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[Wallach]

I thought the omniblades were daggers. yeah i am level 22 in the game the weapon doesnt do much for me either.

Yeah, they're daggers. Neat looking but are only level 1 items.

 

[neojubei]

Just for the heck of it and since this is a demo I choose Williams as the one that died and Kaiden had lived and after playing the demo I still hate Kaiden and glad I had him killed off in the first game.


Since Shepard was releived of duty since ME2, I wonder who was commader of the Normandy in her absence.

Yeah, they're daggers. Neat looking but are only level 1 items.

Don't understand why EA waited this long to release the omniblades and have them useless now. They would have been great with my ME armor sadly I don't use that armor anymore.

 

[lefantome]

SPOILER ON ME3 ENDINGS:

Spoiler

shepard sacrifies himself fusing himself with legion creating a new species and became the king of the new reapers on the block

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

Fuck off with even spoilered shit like that, cheers.

 

[An Owl With Knees]

DON'T YOU EVEN, mister.

 

[Bisnic]

SPOILER ON ME3 ENDINGS:

Spoiler

shepard sacrifies himself fusing himself with legion creating a new species and became the king of the new reapers on the block

For a second, before i replied, i thought you posted real spoilers, screw you lol.

 

[Deleted member 13876]

Edit: Never mind. Still post like ending spoilers lol:...suck pretty bad especially because we know some people do know the ending already.

 

[ScrabbleBanshee]

I love the series, and ME2 was really fun to play through... but after getting through the ME3 demo I couldn't shake the distinct feeling that I have already done this a hundred thousand times. I get the danger of changing things up too much (see Dragon Age 2) but I think they went too conservative on this.

Personally I was hoping for the series to go more "hardcore" with more RPG elements but even when choosing RPG "mode" it was just the same stuff over again and with the introduction of the other BS modes I wouldn't be surprised if this thing is even more watered down than the last one as a whole.

I mean seriously, there was no strategy really that wasn't being employed all through the previous installment... get rid of shield, get rid of armor, kill. The "boss" fight I was able to basically just hunker behind a wall and shoot it from one spot until it died.

 

[dark10x]

You aren't gonna get 60 fps on the 360 =P

No shit, but I can't use a gamepad with the PC version (without using extra software that won't provide an experience I want).

 

[Coxswain]

So they are really good tacticians is what you're saying? Their military power is quite stoppable, but since the Reapers have been smart by blocking transportation and communication, they have still prevailed?

Riddle me this then. Shepard goes off to start on building the resistance while the invasion is already happening. Surely starting to build up forces and starting to think up your tactics is futile when your enemy is an armada of master tacticians?

It's really got little to do with 'tactics' once the war is already on; once they've isolated every individual planet/solar system, it's really no big deal to overwhelm them one-by-one. That plan has already been ruined, so it becomes an actual war rather than a straight harvest. That the Reapers can run roughshod over the entire galaxy when they can do things one planet at a time is not particularly surprising, as they are still the most powerful single military presence in the galaxy. In a pitched war, they're still not the underdog or anything, but it's entirely believable that they could be resisted by a concerted, unified effort on the part of all the galaxy's races. They've built that up since Mass Effect 1, in a way that leaves the Reapers as the biggest threat facing the galaxy, without making them so powerful that the only way for Shepard to win in the end is some deus ex machina pulled out of her ass. (The game may well still conclude by having Shepard pull a deus ex machina superweapon out of her ass, but if that happens it's more representative of a failure on Bioware's part to capitalize on the story they've already established than anything)

That there is still no unified resistance makes Shepard's job an extreme longshot, yes. But 'futile', no, not really.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

Exactly. The player is completely detached from what is going on. There's no familiarity, no connection, and no association. Even characters like Vega are guilty of this, as the game assumes an established relationship with him.

The game should have started with Shepard preparing for his/her trial. Anderson would suggest Shepard unwind a bit before the hearing, blow off some steam, and get some fresh air so he/she is ready for what is bound to be gruelling legal mud slinging.

