Mass Effect 3

[HossBonaventure]

I've been sort of quiet on ME3's (not that I am by any means an expert or an authority) ending. I really like and genuinely care about this series...

What bothers me so much about the ending (spoilers) aside from the fact that none of the choices I made in previous games mattered, was that the end cut-scene was so truncated. Seriously?!?!? Joker and EDI or Joker and Garrus (depending) walking out of the Normandy and some old creep talking to some little kid years in the future? THAT'S IT??? I would have appreciated a longer cutscene depicting the aftermath on earth and the fate of the characters (Miranda crying over me!). I mean, I like that they let you talk to past crew members before the final push towards the beam but...ugh. Its like they just....stopped.

[Dizzy D]

I input the code and I got a Shepard with light brown skin, short brown hair and green eyes, funnily enough. Is that about right? She's definitely pretty attractive, as you said.

I've got two, both male. The Paragon Shepard, I'm pretty proud of because I had ME1 on the 360 and ME2 on the PS3, so I had to reconstruct his face from memory. Even if I say so myself, I did a pretty good job. Also, I think his face fits Meer's voice pretty well. I find the default face doesn't suit the voice. It's a bit too deep for him. The Renegade Shepard I went with because I wanted to create a creepy-looking biotic character. He came out looking a bit like Voldemort. Like Kage Kisaragi though, he turned out a little different in Mass Effect 3. He looks similar but ... I think the mouth might've been automatically widened or something.

Paragon Shepard: 242.MAD.WRM.114.JFS.67B.RJ9.5JA.W56.1W4.156.6
Renegade Shepard: 262.LS2.R1A.161.JBW.W1W.W76.29F.115.1W8.112.6

My main shepard: 641.966.C8D.481.KEQ.L9H.JU4.6EE.4L8.3I5.136.6, slightly modified it going from 1 to 2. From 2 to 3 the face didnt change that much as far as I could notice.

[Havok83]

Okay so I finally have some time to write about the game now that Im done with it

What I liked:

Weapon Management - I like that finally you can use any weapon regardless of class. Im a Vanguard and never could use assault rifles before but now its become my main weapon. In ME2, I thought they simplified things too much as when you picked up a weapon, you had no idea what was better or not, so I like that here you can view and compare stats, making management much easier

Powers - I love that they expanded the powersets avaialble to the various classes and like that there's more evolution tracks per each one. So far loving Nova

War Assetts - I loved the new Galaxy at War system. Really made you get a greater sense that you were preparing for an epic battle and I love how the universe rallied behind you depending on what you did.

Helmet off - I never used helmets in the last game bc I liked seeing my Shep in cutscenes. I love that in this game you can keep the helmet in battle but it comes off in cutscenes.


What I didnt like:

Squadmates - I really didnt care for the supporting cast this time around. I thought ME2 had the best lineup of squadmates with some truly memorable and interesting characters. Mordin, Miranda, Kasumi, Jack, Zaeed, etc...I loved them all. They had so much personality and I found them more entertaining than the new ones introduced in ME3. Vega is the only one that really stood out to me. I even preferred Kelly Chambers over her replacement Traynor. What I also preferred in ME2 was how you went on a mission to recruite and build up your team, but here they are just provided to you along the way. And what the hell? Why werent ANY of the ME2 additions back as squad members. They all came across as glorified cameos with so many getting killed

Lack of Hub Worlds - Only the citadel? I loved visiting different planets, finding new missions and meeting new characters there. Omega for example was a great alternate locale for that. All the places you visit here are strictly for the missions which I felt was a step down.

Lack of Choices - Yeah I know this is the last game in the series so I shouldnt have expected much but still I missed having many choices in the game which I felt would affect me in the future. There are definetly ones in the game you do make tht I expected to have an impact on the ending but unfortunately that didnt really turn out so well....

No Loyalty Missions - This ties in to why I thought ME2 had the better squad. Loyalty missions did a great job at expanded the backstories for the characters and making you get to know them better and relate. I also liked doing them bc they were a nice diversion from the story. Even ME1 had them to an extent but they were absent from this game and thats a shame

Final Mission was lackluster - I expected something more epic than what we got, espeically since the series has been building up to this moment for years. The battle with the Collectors was ALOT more satisfying than with the Reapers. I loved how the final mission structure in ME2 was done with choosing leaders and pairings for a coordinated team based assault. Even if they werent with you, you had a sense that your team was there with you fighting the battle. Not here in ME3. Very straight forward and basic and felt like a regular mission

[Chiasm]

For those upset with the ending I suggest you watch this video. I'd already bought into the Indoctrination theory but this video lays it all out completely about just how f-ing brilliant the ending to ME3 was. Like many when I first finished I was all WTF but I now realize that in complete seriousness it is the greatest video game ending ever. And I mean that in 100% seriousness. Its so obvious now that the Indoctrination theory of the ending is what happened, it just went over most of our heads.

