The Stanley Parable

**NintendoNut** · 10-10-2011, 04:54 PM

Hello you.

Download this free HL2 mod The Stanley Parable mod for Half-Life 2 - Mod DB. It's called The Stanley Parable and I love it. Before I go into any great depth, I want you to play it for yourselves, because you deserve the reward that playing through this gives you. It doesn't take long to play through it and, spoilers, there are 6 (I think) different endings.

From here on, spoilers will follow, so play through it yourself and then come back and discuss it. I'm genuinely curious to hear what y'all think. I'll post my thoughts later.

**Loot** · 10-10-2011, 04:56 PM

... Great. brb reinstalling hl2

**NintendoNut** · 10-10-2011, 05:22 PM

Ok, here's my thoughts on it so far.

Spoiler Below

I've finished 2 endings myself and seen 1 ending on Youtube. My first ending was possibly the best one out of all of them, I followed the instructions and then I can't remember what I did to the generator, but I was set free afterwards. It was a great ending, despite only having a few minutes with Stanley I felt an emotional attachment to him and was really happy when he was set free. Then, on my 2nd playthrough things changed dramatically. I disobeyed most of the instructions until I got to the red door after the elevator, then I was treated to the horrible ending of various instructions popping up on screen until the final message said 'Please Die'. I don't know why such a basic game is provoking such a strong reaction from me, but I want to feel more of it and play through the rest of the endings.

Lemme know what endings you got and what you thought!

Kargath · 10-11-2011, 03:33 AM

Spoiler Below

I'm not sure you're getting the massive irony of the first ending you got.

The voice is excellent. <3 that voice

**NintendoNut** · 10-13-2011, 10:21 AM

^ Not sure what you mean, seeing as I don't remember there being a huge amount of irony.

Spoiler Below

I disabled the generator.

Kargath · 10-13-2011, 02:40 PM

Spoiler Below

You were 'set free' from fate and 'chose' your own future ... by following every single instruction you were given by the voice to the letter.

**NintendoNut** · 10-14-2011, 07:51 AM

Spoiler Below

In fairness, I was probably happier because I felt Stanley was happy, as corny as that sounds.

However, having played through the rest of the endings, the real irony is that he wasn't really set free from anything, that the office was a lie and an artificial imprisonment conjured up by his own mind, it seems.

Kargath · 10-14-2011, 08:27 AM

Spoiler Below

The whole thing is a comment on writing and player choice. For example, the buttons in the room when you choose to take control of the generator do nothing - they're there to trick you as the player to do something. The game acts as if the fourth wall isn't there.

10-10-2011, 04:54 PM	#1
NintendoNut PC Games and Tech Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hold on, I know this..... Gender: Posts: 8,655 Thanks: 108 Thanked 85 Times in 56 Posts	The Stanley Parable Hello you. Download this free HL2 mod The Stanley Parable mod for Half-Life 2 - Mod DB. It's called The Stanley Parable and I love it. Before I go into any great depth, I want you to play it for yourselves, because you deserve the reward that playing through this gives you. It doesn't take long to play through it and, spoilers, there are 6 (I think) different endings. From here on, spoilers will follow, so play through it yourself and then come back and discuss it. I'm genuinely curious to hear what y'all think. I'll post my thoughts later.

10-10-2011, 04:56 PM	#2
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	... Great. brb reinstalling hl2

10-10-2011, 05:22 PM	#3
NintendoNut PC Games and Tech Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hold on, I know this..... Gender: Posts: 8,655 Thanks: 108 Thanked 85 Times in 56 Posts	Ok, here's my thoughts on it so far. Spoiler Below I've finished 2 endings myself and seen 1 ending on Youtube. My first ending was possibly the best one out of all of them, I followed the instructions and then I can't remember what I did to the generator, but I was set free afterwards. It was a great ending, despite only having a few minutes with Stanley I felt an emotional attachment to him and was really happy when he was set free. Then, on my 2nd playthrough things changed dramatically. I disobeyed most of the instructions until I got to the red door after the elevator, then I was treated to the horrible ending of various instructions popping up on screen until the final message said 'Please Die'. I don't know why such a basic game is provoking such a strong reaction from me, but I want to feel more of it and play through the rest of the endings. Lemme know what endings you got and what you thought!

10-11-2011, 03:33 AM	#4
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	Spoiler Below I'm not sure you're getting the massive irony of the first ending you got. The voice is excellent. <3 that voice

10-13-2011, 10:21 AM	#5
NintendoNut PC Games and Tech Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hold on, I know this..... Gender: Posts: 8,655 Thanks: 108 Thanked 85 Times in 56 Posts	^ Not sure what you mean, seeing as I don't remember there being a huge amount of irony. Spoiler Below I disabled the generator.

10-13-2011, 02:40 PM	#6
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	Spoiler Below You were 'set free' from fate and 'chose' your own future ... by following every single instruction you were given by the voice to the letter.

10-14-2011, 07:51 AM	#7
NintendoNut PC Games and Tech Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hold on, I know this..... Gender: Posts: 8,655 Thanks: 108 Thanked 85 Times in 56 Posts	Spoiler Below In fairness, I was probably happier because I felt Stanley was happy, as corny as that sounds. However, having played through the rest of the endings, the real irony is that he wasn't really set free from anything, that the office was a lie and an artificial imprisonment conjured up by his own mind, it seems.

10-14-2011, 08:27 AM	#8
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	Spoiler Below The whole thing is a comment on writing and player choice. For example, the buttons in the room when you choose to take control of the generator do nothing - they're there to trick you as the player to do something. The game acts as if the fourth wall isn't there.