Summary
Everyone loves a memorable finale. Whether it be movies, television, or video games, the conclusion directly affects how much a story is remembered as a quality creation or a bygone lemon. The pressure on the writers to stick to the landing at the end is even greater regarding video games.
Given the time, money, and resources devoted to game development, the risks are tremendous. As such, developers ensure that every element of the game they are working on is as first-rate as possible. Sometimes, this leads to the original ending of the game’s narrative being completely reworked or removed entirely.
10Deus Ex
2000’sDeus Exis considered one of thegreatest PC gamesever. Developed by Ion Storm, Deus Ex’s conclusion depends on which of the three main factions you side with to stop Bob Page from merging with Helios.
During a playthrough on the Deus Ex YouTube channel, series creator Warren Spector revealed that there were originally four endings. In this deleted conclusion, You allow Page to succeed in his plan. Not only does Page then appoint you as his second-in-command, but the ruler of Europe.
9Mafia 2
2010’sMafia 2was a decent critical and commercial success. While hardly revolutionary, except for breaking the world record for most “f-bombs” in a video game, the sequel to the 2002 predecessor was an enjoyable game with superb writing and a compelling story.
Developer 2K originally had much more ambitious plans for how Mafia 2’s narrative concluded. Initially, there were four different endings to the main story. Ultimately, the four-ending idea was scrapped, and protagonist Vito Scaletta’s criminal tale was limited to a single finale.
8Last of Us
If you were to create the Mount Rushmore ofPlayStation exclusives, The Last of Us would have a solid argument to be there. Unlike its more disappointing sequel, Naughty Dog’s 2013 zombie survival tale is an undisputed video game masterpiece.
Like the rest of the narrative, the ending of The Last of Us is haunting and depressing and concludes on a rather bleak note. Yet that almost wasn’t the case. Initially, the ending would’ve been much more optimistic, totally undercutting the game’s finale.
7Destiny
The level of hype surrounding Destiny’s release couldn’t have been higher. While Destiny’s gunplay was solid, given developerBungie’s previous work on theHaloseries, Destiny’s storytelling was expected to be on par.
It’s no secret that Destiny’s production was quite rocky, and that can easily be seen in the final product. While we don’t know for sure what the original ending was, it’s clear that the universe first envisioned by Jason Jones was a far cry from what we ended up getting.
6Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Before spearheading the iconicTomb Raiderseries, developer Crystal Dynamics was renowned for the Legacy of Kain games. The dark fantasy titles enjoyed immense critical and commercial success, with Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver being the series' magnum opus.
However, for all Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver’s remarkable qualities, it ends on a relatively anticlimactic note, with hero Raziel letting the villainous Kain slip away. Initially, the conclusion would’ve had Raziel defeating Kain. Crystal Dynamics even recorded the audio before ultimately deciding to cut it.
5Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot is regarded by many gamers as not just an excellentMetal Gearadventure but one of the greatest video games ever created. Along with featuring all the hallmarks fans treasure, it also almost concluded entirely differently.
While multiple Metal Gear titles were developed with diverse endings, Guns of the Patriot’s conclusion would’ve been the series' most jarring. The original ending would see Solid Snake and Otacon surrender to the government, committed, and eventually executed for their crimes.
4Uncharted 4
TheUnchartedgames are arguably Playstation’s most cherished series. The exploits of treasure hunter Nathan Drake are remembered for their outstanding storytelling. Given the sharpness of Naughty Dog’s writing, it seems strange that any of the game’s narratives were altered drastically during development.
Yet that was the case with Uncharted 4. Instead of giving Nathan Drake and his friends a satisfying and happy conclusion, the original ending would see Nathan fighting his brother Sam instead of the treacherous Rafe Alder during the final climatic showdown.
3Prey
2017’s Prey, developed by Arkane Studios, is the developer’s finest and most underrated creation. Between being dishonestly advertised as a sequel to 2006’s Prey and having an underwhelming marketing campaign, Prey failed to reap commercial triumph.
Prey’s narrative is the game’s best element and features twists and turns from beginning to end. One of the game’s most unforgettable moments is the amazingly twisty post-credit ending. Despite being the perfect mind-bending cap on the extraordinary story, Arkane had seriously considered cutting it from the final game.
2Halo 2
In the gaming industry,Halo 2is both a masterpiece and an anomaly. While the finished product is a chef-d’oeuvre of incredible writing and outstanding storytelling, Halo 2 is also known for its exceptionally turbulent production. As such, plenty was dumped on the cutting room floor.
Halo 2 concludes on arather abrupt cliffhanger, but that most certainly wasn’t Bungie’s original plan. The original conclusion would’ve been much more seamless with Halo 3 and offered more than just Master Chief promising to “Finish the fight.”
1Mass Effect 3
With the benefit of hindsight and Bioware’s updates, Mass Effect 3’s ending isn’t as controversial as it was once. Sure, it’s still not the ideal conclusion of one of gaming’s greatest trilogy, but believe it or not, it was almost worse.
Rather thanMass Effect 3concentrating on the Reaper War arc, the story would’ve revolved around the consequences of dark energy. This angle can be seen in Mass Effect 2 and would’ve led to Mass Effect 3’s narrative and conclusion, both being completely different.
