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[indigo-cyclops]

That makes a lot of sense I honestly expected that to happen at some point in the game and omega to be a second hub area.

I certainly wish, open that place up a bit, loved Omega, should have been utilized more.

ME1 seems so different from the other 2, I just played it for an hour. It's crazy.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Kai Leng and even TIM were not good antagonists like Saren. Kai Leng would have been a more effective enemy if he was part of the team in ME2 then killed a crewmember or even betrayed Shepard which would make Shepard want to go after him in ME3.

Don't know about anyone but I think I like ME1 more then the other 2 but i still think ME2 and ME3 are good. The citadel in ME1 was perfect and the mass effect drive core in the Normandy SR1 was awesome. Now the citadel is cut up in parts and the core of the SR2 is a humming big ball...

Yeah, Kai Leng did nothing for me. Him being a traitor from part 2 would have been better for sure. Fucking Metal Gear style ninjas in my mass effect...

 

[Rebel Leader]

During the actual Kai Leng fight, I blew his head open with the Widow. Was funny to see it intact a few moments later as Shepard and co. don't even bother to check if he's dead.

I was thinking ... "is this a.... boss fight?"

 

[volturnus]

I'd like the cut hanar/drell mission expanding the main quest as DLC, but its doubtful.
I was very disappointed that there was no mission on Dakuuna and Omega as well. Hard not to feel the game was rushed.

 

[DevelopmentArrested]

Can someone accurately post all 3 endings again?

 

[WiiredShawn]

I'm doing a second playthrough on insanity right now, but can anyone confirm, once and for all, whether or not there is a "new" ending scene for the NG+? This site is reporting that there is a special scene after the grandpa/kid talk upon meeting certain requirements, but no one has managed to confirm or deny outright. I expect they're full of it, and at best it's just the Shepard breathing out scene, but a final word would be appreciated nonetheless.

 

[jaundicejuice]

With the way Mass Effect 2 ended I wasn't certain if I wanted to play through Mass Effect 3, reading through this thread I don't know if I should bother to buy this or not, the story sounds like an absolute train wreck. Even if it sounds unintentionally hilarious, I don't know if I want to pay 60$ to witness it all firsthand. Definitely feel compelled to see this through to the end but, man, what the fuck.

 

[Rebel Leader]

With the way Mass Effect 2 ended I wasn't certain if I wanted to play through Mass Effect 3, reading through this thread I don't know if I should bother to buy this or not, the story sounds like an absolute train wreck. Even if it sounds unintentionally hilarious, I don't know if I want to pay 60$ to witness it all firsthand. Definitely feel compelled to see this through to the end but, man, what the fuck.

RENT IT

Beatable in 20-25 hours

I probably spent $2 and beaten it

 

[Red Blaster]

Yep. A poor ending does not invalidate everything that comes before it.

Yeah it's absurd to think that these characters we've grown to love over how many years are all irrelevant now that someone hated 5 minutes of something they watched.

Garrus is so bad ass, no matter what comes next.

These people really have no idea

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

I'm doing a second playthrough on insanity right now, but can anyone confirm, once and for all, whether or not there is a "new" ending scene for the NG+? This site is reporting that there is a special scene after the grandpa/kid talk upon meeting certain requirements, but no one has managed to confirm or deny outright. I expect they're full of it, and at best it's just the Shepard breathing out scene, but a final word would be appreciated nonetheless.

There is no new game plus ending.

These people really have no idea

Yep. You can serve me the best dinner on earth, but if you shit in my mouth for dessert, there's only one part of the meal I'm going to remember.

I was one of those people 48 hours ago. Seeing people complain about the ending and thinking there's no way it's bad enough to ruin the whole game for me. I was seriously loving this game (and series) up until that final scene. It will haunt me.

 

[Rebel Leader]

These people really have no idea

Shit mountain can and will deal deadly blows


Also, i think they have beaten the game and are just rising hopes.. just to watch them rage

 

[X-Frame]

Yep. You can serve me the best dinner on earth, but if you shit in my mouth for dessert, there's only one part of the meal I'm going to remember.

