Mass Effect 3 - The Arrival Thread!

[Harriet Tubman]

^AHHHHHH!!! TOO MUCH SPOILER IN THERE!!!

Finally got Tali, does anyone else think that one of her alternate outfits makes her look like a Mandalorian?

Aw, sorry. I tried using as little as possible to make my point, but I'll tag all of it. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[eternalinferno]

Spoiler

I get that some people will be upset that ending didn't really take into account the choices they made leading up to it, but as for the actual events of the ending, I had no problem with them, definitely didn't ruin the game for me, the rest of it was just too damn good

 

[PWN3R]

[YT]6gdgfI1k1Bo[/YT]

Only watch if you've finished the game. That's pretty much what I want to do right now.

 

[Harriet Tubman]

Spoiler

I get that some people will be upset that ending didn't really take into account the choices they made leading up to it, but as for the actual events of the ending, I had no problem with them, definitely didn't ruin the game for me, the rest of it was just too damn good

Spoiler

I don't think the ending is that bad, and to be fair, I wouldn't mind at all if it didn't take my choices into account. Its just that it deals with issues that are never really mentioned in the ME universe (transhumanism being the major one and one I'll discuss). While we talk about implants and how early implants caused harm, we never really deal with it outside of a few convos with Kaiden in ME1 and some emails. To have it be the finale is just odd. We are to choose to merge all synthetic and organic life? Why? Is that really what the writers thought was the main plot behind the franchise? Sythetics vs Organics? I never got this. Sure, its a plot point, what with the Geth v Quarian war going on at the time, but if someone was to ask me what the main plot behind Mass Effect, I wouldn't say anything that deals with transhumanism or its finer points.

I am perfectly fine in thinking that when Anderson and Shepard are sitting next to eachother, watching their actions save the universe? That is the ending to me, haha. That doesn't take my choices and previous actions into account. My main complaint is that its just lazy. We were told for years that our actions would change the outcome, and in the end, that just isn't true.

That said, this was an absolutely great game and I cannot wait to get off work to continue my second playthrough.

 

[X Knight]

Actually, spoiling myself of the endings ahead of time was the final "straw" that convinced me to cancel my Collector's Edition Preorder ( yes, that's right, on the day I went to pick up my CE, I decided to cancel it and save my money. And I had preordered it since the CE was announced. )

My interest actually started to wane after I played the demo. I was......underwhelmed by it.......

Reading about the endings just made me..........

so, for me, endings can make or break a game.

Not so spoilery spoilers

Spoiler

Let me just tell you right now, if you didn't realize before this, Mass Effect, as a franchise, is all about choice. You choose who lives or dies, who you "fall in love" with, etc.... Every single mission forces you to make decisions.

Now lets say that the final mission threw everything out of the window and made it to where none of your choices before then mattered, that everyone could have died and you would get the same ending as a guy who had everyone live. Wouldn't that annoy you? Wouldn't it upset you that things that are canon are flat out ignored, and the opposite is done? While this isn't what happens (and I'm using this example rather than spoiling the real ending), imagine if for 3 games, you had made a Femshep, but for the final mission, you had to be the male version, with no answer given as to why. That is the confusion that gamers are feeling. Its not that the ending is bad. It just leaves confusion among gamers as to what really happened, and since all endings end with similar results, there doesn't appear to be a clear cut way to explain it. Bioware, unfortunatly, dug themselves a big hole with this. I loved the game until the end. I honestly thought it was one of the best games I had ever played. It is the first game to really tug at me emotionally, but the ending took away all those emotions and just left confusion.

Ha, if you are a "talimancer", you really should read this ending


http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/355/index/9755346

^ I agree with this.

And, if that "Talimancer" ending was a real ending...........I would instantly regret my decision to cancel my CE.

but, as it stands now, I am going to sit back and wait and see what Bioware plans to do regarding future DLC........

maybe I will pick up ME 3 if it goes on sale. but hey, at least that will give me time to start ( again ) and actually finish ME 2!

 

[zenith16]

i dont like that bioware got rid of heavy weapons, or am i missing something

They made them single use weapons that you pick up, probably because of the new cooldown bonus system they put in. I never liked carrying around a heavy weapon all the time anyway lol but I do wish there were a way to always have the geth spitfire.

oh yeah their there in the game cory as the chief said. Just not in the way you want them to be there. As this video shows us.


Mass Effect 3 - Gun Show



Play Video


Reapers want to eat your civilization, shoot them with these weapons.

