Mass Effect 3

[Podmark]

Mass Effect 3 came out today in North America, anyone getting it?

I pre-ordered the Collector's Edition and was pleasantly surprised to find it delivered already. It's mostly in game extras and a couple physical items like a comic and art book. It's funny though, they're really small books. Looked at a few pages of the art book then realized I should probably finish the game first, definitely spoilers in it.

I'll have more to say once I've played the game for a while.
Probably won't be getting much skinning done.

[Tortuga]

I picked it up for Xbox 360.  Now I'll have to split my play time between ME3 and Skyrim (currently lvl 26).  Good thing Spring Break is coming soon!

[Talavar]

Picked it up this morning, though I haven't been able to play much yet.  Good stuff!

[JeyNyce]

I really wanted the CE so I waited until the last minute and ordered it from amazon.  I should be getting it by next week.

@Tortuga - How many hours have you put in the game?  So far I did 86 hours and haven't completed it yet

[thalaw2]

I'll have to wait for the PC version.

[lugaru]

I... will get around to it on PC. I have not finished 1 or 2 yet. Maybe I'm not a space sci-fi guy (not big on Starwars or Star Trek) and also the first few hours of the first mass effect are kind of boring.

[Deaths Jester]

I'll get it once I've made sure that there isn't an online activiation required...and if there is I'll let time pass to allow someone to find a way to crack it before buying it.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

The PC version at least must be run through Origin, so that's you activation equivilant.  In addition, I was read a review that indicated that it's basically a pay-to-win game. You can, in theory, get the best ending playing single player, but that requires playing through all 3 games, doing ALL the available optional stuff, making the "correct" decisions in all of them, and having a high enough paragon/renegade score.  For most people, having any chance of getting a positive ending involves playing the multiplayer mode and the reviewer said doing well in that practially required buying additional weapons and such to aid your multiplayer character.

So if this review is accurate--yeah, that kills most of my interest.

[Mr. Hamrick]

The PC version at least must be run through Origin, so that's you activation equivilant.  In addition, I was read a review that indicated that it's basically a pay-to-win game. You can, in theory, get the best ending playing single player, but that requires playing through all 3 games, doing ALL the available optional stuff, making the "correct" decisions in all of them, and having a high enough paragon/renegade score.  For most people, having any chance of getting a positive ending involves playing the multiplayer mode and the reviewer said doing well in that practially required buying additional weapons and such to aid your multiplayer character.

So if this review is accurate--yeah, that kills most of my interest.

There are 16 different endings to the game.  Those endings fall into two distinct categories depending on a key decision from the second game.

Spoiler

That decision is rather or not you saved or destroyed The Collector base

The rest is determined via the "war readiness rating" which is determined by various missions and side quests.  That rating can be increased via multiplayer and other side games that have been put out.

I've not played the game yet.  Due to an issue with the distributor, I will not be getting my game until Friday (hopefully on Friday).  Thus, I am not familiar with how much of the main game with the side quests affect the war readiness rating.  However, I have seen a list of the endings. 

There are some curious things about the list of ending I have seen. 

Spoiler

1) The highest number of war readiness doesn't necessarily get you the best ending it appears based on the description.

Spoiler

Unless letting Anderson die is somehow a good thing

2) There is a huge point gap between the ending at 2800 and the endings at 4000 and 5000 (the 4000 and 5000 endings being the ones I alluded to in #1).  I would guess that the 2800 points might be the max amount obtainable via the main game.  If that is the case then it seems to be possible to get most of the "good" and "bad" endings. 

Spoiler

The "Readiness Rating" breakdowns for endings are less than 1750, 1750 , 1900, 2050, 2350, 2650, 2800, 4000, 5000

3) If you are starting a new game and not an imported one from ME2 then your possible endings are limited to eight. 

4) For a list of the endings go here justpushstart.com/2012/03/mass-effect-3-endings-guide/  I won't link it since it is highly spoilery

[JeyNyce]

I... will get around to it on PC. I have not finished 1 or 2 yet. Maybe I'm not a space sci-fi guy (not big on Starwars or Star Trek) and also the first few hours of the first mass effect are kind of boring.

That's the only problem with this game. The first hour is boring, but if you can get pass that the game picks up.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

It should be noted that doing multiplayer stuff does not increase the rating, it multiplies it, up to double.  So yeah, it makes a huge difference.

[Podmark]

Really enjoying the game so far. I love the roles and jumps they added to the combat.

[thalaw2]

One thing that bugged me about ME2:

Spoiler

Shepard can fix his face...but why can't his lizard buddy do the same?

