Mass Effect 3: A Loose End and A Few Good Ideas

[Kryptice]

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t experienced the ending of Mass Effect 3 and wish to forestall the inevitable shock, you may want to leave.

If you have seen the finale and somehow managed to walk out satisfied, I would ask you for a hug. It’s what I need after seeing all my hopes and expectations, countless hours of gameplay, and thoughtful decision-making get shredded by the most disappointing ending in recent video game history.

Still, Mass Effect 3 is overall a fantastic game. I won’t deny it’s a worthwhile gaming experience. All the great elements are there: top-notch visuals, great combat, an engaging story and stellar voice-acting, as well as an outstanding soundtrack.

Nevertheless, instead of delivering the expected grand payoff, the last 10 minutes of the game baffle players with the most bizarre and confusing sequence in the whole Mass Effect saga. Most players, especially those who’d stuck along the series since the very beginning, were left in utter disbelief and frustration.

Read more

[vlara]

QUOTE:...At this point, I don't know what I wish to be true. That Bioware just screwed up the finale the old fashioned way, or that they had a brilliant ending, cut it and made what they did show cryptic in order to sell DLC down the line. In my eyes, either situation is equally tragic...

[Kryptice]

I think they just screwed up. Mass Effect 3 was supposed to bring closure to Commander Shepard's story. So Bioware had better make amends because this "ending" is an insult to players who stuck around all these years.

[Kate Lorimer]

I think despite comments otherwise they were rushed, the game shipped unfinished. There were SOOO many bugs in it (at least the PC version) and *that* nonsensical ending flying in the face of everything previously.

[Kryptice]

You may be right, Kate. Perhaps a longer gap would have been wiser, as was the case with ME1 (2007) and ME2 (2010). So they were probably rushed. In any case, Bioware took players for granted if they thought they could fool everybody with that stupid ending.

[Kate Lorimer]

I agree with your post completely too.  It was a magnificent story, so full of emotion, it transcends both what is traditionally regarded as a "game" AND a movie, as your choices so heavily invest you emotionally into the tale.  I think the end pulled a "LOST" on us tho.. it so overwhelms us with emotional scenes at the very very end, that you leave exhausted, emotionally drained, stunned, but essentially OK.

..then there is a pause (in my case going to bed, and getting up the next day) then you go..

Wait.. what?

I wrote my own little blogpost about my thoughts of the experience as a whole.. and if you read it.. note how the updates (charting me finishing.. then thinking about it... then thinking about it more, lol) alter my perception of it :D

http://www.buntyandtheboffin.co.uk/blog/?p=370 

[Kryptice]

I really enjoyed reading your blog post, Kate. Thanks for sharing! I agree that Mass Effect is right on par with other great Sci-Fi universes like Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek, even if the entertainment medium is different. Plus, I've read the novels and luckily they all tie into the games (unlike the EU of Star Wars). So, you romanced Liara in ME3, and not Kaidan? :)

[Kate Lorimer]

Yeah!  I felt bad about it.. but I never really "bonded" with Kaidan, I felt much more protective of him like a brother.. which is why I was amazed and delighted when we went for something eat in the Presidium, thats exactly what FemShep called him :)

[Kryptice]

lol Liara is awesome. She's been BFFs with Shepard from day one anyway, so you shouldn't feel bad ;)

[Tayg]

I am still traumatized by the ending I think. All those decisions meant zilch. My love Liara with me on the ground and then magically ends up on some planet with Joker? How and when did THAT happen?? There is nothing wrong with rewarding Shep and the fans with a little happiness. Shep sacrificed the entire series, time to be rewarded.

[Kate Lorimer]

 think the next few days will be very telling. The way I see it one of a few things will happen:

1 - Bioware announce DLC @ PAX: Take back Omega. A story set earlier helping Aria retake Omega.

(This would spell disaster for Bioware, likely stealing their fire and rendering any further productions to be treated with suspicion, and sad faces for us)

2 - Bioware announce DLC @ PAX "coming soon" - clarification of the ending

(This is not ideal, still sad faces mostly, and still potential for aforementioned Bioware disaster)

3 - Bioware announce nothing @ PAX, things get ugly, BioWare is doomed as we all mentally cut ourselves off from Mass Effect as an ongoing franchise - afterall, whats the point, your emotional investment has been destroyed (ha!, or controlled, or synthesized!)

4 - ...and how I SOOO wish this is what it is, but my heart tells me otherwise... BioWare announce @ PAX the REAL ending (or what happened next, or "The Truth") - maybe indoctrination (which if NOT true, really ought to be, lol)

One of the funniest yet so completely telling personal experiences of the end that I heard was from a youtube vlog of two girls, one who had already finished the game, talking about her partner who was just finishing it.. and describing how when confronted by the StarChild and having listened to it's speech, immediately turned around and tried to shoot it.  When her partner told her "no you need to choose" - she proceeded to walk backward towards a choice.. STILL SHOOTING at the starchild, lol.  "Because it makes NO ####ing sense!"

All these people - mostly "professional" review sites - claiming that "the nerds are tantrumming!"  miss the point.  Mass Effect is a change for both the gaming industry and movies/fiction as we know it.  The emotional investment in its characters is unprecedented.. I couldnt believe that I was actively treating characters with compassion (giving best mate Garrus a break because I was *always* taking him on missions, etc) - such was the depth of the characters and their writing.  100 hours or more of character/story development undone in 10 minutes!