Best videogame endings

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Alright, name some.

I've been drinking and music isn't doing anything for me, I want to watch some sweet videogame endings on youtube.

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Fine I'll get it started. FFX, when Tidus slaps Jecht a high five, classic videogame moment.

[TAT]

Well, one that sticks in my mind is the end of Sonic 2 on the Master System.

If you get to the 2nd-to-last boss without collecting all the Chaos Emeralds and win, the credits roll with Sonic running into the sunset.

If you get to the 2nd-to-last boss and collect all the Chaos Emeralds and win, you go on to face Robotnik. By beating him you are rewarded with the real credits, where Sonic and Tales run off into the sunset.

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Does it have any bewbs in it?

[Natrak]

Hands down Shadow of the Colossus's ending is my favourite ever.

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Natrak I am 100% in agreement with you

Should probably give a shoutout to ICO's ending also.

[T Strife]

Shenmue. Although technically more a bridge between episodes than a true ending, the sense of scope of just what the coming adventure would bring, to say nothing of how it made me think of how large and diverse the world is - and that it's changing all the time - is something that no other game that I've ever played has touched.

Metal Gear Solid 4. People are split over the outcome, but I honestly loved the cheeky emotional excess and the final direction that the story took. If nothing else, it's pretty to look at.

Metal Gear Solid 3. Almost as good as 4, and comes with a genuine example of human sacrifice that makes you feel like you’re a rubbish person.

Final Fantasy 7. Remember when Cloud was a "conflicted, arrogant amnesiac" more than a "surly, cod-philosophical (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudophilosophy) loner" (thanks, Edge, for putting it so succinctly). I don't like what FF7 has become, but I can still enjoy what it once was, and the words "I think I'm beginning to understand", especially when placed in the context of the greater narrative, can still send shivers down my spine.

Sam & Max Hit the Road. The first ending I recall letting me shoot stuff. Probably useless on Youtube, then, but still neat.

Pikmin. Short, cute and actually quite sweet... depending on how well you did.

Gabriel Knight 3. Loaded with story, and story that probably pissed some people off at that. I can't speak for its worth outside of having followed the narrative, but it's a great reward for those who persevered.

Dreamfall. Likewise, story-rich and of questionable worth if you've not followed the plot.

Ocarina of Time. I once heard this described as a great ending to a great game. Honestly, how a whole lot needs to be said. (I'll also note Wind Wakers, mostly for the chipper music that plays over the credits).

Heart of China. The good ending is cheesy wank, to be honset, but I loved it when I was a kid, and it can't hurt to include something for you to laugh at.

I'll endorse Sonic 2 MS and the Team Ico games as well. Both good for their own reasons.

Happy Youtube-ing :)

Edit: Or, perhaps you could just go here (http://www.game-endings.net/) in search of inspiration?

[sausage]

I got the good ending in Bioshock and actually had a tear in my eye.... shaddup.

Speaking of Bioshock and not technically the end but the "build-up and reveal" scene. You know which one.

[Citizen Erased]

I would have to say Dead Space.

[T Strife]

My favourite part of the Dead Space ending was when Isaac face-palmed himself for not figuring out the big revelation several hours ealier like everyone else did :)

[AranchineD]

Panzer Dragoon Orta.

Baby dragon.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[TrinityJayOne]

FFX is to date the only one to get me teary, so I'd say that.

Also, I vote Rez for the worst ending. You go through all those bosses again, ignore the weird messages, then when the system is dead and she sorta looks like a legless manikin, BAM! *credits*

:( ****ing brilliant game though.

[HiredMan]

SotC hands down for me.

[dimorphic]

I loved the Halo 3 ending. Loved it!

"Wake me, when you need me."

[Afrogamer]

I liked the ending for kingdom hearts and ffx

[big_b]

mgs3 has a wicked ending.

[Jickle]

I remember the ending of Paper Mario 2 being hugely satisfying. As I recall just about everyone you'd helped along the way chipped in on the final battle in one way or another. It was pretty epic. I feel the same way about Ouendan 1/2/EBA actually - the ending songs on both games are made all the more satisfying by the fact that everyone is rooting for you.

[T Strife]

Also, I vote Rez for the worst ending. You go through all those bosses again, ignore the weird messages, then when the system is dead and she sorta looks like a legless manikin, BAM! *credits*

I don't think that I could disagree more, but at the same time I think I can see where you're coming from. The previous generation re-defined what can constitute an ending for me, simply by merging it with gameplay a bit more. Coming off the back of the clear-cut FMV endings that defined the Ps1 era (by this standard, Rez fails horribly), this may have seemed more impactful that it actually deserved to be.

