what a stupid ending [spoilers, obviously]

[𓂀𓂏𓂀]

So humanity is extinguished, and nobody has anything they wanted? It just leaves it there on a thread and leaves. Extremely disappointed in this game.

[Newby24]

Not saying anything about the story for spoiler reasons, but not every ending needs to be happy or to the one's expectations. You may like or dislike the conclusion of the story, but that's about it.

[𓂀𓂏𓂀]

It's that it literally leaves a ton of stuff unresolved that does it for me. There's a way to do a tragic ending but it's like they just gave up writing it and called it quits. Really regret wasting my time and money on this tbh.

[VertVentus]

Is that including the true ending? Where you walk Enoa on the title screen to the light from the door behind her.
I'm not there yet, but I guess it is for the most part yuri character-focused. There's post-game exclusive tea parties ("World Records") to further get your fix of that.

• August WR = FID-895-22, Lv. 70-73
  
• September WR = NOH-930-56, Lv. 65-68
  
• October WR = AMN-107-44, Lv. 100-103
  
• November WR = CAR-118-46, Lv. 40-43
  
• December WR = SAP-123-47, Lv. 60-63
  
• January WR = JUS-001-01, Lv. 95-98
  
• February WR = SPS-272-88, Lv. 50-53
  
• March WR = CAR-316-28, Lv. 45-48
  
• April WR = FID-454-85, Lv. 50-53
  
• May WR = NOH-552-06, Lv. 65-68
  
• June WR = AUD-676-25, Lv. 75-78
  
• July WR = CAR-721-19, Lv. 60-63

[𓂀𓂏𓂀]

ohh. I didn't realize that. It still doesn't tie up a lot of loose ends, but it's a lot better.

[Lestrad]

OP saved me from another stupid Farcry 5/Berseria/Mass Effect 3 ending, apparently. Giving the villains the last laugh is a trope that really needs to just disappear already.

Guess this will be going on the list alongside Gollum, Forspoken, and Redfall as disappointments.

[TiamatNM]

If the credits don't roll it's a reasonable assumption that you didn't actually see the ending. Good to keep in mind in future games.

[VertVentus]

Now that I've beaten it, what did OP feel were loose ends?
Humanity was already extinct before the game even began, from 2023 to 2028 and then 2000 years of Eden's virtual simulation took place. In that time frame, only 8 candidates for Real Humans under Adam Neumann's faulty system emerged, so even if Eve Neumann reinitialized Eden to get all 8 Deus ex Machina back for a better system (and biased intentions toward the elite, Eden invenstors, and those 100 who compromised the Will of Humanity), it's not like success was guaranteed.
The story was more so focused on the descendant race (machines) than the progenitor race (humans), with their contrasting humanity and the drama of being punched down: slaves to their masters, the party being hunted for 5 years over a misunderstanding, beaten to the punch at being Real Humans, Mikoto NTR, born for the wrong purpose, set for annihilation with the reinitialization process, and Leben/Enoa's relationship (which is also sibling/parental incest?) in essentially 5 acts every time the base theme changed. After a fake-out sacrifice they did get their happy ending of being able to live undisturbed, but I can relate if you didn't find that compelling. Admittedly I was indifferent about the main cast since I found Ami the least annoying (and enjoyed how broken she was in gameplay, there truly is nothing stronger than family).

The cause, Centrifugal Syndrome, got explained: a lack of a Soul. One Personality Data elaborates on it.

Originally posted by Nada, Blade of Intellect:

She theorized that the cause of Centrifugal Syndrome was supernatural and couldn't be explained by science, stating that it was due to a lack of "Idea": the essence of soul.
Her memories incuded those of previous lives. She also remembered another world: a turning cog that regenerated souls. A place after death. Limbo.
The soul repeats itself, as does the universe. But false creators break down souls and devour them. It is through this abrasion of the soul that Centrifugal Syndrome arose.

There was that alien interference that manipulated records of how humans looked, 3 eyes with 4 arms and I think hinted in "Letheia Research Data: Truth", but "Lethiea Research Data: TRAPPIST-1e" suggests they didn't find any alien life, so only that stood out to me.

At the very least, the "Designer Baby" article by J.O. (initials for John Oppenheimer, developer of the Sixth Deus ex Machina Logos, under "Eden Development Personnel Roster") debunks Eve's claim that all humans look like her and reveals his dislike toward Eve. In fact,

Originally posted by John, Archer of Intellect:

She had infiltrated a research institute that was working on a project by the name of "Eden." There, a monster was developing dangerous machines.
The human rights organization collaborated with developer John Oppenheimer to seize a machine mid-development, hoping to protect humanity from the monsters.
The machine was activated to exterminate the monsters, but it mysteriously went out of control. So began mankind's extinction.

Originally posted by Winston, Claws of Providence:

A Deus ex Machina developed with the help of her investments was seized and ran amok, laying waste to an entire continent. To stop it, she made a decision. As a countermeasure to Logos' rampage, Ecclesia--another Deus ex Machine that was still undergoing development--was deployed for a mere forty minutes.
In that short span of time, Ecclesia defeated Logos, severely contaminating Eurasia, Africa, and the Indian Ocean with toxic substances.

Originally posted by Giosuè, Archer of Discernment:

Then came a flying whale and an angel. Released from imprisonment, the girl reunited with her parents, rejoicing as black rain and ash fell unceasingly from the sky.

Originally posted by Newt, Archer of Truth:

The rampage of the Deus ex Machina, Logos, brought a close to the global war, as well as the collapse of Earth's environment, heralding the end of humankind.