[GogglesPizanno]

One thing that bugged me about ME2:

Spoiler

Shepard can fix his face...but why can't his lizard buddy do the same?

I assume you mean Garis?

Spoiler

I thought they addressed it in ME2, but they do have a brief dialogue about the scars and why he still has them in ME3

It should be noted that doing multiplayer stuff does not increase the rating, it multiplies it, up to double.  So yeah, it makes a huge difference.

There is a lot of confusion about this still. The last clarification that I saw from Bioware, was that there is a threshold that you have to pass to get a "Perfect Ending" (whatever that entails as I am avoiding all end spoilers). That threshold can be reached by playing the single player only and collecting more war assets (side quests, exploration etc...) or by using the added multipliers that multiplayer can give you (ie multiplayer + single player campaign).  At a certain point raising your rating wont have any more effect on the endings, so its really just designed as a way to balance it so that people who favor multiplayer vs. people who favor single player can equally get to the endpoint without having to do the other if they don't want to.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

But "favor single player" in this case means grinding out what have been described as horrible planet search and retrieve missions worse than that ME 2 minerals thing.

In other words you can do a really boring single player activity, or you can do a fun multiplayer one in which you really need to toss them more money to buy optional gear to really be good at it.

[GogglesPizanno]

As someone who hates multiplayer, and finds online multiplayer shooting just as repetitive and "grindy" as scanning planets (which to be fair is not AS tedious and much faster/streamlined in ME3), they really are just 2 sides of the same coin. And I've never heard that the multiplayer component is really one of those "toss them more money to buy optional gear" kind of situations. It always seemed that there was some cosmetic/slightly modified items to encourage pre-orders. But none of those things would give you an edge any more than buying some nice piece of hardware you can get during the single player game.

My point was that the two game modes exist and you can get to a desired ending regardless of which part of the game you prefer.
You like multiplayer.
I like grindy RPG.

In either case, regardless how i play it, I know I'm gonna screw up at least one thing and half the galaxy will suffer. Then my commander sheppard will say something smarmy sounding, and all will be right. It the natural order.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

I've been reading the rage against Bioware over the ending, and if it's true, then I have no idea what they were thinking.  I'll still put this in spoiler tag, but won't spoil anything specific.

Spoiler

Basically, not matter what you do, you essentially lose.  Even the best ending involved mass slaughter and destruction and no matter what you do, you can't really defeat the Reapers, at least not without committing mass genocide to do it.

So I'm thinking I'll pass on the game for now. My Shepard did not go through everything he went through for that.

Aparently the average Amazon and Metacritic ratings are between 2 and 3 stars and most of the reviews say about the same thing.  It was a fantastic game until toward the end which ruined the series for me so badly I wish had never played it.  Yeah.

[Deaths Jester]

For those that have the game, does not doing Arrival and Lair of the Shadowbroker affect anything? The reason I ask is I haven't downloaded those becuase of the cost.

[Mr. Hamrick]

For those that have the game, does not doing Arrival and Lair of the Shadowbroker affect anything? The reason I ask is I haven't downloaded those becuase of the cost.

From what I understand, the answer is yes but in minor ways.   

As with a few other elements of the game, certain characters from the DLC from Mass Effect 1 & 2 enable you to get some additional "War Assets" in the game along with other choices you might have made in the previous two games.  In addition, those particular two would probably affect the presentation of a few backstory elements.  I also believe that a certain character from Arrival will show up if you have not played through that DLC and you have to deal with that character there.

I've been reading the rage against Bioware over the ending, and if it's true, then I have no idea what they were thinking.  I'll still put this in spoiler tag, but won't spoil anything specific.

Spoiler

Basically, not matter what you do, you essentially lose.  Even the best ending involved mass slaughter and destruction and no matter what you do, you can't really defeat the Reapers, at least not without committing mass genocide to do it.

This is not completely true.  It is true that at least half of the endings are of that nature.  See my earlier post on the endings.    I've seen what is termed as the "perfect ending" and its interesting.  It's not all "peaches and cream" but it is a "good ending" considering some of the other endings.  That said, I understand why so many are ticked off over the endings.  Even the perfect one leaves some to be desired.

[GogglesPizanno]

I finished it this weekend, and as far as the ending go, I get some of the complaints, but I don't get the seemingly irrational freak out. I'm not going to say anything spoilery, but again, people are having such a visceral reaction, I'll put it in the spoiler tags... And it may be a bit long

Spoiler

TONE - People who are complaining about the endings being too dark, seemingly have failed to play the last 2 games. They were very dark and somewhat depressing games. Now I get the idea that people want a "happy" ending after something that runs generally so bleak, but I think an ending like that does a disservice to the tone and story they were telling. So those arguments just don't sit with me. I appreciated where they went and the rather bleak place that it ends at.