The video will lay out a lot of this going all the way back with clips from ME1 to make the point. Consider some of the many things brought up:

1. Why are the trees and shrubs from Shepards dreams suddenly present after everyone gets blown up from the beams but weren't present before? Its because the end is also a dream and part of the Indoctrination attempt.
2. How did Hackett know you were on the Citadel after it was reported everyone died (its all in Shepards head is how)
3. How do you explain Joker and the crew of the Normandy surviving (its wish fulfillment in Shepards head)
4. How do you explain the final scene of Shepard in the rubble if you get that ending with Shepard waking up?

Many, many more things


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck

[carabas]

For those upset with the ending I suggest you watch this video. I'd already bought into the Indoctrination theory but this video lays it all out completely about just how f-ing brilliant the ending to ME3 was. Like many when I first finished I was all WTF but I now realize that in complete seriousness it is the greatest video game ending ever. And I mean that in 100% seriousness. Its so obvious now that the Indoctrination theory of the ending is what happened, it just went over most of our heads.

The video will lay out a lot of this going all the way back with clips from ME1 to make the point. Consider some of the many things brought up:

1. Why are the trees and shrubs from Shepards dreams suddenly present after everyone gets blown up from the beams but weren't present before? Its because the end is also a dream and part of the Indoctrination attempt.
2. How did Hackett know you were on the Citadel after it was reported everyone died (its all in Shepards head is how)
3. How do you explain Joker and the crew of the Normandy surviving (its wish fulfillment in Shepards head)
4. How do you explain the final scene of Shepard in the rubble if you get that ending with Shepard waking up?

Many, many more things

Even if all of te above is true, Shepard going on an extended hallucinogenic trip just before bleeding out is still a damn aweful ending. Your actions and choices still don't matter one whit, and even the best possible ending sees total victory for the Reapers. In fact, all three endings become even more identical. Who cares whether or not Shepard resist indoctrination 10 seconds before he dies.

[Hiromi]

For those upset with the ending I suggest you watch this video. I'd already bought into the Indoctrination theory but this video lays it all out completely about just how f-ing brilliant the ending to ME3 was. Like many when I first finished I was all WTF but I now realize that in complete seriousness it is the greatest video game ending ever. And I mean that in 100% seriousness. Its so obvious now that the Indoctrination theory of the ending is what happened, it just went over most of our heads.

The video will lay out a lot of this going all the way back with clips from ME1 to make the point. Consider some of the many things brought up:

1. Why are the trees and shrubs from Shepards dreams suddenly present after everyone gets blown up from the beams but weren't present before? Its because the end is also a dream and part of the Indoctrination attempt.
2. How did Hackett know you were on the Citadel after it was reported everyone died (its all in Shepards head is how)
3. How do you explain Joker and the crew of the Normandy surviving (its wish fulfillment in Shepards head)
4. How do you explain the final scene of Shepard in the rubble if you get that ending with Shepard waking up?

Many, many more things


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck

Apparently it can all be explained as Casey Hudson.

Assuming this is true, and honestly take it with a grain of salt
http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/5...ersial-ending/

[Jabare]

For those upset with the ending I suggest you watch this video. I'd already bought into the Indoctrination theory but this video lays it all out completely about just how f-ing brilliant the ending to ME3 was. Like many when I first finished I was all WTF but I now realize that in complete seriousness it is the greatest video game ending ever. And I mean that in 100% seriousness. Its so obvious now that the Indoctrination theory of the ending is what happened, it just went over most of our heads.

The video will lay out a lot of this going all the way back with clips from ME1 to make the point. Consider some of the many things brought up:

1. Why are the trees and shrubs from Shepards dreams suddenly present after everyone gets blown up from the beams but weren't present before? Its because the end is also a dream and part of the Indoctrination attempt.
2. How did Hackett know you were on the Citadel after it was reported everyone died (its all in Shepards head is how)
3. How do you explain Joker and the crew of the Normandy surviving (its wish fulfillment in Shepards head)
4. How do you explain the final scene of Shepard in the rubble if you get that ending with Shepard waking up?

Many, many more things


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck

if this is true, which seems not to be the case, but if this was what MAss Effect 3 ending was meant to be it just reconfirms its one of the weakest videogame endings for a rpg trilogy in history. Bioware needs to call up Tetsuya Nomura and beg for help on how to end a story.

The ending was seriously nothing. You make your choice you get a bland chase sequence with Joker regardless of what ending you pick. Than Joker plus whoever else walks out of the Normandy, we get an old dude talking to this kid, and Shepard may or may not have survived. I'm not paying for more DLC or another game I'm simply done with Bioware

[Alex]

if this is true, which seems not to be the case, but if this was what MAss Effect 3 ending was meant to be it just reconfirms its one of the weakest videogame endings for a rpg trilogy in history. Bioware needs to call up Tetsuya Nomura and beg for help on how to end a story.

