Anyone else disapointed with how the story ended? *SPOLIERS AHEAD*

[Freedyshow]

I love this game.

I completed it on Game pass, and bought it on here to support the developers.
I am playing through again much slower this time since i know what I am doing.

I think Act 1 is a master class in story and gameplay pacing.
Act 2 is still strong but when the reveal happens.
Act 3 is still good, but that story reveal, but it really undermines the first 2 Acts in my opinion.

I Love this game.
Easily one of the better RPG's to come out in recent years. Its not the greatest of all time, but it is a very, very good game.

That being said. I have some major issues with the story.

Mainly with the whole family plot reveal, and its not a "real" world. Just a canvas.

For me the story worked better when the world was indeed real, the characters mattered and there lives at stake actually came at a cost. The emotional turmoil of losing people, the countdown of the clock ticking away slow ebbing the future of Lumiere and its people.

That is until we take down the mummy and then daddy decides to kill everyone at the end of act 2 setting up the fake world and its all an illusion, but everyone is real but its also not real.

Just part of something Verso created.

I think The end of Act 2 and the end of Act 3, completely cheapens the narrative and the sacrifice of Gustave and all the others before him.

Before the end of act 2, I was hell bent on killing Renior for killing Gustave, I much preferred him as the main character and I really connected with him, his story felt so much more involved than the others. As you don't really find out about the others that much unless you get there relationship to max and do there side quests (optional content btw)

When it was revealed he was just a creation and not real. I felt like his whole story and "for those who come after" completely looses all meaning.

I just think saving the world and being one of the few that can stand up to the paint-tress and being one of the last expeditions had more weight to it than just some family painting which had Versos soul in it and there parents were grieving and couldn't let go and neither could Maelle and they are fighting each other in this fake world being stuck here for god knows how long was just a cop out of what otherwise would have been a fantastic tragic story.

It just took me out of caring about the world and the fate of the characters and everything I did up to that point was a total waste of time.

The story works so much better if you just ignore the family drama about the canvas, and the world and exploration feel so much better when you do. So why did they choose to do this?

They could have had 2 endings for the fate of Lumiere like they have with Maelle and Verso.

Ending 1:
You side with the Paintress, Kill Renior and free her from her cycle (same as you) thus beginning a new age and bringing back everyone that was lost and restoring the world to before the fracture. Sciel getting her hubby an child back, Lune getting her parents back, Monoco living with Noco in the gestral village. Maelle Living with Gustave and Emma and adopting the apprentices. A proper Happy ending right? (You can choose this with Verso or Maelle, and even choose to stay in the city afterwards as Verso)

Ending 2:
You side with Renior, Kill the paint-tress, kill the rest of the party (who you have to fight 4 on 1) Then you have to go to every major population town and wipe them all out, fighting them all groups at a time, and you can summon Nevrons (and go capture them) to help fill your party out. (cool right) Once you have wiped out most of the population centres you return with the collected chroma and watch Renior wipe out the entire world only for him to offer you the brush and you can repaint it.
You can choose this with either Verso or Maelle.

(Game ends) Thus leaving a chance for a proper sequel, same as the first Ending.


See how much better those endings fit the game?
At least in my opinion.

Its my only issue. I am still going to 100% the game.
I love this game absolutely but it could have been better.

Am I extremely upset Gustave doesn't get his much deserved happy ending?
Yes.
Yes I am.

Not for those that come after.
For Gustave.

What do you guys an girls think?
Its just my opinion I am not hating on the game.
Just quite disappointed with the story in the end.

[toughnails]

The devs just didn't want to do another generic "a band of misfits beats the big bad and saves the world" story. The story is much more complex than that, there are no clear cut villains, no ending is happy. The game is meant to evoke emotions and make you think. If it was a generic JRPG where you kill the evil god and get the girl, then you would just move on after beating it, and you wouldn't be posting this essay here. But this game made you ponder.

[prusswan]

The last part is usually the worst as the devs run out of budget, the game could be extended into Act 4 where they somehow escape the canvas and fight the writers

[strongled]

My opinion? Those that hate the current endings are immature and haven't paid attention to the story at all, and your endings are basic trash you see everywhere else.

