Surprisingly satisfying video game endings

[Krejlooc]

My copy of Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder arrived today and I just finished a full playthrough of the game. I wasn't expecting anything in terms of story and I wound up with a surprisingly awesome ending:

The 5 heroes are riding atop a dragon flying away into the sunset after defeating death adder. It seems like a happy ending until Death Adder suddenly jumps in the air and lands on the dragon, glowing with power.

He raises his hands into the air and creates an enormous ball of energy and the heroes stand still in shock, powerless to stop him. Just as his ball reaches the apex, he begins to toss it, implying he's going to commit suicide and kill everybody aboard the dragon. All is lost.

Then BAM

Gilius Thunderhead draws the Golden Axe, unmounts Goah, and leaps into the air, meeting Death Adder mid jump and SWIPE - he cuts Death Adder's head clean off.



The two tumble off the dragon with Death Adder's ball of energy following them. It explodes mid-air, killing both of them instantly.

The remaining 4 heroes mourn on the back of the dragon as the credits roll

It was such an out of the blue ending that it kinda took me by surprise. I know there has to be a bunch of other endings that have left impressions on people, anybody else want to chime in with a personal example?

[dogman91]

Basically any game where the end music (not the credits; like the escape themes of Metal Gear MSX and Metroid NES) contrasts completely with the rest of the game's music. I notice the element of surprise really enhances the experience and gives this ethereal adrenaline-rushing feeling, especially with the two games I mentioned with them being triggered with the unexpected final blow to the last boss. I notice too that listening to the escape themes on their own on youtube doesn't sound nearly as engaging then when I was playing through the game, oddly enough...

[Krejlooc]

Basically any game where the end music (not the credits; like the escape themes of Metal Gear MSX and Metroid NES) contrasts completely with the rest of the game's music. I notice the element of surprise really enhances the experience and gives this ethereal adrenaline-rushing feeling, especially with the two games I mentioned with them being triggered with the unexpected final blow to the last boss. I notice too that listening to the escape themes on their own on youtube doesn't sound nearly as engaging then when I was playing through the game, oddly enough...

I'm curious, if you play a game with that style of break-beat, fast-paced music playing the entire time, does it make the entire game more satisfying for you, or does it diminish the effect? Like too much of a good thing.

For me, it's the former. Give me a game with a fast paced, adrenalin pumping soundtrack any day. Something Ninja Gaiden (NES) gets me going from start to finish. Not to say Super Metroid doesn't have a kickin soundtrack, but I much prefer something faster.

[dogman91]

Those game's soundtracks are definitely awesome, but it starts to just become part of the background for awhile after you get used to it. With that ending music it makes the "adrenaline" fast music that much more intense if you were used to the relatively slower pace of the slow games' music rather than the same fast music, if that makes sense.

[marurun]

The end of Bionic Commando with the exploding head of the revived Hitler is pretty damn awesome. Very un-Nintendo-like for a Nintendo game.

[ZeoDefender]

Lufia II. Just ... Lufia II. No more needs to be said.

[Xeogred]

Bioshock Infinite will probably remain to be my favorite this entire gen.

[Luke]

Spoiler alerts please.

Couldn't care if it is

Mario saves the princess

People put in hours, sometimes dozens of hours into games. And since this is a gaming site welcoming new members, not every one knows that:

so and so happens to you know who in Final Fantasy VII

But I can say without spoiling anything that I have no clue if Sword of Sodan even has an ending. I throw a party if I can make it to the second level.

[ZeroAX]

Hint: Look at my sig.

[Xeogred]

Man no joke really, most of the Sonic's (topped off with getting all the Emeralds) really do have awesome endings.