Originally posted by Kubrick, Archer of Perpetuity:

She was proud to belong to the armed forces of such an esteemed nation. Her strong sense of justice led her to believe she had to eliminate threats with her own hands. The research institute posed a tremendous risk. Their machines were about to destroy an entire continent, and numerous other disasters would soon come to pass.
She unilaterally ordered an attack on the institute for the welfare of humanity. But the intel leaked out, and before the assault could begin, a mechanical angel descended.

Originally posted by 3417, Spearhead of Providence:

Mankind's extinction was an unshakeable fate. Her nation debated imposing sanctions against the research institute that had created the cause of it all: the Dei ex Machina.
The government was unlikely to reach a consensus, but a military authority, unable to wait any longer, ordered an attack on the research institute. Ten minutes later,
3417's homeland was wiped from the face of the earth. Upon witnessing the overwhelming difference in power, no other country dared provoke the institute ever again.

While I don't have all of the Personality Data Memoirs from grinding each boss thrice, 64% without the final bosses, post-game coordinates, and Cardinals, most I've read detail how ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Earth was so I dunno if it was worth saving. You'll see ⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ (Eve Neumann) or ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜(⬜⬜) (Designer Baby/Babies) show up a few times.

[Shrimp Simp]

Originally posted by VertVentus:

Is that including the true ending? Where you walk Enoa on the title screen to the light from the door behind her.
I'm not there yet, but I guess it is for the most part yuri character-focused. There's post-game exclusive tea parties ("World Records") to further get your fix of that.

• August WR = FID-895-22, Lv. 70-73
  
• September WR = NOH-930-56, Lv. 65-68
  
• October WR = AMN-107-44, Lv. 100-103
  
• November WR = CAR-118-46, Lv. 40-43
  
• December WR = SAP-123-47, Lv. 60-63
  
• January WR = JUS-001-01, Lv. 95-98
  
• February WR = SPS-272-88, Lv. 50-53
  
• March WR = CAR-316-28, Lv. 45-48
  
• April WR = FID-454-85, Lv. 50-53
  
• May WR = NOH-552-06, Lv. 65-68
  
• June WR = AUD-676-25, Lv. 75-78
  
• July WR = CAR-721-19, Lv. 60-63

WR? Why are they called World Records? And where did you find these anyway?

[VertVentus]

I was using the shortened JP term for it ("Top World Records"), they are localized as "Records of the Higher Plane" and said Higher Plane is our world and related topics from that month (Feb = Valentines, June brides, Christmas, etc.). They're officially revealed by the JP Twitter on the 1st of every month,
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1686028950848577536 (August)
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1697262973096734764 (September)
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1708134606191395003 (October)
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1719383731839127564 (November)
and planned to be continually revealed until July 2024, but you don't have to wait to unlock them all. I found a full list here.
https://h1g.jp/crymachina/?%E4%B8%8A%E4%BD%8D%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E3%81%AE%E8%A8%98%E9%8C%B2%E4%B8%80%E8%A6%A7
Any cleared coordinates before post-game will also retroactively unlock them.

[Shrimp Simp]

Originally posted by VertVentus:

I was using the shortened JP term for it ("Top World Records"), they are localized as "Records of the Higher Plane" and said Higher Plane is our world and related topics from that month (Feb = Valentines, June brides, Christmas, etc.). They're officially revealed by the JP Twitter on the 1st of every month,
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1686028950848577536 (August)
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1697262973096734764 (September)
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1708134606191395003 (October)
https://twitter.com/crymachina_game/status/1719383731839127564 (November)
and planned to be continually revealed until July 2024, but you don't have to wait to unlock them all. I found a full list here.
https://h1g.jp/crymachina/?%E4%B8%8A%E4%BD%8D%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E3%81%AE%E8%A8%98%E9%8C%B2%E4%B8%80%E8%A6%A7
Any cleared coordinates before post-game will also retroactively unlock them.

I see, thank you, by the way do you know how to get the Guardian Spirit Network Warehouse Archive? I can't see to get it for some reason.

[VertVentus]

I don't have it either, so I guess you'd have to keep grinding those 4 TEM coordinates for it? I only fought Söze, Misery, and Clarice thrice each.

[Shrimp Simp]

Originally posted by VertVentus:

I don't have it either, so I guess you'd have to keep grinding those 4 TEM coordinates for it? I only fought Söze, Misery, and Clarice thrice each.

...Great, well I'll finish up the other networks first, then go back to it.

[𓂀𓂏𓂀]

Originally posted by Lestrad:

OP saved me from another stupid Farcry 5/Berseria/Mass Effect 3 ending, apparently. Giving the villains the last laugh is a trope that really needs to just disappear already.

Guess this will be going on the list alongside Gollum, Forspoken, and Redfall as disappointments.

you should read the rest of the thread lmao, Wish I could delete this thread in shame but oh well. Unsubbing from discussion sorry for being dumb btw.

[Lestrad]

If even half of what Ventus said is true, it only proves your point. That the ending is trash.

By Ventus explanation, not only did the heroes not accomplish anything, but the defeat of the villains meant nothing because evil had already won. The heroes were never going to become humans, and the villains had already succeeded in destroying humanity.

Removing the villains from the equation at that point has zero meaning (see Elden Ring) the world is still destroyed, and everyone's still dead. It's dumb, pure and simple. You may allow the enemy to live long enough to witness their full and complete failure, but you never ever EVER give them the last laugh.

[darkcityguy]

Originally posted by Lestrad:

By Ventus explanation, not only did the heroes not accomplish anything, but the defeat of the villains meant nothing because evil had already won. The heroes were never going to become humans, and the villains had already succeeded in destroying humanity.

Why bother commenting about the game's plot and ending if you've never played it? The whole point of the game is to question what makes someone human, and there definitely would have been consequences for the protagonists if they didn't "remove the villains."