Frenzied Flame is the true ending of Elden Ring

[noisyturtle]

It really seems to be the way the game was meant to end. It makes the most sense for the mc's journey, the history, and the timeline. All the other endings seem tacked on, or like fan service. Thoughts?

[AstinDextor]

I mean, other than it clearly being the worst possible ending that your main companion literally begs you not to do, sure.

[achilleas_demetriou]

the true ending of this game is when the player stops playing forever

[echo_ML]

Nihilism ending is lame. Only one thats worse is the dung eater ending.

[Jámez Bondo]

Ranni is true ending. I am star lord now.

[itssomuchfun]

Originally posted by echo_ML:

Nihilism ending is lame. Only one thats worse is the dung eater ending.

Not nihilism.
Infantilism.

[mpcgannon]

I dunnooo... People in this "world" were literally born from trees. Who's to say that the flame wouldn't be a reset button? Obviously the powers that be don't want to lose that power so they're going to talk ♥♥♥♥. They did work hard to get where they are after all.
I love the chaos though

[ressenmacher]

I don't think we have enough information about what most of the endings entail to make concrete judgement calls about either their morality or canonicity.

That said it's a damn shame Kale's quest got cut because it's one of the few tidbits that helps elevate the Frenzied Flame ending beyond cartoonishly evil straw nihilism.

[echo_ML]

Originally posted by itssomuchfun:

Originally posted by echo_ML:

Nihilism ending is lame. Only one thats worse is the dung eater ending.

Not nihilism.
Infantilism.

Average "NoooOO0oo Golden Order is imperfect and corrupt we have to destroy the world to fix it!!!!!" fan vs average "Yeah this world is pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥, but i'll do my best to fix it lol" enjoyer

[mpcgannon]

Why nihilism exactly?

[echo_ML]

Originally posted by mpcgannon:

Why nihilism exactly?

Wdym? Like why nihilism is bad or why frenzied flame is nihilism?

[mpcgannon]

Why is frenzied associated w/?

[echo_ML]

Originally posted by mpcgannon:

Why is frenzied associated w/?

Because the Ending is pretty much burning down everything, and i mean just looking at the ending literally everything probably dies and im not sure anything could live afterwards.

From the way Melina warns you not to go near the frenzied flame, she almost sounds like shes saying becoming the lord of frenzy will kill everything and ruin life as a whole.

"If you intend to claim the Frenzied Flame, I ask that you cease. It is not to be meddled with. It is chaos, devouring life and thought unending. However ruined this world has become, however mired in torment and despair, life endures. Births continue. There is beauty in that, is there not? If you would become Lord, do not deny this notion. Please, leave the Frenzied Flame alone"

[ressenmacher]

Originally posted by mpcgannon:

Why nihilism exactly?

Broadly because the central tenet of FF is "life was a mistake, and we're going to correct it" meshing pretty well with "life has no value" from nihilism.

I think outside of Shabriri, who's just a stereotypical monomaniacal villain, the point is closer to efilism - Hyetta says almost word for word that the point of melting everything away is to get rid of the suffering that outweighs the benefits of life for some (or potentially A LOT, given ER's setting).

But it's a little hard to tell for sure because this is a Souls game and as usual your protagonist lacks the initiative to even just say "hey could you elaborate past the vauge and lofty one-liner on what your plan for the future of the world actually entails?" like any reasonable person in their position would.

[mpcgannon]

Without getting into pedantic political definitions ( which I am NO expert ) I find nihilism to be a bit defeatist, at least in the surface. I was getting some anarchy / chaos vibes with Hyetta essentially being a naive and optimistic shill.

[echo_ML]

Def agree with that, i don't wanna get into politics but overall Nihilism is pretty lame, and in the context of the lands between it sucks even more.