Endings sure are a crucial point for gamers aren’t they? Seeing as people are willing to invest so many hours of their life in a game, it thus becomes a cardinal sin for games to have endings that are inconclusive or end on a cliff-hanger. Does anyone want to spend so many hours of their life only to arrive at a sloppy ending? Or a blank screen with ‘Game Over’ or, worse yet, ‘To be Continued’? Of course not! Thus it becomes apparent that to have a crummy ending is seen as a betrayal – betrayal to the player from investing so much time and reaping so much enjoyment.
And in some cases, a betrayal beyond forgivable.
We’ve all heard the story before: Someone plays a game and enjoys it a lot. They get to the ending, which turns out to be one big anticlimax, and the gamer gets mad. Within seconds, so many hours of fun and enjoyment are erased instantly and the gamer starts venting their disgust to some internet blog or message board.
To me, an ending needs to provide a proper resolution to the hard effort put into the game. It needs to convey a sense of achievement - or even something that sticks in the player’s mind – to really make all the hours worth it. So today, I’m going to talk about some of my favourite endings to a game and how they made an impression on me.
So here we go:
11. Ninja Warriors
And we start with an ending (badumtish) that certainly leaves a substantial impression. For those not in the know, Ninja Warriors was an arcade game from the late eighties (although the above video is from the SNES conversion), where the player controls a robot ninja assassin dispatched by revolutionaries to kill a corrupt politician. At the end of the game, the ninjas confront their target when suddenly they explode taking the politician’s mansion with them. It turns out the mission was a suicide one – thus enabling the revolutionaries to seize control and end up doing an even worse job than their predecessor.
This ending works on two levels: Firstly, it is thought-provoking in its handling of it’s themes of terrorism (perhaps more so in this modern, post-9/11 age we live in). Secondly, it is the notion that not all endings are happy ones. Sure it means all the player’s efforts were ultimately for naught but that doesn’t mean the player won’t walk away with something to ponder. I like games that challenge the relationship between game and the person playing it – and whilst this move has become popular in recent years, Ninja Warriors may just well have been a pioneer.
Audacious maybe but Ninja Warriors is still a worthy way to start off this list.
10. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
One of the most well-realised stories ever in the history of video gaming yields the cleverest of endings. Allegedly, Jordan Mechner was inspired by Tales of Arabian Nights in development of the original Prince of Persia – so it’s interesting to see the ideology of stories being carried over into Sands of Time.
The narrative of SoT is guided by the voice of the Prince himself, explaining things as they happen to an unseen audience. As the story progresses, the gamer is constantly wondering just who this audience is – and the urgency that the prince narrates with adds to this mystique. Indeed, it is an interesting motivator to keep playing just to find out who the Prince is telling this story to.
And when this audience is finally revealed, not to mention HOW the prince got there himself, is truly a moment even I did not see coming. And that for me represents a mark of exceptional storytelling: keeping the audience in suspense without breaking step once. Indeed, SoT makes it look so effortless you can’t help but wonder if other game developers were looking and taking notes.
Granted I haven’t included this revelation in the video above (actually I couldn’t find it but really maybe it’s something one has to see for themselves) but, as the ending indicates, I do like the ideology of stories that SoT has. A story is a narrative device, being told by the Prince, to someone who, as the above video indicates, is left in a state of disbelief. It’s a clever idea and the fact that it’s conveyed successfully throughout the whole game is an achievement in itself.
9. Skies of Arcadia
And here we have the very first JRPG in this list – and there’s more to come.
RPGs have got to be the most time-demanding game genre ever: After accomplishing so many quests, levelling up and building up characters in wealth and combat prowess, an RPG really needs to have a killer ending. So many RPG’s have been condemned for a lame ending, so it is interesting to see how that the developers handle the task of providing a decent pay-off. Some do a half-arsed job whilst others really put in an effort not shown by any other genre.
So what does Skies of Arcadia offer up? Well, after so many hours gone into the game, the gamer is treated to a cinematic displaying a sense of victory: The adversary is defeated, the heroes have won and the player is treated to a sense of accomplishment. Okay so the outcome of the efforts of Vyse, Fina and Aika was probably never in doubt but dammit, if any game ending did convey a sense of accomplishment then Skies of Arcadia does so in spades!
The real treat however is the end credits sequence which presents a montage revealing what everyone got up to following the events of the game. Granted this may not have been the first JRPG to do this but for me, it’s the one that does it best.
8. Super Mario Bros 3
I remember seeing this one when I was a kid: Mario defeats Bowser and runs to the rescue of Princess Peach – only to be informed that the Princess is in ANOTHER castle….. before Peach reveals she was only kidding.
Why does this ending work for me? Two reasons: The first is the idea that Mario is an everyman. He doesn’t look in any way the heroic type – he’s just a regular guy. And yet he still goes on fantastic adventures and manages to save the day (and a princess!). Indeed, it is that everyman quality that may attribute to his continuing popularity. And for me, the Super Mario bros. 3 ending exemplifies that quality more than it’s SMB1 and, quite possibly, even more that it’s successors.
