Warning
The following article is about the ending of a videogame and as such contains spoilers of which it is said that they're really big. If by now you're still reading this chances are you have finished the game, if you haven't... well... I don't know.
Accused:
Ubisoft Montreal
Crime:
Doing the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do, right at the end.
Casefile:
I really like Prince of Persia, I'd say it's one of my favourite games released in 2008.
It's a high quality production which tried to do things differently and succeeded.
You're free to do whatever you like within the game without being punished for it (death, load game). Combos are unlocked from the very beginning and you're free to experiment and if you ever miss a jump Elika will come to your aid and set you back on the last bit of solid ground.
Basically Ubisoft Montreal gave us their game and allowed us to do with it whatever we wanted. It's cool, it's not like the game will hate you for trying stuff out.
Unfortunately, the game punches you in the face, or rather its story does.
So you've rid all the 4 lands of the Corruption and in doing so you've formed a bond with ally Elika.
Together you defeat the dark god Ahriman but when savouring the victory, we find that in order to restore Ahriman's prison, Elika must sacrifice her own life.
Damn it! F%$#! S^#@! Celine Dion!
So you're left now with the lifeless body of Elika, which you carry out of the temple while the creditsa roll.
Your ally (and romantic interest) has given herself up, but...
the world is saved.
Note: this is a genuinely sad moment.
OR IS IT?! The game then suddenly jumps at you.
As you exit the building suddenly the credits stop and we see a cutscene where the Prince lays her to rest and you're once again in control of your character.
What?
I just saved the world, I don't want to do anything else.
Yes, she is dead, but surely a sequel will come around where I will challenge the gods and I can save her soul... or something along those lines.
But no, you are forced to undo everything you've accomplished in the past 10 hours or so by cutting down all the Trees of Life you just resurrected.
But I don't want to... I sat there, thumbs on the sticks, walking around aimlessly, until I gave up and do the game's bidding.
I cut down the trees (yay), released Ahriman (wooh) and saved Elika (boobies).
So we see the Prince carrying her away from the temple, while Ahriman blackens the sky with his black gooey stuff and does all kinds of compensation.
Oh, and Elika's pissed. Yes, I'm sorry Elika, I didn't want it to be like this either, but I had to since the game wouldn't let me finish it otherwise.
I just spent the entire game wandering around, doing all kinds of cool stuff in the relative freedom this game brings.
Everything I worked for, everything I thought the developers worked for, is tossed away in the last 10 minutes.
This is a game where you can choose how to play it.
Do you collect all the lightseeds, or just the ones you need to continue?
Do you go for the spectacular combos, or do just do the same trick over and over again?
Do you engage in all the conversations with Elika and get extra meat on your story, or do you ignore her?
Do you want to save the world, or... oh, wait.
It's a shame the developers let the game fall apart right at the end, its defining characteristics swept away in favour of a 'happy' ending.
An ending I didn't want, nonetheless.
Verdict:
Guilty.
The accused is sentenced to keeping in line with their goal in their future games.
Not complying will result in a court order to speed up the development of Beyond Good and Evil 2.
|
