Goodbye old friend.. ⚙️💔

People said dom died here, but I think we all know he died one game ago, when he had to shoot out his own heart.

We all knew he would get to this moment eventually. Get ready for Feels of War.

Dom’s death might just be one of the most effective and depressing character deaths in all of gaming. Just how they built the comradery with him, and how you grew more and more attached to his presence, only to be hit in the gut that way. I may be more of a Halo fan than a Gears fan, but the first trilogy of Gears games is a masterpiece. R.I.P. Dom.

The way Marcus says, “Dom! Nooo!” gets me every time. 😞

Dom lost his brother. Dom lost his parents. Dom lost his kids. Dom lost his wife. He refused to lose anyone else. Rest in peace Santiago. 26th Royal Tyran Infantry - The Unvanquished.

Oh God I'm ready to cry again. Everytime that piano starts it hits me right in the feels. RIP Player 2

This was even worse than losing Johnson man. I mean we all love Johnson but Dom was just such a relatable character and all the things he has been through, to have it end like this, was just awful. Beautiful, but awful. It fit into the story perfectly and like you said, felt like it was planned from the very beginning. He sacrificed himself to save his friends and the last person he considered to be his family; Marcus. When he mentioned Maria is when I broke down the first time 😢

The fact that they used mad world theme from the first gears trailer hits even harder knowing you spent 3 whole games with Dom

From the moment he mocked Dom in the first videos I KNEW he was going to lose it at this part. All these years later this part still makes me lose it. When this game first came out my roommate/best friend and I started co-op through the campaign. One day he had a long day of classes so I decided to jump ahead and see how the campaign continues since I’d heard Act III was exceptional. I wound up playing through the whole Act on my own and when Dom happened it destroyed me. I kept hoping he wasn’t dead either. I was literally in denial/went through the stages of grief, which is a testament to this game. When my roommate got back from class I was in Act 4 Chapter 2 and was still trying to process. He was excited and asked me if anything awesome had happened. I looked at him with tears still in my eyes and couldn’t say a word. Needless to say his mood immediately changed and we went back and replayed it all. He cried too. Few games can pull that off.

This was hard. I played as Dom a lot. Helping friends and random people get through INSANE difficulty over and over again. During multiplayer I was DOM. I grew an attachment, I reflected myself into Dom’s character. My bro was Marcus even though he was my little bro, but me as Dom was always reliable to save Marcus my brother’s ass and through the most difficult parts of the game... then the sacrifice to save a brother. Broke. Brothers to the End... the End.

Dom’s death is the single and only moment of any video game that has ever made me cry... Gears of war is my all time favourite game series, and the iconic Mad World trailer for the first Gears of war was the sole reason I got an Xbox 360. I remember running home from school to play Gears 3 and being so excited to play the campaign, as I absolutely loved the games story and was the first game series that I ever really started to take seriously/play religiously. But when I got to this part in the game, and the cutscene started. I remember watching everyone getting completely surrounded whilst sat on the edge of my bed, waiting and watching in anticipation for how they were all gonna get out of there... But when Dom jumped down and started driving off, I was so confused. I wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing. Then, once he started driving back down the tunnel towards them, I slowly started to realise what he was doing... I remember my mouth and eyes slowly starting to open wider in disbelief, and telling myself maybe this isn’t what I think it is, and that it was just going to be a close call to scare us or something. But when Mad World started to play, and Dom spoke to Maria, that was when I knew there was no hope left. And the pain and fear in Marcus’s voice and face when he calls out for Dom was just too heart wrenching to watch. I didn’t sob, I didn’t snivel, I didn’t whimper... I simply just watched the rest of the cutscene in absolute awe and silence with tears rolling down my face... And then, even after the cutscene was over. I continued to sit at the edge of my bed, staring at my screen for a good 10 minutes, still unable to process and accept what had just happened, as I originally believed they’d never have the guts to do something like this to one of their main characters. I really really struggled to get through the rest of this game after that cutscene, but it was worth it in the end. Gears of war will always hold a special place in my heart. And I’m glad I get to watch someone else experience this game for the first time, just as I and many others once did.

