10 Times GTA Made Us Cry

10 Times GTA Made Us Cry

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we are grabbing our tissues and looking at 10 Times GTA Made Us Cry. Whether it’s a beloved character losing their life, or the GTA VI trailer making us weep tears of joy, everything is on the table. Let’s do it, hold my hand.

Lance’s Betrayal
“Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002)

In GTA Vice City, we were introduced to our tightest compadre, Lance Vance. Lance Vance was cool, calm, and had a deep rooted knowledge of the criminal underbelly of Vice City, a quality in a partner that we desperately needed. Experiencing the sting of betrayal from someone you considered a trusted companion can be a deeply painful and disillusioning ordeal. And our character Tommy Vercetti, and therefore us as the player, undergo a similar heart-wrenching revelation as Lance takes an unexpected turn by aligning himself with Don Sonny Forelli. In a pivotal moment, as Tommy diligently readies counterfeit funds, Lance seizes the opportunity to abscond with the authentic currency crafted by Tommy. The ensuing confrontation culminates in Lance meeting his demise amidst a fiery shootout. RIP Lance... You beautiful piece of sh*t.

The Tragedy of Johnny Klebitz

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

The GTA series is renowned for its portrayal of tragic destinies befalling main characters, and a substantial example unfolds in the story of Johnny Klebitz. Once a beloved protagonist in the Grand Theft Auto IV expansion, his narrative takes a somber turn as the gang he once led dwindles to a mere handful of members following a clash with a rival crime family. Subsequently, Johnny resurfaces as a minor character in Grand Theft Auto V, where he becomes entangled in a feud with Trevor, one of the protagonists of GTA V, culminating in a fatal confrontation that sees Johnny meeting a tragic end with his head brutally stomped by Trevor. This moment is incredibly upsetting for players who loved Johnny, but also terrifying as a setup for Trevor.

The Disappearance of Trevor’s Mother

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

Trevor Philips is a deeply disturbed man, as we see this many times throughout the game. His frantic nature combined with his deep well of emotion, makes him a tragic and sad figure to watch develop across the game. We get hints at his childhood, but when we finally meet his mother, we finally understand. In this rare encounter, Trevor experiences an unusual fear simply being near her, prompting him to uncharacteristically comply with her orders. The emotional climax unfolds upon his return with the truck, only to discover his mother absent from the RV. In a moment of vulnerability, Trevor breaks down, crying out and desperately calling for his mother, yet receiving no response. Speculations arise, suggesting that Trevor might have been hallucinating his mother, with the haunting image emerging as a manifestation of his guilt stemming from previous neglect. Yeesh.

The End of “The Lost and Damned”

“Grand Theft Auto IV” (2008)

The DLC for GTA IV titled “The Lost and Damned” delves into the unforgiving existence of the motorcycle gang known as 'The Lost Motorcycle Club' in Liberty City. Spearheaded by the ruthless and arrogant Billy Gray, the main character in this narrative is Johnny Klebitz, a key player in the gang's conflict against a rival faction in the city. Due to a pivotal event, Johnny finds himself compelled to take the lives of several members of The Lost, including Jim Fitzgerald, someone he deeply respected. The conclusion of the DLC reveals the tragic demise of Jim, serving as a poignant and impactful conclusion to the storyline, and giving us a deeper look at Johnny and the pain he feels due to his own existence.

Abandoned Michael

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

Each of the three protagonists in the game has their own storyline of highs and lows, brutal ups, and crashing downs. However, a significant portion of the gameplay centers around Michael De Santa's journey, as arguably the focal protagonist. He endeavors to shift from a life of crime to that of a family man. Unfortunately, this endeavor takes a disastrous turn when echoes from his past resurface, reigniting the criminal instincts within him, much to the dismay of his family. After his son Jimmy resorts to drugging him, and upon returning home in a disoriented state, Michael discovers a note left by his wife. As he reads it aloud, frustration builds, leading him to crumple the note and curse himself for causing the implosion of his family, a family who up until this point we’d felt he could take or leave. Left abandoned and isolated, Michael aimlessly wanders through his home, devoid of motivation. This was an impactful moment for the player as we saw another side of Michael we didn’t expect. All we could do was send good vibes to him via the controller.

