Mass Effect 3

[Leon]

Re: Mass Effect 3

I finally finished the game this past Sunday (roughly 51 hours clocked on hardcore). Completed everything except for

Spoiler

collecting intel on Cerberus on Eden Prime (I didn't realize I didn't find everything AFTER leaving Eden Prime.)

The game, as a whole, deserves all the plaudits it gets. The gameplay is refined (though I do miss the RPG elements of 1, still), the graphics are better, the music is engrossing, and everything just feels much more alive compared to the previous games. The best thing about this game, I feel, is how fleshed out your squadmates are. After 3 games, I've gotten to know them and grown attached to them and seeing the culmination of these relationships was a joy to partake in.

Spoiler

I really felt how good of a bro Garrus was when we shot some bottles on the Citadel, took digs at each other, talked about what's gonna happen after this is all over and when I let him think that he was the best sniper in the galaxy.

There was the dilemma of curing the genophage and perhaps igniting a future war because of a boom in the Krogan population. Or was I going to sabotage the cure and betray my friend Wrex instead? I chose to cure them at the expense of losing my friend Mordin - robbing him of the chance to experiment on those seashells.

Then there was Rannoch and seeing Tali set foot on her homeworld for the first time. Again, there was that choice - do I allow the Quarians to destroy the Geth or do I allow Legion to upload Reaper tech to all Geth and wipe out the Quarians? Thankfully, I had another choice due to the way I've played since ME 1-2 - I talked both sides down, allowed the Geth to be upgraded and forged a peace. It was a very gripping moment and it was a moment I was totally invested in. Legion asking if he had a soul, becoming a "person," and then shutting down after the upload was bittersweet. Sharing a few moments with Tali and her vision for a beach-front house on Rannoch was a culmination of HER journey and it was great to behold. And I'm happy that my Shep helped make that happen.

Don't even get me started on my girl Liara. From innocent archaeologist to jaded Shadow Broker to something in-between sweet and badass, if my Shep was going to settle down with someone, it was her. Her realization that everything she knew about her people was a fabrication, finding out that Protheans aren't this benevolent race after all, preserving whatever she can in case they all die - all of it was just well-written. The fact that she basically got the best love interest scenes is a plus too and let's just say my Shep was looking forward those little blue babies.

The story and characters are so well-written that it achieves what any good storyteller achieves with his or her writing - a bond or connection with the audience.

I honestly think that 99% of the game is great. It's my game of the year, so far. I plan to replay the game sometime soon (on Insanity this time) just to relive those moments. They're that great. And I'm not someone who replays games right after I finish them just to collect achievements or whatever. The story is that good for me that I want to soak it all in again.

Then there's that ending...

Spoiler

I actually played the ending twice just to get a better grasp of it. At first, I thought it was "Cool. Run to middle, forge everlasting peace and done." Then I played it again and I realized that I neither hate it nor love it. I just feel unsatisfied. Strictly speaking about the stock endings, it just feels abrupt. So the galaxy is saved, the trilogy is over and it just ends in roughly 1 minute. I thought I'd see/hear my squadmates react, same for the whole galaxy I just gathered for this battle to end all battles. I thought I'd see my love interest shed a tear or something but smile knowing that Shepard accomplished what he set out to do. Basically, I thought I'd see the culmination of everything I've done and the galaxy's reaction to it. Instead it just ends with a few quick shots that really has nothing do with my Shepard's personal journey (except for that Normandy sequence that's riddled with plot holes).

I thought about the way Solid Snake's journey ended in MGS 4 and how, for all that series' convoluted plots and complexity, it managed to give a satisfying conclusion. That game's ending lasted for like 10 minutes or so AFTER you beat the final boss (pun intended). I witnessed the culmination of his journey and I was satisfied with that.

Some compare Mass Effect 3's ending to BSG or LOST. While I know that a lot of people disliked how those shows ended, I liked their endings because of one thing - RESOLUTION to the characters.