Im here again because of the Gears of War E-Day 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

I'm always player 2, whenever me and my cousin play co-op games. No matter what. So when in comes to Gears of War series, I'm always Dom who is player 2. Now seeing him sacrificing himself, my heart was shattered. Cause I've played as Dom in all three games. I became so attached to him and I seriously wasn't ready to let him go at the middle of the story. Me and my cousin stopped playing for a bit, for we both payed our moment of silence for Dom. Being player 2 as Dom was a great run.

The entrance of Mad World absolutely gets me every time.

"There's something that can be said about Xbox exclusives: They'll rip your heart out your chest!" Fable 2: Someone called me??

Yeah... I cried again. 9 years after and that still hit me right in the feels. The OST, the voice acting ( specifically the "Never thought that it would end like this huh Maria?!?"), Marcus reaction... It's just so intense and emotional... One of the best games ever, and one of the saddest moments ever in gaming history. Dom 🖤

Ever since Dee began this journey of Gears I had anxiety about this moment for ages. Even though its been bloody years and multiple playthroughs it still gives me Goosebumps.

When Marcus says: Damn it, let me get him outta there! The game makers show us that explosion after Marcus talked ensuring that Dom is dead.

awe yes. The moment in gaming history that turned boys into men. That scene still hits hard after all these years

F for dom Ps: thats how the death of a beloved character its built naughty dog

At first I didn't realize what Dom was up to but when he made that turn end of the tunnel I knew exactly what he was doing and immediately I started crying

'Who ever thought it would end like this, huh Maria?!' That moment made me cry. It was so tragic, but yet so beautiful because the writers led us to this moment, over the previous two games. And when it happens, none of us really expected it. Mid game no less, with That Score just to make it hurt more to play on without Dom. And the end cut scene, after Marcus loses his dad too, and reflects upon everything and can't rejoice in victory, because he's already lost everything. Except Anya. Jesus it's good. I never thought I'd rate the acting in a game over most movies, but this time I do. Just Brilliant 👏

32:27 *Commence onion cutting* 😫😫😫😫😫😫

Rip Dom Santiago , Brothers To The End. And everyone who played Dom as Player 2 with their Player 1 brothers and friends.

Absolutely heart breaking how Dom pulled off the martyr move, he's in a better place at least. Hopefully reunited with Maria and his kids. This death made everyone cry.

Oh my god after all these years that I had to accept the sacrifice of Dominic Santiago and Dee’s reaction to his death was so powerful it shot straight to my heart and I cried all over again, I miss Dom, we all miss Dom but now he’s finally home, he’s finally at peace.😢

When you asked for a F in the chat for Maria, I was like. "I'll give you two Fs."

All around me are familiar faces

Yes yessss. Join us in crying brother. Let that sad piano crush you

Ever since you mentioned you were starting the Gears series, I waited for you to get to this point and experience the biggest heartbreak we did when we first played. Never fails to make me cry and by the looks of it, doesn't fail to make others cry either. 😄 Love ya Dee, glad you're liking the series!

Even when i get older, I will still get tears from doms death.

We all know what’s gonna happen here, and it’s still upsetting today

All these years later and Dom’s death is still one of the most emotional moments in gaming.

