The "best" (hardest to get) ending is Destroy with at least 5000 war assets, as you see a scene in rubble (earth?) where shepard takes a breath after you see the normandy on a random planet/
Mass Effect 3 SPOILER THREAD: LOTS OF SPECULATION FROM EVERYONE
- Thread starter XANDER CAGE
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There is no good or bad ending
there are no answers
the only thing that's definite is that it sucks
ME2 is the superior game despite what any of it's detractors will say. It has a better story, better stucture, more character development, more new locations, more polish and just a more cohesive overall design. Mass Effect 3 while still a good game is lacking in the structure department. It's actually very similar to DA2 in many respects including having only one (two if you count the Normandy) hub area which you must visit over and over again. ME2 made the universe larger by having so many new worlds and locations to visit and interact with, and you heard about so many more that you were yet to visit. Ignoring the ending my main dissapointment with ME3 is so many of the locations you visit are rehashed from the previous games. When you do get to some new worlds it is nearly always during combat missions, which in ME3 have been reduced to levels from a standard 3rd person shooter, with very little interaction other than shooting enemies.
The combat in ME3 is an improvement, but every other area of the design is a step back; from the endless fetch quests to the total removal of any minigames (now just hold a to do everything) to the planet scanning. Planet scanning (the worst part of ME2) has been stripped down and actually made more annoying by adding reapers, plus it is no longer used to find side missions (which have been replaced with N7 horde missions) but only War assets which are either just stats with a description or fetch quest items. The only variation in the main combat missions come in the form of boss fights or turret sequences, with the exception of one decontamination room puzzle in the Mars level and an area where you move containers around.
The combat in ME3 is an improvement, but every other area of the design is a step back; from the endless fetch quests to the total removal of any minigames (now just hold a to do everything) to the planet scanning. Planet scanning (the worst part of ME2) has been stripped down and actually made more annoying by adding reapers, plus it is no longer used to find side missions (which have been replaced with N7 horde missions) but only War assets which are either just stats with a description or fetch quest items. The only variation in the main combat missions come in the form of boss fights or turret sequences, with the exception of one decontamination room puzzle in the Mars level and an area where you move containers around.
Barack Lesnar
Banned
Very interesting, thanks. It sounds like we might to get ending DLC eventually.
"Listening to feedback" is a term that game devs use often instead of outright saying "Yes, we'll fix this"
There isn't much story in ME2 other than the embarrassing human reaper. I don't want to hear the characters were the story too, I aint buying that.
This is something at least.
I guess the metrics they have available (both for single-player and multiplayer) are starting to show something is "wrong" with the usual pattern. In my case at least, I would've completed the game a second time by now.
And yes, this does seem PR speak for "we are assessing our options right now".
At the conclusion of ME2, you are in the EXACT same narrative position as you were at the end of ME1.
At the conclusion of ME1: The Reapers are coming!
At the conclusion of ME2: The Reapers are...still coming!
There was little or no narrative progression. OK, you learned about the Collectors and something something dark energy something something, but that's it. The narrative progression was sideways, not forwards.
Pollux
Member
Yea I would have been on a 3rd replay at this point. Also, they need to add in a comic or something at the beginning so I don't have to replay 2 whole games just to pick a romance option or pick if I killed someone or not.
the ending is what everyone always harps on, compare it to what we get in ME3. I will take giant T 800 any day. Plus the design of the stupid thing reminded me of something you would see on an old b-grade sci fi novel.
SerArthurDayne
Member
I had an adept, Insanity, Liara run planned after my Infiltrator Tali run. I also have a femshep about 50% through ME2. They were up next, now they are on a holding pattern.
I'm also on the Bioware will have to impress the shit out of me if they don't want me to buy their next game for bargain prices or used train.
I'm also on the Bioware will have to impress the shit out of me if they don't want me to buy their next game for bargain prices or used train.
Everything is the story. Everything that relates to the narrative of Mass Effect composes the story, and this includes setting, plot, characters, background, art direction, even the gameplay. The only way for the character to not be part of the story is to not be integrated into it. What I assume you are referring to is the plot. What I want to know is how many times I have to make this distinction before people finally stop making this error..
And I don't know why everyone hates the human reaper design so damn much. I've yet to hear an actual reason for it.