If this is really how it ends, it's just BLAH. It's abrupt. It's like watching The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and finally Return of the King and then

Spoiler

the one Ring gets destroyed on Mt. Doom, the Eye vanishes/explodes, quick shots of people celebrating and then "The End." Like, really? I can't get a couple of minutes to see how my Fellowship is doing?

I'm not even going to mention all the theories and plot-holes. My main problem with it is just how abrupt it all feels. I don't mind endings like that (well, not really) if this were Mass Effect 1 or 2. But this is 3, this is supposed to be IT. Happy, sad, bittersweet, whatever ending, there SHOULD be an epilogue. As is, there's just no resolution to any of the characters other than "They survived on some jungle planet after Shepard sacrificed himself (or not)." These wonderfully written characters deserve better than that.

Bioware has spent so much time cultivating this rich universe and giving our Shepard and crew a very memorable journey from beginning to almost end. Why not spend a little more time giving them a memorable ending?

Mordin said it best - "Hard to imagine galaxy. Too many people. Faceless. Statistics. Too easy to depersonalize. Good when doing unpleasant work. For this fight, want personal connection. Can’t anthropomorphize galaxy, but can think of favorite nephew. Fighting for him."

Yes, I wanted to save the galaxy. And that's because of my friends on the Normandy.

The Mass Effect trilogy is still one of the best gaming trilogies I've ever played. I feel like it rivals a lot of good movies and books out there. I know I will eventually play all three, from the beginning, someday soon. I just hope it had a better ending.

[Jasong7777]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Wow. I didn't know you could do a spoiler inside of a spoiler. That's some Inception type ****.

[Leon]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Wow. I didn't know you could do a spoiler inside of a spoiler. That's some Inception type ****.

Spoiler

Also, here's a very good video on why the ending doesn't really work. A bit long at almost 40 mins., but I did learn more about storytelling!

Spoiler

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7MlatxLP-xs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[goh]

Re: Mass Effect 3

That's what the developers released in their Q/A. They said that you won't need to play multiplayer to get all the endings however there would be one that you need to play multiplayer to get.


Sent from me, duh.

Not what they said in multiple interviews or the stickied topic on their forum.

[Solidice]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Spoiler

Also, here's a very good video on why the ending doesn't really work. A bit long at almost 40 mins., but I did learn more about storytelling!

Spoiler

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7MlatxLP-xs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

that video pretty much sums up(though in much more detail) the reasons why I think the last 5 minutes was lame/bad, and probably goes for most people that didn't like the ending.

[rdnk]

Re: Mass Effect 3

That's what the developers released in their Q/A. They said that you won't need to play multiplayer to get all the endings however there would be one that you need to play multiplayer to get.

Well what happens when the multiplayer servers get taken down, and I want to play the trilogy again in a few years (as other than the ending, it was excellent)? Am I just resigned to going to youtube to watch the best ending again? The thing is, the multiplayer is kinda fun (which is overshadowed), but attaching it to the single player was a bad move IMO. Although, they could just release DLC with Jesus or something that gives you 5000 war asset points (not that I'd be happy about it)...

Spoiler

I agree for the most part on the endings. After working so hard to make us like the squadmates, there was no closure. It just ends. Sheppard is dead (or alive if you played multiplayer and destroyed all synthetics), the ME1 squad is on some random planet, and the ME2 characters are war assets, so I guess they could have died in the attack or doing something else.

[marshallfever]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Ok i was talking to my buddy who brought the DLC and now i'm sort of upset

Spoiler

I'm not sure how to express myself but I'll try:

Before the game even released and they announced the Prothean guy as a new character I was very upset. If it was another other race or character it would of been fine, but a characters whose race plays such a pivotal role in the series and happens to be extinct is just wrong. We're paying premium money here for a full game and then to put this guy as DLC when he's such a unique character to the series is greedy, isn't it?

Now i hear that everyone in the citadel and your own crew members interact with him in a very interesting and creative way. Yet Zeed was a DLC character in Mass Effect 2 that was pretty much "Throw Away." Not only is this guy some what interesting i hear he gives you insight on the Protheans.

