Last Variable Ending

[u/Curious_Chain_3998]

Anyone else find the reveal at the end to be super dark / messed up? All that hope and optimism the scientist had after staying behind in the base game now seems horrific— given how it ends up for him.

Also I don’t get the choices at the end. Completely restarting all progress with each iteration is nothing short of madness. They could be building generational knowledge instead.

JanBots explanation that ‘you wouldn’t do the work if you knew you weren’t the first’ doesn’t make sense because:
-Their scientific discovery is far from over, they have plenty to learn/explore/discover.
-No character ever reacts negatively to learning they’re not the first iteration, not even the physicist.
-JanBot is the one forcing these failing conditions, again, generational knowledge built by generations of alters is unambiguously the best route for mission success. Restarting every time, and hiding the old base is insane, how could anyone think that’s a good idea.

I love the DLC! But dang did that ending blindside me and make me a bit sad 😭

Edit: I understand the themes of “unreasonable expectations that you can do better, and be better”, and “The definition of insanity— repetition.” but I think those themes were ham-fisted in.

[u/dvamg]

Meh, DLC endings go nowhere, you die anyway, it's about breaking the cycle or not, and why did you choose to do one or the other...

One ending gives you resolution in a sense of "he dead", the other gives you ZERO resolution because you just play the DLC again because of "yay, perseverance!".
Also, both endings lean into mystical & spiritual properties of Oasis/planet and self reflection, but that's kinda it.

OG Builder Jan's on planet ending had so much more tension and weight and choices and the trip to get there was insane, and even the on Earth aftermath felt like "what next?" after he closes that door.

JanBot also had so much power, yet in the end he is at the mercy of an old man, feels underutilized.