So I finally overcame enough of the technical hiccups to complete the game this evening. Granted, having the game crash every 15 minutes isn't going to give someone the most favourable impression of the game, but I get the feeling that even if I'd been able to play hitch free I'd still have been disappointed. Everything about this game seems like it was rushed. Perhaps they spent so long on getting the engine to work they blew their time budgeted on getting the gameplay right. Whatever the case, I don't want to labour the point to much.

What I do want to know though, was there a decent ending set piece planned to give the game a worthy finale? As it stands the end level just, well, peters out in to the abbreviated closing cinematic. There is, however, some very leading talk in subway town just before you head out. Mentions of 60 feet tall somethings lurking out there. I can't help but think maybe that on the cutting room floor there's an impressive boss battle to finish this game out. Something that in its current state it sorely lacks. Was anyone else given false hope going in to the last level that something interesting might happen?

Agreed. The game's main story line is executed in just a few missions and very late in the game. The assault on Capital Prime was not the intense experience with a solid boss fight at the end like it should have been. Like you, I also got the impression that Id simply ran out of development time. The other possibility is that they hope to involve us in the franchise via DLC. I can't say I appreciate either possible conclusion.

Be prepared for some of the friendly yay-sayer folk to come out of the woodwork in response to your post. They will, no doubt try to convince you that you are hating-up-a-storm or just don't have anything valuable to say. Not because you're wrong (you aren't), just because they don't like criticisms or opinions which differ from theirs.

Cheers.

Well said peeps!

Id has never been exactly famous for their plots and characters and I don't expect blood from a turnip, but I agree they dropped the ball here and should have at least included another boss monster fight at the end. They should have also take a cue from so many other famous games and given Rage a bit of a sense of humor or something. Its a run-n-gun shooter with light rpg elements, not Shakespeare or even Star Wars.

I agree, its almost like Id just ran out of money or something was cut short with the last level. either way it was highly disappointing.

Yeah, it ended way to soon. I was expecting it to last a little longer. I thought I was only half way through when it ended.

Ditto to all of the above

I just beat it the other night and I too was greatly disappointed with the last stage and lack of a final boss. I guess the second one will have to make up for it... I hope.

you think there last game was in 95 or 96. . . they had plenty of time and i have no idea what happened when times not a factor in this occasion

I think a bigger contributor to the anti climatic ending was probably space because of the royalties involved with shipping a game with 4 DVDs. Id knows how the dlc will play out so perhaps in that scenario the ending was appropriate but probably never had much of an idea how badly it was going to blow over onto their fanbase. Would be interesting to hear their take on the matter, it's the most common complaint for those who love, hate or in between on the title.

SWANSONG!

this is completely off topic... but the first Quakecon back in '96... one of the top 3 1v1 quake DM winners username was "swansong"

that wouldn't happen to be you, now would it?