Dying in video games is easy. It can be as simple as getting shot in the dome, falling down a bottomless chasm, or getting knifed from behind. Whereas getting killed with style is an entirely different story. It’s one to thing to topple over from something as lame a heart-attacking virus, but dying so fantastically that it makes both allies and enemies wet themselves in awe - that’s an art. Chronicled are ten, ridiculously balls-to-the-walls awesome video game deaths. These heroes and villains died making their last stand against overwhelming odds, but not before defiantly flipping off their enemies and making their departure from this world a hardcore, violent and totally badass one.

UPDATE: Previous misinformation re: Gray Fox corrected.

Warning: spoilers ahead

Mareg (Grandia 2)

When you and your party are out on a quest to defeat the evil god of darkness, chances are not everyone is going to make it out alive. Grandia 2’s half-man, half-beast Mareg understood that. So when the group was fleeing from a horde of monsters on Valmar’s moon, he chose to take one for the team. Mareg stayed behind and fought off Valmar’s minions to buy time for Ryudo, Elena and the others to board the Granasaber. Then, after saying an epic final prayer to the dead god Granas that helps his comrades escape, he was overwhelmed and slain.

Leo Cristophe (Final Fantasy VI)

Perhaps the most courageous and chivalrous character to ever feature in a Final Fantasy game, General Leo Cristophe was a man of extreme honor. He routinely exercised restraint to minimize casualties despite being a supremely talented swordsman. Unfortunately, his compassion was what ultimately spelt his demise. When Kefka showed up and murdered the Espers, whom Leo was negotiating a treaty with, the enraged general decides he’s had enough of Kefka’s crap and decides to fight him. As a master of illusions, Kefka used his magic to trick Leo into lowering his guard, and then ambushed his unprepared foe and sent him to the heavens. At least Leo had the sense to go down swinging, unlike a certain flower girl who just sat there waiting to be impaled.

Cyrus (Chrono Trigger)

Being the only knight that didn’t suck in the whole of the land, the prodigiously talented Cyrus had his work cut out for him. Not only was he charged with leading the king’s troops in battle, but he also had to teach his buddy Glenn how to grow a pair of balls and man the hell up. Unfortunately for Cyrus, both responsibilities ultimately ended up getting him killed. When the kingdom came under attack from the powerful sorcerer Magus, instead of running away and crying like everyone else, Cyrus grabbed the Masamune and Hero’s Badge and sets out to challenge him. Unfortunately, Cyrus lost the Masamune during the battle and is slain trying to hold off Magus so Glenn can escape. Also, his body spontaneously combusts into flames, making his death as flashy as it was ballsy.