About the ending

[Murray]

So the devs decided to just take the ♥♥♥♥ with the ending, huh? Pretending like it makes sense to pick the key of darkness.

The idea crossed my mind that my conscience shouldn't be exactly 'clear', but it was nonsensical to pick the other one based on how it was described.
Also, it mentioned I was quickly convinced to kill the woman in the cage. I wasn't. I left her for ages until it forced me to do something with her. After seeing the state she made of people in her hidden room, my hope was to just be able to leave her in the cage, but didn't have that option.

Just saying what leaves a bad taste for you devs.

[Kyrah Abattoir]

Well the logic the devs went for is that the path of "light" for what i understand, is to accept that you don't have the right to decide if people should live or die through your actions, regardless of what those people might do to others, blood wouldn't be on your hands.

No matter what they did or could be doing, a life lost by your hands is blood on your hands.

You might not agree with it but it's the logic that rule the world of tormentum, you are not responsible for what others do, only for what you do to them.

[Murray]

But you have responsibility for whatever action you take... That is understood with the Icari, as he tells you you lead him to do it, so you take some pity on him.

[AlexGuy500]

SPOILERS BELOW



I think the point that the game tries to get across is the whole idea of redemption. The MC murdered his gf because he was jealous. All of the people you could choose to kill did something horrible as well and the only shred of "good" you COULD do was to redeem them. The whole idea of putting the MC in the position of judge, while the game judges you. Why should mechanical lady reedeem you if you dont reedem others too?

I think that's the logic the game is going for. The whole thing about pushing the player into picking the dark key is to make the player recognize that the MC is guilty too just like all the other "bad" characters in the game.

I think its cool that it lets you know you are a ♥♥♥♥ after the fact just like with the other characters. It sort of foreshadows the fact that maybe MC is a ♥♥♥♥ too. It sort brings it home harder at the end, than it would have had you known beforehand.

TL;DR

Game gives MC key non-choice to bring home that we are all ♥♥♥♥♥ and should not act like vainglorious cucks. Game is more about the idea of redemption than actual morality.

[Murray]

There can't be an effective test for redemption without its morality being consistant with the game's real world (not the purgatory you play the game in).

Being expected to thoughtlessly be picking the very shallow and gamey 'compassion' options just leads to the game looking dumb. They should have done the ending differently, because this just hurts it.

The poor interpretting of intent, lack of options and the alien morals that don't correlate with the more sophisticated judgements you'd find in reality, don't make for satisfying additions.

[Black Kalev]

The ending was the worst thing I have ever seen. I literally spent the whole game being the good guy until it wanted me to make the last 2 decisions and release a guy who had betrayed people and save a person who had commited mass murder. Because I had some trust issues with them, FOR GOOD REASON, I was banished to hell. ♥♥♥♥ this game. Its cool and all, but the story sucks ass.

[Chaosbreaker]

Originally posted by Murray:

But you have responsibility for whatever action you take... That is understood with the Icari, as he tells you you lead him to do it, so you take some pity on him.

Yet if you do another playthrough and do not give it the Storm Egg, the Grey Icari turns out betraying the (fish?)people of Frozen Tear nonetheless. The only difference your choice seems to make, is that when you give the Storm Egg to the Grey Icari, it thanks you in it's final moments, whereas if you did NOT give it the Storm Egg, it refuses to take responsibility for it's own actions, and tries to blame YOU for IT'S choice betraying the folk of Frozen Tear.

I think this as well is very fitting for the overall theme of the game. Responsibility, owning up to your choices, redemption.

Absolutely loved every single thing about this game. Well, maybe not the obsessive-compulsive speed-reruns for getting all endings and achievements.

[Chickenbowser]

The art is beautiful and the puzzles are a nice mix of thoughtful without being moon logic but the story and morality are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. The whole idea of not being judgemental is very cute and all but the game pretty much says it's okay to torture people do death, betray those who give you food and shelter, and commit mass murder and no one has he right to punish you for your actions because "wut right do u hav to judg dem!!??". Also some of the moral choices are super unclear but yet the game has this sort of preening smugness at the end about what an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ you are because you clearly should have picked A and instead of B.