N
NewDArt
Guest
I've been thinking about this a little.
As I'm sure we all have, I've completed many, many games over the years - and I realise that the vast majority of them had end-sequences that weren't really that great.
There's this tradition in gaming that you have to end a game on a "big note" - and a very typical way of doing this is through some over-the-top end fight where the rules you've been accustomed to during the game are more or less completely discarded.
Developers want to challenge you and make the ending "memorable" in some way.
I can't tell you how often I've reached the final boss in an otherwise fantastic game and just given up in disgust - only to take a break and then go back and finish it just because I'd spent so much time with it.
Not because the fight was challenging, but because it was NOT representative of the rest of the game.
Many games also tend to have entire levels of over-the-top enemies and ridiculous platform sequences. I don't have to mention more than Xen and the "The Many" level here, I take it
I've always hated that. Instead of building momentum - these sequences tend to all but evaporate my enthusiasm for the game.
My preferred way to end a game on a big note would be about story and an emotional punch. Don't change the core gameplay - and if you're going to challenge me, do it within reason and within the established rules. In fact, I would probably prefer a "small note" - where I'm motivated to reflect on the plot and narrative.
Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite come to mind, though they both had annoying sequences towards the end - but the endings themselves were delightfully free of over-the-top crap.
What about you?
What kind of ending is "perfect" in your mind - and what games would you consider examples of that?
As I'm sure we all have, I've completed many, many games over the years - and I realise that the vast majority of them had end-sequences that weren't really that great.
There's this tradition in gaming that you have to end a game on a "big note" - and a very typical way of doing this is through some over-the-top end fight where the rules you've been accustomed to during the game are more or less completely discarded.
Developers want to challenge you and make the ending "memorable" in some way.
I can't tell you how often I've reached the final boss in an otherwise fantastic game and just given up in disgust - only to take a break and then go back and finish it just because I'd spent so much time with it.
Not because the fight was challenging, but because it was NOT representative of the rest of the game.
Many games also tend to have entire levels of over-the-top enemies and ridiculous platform sequences. I don't have to mention more than Xen and the "The Many" level here, I take it
I've always hated that. Instead of building momentum - these sequences tend to all but evaporate my enthusiasm for the game.
My preferred way to end a game on a big note would be about story and an emotional punch. Don't change the core gameplay - and if you're going to challenge me, do it within reason and within the established rules. In fact, I would probably prefer a "small note" - where I'm motivated to reflect on the plot and narrative.
Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite come to mind, though they both had annoying sequences towards the end - but the endings themselves were delightfully free of over-the-top crap.
What about you?
What kind of ending is "perfect" in your mind - and what games would you consider examples of that?
