Mass Effect 3

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Yeah, even when I'm obsessing over a game...I still seem to take my time with it. I'd heard people had clocked in at about 30 hours.

Another thing.... Really wasn't happy with the overall Squad selection this time. As interesting a character as Vega was, he can't compare to ones like Thane, Grunt/Wrex, Jack... Characters we already have a history with. It felt like that final stand should have been with EVERYONE from the first two games standing shoulder to shoulder.

I agree, for the most part. At the start of the game, I felt the exact same way. But, some of the character arcs seemed fitting for them not being squadmates. Thane and Mordin's character arcs, in particular, seemed like character arcs that were amazing...and probably would not have worked if they were full service squadmates.

But, other...like Jack, Grunt and Miranda (especially her) seemed like they could have been on the roster without a problem whatsoever.

I don't know if all the people who complained about how large the roster was in Mass Effect 2 made enough noise or what. But, I do wish the team was larger.

 

[Master Chief]

Yeah, I just finished this game about 10 minutes ago...

Spoiler

I don't know if I would say I have a problem with the ending, but the dilemma to me seems to be this. The endings certainly make sense within the context of the story, with Shepard being the big hero who would sacrifice everything. I mean, what is the point of going to such absurd lengths, risking everything, losing friends and entire planets, if you're not prepared to sacrifice yourself in order to bring peace? That makes sense to me.

However, it seems they completely neglected the part of ending that needs to be satisfying. When you compare it to ME 2, sure people could die etc but there was the OPTION to save everyone. The thing about ME 2 was that, in that final mission, even just losing ONE character could make a dramatic change to the tone of the ending. You could lose one, 2 or pretty much all of the characters, which gave you a certain degree of control over the outcome and final tone of the game, which was overall quite satisfying. Even if you lost a character, you at least felt like it was a direct consequence of something you've done.

In ME 3, it didn't feel like this at all. It was more like the ending of Red Dead Redemption or L.A. Noire, when something drastic happens that, whilst dramatic and dark, you really have no control over whatsoever.

Now, I could accept the death of Shepard at the end of ME 3 but the real bummer for me is the level itself. They did so well at depicting a warzone, it would have been great to have a repeat in format of the final ME 2 level. Give you an entire squad, assign roles, make it feel like more of a battle than simply killing enemies then the pre-scripted sequence of Shepard getting hurt.

Also, the ending cutscene after Shepards death should have been A LOT longer and filled with more info. Many loyal fans of the series have just played 3 games worth of build up, Bioware loses nothing by really letting the fans see what world they have built... Show us the Turians, show us the Asari... Show us earth, show us all the people we saved, show us the new lives our significant characters have started.... Show us every person we have touched and interacted with over 3 days... Remind us why it was all worth it. If that portion was worth it, fans could put down their controller, walk away and feel happy with themselves. Instead, the overall feeling is just one of a huge anti-climax.

Another thing.... Really wasn't happy with the overall Squad selection this time. As interesting a character as Vega was, he can't compare to ones like Thane, Grunt/Wrex, Jack... Characters we already have a history with. It felt like that final stand should have been with EVERYONE from the first two games standing shoulder to shoulder.

Spoiler

That's exactly why everyone is complaining lmao the fact that there's no emotional closure.

I didn't mind the smaller squad selection this time coz this time around we're all in the same fight, just on different fronts. Then again the only squad member I always need with me is Garrus hahah so I don't really care who fills the second slot. The writers delivered on all the character heart to heart moments; even though they were brief they were enough for me. Especially talking to everyone via comm link, seeing how the fight was in their area and saying goodbyes.

 

[TX85]

Where do I find the Alliance Requisitions in the Citadel?,I can only find the Spectre ones!

Spoiler

Many as speculating that the ending(s)are hallucinations or indoctrination,Sorry I'm coming off as dumb But what exactly is indoctrination?and IF it's hallucinations..At what point does it start in the ending?

 

[Master Chief]

Where do I find the Alliance Requisitions in the Citadel?,I can only find the Spectre ones!

Spoiler

Many as speculating that the ending(s)are hallucinations or indoctrination,Sorry I'm coming off as dumb But what exactly is indoctrination?and IF it's hallucinations..At what point does it start in the ending?

I'm not sure if that's even a store. All the stores, except Spectre, are in the Presidium Commons. Oh, and there's one in the hospital. And spoiler tag that man lol.

Spoiler

Indoctrination is when the Reapers take control of someone and use them to further their goals. Saren in Mass Effect was indoctrinated. He believed he was helping people, fighting the Reapers, when he was doing exactly what the Reapers wanted.

They get inside a person's head and make them think they're doing the right thing out of their own free will when they're really just a puppet.

edit: It supposedly starts when Shepard gets blasted by Harbinger's laser. Everything after that plays a lot like Shepard's nightmares throughout the game.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Thane/Mordin/Legion and Wrex were all handled perfectly despite not being squad mates.