At this point you're given a bit of freedom to wander around an Earth based mini-hub. You can speak to a few people, maybe meet some familiar faces from the past games, and get some solid footing as to what Earth looks like. Give the player the ability to control the pacing, a sense of empowerment. Hell, even play with them a bit. Allow them to check out where the Normandy is, grounded by the Alliance. Let them see it in front of them, but have a guard prevent Shepard from boarding. Show players something they own, and prevent them from accessing it.

Then, I don't know, have someone suggest Shepard go to the gun range as somebody wants to meet them. There you meet Ashley/Kaiden, and he/she introduces you to Vega. Use this as a means to tutorial some basic shooting/cover mechanics against targets, or even a friendly (and cheesy) non-lethal shoot out against one of the above two.

After doing all of this, and having the freedom to go about at your own pace, you make the choice to attend your trial. Just a couple of opening questions as well as the ability to respond however you'd like, and boom, Reapers emerges from the clouds above. Bam, explosion, rarr rarr, and the rest of the tutorial follows much like the demo did, travelling across/through many of the locations you saw/explored just previously in the hub, watching the familiar sights torn to shreds by towering Reapers, as the people you were just speaking to are running in fear and being BZZ LASER BEAMED to death, as you make your way to the Normandy you can now board (or are picked up by Ash/Kaiden, whatever).

BioWare, hire me to make your introductions because I'm awesome and better.

Mother of fuck EatChildren. Why does it sound so fantastic. I would pay so much money to watch that intro instead of the one we got.

And Chris Prestly always sounded a douche to me.

 

[HarryHengst]

Afaik the Protheans were already working on weapons to destroy the Reapers, based on what they found from even earlier civilizations. So i guess the game will end up with Shepard finding such weapons.

Or maybe im starting to confuse Mass Effect and the Revelation Space series of books, because ME seems heavily based on that story.

Mother of fuck EatChildren. Why does it sound so fantastic. I would pay so much money to watch that intro instead of the one we got.

And Chris Prestly always sounded a douche to me.

Im pretty sure the intro in the demo isnt supposed to be the complete intro of the game.

 

[prophecy0]

Their ability to control the relays is tied to the Citadel, which they cannot signal anymore and you stopped Sovereign from manually activating in ME1. That's why the reapers had to take several months/years to fly back to the galaxy rather than instantly through the Citadel, why they cannot show down the relays, and not to mention they don't get all the records, census data, etc. from the Citadel. So now rather than systematically wiping out the galaxy system by system, they may actually face an organized threat. Edit: What he said ^^^

Except apparently every race is too busy with their own shit to care about the reapers :/

Ah yes, I had forgotten that detail as it's been years since I played the first game. I'm currently working on a new playthrough of ME1 right now in preparation for ME3. Still, if I were the reapers and Earth/humans were such a big threat I'd just say "f it" and destroy the Charon relay entirely.

 

[Meccanical]

Afaik the Protheans were already working on weapons to destroy the Reapers, based on what they found from even earlier civilizations. So i guess the game will end up with Shepard finding such weapons.

Or maybe im starting to confuse Mass Effect and the Revelation Space series of books, because ME seems heavily based on that story.




Im pretty sure the intro in the demo isnt supposed to be the complete intro of the game.

Except it definitely is.

 

[Ventilaator]

without making them so powerful that the only way for Shepard to win in the end is some deus ex machina pulled out of her ass. (The game may well still conclude by having Shepard pull a deus ex machina superweapon out of her ass, but if that happens it's more representative of a failure on Bioware's part to capitalize on the story they've already established than anything)

Oh man, I'm willing to put money on the game ending on a Deus Ex Machina. Seriously. Shepard will at some point go after some mystical device of mystical power that will (mystically) blow up all evil, probably killing Shepard in the process.

I'm more sure of that than I am of the earth not being flat, and I'm pretty sure the earth isn't flat.

 

[Blake'sGrave]

True, but he still probably would have decimated a fleet or two before going down.

That's kind of speculation, we haven't seen the effects of a singular reaper attack yet. And the Normandy kind of nailed Sovereign pretty decisively once they didn't have the geth fleet to worry about. I don't get the misconception that they're amazing God-like machines individually, there's been a lot to show their weaknesses throughout the series.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

Afaik the Protheans were already working on weapons to destroy the Reapers, based on what they found from even earlier civilizations. So i guess the game will end up with Shepard finding such weapons.

