Does Mass Effect 3 suck?

[Arg Clin]

Great game. But make sure you get the 'EC' edition.

It's not flawless though. Seems like they ran out of time/budget and cut a lot of corners with the ending. EC edition fixes a lot of the worst story gaps and open ends, but there is still major room for improvement in terms of more customized endings depending on the decisions made by the player. (Dragon Age Origins did it perfectly - for the love of god I cannot understand why Bioware had to change that formula! [Facepalm])

But final verdict - a great game, I definately enjoyed it.

 

[Red Hawk]

(Dragon Age Origins did it perfectly - for the love of god I cannot understand why Bioware had to change that formula! [Facepalm])

It really did, didn't it? DA: O did not really tie in your past decisions to game cinematics, but it tied it into the game mechanics. Whatever armies you had gathered during the game, you could call on their assistance throughout the final "level", from the moment your forces charged into Denerim. Enlisted werewolves or elves to your army? You can call on them. Mages or Templars? You can call on them, too. Kept the Anvil of the Void so Branka could make new Golems? You can even call on them. And in the final battle with the Archdemon, some specific ally characters you had made, such as First Enchanter Irving and the werewolf Swiftrunner -- appear to directly aid in the fight against the Archdemon. If only Mass Effect 3 had followed that example which Dragon Age: Origins laid out...

 

[thejunglegod]

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

Holy Hell!! I did not know that. But why in God's name would anyone do that? That is one of the saddest things i've seen in gaming. Renegade Shepard sucks.

 

[darkewaffle]

Whatever armies you had gathered during the game, you could call on their assistance throughout the final "level", from the moment your forces charged into Denerim. Enlisted werewolves or elves to your army? You can call on them. Mages or Templars? You can call on them, too. Kept the Anvil of the Void so Branka could make new Golems? You can even call on them. And in the final battle with the Archdemon, some specific ally characters you had made, such as First Enchanter Irving and the werewolf Swiftrunner -- appear to directly aid in the fight against the Archdemon.

I dunno, I never found that to be particularly compelling. It's more like a sugar pill than anything else. On one hand, you get the illusion of them making a difference. On the other hand, they really don't. They're just bodies, "who" you have isn't important, just "how many" you have. Not to mention DA's difficulty never really made the allies feel necessary in the final fight either, I remember seeing the dial with my allies on it but I'm pretty sure I didn't use it at all.

 

[Red Hawk]

I dunno, I never found that to be particularly compelling. It's more like a sugar pill than anything else. On one hand, you get the illusion of them making a difference. On the other hand, they really don't. They're just bodies, "who" you have isn't important, just "how many" you have. Not to mention DA's difficulty never really made the allies feel necessary in the final fight either, I remember seeing the dial with my allies on it but I'm pretty sure I didn't use it at all.

It's better than simply ignoring the unique allies you could have built up by the end of ME3, at least.

 

[TallBill]

I dunno, I never found that to be particularly compelling. It's more like a sugar pill than anything else. On one hand, you get the illusion of them making a difference. On the other hand, they really don't. They're just bodies, "who" you have isn't important, just "how many" you have. Not to mention DA's difficulty never really made the allies feel necessary in the final fight either, I remember seeing the dial with my allies on it but I'm pretty sure I didn't use it at all.

It could have been better yes, but I haven't seen much like it in 18+ years of gaming. Dao really drew me into RPGs. I think it was the first time that I had no urge to skip any cut scene throughout a 50 hour game. Its actually what urged me to start up mass effect again.

I loved the ME series but your actions actually mattered less than appeared. If one character died, it was cheaply replaced. I'm actually OK with this because as long as you're playing without guides and its your first play through you wouldn't know. Once again, could be better but still better than what's out there.

 

[OhBoy88]

I liked the gameplay a lot. As a whole it is not as good as ME 2 but this is without a doubt my favorite series this gaming gen.

 

[JTsyo]

The game was amazing, everything was amazing, until you get to the end. Then EA pops out with a trollolololo.

The story I hear is that the devs wanted to make it that

Spoiler

Shepard was indoctrinated (there's a lot in the game that support this)

but then someone higher up thought it would be too deep for a mainstream game and had them change the ending.

 

[Red Storm]

The story I hear is that the devs wanted to make it that

Spoiler

Shepard was indoctrinated (there's a lot in the game that support this)

but then someone higher up thought it would be too deep for a mainstream game and had them change the ending.

Pretty sure that was just a fan made theory.

 

[Arg Clin]

Pretty sure that was just a fan made theory.

Not sure if it can be ruled out though.

Spoiler

There is still, to my knowledge, no explanation given as to how Shepard manages to wake up back on earth in the 'destroy' ending. I imagine he didn't just survive falling from the citadel and back on to earth.

 

[TheVrolok]

Not sure if it can be ruled out though.

Spoiler

There is still, to my knowledge, no explanation given as to how Shepard manages to wake up back on earth in the 'destroy' ending. I imagine he didn't just survive falling from the citadel and back on to earth.

Finally got around to playing/finishing ME3 the last week or so. I absolutely loved the ME trilogy (ME3 included) and thought it was some of the best Sci-Fi done in awhile. ME3 was great, and pretty moving after getting so close to some of the characters over the course of the series.

I totally agree with the above on the ending. I loved it. Made complete sense to me. I held off on reading anything about it until I played through. After finishing, I had to go to the web and try to figure out what people hated so much. Given, I had the EC, so maybe that made it a bit better?

