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| 24 APR 2006 at 6:39am |
mr_williIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 60
Joined: 10 NOV 2003
Status : Online | I just finished playing Dreamfall. The game is excellent, although some will complain about the lack of puzzles. And another complaint will be about the ending, or rather, non-ending. Yes, Dreamfall ends the way the first Lord of the Rings movie did, only setting the stage for the next chapter in the series. This is the second game I recently purchased which did that. Tomb Raider: Legend ends the same way: There is no resolution to its story, very few of the plot's mysteries are solved, if you want to know how it all ends buy the next game.
In Tomb Raider the non-ending felt just like a cynical attempt by the game developers to get more money out of gamers. I felt differently about Dreamfall, since it's obvious Tornquist has a sweeping, epic story to tell. Still, it's disappointing I may have to wait another 4-5 years to see how it all ends, and there is no guarantee it will, since the Dreamfall will have to make money for there to be a sequel.
I'm not sure how to feel about this recent trend. Sure, it may have had its start with Syberia, although I felt the ending of the first title made sense in regards to the overall theme of the story. Novel trilogies are fine, so is the occasional cliffhanger movie ending, but I'm not sure I want this to become a trend in games, where the PC requirements can change dramatically in a few years time and the gamer's investiment both in time and money is much greater. Plus, not all stories are trilogy-worthy material (*cough* the recent Star Wars films*cough*).
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| 24 APR 2006 at 12:55pm |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | I agree on this whole trend towards wide open endings for games that may not even have a sequel being a downer. That said, it can also be difficult when you don't think you'll be able to make a sequel, and then the game is successful, and now you need to find a convulted way to loosen some of those threads you made sure to tighten all so nicely.
I think Syberia is a great example of a compromise, since it had an ending that allowed for more potential storytelling but it wasn't necessary.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
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| 24 APR 2006 at 5:49pm |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By kuddles (24 APR 2006 12:55pm)
I think Syberia is a great example of a compromise, since it had an ending that allowed for more potential storytelling but it wasn't necessary.
Yeah but then when a sequel did come out, eveybody's saying to buy/play them both at once, since they're really more like one game that got split in two.
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 24 APR 2006 at 6:39pm |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Sweet -n- Sour Susan (24 APR 2006 5:49pm)
Yeah but then when a sequel did come out, eveybody's saying to buy/play them both at once, since they're really more like one game that got split in two.
Oh they certainly blended together into a great story, but if Syberia II was never made, I wouldn't feel as frustrated as I did at the end of Still Life.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
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| 25 APR 2006 at 2:27pm |
mr_williIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 60
Joined: 10 NOV 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By kuddles (24 APR 2006 6:38pm)
Oh they certainly blended together into a great story, but if Syberia II was never made, I wouldn't feel as frustrated as I did at the end of Still Life.
Agreed. The ending made sense because Kate was on a mission to find Hans, not the mammoths or syberia. What I'm talking about it truly open-ended games, where you need to play the next chapter in the series to finish all the threads of a story. Just not sure that makes sense in the gaming world.
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| 3 MAY 2006 at 5:10pm |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | I agree too. I think all adventure games should have an ending because quite often it's a long time before the next one comes out, if it comes out at all. It reminds me of The Forgotten. I waited forever for the sequil and it was never made and the whole story idea was dropped. I guess it really was forgotten.
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| 3 MAY 2006 at 7:06pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By jalex (3 MAY 2006 5:10pm)
I agree too. I think all adventure games should have an ending because quite often it's a long time before the next one comes out, if it comes out at all. It reminds me of The Forgotten. I waited forever for the sequil and it was never made and the whole story idea was dropped. I guess it really was forgotten.
I just got a nice mint copy of The Forgotten. It's in my to-be-played pile.
To me, the worst cuplrit was Still Life. The ending made no attempt to even begin answering questions. Other than being eye candy, I can see no reason for anyone to play it, unless they want to bake cookies.
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| 3 MAY 2006 at 7:50pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By wowforz (3 MAY 2006 7:06pm)
I just got a nice mint copy of The Forgotten. It's in my to-be-played pile.
Why? Next to Forever Worlds, the Forgotten has to be the biggest rip-off AG ever. 1 hour of game play that does absolutely nothing.