Or maybe im starting to confuse Mass Effect and the Revelation Space series of books, because ME seems heavily based on that story.




Im pretty sure the intro in the demo isnt supposed to be the complete intro of the game.

They said it is. Im all for they are lying about it so its a surprise in the final game, but really, what are the odds of that.

 

[RoninChaos]

Not going on the internet to tell other people they have bad taste probably saves him a bit of time to do other stuff.

hahaha oh shit.

I still haven't played the demo. Gonna get the game either way.

 

[Sajuuk]

what is that discovery like ship is doing on the main menu? a Quarian ship?

 

[Gregorn]

Edit: Never mind. Still post like ending spoilers lol:...suck pretty bad especially because we know some people do know the ending already.

They said they might tweak the story, so it's possible that none of the leaked endings make it to the final version.

I hope so anyway...

 

[Kem0sabe]

Afaik the Protheans were already working on weapons to destroy the Reapers, based on what they found from even earlier civilizations. So i guess the game will end up with Shepard finding such weapons.

Or maybe im starting to confuse Mass Effect and the Revelation Space series of books, because ME seems heavily based on that story.




Im pretty sure the intro in the demo isnt supposed to be the complete intro of the game.

Spoiler this shit, you just spoiled the entire game plot right there, except for the part where you get to play as Wrex in a Krogan mating ritual mini game.

 

[Coxswain]

Oh man, I'm willing to put money on the game ending on a Deus Ex Machina. Seriously. Shepard will at some point go after some mystical device of mystical power that will (mystically) blow up all evil, probably killing Shepard in the process.

I'm more sure of that than I am of the earth not being flat, and I'm pretty sure the earth isn't flat.

I'm with you on that - but I also don't think that it's actually necessary, given what's already been established in the games.

 

[Tacitus_]

Spoiler this shit, you just spoiled the entire game plot right there, except for the part where you get to play as Wrex in a Krogan mating ritual mini game.

Nah man, you play as Shepard in that scene if you killed the worm thingy in Grunts loyalty mission.

 

[exYle]

Taking hundreds of years to destroy the Protheans was a sign of Reaper strength, not difficulty on their part, as admitted by Vigil. They were so powerful that leisurely taking their time for centuries in a war for survival is nothing for them.

Sorry for quoting a post two pages old, but given that Prothean empire was galaxy-wide AND the Mass Relays had been shut down, I would be surprised if it took the Reapers anything less than centuries to hunt down the entire Prothean race.
They may have been hunting "leisurely", but if they went for a genocidal speedrun, it would probably still take centuries, just maybe a few less of them.

 

[Meccanical]

They said they might tweak the story, so it's possible that none of the leaked endings make it to the final version.

I hope so anyway...

Don't expect a miracle.

 

[EatChildren]

Im pretty sure the intro in the demo isnt supposed to be the complete intro of the game.

They said it is. Im all for they are lying about it so its a surprise in the final game, but really, what are the odds of that.

The most recent surge of previews for the game showed what I believe to be the whole 'intro' to the game, as in the point up until you are free to explore at your own leisure. I didn't read into specific events, but as far as I'm aware (first two location spoilers)

Spoiler

the game begins as it does in the demo and you head straight for Mars.

Once those two set pieces are finished then the game opens up to the Mass Effect we know. I think.

 

[Kem0sabe]

The most recent surge of previews for the game showed what I believe to be the whole 'intro' to the game, as in the point up until you are free to explore at your own leisure. I didn't read into specific events, but as far as I'm aware (first two location spoilers)

Spoiler

the game begins as it does in the demo and you head straight for Mars.

Once those two set pieces are finished then the game opens up to the Mass Effect we know. I think.

This is the truth. Demo is final as far as intro goes, as well as

Spoiler

the linear path earth -> mars -> Citadel then the game somewhat opens up.

 

[FGMPR]

That's kind of speculation, we haven't seen the effects of a singular reaper attack yet. And the Normandy kind of nailed Sovereign pretty decisively once they didn't have the geth fleet to worry about. I don't get the misconception that they're amazing God-like machines individually, there's been a lot to show their weaknesses throughout the series.