Imma just share my own thoughts regarding this scene as the player 2 in Gears of War growing up. Playing as Dom and seeing him in all the cutscenes makes you feel like you’re in his shoes, fighting alongside your own brother. Gears of War established the main cast of Delta Squad and give great characterization for them. Dom is introduced as a caring, serious, and yet fun loving guy who has a history with Marcus. In Gears of War 2, it’s obvious looking back at it, that they had finalized his death for Gears of War 3. You see his emotional state when he smashes the car window back in chapter 1 after hearing that Anya’s lead came up empty. And I got invested in finding his wife, I was shocked at the scene right at the beginning of the riftworm where you see Dom fantasizing about his wife. Then after Dom threatens to ditch Marcus just to find his own wife because “That’s what I’ve been fighting for!” Hit me deep, it never occurred after her death that he no longer had a reason to fight until after he sacrificed himself. When Dom sees Marcus worrying for Anya, I knew he saw himself in Marcus’s shoes, which was evident by Dom comforting Marcus. However I think when Dom saw Anya emerge unharmed it hurt him deep inside because it was a reminder that he lost all of his loved ones aside from Marcus. Gears of War 3 was just building up for his death the entire way. You can tell he’s just a hollow shell of his former self with how he has a full grown beard and doesn’t really care about fighting. Hell, his initial argument against arming up sells it hard. He’s literally one of the only ones who isn’t ready to fight at all times. And as you progress he of course gets back into the swing of things, but you can just feel that he isn’t the same Dom you knew from Gears 1 & 2. When Dom pays his respects at the shrine my stomach fell because it was essentially flat out reminding you that “Dom has no one left to fight for” so once the inevitable scene happened I was floored. I didn’t even understand what to do. No other game has made me quit after seeing a main character die. Hell I remember vividly opening up a horde lobby to just gun down so many locust and lambent as Dom to avenge him. So once I found out that you play as Jace after Dom’s sacrifice, it just hurts that much more, because this new kid that you originally hear about in Gears of War 2 was who replaces Dom, I was accepting of it because I knew they killed off Dom in the most Dom way possible. And for that he holds the number 1 spot in my heart for second player character.

The thumbnail says it all, I've been loving your videos and playthroughs

"... There's one thing you can say about Xbox exclusives... They'll RIP your heart out your chest..." Welcome to how xbox players feel about there games... They hit you hard, PlayStation has some great moments, no doubt about that... But this is why the fan-base stood at the console flag proudly, the games they have cause emotions you never thought you would put towards a "game". There's many more so be ready.

Thanks Dee Bee I had a really crappy week at work (I work Saturdays) was really pissed getting off work today. Watching you play has been a good distraction letting me calm down.

You witnessed and felt what we all did long ago. Welcome DeeBee, to the Feels of War....

Happy birthday dee 🥳

I've played through that scene dozens of times, as soon as "Mad World" starts playing I tear up.

You wanna know what makes it even worse? He was your friend in co-op meaning that when that moment happened you questioned who could take the place of Dom?

The most impactful thing about dom was that even though he was the player 2, he gave you the emotion through the gun-ho no fucks given badass game, he made you feel, I don’t think there is a video game that hit that amount of emotion since this game came out that really HIT you, maybe last of us 1 but even then there was a small connection, however dom was like your best friend who sticks up for you and is always there even when shit sucks, so when he dies you get rocked, and you go through the stages of grief and then you want to fucking kill the queen and all the locust for fucking up a fictional characters who felt so real to us’ life

31:30 is the second that we all think “there is no way Dom would leave us” ... right before I wish he would have saved himself

As bad as it sounds I was waiting for this reaction and hoping for this response. 😂 Dom was my favorite growing up.... I couldn't get Gears 3 and when I found out he died I was in absolute disbelief until I saw it for myself. The first three games are one wild ride.

I remember watching this first time playing as a kid. My lil bro and I would play co op and I would always let him be player 1 because I loved playing as Dom. I remember putting my controller down watching the whole scene and when he jumped into the truck my heart dropped. I still can’t believe he’s gone

I'm a Brazilian fan, and seeing this scene again proved that no matter when I see it, I will cry :(

This was the most heartbreaking thing I have ever experienced in a game, cried again watching it, so sad Dom's story ended like that.

MAKE IT LIVE NOW I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE GEARS 1 EPISODE 1

Years have passed by and still cant with this scene. Hurts like the first day...

I’m glad the radishes didn’t see that or else they would be crying too

Before Dee Bee Geek continues Gears 3. He should play •Gears of War 3: RAAM’s Shadow •Gears of War Judgement •Gears of War Judgement: Aftermath

Who’s here after the Xbox show case🥹

Every time, every single time, this damn scene makes me cry.. I told you.. it's tears of war 3. No matter how many times I see it.. it always makes me cry. Keep up the good work Dee! 😁

The feels were even worse when playing with your lil bro or sis as Dom is the character they played as in the all the previous games 😥

I cried again... 😞 But he's at home now

The third game is the most heartbreaking of the gears games. Trust me I was the same as you when I hit this part when I first played it in 2012.

