02-08-2026, 11:06 AM
Meryl. Otacon's ending obviously hits harder and has some things going for it, but it's hard to pick the ending which gets a character killed, when the alternative just... Doesn't, and doesn't really sacrifice anything in the process. It is the avoidable nature of her death what gives it a meaningless aspect, which is at odds with the intent; you're supposed to care about Meryl dying.
I also find it unfathomable that Snake would submit, especially with him knowing that it'd be getting someone else killed. It's just not in his character. Her death is a consequence of the player's failing, not his, which does detract from it for me because Snake is his own character at the end of the day. Uncharacteristic decisions that lack a proper justification tend to cheapen the decision itself.
It'd have been preferable had there been more of a dilemma, or if there had been more to her dying to justify it. But as is, the question hinges on whether you care to smash the button or prefer the stealth suit. Both valid to the player, but not relevant to the story itself. One which I think has plenty of suffering and tragedy to go about to really necessitate throwing Meryl's death on Snake's consciousness, but that's just me.
I also find it unfathomable that Snake would submit, especially with him knowing that it'd be getting someone else killed. It's just not in his character. Her death is a consequence of the player's failing, not his, which does detract from it for me because Snake is his own character at the end of the day. Uncharacteristic decisions that lack a proper justification tend to cheapen the decision itself.
It'd have been preferable had there been more of a dilemma, or if there had been more to her dying to justify it. But as is, the question hinges on whether you care to smash the button or prefer the stealth suit. Both valid to the player, but not relevant to the story itself. One which I think has plenty of suffering and tragedy to go about to really necessitate throwing Meryl's death on Snake's consciousness, but that's just me.
