Your Top 5 Video Game Endings

13

Comments

  • edited February 2012
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    In fact, I qualify MI2's ending as one of the worst endings of all time. The game before the "final battle" is very very good. It's everything a Monkey Island game should be in that it's very funny yet slightly serious, and Guybrush is lovable to us but a jerk to almost everyone ingame.

    However, all the feeling, adventure, wonder and humor created by the fantastic core gameplay is totally undone by the ending--it is so off the wall, so nonsensical, so random yet totally cliche, and so anti-climactic... that it completely overwhelms any and all feeling about or build up made by the rest of the game.

    Being different doesn't inherently make an ending good; being artsy doesn't make it interesting or fun. The status quo isn't what it is because the man says so and must therefore be rebelled against; the status quo is what it is because people generally know what they like and thus gravitate to liking certain things. With that in mind, if one is to go against the status quo, it should be done with a specific purpose in mind other than as a means in and of itself.

    (ie. in storytelling, being non-conformist merely for non-conformity's sake is stupid.)

    Woah, it's fine that you don't like the ending. It's also fine that I do; who said anything about it being great merely because it's non-conformist?! Different people like different things, it's not a case of you're right and I'm wrong.
  • edited February 2012
    Davies wrote: »
    Different people like different things, it's not a case of you're wrong and I'm right.

    You're right, it's not the case. I just feel rather strongly both about how stupid the ending is, as well I have encountered various stories (such as the movie No Country for Old Men) that employ the concept of being different for the sake of being different alone--and am thoroughly annoyed when encountering it.
  • edited February 2012
    The ending of MI2 was bad enough that for a long time it was on my list of worst games I'd ever played. The years softened up my opinion so that I could enjoy the game more even if I disliked the ending.
  • edited February 2012
    Okay, I might be pelted for this, but meh, I don't care seeing as I haven't even played a lot of games anyway, let alone finished one.

    So anyway, I'm not going to number them. I just can't.

    The Blackwell Deception
    This might not come as a surprise, as I have been raving over the Blackwell series since I first discovered it. But, to be able to get the ending it is pretty much crucial to know how the original games go.
    Basically it's all about Rosangela Blackwell finding out that she's a medium, and that she has a spirit guide in the form of Joey Mallone. Throughout the first three games you'll find out that mediums who ignore their spirit guides will eventually go mad, and one of the antagonists, the Countess, managed to lose her spirit guide. In the Blackwell Deception, near the end, you find out how this happened: The Countess, and in this game, Rosangela herself, banished her own spirit guide, permanently severing their bonds. However, this didn't free the Countess from her medium powers, and allowed Infinity to fill her head. This very same thing would have happened, were it not for Joey coming back to rescue her from Gavin, an individual who lived for over a century from the energy of individuals who needed his aid. Or something, there was a lot going on and I didn't get any sleep that day.
    Actually, you should just play and finish the game in order to get it.

    Kingdom Hearts
    I actually have yet to finish Birth By Sleep, so I can't really judge it fully, so instead, I'll nominate the first Kingdom Hearts. The thing I love about this ending is the fact that it brings all the themes together, and turn it into something
    bitter-sweet. Basically you'll spend the entire game fighting for your friendships. In the end, this friendship will endure, but everybody does get separated. Also, Kingdom Hearts... IS LIGHT!

    Secret of Mana
    The problem with this game is that I have only seen the ending in German, and since I don't speak a word of German, I don't fully get the ending myself, although I could have just gone on YouTube to watch the ending. But, I still think it's a wonderful ending, mostly because it deals with life and death, a theme prevelant in the game.

    Super Mario World
    The thing with endings are that they have to be satisfying. Super Mario World, for me, has a very satisfying ending. I mean, after you defeat Bowser (hardly a spoiler), you'll rescue the princess (also hardly a spoiler). At this point, Mario guides Peach, who now rides a Yoshi, through various backdrops you encountered on your adventures, until they finally arrive at Yoshi's house. There, all yoshis eagerly await our heroes, after which the eggs hatch and everybody rejoices. Finally there's the roll call, something that I do miss in most game endings. I just love games with very happy endings, and Super Mario World has that. I mean, you first battle your way through not only more progressively harder worlds, but also darker levels. By the end of the game, the areas are very different from when you began the story, so it's all the more satisfying to see all the backdrops of the locations you visited from the last back to the first levels. It just feels like coming home from a long journey.

    Kirby's Dreamland
    It's hard to explain this one. Basically, the game ends with Kirby taking the fortress of King DeDeDe and bringing back the food that he stole. As a big balloon. The entire ending is accompanied by a very cheery song, and it really helps you feeling happy you finished the game. It was actually the only reason I kept playing the game until the end, because of the ending.