What a great analogy! So true too.

Only remedy? Eat the dinner again. I started another play through and I feel much better. Game starts slow but when things open up I can't stop playing .. Again.

 

[Prologue]

What a great analogy! So true too.

Only remedy? Eat the dinner again. I started another play through and I feel much better. Game starts slow but when things open up I can't stop playing .. Again.

Sad thing is, I don't even want to play ME3 again. I played both previous games numerous times >.>

 

[Red Blaster]

What a great analogy! So true too.

Only remedy? Eat the dinner again. I started another play through and I feel much better. Game starts slow but when things open up I can't stop playing .. Again.

But then you realize you're just going to get a wonderful shit sandwich at the end and lose enthusiasm.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

What a great analogy! So true too.

Only remedy? Eat the dinner again. I started another play through and I feel much better. Game starts slow but when things open up I can't stop playing .. Again.

I'll play it again once all the DLC is out in 8 months or whatever. I wish there was more to the multiplayer. It's pretty enjoyable, but there's just not much there to see. The jump in difficulty seems steep also. I am cakewalking through bronze, but if I jump to silver we get fucking wiped out within the first couple rounds every time.

 

[Petrichor]

...

I think we're done here.



They could still just come out every 50,000 years, since that's what they're doing now, it obviously works. Just show up, wipe out AI and tell the organics to stop fucking around with it.

The only possible reason I can pull out of my ass is that the reapers have to feed on organic life.

If reapers just destroyed synthetics but left organic life untouched organic life would continue developing and developing to a point where the synthetics it could build would be more powerful than the reapers, leading to the "singularity" mentioned in the ending. Whatever the race was (or individual) that built the reapers effectively set an upper limit for how developed organic civilisations are allowed to become (and thus how powerful synthetics can become i.e less powerful than the reapers).

Come on people, it's not hard. The explanation of the ending choices leaves a lot to be desired but the central conceit behind the purpose of the reapers makes sense, even if the geth and quarians appeared to be getting on in the end. It's clear that the civilization in which the reapers were created will have been a lot more advanced than the one the Mass Effect games take place in, so we have to take the catalyst's word for it that synthetics will turn on organics. He's in a more educated position.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

When did the tali photoshop/stock photo thing come to light? Anyone care to link me?

 

[volturnus]

For those who didn't read the leaked script;
Here's the Thane mission that was cut, although it was somewhat adapted into the final version:

Kolyat has received word that, at the request of Donnel Udina, the Citadel Council will hold a critical vote in 24 hours that will abandon the hanar homeworld to the Reapers in the name of protecting other planets. He needs you to get to Udina, one way or the other. He brings in Kasumi (if alive) to help nab evidence from C-SEC headquarters he could use to blackmail Udina. You get in to C-SEC HQ, and finds the evidence being destroyed by a Cerberus double agent. Extracting the information from him, you discover that Udina is indoctrinated and will soon launch a coup d'état to overthrow the Citadel Council. You and Kolyat must now stop him through any means possible. Thane (if alive) is brought on board to assassinate Udina. Thane is weak from his disease, but is on heavy painkillers and determined to complete his last mission.


You, Thane, and Kasumi take on heavy security measures on their way to the Council Chamber in the Citadel Tower. Thane and Kasumi's presence helps you get past various puzzle obstacles. A short but brutal fight with Cerberus conspirators ensues when you secure a vantage point to take the target down. When Udina makes his move, you are there to reveal his crimes in front of the Council. Udina reacts by signaling an army of hidden Cerberus forces. In the climactic showdown, Thane uses the last of his strength to take out Udina. You give Thane the last rites he is too weak to say for himself, and Thane dies, his species' debt to the hanar repaid.



The grateful Council is now completely behind Shepard and give him their unconditional support.

 

[WiiredShawn]

There is no new game plus ending.

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

Yep. You can serve me the best dinner on earth, but if you shit in my mouth for dessert, there's only one part of the meal I'm going to remember.

I was one of those people 48 hours ago. Seeing people complain about the ending and thinking there's no way it's bad enough to ruin the whole game for me. I was seriously loving this game (and series) up until that final scene. It will haunt me.