I legit screamed and cried when this scene happened. I only realised what was about to happen when Mad World started.

Brothers to the End always steals a couple of tears from my eyes 😞

Take note Naughty Dog, this is how to kill off a character in a way that actually has some sort of impact!

Bro Dom's death was so sad everytime gets me... Dee I'm loving the Gears series btw.

Ive seen this moment 100x and i will tell you DeeBeeGeek. I cried with you bro. Hits home every time

It's crazy , all these years removed from playing the original trilogy and it still hurts. Damn , they were great games. Sometimes I forget the times I had in Gears.

The way gears 4 starts is amazing and brutal and all the good stuff

Damn man, I felt the exact same way. At the end of playing all 3 games with my older brother when we were young and with me always being second player, I had to put down my controller for the day after that moment. I was initially in utter disbelief, denying that he was actually gone, but as I took control of Jace in the next mission I broke down in realization that my favourite THICC Boi was indeed gone. My brother then called me a wuss and proceeded to play back the cursed scene for me whenever I brought Dom back up for the rest of the game😂 good ol times. You keep doing you Dee Bee! I Can’t wait to see you continue your THICC Journey and whatever you might check out next👉👉

10 years later, still crying over this. Dude nailed it. Tears of war 3 100%

That moment bro... hit me soooo bad, @DeeBeeGeek, u need to know that the decision of putting there Mad World is because that was the song of the first Gears of War trailer (actually, u need to react to all Gears trailers). By the other hand, trust me when I say that Dom is such a wonferful character, is the best friend of Marcus and the most human in the entire squad. Also, and the sadest part... is that Gears of War is completly different when you play it with somebody in split screen or online co-op. I grew up playing Gears with my brother, and he was always Dom... those game afternoons man, we are truly brothers to the end, and in that moment (even when we suposed what’s gonna happen) felt so bad, days and days and years of Marcus and Dom, me and my brother... damn.

At least Dom's finally with his family again.

Dee bee like I sad when you first started the gears games. Gears 3 has some very emotional moments.

I love Dom, I played as Dom since the first one and I let my best friend play as Marcus. Luckily I played it as single player and believe me when I say that we all had that reaction. First came the screaming at the tv “WTF are you doing Dom?!” Then came the “Wait....no....no...NO!” then just utter silence. I think by far Dom had the most character development and we went through that journey with him and throughout the rest of the game we missed him cause it was never the same. The whole set up between Marcus and Dom was great, and you can feel Marcus’ pain. John DiMaggio is good at making you feel that with his voice, but props to Carlos Ferro for making us cry with his voice. Brothers to the end!

This is without a shadow of a doubt the most emotional moment in Gears of War history

Wait for gears 5. The ending made me cry a lil bit

Its today! Its today!!! xD :'( :'(

When I was nearing my early teens in the late 2000s, my dad and I played the first couple of Gears games in co-op, where he was always Marcus and I was always Dom. After getting Gears 3 on launch day and reaching the Brothers to the End section, Dom's death hit me really hard. Because I was always Dom in co-op, the pain of losing him, I honestly can't even bring into words to form this sentence. To this day, it was the hardest I've ever cried in any video game that I've played. After watching you play through this section of the game, I can vividly remember when I broke down crying over the loss of Dom.

I played this on release. It was my first gears I ever played alone and being player 2 for years. At that scene I also screamed, Dom! No!

R.i.p Santiago🙏

I know this us three years too late but Bernie is a character from the books and a Pendulum War Veteran. You think Anya and Sam are tough? Bernie is 10x tougher.