To me, the worst cuplrit was Still Life. The ending made no attempt to even begin answering questions. Other than being eye candy, I can see no reason for anyone to play it, unless they want to bake cookies.
Sorry, but the worst culprit was that game you have in your hot little hands - The Forgotten. At least Still Life gave you a story and lots of playing time before pulling the rug out from under you. It did at least come to some kind of finale, even though it didn't conclude with the answer.
The Forgotten doesn't goanywhere near as far. It stops in mid-travels. The are SEVEN locations in that game. That's it. If you are slow, it might take longer than 1 hour to beat. You put together a card, and it ends with the promise of several more games. I think that game, hands down, goes down in history as the biggest rip-off, non-ending, vaporware promising AG of all time.
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| 3 MAY 2006 at 8:02pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Ivinia (3 MAY 2006 7:49pm)
The Forgotten doesn't goanywhere near as far. It stops in mid-travels. The are SEVEN locations in that game. That's it. If you are slow, it might take longer than 1 hour to beat.
Oh goodie! I can play it on my laptop while stopped at red lights on the way to work
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| 3 MAY 2006 at 8:04pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | ROFL, probably! Of course it might lead to road rage when you realize how bad it is.
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| 4 MAY 2006 at 5:30am |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Ivinia (3 MAY 2006 7:49pm)
Originally Posted By wowforz (3 MAY 2006 7:06pm)
I just got a nice mint copy of The Forgotten. It's in my to-be-played pile.
Why? Next to Forever Worlds, the Forgotten has to be the biggest rip-off AG ever. 1 hour of game play that does absolutely nothing.
To me, the worst cuplrit was Still Life. The ending made no attempt to even begin answering questions. Other than being eye candy, I can see no reason for anyone to play it, unless they want to bake cookies.
Sorry, but the worst culprit was that game you have in your hot little hands - The Forgotten. At least Still Life gave you a story and lots of playing time before pulling the rug out from under you. It did at least come to some kind of finale, even though it didn't conclude with the answer.
The Forgotten doesn't goanywhere near as far. It stops in mid-travels. The are SEVEN locations in that game. That's it. If you are slow, it might take longer than 1 hour to beat. You put together a card, and it ends with the promise of several more games. I think that game, hands down, goes down in history as the biggest rip-off, non-ending, vaporware promising AG of all time.
Well I kind of agree. I think it was kind of a test to see how the story idea would go over and it could have been good if it had been continued. The interactive part was mostly find the keys but the story was promising.
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| 4 MAY 2006 at 5:34am |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By jalex (4 MAY 2006 5:29am)
Originally Posted By Ivinia (3 MAY 2006 7:49pm)
Originally Posted By wowforz (3 MAY 2006 7:06pm)
I just got a nice mint copy of The Forgotten. It's in my to-be-played pile.
Why? Next to Forever Worlds, the Forgotten has to be the biggest rip-off AG ever. 1 hour of game play that does absolutely nothing.
To me, the worst cuplrit was Still Life. The ending made no attempt to even begin answering questions. Other than being eye candy, I can see no reason for anyone to play it, unless they want to bake cookies.
Sorry, but the worst culprit was that game you have in your hot little hands - The Forgotten. At least Still Life gave you a story and lots of playing time before pulling the rug out from under you. It did at least come to some kind of finale, even though it didn't conclude with the answer.
The Forgotten doesn't goanywhere near as far. It stops in mid-travels. The are SEVEN locations in that game. That's it. If you are slow, it might take longer than 1 hour to beat. You put together a card, and it ends with the promise of several more games. I think that game, hands down, goes down in history as the biggest rip-off, non-ending, vaporware promising AG of all time.
Well I kind of agree. I think it was kind of a test to see how the story idea would go over and it could have been good if it had been continued. The interactive part was mostly find the keys but the story was promising.
I didn't like Still Life ether and that lasor puzzle at the end I almost gave up on. After that I expected a much better ending. I liked Post Mortem a lot better but then that's just me.
