Best Game Twist Or Ending

[Rabid Toilet]

I'd have to agree with you there, Dillinger. Halo did have a pretty sweet story, even if the gameplay was average.

Going off of the whole Bioshock/KotOR thing everyone seems to be doing, I'd say the biggest twist was the end of Shadow of the Colossus. While I knew something was off once the people from your village started coming after you, I was definitely not expecting the finale.

 

[Meshakhad_v1legacy]

The Half-Life 2: Episode Two ending was the best I've ever seen.

And to tell the truth... games don't offer stunning twists, in my opinion. This is probably because I am a Heroes fan, and Heroes is known for awesome plot twists, and video games simply can't compare.

But I'll try my best.

Well, I have to say, the ending of HL2:E2 was an unexpected plot twist. As was Alyx getting injured, Judith Mossman's betrayal, and the first Combine attack on White Forest. And while I could have seen it coming if I tried, I was surprised by the train crash as you flee the Citadel in Episode One. Valve gets points for creating an aura of relief - and throwing the Stalkers at us so my "something is going to go wrong" detector isn't set off. You think, "Yay! We actually got on the train! Of course, something is going to go wrong - yeah, this is a stalker car. Oh, we- HOLY **** WE CRASHED! Dammit! Now we have to walk to the train station."

I was completely surprised when in Half-Life 1, you get taken out by those soldiers, and end up in a trash compactor. Did NOT see that coming.

Moving away from Half-Life and Valve's writing expertise, Halo 3 threw two plot twists at me. One was the ending, but that loses points for being a clear sacrifice of gameplay for story. Having the player fight Guilty Spark is a good plot twist, but he isn't a really dangerous foe. The big plot twist was when you briefly ally with the Flood. It helps create a sense of desperation that you will ally with anyone and everyone.

 

[Lurchibald]

wow, halo's story sort of sounds like a stargate episode..... but i can see why people like it

 

[Moloch-De]

For classiks the best Ending and Twist at once is the Finish of Diablo 1; you might have beaten the ultimate Evil but you will only take its Place...

Another twist comes to mind, Arthas turning against his Farther in Wc3, i think the Video is one of the best i ever saw in a Game.

The ending of Max Paine 2 was just such an intense conclusion of the engenious story, i realy felt empty after the credits concluded the Game with one of the best Songs ever written...

 

[Calobi]

Mario, when your Princess ISN'T in another castle.

 

[Akatsuki_slave]

Super Mario Brothers 2. Princess isn't kidnapped, and there's no Bowser. Instead you have to fight the same stupid mouse who likes to play with legos. Crazy.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

Best twist: Bring on the flames, but I thought the twist in FFX was well done.

Best Ending: Mass Effect. So very satisfying.

 

[Abhorsen]

I'd say S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Shadow of Chernobyl.

Spoiler

Can't beat spending an entire game trying to find a guy to kill him, and then finding out you ARE Strelok.

'Nuff said.

 

[diereds]

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

Once you reach Arsenal Gear the story becomes so amazingly awesome its hard to imagine anything else comparing. Except Portal, but that's obvious.

 

[Fuji575]

I think the best twist in a game was the end of Fallout 1 when, after all your hard work, you are cast out of Vault 13

As for the best game ending, it's probably when Guybrush Threepwood gets buried alive in Monkey Island 3.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Of all the plot twists in video games I have played, KOTOR was the one that really came out of left field for me. I honestly did not expect something like that AT ALL. The icing on the cake was the flashback scenes leading up to it. On subsequent playthroughs of the game, every time I get to that point I think to myself, "wow, how did I miss the clues?" It seems so obvious in retrospect, but you had no way of knowing the first time around. That's a plot twist at its finest.

As for endings...there are certainly no shortage of epic ones, but the one for Halo is particularly memorable. There's nothing like racing at top speed in a Warthog to escape from a ship that's exploding all around you. Halo 3 tried to emulate this, but it didn't match up to the heart-stopping "oh crap, I gotta get out of here" feeling of the first.

 

[Same River New Water]

The part in CoD4 when, as the Marine, you've accomplished your goal, succeeded in a rescue attempt, got into your helicopter and flown away to safety, mission complete... except the radio chatter keeps going and OH SHITSHITSHITWTF! And the next mission, where you start in the helicopter.

More of a plot development than a plot twist, but so unprecedented.

 

[JC123]

Wow, how many people were shocked by the KOTOR twist? I don't know if it's just my love of movies with awesome twists (think Memento, Fight Club, Sixth Sense, Usual Suspects, Primer, etc...), but I saw that one coming a mile away. Particularly when Revan's face was constantly hidden, and the visions.

I also agree with Quistnix, I just found that it was poorly presented. An unveiling that was a little less obvious perhaps, like waiting for the end of the final battle, finding a holocron of yourself as Revan, something like that. Or even just making the hints that you're Revan a whisper, rather than a big screaming "OH WOW LOOK AT THIS TWIST, YOU TOTALLY CAN'T SEE IT COMING!!!"

I haven't really found many decent twists in recent games, but then again I haven't played Bioshock, Shadow of the Collusus etc which everyone else is suggesting.

Not to brown-nose much, but one good ending/twist I have seen lately is from Yahtzee's 5 Days series (if you haven't played them for some bizarre reason, check his personal website - Fullyramblomatic.com). Just loved that every one of those games gave an interesting end, and linked to those before it. Particularly the last one, that just had me actually saying "Wow" aloud, and then trying to explain it to everyone who would listen for the next few days.

 

[twisted_ideas]

THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!
THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!
THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!
THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!
THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!
THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!

 

[VRaptorX]

Hmm....didn't ever play KOTOR so I didn't know that one.....But playing as the villian is kind of differant than someone else revieling themselves......OK we'll keep it.

I add in Baten Kaitos though. Melodia and Kalas? I really should have seen that coming though. Really...how'd it slip by me?


PS: technically I didn't only list JRPGs.....Baal was Diablo 2.

 

[night_chrono]

Not an ending, but in Tales of Symphonia, I was so happy when Collette lost her voice as part of the angel transformation. I was so happy that she was finally going to shut up! Then a few hours later I was suddenly saddened.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

Once you reach Arsenal Gear the story becomes so amazingly awesome its hard to imagine anything else comparing. Except Portal, but that's obvious.

I NEED SCISSORS! 61!

Truly awesome story. Did you actually sit through the 40-minute Codec call? I did it, and listened.

MGS1 had it's awesome twists as well. The key one was my favourite, however, I absolutely crapped myself the first time I saw the elevator bit. You know:

Snake: How much do you weigh?

Otacon: About 135. But that elevator had a weight limit of 650 pounds.

*Music tempo and urgency rising*

SWEET.

 

[Lancelot9598]

Not an ending but the saddest part of my childhood. Super Mario Bros. I finally beat that damn Bowser and I see in the distance, a room past the stairs. Is it Peach?! Could it be?! NO, a damn mushroom. Never did get that freaking princess.