Baldur’s Gate 3, a highly lauded game, has recently been plagued by the revelation of what can only be described as the worst ending imaginable. This ending, discovered by a diligent player, presents a truly harrowing conclusion. However, achieving this abysmal outcome requires the player to surpass the game developer’s safeguards and manipulate certain elements. This article will dive deep into this cataclysmic ending, analyzing its intricacies and discussing the implications it holds.
Baldur’s Gate 3 offers players various avenues to reach an endpoint before the actual conclusion of its riveting story. Some paths lead to a grim demise, such as falling victim to the Mind Flayer trapped within the wreckage of the Nautiloid. Another path brings destruction through exploding Gale’s magical heart nuke either at the end of Act 2 or Act 3. However, the central narrative of the game ultimately leads players to a pivotal choice: whether to destroy or dominate the Netherbrain. Making this choice necessitates the collection of three Netherstones, obtained from Ketheric Thorm, Enver Gortash, and Orin the Red, respectively.
The Unswerving Power of the Netherstones
These Netherstones are of such paramount importance to the story that, unlike most other items in the game, players are unable to use the ‘Throw’ action to discard them. Presumably, this design choice aims to create a barrier between the players and a potentially disastrous decision. Nevertheless, one audacious player discovered a loophole within this safeguard. By placing a Netherstone in a container and subsequently tossing that container – be it a box, chest, crate, sack, or barrel – into the abyss, a triggering ending ensues.
As PC Gamer astutely observed, placing any of the three Netherstones irretrievably beyond your reach engenders a cutscene wherein the Mindflayer overseer, known as the Emperor, chastises the player for their foolishness. Immediately thereafter, the Netherbrain exerts its control over the player, activating the dormant tadpole in their brain and transforming them into a Mindflayer. At this juncture, as players helplessly float toward their newfound master, a dreaded “Game Over” screen materializes, emphasizing with finality that the only remaining path leads directly to the brain. Players are inevitably forced to reload a previous save, their dreams of a triumphant ending shattered.
The Bleak Realization
This ending is undeniably bleak, surpassing even the grim cutscene that activates in a well-known speedrunning strategy where Gale destroys the brain prematurely. In this alternate ending, the narrator solemnly states that it is “an ending, of sorts.” Although it is evident that this conclusion is not intended to be the players’ ultimate destination, it showcases the remarkable attention to detail within Baldur’s Gate 3. Few games grant players access to a story-ruining item and allow them the casual freedom to discard it. Furthermore, very few games would dedicate resources to create an entire motion-captured ending solely for an eventuality as unlikely as this. While undoubtedly the worst ending Baldur’s Gate 3 has to offer, the mere fact that this option exists at all is an impressive testament to the game’s complexity.
The Grand Tapestry of Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 stands as a testament to the depth and intricacy of modern gameplay experiences. Through its diverse narrative paths and consequential choices, the game successfully immerses players in a world brimming with opportunities and unforeseen consequences. While the discovery of the worst possible ending may initially evoke dismay, it serves as a reminder of the developers’ commitment to delivering an unparalleled gaming experience. Baldur’s Gate 3 is not merely a game; it is an adventure that invites players to explore the recesses of their own decision-making and unravel the vast tapestry of their own destinies.
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