Game Over

[Ouenben]

Yeh lousy title...
but anyway.. when it comes to game endings do you prefer to know the big boss is around the corner and the credits are only a stones throw away? Or do you prefer to be totally oblivious as to how far through the game you are, no idea if you have another 10 levels of platforming or whatever to go or the grand bubba of baddies only after the next cutscene?

I kinda prefer to know when the end is coming (ooh er) because I dont wanna finish a game wanting much more, thinking I'm only half way through it when it's more like 90%. Mind you even when I know the end of the game is nigh I sometimes still wish it'd last longer... like Beyond good and evil for example.

[Kieran76]

In bigger free roaming style games I like to know so I can decide if I want to pad around a bit more before finishing.

[Corrupt Rose]

I like to know the ending is the ending. The final "Boss" on Halo 2 was a total piss take. I duffed him over, all prepared for the next level and... roll end sequence.

Grrrr.

[marcus]

Depends on the boss, although I think because so many games are readily available now I like the finality of knowing the boss is the last thing I need to do in a game.

[Extra Terrestrial]

I like to know the ending is the ending. The final "Boss" on Halo 2 was a total piss take. I duffed him over, all prepared for the next level and... roll end sequence.

"Finishing this fight."

I got so hyper despite the fact that the last few levels were average then I saw the credits roll. That was the most painful thing to accept in a game ever; I felt like I got punched in the stomach and left for the dead.

[atrus]

What about Half Life 2.........boom, stop, a guy in a suit says a load of bollocks, END.

WORST. ENDING. EVER.

[squidman]

What about Half Life 2.........boom, stop, a guy in a suit says a load of bollocks, END.

And what happened to having giant pus-soaked monsters try and batter you to death with their freakish elongated limbs at the end of a FPS game? It was so much more enjoyable than having to dodge an old guy trying to kill you for a little bit whilst he tried to get in an elevator.

I think games work best when you know the ending is coming. That growing sense of an impending climatic battle gives me an enormous sense of happiness. Call me a miserable old traditionalist, but having a beginning, middle and end just makes the game a more polished product, rather than having some boss pop out of what seems like nowhere and then unknowingly completing the game.

[JohnMcL7]

I definitely prefer to know the ending is coming, I like having a build up then a big battle and then the credits - makes it feel like you've properly beaten the game.

Half life 2 really annoyed because I liked the build up as you worked your way through the Combine tower, kill the 'boss' and then just nothing.

Halo 2 was also bad for this, I was expecting a big battle for the Master Chief or something dramatic like his death after hearing about the bad ending but it's 'to be continued'

In contrast, I really liked the ending of the first Halo game - running around the engine room blowing it up with the various alarms getting louder and more urgent. then flipping over the warthog and running like hell, trying to keep it on four wheels and desperately trying to flip it back over while the sentinels or flood take out your shields. Then the final section where you have to steer it through the small corridor hop out and sprint for the ship hoping no Elite will melee you and you can make it in your precious last few seconds. When you finally get onboard the fighter and escape it feels such a good end to the game.

John

[eastyy]

Over the years the one thing that still annoys me about games are the endings.

The majority are pretty rubbish i am not looking for a film lenght cutscene for the ending just perhaps a bit longer then say 30 seconds

When i play games like knights of the republic and jade empire or fable where the story is key and the literally swamp you in the story and have loads of cutscenes.

It always feels like they just could not be bothered with a decent ending.


Good endings i did like dark cloud 2 and dragons quest VIII

[MattyD]

A poor ending robs a game of any chance it had at narrative integrity. You should be able to contribute towards some kind of closure and know that you're drawing closer to it, or else the whole thing becomes pointless. My personal example would be Fahrenheit, a brave and otherwise enjoyable game marred by the most ludicrous and **** ending ever. I can't stand the sight of that game anymore.

[eastyy]

When it comes to endings my personal worst (though i have not seen it in a game yet) is the "it was only a dream" ending

[Peekay]

The thing is, in art in general, endings tend to be the weakest parts. Most films, even the decidely average, seem to be quite interesting for at least the first 10 minutes, then gradually run out of steam as the story wears on. The endings of novels rarely fully satisfy either. Personally, I have so many games to play that I'm often quite relieved when it's finally finished (particularly as I usually play RPGs and adventures).

Worst ending ever? Duck Tales on the NES. "Race me up a rope!" What happened if you lost?

[PeteJ]

Good call on Farenheit - the game just nosedives in the final act, heck the final half. Was such a great game up to that point too. Shame.

I don't mind a game leaving things open at the end, so long as it answers a few things. Silent Hill games are generally excellent at this. Silent Hill 2 had one of the best final chapters ever. It answered so much but did it in such a smart way, which then left a lot open. Some of the best story telling every in gaming.

Halo 2- I still feel pain

[Rep]

Endings were they carry something over to the next game but usually don't bother or it can't be done, Banjo Kazooie for instance with the whole "stop n swop" thing and Beyond Good & Evil with it's to be continued but then no word of a sequel.

Best ending in a long time has to Metal Gear Solid 3, truly epic.

[Street Turk]

One ending that was terrible is the ending for Legend on the SNES. Waded through it with my pal...excellent graphics and sounds all th eway through

Finish it and all we got was 'The End'!!