Originally posted by prusswan:

The last part is usually the worst as the devs run out of budget, the game could be extended into Act 4 where they somehow escape the canvas and fight the writers

It's more sequel baiting right now. They left it open for that.

[Freedyshow]

Originally posted by toughnails:

The devs just didn't want to do another generic "a band of misfits beats the big bad and saves the world" story. The story is much more complex than that, there are no clear cut villains, no ending is happy. The game is meant to evoke emotions and make you think. If it was a generic JRPG where you kill the evil god and get the girl, then you would just move on after beating it, and you wouldn't be posting this essay here. But this game made you ponder.

No I get what they were trying to do. I didn't dislike it. I just felt that that whole family drama narrative goes against what the game starts of as. This game is incredible for making you think, what value life has, what does legacy mean? It takes many forms, there are so many undertones to this story and meanings within meanings packaged nicely in this masterpiece of a game, but it does have its flaws. I enjoyed the ending. I felt Versos story from start to finish was sad an enthralling, but I connected with the people of the world, Lune, Sceil, Esquie, Gustave, All the others that came before them, all there stories and sacrifices meant nothing in the grand scheme of things is all I am saying. It is supposed to be sad, it is supposed to make you think, pull at your heart strings. I both love and hate the game for this haha. I get it. No happy ending, sometimes you don't get happy endings. That still doesn't mean I don't want one for my boy Gustave haha. Appreciate it though.

[strongled]

Originally posted by Freedyshow:

Originally posted by toughnails:

The devs just didn't want to do another generic "a band of misfits beats the big bad and saves the world" story. The story is much more complex than that, there are no clear cut villains, no ending is happy. The game is meant to evoke emotions and make you think. If it was a generic JRPG where you kill the evil god and get the girl, then you would just move on after beating it, and you wouldn't be posting this essay here. But this game made you ponder.

No I get what they were trying to do. I didn't dislike it. I just felt that that whole family drama narrative goes against what the game starts of as. This game is incredible for making you think, what value life has, what does legacy mean? It takes many forms, there are so many undertones to this story and meanings within meanings packaged nicely in this masterpiece of a game, but it does have its flaws. I enjoyed the ending. I felt Versos story from start to finish was sad an enthralling, but I connected with the people of the world, Lune, Sceil, Esquie, Gustave, All the others that came before them, all there stories and sacrifices meant nothing in the grand scheme of things is all I am saying. It is supposed to be sad, it is supposed to make you think, pull at your heart strings. I both love and hate the game for this haha. I get it. No happy ending, sometimes you don't get happy endings. That still doesn't mean I don't want one for my boy Gustave haha. Appreciate it though.

Their meaning is the lessons they imparted to both Maelle and Verso, they did matter, because Maelle remembers them.
Are the stories you read worthless because they're not real (we have no canvases in reality and we're not gods) or do you get some meaning out of them?

[Freedyshow]

Originally posted by strongled:

My opinion? Those that hate the current endings are immature and haven't paid attention to the story at all, and your endings are basic trash you see everywhere else.

Originally posted by prusswan:

The last part is usually the worst as the devs run out of budget, the game could be extended into Act 4 where they somehow escape the canvas and fight the writers

It's more sequel baiting right now. They left it open for that.

I don't hate the story, or the current endings, I Just felt that what the story tells us in the first 2 acts, was somewhat betrayed by the reveal in act 2. Its great that its a major plot twist and no one could predict it. However its out of left field, there are hints sure, but it feels like a sucker punch after making us care so much about the world and the people in it. We needed more time with the family and a little bit more info on the war Clea was par-taking in. Why did the Writers attack them? How long did they spend in Versos painting? How did they end up like this? I haven't 100% the game yet so I might come across these answers, but to the average joe gamer it is jaring, I can understand why people would hate it. I think its more of a case of not understanding the deeper narratives at play in this game than being immature, maybe people are not used to playing a game that challenges their perception of things huh?