The other reason is the joke Peach plays. While it’s a nice surprise to see Nintendo poking fun at their own franchise, one can only wonder how the player, after so many hours spent playing the game, reacted. What may have started as screams of disbelief and frustration eventually gave way to either a huge sigh of relief or shouts of “FUCK YOU BITCH!!”
Seriously though, this is an ending that, again, exemplifies the connection between the player and the game. And this is one ending which may have inspired a reaction – it may not have been the best one but it’s still one nonetheless. And not many games can lay claim to such a feat.
7. Terranigma
Whilst Australia may have missed out on Chrono Trigger, we instead had to settle for Terranigma. Okay so it may not compare on a level of complexity to Chrono Trigger but Terranigma can boast some great ideas being put to work.
The player controls a guy named Arc who lives in a village that seems to know largely little of the outside world. But through a series of misadventures, Arc eventually discovers an empty world and is thus charged with the task of resurrecting it. He does this through bringing life back to it and furthering scientific progress for it’s human inhabitants. However as the game goes on, the game puts forth some ideas on existence that’s kind of unexpected in a game of the 16-bit era.
As stated before, any game that can make a player think is a winner in my book. And no way is this exemplified with the ending: His task done, Arc is then left with one last day to spend on the mortal plane. This is indeed a challenging prospect that one wouldn’t find in a video game: What would you do if you had one last day upon this earth? How would you spend it? How would the thought of having made a difference weigh upon you’re mind? These are challenging ideas and for a game to convey them is indeed an achievement in itself.
In particular, I love that concluding dream sequence – I can’t really explain it as it's something that really needs to be seen to be comprehended. but, for me, it’s one of those moments of perfection that few games can match.
6. Chrono Cross
Okay so I’m cheating here seeing as I’ve never played this game (as it was never released here in Australia) and I’m relying on someone else’s assessment of it but this ending video is a gem indeed.
As the above link suggests, Chrono Cross is game aimed at breaking down the borderline between player and game. Throughout the game itself, there are key moments which suggest the player is having a more interactive role in the proceedings than what is usually associated in a video game. This eventually reaches its pinnacle at the end when the character of Schala speaks through a passage of text directly at the player. This is then followed by the ending cinematic which includes live action footage of an actress, representing Schala, searching for the player (ie YOU).
Quite disturbing yes but I take my hat off to the makers who seem to be keen on trying something different, intent on challenging the gamer’s perceptions and say something unexpected and unique – particularly in a medium which is usually associated with killing lot’s of dudes, buxom chicks and young men who look more girly than the females who control them.
Fortune, it would appear, truly does favour the brave.
5. Shadow of the Colossus
One of the big ones (pun most certainly intended). No other game has left me with a mixed reaction to this ending. With this ending, the rug is pulled under the player’s feet: Suspicions are confirmed and suddenly Wander’s quest is nowhere near as noble as one was originally led to believe.
Of course, at first I was annoyed that the hard effort I put into playing the game had, ultimately, all come to naught. But when I look back at it now, my view has softened - somewhat. You see, I can now appreciate the game for being able to challenge my perceptions and direct me into a quest that, upon closer examination, has me asking questions of a morale nature far more effectively than the Mass Effect series. In addition, the fact that not all endings are happy ones hits really hard in this cinematic.
Really though, I have no idea whether I should praise or condemn this ending but there is no need: If a game has inspired such a divisive opinion then it must have made quite an impression – indeed the type that some games can dream about. If game triggered a debate and a closer look, then it must’ve been a pretty damn good one.
4. Final Fantasy X
A mark of a great game is one that elicits an emotional reaction – and in that field, you can’t go wrong with this. Final Fantasy X may have had it’s fair share of emotional moments but the apex of it all comes in the form of the ending.
One thing I’ve enjoyed with the Final Fantasy games is that, unlike a lot of RPGs, their approach to story-telling is that not all endings are happy ones. Sure some good may have been done come at the end, but the protagonists can’t really save everyone. Which now brings me to Final Fantasy X and, in particular, the doomed romance between Tidus and Yuna. At the end, Spira may be saved but one of the main protagonists has fallen: One who didn’t really belong in Spira’s world and who made a lasting impression on the one who was supposed to die. Some say, the romance was kinda uninspiring but I give credit to Square to take a chance with this ending: It wasn’t a happy ending and it’s indeed interesting to see a romance that doesn’t work out. Sure Mario may keep saving Princess Peach from Bowser's constant clutches but no such thing seems to happen on Spira’s world.
Plus I have to admit, there is always the emotional punch of seeing Yuna running to Tidus and subsequently through him. This is then followed by those three words uttered by Yuna showing more emotion (or at least her voice actress) than she ever did in the entire game. It is a moment like this that still hits hard on my cold jaded heart.
Of course, this is all ruined with the advent of FFX2 but still, for a game to break the rules and convey such emotion, this is a shining example.
