I just wish Bioware wouldn't use twitter to post game related comments.
They posted a tweet the other day saying that in the refusal ending that the future civilisation used the catalyst and chose one of the rgb endings.

Wait, that makes Shepard an utter failure in that ending, lol.

Well, what I can say is the graphics are a LOT better than 1 and 2... on PC anyway.

The combat is improved from ME2, but only slightly. You have some new opponents that you need some diifferent tactics and approach, combat is more dynamic, etc etc.

Well, it was clear from me right from the beginning (or at least when the first major developments of the story unfolded in ME1) that Shepard would have to die in a way or another at the conclusion of the saga.

So for me, Mass Effect was all about helping an heroïc character not to die before he accomplishes his destiny, whatever that destiny might be. Yeah, Mass Effect is for me a greek tragedy. And in that, I haven't been disappointed a single bit by the story, even if the "original" conclusion to the saga was a bit dry, because I wanted to know more what happened "after" Shepard's ultimate sacrifice.

I mean, what's the point of keeping alive a character who had to fight against all odds, against an overwhelming enemy and had to unite a whole galaxy? What were people expecting? To see Shepard relaxing on a beach with Tali/Liara/Miranda/whoever you chose as a lover? Come on! THAT would have been a ridiculous endng.

Why I chose the green ending? Good question... I guess it's what I felt was the only true solution. The synthesis would not only stop the war but also open an era of cooperation and prosperity between synthetics and biologicals. Maybe, in the back of my mind, it was a kind of symbolic "fuck you!" to all governments across our Earth that prefer to play on fears and racism to control their population; and believe me I know what i'm talking about, with Sarkozy's former government in France...

So, yes, the synthesis. Control ?? That would have been being like the Illusive Man. If I had to be like him, I would have helped him, not oppose him, much earlier in the saga. Destruction?? Yeah, we would have won the war... for a while, because the cycle would go on, only delayed and thus it wasn't a solution at all.
The refusal ?? I didn't even know it existed, but as I can see it it's the consequence of not wanting to make a decision, a thing that Shepard has constanty to do throughout the whole saga. It wouldn't have made much sense for me to choose that, given the sometimes difficult choices I've made earlier...

So, yes, the Synthesis. The only real conclusion to the Shepard I've played all along the saga.

A few side missions do take place on multiplayer maps. Otherwise the maps seemed pretty similar to ME2 to me.

You could do that in the first Mass Effect, you know. Just saying.

Lets say it's both way, the combat is a lot more nervous and there are more useful skill (even if several are overpowered like "slam"), as Vanguard you can have some very deadly combo even at max difficulty level, but on the other side, as you have noticed, you have a lot more of "arena" where the enemies just appear in weave until you kill them all and move to the next.

The worst offender being the "side mission" which, for most of them, are just you entering in a single average sized square arena, where you have to go to to point A, kill X wave of enemies, go to point B, kill X wave of enemies, then go back to point A, kill X wares of enemies, etc... until you complete the mission. But at least it's "better" than the "take exactly the exact same level and randomize some crates" mission of Mass Effect 1

The "main plot" missions are usually better though, even if they also often uses small "arenas".


Concerning the plot, they tried to include most of your past companion which is both a good and a bad thing, a bag thing because it often feel like a bunch of mini-subplot (meet an old companion, have a small subplot with him/her then move to the next) thrown together rather than a single "fluid" plot.

What I didn't really like also was how the game "forgot" some of your choices, resetting them to "default" choices because it was more convenient for them.

That's because they were. In early development there was going to be a separate multiplayer game and a single player game (two development teams)... at some point (probably money was hemorrhaging from TOR development) they just slapped the two 'halves' together. Most of the multiplayer maps where retooled into 'side quests'. They totally break immersion with how stupid they are, but the combat is still fun.

There's a few story missions that are good, but there's undeniably a lot of chaff filler in the game. Try not to judge it completely by the N7 missions for example, but realise that it didn't get the dedicated production it could have. True of their Dragon Age series too, no?

--------Warning: spoilers, rants, bad grammar, etc--------










I knew the odds of Shep surviving were low, but I kept hoping for something like that, yeah. Does it really sound any less plausible than the tale of "the one man who saved the galaxy by himself, dying twice in the process"? I think not.
Yes, it's a clichè, but let's not pretend ME was the epitome of originality in the first place. I've always found it extremely close to the spirit of Star Trek and Star Wars. A very polite 'mature' take at a child's tale, if you will.

To paraphrase your own question, what is the point of killing off at the last minute the one character who above everyone else in the series has earned the right to get out of there alive? I don't get it.
First ME3 paints an extremely stupid version of the galaxy (a special Darwin Award to the Council, the Salarian and the Quarian) just to give Shepard even more chances to be a hero. Then, after he ended wars, saved entire species, lost old friends, washed the laundry for the Council, cured the nevrosis of his crew, beat the odds... he gets shot in the back.
I reckon the writers were trying to achieve something with that. Not sure what. All I can say is that at metagaming level this feels like a huge slap in the face. Anyway, enough ranting for today.


