Tom’s written a lot of wonderful, insightful, and interesting (not to mention funny) gaming articles, but I think his piece today on how he would have ended the original Bioshock might be his best yet.
Obviously, there are spoilers for the original game, as well as potential spoilers for Bioshock 2, but if you don’t mind that, go read it. I love Bioshock, but like most people I felt the ending was a little flat, or at least didn’t quite match the rest of the exceptionally well-crafted game. Tom’s ending is brilliant in a number of different ways and definitely would have fit perfectly into the game, and perhaps even eclipsed it.
I think I’ve said this before, but I’ll repeat it: Tom should be developing games, and I predict he will soon start getting offers from game developers. I have no idea if this is what he wants, but on the other hand, screw what he wants. I want to play all those games that are crawling around in his brain, and if Tom’s happniess as a gaming writer must be sacrificed in order for me to do so, then so be it. SO BE IT. Get this guy making games, already. And make sure he is budgeted for an assistant.
How do you take your tea, Mr. Francis?
20 Comments
April 15, 2009
Tru’ dat.
April 15, 2009
Wow, that ending would’ve been so much better.
April 15, 2009
I honestly would have preferred that ending, even though it would have removed any chance for sequels.
Still, epic ending is epic. I would escort ALL of the little sisters to the bathysphere, I’m a nice guy. Most of the time.
April 15, 2009
Meh, this ending is pretty cool, but I want a sense of accomplishment. The original ending ( If you Rescued all the Sisters ) was good. It made you feel like a badass hero, who saved the lives of tons of little girls ( Pedo-Bear Alert), and has helped them live their life even until death.
With this ending however, you are stuck in the city, Big Daddy Suit attached, and stuck there forever.
Yet, the bathysphere boss fight would have been epic, and if the sisters jumped up on him in the end. So basically, ADAM Atlas, in Sphere chamber, you still save little girls while he recharges instead of puncturing him, the girls throw the needles at him once you save them all, then you get on, He narrowly grabs the sphere, jumps on, but is beaten off by debris…Same cutscene ending…Then we find Atlas, on the floor ADAM style, covered with glowing leeches, and his eye opens…
Hmm?
-Krash
April 15, 2009
As I said on James, Francis Developments?
April 15, 2009
I guess we HAVE to wait for developers to call him instead of kidnapping him and dropping him off at their offices. Unfortunate…oh well. :P
April 15, 2009
I have not had a shrine to Tom Francis since he wrote plan B. You… You can’t prove anything.
April 15, 2009
Tom Francis ≥ God³
April 15, 2009
With this ending however, you are stuck in the city, Big Daddy Suit attached, and stuck there forever.
Actually, I was kind of disappointed you got out of the Big Daddy suit. The game made a big deal about how horrible and irreversible the becoming-a-Big-Daddy process was, and then in the final cutscene you’re normal again, no explanation. It made all the buildup seem a little pointless.
And Tom Francis’ ending is definitely better.
April 15, 2009
You know, India has a polytheistic system already.
Can anyone give a good reason not to make Tom Francis a god of something?
April 15, 2009
Freaking epic! Oh this is how the game should have been done.
April 15, 2009
/me facepalms
Screw my other ending…i keep thinking about how cool this would turn out XD
April 15, 2009
“I think I’ve said this before, but I’ll repeat it: Tom should be developing games, and I predict he will soon start getting offers from game developers. I have no idea if this is what he wants, but on the other hand, screw what he wants. I want to play all those games that are crawling around in his brain, and if Tom’s happniess as a gaming writer must be sacrificed in order for me to do so, then so be it. SO BE IT. Get this guy making games, already.”
I couldn’t imagine this being too far from happening, considering his popularity and influence augmented by your endorsement.
April 15, 2009
Hehe!! Nice entry :D
“How do you take your tea, Mr. Francis?” rofl :D
April 16, 2009
The implication of Fountaine actually drowning unremittingly until the juice charging the vita chambers is cut… is probably the most brilliant thing we never got to see in BioShock.
Cor blimey, I get chills just by thinking of it.
April 16, 2009
Wow, thanks for the lovely write-up. And for all the nice comments, everyone. Seeing this was a nice break from dealing with having all my stuff nicked last night.
April 16, 2009
Ouch, that’s harsh Penta… hope you do OK.
… that would have been THE best ending to a game I have seen. The ending of any game is probably the most important part, and considering how brilliant Bioshock was, the ending wasn’t up to par. Above average, definitely, but not genius-level.
This is genius-level. The irony is oh so bittersweet, and Fontaine’s fate would probably be the most amazing and quite possibly the most disturbing part of an already disturbing game. As Fluid says, it gives me chills…
Besides, the sacrifice of yourself for the Little Sisters is definitely has more impact than you surviving.
April 16, 2009
Oh, yeah, the ending was a pretty good idea, too. (:
Kudos, Pentadact.
April 18, 2009
I don’t know about Tom Francis, but for me it’s got to be milk and two sugars with the teabag squeezed for maximum flavour.
April 18, 2009
Tom Francis is a damn genious. The thought of Fontaine caught in an endless cycle of death is brilliant.
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.