| 30 MAY 2006 at 3:59am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2592
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | NOTE: None of the spoilers that follow are hidden. If you're either playing Still Life or intend to play it, I suggest reading no further.
I've been following with interest the thread captioned "Non-endings in new games" (http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1145860766). I had intended to add my two cents' worth about the ending in Still Life, but once I started writing, things got a little out of hand (big surprise). So, seeing as how my thoughts cover more than just the non-ending, I decided to start a new Still Life thread.
I played this game for the first time just a couple of months ago, with full knowledge that it had a non-ending. I had played the demo shortly after it was released, but I held off buying the game because it seemed dark, gritty, gruesome and disturbing. Eventually, though, I found myself craving something dark, gritty, gruesome and disturbing (don't ask), so I decided to take a chance and buy the game.
Interestingly, I didn't find the ending (or lack thereof) to be off-putting at all. In fact, I found myself thinking about the game long after I'd finished playing it, speculating about the identity of the killer and what might have transpired after the game was over.
Some gamers have felt cheated or otherwise put-upon by Still Life 's ending, but I'm not among them. I got a lot of satisfaction from the story. It was interesting to see Victoria and company deal so realistically (IMO, at least) with the Chicago murders, and to see Gustav in action in Prague back in the 1920s. And not everything in the game was left unresolved
Once I got into the story, I grew to appreciate Victoria's and Gus's depth of character. And I love being able to play both granddaughter and grandfather in two different countries and eras.
Yeah, Victoria suffers from potty-mouth -- but then, so do I. And she tends to crack wise during some of the more ghastly scenes, which I find pretty realistic. If I were face-to-face with the gruesome murders Victoria encounters, I think I'd do the same thing. Humor (especially the sick variety) is a good way to cope with and diffuse the kinds of feelings that must result from viewing such atrocities.
I think I'm in the minority here, but I don't consider Victoria's cookie-baking excursion silly or out of place. After all, it's the holiday season (a great juxtaposition to the gruesome murders); the recipe is for holiday cookies; Victoria is visiting her dad, for whom she clearly cares (he's the one who asks her to make cookies); they'd just been reminiscing about Gus; and the cookie recipe once belonged to Gus' wife.
Further, considering everything else we know about Victoria up to that point, baking cookies, along with the slippers she wears at her dad's place (they look like bunnies to me) and the frilly appearance of her old bedroom reveal an unexpected and refreshing facet of her personality. (I wear Tasmanian Devil slippers, myself.)
Believe it or not, what really stands out in my mind about Gus is the way he tips his hat. It's such a small thing, yet courtesy like that is seldom seen these days. It's a wonderful touch.
Gus's hat also shows up in Victoria's world. While examining the contents of Gus's old trunk, she finds it and actually puts it on. This is something I might have done, and I feel it's a poignant gesture. It also reveals a little more about Victoria's character.
I love the look of Still Life, particularly in the highly atmospheric Prague. And although the game's story is disturbing, I don't feel that any of its parts are gratuitous. I see all of them as integral to the ultra-creepy storyline.
If MC2-Microids could have held things together long enough to give us some sort of resolution to Still Life, I think a lot of gamers would have been mighty happy. In fact, it's been conjectured in various gaming forums that the original storyline was a lot more expansive and did not end where it ultimately had to end due to MC2-Microids' cash flow problems.
But that's okay; I almost prefer Still Life the way it was released. I've replayed it several times and gained new insights each time. I'm sure I'll be playing it again, because it stays with me and keeps drawing me back. I'd much rather play a game like Still Life with its non-ending than one with a ridiculous storyline that's executed so poorly I'm unable to care about even reaching the end.
Also, consider this: there have been works of literature left unfinished but published anyway, and people have bought, read and enjoyed them. Some examples are Capote's Answered Prayers, Fitzgerald's The Last Tycoon, and three from Kafka: The Trial, The Castle, and Amerika (coincidentally, Kafka was born in Prague). So why not an unfinished adventure game? After all, a journey, in and of itself, can be fulfilling. To draw an analogy apropos to the game, life can be enjoyed without knowing how one is going to die.
So, here's a tip of my fedora to MC2-Microids, The Adventure Company, Sara Leger (Victoria), Sven Eriksson (Gus) -- and yeah, they both sound Canadian, but so what? -- and everyone else who worked on Still Life. It might not be perfect, but I think it's head and shoulders above the pack. To me, it's a wonderful game.
I sure can talk, can't I?