Vic Finds Louise

“Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories” (2006)

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories was the better of the ‘stories’ games, and gave us a closer look at some of the characters we’d met in our original journey in GTA Vice City. At the beginning of the game, our protagonist Victor Vance connects with a character named Louise Cassidy-Williams, who evolves into a romantic interest. GTA has one rule for its characters though - don’t fall in love, it never ends well. Louise falls victim to abduction by Victor's adversaries, and she endures physical abuse before ultimately being shot to death. In her final moments, she speaks with Victor, expressing her regret that they could not share a future together.

Trevor’s Death

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

GTA V introduced us to one of the worst human beings we’ve ever met in a GTA game, Trevor Philips. Even though his behavior was reprehensible, and his morals were basically non-existent, we somehow still came to love him as the unpredictable wild card he turned out to be. At the end of GTA V, players are left with three ending options, one of which is to kill Trevor. When Franklin confronts Trevor in a secluded spot, Trevor attempts to escape upon realizing the threat he poses. Unexpectedly, Michael intervenes, deliberately crashing his own vehicle into Trevor's truck. The collision results in a gasoline spill, soaking Trevor in fuel. Frustrated and visibly angered by the betrayal from his best friend and newfound ally, Trevor curses and screams in the face of this unexpected turn of events. His begging for them to kill him as he burns alive is something straight out of a saw film, and we hated to see it.

Big Smoke’s Betrayal

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

Big Smoke is a character that left his mark on GTA players for one of the biggest betrayals in GTA history. Big Smoke begins the game as a supportive and wise figure from the moment CJ arrives back in town. He preaches a better community, a rise in love with his fellow gang members, and getting drugs off the streets he loves so much, all while peddling, betraying, and killing in secret on the side. Not only that, but he joins up with Officer Tenpenny to get it done. The moment we learn that Big Smoke is no longer on our side is during the infamous Green Sabre reveal, which indicates that both he and Ryder had a part to play in CJ’s mum’s death. Big Smoke is a deeply complicated character, and a huge part of the game’s DNA. His betrayal sets the game up as one that is going to have many brutal heart wrenching moments.

Franklin Betrays Michael

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

Killing Trevor is hard. We do grow to love him, and seeing him get taken out in such a brutal way is heartbreaking. But betraying and killing Michael is even worse. Many of the greatest things that have happened to Franklin are a direct result of Michael taking him under his wing, and seeing the two become enemies in these final moments is too much for our little hearts. As one of the game's saddest cutscenes, players find themselves gripping Michael's arm as he hangs precariously from the top of a water tower. Faced with a pivotal choice between letting him fall or pulling him to safety, the latter option unfolds into a heartbreaking sequence. Unable to forgive Franklin for attempting to take his life, Michael retaliates by striking his head against Franklin's, ultimately causing his ending to be the same as he falls backwards to his death. Michael was the heartbeat of this story, and seeing him just suddenly be no more is hard to come to terms with.

Roman’s Wedding

“Grand Theft Auto IV” (2008)

In a wild turn of events, the player is given two options of whether to take a deal from antagonist Raskalov, or reject it. Either choice made effects this pivotal moment in Niko’s story in equally upsetting ways. It truly doesn’t matter which way you go, you’re going to get your heart broken. Opting for the deal, Niko loses Kate’s respect, leading to her absence at Roman's wedding. Subsequently, Rascalov dispatches an assassin to kill Niko, resulting in Roman's tragic demise. Alternatively, choosing revenge sees Kate attending the wedding, only to become the target of mob boss Jimmy Pegorino, who supported the deal. Both outcomes unfold as ironic tragedies, adhering to Roman's wishes leading to his death and honoring Kate's resulting in her demise. Losing Roman is deeply upsetting for the player, and losing Kate is deeply upsetting for Niko, both endings break our main character and in the process, our hearts.