The end is in sight - I'm excited

[Geoff D]

I think my favourite part of a game is the run up to the end; not the very end, but the specific journey or area that takes you to the final confrontation. My anticipation levels always sky-rocket, particularly if it's a game I've enjoyed - for example, I'm playing Mario & Luigi & I'm right a the start of

Bowser's Castle

- which I'm assuming is the last area of the game (could be wrong though). I'm expecting some hard fights along the way, but I reckon it'll be good fun.

Just recently, I had similar feelings about Prince Of Persia - the closer to the top of the tower I came, the more tense & exciting it became - which I suppose

led to the inevitable disappointment of the last scrap - I know there are reasons for it, but it was still an anti-climax.

Anyone else care to share their favourites? In spoiler tags of course.

[Bleeders]

You are...

at the end of Mario & Luigi. Although, personally I found the battles leading to the final-boss fairly easy. A word of advice though, make sure you are well stocked up on mushrooms/healing items, since the final battle will require it.

Good luck.

I believe I'm making good progress on Sword of Mana, not sure if I'm anywhere near the end, since I'm about to venture...

in the Altar of Time.

[Oh! My Car!]

30 hours into Golden Sun 2 and I still don't think I'm close to the end....

[martTM]

30 hours into Golden Sun 2 and I still don't think I'm close to the end....

Snap - 25 hours in and I know I'm about 2/3 of the way through. However, I've missed plenty of Djinn and more than a few special summons... plus there's plenty of secret stuff as well. And yes, I have 'glanced' at a guide... shame on me. But then, I haven't played it for eight months, having been stuck forever trying to

beat Posiedon, that fishy bastard

so I needed to see where I was. Honest.

Plus it took me about 34 hours to clear the first one, so I thought I did quite well.

Of course, that's all by the by - favourite run-up to the end has to be a tie between:

Ganon's castle in Ocarina Of Time (mini versions of temples? Genius!), the climatic battles of Skies Of Arcadia

AND (no spoilers here, seeing as I doubt anyone's played it to the end) the frantic adrenaline rush I got when playing through the final stages of Beast Busters in the arcade with two mates. Blasting zombies has never been so much fun...