I don't think open-ended story telling can ever be as engrossing as a linear story. No one wants to read a book with 5 different endings do they? It'll be like the author couldn't decide what he wanted, so they chuck in whatever. Thus you never get a feeling of attachment to the characters or environments. I think the same can apply to video games. Not that I'm saying open-ended stories aren't good, if implemented right they can be great, but a great linear story would always be more memorable. Do you think games like MGS and FF would be as memorable if it had open-ended stories, where you're then left with wondering which is the 'canon' ending or what not? Heck one of MGS1's weak points was that it had 2 endings. Which was pointless really. I'd be happy with a good ratio between the 2 in terms of future games.
Liquid snake was the coolest boss. he was like the one person you never killed in the game. loved the way he talked, he didn't sound whiny to me really, and i don't think he just wanted to fight solid snake, he probably would have gone through with releasing the bomb anyway. and remember, he had the superior genes in the end (he just didn't know). and after all the cr@p he put you through, surviving all the fights, his death was out of your hands, instead you would have had died if he hadn't succumbed to the virus. there's a reason why one of the mgs3 boss fights follows similar to his end fight. and there's a reason kojima wants to bring him back, through his 'smart arm' haha.
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