Mr Durand Pierre
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I was thinking the other day that my two favorite games this year have been Bioshock and Tomb Raider: Anniversary and they both had one unfortunate thing in common; their final levels and endings were in my opinion, the weakest parts of those games. This was true of possibly my favorite game of all time, Okami, as well, with it's anti-climactic final boss fight (though the actual ending cutscene was satisfying). So I started to think, what videogames have had really great endgames. My definition of an "endgame" is basically the last hour or so of gameplay + final cutscene. I'd like to focus more on the gameplay aspect though. Games where the ending was actually so good that it made you respect the rest of the game more. I'd also like to keep this thread as spoilerless as possible, so if you're going to discuss sensitive plot points, please use spoiler tags. thanks.
So here's a few that came to mind for me, and of course, I'd love to hear what you all have to say.
My favorite videogame endgames (in no particular order)
-Half-Life 2. This one is a controversial one that people will either love or hate. The game does end on a cliffhanger, but what's more interesting, the final level in Half-Life 2 is actually the easiest level in the entire game... on purpose. By defying conventional game logic that a game must increase in difficulty as it goes, Valve instead opted to give the game a real sense of unstoppable power in this game's closing sequence. But what really made the ending special was the absolutely astonishing art direction and setting. The interactive cutscenes leading up to the games finale were some of the most awe-inspiring moments I've seen in all my years gaming. Truth be told, I wasn't a huge fan of the game on the whole. I liked it quite a bit, but felt it was very much overrated. But the end really did it for me, and then I immediately wanted to play Episode 1. Kudos Valve. Kudos.
-Shadow of the Colossus. The closest I've ever come to crying from a videogame. The epic journey to the final boss, the devastating cutscene before you reach his lair, the actual boss itself with what I considered to be the hardest puzzle in the game, followed by a mesmerizing and completely unconventional finale. The entire game was brilliant, but it's finale was truly extraordinary and somehow managed to trump even the rest of the game's magnificence.
-Ico. From the last save point on Ico was an extremely engaging experience as you struggled to reunite with Yorda. Much like Half-Life 2, Ico allows you to slaughter several enemies whilst being invincible in an absolutely mesmerizing sequence that could arguably an interactive cutscene (as you can't die in it). Sad, haunting, beautiful, and very, very mysterious Ico knew how to make an amazing game and make it even better.
-Grim Fandango. While the whole game was brilliant, the finale really took the cake. The lonely greenhouse on a clear, stary night was one of my all-time favorite visuals in a game. Sal's last scene was nothing short of masterful, as was the final shot. I love Tim Schafer with a passion, and dearly hope neither he nor anyone else makes a sequel or prequel to this game, as it found such a perfect note to end on. Truly a work of art.
-Killer 7. Killer 7 has the distinction of being the only game I can think of that has boss fights, but doesn't end with one. This is probably for the better as Killer 7's boss fights weren't all that good (one could argue that of the gameplay in general). I wasn't sure what I thought of the game on the whole, but the final sequence, an extended interactive custscene through an abandoned hotel, was absolutely fascinating and made me want to replay the entire game again even though I wasn't sure that I liked it. Sadly, I never did make it that far (the gameplay is way too repetitive), but that fact that it made me want to was pretty amazing. Killer 7 was all over the map in terms of both story and gameplay, but it got one thing right; it went out on a high note.
-Silent Hill 2. I'm one of the few people who didn't really care for the Silent Hill games (at least 2 and 3, the only ones I played). I found the gameplay boring and tedious, the aesthetics bland and repetitive, and the dialogue hammy. But Silent Hill 2's final level (an abandoned hotel, much like Killer 7) was a stunner. It's sense of dreary isolation as you roamed the charred remains of the place looking for... well, i don't want to give it all away, but it was easily my favorite part of what I considered to be an otherwise mediocre game.
-Sly 3: honor Among Thieves. I loved the Sly games, but I felt that the third one was easily the weak link. Most of the story was a bit bland and plodding, but it really picked up in the end. Sharp dialogue that played against the conventions of the genre, great characters, and an ending so pitch-perfect that it managed to resolve the star-crossed love affair between a thief and a cop in a way that stayed completely true to the characters without being a cop out. I was hoping for a Sly 4, but this no longer matters as Sly knew how to go out in style!
Runner-up:
-Metal Gear Solid 3: I actually didn't like the ending cutscene to this game. It went on way too long and contained at least one plot twist too many. But the reason that I'm including it is because the final boss battle was amazing. And not just in gameplay terms (though it was amazing in that regard too), but the setting and art direction surrounding it was masterful and among the most epic boss battles I've ever played. This makes me sad MGS4 won't be on the 360.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head. So what are some of your fave end sequences?
