Question of the Day, September 23, 2010

[Nanaki316]

Love it if it fits with the story however... bad was FFVII - especially as I was about 9 and had taken said lady with me and spent quite a long time levelling her. That really sucked but I do understand it had to happen.
Good way? Has to be Crisis Core. Of course we all knew he was going to die but we had seen his side of the story so it was even more heartfelt and seeing how it led into FFVII was amazing.

By the way I hadn't completed Red Dead Redemption yet (have kids and little time to play) and I'm now not going to if Mr Marsten dies?

 

[Codenet]

i wonder where they pulled this question from.

OT: If its done well and i am satisfied that my death was for a good reason (i.e. Dragon Age,Reach, etc.) then i am fine with it and think it can be a great move in the story of a game.

 

[Georgie_Leech]

Spoiler: Good example

The ending sequence to Lufia II remains my all-time favourite example of this. Even though it's in a spoiler box, most likely anyone reading this will not have seen it. It really needs to be experienced to explain.

Spoiler: Bad example

Of course, the pre-DLC Fallout 3. Worse because there was absolutely no point in your dieing, as the game hands you multiple ways to survive the "lethal" radiation in there.

In all honesty, I doubt that this poll will stray much beyond an overwhelming surge for "if it fits."

 

[ArMartinez02]

Fallout 3 pre-brotherhod of steel dlc. no poin in dying but meh, the game was still awesome

 

[notsosavagemessiah]

Love it if it fits with the story however... bad was FFVII - especially as I was about 9 and had taken said lady with me and spent quite a long time levelling her. That really sucked but I do understand it had to happen.
Good way? Has to be Crisis Core. Of course we all knew he was going to die but we had seen his side of the story so it was even more heartfelt and seeing how it led into FFVII was amazing.

By the way I hadn't completed Red Dead Redemption yet (have kids and little time to play) and I'm now not going to if Mr Marsten dies?

your love for final fantasy seven sickens me.

OT: I'd say i'm a big fan of GOW 3's ending. Also, i like any game really where it gives you the option of keeping the character alive, or letting him die permanently, i.e. Chrono trigger. It can add replay value, and leaves wiggle room for multiple endings, and thusly creating a much more interesting game.

 

[Pandora92]

Depends on the game tbh.

 

[blue heartless]

It's terrible. When I play videogames, I play to win. Yeah sure, I beat the game, but I like to imagine the character going home and settling in his/her easy chair in front of his/her fireplace with a whiskey in hand, lighting up a bold. There are other sorts of things that I'd add into that scenario depending on the personality but most end up with them taking a nap.

That's why I play videogames. The hero(ine) DESERVES that nap!

 

[-Seraph-]

I don't mind it if it fits into the story, but yea it can be stupid and annoying if it just feels out of place and contrived.

I still think Crisis Core did it the best in regards to making the player emotional at the end. You know it's coming (if you've played FF7 that is), but it still doesn't stop it from being a rather sad and surprising scene. You spend the whole game with him, learning, getting attached to the character only to know that ultimately he is doomed to fall. You don't want poor Zack to die, and he puts up one hell of a fight, but nothing you do can save him, no matter how much you fight you will fall. Integrating the gameplay into his demise was a brilliant move as yous saw his memories flash before him while you desperately struggle to saw him, but fail regardless.

Now that's a good 'end of the game death'. If you put in some interactivity with it, it makes the impact all the better.

 

[joshuaayt]

Yes, as long as the death scene is appropriately sombre/fuckawesome. Or non-existent, like those ones that just sort of suggest that it might have occurred.
A bad example is of that in pre DLC Fallout 3, as has no doubt been stated numerous times already. They were trying to make one of those deep, hitting moments, but didn't realise that there is no room for those in open-world sandboxes. Good thing they altered it, no?

 

[Metal Brother]

There should be a "This should happen more often, because a down ending is sorely lacking in modern popular storytelling" option.

 

[C95J]

I guess I feel cheated, especially with

Spoiler

Fallout 3 (pre DLC)

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

Wow, landslide victory for option # 2.

Can I count the Darkness as an example three times, since you die twice then kinda lose your mind at the end?

 

[Banana Phone Man]

If it fits with the story then it's alright. If it does a Fallout 3 and just has them die with a pretty poor ending I will feel a little cheated.

 

[HentMas]

the only thing i could think of when i read this was "COOL!!! now they wont make a second game out of this"

but actually... they still do...

 

[Wolfinton]

I did "I hate it" for the main reason of sandbox games. For any other game I would agree and say it would be good if it fit with the story, but for games that should allow you to play afterwards (Fallout 3, Red Dead) it seems a dissapointment that your character dies -- and in Red Dead's case, forcing you to play another one.

 

[GonzoGamer]

If it's done well then it's cool. Otherwise it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. ><

When they really try and milk it it leaves bitter all over my face and clothes too. The problem I have with it is that it usually is done poorly and it's all over-dramatized. The same thing is done in the movies where the writer doesn't think anyone will take it seriously unless he can squeeze some tears out of the audience. But they tend to overestimate how attached to the characters we've become.

Spoiler

R*

has tried doing this in a couple of games recently (and not necessarily with main characters) and it just reeks of desperation: like they really want people to take them seriously.
If they really could get me all emotional about it I might feel differently but they don't so it just seems silly and childish most of the time.

 

[OmegaXIII]

Well now there was an obvious trend if i ever did see one

 

[Nocta-Aeterna]

As long as it fits the story, is handled well ánd the character is relatable, i believe it will be a very satisfying end to the story.

Spoiler: Good example

The ending sequence to Lufia II remains my all-time favourite example of this. Even though it's in a spoiler box, most likely anyone reading this will not have seen it. It really needs to be experienced to explain.

That was indeed a good ending: The sacrifice made sense and it had nice music to boot.
Sadly, the remake/reimagining features an alternative ending where both survive.