The thing about Mass Effect that got me excited in the first place (besides being a Bioware RPG set in space, which back in 06/07 sounded mouth-watering as fuck), was the fact that it was a 'planned trilogy'. In other words, a story taking place over three games that was planned out from the start, giving them enough foresight to avoid things like a blatant deus ex riddled ending to the saga.

After ME2, which really didn't progress the story far at all (though I still loved it) and now hearing one of the writers claim they have written ME3 so newcomers can just jump into the story, which says to me that very little of what will happen will be directly tied to the previous games, it just makes me feel like this whole trilogy has been a bit of a missed opportunity for Bioware. This series was on a course for greatness, but to me, it seems like they've shot themselves in the foot too many times for that to happen, which is a damn shame.

 

[KageMaru]

Got so hooked playing the MP the other night with friends, it took up my whole afternoon.

Honesty I loved the demo, it was great. I understand and agree with the complaints or concerns surrounding the animation and tone of the demo respectively, but I'm going to wait until the full game is out before forming my opinion. I don't expect the animation to change, and that's unfortunate as it could improving, but these consoles only have so much memory. If gamers expect improvements in graphics, they should possible shortcuts in other aspects. Regarding the tone of the game, I really hope the whole game isn't "GO GO GO, BOOM BOOM BOOM..." since I really liked the low portions in ME1 and ME2.

One thing I don't care for is how finicky the cover mechanics are. Sometimes I get into cover just fine, other times I roll then get into cover. Not really a fan of inconsistent behavior with my controls, especially in a game that features plenty of shooting.

Edit: Bioware on gamepad support:

I call bullshit... what a piss poor excuse.

They don't have the resources, but Team Meat and basically every other indie dev can do it no problem. At least be honest with your fans Bioware.

Love how people don't know a thing about game development but are so quick to call bullshit.

And what one team does with one game is in no way indicative to what is possible or how hard/easy it is in another game. Time, resources, money, hurdles, etc. vary quite differently between games and studios.

Ironically, a lot of the complaints as to the introduction being rushed are derived from it having little to no association with the last DLC, which was supposed to be a lead in to this game. Essentially Arrival ends with Shepard expected to go to Earth and stand trial. ME3 starts with the trial having come and gone. I don't think the demo even references it at all.

I thought the trial was ready to begin in the beginning of ME3, no?

 

[CrazyDude]

The thing about Mass Effect that got me excited in the first place (besides being a Bioware RPG set in space, which back in 06/07 sounded mouth-watering as fuck), was the fact that it was a 'planned trilogy'. In other words, a story taking place over three games that was planned out from the start, giving them enough foresight to avoid things like a blatant deus ex riddled ending to the saga.

After ME2, which really didn't progress the story far at all (though I still loved it) and now hearing one of the writers claim they have written ME3 so newcomers can just jump into the story, which says to me that very little of what will happen will be directly tied to the previous games, just makes me feel like this whole trilogy has been a bit of a missed opportunity for Bioware. This series was on a course for greatness, but to me, it seems like they've shot themselves in the foot too many times for that to happen, which is a damn shame.

I think somebody at bioware said recently that they were making it up as they go. Don't know if that is true or not.

 

[FGMPR]

I think somebody at bioware said recently that they were making it up as they go. Don't know if that is true or not.

Yeah, its pretty obvious, but I'm positive in the year or so before ME1's release I read someone from Bioware calling it a trilogy, which suggests a planned beginning, middle and concluding chapter.

 

[EatChildren]

I never buy the 'planned trilogy' argument no matter what mouth it comes from, especially for a videogame where there are so many variables and risks involved. BioWare no doubt had a plan to make it a trilogy with a vague guideline, but there's no way I'll believe the course of events was in stone from the start.

I thought the trial was ready to begin in the beginning of ME3, no?

Nope. Trial is over.

 

[Emitan]

Trial? For what? What did I do? Well, I guess the trial is over so it doesn't matter...

 

[Darklord]

Are they still going to have the choices option from the previous games like they did in ME on PS3 with the comics? I remember hearing they would then nothing else since. I don't want to replay ME1 again.

