Yeah that's the thing though: you don't actually have any choice outside of bad-ending yourself early. You have no actual REASON to do anything at all after the Factory Dungeon (you don't need to protect the portal. The reason you were in the area in the first place is a lie and you now have no reason to pursue it. The demons' one and only objective in the entire game -- corrupting the Lake -- has been shut down, potentially permanently -- and there's never a single hint that the demons have anything else in the works until the end of the game when it turns out "oh they actually were planning on an invasion after all lol").
I get what you mean. From plot progression standpoint, the game kind of stops there. But not fault of the twist in itself which is my point.
I would argue that it is what helps the game somewhat chug along to the finish line, no matter how bare bones it ended up being. Since we learn that we do not have really any obligation in protecting the portal, it supports the game more sandboxy feel that was already present up to that point. We can take our sweet time, explore the wild, unfamiliar wasteland at our own pace (still one of the most unique settings found in porn) and meat and interact with locals how we (game) see fit. Not really overarching choices, but many small ones related to different characters. Which was also supported by games portal mechanic which used seamy random encounters and exploration to throw player from one location and character to another.
Which as a motive justifacation, as flimsy as it is, suits the game more. After all, if I remember right, Fenoxo never really had any grand plans to how its story and content was supposed to flow from one another. The game and its contents were just half hazardly thrown together to fill specific different niches and character archetypes. While true it is not really story related drive, it obviously worked since game is still fondly remembered by many. Maybe not for the story and its big bad, but certainly for its characters,world and all different scenarios you found yourself thrown into.
The default ending Fen wrote is also entirely devoid of choice in and of itself -- it's entirely reactive based on your Corruption score and how many demons you've killed (the more the better, more or less regardless of Corruption) -- but you at least also get the choice of just becoming Lethice's champion instead of bothering to fight her or (if you have a specific item) redeeming her. So that's nice.
The default ending is something Fen threw in last minute to shut people up so that they would not bother him to finish the game since at that point production on TiTS was well truly underway if I remember right. Using it as any sort of evidence as to why the game hook does not work is mute point since by its own design, it was created just for ending sake as stop of any hope for continuation. At least from official developers.
Just removing Companions is the least interesting possible thing you could do though, imo. Getting them real fucked up or destroying their lives/ambitions/selves is way more interesting. You can already dick over Arona, and I'd like to put more content down her Exile line later (either Bimbofication or Demonification or w/e -- something to balance out losing the Orc Camp on her Chieftain line). You'll definitely be able to really tool Etheryn later re: Soulstone key.
Oh nice. I was worried that the concept of corrupting/breaking your companion was falling to the wayside. But than again, I only hear it from you and Wsan since you 2 are most active participants when it comes to corruption talk. Not sure about other writers and how they feel about that whole corruption thing.
Still, good to hear that Arona exile route still is on your mind. I am not really into Demofication or Bimbofication, but latter sound better to me. Would something like slave route also be on the table.
As for Ryn, good to know that her bully thing can play major part in how her characters develop. When reffering to Soulstone do you mean us basically gaining the the ability of her sister in when her cage can and can not get off?