[toughnails]

IMO, the big problem is there's very little between the act 2 epilogue reveal and the act 3 final battle. Lune and Sciel barely get any time to reflect on their "fakeness", the game just rushes full speed towards the conclusion. The vast majority of the content in Act 3 is optional.

My pet theory is the writers didn't want to spend too much time on the "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" type messaging as the game would cross into the cyberpunk genre at that point, so they cut that part short.

[strongled]

Originally posted by Freedyshow:

Originally posted by strongled:

My opinion? Those that hate the current endings are immature and haven't paid attention to the story at all, and your endings are basic trash you see everywhere else.
It's more sequel baiting right now. They left it open for that.

I don't hate the story, or the current endings, I Just felt that what the story tells us in the first 2 acts, was somewhat betrayed by the reveal in act 2. Its great that its a major plot twist and no one could predict it. However its out of left field, there are hints sure, but it feels like a sucker punch after making us care so much about the world and the people in it. We needed more time with the family and a little bit more info on the war Clea was par-taking in. Why did the Writers attack them? How long did they spend in Versos painting? How did they end up like this? I haven't 100% the game yet so I might come across these answers, but to the average joe gamer it is jaring, I can understand why people would hate it. I think its more of a case of not understanding the deeper narratives at play in this game than being immature, maybe people are not used to playing a game that challenges their perception of things huh?

Clea's story with the Writers will most likely be touched upon in a sequel. This game is about the grief of losing Verso and how the family members cope and eventually get over it.

[Freedyshow]

Originally posted by strongled:

Originally posted by Freedyshow:

No I get what they were trying to do. I didn't dislike it. I just felt that that whole family drama narrative goes against what the game starts of as. This game is incredible for making you think, what value life has, what does legacy mean? It takes many forms, there are so many undertones to this story and meanings within meanings packaged nicely in this masterpiece of a game, but it does have its flaws. I enjoyed the ending. I felt Versos story from start to finish was sad an enthralling, but I connected with the people of the world, Lune, Sceil, Esquie, Gustave, All the others that came before them, all there stories and sacrifices meant nothing in the grand scheme of things is all I am saying. It is supposed to be sad, it is supposed to make you think, pull at your heart strings. I both love and hate the game for this haha. I get it. No happy ending, sometimes you don't get happy endings. That still doesn't mean I don't want one for my boy Gustave haha. Appreciate it though.

Their meaning is the lessons they imparted to both Maelle and Verso, they did matter, because Maelle remembers them.
Are the stories you read worthless because they're not real (we have no canvases in reality and we're not gods) or do you get some meaning out of them?

Maelle remembers them but also traps Verso against his will in the canvas with her slowly dying, she remembers them sure, but she learns nothing and decides to be Paintress again just under new management, There not worthless of course there not, but they are undermined by the implication that the world is not real and there lives histories and determination means nothing for how easily they can be destroyed, for once the canvas falls who is remembering them then? The family? They will build another world and only in Versos ending do I see them moving on and making things better, its a matter of perspective and what is valuable to you, and I feel that is what the story gets at. What do you leave behind? What legacy do you pursue in order for someone else to blaze the trail after you? Its not lost on me. I might be old fashioned for just wanting a good if not great save the world story, not since FF7 and Mass effect universe have I cared about a world so much. :)

[strongled]

Originally posted by Freedyshow:

Originally posted by strongled:

Their meaning is the lessons they imparted to both Maelle and Verso, they did matter, because Maelle remembers them.
Are the stories you read worthless because they're not real (we have no canvases in reality and we're not gods) or do you get some meaning out of them?

Maelle remembers them but also traps Verso against his will in the canvas with her slowly dying, she remembers them sure, but she learns nothing and decides to be Paintress again just under new management, There not worthless of course there not, but they are undermined by the implication that the world is not real and there lives histories and determination means nothing for how easily they can be destroyed, for once the canvas falls who is remembering them then? The family? They will build another world and only in Versos ending do I see them moving on and making things better, its a matter of perspective and what is valuable to you, and I feel that is what the story gets at. What do you leave behind? What legacy do you pursue in order for someone else to blaze the trail after you? Its not lost on me. I might be old fashioned for just wanting a good if not great save the world story, not since FF7 and Mass effect universe have I cared about a world so much. :)

That's the bad ending with Maelle, so uh, yeah, why would she learn anything when she went against the lessons in the first place?
Maelle in Verso's ending will remember them, that's the whole point, for her it was as real as it could be, she was "born" there again after all. The rest of the family isn't unimportant, but it's clear Aline needed the canvas gone, Renoir needed his wife and daughter back, and that Clea still has something to do, hence the sequel bait.