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 5:03am |
PrometheusIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 10
Joined: 22 MAY 2006
Status : Online | Nothing to add.
Just one thing: Exactly what I thought.
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 6:53am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2592
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | I am happy.
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 7:17am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | I think part of the problem with the non-ending (if I remember correctly) is that the company closed it's doors shortly thereafter and the likelyhood of a sequel to tie things up faded away. It put the game in the ranks of The Forgotten with that one (as far as no completion is concerned).
Now the cookie puzzle was just plain out of place IMO. Not that baking cookies for pops during the holiday season was a bad thing, but making it such a cryptic puzzle to being with. :-/
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 7:34am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2592
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | Hmmmm...I got the cookie puzzle on the second try, but that's probably because I've baked a lot of cookies in my career and was able to make educated guesses about the correct proportions of ingredients. Or maybe it was just blind luck. [smiley=cheesy.gif]
BTW, I think it's pretty funny that Victoria's dad, who obviously has a cookie problem, eats all of them and leaves none for her (gee, thanks, dad). For me, that kind of thing warrants a smack upside the head.
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 9:19am |
MysticFallsIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 29
Joined: 30 MAY 2006
Status : Online | Originally Posted By karla (30 MAY 2006 7:34am)
Hmmmm...I got the cookie puzzle on the second try, but that's probably because I've baked a lot of cookies in my career and was able to make educated guesses about the correct proportions of ingredients. Or maybe it was just blind luck. [smiley=cheesy.gif]
BTW, I think it's pretty funny that Victoria's dad, who obviously has a cookie problem, eats all of them and leaves none for her (gee, thanks, dad). For me, that kind of thing warrants a smack upside the head.
You are a career-cookie baker?
Or have you just baked a lot of cookies over a long time?
IF you listened to the dialogue, Victoria felt that she should bake those cookies in "rememberance" of her Mother, who must have died that year! A CHRISTMAS TRADITION. So what if her father ate the lot? That's typical, isn't it? I felt that the cookie puzzle was very well done. Just because most males didn't have a clue about baking cookies doesn't mean it was a stupid puzzle.
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 12:10pm |
ShanyGuild Master
Posts : 3313
Joined: 19 JUN 2003
Status : Online | My problem with the ending of Still Life is that they could've shown us who the killer was, even if the ran out of money to continue the game, and even if they wanted Victoria to pursue the killer in a sequel. This is very annoying because the game had an interesting plot, and the connection between both killers begged for an explanation.
I agree on most other things in the game. I rather liked the cookie puzzle, solved it after reading a couple of hints. It's easier if you've baked cookies before and if you read the instructions carefully.
I liked Victoria's character, and her voice actress, but I've played too many characters that joke about everything, to care that much about her jokes.
Her relationship with father and her co-workers was a nice touch to her personality. So was seeing her childhood room, though it makes you wonder if she moved out when she was 12...
I liked Gustav both in Post Mortem and in Still Life, it was refreshing seeing a main character who's quiet and polite.
I'm a bit annoyed they changed his character a little for the plot of Still Life. Who can be so stupid not to notice his girlfriend is pregnant?!
Sven Eriksson did a great job voicing him in both games, especially with the bad writing in Post Mortem.
Still Life is a great game, but it could've been much better with some small imporvements.
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 6:39pm |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2592
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | Nah, Mystic, I'm not a career cookie-baker (although I do bake pretty tasty cookies, if I do say so myself). By "career," I meant my career as a human being. "I've baked a lot of cookies in my life" sounded a little mundane.
Now, for some reason, I'm unable to remember hearing Victoria refer to a Christmas tradition, the loss of her mother, or feeling obliged to bake the cookies as a remembrance. I've just read through most of the game's dialog, and I don't see anything like that there, either. Has my brain turned to mush? What have I missed? Where does she say this stuff?
And Shany, maybe they didn't know who the killer was, either. Seriously, I see your point. I guess we'll probably never know why they handled things the way the did.
I do know one thing, though: I seriously miss Microids. [smiley=cry.gif] They made some terrific games.
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 2:11am |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | I thought the cookie baking idea was dumb and also at the wrong time in the game to be logical. If I remember right she was suposed to be on the trail of a suspect and not messing around making cookies. That sure doesn't sound like something an FBI agent would do and if it is we are all in trouble. LOL
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 4:08pm |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2592
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | Victoria goes to her dad's place twice during the game. The first time, she's waiting for Claire to finish her report on the fifth victim and for Miller to correlate info on victims four and five. The second time (when she bakes the cookies), she's waiting for Claire to analyze Vaclav's fingerprints and compare them with the partials from the last two crime scenes. There's nothing further Victoria can do in either instance, and both times she's accessible by cell phone.
