Poll: Cliffhanger Endings

[Icingdeath]

Ok, I've been wondering this for a while. I've noticed that no one likes cliffhanger endings (or at least a large majority of people). I personally appreciate a good cliffhanger that gets me excited for the sequel.

So I ask, why does everyone hate cliffhangers? Or am I observing this wrong and does everyone love cliffhangers?

 

[Tony2077]

i don't mind cliffhanger in some game but if i really like the game i want to see the story finished like psi-ops

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Depends on the game. Like Gears of War 1 and 2

 

[enzilewulf]

Depends. If its a shitty one where they kill the bad guy for no reason only to fight another one in the next then thats complete shit. If Avatar makes another one then I will not see if for it will be unnecessary. Now if it has them defeating maybe the bad guys right hand man while the bad guy kills the protagonist's brother/ect. Then I won't mind it because I know there will be a nice fight and some good "O, they are relating back to the first" moments.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

If it's the first game in a series, but you don't know if there will be a sequel, then I hate them.

But a game in a series that is announced to be at least two games I'm okay with, because you know they will give you an ending.

Games that have them and never have a sequel piss me off to no end.

 

[Tony2077]

I despise cliffhangers. I am impatient, so long waits to find out somthing that happens are terrible for me. Plus, they're usually a scam to get you to buy the next part of a series.

or don't even make one at all psi-ops XIII that's all i can think of atm

 

[Trivun]

Well, I watch both Lost and Heroes religiously. And I really liked Halo 2 and 3, and Half Life, and The Longest Journey. Guess what they all have in common?

So yeah, you can probably guess my answer just from that...

 

[ucciolord1]

They makes my brains itch...

 

[WorldCritic]

I like it when a story is finished, sure cliffhangers get us more excited about a sequel, but they also leave us with a sense of disappointment.

 

[SturmDolch]

If it doesn't come out of nowhere, it's fine. Otherwise, I hate it. Like in Bad Company 2.

Spoiler

You're fighting and fighting, on a plane, find some guy, kill him. Hey, Russians are invading! This is where the Campaign begins, right?

*Credits*

Aw come one!

 

[OutcastBOS]

What pisses me off is when they have a cliffhanger and then cancel the movie/show that comes after. the one that really made me angry was My Name is Earl. I love that show :'(

 

[Viewtiful Dan]

Cliffhangers are alright, but they have to feel necessary and they can't come out of nowhere. Another thing that makes cliffhangers bad is that sometimes there is no sequel for the game.

 

[child of lileth]

I hate them, because it's a cheap way to say, "Hey, start saving for the next game. lol", and I hate when any developer does that. It just tends to be a cheap excuse to get more money out of people instead of just finishing what could have been put into the existing game.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

The problem is that writers don't understand what a cliffhanger is. A cliffhanger is not when you simply fail to provide a satisfying resolution to your movie or game. That is just a shitty movie or game. It is not when you make the same story drag out twice as long as necessary during the sequel. A cliffhanger- on the other hand- is when you provide clues or exposition about action to come after the very extremely satisfying resolution of the story I'm involved in right now.

In short, the problem is that dumb-dick writers don't know how to write stories properly. Look at HL2:EP2 for an example of a decent cliffhanger. The new information you are presented with is the makings of another completely different story. If it were written by dumb-dicks, then Gordon would have failed to accomplish [his goal], and would resume trying to accomplish the exact same goal in the next game. This is what shitty writers confuse with a proper cliffhanger. Like the ending of Halo 2, for example. Shameful.

 

[Jfswift]

I kind of like them. The ending to Mass Effect 2 was expected but still a bit startling to see a massive army of reapers heading your way, especially considering how powerful just one was in the in the first game. You only are allowed a glimpse and then the game ends, making you sit in suspense, wondering what you'll do now.

 

[Zorpheus]

As long as the cliffhanger eventually gets resolved, fine. If a series ends on a cliffhanger which is never again revisited, this tends to aggravate me.

 

[Tuddle]

I love cliffhangers in movies.
Games should not have cliffhangers, just epic stuff.

 

[Sepiida]

The problem is that writers don't understand what a cliffhanger is. A cliffhanger is not when you simply fail to provide a satisfying resolution to your movie or game. That is just a shitty movie or game. It is not when you make the same story drag out twice as long as necessary during the sequel. A cliffhanger- on the other hand- is when you provide clues or exposition about action to come after the very extremely satisfying resolution of the story I'm involved in right now.

In short, the problem is that dumb-dick writers don't know how to write stories properly. Look at HL2:EP2 for an example of a decent cliffhanger. The new information you are presented with is the makings of another completely different story. If it were written by dumb-dicks, then Gordon would have failed to accomplish [his goal], and would resume trying to accomplish the exact same goal in the next game. This is what shitty writers confuse with a proper cliffhanger. Like the ending of Halo 2, for example. Shameful.

I was going to write something but it's quicker to just quote you and say "pretty much this." To add to the list of great cliffhangers I would say:

The Empire Strikes Back (Probably one of the best cliffhangers ever)
Mass Effect 2 (That last shot of the Reapers always gets me excited)
Lord of the Rings (First two obviously)
Half Life 2 (Nuf said)

 

[Mercurio128]

Cliff hangers are fine. As long as the sequel actually gets made in a timely manner (Half life episode 2 I'm looking at you!) or at all! (Why funcom? WHY?)