Summary
Video games are hard to make. The years they take in production and development are often far more than a lot of other media, like films or novels, and as a result,a lot of things can get cut, especially at the last minute. It may be a level that gets cut, a character that doesn’t make it from the drawing board, or even a full-fledged ending that could have been voiced/animated yet never see the light of day.
Fortunately for you, we’ve tracked down just a fair few video game endings that were cut, even though we believe that these endings could have actually worked really well, even as an alternate conclusion to the story. Regardless of the reasons why these endings got cut, here are some of the best endings we think should’ve made it into the game.
InThe Walking Dead: Season Two, a lot of things got cut and rearranged at the last minute. In true Telltale fashion, characters were changed, story beats were dropped and, overall, it gave the impression that the story was meant to go in a different direction.
Well, this was actually confirmed in adeveloper commentary. Originally, Clementine was going to have to make a choice between giving up AJ to survive in the blizzard or choose to carry AJ, which would result in both her and AJ dying in the blizzard. It would have been a bleak choice, but one that fits the season’s dark theme.
7Tomb Raider: Underworld
The End Of Amanda
By the end ofTomb Raider: Underworld, Lara Croft has defeated her archnemesis, discovered the fate of her mother, and saved the world while escaping with her life with her best frenemy Amanda. It’s a lot, we know. But the ending sees the two of them let bygones be bygones and go their separate ways.
Except, in acut alternate ending, Amanda would have tried to attack Lara, only to be shot and left to die. It was a dark conclusion but one that finally showed us the fate of Amanda, as opposed to leaving her situation ambiguous, and would’ve wrapped up this trilogy nicely.
6Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
The Beginning Of Natla
Tomb Raider seems to love these cut endings, only this one seems like the opposite of Underworld’s other ending. In an alternate,leakedending forShadow of the Tomb Raider, most of what you’ll find is the same, except for one very big clue as to what the next game could be about.
There’s a shot of a letter from the one and only Jacqueline Natla, implying that we would be seeing another retelling of the original Tomb Raider story with this brand-new Lara, or perhaps a hint at the reunification timeline.
5Fallout 4
Some fans agree that inFallout 4, it can feel like the Brotherhood of Steel ending is a little lackluster compared tosome of the other factions. Well, this may be because the original Brotherhood of Steel route could have gone differently.
Cut voice lines from Paladin Danse suggest that you would originally have been able to become the new leader of the Brotherhood of Steel as the Elder, replacing Maxson. However, for whatever reason, this was cut, though it would have been nice to have the option and perhaps help develop the ending for this faction. After all, this is an RPG. Shouldn’t we have the freedom to do what we want?
Actions Have Consequences in Ending X
Another ending that could have been kept isEnding XforDead Rising 3. If you killed too many friendly NPCs, then you would get Ending X, in which protagonist Nick Ramos is killed for his crimes. The ending was cut for unknown reasons and although it is a little uncharacteristic, it would have been good to have the ending in the story.
It’s a great way to show that your actions actually have consequences and this dark ending is a perfect demonstration of how your choices in the game could affect the world around you, something which is a staple of the Dead Rising series.
3Life Is Strange
A Much More Bittersweet End
Life is Strangedidn’t have too much cut content except for its fifth episode, which seemed to have some original ideas that never made the cut. Originally, the ending options were more or less the same. You can either save Arcadia Bay or try to save Chloe. If you don’t save Chloe, then she will end up getting shot by Nathan.
However, in the current game, this gunshot leads to Chloe’s death, whereas originally it was going to lead to Chloe in a coma. The original ending wouldn’t have Max at a funeral but instead visiting a comatose Chloe in a hospital, which would have beena bittersweet endingfor the duo and a way to possibly have Chloe come back in future games without having to sacrifice the town.
2Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Redeem Yourself With Sacrifice
Speaking of sacrifices, you originally had the option to do so in a cut ending forStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Originally, if you were a female character and going on a romance with the soldier Carth Onasi, you could keep him around even if you went down the path of the dark side.
Carth would appear one last time toward the end of the game to ask you to come back to the light, and you could make the final choice to redeem yourself by blowing up the Star Forge with you and Carth in it. Once again, it would have been nice to have the option even if the ending was bleak.
1Mass Effect 3
A Less Controversial Option Was There
The endings ofMass Effect 3were controversial to say the least. Many fans felt that having all the decisions boil down to a last-minute choice didn’t really affect much of the outcome, regardless of what they did or didn’t do over the course of the games. But did you know that one of the endings was changed?
Lead writer of Mass Effect 1 and 2 Drew Karpyshynclaimed thatone of the endings was to lure the Reapers through mass relays and destroy them, ending the Reaper threat but cutting off galactic communities from one another. Many fans felt this would have been a far more interesting decision, eliminating a universe-spanning threat whilst also leaving the door open for a very interesting take on the world for any Mass Effect sequels.