My buddy tells me he tells us that the Protheans were a race of warriors that conquered other races like the Asari etc. He also talks about his hate for A.I and being against EDI and Legion. That small part right there ties to the freaking end of the game.

I'm pretty sure I haven't articulated myself well but from what it appears as, it seems that he was a character in the game that they decided to remove half way through and charge for him, and even if he wasn't, his role and race is so pivotal to the series. Yet in that same note, they needed the content that they would have for DLC be worth the money right? But did it have to be a Prothean?

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Ok i was talking to my buddy who brought the DLC and now i'm sort of upset

Spoiler

I'm not sure how to express myself but I'll try:

Before the game even released and they announced the Prothean guy as a new character I was very upset. If it was another other race or character it would of been fine, but a characters whose race plays such a pivotal role in the series and happens to be extinct is just wrong. We're paying premium money here for a full game and then to put this guy as DLC when he's such a unique character to the series is greedy, isn't it?

Now i hear that everyone in the citadel and your own crew members interact with him in a very interesting and creative way. Yet Zeed was a DLC character in Mass Effect 2 that was pretty much "Throw Away." Not only is this guy some what interesting i hear he gives you insight on the Protheans.

My buddy tells me he tells us that the Protheans were a race of warriors that conquered other races like the Asari etc. He also talks about his hate for A.I and being against EDI and Legion. That small part right there ties to the freaking end of the game.

I'm pretty sure I haven't articulated myself well but from what it appears as, it seems that he was a character in the game that they decided to remove half way through and charge for him, and even if he wasn't, his role and race is so pivotal to the series. Yet in that same note, they needed the content that they would have for DLC be worth the money right? But did it have to be a Prothean?

It's pretty much the truth. I bought the DLC too but wasn't all that happy about having to. I'm telling you, all of these issues (the DLC, the ending, etc.) stink so bad of EA it is sickening. Yes, EA was a part of ME2 but I think the game was pretty much done by the time EA got involved, wasn't it? How can the first two games be great, the third one be great up until the very end, and it be Bioware's fault? EA likely pushed to make Javik as DLC because they're greedy and they probably rushed Bioware into an ending before it was ready so EA could do all of the marketing crap that they had scheduled. Can't miss the date to launch games into space, right? How many times since EA got too big for its own good have they pushed a product onto the consumer when it was filled with bugs of various sorts? I bet the developers care about the product they are developing but they real criminals, the business folks at EA, could care less of what gets to the consumer. All they care about is the sale to the consumer and the money it generates. If that means putting a product out filled with bugs (like the FIFA 10 debt glitch) and they refuse to fix it, oh well.

[Burns11]

Re: Mass Effect 3

You can't blame EA and EA greed while giving Bioware a pass on making the game as they did and their greed for selling out in the first place.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Mass Effect 3

You can't blame EA and EA greed while giving Bioware a pass on making the game as they did and their greed for selling out in the first place.

The thing I've noticed, going through the game again, is that parts of the game feel rushed. This is the last in the series, Bioware's big game, they should have taken more time for polish. Add in the fact that the game was delayed to March of this year and Bioware should have had all the time they needed.

[rdnk]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Someone I know made an argument that the DLC was made after the game was finished but before it was launched. There is this time of a few weeks in between those two events that gives design staff and stuff time. Oftentimes they are moved over to a different project, but in this case he said that they probably worked on the Javik DLC, thus having it available for launch day. Personally, I'd rather have it on launch day than a couple of months down the road, like Pinnacle Station or Lair of the Shadow Broker, when I'm done with the game. Finally, I'm guessing the Zaeed DLC was done the same way, except that was free if you bought the game, which I thought was a good way to get people to buy firsthand and IMO Javik DLC should have been done the same way.

I didn't buy it anyways, because it didn't make much sense to me that there would be a Prothean still stasis, when in ME1 the VI said that they were all killed (I'm also cheap). On top of it, the only DLC I have is the Cerberus Network stuff, Bring Down the Sky (came with the PC version of ME1) and Kasumi.

