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[Metroidvania]

So... What was the point of All the Doe Imagery used in the previous Episodes? Looking back at it... Seems weird that they had them play such a big part with Rachel and then they just... Don't mean anything?

I mean, we see a family of Doe at the end in a broken Arcadia, alive and well, but did they not really mean anything? Why have them lure Max so many areas if it's all meaningless.

Doe is (arguably) Max's spirit animal, not necessarily indicating anything regarding Rachel.

They show up several times in episode 5, including in the 'backwards' school section of the nightmare, when it goes into the bathroom.

 

[LiK]

Haha, got 6% for showing no affection to warren vs the hug/kiss ones.

72% for kiss when i checked. good on you Warren. you deserved it.

 

[Tcab96]

Sacrificed the town. Boy am I depressed now.

 

[Sciel]

After all that hype.....I didn't like the final episode too much.

As mentioned numerous times in the earlier posts in the this thread, my main gripes are the following:

1. The constant time-rewinding back and forth to fix mistakes. It just causes way too much of a disconnect and makes it impossible for the player to be immersed. It just didn't feel the same as the previous 4 episodes.

2. The fact that the game does a telltale and flushes all your choices down the drain. Yes, there is that sequence in the nightmare. But, the ending ultimately comes down to the option you pick right at the end.

I didn't have any issue with either ending however, I felt it would have been much better if that final choice was not given to the player and instead, your ending should have been determined by the choices you made throughout your game.

 

[Taruranto]

I thought Max could only travel back in time to pictures of herself? That's why she's so desperate to find the picture Warren took at the end. How did she travel back in time to the picture of that butterfly?

Less variables? The further you go back, the more messy things get.

 

[exmachina64]

Chloe mentioned Kate in one of the previous episodes so it seems like they knew each other. It is presumed that victoria and warren are there to support Max.

Why should Victoria support Max in a timeline where they never became friends?

Kate knew both Max and Chloe prior to the events of the game. Warren was there as moral support for Max even though this version of him never met Chloe. Victoria was very likely befriended again by Max based on her interaction with her when she told off Jefferson so she's also there for Max (which I'm extremely happy about because her change toward Max was my favorite).

In the "Save Arcadia Bay" ending, everything that occurred in the game has been erased; we have no idea what happened to Jefferson and Max telling Victoria off shouldn't have occurred. I understand that it's intentionally ambiguous, but I don't find it satisfying.

Episode 5 leaves me with the impression that DONTNOD knew where they wanted the story to go, but didn't know how to get there.

Edit: Rewatched that ending, saw that Jefferson was, in fact, arrested.

Edit: Double edit. I guess you guys think that Max telling Victoria off still applies because it takes place before Chloe being shot chronologically, but I've been under the impression that Max jumping back in photos resets events to take place in the "original" timeline, meaning that event between Max and Victoria wouldn't occur.

 

[ghostjoke]

Friendzoned Warren so hard a tornado hit him. No regrets. I should not be allowed to make important decisions in real life.

 

[toastyToast]

Why should Victoria support Max in a timeline where they never became friends?



In the "Save Arcadia Bay" ending, everything that occurred in the game has been erased; we have no idea what happened to Jefferson and Max telling Victoria off shouldn't have occurred. I understand that it's intentionally ambiguous, but I don't find it satisfying.

Episode 5 leaves me with the impression that DONTNOD knew where they wanted the story to go, but didn't know how to get there.

Edit: Rewatched that ending, saw that Jefferson was, in fact, arrested.

Max pretty much does 100% clear in the save Arcadia Bay ending. Probably a 1CC without Chloe there to fuck it up

 

[Double Donut]

Wait, I just realized something.

When Max uses focus, doesn't she overwrite her memories when she reappears? So does that mean in the sacrifice Chloe ending, she loses her memories of the whole week and the whole adventure?

Or am I just confused... the whole "Chloe, tell me how this plays out when I re-appear" part in the focused parking lot confused me with how her memory works alongside the focus power.

 

[BlackJace]

Really thought they were telegraphing an encounter with a ghostly Rachel who would then scold you about using your powers. (I also assumed she was the one who wrote in your journal and sent you that ominous text)

Overall, it was a pretty bittersweet ending, though Max's slight hopeful smile after seeing the blue butterfly land on the casket reassured me that I made the right choice.