    I might have more game endings I liked, so yeah.
  • edited February 2012
    I love Secret of Mana's ending. I was loath to leave it off my list.
  • edited February 2012
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    In fact, I qualify MI2's ending as one of the worst endings of all time.

    Hey, something we can agree upon! :p

    In any case, I wouldn't say that Guybrush being a jerk to everyone in the game was strictly a good thing. He at least seemed fairly nice in the first game, and after playing Simon the Sorcerer I would have to say it's not really an endearing character trait that you're mean-spirited to everybody. It certainly made me dislike Simon in the second game.

    But yeah, I was enjoying MI2 overall until I hit that ending. I'd always heard the ending was a bit on the confusing side but I wasn't really ready for that. I remember feeling very upset and/or let down by the ending.
  • edited February 2012
    I wouldn't say that Guybrush being a jerk to everyone in the game was strictly a good thing. He at least seemed fairly nice in the first game

    It adds to the humor, the manner in which he is a jerk. In the first game he steals (possibly all of) the mugs from the Scumm Bar; steals the bananas from the cannibal village; commits credit fraud by stealing from the storekeeper and using it to dupe Stan into selling him a ship for money that was not his; potentially destroys his ship thus stranding his crew on Monkey Island... etc.

    but it's funny to us so we like him for doing it.
  • edited February 2012
    I suppose that's better. Though, I apologize for earlier. You're entitled to like what you like. I just don't agree at all with that particular choice.

    S'alright. I actually didn't really care for COD:BO's ending anyways.
  • edited February 2012
    Noname215 wrote: »
    COD:BO

    I read that and my first thought was body odor of a cod.
  • edited February 2012
    I read it as "80's" and thought it might have been somewhat cool for a second.
  • edited February 2012
    I think this is a though question which involves quite some thinking.

    Regarding MI2, i remember that people had strong feelings about it, they either hated or loved it. I didn't like it because it kind of destroyed everything which was setup before but it also grew on me over the years.
  • edited February 2012
    Johro wrote: »
    I read it as "80's" and thought it might have been somewhat cool for a second.

    Ramirez! Get with tha funk!
  • edited February 2012
    1. Planescape: Torment (Also my favorite game ever) A perfect fit for the story and themes of the game.

    2. Fallout - Again, a perfect fit, plus all the variations of the epilogues.

    Honesty, I have a hard time deciding after those two.
  • Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.
  • edited March 2012
    The credits to Arkham City made me misty eyed..
  • edited March 2012
    Irishmile wrote: »
    The credits to Arkham City made me misty eyed..

    Probably the best credits ever.
  • Johro wrote: »
    Probably the best credits ever.

    Only yoooooouuuuuuu....... *cough cough*

    R.I.P.
    "The Joker"
    May 1940 - August 2011
    "Always Got The Last Laugh"
  • edited March 2012
    Akrham City was too obvious.































    BUT.














    If there's ever been ONE GAME that made me drop my jaw... it was Arkham City.
  • edited March 2012
    Man, this is still so hard to answer.
  • edited March 2012
    im just asking but what episode of tales of monkey island do you guys think had the best ending? i think it would be Episode 4 just because of how shocking the ending was
  • edited March 2012
    im just asking but what episode of tales of monkey island do you guys think had the best ending? i think it would be Episode 4 just because of how shocking the ending was

    "Trial and EXECUTION of Guybrush" not a shock. Episode 3's betrayel with Morgan was pretty shocking.
    EDIT:Or episode 2. "MANATEEEEE"
  • edited March 2012
    Gman5852 wrote: »
    "Trial and EXECUTION of Guybrush" not a shock. Episode 3's betrayel with Morgan was pretty shocking.
    EDIT:Or episode 2. "MANATEEEEE"

    ill just go with what Winslow always when something that funny about a location in monkey island is said

    ''The Map Sir?''

    anyway back on subject ok ill agree the episode 3 was a shock ending but episode 2 was an ok shock but episode 1 was a real shock when Guybrush is just pushed against the wheel with a sword up to him
  • edited March 2012
    anyway back on subject ok ill agree the episode 3 was a shock ending but episode 2 was an ok shock but episode 1 was a real shock when Guybrush is just pushed against the wheel with a sword up to him

    I don't mean to be rude, but seriously you should learn to punctuate properly.
  • edited March 2012
    ill just go with what Winslow always when something that funny about a location in monkey island is said

    ''The Map Sir?''

    anyway back on subject ok ill agree the episode 3 was a shock ending but episode 2 was an ok shock but episode 1 was a real shock when Guybrush is just pushed against the wheel with a sword up to him
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    I don't mean to be rude, but seriously you should learn to punctuate properly.

