Best video game ending?

[ButterflyBlood]

Inspired by a discussion of best movie endings, since it made me realize video games hardly EVER have good endings.

I'll have to go with Ace Combat Zero, just because it's so unorthodox. It's like the anti-video game ending. Probably the only game in history where (highlight to read spoilers) the guy you fought in the final battle not only survives, but admits he was wrong and considers you a friend again.

And I'll throw in a dishonorable mention for MGS2, which is probably the worst ending of ANYTHING...ever. As great as the game was up until that point I wanted to strangle the creator the shit he pulled.

[Archae]

1. Ending of "Starfox Adventures"

Psycho bad guy explodes, guy gets girl at end and she doesn't wear too much. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR8iQexRo8o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cXVnccudDU

[Heidi]

2. The part in Pac-Man where

it says, "GAME OVER." :hi:

[Capn Sunshine]

3. These things really have endings?

who knew.

[sakabatou]

4. I'd have to say a lot of the Final Fantasy games...

FFVII, maybe 10-2

[ButterflyBlood]

5. FF7's sucked

8 was pretty good.

[sakabatou]

8. To everyone's taste, I guess...

[GirlinContempt]

37. 8s was kind of disjointed I thought

[insanity]

6. MGS 3 was awesome

Honorable mention is GTA: Vice City because you get to do the best scene from Scarface

[Archae]

7. "Say hello to my little friend!"

Right?

;-)

[derby378]

42. With an M-60, no less

Which is weird, because the final boss is so tough that you really need firepower that's not only accurate, but dense. The minigun might be a lot of fun to shoot, but using it against Sonny is a waste of time.

[Book Lover]

9. Fallout, no contest

Maybe you'll think of me when you are all alone
Maybe the one who is waiting for you
Will prove untrue, then what will you do?

Maybe you'll sit and sigh, wishing that I were near
Then maybe you'll ask me to come back again
And maybe I'll say "Maybe"

[CGowen]

12. it's also the intro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBNKa2KXZE

[PVnRT]

15. Which is the best game intro ever

"War. War never changes."

[Orsino]

19. Cool! Very Vera Lynn. n/t

[Book Lover]

21. Actually

I do believe that is the Ink Spots' version...

[Orsino]

23. I mean it's like "We'll Meet Again" from Dr. Strangelove.

Very poignant because of that reference.

[Book Lover]

26. Sorry - I have to read more slowly

I missed the word "very" in your post header. :blush:

I may be the only person in the world who hasn't seen Dr Strangelove yet...

[Orsino]

34. It's as though the game picks up right after that movie.

The music in the YouTube clip seems to be trying hard to make that connection.

[CGowen]

35. The game uses Retro-futurism which gives the game a special feel

It's one of my favorite games and I can't believe it's 10 years old now.

[ghostsofgiants]

10. Super Mario Bros.

Because you don't have to put up with Toad saying "Thank you, Mario, but our princess is in another castle" anymore.

[Orsino]

11. Planescape: Torment

Was a PC game rather than platform, but my wife calls this the best CRPG ever. Hell, I teared up a bit just hearing about the ending.

[AllegroRondo]

13. I have that game, but never finished it.

I may have to re-load it and try again.

[Orsino]

17. My wife recommends not hacking and slashing one's way through it.

Start with high INT, WIS & CHA, and beef up interaction skills for a much more rewarding story.

[AllegroRondo]

31. thank you!

I may just load it up this weekend and have another go.

[Orsino]

40. Do let me hear how you like it.

I may be working toward playing it, if we still have a copy.

[Dr. Strange]

14. Ain't nothin to debate:

Raiders of the Lost Ark
80s Atari

[SacredCow]

16. Oh, HELL yeah....

I remember feeling like I had accomplished something magnificent when I got to that screen!

[Giant Robot]

24. A second hell yeah

That was the first game I had to get a cheat to finish it.

First of many sadly.

[rockymountaindem]

18. Wing Commander IV

Wherein there's a final courtroom-style showdown where you have to make a series of decisions in a cutscene which determine the outcome of the game. Choose wrongly, the bad guy convinces the planetary assembly that he's right, millions die and you get executed. Choose correctly, the bad guy gets exposed, hangs himself, and you're the hero.

Great ending to a great game.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

20. Not the ending, but the end credits for Portal were hillarious, and a perfect ending to that game.

This was a triumph.
I'm making a note here:
HUGE SUCCESS...

(If you've played the game, you'll recognize the lyrics above.)

[SteppingRazor]

22. How 'bout God of War? ***SPOILER***

I mean, it's not every game where you wind up being a god, no?

[DarkTirade]

41. Of course, GoW II didn't have so much of an ending as a 'Here's a hook to get you to buy #3 when it

comes out' :)

[MilesColtrane]

25. I have to say Halo on Legendary setting.

The way Johnson and the Elite chose to go out was unexpected and hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNocE4N-5JM

[Basileus Basileon]

27. Pro Wrestling, for the NES

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. Definitely Bionic Commando.

They explod Hitler's brain.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/a/bionic.htm

[One_Life_To_Give]

29. Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards

never made it to he final ending. But all those different ways of dieing along the way.

[One_Life_To_Give]

30. Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards

never made it to he final ending. But all those different ways of dieing along the way.

[CGowen]

33. as a child I struggled with the age verification n/t

[texas1928]

32. The ending to NES Contra.

That one was cool.

[jpgray]

36. This kills all others dead. Easy. While wearing red boxer shorts, even.

[alarimer]

38. I never finish games so I never know how they end

I don't know if I am just not good at them or if I get bored but I almost never finish anything but the easiest games. In fact I am stuck completely at about 20% in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. This particular boss is very difficult. At least Super Mario Galaxy is easier.

[foo_bar]

39. Leather Goddesses of Phobos

I don't remember the precise ending, something about a concubine, but it came with a scratch 'n sniff comic book that you had to open to a certain page during, say, the boudoir scenes. Good times.

[Fox Mulder]

43. Metroid for the NES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQppamJoDqc

[derby378]

44. ginbarn nominates CHRONO TRIGGER

I have to say, it's a good choice. Not just the final battle, but also the victory epilogue, where the actions you have taken during the game are reflected in the final to-do.

[Fox Mulder]

45. How could I forget Chrono Trigger?

That was one of my favorite games.

[derby378]

46. ginbarn was in LOVE with that game

We used to play it all the time. The story was just so intricate.

Not long after Chrono Trigger was released, Squaresoft and Nintendo had a falling out, and Squaresoft took all its business to Sony. Although I have a PS2 now, I haven't had the time to get into the whole Final Fantasy series, but I do have Chrono Cross stashed away somewhere, waiting for me to find a PS1-compatible memory card. *sigh*