That was a sad moment and one I went through alone in my room. Seeing your reaction was a great, genuinely touched and that's why we play games. RIP Dom ❤️

Could you imagine back in the day when the original gears come out that it would warrant such a massive emotional response from essentially walking muscles I know I didn’t and even to this day it makes me cry I am not ashamed to admit that RIP DOM

When Thicc Boys cries.

almost a year since i started watching dee and he still don't know who to properly use a shotgun

_"Everyone dies alone. But, if you mean something to someone, if you help someone... or loved someone... if even a single person remembers you... then maybe you never really die at all."_

Dom's death is the only video game moment that truly shocked and moved me. I'm still gutted about it. The guy was just so likeable, and he had had it so rough losing his wife and kids.

Men cried when Johnson died in Halo. Real Men cried when Dom died in Gears.

And here it is. The moment I knew would break ya, bud. Phuckin gut punch when this happened and while I'm a Halo fan first, I'd be calling myself delusional if I said that Gears 1-3 wasn't an amazing series of games and Dom's character was one of the most loved in recent memory for me. A true brother to the end.

When the lambent beserker shows up, to me is the most beauty fight in this game, followed for all the fight in azura!!! 👏👏👏 don’t forget to play gears judgement and aftermath (I love aftermath)

Bro I swear, Marcus’s “DOM! NO!!” Always give me goosebumps

His death was one of the top for me I put my controller down and cried for Dom I grew attached to his bromance with Marcus I wanted them to survive together

Alright! Tears & Feels of War time my brethern! :[

Even though we know what happens seeing that cut scene always gets me emotional and brings a tear to my eye 😢

I played Gears 3 about 9 years ago day of release (I was a huge Gears fan) even though I was really young and rarely properly understood these sad scenes in games, I think Dom's death is the first time I actually cried playing a game, it's an unforgettable moment for me, and I remember Maria's death was disturbing and sad but this just hurt when I saw it.

Never thought it would end like this, huh? :'( Huh, Maria?!

2024 still making me tearing up

Bro, I actually cried when I first played Gears 3, I still get teary eyed seeing this scene.

I finished 2 and 3 with a friend when I was younger (finished the 1st later on), and let me tell you: Dom's death broke me. Not only because I always got the second controller when I played with my friend Alex, but because how effective that moment was. I came back home feeling empty but satisfied for his sacrifice. I even cried for 2 hours without telling what was happening to my mom. And now that I'm 25, I can appreciate why this moment is so powerful compared to the ones from the travesty of the Gears "saga": - Dom was an _actual character._ We as players follow his journey, know his flaws and strengths, understand his bond with Marcus and the rest of the team, and see him grow organically from an optimistic family guy thrown in the meatgrinder, to a broken shell of a man that despite losing so much throughout his adventures, and despite losing his will to live, can still give everything for those he cares about. - You effectively share his pain and grief for how much he had lost throughout the games and the books (his brothers, his parents, his kids, his wife and his home). When he reunites with Maria in GOW 2 and is forced to euthanize her, you can do nothing but feel that emotional baggage and sympathize with him, even if he's a fictional character. In short, his interactions and dialogues felt _human._ - And when his sacrifice finally comes, it's an earned moment, with a consecuence and an emotional impact that'll follow the main cast AND you. It's not a death without meaning, or a character assassination like Luke Skywalker's or Rose Quartz's, but it's someone you've pretty much grown with, someone you're attached to, going down in a blaze of glory for his friends. He dies for his team and his bro, Marcus. Like a man, like a brother, _like a hero._ _"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him"._ - G.K. Chesterton.

Did u know they had online funerals for dom

😭😭

I remember first playing it, when he puts his Gear Tag on the statue i knew something was up. Then on the next scene he gives his knife to Marcus, and when the cutscene started to focus on him i was kinda ready for it. But damn does it hurt

the books pull on your heart strings even more because they follow dom as he goes through all the stages of grief. People think gears is just "big muscly men cussing and shooting guns" but in actuality, the story of these games is truly something special and makes you feel like nothing else does. R.I.P. Dominic santiago, you did your duty as both a gear and a brother, you will forever live on in our hearts...

At the start of the game the first possible collectible you find is a mental report on Dom and you can tell from then that he let go, he was clearly different in gears 3 even in the trailer he accepts death when a locust is about to kill him and he stopped looking after his health. It was obvious when you realised it but it was the saddest scene I have seen yet.