Metroidvania
People called Romanes they go the house?
The thing about the Human Reaper is that it still ties back to the old Dark Energy ending, as did Haestrom with Tali and several of the world's 'descriptions' both in ME1 and 2.
Then they scrapped that ending without explaining any sort of reasoning for the human reaper, so it seems stupid and nonsensical now.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
@Sflufan
*Grounds Commander Shepard*
*Reapers appear*
*Grounds Commander Shepard*
*Reapers appear*
dragonelite
Member
While ME2 didn't move the Reaper plot forward any great deal (Harby and peeps are coming to town no matter what) the game was essential in setting up genophage cure and Quarian/Geth war conflicts for the third game. Neither confict in ME3 would be nearly as powerful if you didn't have Legion to talk to or went on Mordin's loyalty mission. ME2 set ME3 up for the emotional punch it needed. It's also why I include the recruit and loyalty mission as part of ME2's story whenever the ME rankings comes up.
ME3=ME2>ME1
At the conclusion of the Fellowship of the Ring: Frodo is taking the ring to Mordor
At the conclusion of the Two Towers: Frodo is... still taking the ring to Mordor
It's a 2nd act and it introduces many new main characters, some of which Bioware all but discards in ME3.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
Indoctrination detected!!!
The amount of times your avatar could and still be used are immeasurable
Barack Lesnar
Banned
This makes me sad. Its basically an extreme version of what I'd hoped for.
Right-click, save as. Love this pic and yeah I agree. Is Miranda holding a plush Krogan or a baby? lol
I wish we could have seen some baby/children of the various races... baby Krogan, Elcor, Asari, Turian.
EDIT: nevermind. I agree... ME2 was like two towers in that it setup the 3rd act, a good point. I still think ME3 was much more memorable and had a better story overall.
I just took it to be how the reapers reproduced. It made sense to me and was a believable motivation. Still is, really.
The did bring the PS3 "choose your path until now" comic as paid DLC. I'm sure something like that will happen again. For those on PC there are pre-made saves and editors.
Hey, it's either these straws or the indoctrination ones! Hmpf.
Nah... I don't think anything will come out of this, but it does appear a change of tone from the last couple of days.
Barack Lesnar
Banned
He uses the "we are listening to feedback" line multiple times. That makes me think there will be ending DLC. Every time I've heard that feedback line from game devs there's always been more to it.
No. There really isn't. They are listening to feedback. That doesn't mean shit.
Stop setting yourself for disappointment. Seriously.
Ending DLC makes no practical sense, Bioware doesn't care, and you already gave them money.
And you know what? It's the end of the ME games. They don't give a shit about brand "health". Because the next one won't have anything in common with ME3. This is the end of an era and a franchise.
ARGH!
In ME2 Shep dies. Shep comes back to life. Finds new allies and enemies, and goes on a desperate mission to rescue his kidnapped people. There is a story, it is a side story but it does progress the plot of the main story arc. I felt far more satisfied and entertained when I had finished ME2 than when I got through with ME3.
Vire
Member
Why do you care if people falsely believe? Let them, no skin off your back.
Metroidvania
People called Romanes they go the house?
To be fair, it's telling that he doesn't say "These are the endings, that's it, now wait and we'll have the devs defend/explain their thought process to you."
Granted, the internet, or at least the BSN would blow up if he did, but leaving things this vague does nothing except inspire hope from people, at least, until Bioware has something definitive to say.
Personally at this point I'm indifferent to the whole fiasco, but I'm pretty sure I'm not replaying ME3 for a long time unless something changes.
Also, why do shotguns seem to suck so much in this game. Vanguard Charge+Nova+Charge is infinitely more satisfying, not to mention effective.
Chairman Yang
if he talks about books, you better damn well listen
Here's my ranking:
ME2 >>> ME1=ME3
Mass Effect has always had fairly boring gameplay. The series is good for one thing: making an interesting universe and populating it with interesting characters.
By that standard, ME2 is by far the best. Every genuinely great character is introduced and properly developed in ME2. ME1 has...Wrex, maybe? Everyone else in the game is incredibly dull. Even eventual awesome ME2 characters like Garrus are weak in ME1.