3. Ico
On second thought, forget what I said about Final Fantasy X: When it comes to eliciting an emotional response from the gamer, nothing can hope to match the ending that is Ico. Much like Team Ico’s other game, the afore-mentioned Shadow of the Colossus, there is no sense of a happy ending as it becomes clear that the player’s efforts have ultimately come to naught – except for leaving an emotional resonance that most games can only dream about.
There are so many magic moments in this ending that I don’t know where to start: The symbolism of Ico’s horns coming off, the Queen/Witch’s dying taunt, the realisation that Yorda can’t escape the castle even when the way out is finally open, the collapse of a seemingly ancient castle, the indication that Yorda and Ico belong in separate worlds and, of course, the slow creeping in of ‘You Were There’.
Funny thing is all of these aren’t really spelled out for the viewer: they are just presented for the viewer to draw their own conclusions. As a result, the mind works in the fashion that the designer intended and an emotion connection is built up. It is an effective method and one that works a treat.
Like FFX, the ending of Ico did indeed leave an impression on my cold jaded heart. And for a video game to do this is a feat indeed – enough to secure it in the third position in this list. What could top it? Funny you should say that…..
2. Metal Gear Solid
For me, Metal Gear Solid is a character driven game done right: Among the many achievements this game accomplished, paramount among them was the idea of taking a character and building a world around him for which to inhabit.
That being said, Metal Gear Solid is a game that deceived me: At the start, it is established that Snake is sneaking into Shadow Moses Island to thwart some terrorists who pose a considerable threat through being in the possession of nuclear warheads.
However, like many games on this list, by the end, the game has switched gears and revealed its true intentions: Metal Gear Solid isn’t about sneaking into a base, beating up some bad guys and eventually destroying a giant mech – no it represents a personal odyssey for Snake. It’s about him starting out with emptiness in his life only to come out the other side with a sense of meaning. It is indeed a relief to see Snake, through all his trials and tribulations come out the other side with a much better outlook on life. Of course, a feel-good/life affirming ending may have done many times before but here it works well – perhaps because, unlike a book or a movie, a video game demands participation from the player. Thus, there is the sense that Snake got to where he ended up with the player’s assistance. It is impressive, in the terms of story telling, to see Snake decide to make every day of his remaining time on earth count. What's even more impressive is this revelation is conveyed through to make an impression onto the player.
Of course, this ending is made redundant with the puzzling presence of the Metal Gear Solid’s 2 and 4 (why would Snake go back into combat after deciding to make every remaining day of his life count?!) but still it’s not everyday you see a life-affirming ending in video game.
And that’s why it works so well.
And my number 1 ending to a video game is…..
1. Final Fantasy IX
In this list, I’ve described various reasons to why certain endings work: Some challenge my perceptions as a gamer. Some give me something to think about. Some present situations designed to inspire an emotional response. Some present me with character and make me wanting to go with them on their adventures every step of the way.
But in the end, what I ultimately want is the sense that I achieved something: The sense that the many hours I put into the game have amounted to something grandiose. I want a payoff that was worth the effort. Step forward: Final Fantasy IX.
So why this one? Firstly length: The RPG demands the greatest investment of time than any other game – having an ending that stretches out for over half an hour is a perfect counter-weight to the many hours spent playing the game.
Secondly, throughout the ending, we get to see the character’s lives afterwards. Each of the key characters have their own cinematic which shows what they had gotten up to since the adventure ended. Whilst not all of them may be happy (Freya’s comes to mind), it is a credit to the designers for showing us that life does indeed go on (something that, I wish, would happen more often).
The real treat however is in the video shown above where Garnet and Zidane are finally reunited. Of course, it is a bit annoying that it isn’t really explained HOW Zidane managed to get back to Alexandria but it is interesting to see what Garnet’s character eventually developed into (note the moment when she loses the Alexander pendant). Indeed, I particularly love the moment when she throws away her tiara before charging into Zidane’s arms: Sometimes little things can mean so much.
Also pleasing is seeing the crowd, with Zidane and Garnet’s former comrades, bursting into applause. It is as if that after the grim undertones of 6, 7 and 8, Square just decided “Bugger this, let’s just do a happy ending’. It may not have been their intent but even if it was, it works a treat. A sweet relief maybe but there is the thought that, after so many dark themes lurking within the Final Fantasy games, if Square can put their mind to it a happy ending can work out well.
Some may dismiss the tried and tested notion of ‘And they all lived happily ever after’ but what would they know?
More to the point why would I care?
So that’s my thoughts on what makes a good ending. A diverse list but all work in different ways: I like having my perceptions as a gamer challenged. I tip my hat to a game designer for presenting something to think about. I love a sense of accomplishment whilst other times I just love a happy ending.
Really games should be self-contained stories with a properly defined beginning, middle and an end. And whilst many games can start of great they can fumble with the other two. But whereas people don't remember the middle of a game, it's the ending that can prove most critical. Having said that, I've just written out eleven different endings that work in different ways so really there is no excuse.
Until next time....
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