Maybe in a year they'll release the trilogy with all the DLC included for 60$ or something (I dunno, Bethesda did that with Fallout 3).

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Mass Effect 3

You can't blame EA and EA greed while giving Bioware a pass on making the game as they did and their greed for selling out in the first place.

I'm just blaming EA more than Bioware. I have a feeling that if Bioware weren't affiliated with EA at all, we'd eventually have the game we wanted. But, they are so we don't. You're right though, Bioware knew what they were doing by partnering up with EA in the first place. They wanted the marketing and business resources EA provided. EA wanted the Mass Effect franchise. It is what it is.

I will say, I was a loyal buyer of all things EA for a very long time. I remember buying EA's Lakers vs. Celtics and Indianapolis 500 for my PC in the late 80's. I bought NHL, NBA, and John Madden, EA games every single year up until maybe 10 years ago. Hell, when I was a senior in high school, in my economics class, EA was the stock I picked in a competition we had for the year and I finished in the top 5. Anyway I don't want anyone to think I'm bashing EA just because. The company has just changed over the years and the quality of their products in many cases seems to have been sacrificed in favor of profits. That's where I'm coming from putting blame on them for ME3.

[Solidice]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Someone I know made an argument that the DLC was made after the game was finished but before it was launched. There is this time of a few weeks in between those two events that gives design staff and stuff time. Oftentimes they are moved over to a different project, but in this case he said that they probably worked on the Javik DLC, thus having it available for launch day. Personally, I'd rather have it on launch day than a couple of months down the road, like Pinnacle Station or Lair of the Shadow Broker, when I'm done with the game. Finally, I'm guessing the Zaeed DLC was done the same way, except that was free if you bought the game, which I thought was a good way to get people to buy firsthand and IMO Javik DLC should have been done the same way.

I didn't buy it anyways, because it didn't make much sense to me that there would be a Prothean still stasis, when in ME1 the VI said that they were all killed (I'm also cheap). On top of it, the only DLC I have is the Cerberus Network stuff, Bring Down the Sky (came with the PC version of ME1) and Kasumi.

Maybe in a year they'll release the trilogy with all the DLC included for 60$ or something (I dunno, Bethesda did that with Fallout 3).

I believe quite a bit of the "From Ashes" DLC was in the original game and just locked out(I think mostly character art and audio type stuff). most of the pre-order DLC stuff are on the disc as well, just locked until you input the code.

I think most of the issues people had with it was that he is such an important character to the lore of Mass Effect, and yet most people have to pay an extra $10 just to get the full Mass Effect lore experience. He is much more involved than any of the ME2 DLC characters were(Zaeed and Kasumi). He has interactions with most of the Normandy crew throughout the game, people on the citadel, and people you meet on missions. from the looks of it, he was meant to be in the game, but was kept out on purpose. whether it was because of greed, or because the content wasn't quite done, I don't know.

[goh]

Re: Mass Effect 3

Had to download 600 some MB so he wasn't entirely on the disc. Probably a situation where they had it partly done and tossed it on there to make the DL smaller. Didn't get Capcom'd/THQ'd. If it's on the disc or in some cases was in an update it's 108kb download.

[marshallfever]

Re: Mass Effect 3

I believe quite a bit of the "From Ashes" DLC was in the original game and just locked out(I think mostly character art and audio type stuff). most of the pre-order DLC stuff are on the disc as well, just locked until you input the code.

I think most of the issues people had with it was that he is such an important character to the lore of Mass Effect, and yet most people have to pay an extra $10 just to get the full Mass Effect lore experience. He is much more involved than any of the ME2 DLC characters were(Zaeed and Kasumi). He has interactions with most of the Normandy crew throughout the game, people on the citadel, and people you meet on missions. from the looks of it, he was meant to be in the game, but was kept out on purpose. whether it was because of greed, or because the content wasn't quite done, I don't know.

This is why i'm upset, he brings such lore and experience to the entire journey, yet they side step him by making him DLC. I just paid $60 for this freaking game, and now your going to ask me to pay another $10 for a character that expands the lore of the series in such a pivotal way....c-mon