Spoiler

The "indoctrination theory" is what naturally was planted in my mind when Shepard woke up after being knocked out by the Reaper laser. The entire ending made complete sense after that. In my search for why people hated the ending I came across http://agreeordie.com/features/gaming/251-mass-effect-3-ending-explained. This guy basically sums up my exact thoughts, almost word for word, when I finished the game. I don't see how this doesn't make sense to most people? It's pretty well put in there.

 

[Red Hawk]

The "Indoctrination theory" makes sense, I guess, but there's very little chance of it being the actual ending BioWare intended, considering they didn't go with it for the Extended Cut (and that Leviathan makes the ending not so "wtf" anymore). And, I hate to say it, but if ID is true...it's still a crap ending. It might have been a decent twist if they had shown us the proper conclusion that followed, but they didn't. If ID is true, it means we have a game that still doesn't have an actual ending, and that's pretty terrible.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

Perfect now I can go play the ME series knowing that the ending sucks. H4h4h4h4hh4

 

[Anteaus]

Perfect now I can go play the ME series knowing that the ending sucks. H4h4h4h4hh4

I wouldn't worry about it. There are many games out that there are overall very good but have subpar endings.

 

[ThinClient]

Perfect now I can go play the ME series knowing that the ending sucks. H4h4h4h4hh4

And remember, absolutely every choice you ever make throughout the entire series has zero impact and means nothing in the end, ultimately.

Hooray!

 

[TheVrolok]

And remember, absolutely every choice you ever make throughout the entire series has zero impact and means nothing in the end, ultimately.

Hooray!

Such a terrible, terrible argument. What do you want? A cutscene at the end that gives an epilogue for every choice you made?

 

[ThinClient]

Such a terrible, terrible argument. What do you want? A cutscene at the end that gives an epilogue for every choice you made?

Yes.

 

[TheVrolok]

Yes.

I don't quite understand this .. the whole point in making all the choices is to give you a dilemma at that time, to make you pause, sit and think, to allow you to roleplay, etc. After you've made your decisions (in the game) there is generally something that happens in game as a result (someone makes a comment, dialogue options change, mini-storylines change, etc.). Why do you also need something at the end of the game that reminds you of all the decisions you've made. You have already thought about them, made them, and generally seen the impact.

 

[Kalmah]

The only thing that I can add to this discussion is this:

ME1 ending: I was excited and jumping with joy, ready to play again
ME2 ending: yay.. I killed a giant robot thing ummmm...
ME3: ending: (never purchased)

ME1 was flawed with general game mechanics but it was epic.

 

[TheVrolok]

The only thing that I can add to this discussion is this:

ME1 ending: I was excited and jumping with joy, ready to play again
ME2 ending: yay.. I killed a giant robot thing ummmm...
ME3: ending: (never purchased)

ME1 was flawed with general game mechanics but it was epic.

ME1 was definitely the pride of the series for me. I did enjoy 3 more than 2, though.

 

[Red Hawk]

And remember, absolutely every choice you ever make throughout the entire series has zero impact and means nothing in the end, ultimately.

Hooray!

Nope.avi

 

[Qbah]

I loved ME3 right until the ending. The ending was a huge slap in the face for me, even the extended cut.

Last time I was this upset about an ending was Battlestar Galactica.

So so awesome and then they manage to kill the whole experience with the very last moments... Bioware will not get another cent out of me.

Does ME3 suck? No, it certainly does not - it's a great game on its own. But if you are playing for the story mostly (like I did), you will either accept the ending and be satisfied (I know some people who are) or absolutely hate it. So the last 30 minutes might drastically affect how you'll remember the whole game / series.

 

[ThinClient]

I don't quite understand this .. the whole point in making all the choices is to give you a dilemma at that time, to make you pause, sit and think, to allow you to roleplay, etc. After you've made your decisions (in the game) there is generally something that happens in game as a result (someone makes a comment, dialogue options change, mini-storylines change, etc.). Why do you also need something at the end of the game that reminds you of all the decisions you've made. You have already thought about them, made them, and generally seen the impact.

I want to see an ending that is built according to the choices I made in the game. Not some bullshit cookie cutter "we give up" video in 3 different colors.

It's like beating the final boss and instantly seeing "Game Over" on a black screen.

Just because you're satisfied with some horse shit doesn't mean others should be satisfied with it too. I paid $120 and gamed for years through this series to see this ending. As a paying customer and a devoted fan, I deserve effort made.

 

[Red Hawk]

I want to see an ending that is built according to the choices I made in the game. Not some bullshit cookie cutter "we give up" video in 3 different colors.

It's like beating the final boss and instantly seeing "Game Over" on a black screen.

Just because you're satisfied with some horse shit doesn't mean others should be satisfied with it too. I paid $120 and gamed for years through this series to see this ending. As a paying customer and a devoted fan, I deserve effort made.

You do get to see the outcome of various choices throughout the game in the Extended Cut. Did you play it?

 

[ThinClient]

You do get to see the outcome of various choices throughout the game in the Extended Cut. Did you play it?

Nope. I raged about the ending and uninstalled it back before EC was released. To hell with them. I'm not going to install the game and play through it again just to see yet another bullshit ending. There are plenty of other games to play without wasting my time with the series anymore. I've given them enough time and effort. They get no more.