Games that HAVE satisfying endings

[Trippy Turtle]

Bastion is the only game that I have really cared more about the story then the actual gameplay. And the gameplay was awesome too.
So probably Bastion.

 

[Daniel_Rosamilia]

Max Payne 1 had a very satisfying ending:
Shoot way to the top of a tower filled with spec-ops guys, then proceed to blast a radio-tower over on top of the helicopter the main antagonist is in.
This bit that he says is neat as well:
"They were all dead. The final gunshot was an exclamation mark on everything that had led to this point. I released my finger from the trigger, and it was over."
Also, mainly because Max Payne is a total bad-ass and I'm kinda hyped for MP3.

I always thought the line after that was better. "The storm seemed to lose it's frenzy. The ragged clouds gave way to the stars above."

"MAX PAYNE. THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD"

"A bit closer to heaven"

True, that entire set of lines is pretty good, but that first bit gives the impression that he's finally gotten to where he wants to. He's at peace, in a sense, with what's happened. I do like the "A bit closer to Heaven" line, being that it's Aesir's slogan.

 

[Fishyash]

Lately, Bastion. The only ending in a while that sent shivers down my spine (good shivers).

It doesn't help that ending music is about 70% of my enjoyment of an ending.

 

[RiKx]

I'm obviously older than anyone else here by sometime as I am gonna say, Monkey Island 2. That really moved me as teenager. I remember the feeling clearly and watched all the credits, and the duh-duh-dee-duh-duh music lol. Maybe it was a difficult time...

THIS music...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1XstQdo6d0
(was better on the amiga)

 

[RuralGamer]

Dawn of War 2: Retribution (only the plots that actually make sense though, rather than the ones that, while fun, have no real reason to exist other than letting the player play through the game as that race).

Skyrim weirdly enough; I never liked Oblivion, Fallout 3 or New Vegas, but with Skyrim, I kinda feel Bethesda made a satisfying end to the game. Sovngard was actually pretty fun and the final fight pretty good, if rather short (my archery was ridiculously buffed by something like 260% extra damage with a skill of ~70 with a lot of perks and a Legendary quality Daedric Bow.)

Shogun: Total War - the ending cut scene where it flashed to present-day Japan was a satisfying conclusion to campaigning.

Mass Effect 1; not much I can say besides that I really enjoyed it.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Jak 3 had a great ending, random Jak + Ashelin romance aside. Thankfully Jak-X fixed that by putting her back with Torn.

Also seeing him stick with Dax rather than go with the Precursers!

 

[MetalMagpie]

It's been said a number of times already, but I have to add my vote for Bastion.

I finished Dragon Age: Origins and Bastion on the same day (due to being shut up in the house with the flu) and while the ending I got for DAO left me with a smile on my face, the ending to Bastion was just incredible.

For the record, in DAO I...
...put Alistair on the throne then sacrificed my Grey Warden getting rid of the Archdemon. I liked the funeral, even if it did show up rather badly that none of the characters can say the Grey Warden's name, meaning they kept referring to her as "this woman"!

And in Bastion I...
...saved Zulf, then set sail on new adventures (rather than setting things back to how they were). The simple scene of walking out of the final level with Zulf over the kid's shoulder completely transfixed me, and the ending was such a high.

 

[Kyrian007]

Wow, so many good endings mentioned here. I'll parrot Secret of Mana, Chrono Cross, FF6, Baten Kaitos, Portal and FF Tactics. I'd like to add FFX to the mix as well. Sometimes an ending needs to be as memorable as it is devastating.

Oh, and Wind Waker, loved that ending. "I'm done with this it goes in here..." roll credits.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Bastion, It's the soundtrack that really does it.

Fallout New Vegas, Everyone including your dog gets a narrated "what happened to them next" and some, like Boone and DOG/GOD can be really touching.

Portal 2, All of it.

 

[Savryc]

I liked the ending for Metro 2033 even though I got the "bad" one apparently >.>

 

[Antonio Torrente]

Alpha Protocol

I agree this, so much. As flawed as the game was the choices you made effected the ending.

Unlike *cough* Mass Effect 3

You know what, even though Obsidian games are buggy ie Alpha Protocol and Fallout: New Vegas
at least they know how to give a satisfying ending.

Except KOTOR 2 and please don't blame them, blame Lucas Arts it's their fault, f**k you George Lucas.

 

[scar_47]

My favorites are Fallout New Vegas you had such an impact on how things turn out but I liked how not everything turned out how you'd expect , and the Metal Gear Solid series but especially 3 so heartbreaking, and 4 which somehow managed to not only tie everything up prett well but man was it an emotional roller coaster.

 

[Arina Love]

for me it's
Eternal Sonata
Tales of Vesperia
Catherine (it was True Katherine ending that i loved the most)
Metal Gear Solid 4

 

[Thomas Hirst]

I know it was corny and kinda lame but i liked the ending to deadspace 2.
But the best ending i think i have ever got was the good ending for infamous 2. Love you Cole you electric bastard.

 

[LittleBlondeGoth]

Another vote for DA:O from me, because no matter what your ending was, you always felt it was a plausible outcome based on the choices you'd made. And some of them tugged at the old heartstrings a little, as well (oh Alistair...).