 

[TX85]

Spoiler

I get that some people will be upset that ending didn't really take into account the choices they made leading up to it, but as for the actual events of the ending, I had no problem with them, definitely didn't ruin the game for me, the rest of it was just too damn good

Spoiler

Agreed,At first I thought it sucked But after thinking about it I thought it fit&was cool stuff except for most of the Normandy stuff,I think it could of been better But I don't think it's so horrible/pathetic/lame and whatever else many are making it out to be!!!

I've been playing some side-missions and..

Spoiler

There sure are a lot of deaths&sacrifices in the game,I understand why these characters did it and their all wonderfully done But I'm just a bit sad cause I care for the characters&species so much

In another note,I finally romanced Liara..

Spoiler

I guess we started a relationship and kissed at the Citadel

Speaking of Romances..

Spoiler

I basically flirted with Esteban at the Purgatory bar,He was checking out an"eye-candy"guy and then we kinda flirted for a few seconds But he said"I know you have a lady-friend waiting for you"and so we toasted to friendship..I have to admit I MIGHT have gone broke-back space IF it was an option

 

[eternalinferno]

Spoiler

I don't think the ending is that bad, and to be fair, I wouldn't mind at all if it didn't take my choices into account. Its just that it deals with issues that are never really mentioned in the ME universe (transhumanism being the major one and one I'll discuss). While we talk about implants and how early implants caused harm, we never really deal with it outside of a few convos with Kaiden in ME1 and some emails. To have it be the finale is just odd. We are to choose to merge all synthetic and organic life? Why? Is that really what the writers thought was the main plot behind the franchise? Sythetics vs Organics? I never got this. Sure, its a plot point, what with the Geth v Quarian war going on at the time, but if someone was to ask me what the main plot behind Mass Effect, I wouldn't say anything that deals with transhumanism or its finer points.

I am perfectly fine in thinking that when Anderson and Shepard are sitting next to eachother, watching their actions save the universe? That is the ending to me, haha. That doesn't take my choices and previous actions into account. My main complaint is that its just lazy. We were told for years that our actions would change the outcome, and in the end, that just isn't true.

That said, this was an absolutely great game and I cannot wait to get off work to continue my second playthrough.

I agree with that part, it coming off as lazy, that much is true considering how little the differences are

 

[zenith16]

I think I'm gonna hold off on finishing the game. And see how it'll be from there when other stuff starts pouring in DLC wise.

 

[TX85]

For those who hate the ending so much for whatever reason,Did it ruin the whole game or especially even the whole trilogy for you??IF so then I'm just curious..Do you still care about the series and a possible new trilogy?Like IF Bioware&EA announces in a year or so that their making a new trilogy with mostly new characters and that it takes place many many years after ME3..Would you even check it out?

 

[Harriet Tubman]

Spoiler

Agreed,At first I thought it sucked But after thinking about it I thought it fit&was cool stuff except for most of the Normandy stuff,I think it could of been better But I don't think it's so horrible/pathetic/lame and whatever else many are making it out to be!!!

Spoiler

Thats the main complaint, though. While the Catalyst is, like I said, a cliche, its not that horrible. Its implementation in the game is what people are complaining about. The main complaint among gamers is the lazy writing. Lazy writing that magically teleported your squad members to the Normandy following the reaper's attack near the beam. Lazy writing that had the Normandy flying away from an explosion and it appears as it it isn't even close to Earth (which it was just orbiting). Lazy writing that had the catalyst explain that synthetics and organics cannot survive because eventually the synthetics will surpass the organics. Well, as we saw with the Geth/Quorians, it was the organics, the life givers, that attempted to destroy the synthetics, thereby showing that the Catalyst was wrong.

For those who hate the ending so much for whatever reason,Did it ruin the whole game or especially even the whole trilogy for you??IF so then I'm just curious..Do you still care about the series and a possible new trilogy?Like IF Bioware&EA announces in a year or so that their making a new trilogy with mostly new characters and that it takes place many many years after ME3..Would you even check it out?

I'm not sure. While I am a huge fan of the franchise (I really think its the best thing to come out of this generation), the ending really showed me that Bioware, since they were bought out by EA, have little interest in having your choices matter, which was their main marketing ploy for ME1. I'm sure I would end up playing more games (just like I'm sure I'll buy the DLC for ME3, further supporting the entity that I am bashing, and yes, that does make me a hypocrite, I know) in the series. I love the universe they have set up that much. I loved ME3 outside of the ending. I really think it is the best of the franchise, until the laziness set in.