Apparently most reviewers were able to swallow the shit whole - but in some ways, I don't blame them, simply because of their precarious position: knowing about the craptastic ending, and having to decide whether to penalize a good 30-hour game for a 10-minute trainwreck (and ultimately give away to fans that the ending retroactively ruins the rest of the experience), or to pretend like "only gameplay and crew dialogue matter."

 

[Bowdz]

With the way Mass Effect 2 ended I wasn't certain if I wanted to play through Mass Effect 3, reading through this thread I don't know if I should bother to buy this or not, the story sounds like an absolute train wreck. Even if it sounds unintentionally hilarious, I don't know if I want to pay 60$ to witness it all firsthand. Definitely feel compelled to see this through to the end but, man, what the fuck.

I hated the ending for the most part, yet loved the main game. Easily one of the best gaming experience I have had in recent memory and if you in anyway a fan of ME, I would strongly suggest you play the game. Just go in knowing the end will be terrible.

 

[Apophenia Overload]

I'm doing a second playthrough on insanity right now, but can anyone confirm, once and for all, whether or not there is a "new" ending scene for the NG+? This site is reporting that there is a special scene after the grandpa/kid talk upon meeting certain requirements, but no one has managed to confirm or deny outright. I expect they're full of it, and at best it's just the Shepard breathing out scene, but a final word would be appreciated nonetheless.

Oh boy, this game is turning into this generation's Pokemon in terms of rumors of secrets.

 

[Manus]

RENT IT

Beatable in 20-25 hours

I probably spent $2 and beaten it

Smart man. I own both ME1 and 2 and opted out to rent ME3 from Redbox. After playing it, I made a wise decision.

 

[shingonation]

What a great analogy! So true too.

Only remedy? Eat the dinner again. I started another play through and I feel much better. Game starts slow but when things open up I can't stop playing .. Again.

I'm taking that advice.

Game was too awesome that I really don't want to keep the sour feeling, I'll do a replay, stop before the ending and keep the awesome feeling.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Apparently most reviewers were able to swallow the shit whole - but in some ways, I don't blame them, simply because of their precarious position: knowing about the craptastic ending, and having to decide whether to penalize a good 30-hour game for a 10-minute trainwreck (and ultimately give away to fans that the ending retroactively ruins the rest of the experience), or to pretend like "only gameplay and crew dialogue matter."

Yeah, this game made me realize I couldn't be a game reviewer. I would seriously not be able to decide what to rate the game after the ending. I will say I don't think it deserves 9's and 10's like it's getting. The ending combined with the fact your choices don't overly matter should mandate it rates the lowest in the series.

 

[Rokam]

If you use biotic punch on one of the cars on the Citadel there's a secret squad mate that joins you underneath it.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

How does a game with a metacritic score of 94 (the 8th highest scoring 360 game) garner such scorn as there is in here? I've not seen the endings, all I can assume is that there's a massive disconnect between the gaming media and actual gamers. The difference in reception is very interesting to me

 

[volturnus]

Also Saren is a possible squadmate if you didn't kill him in the first game.

 

[firehawk12]

Oh boy, this game is turning into this generation's Pokemon in terms of rumors of secrets.

If there's a secret ending, someone with the PC version would have posted the video file by now.

Also:

If you’re willing to make that sacrifice, you can make the Renegade choice. But, if your EMS score is more than 4,000 and you’re able to stop the Illusive Man from executing Anderson, Shepard will survive. If your EMS score is more than 5,000 Shepard will still live whether you stop the Illusive Man from killing Anderson or not.

Everyone seems to reporting this as fact... but people here have said you can save Anderson at lower than 4000. No one knows anything. lol

 

[Rokam]

How does a game with a metacritic score of 94 (the 8th highest scoring 360 game) garner such scorn as there is in here? I've not seen the endings, all I can assume is that there's a massive disconnect between the gaming media and actual gamers. The difference in reception is very interesting to me

The game up until the final 10 minutes is great. My main complaint about the rest of the game is they took away the openness from ME2. But it's okay because I loved the missions.

