First off, "same universe, different versions" is nonsense. Different versions are distinct universes, not the same. So in this sense, Golf Kratos is NOT God of War Kratos and both can never be visited within the same universe unless one has traveled across universes. So you can establish that Ref Mario and Punchout Tyson exist in a Punch Out Universe but not establish that Ref Mario is also Plumber Mario. Sorry.
Additionally, the statement that making a choice creates a spinoff universe where an alternate or null choice was made also isn't technically true. The idea is that there are infinite universes and they differ based on the existence of multiple possibilities. So it's more that a choice exists at all that creates the divide rather than you acting on it or not.
Furthermore, I'd posit that there is not "one" universe where you decided to do X instead of Y. Instead, there would be infinite universes of any given example because such is the nature of infinity.
Regarding the topic at hand, there are many other conclusions that can be made for heroes dying only to be able to try again. For example, one of your hero's abilities is to turn back time in that universe to a previous save spot. Or heck, the player is able to grant the hero that possibility without it being the hero's ability. Or fate itself demands only one possible ending and does not allow failure.
This doesn't mean that a different universe necessarily exists just because it was possible for it to exist in that timeline. Even if you believe that other universes exist where the hero died, and that is a personal belief no different from subscribing to a deity, it doesn't mean that the particular universe you're in magically becomes one where you didn't die. No, you died and then came back. Both actions still happened and the end result is not a universe of successes but rather a universe filled with failures and repeated attempts.
Additionally, the statement that making a choice creates a spinoff universe where an alternate or null choice was made also isn't technically true. The idea is that there are infinite universes and they differ based on the existence of multiple possibilities. So it's more that a choice exists at all that creates the divide rather than you acting on it or not.
Furthermore, I'd posit that there is not "one" universe where you decided to do X instead of Y. Instead, there would be infinite universes of any given example because such is the nature of infinity.
Regarding the topic at hand, there are many other conclusions that can be made for heroes dying only to be able to try again. For example, one of your hero's abilities is to turn back time in that universe to a previous save spot. Or heck, the player is able to grant the hero that possibility without it being the hero's ability. Or fate itself demands only one possible ending and does not allow failure.
This doesn't mean that a different universe necessarily exists just because it was possible for it to exist in that timeline. Even if you believe that other universes exist where the hero died, and that is a personal belief no different from subscribing to a deity, it doesn't mean that the particular universe you're in magically becomes one where you didn't die. No, you died and then came back. Both actions still happened and the end result is not a universe of successes but rather a universe filled with failures and repeated attempts.