    And grammar, I have no clue what he is saying on that first line.
  • edited March 2012
    ill just go with what Winslow always when something that funny about a location in monkey island is said

    Sig'd.
  • edited March 2012
    ARGH I tried to post and it didn't work, and my entire list with descriptions was lost! So I'll just list one of my personal favorites:

    I know people around here aren't big FPS fans, but I have to at least give props to the ending of the original Doom - probably the funniest ending in the history of gaming. It's also another good example of how the game pulls off that sort of eerie stylized architecture that makes it look like the emergence of Hell is changing the very laws of physics.
  • edited March 2012
  • edited March 2012
    jawaj wrote: »
    pzle agnt hs te bst ebding eber
    troll?
  • edited March 2012
    That whole account is a troll. To be honest, I was tired of it long ago. They're not even being unique about it. Just some idiot. (Directed at)I'm sorry if you're someone I'm on good terms with, but yes, you're acting like an idiot. At least I sure hope it's acting.

    Anyway, there are many games which I have felt had very satisfying endings. I already listed a few of my favourites, but I think I'll broaden one of my choices. I've been very comfortable with the endings to the whole Ratchet & Clank series(minus S.A.C. and A41). Not that the stories are very complex, but the story cannon games haven't let me down yet.
  • edited March 2012
    jawaj wrote: »
    pzle agnt hs te bst ebding eber

    You just got back from a ban. I wouldn't be trolling right now if I were you.
  • edited March 2012
    i think the best scene from the whole Ratchet & Clank Series is when
    when Ratchet is killed by Alister and Clank risks destoring the universe just so he can go back in time and save Ratchet's life
  • edited May 2012
    Well i finally beat Jak 2 in The Jak & Daxter Trilogy and i will say the ending was great
  • edited May 2012
    #1. Arkham City
    #2. Portal
    #3. Assassin's Creed 2
    #4. Red Dead Redemption
    #5. Quest for Glory 2
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    #32,739. Borderlands
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    #73,549. Mass Effect 3
  • JenniferJennifer Moderator
    edited May 2012
    Here's my list, with 1 being my favorite.

    1) Grim Fandango (It was the perfect ending to Manny's story of redemption. Nothing could have been done any differently).
    2) Headhunter (I was freaked out when it got to the final scene.
    It really put a new meaning to the ads that were sprinkled all throughout the game.
    ).
    3) Day of the Tentacle (The ending was hilarious.
    The X-ray scene was had me laugh out loud the first time I saw it, and
    the gag
    with the flag
    at the end was perfect).
    4) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (I liked the
    camera run-over of Hyrule that showed that peace had been restored to the kingdom.
    It did so much without many words).
    5) Psychonauts (It tied up Raz's quest to become a Psychonaut well. The ending to me didn't really seem to me to be there just for an excuse for a sequel,
    it was just Raz off doing what Psychonauts do, which was exactly how it should have ended IMHO since he is a Psychonaut now
    ).
  • edited May 2012
    5. Final Fantasy VIII. Not only a happy ending, but an ending that doesn't beg for expansion or sequels. A great ending to a great game.
    4. No More Heroes 2. A fun ending, and a decently happy one for good ol' Travis Touchdown.
    ----I am only giving order to these last 3 because I need to, when they really don't have any particular order.----

    3. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. As much as I love Ocarina of Time and its story, Skyward Sword blew it away. The ending, even more so. The story wrapped up nicely for all the characters and it was handled very well.
    2. Batman Arkham City. Everything about Arkham City was an improvement over Asylum, and the ending was no exception. I never imagined it'd have the emotional impact it did.

    Before I hit number 1, a couple of honorable mentions. These shift their way up and down the top 5 every once and a while depending on my mood. The first is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The second is the ever quirky Portal 2.

    And at Number 1...this one's really gonna get me yelled at by some...but for me, it's Mass Effect 3. As much crap as people give it, I honestly enjoyed it. Call me crazy, go ahead. I could care less. I'll enjoy my ending, thanks.
  • edited May 2012
    No argument over Mass Effect 3. I actually liked the ending too, even if it did leave me slack-jawed and wondering what the hell just happened. I definitely won't complain about getting some more content and closure for free, though.

    This thread has made me realize how many of my favorite games actually lacked truly satisfying endings (I'm looking at you, Beyond Good & Evil).
  • edited September 2012
    Kingdom Hearts 2 has a pretty good ending :)
  • edited September 2012
    Scnew wrote: »
    #1. Arkham City

    You bastard...
  • edited September 2012
    Noname215 wrote: »
    You bastard...

    What's wrong with Arkham City's ending?
  • edited September 2012
    What's wrong with Arkham City's ending?

    You liked the fact that Joker died in the end! You bastard!
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