Im just wondering, what do you guys think about an ending in a game? In my opinion, it should have a bad/sad ending, i find good endings slightly patronising

I like endings which are decided by my actions in-game.

A mixture of good and ad is neutral... Why would you want a neutral ending...

But I would have said an open world ending if it was an option.

I'm a huge fan of endings that show the outcome of certain decisions I made. I'm trying really hard to think of an example, and failing...

First of all the ending should show a little bit more than a 10 second death animation. Especially non-asian games tend to consider an ending sequence as necessary evil which seems to not needing a good concept.

But the most annoying feature introduced in recent games is the 'to be continued-ending'. I really hate it, an unfinished game (in terms of ending sequence) makes me feel like I played through an unfinished story. Five years ago designers thought about what could happen to their heroes after they succeeded in preventing the desaster in the first game.

Take the 'Thief' for example: In the first game the main character has an unfortunate accident which gives him a strategic advantage in the second game (the camera). And then watch the ending of every 'Thief' game and compare it to 'Assassin's Creed' or 'Halo 2'...

The possibility of multiple endings is the best ending.

One that leads logically from the story. If its a happy game, then a happy end. A horror though, should not have a happy ending. One thing all games must have in common is give the player a sense of accomplishment with the ending; the player's actions during the game (regardless of if the game is linear or not) should have some significant effect in the game world. Even if the game has just one possible end, it should give closure to the events in the story, and have an impact on the game world.

RoninFrosty:
I'm a huge fan of endings that show the outcome of certain decisions I made. I'm trying really hard to think of an example, and failing...

Mass Effect. The 'bad' ending is the best game ending I've seen in a while. The repurcussions in the sequel could be tremendous.

I chose "I don't care" because I like all of those endings. Sometimes I like a good ending, sometimes a bad one. Sometimes I like being given a choice, sometimes I like having a set one. Really, as long as the ending is good quality-wise, I'm fine with whatever it is.

It depends on the game really, Fallout for example wouldn't work well with a Happy ending whereas a Mario game wouldn't work with a sad ending.

needausername:
A mixture of good and ad is neutral... Why would you want a neutral ending...

Not necessarily. You could have an ending where you save the world but your best friend dies in the process. Like the "Save the many" option in Fable 2.

I like endings that fit, regardless of whether they are happy or sad. Though I do hate the "it was just a dream" ending with an undying passion.

Geo Da Sponge:

needausername:
A mixture of good and ad is neutral... Why would you want a neutral ending...

Not necessarily. You could have an ending where you save the world but your best friend dies in the process. Like the "Save the many" option in Fable 2.

A) I own a PS3
B)Could have used the Universal GTA IV option and
67)I still think its the best ending

My favorite ending to a game ever is the ending to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. You beat the bad guys, and destroy their weapon of mass destruction, and you find out why The Boss betrayed the U.S. It was very satisfying.

Halo 2's ending .

needausername:

Geo Da Sponge:

needausername:
A mixture of good and ad is neutral... Why would you want a neutral ending...

Not necessarily. You could have an ending where you save the world but your best friend dies in the process. Like the "Save the many" option in Fable 2.

A) I own a PS3
B)Could have used the Universal GTA IV option and
67)I still think its the best ending

I'm sorry, my omniscience seems to be on the blink. I should have gone out of my way to check what console you own, and indeed, every game you've played on it, rather than just using the first convenient example that came to mind. I do apologise for not checking what you wanted in a reply to your original statement and instead using my own free will.

Geo Da Sponge:

needausername:

Geo Da Sponge:

needausername:
A mixture of good and ad is neutral... Why would you want a neutral ending...

Not necessarily. You could have an ending where you save the world but your best friend dies in the process. Like the "Save the many" option in Fable 2.

A) I own a PS3
B)Could have used the Universal GTA IV option and
67)I still think its the best ending

I'm sorry, my omniscience seems to be on the blink. I should have gone out of my way to check what console you own, and indeed, every game you've played on it, rather than just using the first convenient example that came to mind. I do apologise for not checking what you wanted in a reply to your original statement and instead using my own free will.

Damn right you should.

Ace of Spades:
My favorite ending to a game ever is the ending to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. You beat the bad guys, and destroy their weapon of mass destruction, and you find out why The Boss betrayed the U.S. It was very satisfying.

