It would be interesting to see fiction tackle the actual end more, either as a preface or setup for something more hopeful later (even from a non-human perspective) or from a super-bleak perspective. Not sure I’d actually enjoy the latter… but hey, at least it would be different.

While I agree with Alexei to some extent on the limited ways in which we are presented philosophical argument and the discussion of… well… consciousness, humanity etc. I do think Talos actually managed to make a very much subtle point as well.

*SPOILERS BY THE WAY*

*SERIOUSLY, SPOILERS*

At the end, there is a lot of talk about defiance and not merely following instructions and how this is the last test to determine the AI apotheosis or whatever. What it actually shows, but does not tell, is how a critical component of that is also co-operation and teamwork – being able to accept and provide help. I don’t think that’s necessarily an intrinsic quality of ‘being/consciousness/etc’, but I do think it is a key part of being human. It’s never blared out there by Elohim, or mentioned in the epilogue, just shown through the thread of the Shepherd’s QR messages and its actions right at the end.

I found that to be the most interesting aspect of their story-telling, especially in contrast to a lot of the very much expected and typical basic theological discourse in the terminals and with Milton.

Anyway. Whatever way you look at it, it’s an unusually thoughtful treatment of an idea that usually isn’t taken seriously at all – the end of the world is often invoked to try and provide a sense of high stakes, but I can’t remember the last game that actually went through with it; there’s always a way to save the day, which is a very cartoony Hollywood way of dealing with the concept.

Top-notch puzzler!

Thank God I’m going to have some time off in a few weeks.

Didn’t get to the end because the bug locked me in some room (on one of the tower levels elevator got stuck while trying to get me somewhere) and there was no autosave. I probably have to give it another chance if you say that puzzles become better – and also DLC has come out. For me it felt like an exercise in sort of pixel-hunting mostly.

And come on, videogames give you entirely new ways to philosophize. Is moving boxes supposed to reinforce my thoughts about what does it mean to be human? Yes, there were nice segments with console tests but those could be made with 1985 technology. Talos looked like somewhat interesting story meeting somewhat interesting puzzles but without any connection unlike Portal. Braid at least tried to give some justification to puzzle mechanics. Maybe I’m missing something?