History Main / GoldenPath

** Alongside these requirements, the player must make several key decisions in [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect2}} both]] [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect3}} games]] and recieve at least '''5 Points''' in the following:

* In ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4'', it is possible to max out all of your social stats and social links in a single playthrough. This is ''nearly impossible'' in ''3'' (you have ''no'' leeway at all), ''slightly'' less ridiculous in [[UpdatedRerelease FES]] (you have roughly four or five days of leeway), and still not that easy in ''4''. NewGamePlus makes it easier; you can't carry over RelationshipValues, but you do keep your social stats, freeing up some time.

** Alongside these requirements, the player must make several key decisions in [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect2}} both]] [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect3}} games]] and recieve at least ''five points'' in the following:

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', it is possible to max out all of your social stats and social links in a single playthrough. This is ''nearly impossible'' in ''3'' (you have ''no'' leeway at all), ''slightly'' less ridiculous in [[UpdatedRerelease FES]] (you have roughly four or five days of leeway), and still not that easy in ''4''. NewGamePlus makes it easier; you can't carry over RelationshipValues, but you do keep your social stats, freeing up some time.
* In the first ''VideoGame/{{Knights Of The Old Republic}}'' game, it's best if you complete either Tatooine or Kashyyk first and save Manaan for your third adventure and leave Korriban last. Because on the first two planets, the characters HK-47 and Jolee Bindo may join your party and you'll have more chances to know them better, there's also a sidequest that involves Jolee on Manaan; if you attempt to do Korriban any time before that Bastila will stay in the ship during it, so [[spoiler:the fact that she will be captured after completing three planets]] reduces the impact of her absence to zero, at least there.

** Unfortunately, this led to ''Revelation'' becoming [[CuttingOffTheBranches the fan-preferred route]], to the disregard of the other two, which in turn led to an intentional {{aver|tedTrope}}sion in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]'' and its spin-off, ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes Three Hopes]]''.

** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' has probably the best example of this when Quarian-Geth Conflict reaches its climax during the mission ''Priority: Rannoch''. At this point, the player must decide [[spoiler: whether to save the Quarians or the Geth, but choosing one [[{{SadisticChoice}} will doom the other]], including Tali if the Geth are chosen]]. However, it's [[TakeAThirdOption entirely possible]] to [[spoiler: broker a peace between the two species, and have both of them commit to the war against the Reapers instead of just one [[note]] As Joker quips: "Two Fleets for the Price of One". [[/note]]]]. To accomplish this, the player is required to [[OldSaveBonus import a save]] from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' and make several key, specific decisions in the [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect2}} second]] and [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect3}} third]] games:
*** Both Tali and [[spoiler: Legion]] must be recruited and survive the Suicide Mission at the end of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''.
*** The player must complete the mission ''Rannoch: Geth Fighter Squadrons'' before starting ''Priority: Rannoch''.
*** Commander Shepard has at least 80% of his/her Reputation Meter filled.
*** Alongside these requirements, the player must make several key decisions in [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect2}} both]] [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect3}} games]] and recieve at least ''five points'' in the following:

*** The Player/Shepard must have broken up [[spoiler: the argument between Tali and Legion in 2]] without taking sides, using ''Charm'' or ''Intimidate'' dialogue options '''(+1 Point)'''.

** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' has probably the best example of this when Quarian-Geth Conflict reaches its climax during the mission ''Priority: Rannoch''. At this point, the player must decide [[spoiler: whether to save the Quarians or the Geth, but choosing one [[{{SadisticChoice}} will doom the other]], including Tali if the Geth are chosen]]. However, it's [[TakeAThirdOption entirely possible]] to [[spoiler: broker a peace between the two species, and have both of them commit to the war against the Reapers instead of just one [[note]] As Joker quips: "Two Fleets for the Price of One". [[/note]]]]. To accomplish this, the player is required to [[OldSaveBonus import a save]] from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' and make several key decisions in the [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect2}} second]] and [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect3}} third]] games:

*** Complete Tali's LoyaltyMission in [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect2}} 2]] by gaining her loyalty ''without'' having her exiled from the Quarian Fleet '''(+2 Points)'''.
*** Complete [[spoiler: Legion's Loyalty Mission]] in [[{{VideoGame/MassEffect2}} 2]] by choosing to [[spoiler: destroy the Geth Heretics]] '''(+2 Points)'''.
*** The Player/Shepard must have broken up [[spoiler: the argument between Tali and Legion in 2]] without taking sides, using ''Charm'' or ''Intimidate'' dialogue options '''(+1 Point)'''.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''campaign'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelation'' is a DLC campaign that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither their birth family nor the family that raised them and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated [[spoiler:and the Avatar crowned ruler of Valla]]. Note that this is the only path that the GreaterScopeVillain can actually be fought in. It also contains the fewest [[PlotlineDeath deaths]] among the main cast, being the only path where [[spoiler: ''all'' of the Avatar's siblings, as well as Azura, survive]].

