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What’s better: an end credits song, or utterly rinsing a place?Vote now as we continue deciding the single best thing in games
Vote now as we continue deciding the single best thing in games
Last time, you decided thatridiculous spell animations are better than the mangled hands of Ethan Winters. I would’ve been happy for that one to go either way, so I’m glad that the outcome was closer than I expected. This week, it’s a question of whether you leave a place with a song on your lips or your pockets bulging. What’s better: an end credits song, or utterly rinsing a place?
An end credits song
Portal - Still Alive end creditsWatch on YouTube
Portal - Still Alive end credits
Utterly rinsing a place
As a digital magpie, I cannot resist stealing everything that’s not bolted down (and at least having a crack at bolted treasures). Every apple, ammo crate, every jewelled goblet, every gold piece, every t-shirt, I will have them all. I’m not talking about stealing broadly, but the very specific pleasure of emptying a place of anything valuable.
Sometimes this is me sensibly trying to find limited resources I might well need but often, honestly, I just want to take everything. I’m playingDeus Ex: Mankind Dividedright now and even though I have my endgame loadout and more money than it’ll even let me spend, there I am, rinsing the bank just because I can. In games with ammo pickups, if I have max ammo, I will sometimes fire a shot just so I can pick up the box. Mine now, clean and tidy.
Some games do have systems to support the idea that rinsing a place is stealing. The Elder Scrolls and many other RPGs track ownership (and what a joy it is to empty someone’s home after putting a bucket on their head so they can’t see you), and Thief is pretty clear you’re a thief, but I also feel the same in games without any judgmental verb attached to the yoinking. I really like the point in Resident Evil 8age where Ethan is turned loose and told “Look mate, here’s a map of stuff you haven’t nabbed yet, go wild.” Thanks, map!
But which is better?
If I could, I’d empty out your game of every item, every asset, and steal the end credits song too. But what do you think, reader dear?