ME3 cashes in on the character development in ME2, but adds nothing by itself. For example, it has Mordin, but Mordin's dialogue is weak and the only reason anyone cares about him is because he was so well-developed in ME2. Same with Thane, Miranda, Samara, The Illusive Man...hell, everyone. Previously average characters, like Jacob, become downright boring.
Outside of characters, all of the game have strengths and weaknesses. ME1's clearly the best in some important ways, but it has severe flaws that ME3 doesn't have.
I dunno. The more I think about it, the more I think that ME2 is the only truly great game in the series.
ME2 >>> ME1=ME3
Mass Effect has always had fairly boring gameplay. The series is good for one thing: making an interesting universe and populating it with interesting characters.
By that standard, ME2 is by far the best. Every genuinely great character is introduced and properly developed in ME2. ME1 has...Wrex, maybe? Everyone else in the game is incredibly dull. Even eventual awesome ME2 characters like Garrus are weak in ME1.
ME3 cashes in on the character development in ME2, but adds nothing by itself. For example, it has Mordin, but Mordin's dialogue is weak and the only reason anyone cares about him is because he was so well-developed in ME2. Same with Thane, Miranda, Samara, The Illusive Man...hell, everyone. Previously average characters, like Jacob, become downright boring.
Outside of characters, all of the game have strengths and weaknesses. ME1's clearly the best in some important ways, but it has severe flaws that ME3 doesn't have.
I dunno. The more I think about it, the more I think that ME2 is the only truly great game in the series.
Although I'm prone to share your pessimism, they do have DLC coming up and they would like that to sell as much as possible. Plus tarnishing their ME brand, lowers the potential sales of ME4, as well as Bioware's own future output.
Apophenia Overload
Member
lmao @ Forbes' turnaround in ME 3 coverage:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkai...est-retake-mass-effect-raises-money-for-kids/
Guys, we're all paragons now.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkai...est-retake-mass-effect-raises-money-for-kids/
Guys, we're all paragons now.
I'm not sure what you mean by "turnaround"? Forbes has been incredibly supportive of this "protest movement" from the beginning.
Apophenia Overload
Member
They weren't two weeks ago, but yeah they were basically the first in the media to support the fans. It's just breathtaking to see how much they've sided with this.
So, a couple of things im wondering about characters deaths in ME2...
IF Miranda is dead, what happen in Horizon? You never meet her father and sister? How does it end then? How did they track Leng to the Cerberus base?
IF Thane is dead, Leng successfully kill the salarian ambassador?
IF Grunt is dead, the leader of that Krogan group on the rachni planet is just a random krogan no one cares about?
IF Mordin is dead, who replaces him as the scientist who can cure the genophage? Another random alien?
IF Jack is dead, she's replaced by a regular looking human biotic teacher?
IF Jacob is dead, no one replaces him and you just save a bunch of ex-Cerberus?
IF Tali is dead, a lot of shit must change in the Quarian missions no?
The only thing i know is that Legion is replaced by a "Geth VI" that looks just like him and that Wreav replace Wrex. And that you just meet the 2 asari sisters in the monastery if Samara is dead or you chose Morinth.
IF Miranda is dead, what happen in Horizon? You never meet her father and sister? How does it end then? How did they track Leng to the Cerberus base?
IF Thane is dead, Leng successfully kill the salarian ambassador?
IF Grunt is dead, the leader of that Krogan group on the rachni planet is just a random krogan no one cares about?
IF Mordin is dead, who replaces him as the scientist who can cure the genophage? Another random alien?
IF Jack is dead, she's replaced by a regular looking human biotic teacher?
IF Jacob is dead, no one replaces him and you just save a bunch of ex-Cerberus?
IF Tali is dead, a lot of shit must change in the Quarian missions no?
The only thing i know is that Legion is replaced by a "Geth VI" that looks just like him and that Wreav replace Wrex. And that you just meet the 2 asari sisters in the monastery if Samara is dead or you chose Morinth.
