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Best Videogame Endings Discussed

Posted by simoniker on from the spoilers-at-yr-peril dept.

Thanks to InsertCredit.com for their lengthy, semi-gonzo, spoiler-containing feature on the evolving nature of game end sequences. They ask "Why should an ending be a time to 'relax'? Why should an ending be something long, and complicated? Why should an action game, really, even have a final 'boss'? Do we need these conventions anymore?", while charting classic game endings from Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. through Metroid Prime. They finish things up with the top 11 game endings of all-time, from "an alcoholic cartoon squirrel" to "the collapsing Death Egg."

2 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. My list of Best and Worst [8bit/16bit] by Metroid72 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What makes a good ending? Is it a surprise twist on the storyline? Is it a rewarding sequence after a hard game?

    My personal best (In no particular order):
    -Starfox (SNES) - Very underrated, great ending sequence, especially when they show the specs for each boss... the music is great too!
    -Final Fantasy II/III (SNES) - I personally think that SQUARE used to make better endings with less resources than now... Anyone agrees?
    -Ninja Gaiden (NES) - This is a classic!

    -MegaMan III - Here comes Protoman.. it opened the mistery of this new character
    -Earthbound - Masterpiece!
    -Bionic Commando - The bad guy is... Hitler!!!!

    Other great endings: Metroid, Super Metroid, A link to the Past, Link's awakening.

    What makes a bad ending? Is it a hard game with a disappointing/unrewarding final sequence? or is it a highly hyped game with a great story where the developers ran out of gas at the end? I've noticed that arcade conversions make very bad endings.

    The worst (In no particular order)
    -TMNT (NES) -You get just GAME OVER in colored letters
    -Axelay (SNES) - Axelay II never came... damn Konami
    -SFII (All) - I personally never liked the endings. The gameplay makes it up.

    Hard games with unrewarding endings:
    Jackal (hard mode), Battletoads (All), Ultima Quest for Avatar, Solar Jetman, Dragon Warrior, POW, Batman (NES), Blaster Master

  2. Before you make a list, know your games by Torgo's+Pizza · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Best videogame endings? Hardly. Maybe it should be titled "Best videogame endings of the games I played all time according to me even though I've never touched a computer."

    It is a very, very sad list. No mention of Ultima IV, Planescape, Wing Commander III, Baldur's Gate, Planetfall, Zork, or any of the myriad of games with *REAL* endings.

    Hint: If you want to make a "all-time" list, do yourself and your readers a favor. Spend a lot of time doing research. That means interviewing and polling friends, people on the street, reading reviews and visiting a library. Then write your article.