I think the thing that will make me happy will be alternate endings via DLC. Bethesda and CD Projekt have shown that they are willing to listen to fans and make changes to the endings of their games with free DLC, and while I doubt EA will allow it, I really hope Bioware does this.

 

[Speedball]

Aw, sorry. I tried using as little as possible to make my point, but I'll tag all of it. Thanks for the heads up!

It was tagged, it was just your WHOLE ending was posted in the spoilers.

 

[TX85]

Spoiler

Thats the main complaint, though. While the Catalyst is, like I said, a cliche, its not that horrible. Its implementation in the game is what people are complaining about. The main complaint among gamers is the lazy writing. Lazy writing that magically teleported your squad members to the Normandy following the reaper's attack near the beam. Lazy writing that had the Normandy flying away from an explosion and it appears as it it isn't even close to Earth (which it was just orbiting). Lazy writing that had the catalyst explain that synthetics and organics cannot survive because eventually the synthetics will surpass the organics. Well, as we saw with the Geth/Quorians, it was the organics, the life givers, that attempted to destroy the synthetics, thereby showing that the Catalyst was wrong.

Spoiler

Ok that's understandable,I'm actually confused about the beam thing because I didn't pay attention to some of the stuff said,One moment Garrus&Edi are running behind me then next moment I get hit then wake up and Anderson says"oh my god,there all gone"I just assumed they died,How is it known they left to the Normandy?After Normandy crashed and a hands opens a door I assumed it's Jokers

 

[PWN3R]

For those who hate the ending so much for whatever reason,Did it ruin the whole game or especially even the whole trilogy for you??IF so then I'm just curious..Do you still care about the series and a possible new trilogy?Like IF Bioware&EA announces in a year or so that their making a new trilogy with mostly new characters and that it takes place many many years after ME3..Would you even check it out?

I absolutely hate the [BLACKOUT]synthesis ending[/BLACKOUT] because it contradicts everything Shepard fought for on [BLACKOUT]Rannoch with the Geth/Quarians.
[/BLACKOUT]
However, nothing can diminish my view on this series. Best game trilogy ever. This universe is something special. Everything up until the ending is SO GOOD, and it's because of this reason the ending(s) hurt so badly.

It's just ...ugh. Hey, at least Clint Mansell killed it on the score though.

 

[TX85]

Maybe Bioware&EA will listen to fan feedback over the ending and change by DLC,I'm personally fine with the ending But I understand the complaints and they should do something to get the bad taste out of people's mouths over their product's endings in which it's very important since it's an end to a trilogy

Speaking of ending the story,I already passed the main story But I noticed the Ceburus base mission is back in the galaxy map,Does that mean I can do it again to finish the game again or do I need to re-do everything from the start??

I rushed through the main story instead of doing many side-missions and so perhaps I can do most side-missions then pass it again and wait for DLC for extra play time!?

 

[Harriet Tubman]

Spoiler

Ok that's understandable,I'm actually confused about the beam thing because I didn't pay attention to some of the stuff said,One moment Garrus&Edi are running behind me then next moment I get hit then wake up and Anderson says"oh my god,there all gone"I just assumed they died,How is it known they left to the Normandy?After Normandy crashed and a hands opens a door I assumed it's Jokers

First off let me say I'm happy that people aren't labeling me a troll or anything. I love this franchise, and while I don't totally hate the ending, it just leaves me more confused than anything else, and that isn't a good thing for the finale of a trilogy to leave more questions open.

Spoiler

When the Normandy crash lands, 3 members exit (as long as you had enough war assets, the only "choice" in the ending). One is always Joker. If you did the synthesis ending, the second will be EDI, holding onto Joker. The third is a member of your party from London. If you did either of the other endings, the members that come out are Joker and the two squad members from Earth. I replayed the endings to see if I would get the same characters. My first time, I had Garrus and Javik in London, and sure as can be, Garrus and Javik exited the Normandy right after Joker. My second ending, I had Tali and James in London, and the same thing, Tali and James followed Joker. The third and final time, I had Liara and Ashley. Again, those two followed Joker. I can only assume that with so many differences, this means that each of the crew members was on the Normandy, because if not, Bioware will be shooting themselves in the foot when determining a true canon ending.

Also, dont get me started on the London squad members getting to the Normandy. One minute, Anderson says everyone else died, the next minute, your squad members are alive, on the Normandy? Does the Mass Effect universe now have magic teleportation?