BuckRobotron
Member
What I've seen so far is:
Garrus...dead is dead, no direct replacement
Mordin replaced by Padok Wiks, has a distinct personality beyond being "not Mordin"
Dagg replaces Grunt, also has his own personality
Garrus...dead is dead, no direct replacement
Mordin replaced by Padok Wiks, has a distinct personality beyond being "not Mordin"
Dagg replaces Grunt, also has his own personality
Everything Shepard did in ME2 delayed the Reapers about 2 months, while not actually learning anything about them or Cerberus. We know they're both evil in various degrees, which we already knew in ME1. We learned the collectors were protheans....ok? What did that change? They were still soul-less husks that needed to be gunned down. Harbinger was randomly thrown into the mix with no explanation why, we just assumed he was a really important Reaper.
ME2 served as a way to throw in a bunch of new characters that I couldn't care less about with the sole exception of Legion and the bulk of the game revolved around running their mostly pointless errands. I think Mordin and Legion had the only real important ones that were brought to 3. I will forever hate that game with an extreme passion.
LumpOfCole
Member
Does anyone have a "Worst-ME2-Save-Possible" I can use that have pretty much everyone dead in ME2, so I can play through ME3 to see the differences myself?
makes me wonder if there was no multiplayer to take out mindshare and resources from the main campaign, if this would've been a better game. better journal, more side missions - not the "overheard" missions we got, a final mission that actually resembles the final mission in ME2 in the sense that you actually use the people that you accumulated throughout the game. In me3, you just bring two of your crew, and all the galactic forces you got just amounted to a cut scene of ships warping in. it wouldve been awesome if in the final mission, some scenes would be different if you got the krogan backing you up and not the salarians, or if you have the geth not the quarians. if you have the krogans, the fight with the banshees and cannibals would be easier, but if you have the salarians, the missile system would be fixed faster. i dunno, just SOME difference.
can somebody educate me with who made the multiplayer part of the game? is it a different team? i just want this nagging thought out of my head.
can somebody educate me with who made the multiplayer part of the game? is it a different team? i just want this nagging thought out of my head.
I still haven't seen anybody who doesn't believe in the indoctrination theory try to explain this. Seriously, how the hell could Shepard have possibly survived re-entering orbit? ME2's entire story started because Shepard decided to give it a try, FFS.
D
Deleted member 13876
Unconfirmed Member
Alright. Just finished. Got the Joker ending aka the Zordon ending. Didn't mind it that much actually except it's kinda final and shuts a lot of doors for future entries.
What was the Dark energy ending all about? That was one of the things that bugged me, the fading of stars was never mentioned during the game.
Overal I really liked the game aside from them scrapping some of the puzzle elements and minigames, the lack of real sidequests and bugginess. In a sense it was kinda the opposite of ME2 in that regard.
What was the Dark energy ending all about? That was one of the things that bugged me, the fading of stars was never mentioned during the game.
Overal I really liked the game aside from them scrapping some of the puzzle elements and minigames, the lack of real sidequests and bugginess. In a sense it was kinda the opposite of ME2 in that regard.
LightofRohan
Member
Holy shit, now that I think of it -- that protest is a good idea. Gives them attention to sources that normally would not, I'm sure EA does not want that. Not saying I agree with the protest, but raising money for charity in protest of something actually somewhat works.
Or $50k. Just a little over $3,000 to go...
Metroidvania
People called Romanes they go the house?
This I admit to being curious on as well, as she seems really central to finding the stuff about sanctuary. I'd imagine she doesn't have a replacement, and specialist Traynor pulls something out of her comm thingie.
Captain Kirrahe is rumored to show up. If you didn't save his commando squad in ME1, the ambassador dies, and you lose salarian support if you supported krogan's for genophage.
Yep. Name is Dagg.
You get a random salarian Scientist with the premise of "imagine how krogan have sex". It was a funny facial expression moment.
All the rest I have no idea on.
I posted the whole thing earlier, but in essence, the more the organic species used dark energy, the more it seeped into the real world, and risked blowing up the universe. The reapers were designed to kill all organics to prevent dark energy usage. By the time of our cycle, dark energy was getting to dangerous levels, so creating a 'genetically diverse' human reaper was the reaper's last shot at stopping the incoming dark energy explosion in ME2. Thus, the premise of the original ending of ME3 was either to tell the reapers to shove off and let us try to stop the explosion ourselves, or let the reapers suck up humanity to try and preserve the galaxy.
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