Great games lame endings

Is it just me or does anyone else seem to find that the last few talked about games (Paradise,Barrow Hill,Atlantis) and others tend to have a very good starting plot and build you up to a great ending and then they drop the ball! I know that leaving the ending some what open invites a sequel but its like the designers fall into a coma. How can you come up with such a great story then just forget to finish writing the book. I just finished Atlantis and I found the ending the same as the rest. As I said above is it just me or what?

I know what you mean Rayfer - I haven't played Atlantis yet - but I thought the other two games were great but would agree that the endings in both cases fell a little flat. I think a short epilogue in both cases would have enhanced the conclusion a lot!! The only other game I can think of at the moment that I loved playing, but felt let down by the ending by, is Nibiru. The trouble I find is - that if the game does have a a good ending & you have loved every minute of playing it, it is followed by a bit of an anticlimax & difficult to find something to follow!!!

Well its nice to know I not nuts just a little off bubble!! Ray

Don't get me started on the ending of The Adventure Company's Jack The Ripper!

I'd agree with Nibiru; sort of felt like a sudden stop.
Not so much with Barrow Hill, but it could have had a little "brighter" ending. What bothered me was being the character and hearing all the sounds and talking but never saying a word in reply.

How about Reah? Great game, awful ending.

And I totally agree with you Rayfer about Paradise. Anticlimatic doesn't begin to explain my disappointment in the ending.

I could live with the endings for NiBiRu and Barrow Hill.

Linda

Trippy, did you get the "good" ending? There are two of them. One is bleak.

Ana

Any discussion of "Good game-lousy ending" must include Still Life There are still people on this site who gripe about that ending. By the way Rayfer, I hope you weren't upset with the ending to Atlantis V. I liked it because it seemed to scream that there will be a sequel. I really enjoyed that game.

I feel that way about Siberia (I and II) and Amerzone. I feel like the creator tries to make this dramatic sweep at the ending of these games, without creating any resolution of the main characters. Two (or three) excellent games with just terrible endings. Finish the story, don't just show mammoths

well sort of Haze... they could have dropped the three down into a vast under ground cavern and then cut to a scene where there is some kind of equipment that starts to light up (detecting the descents) and a message on the wall that the girl starts to decode stating what needs to happen next!!!! Hows that idea? Ray

Ana, I did apparently take the long route as I found out after there was a shortcut and said where it was.
I do know I wish there had been more interaction.

AHA! Rayfer, you noticed, but (I hope this isn't a spoiler!)even if they've done what you say with Atlantis V , they need to add, at the end of this and any game for which they're planning a sequel, an absolute, non-adjustable, guaranteed, publication date. Be honest, wouldn't we all have felt a bit better at the end of Still Life if we had thought the answer was coming later?

To add to the discussion, I enjoyed the ending of Jack the Ripper if only because they never were able to conclude the story in real life either.

I have to differ about the endings of Still Life and Jack the Ripper. There was supposed to be a third installment with Still Life thus the ambiguous ending. The third part was supposed to tie Post Mortem and Still Life together. In the case of Jack the Ripper it's simple, The Ripper was never caught so the ending was realistic. I also loved the ending to Siberia 2 and thought the conclusion was perfect.
Nothing more necessary.
Happy Gaming All,
Barry

Barry, I put your ending in a spoiler tag. Please try and use them for spoilers so someone doesn't get surprised. If you don't know how to do them, there are instructions HERE.

Ana

Good idea Haze! Maybe not a set date but at least a guess and maybe some little trailers,and a statement about the story continuing. Something to keep you wanting more.

Hi Berry, As far as Still life and Ripper goes well....they were ok games no big deal. In Syberia & Syberia 2 the story was perfect! the games flowed perfectly the best job of it I have seen. Plus I have read some stuff about Kate and other adventures.

Barry, I agree with you 100% on Syberia. Greatest games ever!
I also agree with Chrissie on Nibiru. It made no sense at all.
I played Amerzone because it was a Benoit Sokal game (after I played Syberia) and what a let down.
Joan

My issue with the Syberia games, was that, for me, the far more interesting issue and inner conflict in the game and story centered around Kate Walker. Yes, the basic goal in the game was to find a particular person (I am trying to avoid needing spoiler tags), not to prove an animal exists, so it is possible to argue that the game can conclude where it did. But, through playing Kate Walker, and learning about her life at home, I wanted to see how her story resolved. The conclusion did not resolve her story for me at all. It felt for me the exact same way Amerzone did, full of disappointment.

So any word on the supposed sequel to Still Life? I was disapointed with the ending. Nothing was answered.
How about Black Mirror for disapointing ending? I still say Mr. Bubby was not so innocent.

karmyn -- I agree with you about Mr. Bubby. A more sinister character would be difficult to imagine.

I think Black Dahlia and Black Mirror were both good games with lousy endings.

I haven't played Syberia 2 or Still Life yet. My computer's a dinosaur.

I just finished Seven Games of the Saul aka Faust. Talk about a disappointing ending.