Should video game reviews talk about game endings?

[Coldkilla]

I think when game reviews say "The game was great! But the ending SUCKED" or "The ending left you hanging!" kind of ruins your expectations. Even if the single player game mechanics and gameplay is amazing, the multiplayer could be amazing, but the fact that you now EXPECT a bad ending ruins a lot I think.

What do yall think?

 

[zagood]

Would you rather they say "It sucked, but I'm not going to tell you why."

 

[skace]

I voted yes they should and finding out an amazing game has a crappy ending doesn't really change my desire to play it. Games are about the journey not the destination. While I do enjoy a good ending, a bad one certainly doesn't spoil an entire game.

<- remembers when telling the player Congrats! was a valid ending.

 

[Zenoth]

I don't care as long as they put a spoiler tag the size of my monitor before such details, otherwise I'd be against that.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I'm fine with them saying the ending sucked balls.

I'm the type of guy who plays to watch the story unfold. If the ending sucks, I will hate the game because it feels that all my play time was pointless.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Well, I expect just about every big-budget title these days to have a cliffhanger ending that leaves the possibility for a sequel wide open. I don't mind if reviewers refer to the ending as a 'cliffhanger' or 'open' but I really hate it when they mention that the game has a 'shocking/brilliant plot twist'.

Twists only work great when they come out of nowhere. If I told someone, "Hey man, you should totally watch this movie. The twist in the third act was like, whoa, totally awesome," they'd spend the whole time anticipating (and trying to predict) the twist instead of simply enjoying the ride.

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: skace

<- remembers when telling the player Congrats! was a valid ending.

-or-

GAME OVER!

 

[Oyeve]

I don't really care as long as the reviewer gives a spoiler alert.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: skace

<- remembers when telling the player Congrats! was a valid ending.

-or-

GAME OVER!

or

THE END!

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: skace
I voted yes they should and finding out an amazing game has a crappy ending doesn't really change my desire to play it. Games are about the journey not the destination. While I do enjoy a good ending, a bad one certainly doesn't spoil an entire game.

<- remembers when telling the player Congrats! was a valid ending.

I agree, they shouldent however explain how it end, just if its good.bad liked/dissliked

 

[Coldkilla]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
I don't really care as long as the reviewer gives a spoiler alert.

Many don't. Especially video reviews.

 

[CP5670]

I don't care much one way or another. A game's story generally doesn't get "spoiled" for me by knowing parts of it in advance, but at the same time a bad ending won't kill an otherwise good game for me either.

 

[Elcs]

Personally.... I do not think the reviewer should comment on the ending.

As has been said, a game is about the journey, not the destination. Telling me an ending sucked on a game that I was humming and harring about getting, Id not get it..... even if in the alternate reality where I did get it really enjoyed it, my thought process was swayed by "Poor Ending" in the "Cons" section of a review.

A Reviewer should comment on main plot points and build a sense of story but stop short of details and how it pans out. A feeling of good/bad/ugly should be painted in the Story section.. not just "good game, bad ending".

 

[ZzZGuy]

I'd rather know now rather then later. If the game is built around a storyline but the ending sucks then it's not worth playing. If a game is built and a story is tacted on then I won't care if they describe it in gruesome detail.

Middle ground is a little more iffy and I would have to go on a case by case basis.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: skace

<- remembers when telling the player Congrats! was a valid ending.

-or-

GAME OVER!

or

THE END!

My favourite was "Congratulation" I mean at least remember to put the 's' on the end.

As for the OP, I don't mind if they say the ending was good or bad as long as they warn me if they are about to discuss specifics. In the end (no pun intended) a game having a bad ending is not going to dictate whether I like it or not, so them telling me it is bad or good does not matter a great deal. Bioshock is a perfect example of this for me.

KT

 

[imported_Imp]

Yes. A crappy ending can ruin a game (*cough* Medal of Honor: Allied Assault *cough*). If they just say it's good or bad, I'll be semi-spoiled, but it could either lower my expectations or raise them. If it's the former case, then I could be surprised if it's even a bit better than sub-par.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: skace

<- remembers when telling the player Congrats! was a valid ending.

-or-

GAME OVER!

or

THE END!

My favourite was "Congratulation" I mean at least remember to put the 's' on the end.

If you think that's bad, Ghostbusters for the NES had "Conglaturation." :laugh:

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: skace

<- remembers when telling the player Congrats! was a valid ending.

-or-

GAME OVER!

or

THE END!

My favourite was "Congratulation" I mean at least remember to put the 's' on the end.

If you think that's bad, Ghostbusters for the NES had "Conglaturation." :laugh:

Wow, that is the worst. I don't think I ever managed to beat that game, but what a letdown that would have been.

KT

 

[Soundmanred]

We could go back ever further to when games didn't truly end, you just started at level one and it went faster to increase the difficulty.

 

[Coldkilla]

Pac-Man pwns. The ending for that was AWWESOME.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13
I'm fine with them saying the ending sucked balls.

I'm the type of guy who plays to watch the story unfold. If the ending sucks, I will hate the game because it feels that all my play time was pointless.

Agreed. The whole point of playing a game is entertainment. If a sick nagging feeling keeps you from enjoying it the entire time, why bother?

Having said that, very few reviewers play a game long enough to tell you the ending sucks, or even tell you the second half of the game sucks for that matter.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Wow, that is the worst. I don't think I ever managed to beat that game, but what a letdown that would have been.

KT

YOU'RE WINNER!

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: Soundmanred
We could go back ever further to when games didn't truly end, you just started at level one and it went faster to increase the difficulty.

Ain't nothing wrong w/ that either!