About the true ending.

[Inately]

It seems as if most people do not like the ending of the third loop. Yet I'm fairly certain that our opinion depends on from what perspective we observe it.
Their promise was, wherever they might be in the new reality, to see each other again.
There is this scene where they meet with dates at the same cafe.
Then Mark looks at the waiter. And it's all up to the player now to decide what happens next.
If he catches eye contact with Nicole, then, possibly, the player might interpret it as a "not so good ending", as their promise has been kept and the possibility of them at least thinking about each other is quite low. So, the promise did work, just not exactly as they wanted it to.
If he only asks for his coffee, completely neglecting the other table, then, maybe, after their dates are over, they may stay at the cafe. Look at each other, maybe chat for a bit. Though there's no guarantee that they will become a couple after that, as they do not remember each other (they remember about how grief ended their previous lives and want to change that, but It's something different I assume), player's headcanon might make it go down this path.
What is certain is that their butterflies meet. Supposedly grief about the ones they lost, I think. After seeing how their owners' lives have turned, they fly to the skies. Maybe it's supposed to mean something. Probably the fact that the cycle has ended and they have dealt with their troubles. As I said, the true ending is left to the player's interpretations. It is a good ending nevertheless. Everybody becomes happy, though Mark and Nicole come to this state not the way they have thought of it before they warped into a new reality. They do not know this, however, so they're also happy in their own way.
Curious to see what you all think.

[Neko San]

For me is a good Spekulation for the true ending is Nicole and Mark again in contact or not a good cliffhanger for the end btw the girl in the Caffe is the same girl from the girl not talking to you in the school and the guy front of Nicole is the guy sleep Whyte the face on the table

[Beave]

I didn't like it at first but I was coming off heavy emotions at the time lmao. Nah it was a good ending regardless of the interpretation we decide to take. Mark got to grow up with cath and ridel, Nicole with Kate. Even the side characters got their closure and happy endings by simply communicating. Jake and Maria (the butterflies) definitely had a hand in that final meeting 🙂 and guiding them together they finally moved on themselves. I really think they end up together but even if they don't they're going down paths towards happiness regardless. Also so happy cath got a happy end the girl deserved happiness and can't tell how many times I screamed at my TV to just spend time with her lol. Edit* just some questions that probably won't ever be answered lol. So in the new end was cath still abused? Did mark take up piano and remember the song that Nicole wrote?

[Inately]

Originally posted by the_beave:

Edit* just some questions that probably won't ever be answered lol. So in the new end was cath still abused? Did mark take up piano and remember the song that Nicole wrote?

I think that Cath finally befriended her family. In one of the ending scenes we see her sitting by the mart with her brother, both laughing. When she helps Mark prepare for the date, in the mirror she has a clean face without any sort of medical patches (as I remember?). She began to understand her family, family understood her.
And well... It's strange that the game doesn't imply what became of Mark's piano hobby. Did he stop playing the piano? Did he continue? No idea. Mark kept playing the piano because he wanted to feel close to mom. Nicole stopped doing it once Jake disappeared. In the end, they said goodbye to their losses and started doing what they really liked, so... Maybe Mark doesn't play the piano anymore. And he probably forgot the song, because mom's not here to remind him of it anymore. But truly, we do not actually know.

[Beave]

Ahh thanks. And yeah he had talent I hope he still at least plays as a hobby like his mom did. I hope this studio does more narrative games. This one damn near broke me emotionally lmao. Was a great ride.

[Clare]

Originally posted by Inately:

Originally posted by the_beave:

Edit* just some questions that probably won't ever be answered lol. So in the new end was cath still abused? Did mark take up piano and remember the song that Nicole wrote?

I think that Cath finally befriended her family. In one of the ending scenes we see her sitting by the mart with her brother, both laughing. When she helps Mark prepare for the date, in the mirror she has a clean face without any sort of medical patches (as I remember?). She began to understand her family, family understood her.
And well... It's strange that the game doesn't imply what became of Mark's piano hobby. Did he stop playing the piano? Did he continue? No idea. Mark kept playing the piano because he wanted to feel close to mom. Nicole stopped doing it once Jake disappeared. In the end, they said goodbye to their losses and started doing what they really liked, so... Maybe Mark doesn't play the piano anymore. And he probably forgot the song, because mom's not here to remind him of it anymore. But truly, we do not actually know.:ebfslime:

If I could remember, there was a scene where Cath and her brother are talking in a psych clinic (the upper part of the door has the R Psy on it so I assumed she or they went to therapy.)

[Stiefl]

That Cathy is alive and well, is good enough of an ending for me.

[Beave]

Originally posted by Stiefl:

That Cathy is alive and well, is good enough of an ending for me.

Yeah she was a great character.

[PB_Gaming]

I liked and didn't like the ending at the same time and not because Mark didn't end up with Nicole, but more so because I felt there was still more to tell and it could've got a more hopeful ending regardless I feel like. Maybe there will be a DLC in the future, but regardless, Cathy being alive is a good ending, and her not being abused by their parents is even better.

[Tut4ya]

In my opinion I will feel the classic cliché that the date went badly for both of them and they met there later haha, but nothing, beautiful story.

[Beave]

Originally posted by Tut4ya:

In my opinion I will feel the classic cliché that the date went badly for both of them and they met there later haha, but nothing, beautiful story.

Yup my copium as well 😅

[Silly Clown]

How did the mom and Jake even turn in to quantum butterflies? I know those two were the one of the few first victims of the Ruling, but why those two specifically?

Why haven't other disappearing victims turned in to butterflies?

[Beave]

Originally posted by Silly Clown:

How did the mom and Jake even turn in to quantum butterflies? I know those two were the one of the few first victims of the Ruling, but why those two specifically?

Why haven't other disappearing victims turned in to butterflies?

Because they also needed to move on. They were stuck in the past just as bad as mark and Nicole. Other than that just for a more cohesive story (imo)

[Stiefl]

You would think more people would have lingering regrets.
What did happen that these two specifically to get reality altering power? 😅

[Beave]

Originally posted by Stiefl:

You would think more people would have lingering regrets.
What did happen that these two specifically to get reality altering power? 😅

The devs/story writer wanted to tell someone's story not the story of all those affected would be my guess. Like I don't think there's a logical explanation outside that's why they were the only ones who like you said had access to the reality altering.

[Stiefl]

Thanks for taking the time to answer!

What I love about Until Then is its characters, so the main plot is secondary to me anyway. I was just curious, if there’s an explanation that I'd missed.