SPOILERS AHEAD. Okay? Let's get on with it, then.
Reason 1: The fact that the "god-child" is in fact similar to Shepard's dreamchild could be an all time-classic "adopted-a-form-you-can-feel-at-ease-around-it" move from a "superior" species, such as the unnamed creators of the Reapers.
Reason 2: The fact that, in the "Shepard lives" ending, the protagonist is found beneath concrete ruins rather than metal (which might indicate that Shepard was in London all this time he was fighting off indoctrination) might very well be a design oversight, a non-sequitur by Bioware. It would not be the first: the sight of Earth from the Citadel is different from what is expected due to its facing position.
Reason 3: If the choices of indoctrination are essentially a "funneling down" to a pre-arranged path of events by the Reapers, why show us the Normandy crush and what happens to the others? Shepard cannot see them and, since we, the players, are not indoctrinated, why see the consequences of choices that are not real? What would be the use of an Indoctrination plot twist if we, the players, were not able to see our fault afterwards while in-game (and not via youtube videos...)?
Reason 4: If indoctrination is supposed to make sense for the affected and lead to full submission to the Reaper's plans, why hand Shepard a choice that kills all Reapers? One could argue that choosing to destroy the Reapers (or "hearing" the godchild presenting him with such a choice) was Shepard's unconscious way to fight off indoctrination. Which brings me to my next point.....
Reason 5: Do you really think that Bioware thought that far ahead, bringing "the best plot twist of all time"? They could have hinted to an indoctrination plot in a much more direct way, without "cheesing it" for us, and effectively having almost all of us fall for it (I know I would, to my shame), rather than "considering feedback". If Bioware had made an excellent ending and a mind-blowing mind-twist, they would have stood their ground. If someone is a genius and they have taken their genius to actually fill their plates (or pools), this someone should have enough confidence to say "I have done a splendid work, try to figure it out". It would not be so hard, given that with nearly null evidence people are spreading the Indoctrination conspiracy....
But the Indoctrination Plot would have been indeed brilliant... how could have been done, then?
If I was Bioware, I'd rather have the same choices presented to the players, only to show them a minute later the real consequences: a Shepard fully under control, the rest of the war being wan over the Reapers (remember, 2/3 choices are FOR the Reapers).
What about the third choice, fighting the indoctrination off with sheer will? I'd rather have the odd paragon/renegade actions flashing at odd points in the narrative or include dialog with the godchild via the Paragon/ Renegade paths that would EVENTUALY lead to a third choice that would seem COMPLETELY ridiculous for a player to choose.... unless he could recall the basic theme of the game: NEVER. GIVE. UP. Shepard denying a choice with the threat of death (a godchild might have a few quantum biology tricks up his sleeve... literally) could lead to his death but it would let the war play out. Provided that sufficient forces have gathered, 2-3 different endings could have been produced (and our score meaning much more than what it means right now), with the ultimate victory being Shepard actually rescued by the extra crew he managed to gather in his journeys.
This last idea of refusing and letting the war play out is not mine, I saw a guy's video on youtube saying it, but I lost track of it. I just expanded it.
SO now what? People say it would be an outrage for Bioware to charge for a new ending, and I agree. Some say it would be awful to have it for free as well. I disagree. Bioware made a mistake, let 'em fix it. People make mistakes, they might have been under commercial pressure.
I should have taken up script writing... I would have done a better job than Bioware. You think I'm exaggerating? The blog is called naive audacity, people, deal with it :)
PS.: I liked the Synthesis concept for an ending, though. But as per other endings, it could have been more elaborate.
PS2.: Okay, upon further inspection... I found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck&feature=player_embedded#! with quite powerful arguments for the hypothesis...but still, my points stand. If Bioware *did* play the indoctrination card, why present it so poorly? The plot twist seems so powerful and it would indeed be one of the greatest endings for one of the greatest games of the decade but I believe Bioware delivered it quite poorly... any experienced gamer could have come up with a better way to deliver it.