STORY/LOGIC - That said, the other complaints about the logic and kind of "out of nowhere" endings I am more inclined to agree with. Again i don't have the vitrol that others do, but I do think the story decisions they made and the way the gameplay reflected it has some problems and doesn't often logically hold together well at all. Its like a really exciting movie that you come out of and then start thinking about and realize whoa... there were some seriously ugly plot holes that they just ignored and glossed over. People who make comparisons to the Matrix are not too off base on some level.

CHOICES - Finally, as for all the complaints about how they ruined the choices you made throughout the game for a bunch of similar endings that nullify all the choices you went with. I'm of two minds on that one. On one hand the game does a good job of applying those choices throughout the game itself (I experienced a complete emotional gutpunch of an outcome on one mission, because of choices i made in the first two games) and these things were reflected leading up to the ending and I think they did a good job. However, The ending does seem to nullify a lot of those and I can understand the backlash form a certain POV. I do however think that it goes along with the tone and general vibe of where the story went. I sort of respect the choice to run with the idea that when you are talking about the fate of the galaxy, your choices affect greatly how you get to the endpoint, but ultimately as one man, those choices don't really mean anything on that scale. Is that what they intended it to mean? Dont know. Did they execute it poorly and sloppy in some sense? Yes. Does it feel a bit edited and half baked? Sure. Did it cause me to throw my controller and curse the waste of time it has been? Not at all.

The series as a whole has been an amazing ride for me, and while they didn't stick the landing per se, I still admire the routine.

[JeyNyce]

People must have a lot of time to play this game...   I'm taking my time and enjoying it. 

People are taking the ending very seriously.  I saw threads pop up about Bioware redoing the end and a whole bunch of stuff.  One person even added a "filler" to help explain the ending better.  It does contain spoilers, so read st your own risk: http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/355/index/9833130/1

[Talavar]

But "favor single player" in this case means grinding out what have been described as horrible planet search and retrieve missions worse than that ME 2 minerals thing.

In other words you can do a really boring single player activity, or you can do a fun multiplayer one in which you really need to toss them more money to buy optional gear to really be good at it.

Both patently untrue.  The system scanning for search and retrieve missions is much, much, much less tedious than the ME2 minerals thing (speaking as someone who did way too much of both).

You don't need to spend anything on optional gear to be good at multiplayer.  The alternate weapons for the most part are just different in some way, not outright better than the default stuff.

Now my thoughts on the ending.  I can't say I'm not a little disappointed.  It's a big ending, with some flaws, and it definitely left me thinking.  Spoilers follow:

Spoiler

To those who want to know, there are basically 3 major endings, altered in various minor ways by your choices and actions up to that point (and supposedly some of the 3 aren't even available if your score going in to the endgame is too low).  You can choose to sacrifice yourself and control the Reapers, destroy the reapers along with all other synthetic life in the galaxy, or sacrifice yourself and create a synthesis of synthetic and organic life.  None are terribly happy, though the synthesis option seems to be the happiest - the reapers depart, and I was treated to a shot of Joker, EDI and Liara (my 2 squadmates at the end) alive and stepping out onto a world after the Normandy has crashed. 

What I think upsets a lot of people (beyond Shepard almost certainly dying at the end, though apparently with a chance of living if reapers & all synthetics are destroyed) is that Bioware basically burns down the setting created over 3 games on their way out the door.  Not only is almost every major planet in ruins, and millions have died, but they also blow up the Mass Relays and the Citadel.  If there are more games in the setting they'll either have to be prequels of some sort or set in a setting so altered as to be only casually similar.  It seems unnecessary.

I think the game ending it most reminds me of is Planescape: Torment.  In that game, even the 'best' ending wasn't terribly happy, and deciding what was best was pretty much open to interpretation.  Mass Effect 3 is something like that, which is pretty rarified company to keep.

[JeyNyce]

Has anybody tried Multiplayer yet?  Let me tell you that it is so much fun.  I went in as a lvl 2 soldier and when I finish playing I was  lvl 11.  It was really fun! 

[Mr. Hamrick]

Has anybody tried Multiplayer yet?  Let me tell you that it is so much fun.  I went in as a lvl 2 soldier and when I finish playing I was  lvl 11.  It was really fun!