 

[Apophenia Overload]

If there's a secret ending, someone with the PC version would have posted the video file by now.

You have to win the special DLC contest to get it. Otherwise you fly the Normandy to a hidden planet and ask James to use Strength on the abandoned Mako.

 

[shingonation]

How does a game with a metacritic score of 94 (the 8th highest scoring 360 game) garner such scorn as there is in here? I've not seen the endings, all I can assume is that there's a massive disconnect between the gaming media and actual gamers. The difference in reception is very interesting to me

Because the rest of the game was fucking great? The majority seem to acknowledge that.

 

[NBtoaster]

How does a game with a metacritic score of 94 (the 8th highest scoring 360 game) garner such scorn as there is in here? I've not seen the endings, all I can assume is that there's a massive disconnect between the gaming media and actual gamers. The difference in reception is very interesting to me

Some reviews did mention the ending was disappointing.

 

[Empty Space]

With the way Mass Effect 2 ended I wasn't certain if I wanted to play through Mass Effect 3, reading through this thread I don't know if I should bother to buy this or not, the story sounds like an absolute train wreck. Even if it sounds unintentionally hilarious, I don't know if I want to pay 60$ to witness it all firsthand. Definitely feel compelled to see this through to the end but, man, what the fuck.

I really loved the game up until that ending I would say its worth picking up. Its a mass effect game if you liked the first two you will like this one without a doubt. If your main gripe with two happens to be you felt there was less rpg because of lot or option that concern can be laid to rest there's like 43 guns in the game and about 5 mods per gun that you can get. The ending just leaves a really sour taste I think once people are allowed a months separation from the game they will be okay.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

If reapers just destroyed synthetics but left organic life untouched organic life would continue developing and developing to a point where the synthetics it could build would be more powerful than the reapers, leading to the "singularity" mentioned in the ending. Whatever the race was (or individual) that built the reapers effectively set an upper limit for how developed organic civilisations are allowed to become (and thus how powerful synthetics can become).

Come on people, it's not hard. The explanation of the ending choices leaves a lot to be desired but the central conceit behind the purpose of the reapers makes sense, even if the geth and quarians appeared to be getting on in the end. It's clear that the civilization in which the reapers were created will have been a lot more advanced than the one the Mass Effect games take place in, so we have to take the catalyst's word for it that synthetics will turn on organics. He's in a more educated position.

Why do they care? Why is one (unsupported by any examples and thematically contradictory) doomsday scenario any more likely, any more worthy of concern, any more deserving of a crazy convoluted cyclical genocide plan?

Why do they care if an artificial-in-origin form of life becomes dominant in the galaxy?

 

[BlazingDarkness]

The game up until the final 10 minutes is great. My main complaint about the rest of the game is they took away the openness from ME2. But it's okay because I loved the missions.

The impression I get from this thread though, is that the ending itself retroactively devalues a lot of the ME experience up until that point, because it undoes and takes a way a lot of what gamers have put so much of their time into doing.

It's almost as though these reviews were penned in as is before they even finished the game, and thus the ending was an afterthought. It's very weird considering it's the last in the trilogy, you'd think a large part of the focus would be on closure

Some reviews did mention the ending was disappointing.

Disappointing seems like an understatement. Or is it GAF being GAF?

 

[Rebel Leader]

Edit: nevermind

 

[Coxswain]

How does a game with a metacritic score of 94 (the 8th highest scoring 360 game) garner such scorn as there is in here? I've not seen the endings, all I can assume is that there's a massive disconnect between the gaming media and actual gamers. The difference in reception is very interesting to me

The last half of the game's ending is unbelievably bad. Like, it's impossible to overstate just how bad it is. You could make a laundry list of all the different ways in which a narrative can fail, and you'd probably be able to tick off most of the list in literally the last five minutes of the game.
It's the last thing that people see, and to top it all off, it comes off even worse than it would otherwise because there's such a stark contrast between that and everything that came before it, which is almost entirely well executed.

