Last time, you decided that Ridiculous spell animations are better than Ethan Winters’ sleight of hand. I’ll be happy for the person to go either way, so I’m glad the results are closer than I expected. This week, the question is whether you’ll leave a position with a song on your lips or your bag inflated. What’s better: an ending credits song or completely washing out a place?
An ending credits song
Video games have a lot of music but not many songs. Instrumental, choir, and orchestral are all great, but a song with lyrics can make a real hit. And I’m happy when the video game chooses to end with a bang by marking a song on the ending credits. They’re rare, but many of us hear them as crackers. A little touch to complete the ending.
I think the first I encountered was Mass Effect ending with Faunts’ M4 (Part II), an electric shock of Canadians wondering about acquisitions and “where are you going when this is over”. It’s not a song I would listen to outside of the game (and to be honest, I probably couldn’t hear most of the lyrics), but inside the game it made me feel like the galaxy was moving forward. bold step into the unknown. Great selection.
Portal’s Still Alive is a classic, hit harder than a surprise. I love that Final Fantasy XV ends with Florence + The Machine’s Stand By Me cover when you look at the anime boy band’s road trip photo. Remedy Entertainment are also big fans of the songs licensed in their attribution. Supergiant love records songs, from Bastion to Transistor and Pyre Hades. Tales From The Borderland ends on a cork. Sure, let’s join Rogue Warrior’s Unbelievable Melodies built from the puzzling and vindictive lines that Mickey Rourke considers our ‘hero’. Now I’m just studying the F.3.AR matriculation simulation ending with Danzig’s Mother And I can’t stop laughing. And my god, I even think about Nier: The Weight of the Automata World. Reminds me of more songs!
Completely wash a place
As a digital magpie, I can’t resist stealing everything that’s not bolted (and at least there’s a crack in the bolted treasures). Every apple, every ammo box, every jeweled cup, every piece of gold, every T-shirt, I’ll have it all. I’m not talking about stealing broadly, but the specific pleasure of emptying a place of anything of value.
Sometimes this is because I try reasonably to find the limited resources I might need but usually, to be honest, I just want to get everything. I’m playing Deus Ex: Mankind Divided right now, and even though I’ve finished loading the last game and have more money than I’ll let me spend, there I am, washing the bank just because I can. In games with ammo pick up, if I have max ammo, I will sometimes shoot one shot to be able to pick up the box. Mine now, clean and tidy.
Maybe this is part of what makes me like Viscera Cleanup Detail so: I’m cleaning up the clutter and rubbish left by the unclean level designers. They think they’re doing an interesting task for me but no, I’m just here to deal with the problem then.
Some games have systems that support the idea that washing a place is stealing. The Elder Scrolls and many other RPGs track ownership (and it’s fun to clean someone’s house after putting a bucket over their head so they can’t see you), and it’s pretty obvious that you’re a thief, but I feel the same in games that don’t have any judgment verbs that go with the cry. I really like the point in Resident Evil 8age where Ethan gets loose and says “Look mate, here’s a map of the things you haven’t grasped, go wild.” Thanks, map!
But which is better?
If I could, I would play all your items, all your in-game assets, and steal the end credits song as well. But what do you think, dear reader?
Choose your winner, vote in the poll below and make your case in the comments to convince others. We’ll convene again next week to see which can win — and keep up the great competition.
