Loved and hated in the gaming community,Electronic Arts has been one of the biggest names in the industry for the past twenty years or so. This gaming behemoth is known for developing and publishing some of the most iconic and immersive gaming experiences across various genres. Many franchises come under EA’s banner, fromNeed for SpeedtoBattlefield.
Many of their titles are celebrated for their thrilling gameplay and engaging narratives, and EA games have had emotionally devastating endings. From the ultimate sacrifices of beloved characters to the gut-wrenching consequences of war, these games have proven that EA is not afraid to tug at players' heartstrings. These endings serve as a testament to the power of storytelling in video games and the personal connections players can forge with virtual worlds and characters.
Split-screen, also known as couch co-op, is a dying genre.A Way Outwas one of the last titles that was specifically designed for it. Players can play online, too, but they can always see what the other player is doing. They step into the shoes of Leo and Vincent, two convicts who are trying to escape from prison. It is one of the best-written stories that one can expect from a co-op game, especially one that requires two people to play through. It forces players to communicate with each other, and that is what makes the ending all the more impactful.
In the game’s final showdown, the protagonists face off in a gunfight. Players are prompted to reach for a gun,and only one hero is left alive in the end. Since the game is structured to make the players bond emotionally, this leaves a hole in both players' hearts. After working together to help each other, it’s not easy to have to suddenly shoot the other player. It’s not quite perfect as far as character arcs and story development goes, but there’s nothing like it out there.
Dead Space 2continues the terrifying saga of Isaac Clarke, a troubled engineer battling against the relentless Necromorph threat. Throughout the game, players witness Isaac’s descent into madness and his struggle to separate reality from the haunting visions of hislate girlfriend, Nicole. In the heart-wrenching finale, Isaac has to defeat Nicole as she appears in a final hallucination. He finally comes to terms with her death and bids her a sorrowful farewell, allowing her apparition to rest in peace.
After the final “boss” battle, players can see the utter resignation and defeat on Isaac’s face after he is finally free from “Nicole’s” torment. He comes to terms with his own death and sits down to accept his fate as the Sprawl collapses around him. Of course, Ellie flies in and saves him at just the right time, but players are left grappling with the immense grief that Isaac has dealt with since the end of the first game. Even though he was saved in the end,Dead Space 2had a somber and poignant end to Isaac’s journey with Nicole.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivoris an ominous title that foreshadows what happens at the end of the game. Five years after the events ofFallen Order, Cal finds new friends in Bode and Eno Cordova, and reunites with his old mentor Cere. Greez and Merrin rejoin them in their fight against the Empire as they attempt to find Tanalorr. Alas, right when they defeat the two major antagonists in the finale, Bode reveals himself to be an Imperial Spy (and a former Jedi no less) who has fallen to the Dark Side. He murders Cordova, and Cere dies at the hand of Darth Vader.
Cal and Merrin are later forced to kill Bode in front of his own daughter, which is one of the more horrific moments of the game. They do everything to avoid Bode’s death, but there was no other way in the end. The funeral for Cere, Cordova, and Bode was a punch in the gut. Cal has slowly gone from a happy, chipper young man inFallen Orderto a sober, mature tragic hero who knows all too much about death inSurvivor. As Cal stands there all night after the funeral, players have a moment to think about the journey he has taken, and whether it was all worth it. Fans ofStar Warsmedia havepraised the darker tonethat these games have taken, and cannot wait to see whatRespawn will do in the sequel.
TheMass Effecttrilogy is a space opera masterpiece that explores themes of sacrifice, unity, and the consequences of monumental decisions. In traditional BioWare fashion, there are many decisions to make throughout the game, which will lead to multiple endings at theconclusion ofMass Effect 3.
Regardless of the path chosen, the game’s protagonist, Commander Shepard, is destined to perish, leaving players to bid farewell to a character they’ve grown deeply attached to. The emotional weight is further amplified by certain character deaths in the story. Mordin’s death, for example, is one of the saddest in the series. He sings while the tower collapses around him, showing his fear and adding a layer of humanity that a player wouldn’t normally.
At the end, the haunting sight of Shepard’s name etched onto a memorial wall drives home the point that heroes must sometimes make sacrifices. While fans of the series are no stranger to emotional deaths,Mass Effect 3’sending takes a lot of time to process because of the journey it took to get there. There is a feeling of emptiness that follows; a depression that feels as if it will never be cured because of the finality of those names on the memorial wall. Fans hope thatMass Effect 4’slaunchwill fill the hole left behind by the trilogy.
Titanfall 2’s single-player campaign was a pleasant surprise, delivering a captivating narrative and one of gaming’s most endearing buddy-bot relationships. Throughout the game, players form a deep bond with BT, an advanced Titan AI that becomes an unwavering companion to the protagonist, Jack Cooper. For an FPS game, the story is an unconventional emotional rollercoaster. It takes players through the ups and downs as Jack and BT constantly find themselves in danger. Unfortunately, in one of the game’s most emotional moments, Jack is forced to watch as BT is brutally destroyed. He is then given BT’s core, which feels like a soul, for all intents and purposes, and uses it to revive him in another chassis.
In the game’s climactic finale, players find that it was all for nothing, as BT sacrifices himself to protect Jack. It is a heartbreaking farewell between the two comrades. Even though BT’s death is left open to interpretation, players are left to grapple with the profound sense of loss and the bittersweet reality that sometimes, even the most unconventional friendships must come to an end.Titanfall 2’s ending is a sad reminder of the power of companionship and the emotional toll that saying goodbye can take.
