My thoughts on the ending [SPOILERS]

I've read a lot of commentary about how Aava supposedly dies at the end, or how she was possibly suicidal, and never intended to come back, but I saw it differently. For a few reasons.

Firstly, there's no indication she intended to die. She mentions how Chris will be angry when he sees the camera, and she constantly encourages Marco to continue, which would make her a murderer if she felt there was no way back from the top. She's also in bad shape, but fit enough to scream. She isn't on death's door.

So I don't think the star climb was a dream. Or a dying hallucination. Or a metaphor. I actually think there's an element of literalism about it.

Kami is an object of religious veneration to the Troglodytes. And it seems to hold some form of magical power. Least of all that you can become cursed at the basin if you lie.

Also, when you scale Mini Kami, at the top a painting of the same star trail that you climb. Which reaches up into a dome of stars. Which cannot be a coincidence.

So my theory is that when you finish your ascent of Kami, you literally ascend. In a magical sense. You become one with eternity, as in the prologue. This is the reason why all the Troglodytes tried to reach the summit. Not for the achievement. But to ascend to the heavens.

Kami itself is magical. The Troglodytes knew this. And the existence of the star climb cave painting would suggest a previous summit too. As they had prior knowledge.

The platinum achievement is also called 'Free'. With an image of Aava as the shooting star. Not death. Or a dream. But freedom.

Lastly (and this may be just a gameplay conceit), but Kami remembers your successful summit on subsequent playthroughs, as you no longer get cursed.

So I like to think that you are reincarnated at the bottom. To start the climb again. But to choose to return with Marco the next time. Which represents true freedom. From her overwhelming desire and burden. That's the gift that Kami gives to those that scale her.

Aava becomes a part of the whole upon scaling Kami. And then realises how she is also part of a whole with her family back home. And lets go of the ego and desire that had kept her so isolated all her life.

So I choose to believe both endings are true. And Kami is a kind of purgatory for climbers. Who must face the mountain again and again until they burn out their desire - either by summiting, or by repeatedly failing - and choose to descend, after finally realising what is truly important to them.