*SPOILERS* Interpretation of ending?

[Dapper Tardigrade]

What do you think happened to the father in reality, or the relationship between father and son, at the end?

Perhaps the fiery environment that grew worse with each drink represented their house on fire? And maybe the girl lead the father out of the house and onto a cliff, where you then pushed him off?

Or maybe it was all just a mental disconnect from the father, and nothing actually happened in reality.

Just throwing these out there.

[Power of Seven]

The game is based on the lead developer's real childhood where he and his sisters survived an abusive father. Since the entire game is a metaphor, then you have to look beyond what you see and try to understand the symbolism.

I know that the developer reads this forum and pays attention to every person's posts. Here's how I interpret the events, and if I'm wrong, then I'll edit or remove this post since it's a serious and sensitive subject.

At the end of the game, Quico is told that he has to confront the ugly truths about his father. That section is appears to be a representation of his guilt, anger, and maybe shame put into the foreground. Part of dealing with a traumatic event in your life is that you have to acknowledge it really happened before you can move forward. Otherwise, like Quico, you'll just live in a pretend world and you'll never get over it.

In that section, the key part is that you (the player character) are helping Monster destroy himself and the people you love. You're intentionally feeding Monster the frogs. Even worse, you'll give Monster little girls to hurt. So you're supposed to see it as Quico watching his father drink and destroy his entire world around him, and Quico watching his drunk father abuse his sisters. So at this point, Quico is reflecting on these past events and thinking: Why didn't I do something about it? Why did I let it happen? It also implies that the worst thing about his childhood wasn't that his father hurt him, but he was equally guilty since he didn't do anything to stop it.

And the point is, he can't do anything about it since it's in the past. Regardless, he wouldn't have really been able to do much about it. He can't blame himself because he isn't the monster, his father is.

[Diakonov]

I guess the main achievment of this game is dealing with such serious issue with delicacy and beauty.

I think it is important to say that there may not be a "right" or "wrong" interpretation of this game.

The game world. Quico psyche. Puzzle, labyrinth, hidden keys. Monster, Lula, Girl helps him to pass and find himself.

Quico. He changes along the path, discovering ways to deal with monster, Lula, guided or supported by the Girl. At the beggining he is ignorant, but in the end the Girl and Quico share body paintings, become one. Quico then have his own wisdom, perhaps that is why the Girl dies by Monster hand? Either way, Quico manages to find himself, and let Monster go away.

Girl. Guide, sister? Perhaps Quico sister killed by his own father? Maybe trampled by father car? Either way, the Girl supports Quico and show him the way and seems to love Quico. She tries to save everyone, Lula, Monster by Shaman but fails and is killed by Monster.

Lula. Childhood joy? Inner child? It supports Quico along the path. It is damaged, near killed by Monster. The inner heart, affection?

Monster. Father. He trampled someone. Drunk. Violence. Ignorance. Unable to communicate. Either sleep or deal with his own wishes. He can play with Quico with a football ball and can save Quico from deadly traps. He cannot be saved, the pain and bad memories created by him can only be abandoned, not forgiven but forgotten.

I loved this game, it is a good one. Maybe it could be more deep if it was focused less on puzzles and more at the hidden drama and conflict inside Quico but nevertheless the game as it is gives a lot of freedom to each player to make his own feelings, specially the ones who suffered from abusive fathers.

[Minority Media]

Originally posted by Power of Seven:

I know that the developer reads this forum and pays attention to every person's posts.

You noticed. :) Thank you, we try!

[Minority Media]

Originally posted by Marronzinho:

I think it is important to say that there may not be a "right" or "wrong" interpretation of this game.

Indeed, beyond what we've already said through the media, we prefer to give the space that players need to live their own experience and find their own meaning in the game. :)

[Abyss_Walker]

Just wanna say how much I enjoyed this game. Played it with my 4 year old nephew and he loved it too. Of course he didn't get the symbolism/what was REALLY happening, but it was a great experience.

[RipperG]

well maybe you forgot that the father killed Quico mom and i think the ending means that only the death of his father will free him from the pain or he just have to let go and try to live with the painful memories
anyway it was really emotional, well done