Grunt/Miranda and Samara were the one's that I thought ended up being kind of flimsy, the reasons for Jack's absence from the squad were believable enough that I was okay with it.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

I didn't mind the size of the squad so much as the people available. I felt like, even if they weren't squadmates, that more of them should have been based on the Normandy anyway.

 

[TX85]

I'm not sure if that's even a store. All the stores, except Spectre, are in the Presidium Commons. Oh, and there's one in the hospital. And spoiler tag that man lol.

Spoiler

I found this video for a mission I'm trying to do,But it's not clear where it is and nobody in the the comments mention it..

[YT]7RE65C5Htew[/YT]

 

[Wolvieboy17]

Luis, you spoiler tagged the wrong thing.

He meant you should spoilertag the comment you made about the ending in your previous post.

 

[Master Chief]

Spoiler

I found this video for a mission I'm trying to do,But it's not clear where it is and nobody in the the comments mention it..

[YT]7RE65C5Htew[/YT]

That's the spectre store.

 

[TX85]

Luis, you spoiler tagged the wrong thing.

He meant you should spoilertag the comment you made about the ending in your previous post.

My bad,Fixed!!

 

[smashmode]

2 Columnists at Forbes are asking Bioware to address the concerns

Spoiler

with the endings

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/03/12/bioware-and-ea-respond-to-dlc-controversy/2/

I believe Bioware should release a free bit of DLC to all its players, one that produces an “alternate ending” for the game. From a programming perspective, it wouldn’t be much work. It would be probably a few minutes of dialogue, and fifteen minutes of cutscenes. Three sets of five minutes would be devoted to fleshing out each of the final decisions made in the game, and would give players a more hearty ending than the cookie cutter, cryptic one they received.

It seems like a win-win to me. Releasing free DLC would show that they’re not greedy tyrants exploiting the concept of bonus content. Updating the ending with more substance would show that they can admit when they’re wrong, and fans would likely breathe a collective sigh of relief as they got some much needed resolution.

 

[OsGom]

I mostly miss having a Krogan on my team. EDI was a pretty cool addition but as many have pointed out, it would've have been nice to have more squad options.

The game itself is great. Like playing a 30hr movie. I do miss the exploration from Mass Effect 1 but it isn't nearly as mind numbingly boring as the planet scanning from II.

I would love to see ME adapted to film but would you cast Shepard as female or male.

Also they really need to make an ME MMORPG. I want to customize my own Asari, Turian and Krogan. So much potential there.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

2 Columnists at Forbes are asking Bioware to address the concerns

Spoiler

with the endings

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/03/12/bioware-and-ea-respond-to-dlc-controversy/2/

I believe Bioware should release a free bit of DLC to all its players, one that produces an “alternate ending” for the game. From a programming perspective, it wouldn’t be much work. It would be probably a few minutes of dialogue, and fifteen minutes of cutscenes. Three sets of five minutes would be devoted to fleshing out each of the final decisions made in the game, and would give players a more hearty ending than the cookie cutter, cryptic one they received.

It seems like a win-win to me. Releasing free DLC would show that they’re not greedy tyrants exploiting the concept of bonus content. Updating the ending with more substance would show that they can admit when they’re wrong, and fans would likely breathe a collective sigh of relief as they got some much needed resolution.

Bioware doesnt need to do that. They told their ending. Some like it, some hate it, but thats what's there. People just need to deal with it and move on. At the end of the day, this is Biowares story. We dont have the right to tell them what to do. They're the creators, we aren't. I wouldn't mind some kind of 'addition' but they dont need to change a thing.

 

[TX85]

For a movie adaption I'd have a male Shepard,It's what I personally prefer and on all the box covers&most publicity stuff for all three games it's been standard male Shepard

 

[ProjectPat2280]

For a movie adaption I'd have a male Shepard,It's what I personally prefer and on all the box covers&most publicity stuff for all three games it's been standard male Shepard

If they do a film, thats what would happen.

 

[smashmode]

Bioware doesnt need to do that. They told their ending. Some like it, some hate it, but thats what's there. People just need to deal with it and move on. At the end of the day, this is Biowares story. We dont have the right to tell them what to do. They're the creators, we aren't. I wouldn't mind some kind of 'addition' but they dont need to change a thing.

Some like it, Some hate it? I don't think you are accurately portraying the amount of resentment the endings have caused.

And the article is not suggesting them to change the ending

Spoiler

, more like adding a epilogue.

Fans have every right to try and impress how upset they are on Bioware, it is up to Bioware if they stick with it or not. Really, are you saying that since the fans did not create it, that they can not offer suggestions and be critical of the work? If you create something for public consumption, then you better be ready to deal with everything that comes with that.

 

[Matt]

The one hit kills from Phantoms are so ****ing cheap. I had Kai Leng down to his last bar of health and the Phantom got that one hit kill nonsense on me. There is basically no way to avoid it. You can't tap circle to break free. Once it starts, it is game over.

