8 Alternate Endings In Famous Video Games You Won't Believe Got Cut

1. Big Boss' Downfall - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V Phantom pain snake
Konami

It may have been 9/11 that ruined MGS 2's original final moments, but for The Phantom Pain, that became a mix of Hideo Kojima striving for 'the perfect game' to a degree that was impossible, as publishers Konami grew increasingly frustrated with proceedings - not to mention distanced, as they began moving away from the gaming industry overall.

It culminated in a release-day version of MGS V that completely missed out the one key ingredient that was advertised: "The downfall of Big Boss".

Throughout the game we were waiting for one specific life event to turn the raspy hero of Snake Eater and Peace Walker into the dour villain of the original Metal Gear, but it never came. Instead, the game just... ends. Kojima Productions did include a bait n' switch to show that you were actually playing as a glorified clone of Boss all along, but the nearest we got to some connecting tissue that might bind the franchise together, was the original ending being included on the Special Edition bonus disc.

Watching this and delving into a number of assets that have been mined from the PC version of the game, it's clear there was meant to be way more cutscenes, dialogue, and a final area that would lend weight to the idea of Boss slowly losing his mind in pursuit of objective justice. There's no denying the Metal Gear saga had an ending in mind - one that would link 2015's MGS V to the 1990 original - but it was sliced out at the close of production, as neither Kojima or Konami could see eye to eye.

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Are there any others I missed? Let me know in the comments if what was left on the cutting room floor actually fared better for the game overall!

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Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.