So here's a few that came to mind for me, and of course, I'd love to hear what you all have to say.
My favorite videogame endgames (in no particular order)
-Half-Life 2. This one is a controversial one that people will either love or hate. The game does end on a cliffhanger, but what's more interesting, the final level in Half-Life 2 is actually the easiest level in the entire game... on purpose. By defying conventional game logic that a game must increase in difficulty as it goes, Valve instead opted to give the game a real sense of unstoppable power in this game's closing sequence. But what really made the ending special was the absolutely astonishing art direction and setting. The interactive cutscenes leading up to the games finale were some of the most awe-inspiring moments I've seen in all my years gaming. Truth be told, I wasn't a huge fan of the game on the whole. I liked it quite a bit, but felt it was very much overrated. But the end really did it for me, and then I immediately wanted to play Episode 1. Kudos Valve. Kudos.
-Shadow of the Colossus. The closest I've ever come to crying from a videogame. The epic journey to the final boss, the devastating cutscene before you reach his lair, the actual boss itself with what I considered to be the hardest puzzle in the game, followed by a mesmerizing and completely unconventional finale. The entire game was brilliant, but it's finale was truly extraordinary and somehow managed to trump even the rest of the game's magnificence.
-Ico. From the last save point on Ico was an extremely engaging experience as you struggled to reunite with Yorda. Much like Half-Life 2, Ico allows you to slaughter several enemies whilst being invincible in an absolutely mesmerizing sequence that could arguably an interactive cutscene (as you can't die in it). Sad, haunting, beautiful, and very, very mysterious Ico knew how to make an amazing game and make it even better.
-Grim Fandango. While the whole game was brilliant, the finale really took the cake. The lonely greenhouse on a clear, stary night was one of my all-time favorite visuals in a game. Sal's last scene was nothing short of masterful, as was the final shot. I love Tim Schafer with a passion, and dearly hope neither he nor anyone else makes a sequel or prequel to this game, as it found such a perfect note to end on. Truly a work of art.
-Killer 7. Killer 7 has the distinction of being the only game I can think of that has boss fights, but doesn't end with one. This is probably for the better as Killer 7's boss fights weren't all that good (one could argue that of the gameplay in general). I wasn't sure what I thought of the game on the whole, but the final sequence, an extended interactive custscene through an abandoned hotel, was absolutely fascinating and made me want to replay the entire game again even though I wasn't sure that I liked it. Sadly, I never did make it that far (the gameplay is way too repetitive), but that fact that it made me want to was pretty amazing. Killer 7 was all over the map in terms of both story and gameplay, but it got one thing right; it went out on a high note.
-Silent Hill 2. I'm one of the few people who didn't really care for the Silent Hill games (at least 2 and 3, the only ones I played). I found the gameplay boring and tedious, the aesthetics bland and repetitive, and the dialogue hammy. But Silent Hill 2's final level (an abandoned hotel, much like Killer 7) was a stunner. It's sense of dreary isolation as you roamed the charred remains of the place looking for... well, i don't want to give it all away, but it was easily my favorite part of what I considered to be an otherwise mediocre game.
-Sly 3: honor Among Thieves. I loved the Sly games, but I felt that the third one was easily the weak link. Most of the story was a bit bland and plodding, but it really picked up in the end. Sharp dialogue that played against the conventions of the genre, great characters, and an ending so pitch-perfect that it managed to resolve the star-crossed love affair between a thief and a cop in a way that stayed completely true to the characters without being a cop out. I was hoping for a Sly 4, but this no longer matters as Sly knew how to go out in style!
Runner-up:
-Metal Gear Solid 3: I actually didn't like the ending cutscene to this game. It went on way too long and contained at least one plot twist too many. But the reason that I'm including it is because the final boss battle was amazing. And not just in gameplay terms (though it was amazing in that regard too), but the setting and art direction surrounding it was masterful and among the most epic boss battles I've ever played. This makes me sad MGS4 won't be on the 360.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head. So what are some of your fave end sequences?
ing epic. Your just beat ganondorf and you are running with zelda out of his evil castle as it falls around you. You finally make it out thinking its over but then, out of the rubble comes a giant boom. You push zelda behind you and head over sword in hand to find the source of the noise! then..Boom ganondorf is back but transforms into ganon! enclosed in a circle of fire your master sword is flung outside with zelda. Its you and him in this circle of evil. It gets dark and theres lightning booming all over the sky. Your faithful fairy navi who couldnt help you in your previous battle with ganondorf defies the wave of evil this time stating 'theres no way hes going to hold me back again. This time we fight together!" Holy Moly EPIC. The music is even more epic. Epic EPIC EPICCCCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
