As someone who has engaged in fiction writing, I can confidently affirm the intricate challenge of creating a cohesive story. Crafting a narrative that flows seamlessly becomes increasingly difficult as the story grows in complexity. What may initially appear as an appealing idea can quickly devolve into a glaring plot hole with even slight modifications or the introduction of new elements. These plot inconsistencies can be particularly challenging to rectify when they intertwine with other narrative threads.
Video games are no exception to this storytelling dilemma. Throughout the years, many beloved titles have exhibited their fair share of subtle and blatant plot holes. Recognizing these issues, writers and developers often strive to address them in future game updates or sequels.
The following examples illustrate various attempts to address and resolve plot holes, sometimes with mixed results.
Warning: The following sections contain varying degrees of spoilers for the discussed games.
9. Why Wasn’t Mickey Wearing A Shirt At The End Of Kingdom Hearts?
The Heartless Ate It
The Kingdom Hearts series is notorious for its convoluted narrative, often akin to a block of Swiss cheese riddled with plot holes. Over the years, some of these have been somewhat addressed, but let us focus on one amusing example. At the conclusion of the original Kingdom Hearts, as Sora and friends attempt to seal the Door to Darkness, Mickey makes a dramatic entrance — notably shirtless. While casual fans might overlook this, it’s amusingly perplexing given that he appears fully clothed in later entries of the series.
The reason behind Mickey’s bare-chested appearance is humorously explained in Kingdom Hearts 0.2, revealing that during his encounter in the Realm of Darkness, Mickey was overwhelmed by a surge of Shadow Heartless, which, for inexplicable reasons, caused his shirt to dissolve. It’s a small detail, yet the effort to address it adds a layer of comedic charm.
8. Shouldn’t New-U Stations Make Death Irrelevant In Borderlands?
The Devs Say They’re Non-Canon
Within the Borderlands universe, players can revive themselves at a nearby New-U station after death, offering a convenient escape from the challenges posed by enemies. However, this technology undermines the impact of key character deaths, particularly those of Roland and Handsome Jack in Borderlands 2. The game’s writers could not reconcile this with the narrative and decided to declare that the New-U stations are “non-canon, ”a less-than-satisfactory resolution.
This meta-narrative approach has been humorously pointed out in multiple instances within the series, such as the New-U station in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel proclaiming its non-canon status, and a line in Borderlands 3 stating you can always be revived “unless you died in a cutscene.”
7. Why Do You Have To Die In Project Purity In Fallout 3?
For Five Bucks, You Don’t
In the main quest of Fallout 3, players confront the Enclave at Project Purity. As the story progresses, a character must activate the purifier’s central chamber, which is dangerously radiated. Despite several capable allies, the protagonist is the only one who can take on this risk. Unfortunately, entering the chamber leads to immediate death due to the radiation exposure.
This plot inconvenience was remedied with the Broken Steel DLC, which allows the player to either direct their allies to activate it or inexplicably survive the radiation. Whether this was a narrative oversight or an incomplete storyline is unclear, but it does provide a clearer resolution.
6. How Did The Big Daddies Bond With The Little Sisters In BioShock?
Research From Elizabeth
While exploring the narrative depth of BioShock, players find intriguing lore surrounding Big Daddies and Little Sisters. A notable encounter involves geneticist Dr. Yi Suchong, who struggles with creating a bond between the two entities. Complications arise when he’s killed by a Big Daddy after mistreating a Little Sister.
This connection remained ambiguous until the Burial at Sea Episode 2 DLC, where players learn that Elizabeth inadvertently established a bond by caring for an injured Songbird at Columbia. She later observes Sisters assisting a Big Daddy in Rapture, hence providing insight into their relationship dynamics, though questions remain regarding the replicability of this bond across the larger population of Big Daddies.
5. Why Is Resident Evil’s Raccoon City PD… Like That?
It Used To Be A Museum
Fans of Resident Evil often joke about the absurdity of the Raccoon City Police Department (RPD), not only due to its morally questionable leadership but also its illogical architecture. With locked doors and puzzling art installations, the RPD feels more like a museum than a police station.
Interestingly, this bizarre configuration is explained in a document from Resident Evil Outbreak and further elaborated in the Resident Evil 2 remake. The transformation from the Raccoon Art Museum into the RPD occurred in the 1980s, illustrating how the station’s unusual design originated from its past as a cultural institution, with minimal renovations made for police functionality.
4. Why Was Tails Such A Coward In Sonic Forces?
He’s Been Going Through Some Stuff
The portrayal of Tails in the franchise has fluctuated significantly. In Sonic Adventure, he shows bravery against Eggman, yet in Sonic Forces, he notably falters, succumbing to fear during a confrontation. This inconsistency can be attributed to the many writers who have shaped Tails’ character throughout their appearances.
However, Sonic Frontiers addresses this issue directly. During a key conversation, Tails reveals his emotional struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Sonic reassures him by referencing past acts of courage. Ultimately, Tails acknowledges that he may need time to find his footing again.
3. What Happened To Dante At The End Of Devil May Cry 2?
He Just Went Home, I Guess?
Before Devil May Cry 5 established a new timeline, players speculated extensively about Dante’s fate at the end of Devil May Cry 2. This game left players hanging after his battle with Argosax. With the introduction of Devil May Cry 5, Capcom restructured the timeline, placing Devil May Cry 2 before Devil May Cry 4.
As such, what happened to Dante at the conclusion of Devil May Cry 2? He simply exits the scene, leaving fans to assume he was in a sour mood — a less than satisfying resolution considering the cliffhanger nature of previous installments.
2. How Did Big Boss Keep Dying Throughout The Metal Gear Series?
First Time Wasn’t Him, Second Time Was Nanomachines
The Metal Gear series is renowned for its complicated narratives, with characters often experiencing death and resurrection. A prime example is Big Boss, who has met his end three times. His first death occurs in the original Metal Gear, where he falls to Solid Snake. Subsequent entries reveal this event was actually a decoy performance by Venom Snake, a body double.
His subsequent demise in Metal Gear 2 also proves deceptive, as he was later revived by the Patriots and underwent nanomachine-induced comatose states, only to finally succumb to a FOXDIE virus in Metal Gear Solid 4.
1. Where’s Tifa’s Scar In Final Fantasy 7 Remake?
She Got Surgery To Hide Most Of It
In the original Final Fantasy 7, Tifa suffers a brutal attack from Sephiroth, resulting in significant physical trauma. Although the implications of her injuries are presented in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the scar itself remains oddly absent in Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
The answer lies within an official tie-in novel, Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Trace of Two Pasts, where it is revealed that Tifa underwent extensive surgery post-attack, including skin grafts to reconstruct her sternum and mitigate the scarring. Hence, her injury is subtle enough to only be seen when lifting her shirt.
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