It's an interesting topic I'm willing to discuss but from a technical point of view only.
Who, what, and how it carries on to the second episode, if any, you'll discover that in due time
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The one thing I'm still undecided about is :
1/ if I let free choice for the player to select any of the endings he wants to start from (even if he didn't really get it in Ep.1),
2/ or if I make some code or keyword stuff (that you get from first episode endings), and that you have to enter to unlock the option in Ep2
my 2 cents.
1. I would like to see something carry on, just not only for the story but for your LI. (Here´s an idea: same trait or looks or fell could embodied some character, or maybe like "
Shayera Hol" from "Hawkman" if you know what I mean. THe myth and reencarnation or something like that could be cool.
Besides, here´s another idea: If you do it well, the 3 games could be tied into one throu cycles of one generating the other, in a loop, where the ending is the begging and the begging is the ending.
2. About your indecition.
1 is the option.
Why?
a.Less coding mess for you (time you could devote to something more important, storywise)
b.Easy to undertand for the new player. Less is More.
c.Keys stuff is never a good idea, and your game, as far as now is not a puzzle one. If it is, it could be. I still prefer something more than a key t-shirt for ending the first game.
d.Options is good, but no at the beggining of a game. If you could make the "episode one import process automatic" then great, but if not, don´t bother.
e. From free option 1, the new and the old player, have the better illusion of control over the story. Even if they want to play the 2 chapter all wrong, or different form what he did in ep 1. (how so? or Why?. Maybe I dont like your ending for Ep.1, so I`ll play ep. 2 avoiding all about it directly.
That´s what I though about at first glance of what you are proposing. I would need more data to polish something more coherent with what is in your mind.
PS. It good to see your progress in photography, but keep in mind that photography is not about filters only, is about framing, lighting, and telling the story from an unique perspective. YOURS.
Keep studing games like
"Broken Dreamers" "AoA" "Summer´s gone" "Callisto" "Chasing Sunsets" just to name a few with great photo.
"Prince of Power" for one more related to snowstorm.