In the world of gaming, the thrill of spontaneity often leads players to make bold decisions, particularly when it comes to saving progress. As someone who tends to overwrite saves instead of creating new files, I can attest to the exhilarating yet risky nature of this approach. At times, this chaotic method pays off, but there are moments where the repercussions of early choices resurface, leaving players regretting their lack of foresight.
Many gamers have felt the sting of a careless decision made hours earlier that results in a favorite NPC meeting an untimely fate, or the game world suffering irreversible consequences. Certain titles demand a significant time investment before revealing the impact of those choices, leading players to realize the weight of their decisions far too late.
If you share my reckless saving habits, it’s prudent to be aware of these early-game decisions that can dictate the trajectory of your game experience. This exploration focuses on choices made from the tutorial phase up until the conclusion of Act 1, which substantially influence overarching gameplay or narrative elements, rather than affecting just individual characters.
10 BioShock
Harvesting Little Sisters For ADAM
Diving into the immersive underwater world of Rapture in BioShock, I was captivated by its rich lore and environment. However, my unease regarding the enigmatic Little Sisters persisted. Faced with the choice to harvest these children for ADAM, a resource for enhancing abilities, I prudently resisted. This decision proved beneficial, as it not only spared me from the Big Daddy confrontations that accompany such actions but also shaped the game’s ending significantly.
Choosing to harvest these girls brings about a darker conclusion, and your initial encounter in the game presents this moral dilemma, setting the tone for Rapture’s grim future.
9 Mass Effect
Killing Wrex On Virmire
The Mass Effect franchise underscored the importance of save files with its intricate narrative web that extends across its trilogy. A critical decision arises during the first game when players confront Wrex about a troubling scheme to eradicate the cure for the Genophage, a biological disaster debilitating his species.
If players fail to convince Wrex to abandon violent measures, the result is his death, leading to profound consequences not only in Mass Effect but also in its sequels. With Wrex gone, his brother Wreav adopts a more destructive mindset, diminishing the clarity of judgment that Wrex would have offered in later conflicts.
8 Dishonored
Choosing To Kill Instead Of Knockout
Dishonored brilliantly illustrates the consequences of player choices through its environment. As Corvo Attano, tasked with protecting the Empress, gamers navigate the fine line between lethal and non-lethal methods. Early choices dictate the game’s chaos level, directly correlating with the world’s state.
Embracing violence raises the Chaos meter, unleashing more adversarial elements and plague-related nuisances. This dynamic not only darkens the narrative but can also alienate potential allies as the game progresses, making for a tense and mindful playthrough.
7 Fallout 3
Blowing Up Megaton Early
In characteristic Bethesda style, Fallout 3 enables players to make a game-altering decision almost immediately. By agreeing to destroy the settlement of Megaton, players derail an essential resource hub known for its fast travel and vendors.
This impulsive act leads to severe repercussions: players lose quests tied to the town, its citizens face obliteration, and the player incurs negative karma, disappointing even voice legends like Liam Neeson. The fallout from this action resonates throughout the gameplay following this pivotal choice.
6 King’s Quest V
The Pie Is A Lie
One of the grimmest experiences in gaming is unexpectedly becoming soft-locked due to a seemingly innocuous choice. In King’s Quest V, a custard pie purchased early on can lead players into a state of impasse later when the pie is demanded by a yeti as a gatekeeping condition to advance the plot.
This decision leads to time-consuming reloading or even restarting the game to retrieve the pie, showcasing how minor choices can ripple outward, tacking on unnecessary hours to what could have been progress.
5 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Sparing The Family In Kephallonia
Boasting stunning visuals, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey presents players with a heart-wrenching choice on the island of Kephallonia, where a priest believes a family harbors a plague. Players must decide whether to spare the family or heed the priest’s warnings.
Choosing mercy can devastate the island’s trajectory, as the plague indeed infects it, significantly altering its landscape and leading to character losses. This early decision escalates into a haunting reminder of the consequences of misguided empathy.
4 Detroit: Become Human
Getting Carl Killed Early
Detroit: Become Human intricately weaves multiple narratives, with Markus’ journey significantly dictated by his relationship with Carl, his creator. Early in the game, players face a choice during a confrontation with Carl’s son that can result in Carl’s death if Markus does not defend him.
Opting for pacifism leads to Carl’s demise, robbing Markus of crucial guidance and propelling him towards a path of radicalization, which could ultimately affect the outcome of the android revolution. Engaging constructively with Carl allows for a peaceful resolution that bolsters Markus’s character arc.
3 Baldur’s Gate 3
Destroying The Grove Full Of Tieflings
In Baldur’s Gate 3, a rash decision to eliminate a grove of Tieflings can engender widespread disdain among allies. Early in Act 1, players are faced with a choice: aid the druids in executing a ritual that will effectively destroy the Tiefling inhabitants or intervene to prevent this atrocity.
Killing the Tieflings not only strips players of narrative depth and ally camaraderie but also leads to the loss of critical resources and characters essential to navigating through later Acts. This drastic action sets a precedent for the game’s dynamics, making it a choice best avoided to retain access to rich content.
2 Disco Elysium
No Points In Harry’s Physical Attribute
In Disco Elysium, neglecting to allocate points to Harry’s physical attributes can lead to the absurd scenario of dying from a heart attack shortly after starting the game. Many physical interactions are unavoidable; lacking strength can leave players struggling.
Choosing wisely during character creation can mean the difference between a fruitful detective journey or a tragic end, underscoring the importance of strategy from the very beginning.
1 Avowed
Ignoring Your Letters
In the midst of the engaging narrative of Avowed, it is easy to overlook essential communications. Skipping over messages from allies regarding looming threats can have dire consequences, including the destruction of entire cities.
Failing to pay attention to your spy’s letters can lead to the incursion of hostile forces and potently alter alliances with critical factions, revealing how essential details can shape not just the character’s fate but that of an entire locale.
Leave a Reply