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| 4 MAY 2006 at 5:53am |
BazzaLBPrivate Detective
Posts : 512
Joined: 27 AUG 2005
Location: AU
Status : Offline | The story ends when the budget runs out
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| 4 MAY 2006 at 8:09pm |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By wowforz (3 MAY 2006 8:02pm)
Oh goodie! I can play it on my laptop while stopped at red lights on the way to work
So you're the [s]stupid-@ss moron[/s] person that doesn't go when the light turns red, b/c you're too busy playing a frickin game! I bet you talk on your cellphone while weaving all over the road and stopping for no reason, too. :
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 5 MAY 2006 at 1:31am |
BlueSpawnIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 7
Joined: 1 FEB 2006
Status : Online | Shoot me in the foot, but I loved Dreamfall's ambigious, open ending.
Even if the series never gets a follow up, I rather like the way it ends with Dreamfall.
So maybe I AM crazy, but the ending was just such a twist on everything I expected, it makes me think a lot and gets me really excited.
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| 7 MAY 2006 at 6:02pm |
CulturaJourneyman
Posts : 1337
Joined: 1 SEP 2004
Location: NL, Amersfoort
Status : Offline | I think Myst-RiVen-Exile prove that you can have some sort of closed ending, and still come up with a great and believable sequel. It's all in the quality of the writing.
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| 15 MAY 2006 at 10:32pm |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Cultura (7 MAY 2006 6:01pm)
I think Myst-RiVen-Exile prove that you can have some sort of closed ending, and still come up with a great and believable sequel. It's all in the quality of the writing.
Well I don't like the Myst story line but I do agree with what you say.
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| 18 MAY 2006 at 12:10pm |
KewalakaSpace Cadet
Posts : 130
Joined: 3 SEP 2004
Status : Online | This started long before Syberia. Back in 1988 Manhunter: New York ends with the man you're after getting away. In Manhunter 2: San Francisco (1989) you follow him to California, only to have him escape again. Manhunter 3 was never made. So you never got your man or freed the human race from alien domination.
Zelenhgorm: Episode I: Land of the Blue Moon (2002) was meant to be part of a series and so ends with the adventure just beginning, but the rest of the series was never made.
I wish games and the season finales of tv series would not end on cliff hangers. When they're canceled (ie V the series, Alien Nation) your stuck without knowing the ending.
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| 22 MAY 2006 at 7:25am |
PrometheusIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 10
Joined: 22 MAY 2006
Status : Online | I think, when u look at "Still Life", it should have been like that.
Yes, she got the Tickets for Los Angeles and yes, she would have searched for the murder in the next part of this series....but in the very end, i think, she would never have got him.
A good Horror-Crime-story ends always open. It's just natural, otherwise it wouldn't be so authentic and emotional.
Sure, for other games such aprupt endings may be bad and unsatisfactory (and i think the Producers should at least point out the real Plot-ending at the HP), but not for this one.
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| 23 MAY 2006 at 5:07pm |
KAPIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 64
Joined: 25 AUG 2004
Status : Online | Actually in my humble opinion Jack the Ripper (2004 or 05 can't recall the date) had the biggest "wait for the next game" messy, cheezy, frustrating, annoying, unsatisfying, confusing, and it will never be made....ending in a game ever. Tomb Raider Legend comes a close second and that one I felt ripped off...A full DVD of data for 8 hours of playtime....come on finish the story people...
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| 27 MAY 2006 at 8:31am |
| Deleted User | But Tomb Raider can't ever end... Lara will be around when 81 years old - zipping around in her motorized chair, her teeth soaking in the cup-caddy, her double pistols blazing away
I think DreamFall's ending works as a stand alone story, bringing Zoe's story to a conclusion. I'm glad it doesn't try to explain the seemingly circular nature of her involvement with April. Remember back in TLJ about Abnaxus from Venar (large headed, stooped back troll creature that April meets at Journeyman inn.) He invites her to his ‘home’ (inside the tree) where he is at for the time being in Marcuria– his people can see what never happened and what never will. But they cannot effect Human’s time. They are not allowed. All threads are possible depending on choices. He keeps separate from humans because they cannot percieve time that way.
I think his explanations to April told us quite a lot about the secrets of Dreamfall....... And how elegant that he explained it to April in the 'prequel" as it were, TLJ...
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