I absolutely hate the [BLACKOUT]synthesis ending[/BLACKOUT] because it contradicts everything Shepard fought for on [BLACKOUT]Rannoch with the Geth/Quarians.
[/BLACKOUT]
However, nothing can diminish my view on this series. Best game trilogy ever. This universe is something special. Everything up until the ending is SO GOOD, and it's because of this reason the ending(s) hurt so badly.

I pretty much agree with this. It really is the best trilogy in gaming history. If anyone says that games are not art, lets see their reaction to playing hundreds of hours and seeing (extreme spoiler)

Spoiler

Mordin dying. Lets see them handle that and say it isn't art

It's just ...ugh. Hey, at least Clint Mansell killed it on the score though.

He only did 3 songs



But I agree, the score was top notch. Getting Sam Hulich on more than one song really helps.

Maybe Bioware&EA will listen to fan feedback over the ending and change by DLC,I'm personally fine with the ending But I understand the complaints and they should do something to get the bad taste out of people's mouths over their product's endings in which it's very important since it's an end to a trilogy

Speaking of ending the story,I already passed the main story But I noticed the Ceburus base mission is back in the galaxy map,Does that mean I can do it again to finish the game again or do I need to re-do everything from the start??

I rushed through the main story instead of doing many side-missions and so perhaps I can do most side-missions then pass it again and wait for DLC for extra play time!?

Bioware did listen to the fans, which is why the DLC "Arrival" and "LOTSB" came out, and why the latter is playable after the end of the game.

Also, the game takes you back to just before the point of no return, allowing you to play any missions you left before the end.

 

[X Knight]

some people on the Bioware forums are putting forth the theory that the endings are really [BLACKOUT]a hallucination.[/BLACKOUT]

for those who have finished the game, what are your thoughts?

 

[Harriet Tubman]

some people on the Bioware forums are putting forth the theory that the endings are really [BLACKOUT]a hallucination.[/BLACKOUT]

for those who have finished the game, what are your thoughts?

Biggest cop out ever if that is their reasoning, but to be honest? I don't really see how, if Bioware fixes the end, they can do anything but say it is a

Spoiler

hallucination. They really don't have many options.

 

[PWN3R]

He only did 3 songs

Really? I'm listening to the score now and a lot of it feels new. Who composed then? It's beautiful.

"A Future For the Krogan"

 

[Master Chief]

Aw damn, just got a news report about Kal'Reegar. Went out like a boss.

Sooo I'm pretty sure I'm nearing the final stretch of the game. Gonna take a break hahah, it's been a very intense session.

Spoiler

Y'know, losing Thessia and taking the Cerberus base.

And jeeeezuz, forget the black widow.

^This is alls I need.

I gave one to Garrus too. lol I was fighting off a bunch of husks and the last one got in front of me as I ran out of ammo. Garrus popped its head off with it from over my shoulder.

 

[Harriet Tubman]

Aw damn, just got a news report about Kal'Reegar. Went out like a boss.

Sooo I'm pretty sure I'm nearing the final stretch of the game. Gonna take a break hahah, it's been a very intense session.

Spoiler

Y'know, losing Thessia and taking the Cerberus base.

And jeeeezuz, forget the black widow.

^This is alls I need.

I gave one to Garrus too. lol I was fighting off a bunch of husks and the last one got in front of me as I ran out of ammo. Garrus popped its head off with it from over my shoulder.

Ha, the Spectre pistol is pretty OP too. Once I got that, I was one shotting guys (not even headshots) on hard. Dominant.

 

[TX85]

I use that sniper too for my Shepard,I forgot which mods But that rile with mods and armor-piercing ability..I use that baby for Banshees/Brutes&Cerberus Machs!!

The Geth Shotgun and the Widow sniper rifle are my two of my top favorite weapons to use

 

[X Knight]

so for those playing on the PS3, how does the game perform? are there lag, frame rate issues, bugs/glitches, etc.?

 

[zenith16]

Glad to see I'm not the only one that kept my spectre status when I got my self reinstated in ME2.

so for those playing on the PS3, how does the game perform? are there lag, frame rate issues, bugs/glitches, etc.?

There are a few frame rate and visual hiccups and some funny bugs in the game too. but they can be looked passed up on cause they won't ruin you game play. And as I said some of those bugs are funny..

 

[Reek]

how much money can you make? im around 175k, but im seeing items for 250000, multiple items...