Small examples include Shenmue, where I really consider the final day of play to be the ending, or Grandia 2, where there is a significant portion of play time after the boss, and you largely control how long and in-depth the final closure will be. I think it's mostly a case of a game pulling all of it's pieces together and weaving into a climax that is a fitting closure, irrespective of how much of this happens after you've put the controller down.

From this perspective, I'd say that Rez's ending is really that final boss-of-sorts. It's shot through with very quick cut-scenes (kinda), and it really feels that, even though the game isn't heavily layered in narrative, everything that you've been doing up until now has been leading to that very moment. I don't know if this could have been as easily accepted one generation earlier, but on the Dreamcast/Ps2 they were able to get away with it.

[Zan]

****ing Freespace 2
Also biggest cliffhanger ending... ahhhh...

Portal

FF7 & yeah 10, as much as some of voice acting got to me, the ending was quite good.

[StorminNorman]

Also, I vote Rez for the worst ending. You go through all those bosses again, ignore the weird messages, then when the system is dead and she sorta looks like a legless manikin, BAM! *credits*
To get the proper ending you have to beat the final boss while in sixth form.

Trust me, it's worth it.

The best video game ending ever is Earthbound. Doubly so if you count the final boss battle as part of the ending.

[FrozenSoul80]

The ending of Rock Band was pretty awesome.

[AranchineD]

The ending of Guitar Hero 2 is even better. >_>

[banjoeskimo]

To get the proper ending you have to beat the final boss while in sixth form.

Trust me, it's worth it.

I thought the only ending variation happens if you 100% the game, and there's just a stupid butterfly during the credits. What happens if you beat it with the sixth form?

Braid had an incredible ending I thought, but if anyone dares look up the story or use YouTube to go through the game I'll beat them silly, as you really need to play it through in full.

Mass Effect's ending was pretty good too, although I tend to count the final three hours of the game as "the end." Absolutely awesome, all the action kicks in and the story threads start coming together.

[ElPresidente]

Heart of China. The good ending is cheesy wank, to be honset, but I loved it when I was a kid, and it can't hurt to include something for you to laugh at.

You, good sir, are a man after my own heart. :)

Panzer Dragoon Orta.

Baby dragon.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW


You too. :P

From this perspective, I'd say that Rez's ending is really that final boss-of-sorts. It's shot through with very quick cut-scenes (kinda), and it really feels that, even though the game isn't heavily layered in narrative, everything that you've been doing up until now has been leading to that very moment. I don't know if this could have been as easily accepted one generation earlier, but on the Dreamcast/Ps2 they were able to get away with it.

That's pretty much how I saw it too.

For the record, I didn't pick up the game til mid last generation on the PS2.

[Stevorooni]

I don't know if it's the 'best' but it's probably the first ending I really worked for, and that was Sonic 2 on Megadrive, completing it with all chaos emeralds so that instead of falling from the death egg and being caught by Tails in his plane, Sonic FLIES as Super Sonic and just flies in front of the plane because he's too awesome to need saving.

Oh Sonic, I would have weeped for you then if I knew what you'd be going through today

[Zzz]

mgs3 has a wicked ending.

Yes.

MGS3 has a ****ing wicked ending.

[StorminNorman]

I thought the only ending variation happens if you 100% the game, and there's just a stupid butterfly during the credits. What happens if you beat it with the sixth form?

Instead of falling apart like she normally does at the end, Eden draws you into her in a kind of symbolic hug. It's quite moving, actually.

The best part is that you get to hear more of that wonderful piece of music that's used during the cutscenes in the final boss battle.

(That said, I have the game sound data files, so I can listen to it any time I want. Curse the "official soundtrack" for only containing remixes!)

[T Strife]

You, good sir, are a man after my own heart. :)

HoC is (shamefully) the first and (thankfully) last game I ever wrote a fanfiction for. I started reading over it again earlier this year, and it's pretty shambolic.

That said, however, fire me a PM with your email address if you wish to have something to chuckle about the next time you're on the train or bus.

I don't know if it's the 'best' but it's probably the first ending I really worked for, and that was Sonic 2 on Megadrive, completing it with all chaos emeralds so that instead of falling from the death egg and being caught by Tails in his plane, Sonic FLIES as Super Sonic and just flies in front of the plane because he's too awesome to need saving.

The music that played for that sequence was the most touching thing ever as far as my childhood self was concerned :)