History TearJerker / XComEnemyUnknown

** And if you take into consideration the fact that XCOM is a [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy small organization with only a hundred or so troops]], even if you include non-combatants such as scientists and engineers, [[OddlySmallOrganization they are at most the size of a small battalion]]. Therefore it is likely that everyone within it knows each other on a personal level, not just as colleagues and squad-mates, [[TrueCompanions but as friends and]] [[FireForgedFriends comrades in arms]] (and considering that the organization is mixed-gender, it is likely that there are a [[BattleCouple few active couples as well]]). Meaning that every casualty can be a massive hit on everyone's morale and affect them deeply. This is reinforced by how downtrodden Shen and Vahlen sound when they remark on the AfterActionReport of a mission with a large number of [=KIAs=], whether it wasca MissionFailed or not.

** And if you take into consideration the fact that XCOM is a [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy small organization with only a hundred or so troops]], even if you include non-combatants such as scientists and engineers, [[OddlySmallOrganization they are at most the size of a small battalion]]. Therefore it is likely that everyone within it knows each other on a personal level, not just as colleagues and squad-mates, [[TrueCompanions but as friends and]] [[FireForgedFriends comrades in arms]] (and considering that the organization is mixed-gender, it is likely that there are a [[BattleCouple few active couples as well]]). Meaning that every causality can be a massive hit on everyone's morale and affect them deeply.

** Adding to this, Losing Delta 2 in your gameplay. Most likely he's the highest ranked soldier you have, so losing him is basically losing the old guy who's probably mentored like half if not all the operatives.
* When a Council Member leaves the Project. From their point of view anyway; They sank all their hope, all their trust, everything they had into this project, actively working with hated enemies and political adversaries to keep it funded, all to save Humanity from the brink of extinction. Yet it wasn't enough, the guns fall silent, the populace they're responsible for are killed in the unreported terror attacks or taken by the Abductors. Everything they put into the project failed to save them. Their trust waivers as their first, and last, line of defense has abandoned them. Soon they must abandon their post to see to their own defense, throwing in all the strength they have left. Perhaps they regret their choice to support XCOM and lament that under these bleakest days, humanity cannot avoid it's fate.

** An even worse version can come up with explosive weapons. A heavy soldier might have a cluster of [[DemonicSpiders chryssalids]] right in rocket range - but with no way to hit them without also killing the civilian they have surrounded. One can only imagine how traumatic an experience like that might be for the heavy.

* The Volunteer's HeroicSacrifice.

* The Volunteer's HeroicSacrifice.
* ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' hits you with a whammy: [[spoiler:canonically XCOM was ''wrecked'' within a few weeks of being stood up, meaning that most of ''Enemy Unknown''[='=]s Awesome moments from that page didn't happen. Neither did the Heartwarming nor the Funny ones]].

* ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' hits you with a whammy: [[spoiler:canonically XCOM was ''wrecked'' within a few years of being stood up, meaning that most of ''Enemy Unknown''[='=]s Awesome moments from that page didn't happen]].

* The Volunteer's HeroicSacrifice.

* Some players take to renaming medals after fallen troopers they had gained an attachment too. One such medal is earned when a soldier dies (and a second time after losing five soldiers!) and is often renamed in this manner.

** An even worse version can come up with explosive weapons. A heavy soldier might have a cluster of [[DemonicSpiders chryssalids]] right in rocket range - but with no way to hit them without also killing the civilian they have surrounded. One can only imagine how traumatic an experience like that might be for the heavy.

* When a Council Member leaves the Project. From their point of view anyway; They sank all their hope, all their trust, everything they had into this project, actively working with hated enemies and political adversaries to keep it funded, all to keep Humanity off the brink of extinction. Yet it wasn't enough, the guns fall silent, the populace you are responsible for are killed in the unreported terror attacks or taken by the Abductors. Everything you put into the project failed to bring it back to you. Your trust waivers, your people are panicked and dying and your first, and last, line of defense hasn't done anything. Soon you must abandon your post and focus on your own defense, knowing that all you have must go back to your own defense and any future hope of their help is gone. Perhaps they regret their choice to support XCOM or lament that even under the bleakest of days, humanity could avoid such a fate, but to imagine how much goes through their mind when they stand up from their seat in the council is very heart wrenching for this Troper

* When a Council Member leaves the Project. From their point of view anyway; They sank all their hope, all their trust, everything they had into this project, actively working with hated enemies and political adversaries to keep it funded, all to keep Humanity off the brink of extinction. Yet it wasn't enough, the guns fall silent, the populace you are responsible for are killed in the unreported terror attacks or taken by the Abductors. Everything you put into the project failed to bring it back to you. Your trust waivers, your people are panicked and dying and your first, and last, line of defense hasn't done anything. Soon you must abandon your post and focus on your own defense, knowing that all you have must go back to your own defense and any future hope of their help is gone. Perhaps they regret their choice to support XCOM or lament that even under the bleakest of days, humanity could avoid such a fate, but to imagine how much goes through their mind when they stand up from their seat in the council is very heart wrenching for this Troper

** And if you take into consideration the fact that XCOM is a [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy small organization with only a hundred or so troops]], even if you include non-combatants such as scientists and engineers, [[OddlySmallOrganization they are at most the size of a small battalion]]. Therefore it is likely that everyone within it knows each other on a personal level, not just as colleagues and squad-mates, [[TrueCompanions but as friends and]] [[FireForgedFriends comrades in arms]] (and considering that the organization is mixed-gender, it is likely that there are a [[BattleCouple few active couples as well]]). Meaning that every causality can be a massive hit on everyone's morale and affect them deeply.

** And if you take into consideration the fact that XCOM is a [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy small organization with only a hundred or so troops]], even if you include non-combatants such as scientists and engineers, [[OddlySmallOrganization they are at most the size of a small battalion]]. Therefore it is likely that everyone within it knows each other on a personal level, not just as colleagues and squad-mates, [[TrueCompanions but as]] [[FireForgedFriends friends and]] [[BadassCrew comrades in arms]] (and considering that the organization is mixed-gender, it is likely that there are a [[BattleCouple few active couples as well]]). Meaning that every causality can be a massive hit on everyone's morale and affect them deeply.

** And if you take into consideration the fact that XCOM is a [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy small organization with only a hundred or so troops]], even if you include non-combatants such as scientists and engineers, [[OddlySmallOrganization they are at most the size of a small battalion]]. Therefore it is likely that everyone within it knows each other on a personal level, not just as colleagues and squad-mates, but as [[TrueCompanions friends and comrades in arms]] (and considering that the organization is mixed-gender, it is likely that there are a [[BattleCouple few active couples as well]]). Meaning that every causality can be a massive hit on everyone's morale and affect them deeply.

** It is worst if you are the type of role-player that imagine backstories and personalities for your soldiers.