TA Top Five: Happy Endings By Marc Hollinshead, 05 Jan 2015 FollowtopicsCommunity NewsArticleMarc Hollinshead With the holiday break now (sadly) over, we are back with the TA Top Five. Apologies for the delays but we hope that, like us Newshounds, that you have had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!As human beings, we get satisfaction from seeing things resolved. Whether that's the villain being defeated, a family being reunited, or the guy getting the girl, we never tire of those happy moments. Of course, we revel in the occasional plot twist and controversial ending, but when a film or TV series reaches its final moments, we want to see the characters living happily ever after and the baddies wallowing in their own filth. When it comes to games, the same element applies.With the events of past weeks, my fellow Newshounds and I have been thinking about the happier things in life. Many games we play have us joining a character on a long journey that is regularly full of emotional trauma and plenty of heart-break. That's why there's nothing better than seeing them get the break they so sorely deserve when the game comes to a close. In this week's Top Five, we'll be taking a look at those happy endings in games that put a great big smile on our face.Honorable MentionBioShock 2As someone who isn't quite as knowledgeable in the world of BioShock, I got a helping hand from my fellow Newshound, MarcC29, for this one:*** Spoiler - click to reveal ***Happy endings aren’t always a for sure thing in video games, but the concept of being able to control whether you receive a “happy” ending or not is an interesting idea. BioShock 2 delved into this by providing different endings based around the decisions the player made; much like the original BioShock. Those who chose to save the majority of the Little Sisters and show compassion to other characters, or what’s considered the moral thing to do, were rewarded with the happiest ending in the game. However, those who chose to harvest a large portion of the Little Sisters, which may prove to be beneficial but is the immoral option, wouldn’t end up with the most ideal closure to the story. What works so well about BioShock 2’s happy ending is that it functions as a reward in itself. Even though there is no instance where Delta survives, by showing compassion throughout the game it sets an example for Eleanor to go out and change the world for the better, while absorbing Delta’s memory so he will always be there. Harvesting the Little Sisters for the extra Adam may seem like the attractive option while playing through the game, but doing without it provides the feel-good conclusion to this adventure in the underwater dystopia. When considering how dark the game can be at times, coming out of it with what would be considered the best ending is therefore extra rewarding. Top Five5. Getting 100% Of A Game's AchievementsAs achievement hunters, many of us never tire of the thrill that gaining another game completion brings. Playing through a game can be a joy in itself, but once you unlock every single one of those achievements, that particular game can be put back on the shelf with pride, knowing that it's complete. A lot of us in the TA community have the mindset that a game is never done with until every last achievement point is gained. Although we may have done a gazillion playthroughs, seen the game's ending one too many times, or simply played it until our eyes bleed, we will never be satisfied until that last "bleep-bloop" is heard. While some may think of it as a curse, the achievement addiction is able to give us many happy endings no matter what game we are playing.4. Bayonetta - Jeanne To The RescueWhile the actual ending of the game itself isn't one for the history books, it's the relationship between Bayonetta and Jeanne that's of interest.*** Spoiler - click to reveal ***When we first encounter Jeanne, she is a cold hearted b*tch and all we want to do is wipe that smug grin off her face. Towards the end of the game, though, Jeanne's true colours shine and she literally races into space on a motorbike to rescue her fellow umbra witch. From here on out, Jeanne isn't the arrogant woman we thought she was. She's actually a dear friend of Bayonetta and almost gives her life to save her. Going from sheer hatred to a harmonious duo is definitely a happy ending for any set of characters.3. Portal 2*** Spoiler - click to reveal ***Since the very start of her journey, Chell has been making her way through the Aperture Science facility just to satisfy the needs of the malevolent machine that is GLaDOS. In Portal 2, Chell attempts to make her escape with Wheatley but to no avail. All seems lost until the lone test subject and GLaDOS in potato form team up to take down the corrupted Wheatley and the events that follow cause GLaDOS to have a change of heart. All she wants is for Chell to be gone and with that, our protagonist finally gets her freedom. Even the companion cube making it to you at the very end is just the icing on the cake (which is not a lie).2. Mass Effect 3 - Citadel DLCThe original ending of Mass Effect 3 angered many fans as it didn't resolve the Reaper threat in the way we imagined. BioWare did what they could in the extended cut to appease those who experienced that ending, but what truly helped the trilogy to get the send-off it deserved was the "Citadel" DLC. With one final, gimmicky adventure to embark upon, Shepard and the crew share a joke or ten and reminisce about past events. After a memorable party with of his/her friends, Shepard then heads back to the Normandy after saying this long ride has been "the best". With those words, the Mass Effect trilogy finally got some closure and many fans experienced the ending that they so desperately wanted. Instead of something depressing and unsatisfactory, BioWare literally gave us a piece of content to celebrate the good times we had in the series.1. Catherine - True Lover EndingCatherine is a truly unique game in the sense that, depending on your own view of relationships and marriage, Vincent will be given one of EIGHT different outcomes at the end of the story. These endings span far across the love spectrum but it's the "True Lover" ending that has the ultimate payoff. *** Spoiler - click to reveal ***At the end of his nightmare of a week, Vincent will eventually make the decision that his girlfriend, Katherine, has always wanted; to marry her. The final wedding scene is a beautiful treat to anyone who sees it as Vincent truly deserves this. He's faced killer babies, zombie brides and manipulative demons, but if the player continues down the lawful route, they will be rewarded with the happiest outcome. While the "True Cheater" ending is certainly entertaining, witnessing Vincent and Katherine getting married gives them both the closure that has been needed since the game's opening credits. It could be said that true happiness is only achieved through the love of another, and in this case, that couldn't be more true.The TA Team will be bringing you The TA Top Five every Sunday until we run out of coolness to debate and discuss. If you have an idea for a Top Five you'd like us to do, be sure to let us know in the comments!Community NewsXbox 360 Written by Marc HollinsheadTo summarize Marc in two words, it would be "Christian Gamer." You will usually find him getting stuck into story heavy action-adventure games, RPG's and the odd quirky title when he isn't raving about Dark Souls and Mass Effect. Outside the world of gaming, Marc attends and helps out in his church on a regular basis and has a not-so thrilling job in a supermarket.