"Save the world" stories are great and all, but this just isn't one, you have a million of those, far less of these on the other hand.

[Freedyshow]

Originally posted by prusswan:

The last part is usually the worst as the devs run out of budget, the game could be extended into Act 4 where they somehow escape the canvas and fight the writers

I thought of that too. I hope we do get that, or a sequel with that very story. So it avoids the fake world thing. I'd buy it in a heart beat. They could go anywhere with it, hell id still play a sequel diving into another canvas. DLC or a content update would be amazing

[Freedyshow]

Originally posted by strongled:

Originally posted by Freedyshow:

Maelle remembers them but also traps Verso against his will in the canvas with her slowly dying, she remembers them sure, but she learns nothing and decides to be Paintress again just under new management, There not worthless of course there not, but they are undermined by the implication that the world is not real and there lives histories and determination means nothing for how easily they can be destroyed, for once the canvas falls who is remembering them then? The family? They will build another world and only in Versos ending do I see them moving on and making things better, its a matter of perspective and what is valuable to you, and I feel that is what the story gets at. What do you leave behind? What legacy do you pursue in order for someone else to blaze the trail after you? Its not lost on me. I might be old fashioned for just wanting a good if not great save the world story, not since FF7 and Mass effect universe have I cared about a world so much. :)

That's the bad ending with Maelle, so uh, yeah, why would she learn anything when she went against the lessons in the first place?
Maelle in Verso's ending will remember them, that's the whole point, for her it was as real as it could be, she was "born" there again after all. The rest of the family isn't unimportant, but it's clear Aline needed the canvas gone, Renoir needed his wife and daughter back, and that Clea still has something to do, hence the sequel bait.

"Save the world" stories are great and all, but this just isn't one, you have a million of those, far less of these on the other hand.

I absolutely agree with you. There are many Save the world stories, just not many good ones. I just wanted to see my man Gustave with Sophie in a proper happy ending. I know. I know. Wishful thinking. The game does so many things right. The story is completely unique I agree. Nothing has made me more invested or emotional in a game in quite sometime. A truly memorable game from start to end. For those who come after right? :)

[xnamxoutlawx]

I'm not really disappointed but damn was everything and I mean literally everything was so predictable/cliche.

[Ratsplat]

The revelation of a real world and who Maelle actually was didn't bother me one bit. I even really liked the scene where she brought back Lune and Sciel and was excited for more. There was so much potential for her powers. But when you get to the very end to make a choice, things just... they just needed more time to expand upon whatever they had decided upon in being the endings.

[volcz]

I didn't mind the ending. I chose Maelle's. I've heard and read that a lot of people think Verso's ending is the right one but I disagree for a number of reasons -

1) the real Verso is dead. The painted version is essentially a different Verso & ultimately doesn't exist in the real world. He is a fragment. Although he is right about the cycle of grief, he isn't right in deciding to shutdown the canvas and force people to do things b/c he deems them the right things to do.
2) Maelle's real world is horrible. She does nothing but exist & she is NOT happy.
3) Even if the characters aren't real, they are real to Maelle. And I completely relate to the whole 'not wanting to deal with the real world cause you are happier in your own'. She literally has no voice in the real world. She is looked down upon by her mother and sister in disgust & the only real love she knows is her father's. And Gustave's.
4) She can leave the canvas anytime she wants, its not like once you're in, you can't leave. People just assume she'll never leave.
5) Verso's ending is 10x worse IMHO, the family is fractured as you see Clea walk away and Maelle just standing there while her father and mother weep over Verso's grave. She has to abandon the people and characters that gave her strength and made her feel alive.
6) There was no way I wasn't bringing Gustave back.