Good game.

 

[Papercuts]

One thing I don't get is actually in the sacrifice chloe ending that jefferson got arrested again. In the reality where Max first did this and went to LA the storm hit, but how did he get caught this time?

 

[danm999]

Wait, I just realized something.

When Max uses focus, doesn't she overwrite her memories when she reappears? So does that mean in the sacrifice Chloe ending, she loses her memories of the whole week and the whole adventure?

Or am I just confused... the whole "Chloe, tell me how this plays out when I re-appear" part in the focused parking lot confused me with how her memory works alongside the focus power.

When the focus power ends, the Max that is left behind (I'll call it auto-pilot Max) seems to not retain the memories of future Max. The Max that returns to the present retains it though.

Similarly, the Max that returns to the future seems to retain no memories of what has occured in the new timeline under the auto-pilot Max.

So she'll need to be filled in on the events of the past 24 hours when she returns to Friday, since that's auto-pilot Max time she cannot recall.

One thing I don't get is actually in the sacrifice chloe ending that jefferson got arrested again. In the reality where Max first did this and went to LA the storm hit, but how did he get caught this time?

David apprehends Nathan in the bathroom and Nathan is arrested. At that point he gets interrogated and that leads to Jefferson being arrested too.

 

[LiK]

Wait, I just realized something.

When Max uses focus, doesn't she overwrite her memories when she reappears? So does that mean in the sacrifice Chloe ending, she loses her memories of the whole week and the whole adventure?

Or am I just confused... the whole "Chloe, tell me how this plays out when I re-appear" part in the focused parking lot confused me with how her memory works alongside the focus power.

She remembers everything. She only forgets what happens if she alters time and enters her alt self.

One thing I don't get is actually in the sacrifice chloe ending that jefferson got arrested again. In the reality where Max first did this and went to LA the storm hit, but how did he get caught this time?

Nathan probably revealed everything when he was interrogated including Jefferson's involvement with the kidnappings. Can't help but feel he took him down with him.

 

[matrixman92]

Sacrificed the town. Boy am I depressed now.

i got depressed for a couple weeks after almost every previous episode. Now its going to be perpetual because I have no further story to look forward too lol

 

[Papercuts]

David apprehends Nathan in the bathroom and Nathan is arrested. At that point he gets interrogated and that leads to Jefferson being arrested too.

Ah, makes sense.

 

[Dad]

Can anyone explain why tearing up the photo got Max stuck back in the dark room? I didn't really follow on that

 

[exmachina64]

Wait, I just realized something.

When Max uses focus, doesn't she overwrite her memories when she reappears? So does that mean in the sacrifice Chloe ending, she loses her memories of the whole week and the whole adventure?

Or am I just confused... the whole "Chloe, tell me how this plays out when I re-appear" part in the focused parking lot confused me with how her memory works alongside the focus power.

I'd say that Max's confusion with respect to being in the Vortex Club in the crippled Chloe timeline was an indication that she didn't have those memories, but that was contradicted at the beginning of Episode 3.

By Episode 5, it appears that Max has the memories of each timeline (the original plus the alternates), similar to The Butterfly Effect; obviously, Max is able to recall other timelines in dialogue.

 

[A-V-B]

Really thought they were telegraphing an encounter with a ghostly Rachel who would then scold you about using your powers.

Or... anything, really.

I actually thought the nightmare - before I found out it was just a nightmare - was Max stuck on a shattered crossroad of time outside all the other universes, and Rachel was the only one who could rescue Max. I thought that's what the text message was about. I thought that's what walking through the messed up dorm was about. I thought that's what the deer was all about. I thought Samuel would have a part to play. I thought maybe even the homeless woman could be a version of Max that took decades to escape such a scenario on her own, and ended up a lost wanderer in time.

And then it was just a bad dream that had almost nothing to do with her powers.

Feels like they ran out of money, and sacrificed world building to make sure they finished the Chloe storyline.

 

[LiK]

I dunno what they're gonna do with a new season. New characters I suppose? I'll miss Max and Chloe so much.

 

[Double Donut]

Or... anything, really.

