History TearJerker / TheStanleyParable

---> '''Narrator:''' I just wanted us to get along, but I guess that was too much to ask. It looks like you wanted to make a choice after all. Well, this one is yours.

---> '''Narrator:''' Oh, Stanley! You're back! You're back!

* The Skip Button Ending. At first it seems like the usual blend of humorous SelfDeprecation and comedic arrogance, with the Narrator complaining about [[TakeThatUs the poor quality of the new content]] and basking in the glory of how utterly perfect the original version of the game was. Then it all takes a turn when the Narrator and Stanley stumble upon a collection of Steam reviews of the original game, all of which (or at least all that the Narrator reads) are [[CausticCritic bashing the game]] and complaining about the Narrator in particular. While at first the Narrator reacts to this with the expected indignation, it quickly becomes clear how hard these reviews are hitting him, with him talking about how he feels like he failed these players (a sentiment that anyone who's struggled with negative feedback on their creative work can likely sympathize with). His utter desperation to please the fans leads the Narrator to create [[ArtifactOfDoom the Skip Button]], which ultimately leads to his own undoing at the player's hands when they find they have no real choice but to keep pressing the button until everything around them- including the Narrator- is gone.

-->This is a very sad story about the death of a man named Stanley.

* On route to the Starry Dome ending in the HD remix, The Narrator will beg Stanley not to kill himself, because for once in his life, he's happy. If Stanley dies, the game is reset, and he loses the space room. He is begging Stanley not to take that one beautiful moment away from him.

** When the Skip Button is pressed the 5th time, a week or two has passed. The Narrator's tone is presented to be of misery and relief

---> '''Narrator:''' Oh, Stanley! You're back! You're back!.

** Even worse, the Narrator's last words are [[ResetButton "I'm going back," showing that the he is afraid of returning to his cruel past self.]] And then you start right back at the beginning, and nothing has changed.

** Even worse, the Narrator's last words are [[ResetButton "I'm going back.", showing that the Narrator is afraid of returning to his cruel past self.]] And then you start right back at the beginning, and nothing has changed.

** Even worse, his last words are [[ResetButton "I'm going back." showing that the Narrator is afraid of returning to his cruel past self.]] And then you start right back at the beginning, and nothing has changed.

* The bucket version of the Escape Pod ending. Unlike the regular version of the ending, the game does ''not'' cut out before reaching the pod, but after Stanley arrives, he has a sudden realization that only one of them will be able to escape and elects to sacrifice himself in order to let the bucket escape the facility.

--> '''Narrator:''' I just wanted us to get along, but I guess that was too much to ask. It looks like you wanted to make a choice after all. Well, this one is yours.

* The Figley/Stanlurine ending in ''Ultra Deluxe'' counts towards this. In this ending, the Narrator sends Stanley back to the Memory Zone to relive his accomplishment at collection each of the Figlies/Stanlurines. Once Stanley and the Narrator reach the end, the Narrator resets the game, but not wanting to move forward, he undoes the reset and tells Stanley to relive his memories [[BackToFront in reverse]]. From there, the two arrive [[WhenItAllBegan at Stanley's office]], and the Narrator realizes his reasoning for creating Stanley: the Narrator had become complacent and needed a character to do what he was thinking, one that would make the decisions that he could not. The Narrator even questions if his creation of Stanley was in part because he was lonely and he [[IJustWantToHaveFriends wanted a companion to talk to]]. After giving his thoughts about Stanley, the Narrator decides to [[PutOnABus retire Stanley]] and be on his own again, promising to take care of himself and be much stronger. However, remarking how fun his experience with Stanley had been, the Narrator decides to tell Stanley's story [[OneLastJob for the last time]], starting off with [[BookEnd "This is the story of a man named Stanley."]]

** To make it even more poignant, take a look at the surroundings in the area with the Steam (Pressurized Gas for other consoles) reviews. There are lots of review that the Narrator doesn't read aloud, and all of them have the blue thumbs-up icon indicating a positive review...except they're all blurred out so that [[AccentuateTheNegative only the negative reviews can actually be read]].

** Even worse, his last words are [[ResetButton "I'm going ba-" showing that the Narrator is afraid of returning to his cruel past self.]] And then you start right back at the beginning, and nothing has changed.

** To make it even more poignant, take a look at the surroundings in the area with the Steam reviews. There are lots of review that the Narrator doesn't read aloud, and all of them have the blue thumbs-up icon indicating a positive review...except they're all blurred out so that [[AccentuateTheNegative only the negative reviews can actually be read]].

* The Skip Button Ending. At first it seems like the usual blend of humorous SelfDeprication and comedic arrogance, with the Narrator complaining about [[TakeThatUs the poor quality of the new content]] and basking in the glory of how utterly perfect the original version of the game was. Then it all takes a turn when the Narrator and Stanley stumble upon a collection of Steam reviews of the original game, all of which (or at least all that the Narrator reads) are [[CausticCritic bashing the game]] and complaining about the Narrator in particular. While at first the Narrator reacts to this with the expected indignation, it quickly becomes clear how hard these reviews are hitting him, with him talking about how he feels like he failed these players (a sentiment that anyone who's struggled with negative feedback on their creative work can likely sympathize with). His utter desperation to please the fans leads the Narrator to create [[ArtifactOfDoom the Skip Button]], which ultimately leads to his own undoing at the player's hands when they find they have no real choice but to keep pressing the button until everything around them- including the Narrator- is gone.