As for the best ending: the idea of Synthesis creeps me out to be honest, always has. But I have to say it has got the most moving and sweet ending monologue of all three. Tricia Helfer has done some really amazing voice acting there.
It's probably my least favourite solution though. Stopping the Reapers is one thing, playing God with evolution is something no one should have the right to do. Space magic aside, it is perhaps the only ending the EC has made even less plausible. The Catalyst stated that something similar has been tried in the past, but failed, as it was not a change that can be forced on organics. How it is NOT forced this time around? It didn't see Shepard asking for anyone's permission.

I'm more inclined to Control myself, it allows to stop the war and preserving the galaxy as it is. Then again, Shepard dies, and the Reapers are still there...

If I'm not totally sold to Destroy is because sacrificing EDI and the Geth seems too much. Not that I care much about the Geth, but still, one life against one species...
I'm not too worried about the chance of a future war with syntetics to be honest. I guess something is bound to happen sooner or later, but nothing as devastating as the Catalyst predicts.


















-----------------------Spoilers--------------------------

I'll keep your spoilers ahead! banner here, since I cannot discuss your points and avoid possible spoilers ^_^

Yes, I agree, deep down I would have loved to see Shepard survive the final confrontation and at last have some quality time with his/her lover. But I knew (and, for the sake of the narration, I hoped) it was not likely to happen.

From the very beginning, when Shepard is "infected" with the Prothean beacon in ME1, it is clear he has a "special destiny". Of course ME is not original ; it's a mix of different thematics (ethics, choices, values for which you want to fight, friendship, etc...), but sincerely, I couldn't care less: as long as the story is gripping and well-written, it's a win for me.

Don't start me on "metagaming", thought. Metagaming is another word for "I have nothing better to do than overanalyze things". Reminds me of my french literature teachers back in high school. Come on, guys, who actually cares if a scenarist put a coma here and not there??? It's a GAME! Don't make it deeper than it is intended. ME is definitely not Dostoïevsky, Zola or Hemingway!!

Playing God with evolution?? But the whole galaxy is already playing God with evolution!! The Genophage is nothing but playing God with Evolution!! So I don't see what would hold Shepard back to take that kind of decision. Especially from a guy/girl rebuilt from scratch by Cerberus...
I have no problem with that solution because it is coherent with the technological and cultural level of the Galaxy in ME. I would have much more objections if it had to happen right now, in 2012...

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/bioware-officially-confirms-that-shepard-is-alive-in-the-destroy-ending-of-mass-effect-3/

You gotta be f*ing kidding me Bioware....
Can you please send me link to post, or at least tell me what account did they use?

See, I disagree entirely about the Synthesis ending. While I agree with Avogadro6 that the voice over is probably the best of the group the ending itself smacks of a naïvety and homogeneity on the part of the developers. The idea that making everyone the same, to fix all our differences invalidates the importance of cultural, racial, and personal differences. Saying that space magic waves its hand and then when all peoples (organic and synthetic) are made the same they will get along, love each other, and the universe will be all smiles and rainbows sounds both dumb, and insensitive to the very real idea of "if we all just get over race as a thing everyone will be happy and fine."

The Synthesis ending, to me, seems like it was written by someone who believes the above. That the problems of racism (in real life) are not about power and historical/contemporary privilege, but about people being mean and a lack of education and empathy. Which is frankly bull and full of the whitest or white privilege.

And so yes, it is sci-fi, and space opera and such, but that doesn't mean that a thematic ending like Bioware has in the game which gives you choices, which are clearly going to be based on realistic moral thought, can ignore the very real problems which exist.

Well finished 2 of the extended endings on mass effecd 3. The EE is a lot lot better in finishing the game wih at least some answers to the various questions answered but one thing that really really got me was

SPOILER AHEAD



The Normandy picking up your injured crewmates near the beam how the hell did Harbinger not shoot it down as he was there and Normandy was stationery for pickup. Harbinger managed to destroy the vehicles,Gunships troops all near the beam but a frigate class warship he didnt even bother firing and missing he just went oh lets them go.

As for the red ending i completed it and at the end of everthing i got the few seconds shot of Shepherd being alive in rubble so technically my Sheperd survived the war.Unless they forgot to take that scene out for some reason.


SPOILER FINISHED

Now that i have played the endings again it does give some closure to the trilogy but i sill feel let down that it took a fan backlash to get this fixed as the original endings just didnt make and sense.

As for the future i am not buying a bioware game again on pre order with both Dragon Age 2 then Mass Effect 3 coming out as they did one a rush job the other not complete i have to say that my trust in bioware os fading. I loved the old bioware some of my favourite rpgs came from them but nowall i see is a quick job cash cow company that EA has destroied its old core ways with its influence.