[SPOILERS for all endings] How 'Blood Brothers' became my preferred ending.

[Zoser]

Again, I am discussing the ending here, so pretty all I am saying below will be spoilers - if you did not complete the game yet, I recommend to stop reading now.

Still here? OK. :)

The first time I played LIS2, I did so with high moral / high brotherhood and decided to surrender, leaving me with the IMHO second worst ending - 'Redemption' (I disliked only 'Lone Wolf' more). Sean in jail for 15 years for a crime he did not commit, then one night's camping with his brother before he is alone again. Sorry, could not do that to my boy, not after all he had been through!

So I re-did the last part and decided to make a run for it, leaving me with 'Parting Ways', at first the ending I could live with best. Of course I hated that the brothers were separated, probably for good, and that Daniel was at the mercy of the government - most likely as a secret weapon.

I then began another game from scratch and played Sean as basically still a good kid, he was polite and he did not screw with people who did not screw with him or his bro. (Sorry, Stamper - you had it coming!) He broke quite a few laws along the way but only when provoked. To be honest, I was not sure if it would be enough to get Daniel to go along at the border and he did.

Why do I prefer this ending?
- It is the only ending with the brothers being together.
- They appear to be content with their new life. Particularly Sean deserves it!
- It made sense for me that they would no longer trust a system that failed them every step of the way.
- Not sure I am reading this right but they appear to have turned into vigilantes, only going after major criminals.
- The 'Wolves' cover is rad!

I just wish that it would an option for Daniel to move the cops at the blockade out of the way 'gently', like he did in 'Parting Ways', but I do understand why they decided against it.

I hate that Daniel clearly lost whatever was lost of his innocence in this ending, but all endings have a massive downside.

Also as a lifelong cat person I feel terrible for killing the poor cougar, I could not actually look at the screen while it happened. Will have to try again and see if I can still get there with the kitty alive. :)

OK, just my few cents. Why do you prefer this or another ending, one is curious?

[julian.varanel]

I ended up opting for the Parting Ways ending. Throughout the episodes, it never felt to me as though Daniel was all that keen on the Puerto Lobos dream. This ending gives him a chance to grow up with Chris, his grandparents and have continued contact with Karen. And Sean, at least in my play through, ended up having Finn in his life. More importantly, it allows both boys to grow up and develop independently. It provides Daniel with a stable domestic situation and it relieves Sean of having to be a de facto parent..a burden he should never have had to assume. It also gives him the freedom to explore his young adulthood in a way that he might not have had otherwise. Sean can put Sean first.

[Zoser]

Very good points, Julian, I now feel a little better for the version of the boys I steered towards this ending! :)

[Kibōchen]

What is Parting Ways? Isn't that the ending where Sean wants to cross the border but Daniel doesn't/vice versa?

[Zoser]

Yes, it happens when Sean teaches Daniel to follow the rules of society.
As part of this is that you pay for your crimes, Daniel decides to turn himself in after getting his big bro to safety.

[Bahlsen]

Completely agree, besides it's only six years after game's end and they have plenty of cash so I guess they could find a way to travel to somewhere even safer if they wanted, and also pay their relatives so they can visit them if they happen to be short on money.

[Ataraxia ♥]

Originally posted by julian.varanel:

I ended up opting for the Parting Ways ending. Throughout the episodes, it never felt to me as though Daniel was all that keen on the Puerto Lobos dream. This ending gives him a chance to grow up with Chris, his grandparents and have continued contact with Karen. And Sean, at least in my play through, ended up having Finn in his life. More importantly, it allows both boys to grow up and develop independently. It provides Daniel with a stable domestic situation and it relieves Sean of having to be a de facto parent..a burden he should never have had to assume. It also gives him the freedom to explore his young adulthood in a way that he might not have had otherwise. Sean can put Sean first.

I love the way you explained it so much. I always felt it would be better for them to split apart. It was clear Sean always wanted to just escape and Daniel just wanted 'normal' so to me Parting Ways ending felt the best