 

[TX85]

Bioware doesnt need to do that. They told their ending. Some like it, some hate it, but thats what's there. People just need to deal with it and move on. At the end of the day, this is Biowares story. We dont have the right to tell them what to do. They're the creators, we aren't. I wouldn't mind some kind of 'addition' but they dont need to change a thing.

I agree,I personally liked most of the ending although it could of been better But I understand the complaints,Still though I don't think new endings DLC need to be added or demanded!!!

I want DLC real bad and as much as possible,IF they give us new endings then that's cool But IF not..I'll be totally fine with the rest!!

 

[Master Chief]

The one hit kills from Phantoms are so ****ing cheap. I had Kai Leng down to his last bar of health and the Phantom got that one hit kill nonsense on me. There is basically no way to avoid it. You can't tap circle to break free. Once it starts, it is game over.

It's the worst in multiplayer. I can't tell you how many times I thought someone had my back, when I turn around and get a sword through the stomach hahah.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Thane/Mordin/Legion and Wrex were all handled perfectly despite not being squad mates.


Grunt/Miranda and Samara were the one's that I thought ended up being kind of flimsy, the reasons for Jack's absence from the squad were believable enough that I was okay with it.

Haven't gotten to Samara or Legion yet.

But, I thought Wrex, Grunt, Miranda, and Jack all could have been added, and they're character arcs could have been about the same. I think, from what I've seen so far (haven't beaten the game yet) that those arcs could have still worked with them joining me.

Wrex to a lesser extent. Jack too. I was pleased with how Jack turned out Post-Suicide Mission.

There seems to be a Miranda sized hole missing in my squad too. A...genetically modified to physical perfection and beauty sized hole...in my squad.

 

[Matt]

Samara, I don't really care about. It's not like her character was a huge part of ME mythos. Same with Grunt, really. He was cool, but he's not hugely important. I feel like all of the important characters with the exception of Miranda were handled fine. And even then, I don't so much mind how they used Miranda, but I do mind how they handled the romance.

Spoiler

Ash gave me one line of dialogue about it. I thought there were supposed to be consequences. And once you're locked in to Ash, Miranda and everyone else seems to forget that it ever happened.

That being said, Vega is worthless. He does nothing of importance, his dialogue is not interesting. They would've been better off filling the role with Grunt, IMO and building him as a character. They are the same build so Grunt would've fit in the squad. I'd much rather have had an old friend than Jacob 2.0/Kaiden 3.0 just thrown in for the sake of having a newbie.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Some like it, Some hate it? I don't think you are accurately portraying the amount of resentment the endings have caused.

And the article is not suggesting them to change the ending

Spoiler

, more like adding a epilogue.

Fans have every right to try and impress how upset they are on Bioware, it is up to Bioware if they stick with it or not. Really, are you saying that since the fans did not create it, that they can not offer suggestions and be critical of the work? If you create something for public consumption, then you better be ready to deal with everything that comes with that.

No, i think people are overstating how much hate there is towards the ending. I think there was a petition online that some fans created asking for Bioware to change the ending and it had like 20,000 signatures. Wow right? Well the game sold over a million units. If that number were to reach maybe 2 or 300,000 signatures, then maybe theres something to it. This happens ALL the time on the internet because fanboys are so damn vocal.

And absolutely I'm not saying one can't be critical or that Bioware shouldn't expect it, but some people are calling for other endings. Thats absurd. Bioware gave you the story they wanted to tell. People have to deal with that.

Id be all for an epilogue as long as it doesnt change what has happened.

 

[Master Chief]

You seem to be under the impression that people want the ending scrapped, which isn't the case. Most of the people calling for change just want more closure and maybe a fourth option.

 

[Matt]

The final fight with Kai Leng is nuts. I can only imagine what that would be like on the hardest difficulty. The renegade interrupt afterward is great though. [blackout]"That was for Thane you son of a *****."[/blackout]

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Samara, I don't really care about. It's not like her character was a huge part of ME mythos. Same with Grunt, really. He was cool, but he's not hugely important. I feel like all of the important characters with the exception of Miranda were handled fine. And even then, I don't so much mind how they used Miranda, but I do mind how they handled the romance.

Spoiler

Ash gave me one line of dialogue about it. I thought there were supposed to be consequences. And once you're locked in to Ash, Miranda and everyone else seems to forget that it ever happened.

That being said, Vega is worthless. He does nothing of importance, his dialogue is not interesting. They would've been better off filling the role with Grunt, IMO and building him as a character. They are the same build so Grunt would've fit in the squad. I'd much rather have had an old friend than Jacob 2.0/Kaiden 3.0 just thrown in for the sake of having a newbie.

I agree. I mean i didn't hate Vega, i enjoyed Freddie Prinze Jr's performance, i just think at this point in the series they didn't have to bring in a new squad mate for that role. Like you said, Grunt could of easily filled in there.