Reason 1: The fact that the "god-child" is in fact similar to Shepard's dreamchild could be an all time-classic "adopted-a-form-you-can-feel-at-ease-around-it" move from a "superior" species, such as the unnamed creators of the Reapers.
Reason 2: The fact that, in the "Shepard lives" ending, the protagonist is found beneath concrete ruins rather than metal (which might indicate that Shepard was in London all this time he was fighting off indoctrination) might very well be a design oversight, a non-sequitur by Bioware. It would not be the first: the sight of Earth from the Citadel is different from what is expected due to its facing position.
Reason 3: If the choices of indoctrination are essentially a "funneling down" to a pre-arranged path of events by the Reapers, why show us the Normandy crush and what happens to the others? Shepard cannot see them and, since we, the players, are not indoctrinated, why see the consequences of choices that are not real? What would be the use of an Indoctrination plot twist if we, the players, were not able to see our fault afterwards while in-game (and not via youtube videos...)?
Reason 4: If indoctrination is supposed to make sense for the affected and lead to full submission to the Reaper's plans, why hand Shepard a choice that kills all Reapers? One could argue that choosing to destroy the Reapers (or "hearing" the godchild presenting him with such a choice) was Shepard's unconscious way to fight off indoctrination. Which brings me to my next point.....
Reason 5: Do you really think that Bioware thought that far ahead, bringing "the best plot twist of all time"? They could have hinted to an indoctrination plot in a much more direct way, without "cheesing it" for us, and effectively having almost all of us fall for it (I know I would, to my shame), rather than "considering feedback". If Bioware had made an excellent ending and a mind-blowing mind-twist, they would have stood their ground. If someone is a genius and they have taken their genius to actually fill their plates (or pools), this someone should have enough confidence to say "I have done a splendid work, try to figure it out". It would not be so hard, given that with nearly null evidence people are spreading the Indoctrination conspiracy....
But the Indoctrination Plot would have been indeed brilliant... how could have been done, then?
If I was Bioware, I'd rather have the same choices presented to the players, only to show them a minute later the real consequences: a Shepard fully under control, the rest of the war being wan over the Reapers (remember, 2/3 choices are FOR the Reapers).
What about the third choice, fighting the indoctrination off with sheer will? I'd rather have the odd paragon/renegade actions flashing at odd points in the narrative or include dialog with the godchild via the Paragon/ Renegade paths that would EVENTUALY lead to a third choice that would seem COMPLETELY ridiculous for a player to choose.... unless he could recall the basic theme of the game: NEVER. GIVE. UP. Shepard denying a choice with the threat of death (a godchild might have a few quantum biology tricks up his sleeve... literally) could lead to his death but it would let the war play out. Provided that sufficient forces have gathered, 2-3 different endings could have been produced (and our score meaning much more than what it means right now), with the ultimate victory being Shepard actually rescued by the extra crew he managed to gather in his journeys.
This last idea of refusing and letting the war play out is not mine, I saw a guy's video on youtube saying it, but I lost track of it. I just expanded it.
SO now what? People say it would be an outrage for Bioware to charge for a new ending, and I agree. Some say it would be awful to have it for free as well. I disagree. Bioware made a mistake, let 'em fix it. People make mistakes, they might have been under commercial pressure.
I should have taken up script writing... I would have done a better job than Bioware. You think I'm exaggerating? The blog is called naive audacity, people, deal with it :)
PS.: I liked the Synthesis concept for an ending, though. But as per other endings, it could have been more elaborate.
PS2.: Okay, upon further inspection... I found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck&feature=player_embedded#! with quite powerful arguments for the hypothesis...but still, my points stand. If Bioware *did* play the indoctrination card, why present it so poorly? The plot twist seems so powerful and it would indeed be one of the greatest endings for one of the greatest games of the decade but I believe Bioware delivered it quite poorly... any experienced gamer could have come up with a better way to deliver it.