Definately miles better than MGS4's ending I'll tell you that. I really didn't like MGS4's ending, Snake and Otacon ride off into the sunset...

Truly, truly lame. I think Snake should have died a heroes death myself, sacrificing himself to kill Liquid and save the world.

PedroSteckecilo:

Ace of Spades:
My favorite ending to a game ever is the ending to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. You beat the bad guys, and destroy their weapon of mass destruction, and you find out why The Boss betrayed the U.S. It was very satisfying.

Definately miles better than MGS4's ending I'll tell you that. I really didn't like MGS4's ending, Snake and Otacon ride off into the sunset...

Truly, truly lame. I think Snake should have died a heroes death myself, sacrificing himself to kill Liquid and save the world.

I was actually disappointed because Snake doesn't kill himself in MGS4. It would have been better that way, but Snake likes to be a weapon of mass destruction...

I like sad, good endings like in Drakengard. They drag you more into the game.

I like good endings. Doesn't matter if there happy, sad, niether or both. As long as I like the ending its fine.

klakkat:
One that leads logically from the story. If its a happy game, then a happy end. A horror though, should not have a happy ending. One thing all games must have in common is give the player a sense of accomplishment with the ending; the player's actions during the game (regardless of if the game is linear or not) should have some significant effect in the game world. Even if the game has just one possible end, it should give closure to the events in the story, and have an impact on the game world.

This. It really depends on the genre of the game, different endings fit different games better.

I don't need a game to tie up all the loose ends, I don't need a game to forcefully have it open for the expansion pack or the next installment or whatever. I just want the ending to fit, it could be a twist or whatever, as long as it fit.

I usually like an ending to be determined by my actions, but what really matters to me is whether it's epic or not. Mass Effect's was very well done, for example.

i quite like it when not all the questions are answered or something happens that is completely unexpected

I like endings that end in a cliffhanger. Half-Life 2: Episode 2 had the best ending to any game I have ever played.

Definitely not like Call of Duty's though. All the CoD games have the worst endings ever.

Bittersweet...always the best.

pretty much any metal gear solid game ending. nothing like a 90 minute end sequence!

Many people have already said this, and for good reason, but the ending should be connected to your play. What you did should have a visible effect, and you should feel you actually accomplished or at least changed something.

This thread might as well have *SPOILER* in the title.

I loved Resistance 2's ending for some odd reason. Sure, Hale gets his brains blown out and I liked him. But it's the shock of that actually being how the game ended that got me. Nobody saves him, nobody complains, the big soldier guy just blew his brains out... Then the credits roll.

I like to have a choice because that is the only thing that makes me finish story driven games with frustrating gameplay like silent hill 4. I usually hope for a semi-bad ending though because for me the interesting character is the villian since he is usually the only character who can properly expound on the story and give it context.

Totally depends on the style of game as far as I'm concerned. The type of protagonist (i.e. warm and likeable or a bit of a dick), the genre of game and if the plot of the game has been a major force in the game. Out of the options given I suppose I like having a choice the most, but still something that will just wrap up a game nicely and tie off all the lose ends.

PedroSteckecilo:

Ace of Spades:
My favorite ending to a game ever is the ending to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. You beat the bad guys, and destroy their weapon of mass destruction, and you find out why The Boss betrayed the U.S. It was very satisfying.

Definately miles better than MGS4's ending I'll tell you that. I really didn't like MGS4's ending, Snake and Otacon ride off into the sunset...

Truly, truly lame. I think Snake should have died a heroes death myself, sacrificing himself to kill Liquid and save the world.

Never the less, I was tearing up at the end of MGS4 and probably would have cried up like a baby if I had played MGS3, which reminds me I have to get the damn collecters eddition (all the MGSs made in one package) any idea if they're still selling those?

Anyway, it sortof depends on the game. If there are planning to have a sequel to the game, you have to make the ending open enough to warrent a sequel and make sure it doesn't leave on a too big cliff (hanger).
I just like whatever ending the game gives me, ASLONG as it fits what my expectations would be such as the fate of the entire human population rests in your hands, I'm not going to be happy with a 1 minute "You win!" sequence with you just saying "we're going home!" after the epic space battle. I need a leveraged(?) ending than that!

Any ending that is a well-fitting ending is a good ending.