I actually thought the nightmare - before I found out it was just a nightmare - was Max stuck on a shattered crossroad of time outside all the other universes, and Rachel was the only one who could rescue Max. I thought that's what the text message was about. I thought that's what walking through the messed up dorm was about. I thought that's what the deer was all about.

And then it was just a bad dream that had almost nothing to do with her powers.

Feels like they ran out of money, and sacrificed world building to make sure they finished the Chloe storyline.

Yeah, I was expecting Rachel to appear in the nightmare. Especially with her text message.

Imagine if it was her in the diner scolding the player rather than another Max. Would have been crazy.

 

[matrixman92]

I dunno what they're gonna do with a new season. New characters I suppose? I'll miss Max and Chloe so much.

One of the devs confirmed a couple days ago that this is indeed the end of Max's story. I guess a new setting and new characters then. It just wont be the same....

 

[LiK]

One of the devs confirmed a couple days ago that this is indeed the end of Max's story. I guess a new setting and new characters then. It just wont be the same....

Gonna be hard to top Max and Chloe's chemistry. T_T

 

[Astral]

Beautiful ending aside, our choices really didn't mean shit in the grand scheme of things. I wanted to retain my best friendship with Victoria. Hell even Kate's suicide is erased at the end. Fucking awesome game but I do wonder when we'll get a game where our choices really have a huge impact on the ending. I know it's hard but there has to he a way to do it.

 

[Morts]

The best part was when you were in the school hallway and everyone was walking and talking backwards, if you rewind time you the dialog is played forwards.

The nightmare stuff in general maybe went on a bit too long, but that could just be me for trying to finish the episode in one night.

 

[A-V-B]

One of the devs confirmed a couple days ago that this is indeed the end of Max's story. I guess a new setting and new characters then. It just wont be the same....

Honestly, it's going to be weird. The powers were set up for Max and Chloe's story. They existed for that purpose.

Now you'll give them to someone else? That's gonna be hard.

 

[matrixman92]

Honestly, it's going to be weird. The powers were set up for Max and Chloe's story. They existed for that purpose.

Now you'll give them to someone else? That's gonna be hard.

could be an entirely different power altogether

 

[A-V-B]

could be an entirely different power all together

There'll be pressure to stick with what they know, though.

 

[LiK]

Calling it Season 1 was a mistake. Should've been it's own thing. i wouldn't mind them doing a brand new IP instead. But I guess if they have plans for a proper continuation in the same universe, that's fine with me.

Not gonna lie, I wanna play as Kate with powers

 

[exmachina64]

Can anyone explain why tearing up the photo got Max stuck back in the dark room? I didn't really follow on that

"Autopilot Max" didn't send the text; when Max was in the Dark Room again, he noticed the torn contest entry and burned the journal because destroying one's own art is the greatest sin.

Feels like they ran out of money, and sacrificed world building to make sure they finished the Chloe storyline.

This.

 

[Dad]

"Autopilot Max" didn't send the text; when Max was in the Dark Room again, he noticed the torn contest entry and burned the journal because destroying one's own art is the greatest sin.

Then why did David show up and thank her for telling him about Jefferson?

 

[LiK]

Did you guys check the journal and SMS during the nightmare? That was pretty awesome. I loved that they made it optional. It was pretty amusing when I took a look at whim.

 

[MBison]

Were there actually photos to take in episode 5? I didnt get a single one lol.

 

[paragonpro]

I just finished it, i loved the ending, its definitely in my running for goat, it was fucking heartbreaking to sacrafice chloe, im still teary about it right now, just a beautiful game and the stuff with Marc Jefferson in the beggining of the episode managed to make me feel legitimatley uncomfortable. Im just sad thats its over, ill be revisiting this game for certain this time next year, I need to let this experience until then, be my experience in Arcadia Bay.

 

[LiK]

Were there actually photos to take in episode 5? I didnt get a single one lol.

I got 3. It was pretty creative how some of them happened.

 

[Dad]

I got 3. It was pretty creative how some of them happened.

I really liked

Spoiler

having to take the photo backwards during the reverse school section.

Cool touch

 

[MBison]

I got 3. It was pretty creative how some of them happened.

damn i got all of them in previous chapters but somehow didnt get a single one. pretty sad lol

 

[LiK]

I really liked

Spoiler

having to take the photo backwards during the reverse school section.

