Stalled in Game

[wstrohm]

I completed the game thru a "bad" ending wherein I followed CW's instructions... "Resume" sends me back to Hunrath near its tree. I wanted to go back to the "pods" in Maray, but when I tried that, I ran into two closed doors. One at the end of the pod ride (which gate I did in fact clear previously) and one on the walk path just below the pod access area, which I had also previously cleared. I am effectively "locked out" of the pod viewing area. I have no idea where to go from here. All four tree roots are connected, all bridges extended, maze paths completed, etc. How do I get back to the pod viewing area in Maray? Is there a hidden Villein control panel somewhere that I cannot find? Or some process that I have to repeat?

[Altairien]

Not possible. When the Villein closes the doors under his control, you're locked out of the pod area for the remainder of the game.

[wstrohm]

Not possible? I forgot to look at Farley's pod when I was in there. Am I stuck with the ending I played? Not a Cyan "good" ending at all. Like leaving Saavedro trapped and going back to Tomahna. Do I have to start a new game knowing not to follow CW's instructions, in order to find the "good" ending? Or have I missed something else? (And how the heck did that Villein ever survive? When I left that area, he was almost dead.)

[Magic88889]

You're missing what triggers the good or bad ending. Not sure what you're thinking, but it has nothing to do with Maray.

Think: is there something CW keeps asking you to do, over and over again?

[belford]

Getting to the other ending has nothing to do with the pod viewing area.

[wstrohm]

I think maybe I stumbled on the "good" ending by undoing something I had done before... very weird. At least it sorta seems like a "good" ending. (And I'm in the credits...!!)

[Altairien]

I think maybe I stumbled on the "good" ending by undoing something I had done before

Correct. That would be the trigger that determines which ending you get. I appreciated not being required to replay a large portion of the game to experience both of those endings.

As others have stated, access to the pod area is completely irrelevant to any of the endings (good, bad, and ugly).

[wstrohm]

How many endings are there? Is there one that maybe allows the successful player free access to roam the many areas of the game, as in, say, Myst? Or are there only the two? (It was a bit frustrating to be "trapped" in that last scene with no way out.) Should I just do a "Resume" to be able to run around at will?

[Artic_Wagon]

I heard of at least three endings (and spoilers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmJAvnEImg8

edit: typo

[wstrohm]

I heard of at least three endings (and spoilers)

Thanks for the link. Apparently I was smart enough to stay away from the "ugly" ending, but then I was just following directions, so maybe not...