 

[EatChildren]

Are they still going to have the choices option from the previous games like they did in ME on PS3 with the comics? I remember hearing they would then nothing else since. I don't want to replay ME1 again.

Apparently yes. They haven't quite detailed how it works, but I believe there is another 'interactive comic' that covers events of the last two games and allows you to make choices.

 

[Moaradin]

You think it will be possible to have the comic show the trial?

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

I think it's clear Bioware had no intention of making The Arrival meaningful and anyone hoping for more of the trial are going to be severely disappointed.

 

[Kem0sabe]

Love how people don't know a thing about game development but are so quick to call bullshit.

And what one team does with one game is in no way indicative to what is possible or how hard/easy it is in another game. Time, resources, money, hurdles, etc. vary quite differently between games and studios.

I bet you dont know a thing about economics or fiscal policy but yet you rage about income taxes to your friends/wife/whatever.

So, let the rest of us uninformed gits make our own damned assumptions...

They always did a piss poor job translating the game ui to the pc platform... i.e lack of scroll in the interface and proper key bindings. So why not go the other way around and port the damned thing directly from the console including gamepad support? One poor UI or another, its all the same.

In the end, it was a feature thats been asked since ME1, they had plenty of time to put someone on it. It´s not a matter of resources, it´s a matter of choice, they chose not to, thats it... even going as far as to encrypt the game files that enabled modding from the community to solve this specific issue.

 

[LabouredSubterfuge]

I think it's clear Bioware had no intention of making The Arrival meaningful and anyone hoping for more of the trial are going to be severely disappointed.

As DLC. Includes clues to Shepherds real gender and date of birth!

 

[moop1167]

I thought the omniblades were daggers. yeah i am level 22 in the game the weapon doesnt do much for me either.

Yeah maybe they were daggers, I forgot.

 

[CorrisD]

Afaik the Protheans were already working on weapons to destroy the Reapers, based on what they found from even earlier civilizations. So i guess the game will end up with Shepard finding such weapons.

Or maybe im starting to confuse Mass Effect and the Revelation Space series of books, because ME seems heavily based on that story.

Well we already saw in ME2 that a weapon exists that can mostly disable a Reaper, I was surprised they never seemed to investigate that further in the game considering it seems like it would be a pretty good thing to have prepared.

Trial? For what? What did I do? Well, I guess the trial is over so it doesn't matter...

Blowing up a Mass Relay and killing a bunch of Batarians.

 

[Emitan]

Blowing up a Mass Relay and killing a bunch of Batarians.

I never did that.

 

[HarryHengst]

I never did that.

Canonically you did, in the Arrival DLC. Also you worked with a known terrorist group, which should be enough reason to trial you.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

I never did that.

Your choices mean something.

To someone. Not Bioware.

 

[heliosRAzi]

I think it's clear Bioware had no intention of making The Arrival meaningful and anyone hoping for more of the trial are going to be severely disappointed.

I think they did and do because the Arrival is canon now. They just half-assed it because it's Bioware.

 

[Emitan]

Canonically you did, in the Arrival DLC

That's stupid. In a series based on your past actions the game starts with you on trial for something you never chose to do?

Also you worked with a known terrorist group, which should be enough reason to trial you.

That should be the opening.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

I think they did and do because the Arrival is canon now. They just half-assed it because it's Bioware.

Half-assing it is putting it politely. "Yeah you were in trouble but hey look Reapers! You're a commander again now, go get em!"

 

[Imp the Dimp]

Some dudes on Bioware Social Networks get suspiciously defensive when someone dares to criticize ME3, damn. Why do these people take criticism so personal? I mean, its purpose is to help to improve the game and not to insult anyone.

 

[FrontalMonk]

I never did that.

Yeah, my main playthrough I haven't done lair of the shadow broker. Should be interesting.

 

[FGMPR]

Some dudes on Bioware Social Networks get suspiciously defensive when someone dares to criticize ME3, damn. Why do these people take criticism so personal? I mean, its purpose is to help to improve the game and not to insult anyone.

It's because most of them over there are a bunch of freaks.