During the first visit, Claire calls Victoria and she returns to the morgue, where the suspect is caught on video cameras and Victoria gives chase. Before she returns to her dad's house, she tells Claire where she'll be.
Then, once a 99% match between Vaclav's fingerprints and the partials is established, Miller delivers the information to Victoria in person, after which she and Miller go to pick up Vaclav. So, in visiting her dad, I don't see where Victoria is neglecting the case.
After going to Vaclav's apartment, Victoria actively pursues the investigation for the balance of the game. Also, the two visits to her dad's place serve as a device to present game's story arc that takes place in Prague.
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 7:53pm |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By karla (30 MAY 2006 6:39pm)
Now, for some reason, I'm unable to remember hearing Victoria refer to a Christmas tradition, the loss of her mother, or feeling obliged to bake the cookies as a remembrance. I've just read through most of the game's dialog, and I don't see anything like that there, either. Has my brain turned to mush? What have I missed? Where does she say this stuff?
Did you right-click to hear all of the "personal" dialogue? I think that might be when she says it - and on the first visit. Or maybe her dad asks her if she's going to bake cookies this year.
Either way, somebody said something about making cookies at sometime.
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 1 JUN 2006 at 3:18am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2592
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | Oh yeah, I listened to all of the "cookie-baking" dialog, along with all of the other optional dialog in the game.
On Victoria's first visit in Chapter 1, she and her dad (Pat) are discussing her grandmother and how she and Gus first met, after which they say:
Pat: This year, can you get around to making her special holiday cookies...please?
Victoria: I knew that was coming.
Pat: Oh, they don't take long to make.
Victoria: I know, I'll make some, don't worry.
Pat: Great! The stuff is all ready on the counter.
Victoria doesn't bake them just then; instead, she goes up to the attic to look through Gus's trunk. Then Claire calls her and she goes back to the morgue.
The following exchange happens on her second visit (Chapter 3):
Pat: When do you think you can do those cookies?
Victoria: Oh jeez, sorry Dad, I forgot. I have time now.
Pat: Oh oh, it's okay.
Victoria: It's not a problem, Dad. A promise is a promise.
After Victoria puts the cookies in the oven, she reminds Pat not to forget them and he says he won't. Then she goes back upstairs to read more of Gus's journal.
In the narrative for Chapter 3, here is what's said about the cookies:
"Those cookies really mean a lot to Dad. He could probably make them himself, I guess, but they wouldn't taste the same. I know they remind him of Grandma. I guess I probably do, too."
As far as I know, the last time cookies are mentioned is in Chapter 5, when Victoria is getting ready to leave her dad's place to join Miller at Vaclav's apartment:
Victoria: So how are the cookies?
Pat: Just like Mom used to make. (I'm taking this to mean Pat's mom/Victoria's grandmother.)
Victoria: I'm happy you like them. I'll have a bite later.
Pat: Err...you'll have to make more.
Victoria: You ate them all, already?
Pat: (Cough) Yes.
Victoria: Jeez, Dad, you could have let me have at least one.
Pat: Well, you know when I get started...it's hard to stop.
Victoria: Great! My dad's a cookie junkie.
What I don't remember seeing and couldn't find was Victoria (or Pat, for that matter) specifically referring to the cookies as a Christmas tradition or mentioning the loss of Victoria's mother; or Victoria saying she felt obliged to make the cookies in remembrance of her mother.
I don't think I've ever devoted this much time and attention to a discussion of cookies -- not even the ones that swoop down and try to attach themselves to our hard drives.
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| 4 JUN 2006 at 9:14am |
MysticFallsIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 29
Joined: 30 MAY 2006
Status : Online | It was a GAME and I am sure that the cookie thing was something Christmassy and to do with past traditions at Christmas in a GAME. What I read and you read into it obviously differs. I just thought that the cookie puzzle was OK for that sequence. Who bloody cares anyway. It was a computer GAME and not real life.
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| 4 JUN 2006 at 11:35am |
ShanyGuild Master
Posts : 3313
Joined: 19 JUN 2003
Status : Online | It was a computer GAME and not real life.
Sure it's a GAME, but like a MOVIE, you expect a GAME to have some logic behind it...
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