marcello, who kindly said that everyone in the Abbey would be his family... until, that is, Angelo introduced himself, and Marcello instantly became a [[KickTheDog dog-kicker]], angrily telling him to leave and accusing him of trying to steal ''his'' life from him. Sure, Angelo wasn't exactly well-behaved in the Abbey, but if one thinks about it from ''his'' point of view....

** One of the most heart-wrenching deaths is of [[MamaBear Marta]], because the English VA playing her son did such an incredible job turning a stereotypical Russian guy into a bawling, tragic mess as he weeps over her body...

** Many of the above are tear jerkers because the deaths are almost always the result of someone being murdered. The one exception to this- still a tear jerker but far more positive- is Baumren, who was DeadAllAlong for who know's how long, but is finally able to ascend to the afterlife and relay his thanks to Felix through the hero. If you ever owned a pet that you had a strong bond with, this can really hit home.

* Late in the game, [[spoiler:you try to rescue the legendary bird Empyrea's egg from monsters. One of them pulls a TakingYouWithMe after his defeat... on the egg. Empyrea's grief at losing her baby hits ''hard''; the fact that her chick's spirit chooses to become a party power-up doesn't help the sense of guilt much...]]

* Angelo's backstory. [[spoiler:While not one of the most emotional ones in the series, his father never told him that he had a half brother who was cast out of the house once Angelo was born -- but Marcello at least found a good home in the Abbey where he studied hard. Unfortunately, Angelo as a ''very'' young boy came to the abbey looking for a place to call home after his father died and left him with nothing to his name sans a few possessions he could carry. Still crying from the loss of his family, the first person Angelo met in the Abbey was Marcello, who kindly said that everyone in the Abbey would be his family... until, that is, Angelo introduced himself, and Marcello instantly became a [[KickTheDog dog-kicker]], angrily telling him to leave and accusing him of trying to steal ''his'' life from him.]] Sure, Angelo wasn't exactly well-behaved in the Abbey, but if one thinks about it from ''his'' point of view....

* In the 3DS version, Dhoulmagus' [[ExpansionPackPast backstory]] is made of AlasPoorVillain. [[spoiler:He really wasn't such a bad guy before stealing the spectre, simply frustrated after years of his master refusing to teach him magic. After one particular scolding from Rylus however, his anger and desire for power got the better of him. ''The'' detail that kicks you in the gut is the DramaticIrony that he ''did'' have a dormant power that could have made him a great magician. Master Rylus was about to finish an elixir that would awaken this magical power when Dhoulmagus sought Trodain's scepter to become a powerful magician. [[PoorCommunicationKills If only Rylus told him that...]] For an extra dose of irony, Rylus manages to finish his elixir right when Dhoulmagus comes back in Farebury. But by this point, it's already too late for Dhoulmagus as he is possessed by Rapthorne.]] And the saddest thing is learning about this doesn't even become available until after defeating Dhoulmagus.

* Most of the deaths that occur in the game count as this. One of the most heart-wrenching deaths is of [[MamaBear Marta]], because the English VA playing her son did such an incredible job turning a stereotypical Russian guy into a bawling, tragic mess as he weeps over her body...

* In the 3DS version, Dhoulmagus' [[ExpansionPackPast backstory]] is made of AlasPoorVillain. [[spoiler:He really wasn't such a bad guy before stealing the spectre, simply frustrated after years of his master refusing to teach him magic. After one particular scolding from Rylus however, his anger and desire for power got the better of him. ''The'' detail that kicks you in the gut is the DramaticIrony that he ''did'' have a dormant power that could have made him a great magician. Master Rylus was about to finish an elixir that would awaken this magical power when Dhoulmagus sought Trodain's scepter to become a powerful magician. [[PoorCommunicationKills If only Rylus told him that...]] For an extra dose of irony, Rylus manages to finish his elixir right when Dhoulmagus comes back in Farebury. But by this point, it's already too late for Dhoulmagus as he is possessed by Rapthorne.]] And the saddest thing is probably that you learn all that only after it's too late to help him.

-->''I am not a god, nor is my name Empyrea. Those are names you humans gave to me. That is not the name I was given in the land of my birth. There I was called... Ramia.''

-->''My real name is Ramia.''

** Many of the above are tear jerkers because the deaths are almost always the result of someone being murdered. The one exception to this- still a tear jerker but far more positive- is Baumren, who was DeadAllAlong for who know's how long, but is finally able to ascend to the afterlife and relay his thanks to Felix through the hero. If you ever owned a pet that you had a strong bond with, this can really hit home.

** The death of [[GoodShepard Abbot Francisco]] and [[ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals his funerals]] are probably the first PlayerPunch you will encounter in the game. Especially because it happens after a brief HopeSpot, during which it seemed he would be the first victim you would come to save in time...

** The death of [[GoodSheperd Abbot Francisco]] and [[ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals his funerals]] are probably the first PlayerPunch you will encounter in the game.

* Angelo's backstory. [[spoiler:While not one of the most emotional ones in the series, his father never told him that he had a half brother who was cast out of the house once Angelo was born -- but Marcello at least found a good home in the Abbey where he studied hard. Unfortunately, Angelo as a ''very'' young boy came to the abbey looking for a place to call home after his father died and left him with nothing to his name sans a few possessions he could carry. Still crying from the loss of his family, the first person Angelo met in the Abbey was Marcello, who kindly said that everyone in the Abbey would be his family... until, that is, Angelo introduced himself, and Marcello instantly became a MagnificentBastard, angrily telling him to leave and accusing him of trying to steal ''his'' life from him.]] Sure, Angelo wasn't exactly well-behaved in the Abbey, but if one thinks about it from ''his'' point of view....

* Most of the deaths that occur in the game count as this. One of the most heart-wrenching deaths is of [[MamaBear Marta]], because the English VA playing her son did such an incredible job turning a stereotypical Russian guy into a bawling, tragic mess as he weeps over her body...