* The "Verdant Wind" route of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses''. Unlike ''Revelation'' above the storyline isn't without its share of death and struggle, but it [[StoryBranchFavoritism leads to the most objectively positive outcome]] with the fewest amount of character deaths (depending on the player's skill), [[spoiler: Byleth becoming king/queen of Fódlan while Claude ascends to the throne of Almyra and the two bringing peace to both kingdoms, [[GreaterScopeVillain Those Who Slither In The Dark]] being dealt with once and for all, and Rhea dying in a HeroicSacrifice [[RedemptionEqualsDeath and redeeming herself in the face of her questionable past actions]].]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Primordia}}'' has numerous minor choices and puzzle solutions that determine which characters will follow Horatio if you choose to return to the ship at the end of the game. [[GottaCatchThemAll Gathering them all]] requires a lot of work throughout the entire story.

* The "Verdant Wind" route of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses''. Unlike ''Revelation'' above the storyline isn't without its share of death and struggle, but it [[StoryBranchFavoritism leads to the most objectively positive outcome]] with the fewest amount of character deaths (depending on the player's skill), [[spoiler: Byleth becoming king of Fódlan while Claude ascends to the throne of Almyra and the two bringing peace to both kingdoms, [[GreaterScopeVillain Those Who Slither In The Dark]] being dealt with once and for all, and Rhea dying in a HeroicSacrifice [[RedemptionEqualsDeath and redeeming herself in the face of her questionable past actions]].]]

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[[quoteright:300:[[VideoGame/StarFox64 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hard_path_star_fox_64.png]]]]

** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', the way to earn the best ending is to upgrade your ship's armor, shields, and weapons, recruit all the possible squadmates, and complete each and every one of their loyalty missions ''before'' boarding the derelict Reaper, then [[spoiler:doing the last loyalty mission for the squadmate found there,]] then going through the Omega-4 relay immediately after [[spoiler:your crew is abducted]]. During the final mission, you'll have to pick the best squadmate for each task and leave the ''toughest'' characters behind for the FinalBoss, in order to keep everyone alive. Doing so will net you the "No One Left Behind" achievement and the longest ending in the game.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''game'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelation'' is a DLC game that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither their birth family nor the family that raised them and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated [[spoiler:and the Avatar crowned ruler of Valla]]. Note that this is the only path that the GreaterScopeVillain can actually be fought in. It also contains the fewest [[PlotlineDeath deaths]] among the main cast, being the only path where [[spoiler: ''all'' of the Avatar's siblings, as well as Azura, survive]].

* Zigzagged in ''VideoGame/StarFox64''. There are two endings to the game, each with its own final level. The paths to get there, however, branch all over the place because almost every single mission has a normal and a good victory condition. The red line fits the definition of this trope the most story and gameplay-wise since every level in said line has the player dealing a significant blow to Andross' forces while having more opportunities for higher scores due to the large amount of enemies found in Sector Y, Aquas and Area 6, with a detour to Macbeth instead of going straight to Sector Z being recommended (thanks to the latter level having very few enemy fighters). The manual curiously describes this route as Route 18 or "The Long Route", pictured above.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/StarFox64''. There are two endings to the game, each with its own final level. The paths to get there, however, branch all over the place because almost every single mission has a normal and a good victory condition. The red line fits the definition of this trope the most, as barring Sector Z (which requires you to not be detected on Zoness...which has you be led into an ambush for some reason), since every level in said line has you deal a significant blow to Andross' forces. Going to Macbeth instead of Sector Z keeps this path up, however.

* In ''Franchise/ZeroEscape'', the player's attempts to reach this path [[BreakingTheFourthWall are parallel]] to the protagonists- all of whom are [[AlternateUniverse Shifters]]- doing the same thing. They belong to the organisation [[BenevolentConspiracy Crash Keys]], which prevents various apocalyptic crises from coming to pass. They see the Golden Path as an ironclad possibility that needs to be found or protected; actively deciding what little things shouldn't be part of the Path is not their goal. [[spoiler:Of course, Shifters are still ''people'' at heart, so they will move mountains to avoid an-otherwise Golden Path in which their personal loved ones are dead.]]

* Averted in ''VideoGame/StarFox64''. There are two endings to the game, each with its own final level. The paths to get there, however, branch all over the place because almost every single mission has a normal and a good victory condition.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', it is possible to max out all of your social stats and social links in a single playthrough. This is ''nearly impossible'' in ''3'' (you have ''no'' leeway at all), ''slightly'' less ridiculous in [[UpdatedRerelease FES]], and still not that easy in ''4''. NewGamePlus makes it easier; you can't carry over RelationshipValues, but you do keep your social stats, freeing up some time.

* ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfileLenneth'' is a rather obnoxious example. The game boasts 3 endings! Except... One of the endings is nothing more than a [[NonstandardGameOver fancy]] GameOver, the normal ending bypasses a lot of the interesting stuff, and is about 2 lines long ("Congratulations! Go to sleep; BTW, this game has more stuff"), and ''then'' there's the good ending, which is both the GoldenPath and GuideDangit. Averted in Silmeria, which has only one path, and Convenant of the Plume, in which all 3 paths are satisfying (well, the A Path ending was kind of rushed...), need to be played for the full experience, and have an easily identified branching point (the Plume destroys your enemies but permanently kills an ally each time it's used; how willing you are to sacrifice your friends determines your path).