Definitely been playing the multiplayer.  I wouldn't mind more people to play multiplayer with though who I know (or sorta know). 

[JeyNyce]

Has anybody tried Multiplayer yet?  Let me tell you that it is so much fun.  I went in as a lvl 2 soldier and when I finish playing I was  lvl 11.  It was really fun!

Definitely been playing the multiplayer.  I wouldn't mind more people to play multiplayer with though who I know (or sorta know).

Well Mr. Hamrick, you can find me on Origin as JeyNyce, so look me up.  That goes for the rest of you too.  Maybe we can get a group going for MP and work towards getting a good ending.

[Mr. Hamrick]

Has anybody tried Multiplayer yet?  Let me tell you that it is so much fun.  I went in as a lvl 2 soldier and when I finish playing I was  lvl 11.  It was really fun!

Definitely been playing the multiplayer.  I wouldn't mind more people to play multiplayer with though who I know (or sorta know).

Well Mr. Hamrick, you can find me on Origin as JeyNyce, so look me up.  That goes for the rest of you too.  Maybe we can get a group going for MP and work towards getting a good ending.

We are one one another's friends list on Xbox 360 which is what I have the game for.  I do not have a PC or PS3 and not sure what Origin is. 

[Ares_God_of_War]

Well I have played and beaten this game and it has made me sad. The 16 supposed endings are basically just a variation of 3. I sort of blame the script leak for this type of thing due to the restructuring of the game. The game was 99% awesome and then just emptiness for me.

[Ares_God_of_War]

But "favor single player" in this case means grinding out what have been described as horrible planet search and retrieve missions worse than that ME 2 minerals thing.

In other words you can do a really boring single player activity, or you can do a fun multiplayer one in which you really need to toss them more money to buy optional gear to really be good at it.

Both patently untrue.  The system scanning for search and retrieve missions is much, much, much less tedious than the ME2 minerals thing (speaking as someone who did way too much of both).

You don't need to spend anything on optional gear to be good at multiplayer.  The alternate weapons for the most part are just different in some way, not outright better than the default stuff.

Now my thoughts on the ending.  I can't say I'm not a little disappointed.  It's a big ending, with some flaws, and it definitely left me thinking.  Spoilers follow:

Spoiler

To those who want to know, there are basically 3 major endings, altered in various minor ways by your choices and actions up to that point (and supposedly some of the 3 aren't even available if your score going in to the endgame is too low).  You can choose to sacrifice yourself and control the Reapers, destroy the reapers along with all other synthetic life in the galaxy, or sacrifice yourself and create a synthesis of synthetic and organic life.  None are terribly happy, though the synthesis option seems to be the happiest - the reapers depart, and I was treated to a shot of Joker, EDI and Liara (my 2 squadmates at the end) alive and stepping out onto a world after the Normandy has crashed. 

What I think upsets a lot of people (beyond Shepard almost certainly dying at the end, though apparently with a chance of living if reapers & all synthetics are destroyed) is that Bioware basically burns down the setting created over 3 games on their way out the door.  Not only is almost every major planet in ruins, and millions have died, but they also blow up the Mass Relays and the Citadel.  If there are more games in the setting they'll either have to be prequels of some sort or set in a setting so altered as to be only casually similar.  It seems unnecessary.

I think the game ending it most reminds me of is Planescape: Torment.  In that game, even the 'best' ending wasn't terribly happy, and deciding what was best was pretty much open to interpretation.  Mass Effect 3 is something like that, which is pretty rarified company to keep.

Spoiler

The main theory with this ending is that the starchild is Harbinger and this was his attempt to indoctinate Shepard. I had enough War Assets to net the "Breathing" ending for sacrificing all synthetics to kill the Reapers and then having the "stargazer" tell the story of "the Shepard" and then the kid asking for "another story about the Shepard" and then treated to them telling me to buy some DLC

[captmorgan72]

I am so tempted to read the spoilers just in case they save me from a massive disappointment. Through 1 and 2, I as a player, have gone through a lot as Shepard, and to hear that the ending might ruin the entire series really worries me. I don't want to play it and then scream WTF!!! at the end. 

[GogglesPizanno]

I would avoid details and just make up your own mind. If you go in expecting to hate it, you will.
The more Ive had time to reflect and think about it, the more I am actually fine with the ending as a whole on a thematic level (some technical and logic issues notwithstanding).

Penny Arcade's take I think has a very valid take.
You may not agree with all of their points, but they provide a nice counter argument to the haters.
http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/why-the-ending-of-mass-effect-3-was-satifying-and-worthy-of-the-series-mass