Cool touch

Whoa, I don't have that one. Pretty cool.

 

[BY2K]

Wow, the "sacrifice the town" ending is pretty bad.

I'd almost consider it a bad ending. Everybody dies. Max is being incredibly selfish, considering Chloe was okay with accepting her fate if it meant everybody else lives. And in both endings, your choices don't matter in the end, which is basically the whole point now.

 

[falconxcrunner09]

Yup, that is GOTY right here. Got the Platinum too. Perfect ending, one of the best stories and best cast of characters I have seen in a long time in video games. Only flaw with the game is poor animations with the mouth and off sync with the CC at times.

I picked the sacrifice Chloe ending, and I didn't feel like the music suited the ending that well. It felt a bit too upbeat for what was going on.

 

[matrixman92]

Wow, the "sacrifice the town" ending is pretty bad.

I'd almost consider it a bad ending. Everybody dies. Max is being incredibly selfish, considering Chloe was okay with accepting her fate if it meant everybody else leaving. And in both endings, your choices don't matter in the end, which is basically the whole point now.

Chloe is worth saving more than everyone in the town

 

[KingBroly]

Chloe is worth saving more than everyone in the town

Given Chloe's thinking at the end, you'd think she would resent Max for saving her instead of everyone else.

 

[Dad]

Max should have just stayed in the timeline where she flies to San Fransisco and both Chloe and Warren get ravaged by the tornado. It was clearly the best possible outcome

 

[BY2K]

Chloe is worth saving more than everyone in the town

Arcadia Bay is not just Jefferson or Nathan, or David, if you really hate him. There was a lot more people in that town than the ones we actively saw during the season. Yes, the town had quite a few bad people, but I'd bet the good/bad ratio was a lot in favor of the good people.

And Chloe's not so good, either. She wanted to steal school funding. Assuming that's what it was.

 

[LiK]

I want a post-mortem with the devs. I want more!

 

[Steamlord]

Given Chloe's thinking at the end, you'd think she would resent Max for saving her instead of everyone else.

"Thanks for letting everyone I know including my mom die even after I wholeheartedly offered to sacrifice myself to save them. Asshole."

 

[Astral]

Chloe is worth saving more than everyone in the town

Honestly, Chloe was trouble through and through. I still didn't want her to die though. It was frustrating watching Max let her die. The storm started because she used her powers to save Chloe right? Why not try to save her without her powers? She listened to Nathan's voicemail. She knew he wasn't a monster. I feel like she could have done something.

 

[Tcab96]

Wow, the "sacrifice the town" ending is pretty bad.

I'd almost consider it a bad ending. Everybody dies. Max is being incredibly selfish, considering Chloe was okay with accepting her fate if it meant everybody else lives. And in both endings, your choices don't matter in the end, which is basically the whole point now.

I felt pretty shitty about picking that ending. But after seeing Chloe lying in the bathroom, as the blood left her body, I couldn't take it.

"Thanks for letting everyone I know including my mom die even after I wholeheartedly offered to sacrifice myself to save them. Asshole."

I read that in Chloe's voice and it was perfect. 😢😂

I'm going to miss these characters.

 

[matrixman92]

Arcadia Bay is not just Jefferson or Nathan, or David, if you really hate him. There was a lot more people in that town than the ones we actively saw during the season. Yes, the town had quite a few bad people, but I'd bet the good/bad ratio was a lot in favor of the good people.

And Chloe's not so good, either. She wanted to steal school funding. Assuming that's what it was.

yeah, i would still choose Chloe over an entire town

 

[AdaWong]

The only thing I'm disappointed about is how the best character ever aka Victoria Chase didn't get enough screen time

 

[Steamlord]

Honestly, Chloe was trouble through and through. I still didn't want her to die though. It was frustrating watching Max let her die. The storm started because she used her powers to save Chloe right? Why not try to save her without her powers? She listened to Nathan's voicemail. She knew he wasn't a monster. I feel like she could have done something.

Even if she saved Chloe without rewinding, the only reason she knows how to do it in the first place is because of her time travel shenanigans. So she'd still be messing with the "normal" timeline even if she didn't actually use her power yet again.