Speculations on Episode 2

[kindofdoon]

I believe TSL wants to move beyond the "happily ever after" cliché to explore a darker resolution. I'd be willing to bet that some good person will die - Graham or otherwise.

[Fierce Deity]

Wow.  Neither of those options would be even remotely in keeping with the KQ spirit.  Would you guys seriously want that?   

Let me explain. I don't want Graham to die - you never WANT the good guy to die. But I genuinely think that Graham's death could be bring closure to the series and additionally be a very powerful ending - he trades his life for his childrens'. I mean, TSL is supposed to be a darker, more serious game, right?

But again, I doubt Graham will die.

It could definitely bring closure to the series. It could draw in the feeling of a father's love for his children, show the sacrifice Graham makes to bring peace to his family, or even prove that his legacy can live on with his 'heirs'. Maybe they could bring in Connor to rule Daventry as its new king, much like Graham had earned his place as king. There could definitely be an emotional stir with the death of Graham, but like many have established, it may not be Phoenix' place to present that kind of ending.

Though it may still be a possibility, it most likely won't happen.    

[kindofdoon]

Yes, I agree - except about Connor.

[Fierce Deity]

I believe TSL wants to move beyond the "happily ever after" cliché to explore a darker resolution. I'd be willing to bet that some good person will die - Graham or otherwise.

You know, I was never a big fan of Edgar. Although I think he's a lot more tolerable in TSL, his previous appearances have been unforgivable. I think I could sleep at night knowing he's expendable.

[kindofdoon]

I personally have no attachment to him - I haven't played KQIV or VII.

[Fierce Deity]

Yes, I agree - except about Connor.

I just know how much speculation there is about Connor becoming King. I'd like to think someone else will replace Graham if he should pass away, but sadly, no other characters seem like a likely candidate.

[kindofdoon]

Right, well, I guess he would make the most sense, but I haven't played KQVIII either, so I don't have any sense of his character or his aptitude to be king. I only know his story.

[wilco64256]

Yes, I agree - except about Connor.

I just know how much speculation there is about Connor becoming King. I'd like to think someone else will replace Graham if he should pass away, but sadly, no other characters seem like a likely candidate.

Hassan was approached about this, but said it would be too difficult to be King and run his ferry business at the same time.

[Lambonius]

The only way I would see Graham's death not pissing everybody off would be if it was an alternative "bad" ending that you got if you took some shortcuts and things, like the "bad" KQ6 ending where Cassima's parents are still dead and the kingdom is still feuding.  A longer "good" ending should be possible in this scenario, and would be the astute player's reward for making the right choices throughout the game.  I could see this working.  Just to kill Graham off for a darker, more emo resolution, though.  That would be terrible, terrible, terrible, and would utterly ruin what would probably be a decent story otherwise.

[Fierce Deity]

The only way I would see Graham's death not pissing everybody off would be if it was an alternative "bad" ending that you got if you took some shortcuts and things, like the "bad" KQ6 ending where Cassima's parents are still dead and the kingdom is still feuding.  A longer "good" ending should be possible in this scenario, and would be the astute player's reward for making the right choices throughout the game.  I could see this working.  Just to kill Graham off for a darker, more emo resolution, though.  That would be terrible, terrible, terrible, and would utterly ruin what would probably be a decent story otherwise.

Right, but providing a darker resolution simply because the character chose the short path or chose to avoid that extra miles' worth of story would render an ending with Graham's death to be slightly pointless. I played through KQ6 with the intention of getting the good ending because the bad ending had bore no significance. The bad ending in KQ7 was quite laughable considering how similar it was to the good ending minus a certain character's survivability. If Phoenix were to even present an ending that portrayed Graham dying in it, I would hope that it had more significance than not getting the "good" ending. Maybe,  (and I'm clearly pulling a random scenario out of nowhere) if Alexander and Rosella end up stuck in their dream worlds, Graham has to go on a separate quest to sacrifice himself to get them to wake up. That would make sense in the story for Graham to pass away. I just wouldn't want to show up to the final battle, and forget to give Graham an Extra Life, and then have him pass away. That would be a very lame "bad" ending.     

[Allronix]

Boy, looks like I stirred up the storm brew!

I haven't objection to character death, as long as it's not handled in a sloppy manner (I'm looking at YOU, DC Universe). An example of how it can be handled beautifully was Final Fantasy X, Auron finally able to rest and Tidus fading to nothingness. (OK, the second got overridden, but if you have to kill off your lead...). There's also the Force Unleashed. We all knew going in that Galen wasn't going to make it, but BOY, he made the most of it. Then there's Ben Kenobi, who looked at his last student, smiled, and allowed himself to be killed by the first.

If that option is on the table, Phoenix, then shoot for awesome. 

[kindofdoon]

The only way I would see Graham's death not pissing everybody off would be if it was an alternative "bad" ending that you got if you took some shortcuts and things, like the "bad" KQ6 ending where Cassima's parents are still dead and the kingdom is still feuding.  A longer "good" ending should be possible in this scenario, and would be the astute player's reward for making the right choices throughout the game.  I could see this working.  Just to kill Graham off for a darker, more emo resolution, though.  That would be terrible, terrible, terrible, and would utterly ruin what would probably be a decent story otherwise.

Right, but providing a darker resolution simply because the character chose the short path or chose to avoid that extra miles' worth of story would render an ending with Graham's death to be slightly pointless. I played through KQ6 with the intention of getting the good ending because the bad ending had bore no significance. The bad ending in KQ7 was quite laughable considering how similar it was to the good ending minus a certain character's survivability. If Phoenix were to even present an ending that portrayed Graham dying in it, I would hope that it had more significance than not getting the "good" ending. Maybe,  (and I'm clearly pulling a random scenario out of nowhere) if Alexander and Rosella end up stuck in their dream worlds, Graham has to go on a separate quest to sacrifice himself to get them to wake up. That would make sense in the story for Graham to pass away. I just wouldn't want to show up to the final battle, and forget to give Graham an Extra Life, and then have him pass away. That would be a very lame "bad" ending.     

Yes, I agree here.

[daventry]

When will it be time for Episode 2 to come. 

[StormSpirit86]

And what if the game ends with Graham waking up and realizing that the whole KQ series have been a dream and that he is only the Daventry stable cleaner. 

[wilco64256]

When will it be time for Episode 2 to come. 

When it's time.

[kindofdoon]

And what if the game ends with Graham waking up and realizing that the whole KQ series have been a dream and that he is only the Daventry stable cleaner. 

And then wakes up again and realizes he was in a dream WITHIN a dream!

[Fierce Deity]

And what if the game ends with Graham waking up and realizing that the whole KQ series have been a dream and that he is only the Daventry stable cleaner. 

And then wakes up again and realizes he was in a dream WITHIN a dream!

And then he meets up with the cast of Inception and realizes that he's just a figment of Roberta Williams imagination. PLOT TWIST!!!

[Koitis]

Maybe.... just maybe... Roberta Williams IS Graham.  And the series if more of a biography than a point and click adventure game.

[Delling]

nuh-uh... this is Roberta, ergo Graham cannot be Roberta...

[wilco64256]

Maybe.... just maybe... Roberta Williams IS Graham.  And the series if more of a biography than a point and click adventure game.

This would explain why Graham sees a young woman when he looks in the mirror and remembers his own wedding.