It's such a jarring shock to the system that (especially just after you finish the game) it towers over and eclipses pretty much everything else in the game, despite the fact that it hits some pretty fucking fantastic high notes throughout.

 

[volturnus]

Oh boy, smudboy's analysis alone will make the ending worth it lol.

 

[Rebel Leader]

Oh boy, smudboy's analysis alone will make the ending worth it lol.

How close is smudboy from beating it?

Edit: how dare you forget EatChildren =)

 

[Dabanton]

I adore ME1 but found ME2 outside of the DLC missons horrible totally avoided ME3 after that terrible demo and from reading this thread i'm glad i did.

 

[Nexas]

The more I think about the ending the more I realize that the destruction of the Mass Relays was what upset me the most. Sure the Reaper's reasoning is nonsensical and your choices are all terrible, but with the relays intact the galactic society would at least have the chance to rebuild and put this idiocy behind them. But with the relays gone everything becomes way more depressing. The Quarians just got their homeworld back, but now most will never see it. The Krogan were cured of the genophage, but now Wrex and all of his men on Earth will never get to so see the revival of their species. And all those colonies out in the middle of nowhere? Totally fucked.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

How does a game with a metacritic score of 94 (the 8th highest scoring 360 game) garner such scorn as there is in here? I've not seen the endings, all I can assume is that there's a massive disconnect between the gaming media and actual gamers. The difference in reception is very interesting to me

It's reviewers jobs to be more level headed I suppose. I loved the game up until the end. I'd imagine most reviewers aren't as nerdy/emotionally attached to the universe as some of us are. If you give a fuck at all about the first two, you have to play the game to see how it ends for sure. And it's a great ride, that sadly crashes and burns in the last five minutes with the most unsatisfying ending I've ever had in a game.

 

[Derrick01]

These people really have no idea

They're not necessarily wrong though. The bad ending doesn't take make me forget the amazing 35 hours I had up to that point. It ruins the series' story for me but the moments I had before that were great.

And Garrus is and forever will be badass. So they're both kind of right.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Oh boy, this game is turning into this generation's Pokemon in terms of rumors of secrets.

collect everything and i hear you can see lara croft Tali naked.

 

[Rebel Leader]

They're not necessarily wrong though. The bad ending doesn't take make me forget the amazing 35 hours I had up to that point. It ruins the series' story for me but the moments I had before that were great.

And Garrus is and forever will be badass. So they're both kind of right.

We all had great moments..

Garrus? Wrex is where it's at

 

[volturnus]

How close is smudboy from beating it?

Edit: how dare you forget EatChildren =)

EatChildren made a similar analysis? I didn't know, would you mind linking it? lol

 

[Rebel Leader]

Did EatChildren make a similar analysis? I didn't know, would you mind linking it? lol

i belive i am probally mixing both up becayse I am just waiting for both reactions

 

[BlazingDarkness]

It's reviewers jobs to be more level headed I suppose. I loved the game up until the end. I'd imagine most reviewers aren't as nerdy/emotionally attached to the universe as some of us are. If you give a fuck at all about the first two, you have to play the game to see how it ends for sure. And it's a great ride, that sadly crashes and burns in the last five minutes with the most unsatisfying ending I've ever had in a game.

I guess that's reasonable. A part of me thinks this smells ultimately like the press pandering to EA/Bioware instead of giving an honest opinion - there's no way it'd be so highly regarded across the board if GAF/User reviews are any indication - I'm quite cynical though, I admit that

 

[Rebel Leader]

I guess that's reasonable. A part of me thinks this smells ultimately like the press pandering to EA/Bioware instead of giving an honest opinion - there's no way it'd be so highly regarded across the board if GAF/User reviews are any indication - I'm quite cynical though, I admit that

I see threads everywhere about the end from BSN, ign, gametrailers, gamespot.... 99% about the ending

 

[JoeBoy101]

I adore ME1 but found ME2 outside of the DLC missons horrible totally avoided ME3 after that terrible demo and from reading this thread i'm glad i did.

Doing yourself a disservice. Its a fantastic game and worth the play. But the literal last 5 minutes of the game is jaw dropping stupid.