The ending was seriously nothing. You make your choice you get a bland chase sequence with Joker regardless of what ending you pick. Than Joker plus whoever else walks out of the Normandy, we get an old dude talking to this kid, and Shepard may or may not have survived. I'm not paying for more DLC or another game I'm simply done with Bioware

I hope they don't ask him how to build aplot, deliver exposition, make characters, or how to pace a story, or ME3 would go from a cool game with a crap ending to a horrible, horrible game with a decent ending.

[Vibranium]

if this is true, which seems not to be the case, but if this was what MAss Effect 3 ending was meant to be it just reconfirms its one of the weakest videogame endings for a rpg trilogy in history. Bioware needs to call up Tetsuya Nomura and beg for help on how to end a story.

The ending was seriously nothing. You make your choice you get a bland chase sequence with Joker regardless of what ending you pick. Than Joker plus whoever else walks out of the Normandy, we get an old dude talking to this kid, and Shepard may or may not have survived. I'm not paying for more DLC or another game I'm simply done with Bioware

yay for boycott!!!! not really...have fun on that crusade, Spartacus


anyway...Ashely...racist or just cranky her daddy got spanked by turians??

[Hiromi]

xenophobic is the word you're looking for, and yes, until you paragon her. Ditto for Presley. That seems to be canon going by her memorial you hear from news vids in Mass Effect 2 if she was killed on Virmire.

And I wouldn't even consider boycotting bioware yet, Dragonage 2 didn't live up to the hype but it was still enjoyable, I have no complaints about SWTOR, and Mass Effect 3 is fantastic up until the end, even the multiplayer is growing on me. Further more Bioware seems to be listening in regards to the ending, which to me is huge. I'm no fan of EA but so long as Bioware puts out enjoyable games I'll still buy from them.

[Aubergine~!]

Boycotting Bioware is a bit much, but this has certainly dropped Bioware games from 'pre-order' to 'wait for reviews'.

For those upset with the ending I suggest you watch this video. I'd already bought into the Indoctrination theory but this video lays it all out completely about just how f-ing brilliant the ending to ME3 was. Like many when I first finished I was all WTF but I now realize that in complete seriousness it is the greatest video game ending ever.

Which is a ridiculous conclusion to make based off baseless fan speculation.

The video will lay out a lot of this going all the way back with clips from ME1 to make the point. Consider some of the many things brought up:

1. Why are the trees and shrubs from Shepards dreams suddenly present after everyone gets blown up from the beams but weren't present before? Its because the end is also a dream and part of the Indoctrination attempt.
2. How did Hackett know you were on the Citadel after it was reported everyone died (its all in Shepards head is how)
3. How do you explain Joker and the crew of the Normandy surviving (its wish fulfillment in Shepards head)
4. How do you explain the final scene of Shepard in the rubble if you get that ending with Shepard waking up?

How do you explain all of that? It was bad writing.

For the record, I rather like the Indoctrination Theory, but I sincerely doubt that it's what Bioware meant the ending to mean. Even so, I'd like them to release DLC that makes it official, because what the Indoc Theory glosses over is that even the best case scenario has Shephard (cleared of Indoctrination) near dead in a pile of rubble with a crapload of Reapers around the area. The Reapers win there, basically, which is fantastic payoff for a video game trilogy.

It's a terrible ending, just flat out terrible.

[Jabare]

yay for boycott!!!! not really...have fun on that crusade, Spartacus


anyway...Ashely...racist or just cranky her daddy got spanked by turians??

I wouldn't really call it a boycott. I've just been disappointed with a lot of their products of late and see no need and purchasing anything else if I'm ultimately going to be disappointing.

Its not like the endings of Mass Effect 1 or 2 had a lot of depth or closure, because they rolled into the next game and could feed off the anticipation for that.

So I wouldn't really call myself boycotting Bioware, I just don't trust the companies current set up to produce a game I will ultimately not be disappointed in.

[Alex]

I wouldn't really call it a boycott. I've just been disappointed with a lot of their products of late and see no need and purchasing anything else if I'm ultimately going to be disappointing.

Its not like the endings of Mass Effect 1 or 2 had a lot of depth or closure, because they rolled into the next game and could feed off the anticipation for that.

So I wouldn't really call myself boycotting Bioware, I just don't trust the companies current set up to produce a game I will ultimately not be disappointed in.

He;s not wrong

That was basicly the end of ME2.

[Vibranium]

dude is just looking to borrow some sugar...maybe an egg or two

[Guest_1001]

He;s not wrong

That was basicly the end of ME2.

So that would make the guy in that picture Shepard. In his 1980s space adventurer outfit, coming soon as DLC!