[Megathread] Mass Effect 3

[Kaneiac]

Have you guys seen the cut part from the ending, where your squad members get killed by Harbinger?

Spoilers, kinda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNJvtmkU9nM

Holy fuck, that really hit me.

[Lord Bale]

But look at Benezia, going by the interaction with her on Noveria, indoctrination is pretty damn similar to mind control. Based on her being able to "snap out" of it long enough to give you a bunch of important information and then going back to trying to kill you, it seems like you can be fully aware that you are indoctrinated and still be under the Reapers' control.

As for the indoctrination ending idea as a whole...if it's true, then what's the point? The ending of the game is supposed to end the fucking game, tie the irritating loose ends up or at least make them clear. Sure if there was a sequel that ends up resolving it, fine (and DLC is NOT a sequel), but there won't be. If they do end up selling the "real" endings for cash, I'm not going to buy them.

BioWare has been hinting at story / ending related DLC for the past week now. I think we can drop the whole "The writers are just shit" theories. It's become pretty obvious that they wanted us to react like this from the beginning. Nobody knows why, but I find it very likely that this ending issue will be resolved somehow.

[Kaneiac]

As for the indoctrination ending idea as a whole...if it's true, then what's the point?

Money?

Think about how many people will buy the ending just because they want a new one.

It'd be silly NOT to exploit the shit out of this.

[Notos]

BioWare has been hinting at story / ending related DLC for the past week now. I think we can drop the whole "The writers are just shit" theories. It's become pretty obvious that they wanted us to react like this from the beginning. Nobody knows why, but I find it very likely that this ending issue will be resolved somehow.

Why? Because they want our money. If it's a free patch that updates the endings to what they were supposed to be, fine. But paying money for a resolution to the plot does not sit well with me.

It'd be silly NOT to exploit the shit out of this.

Exactly, and I fully expect them to do so. It's just...disappointing.

[Deleted]

I am glad the user rating is 2.5. These companies need to learn that it is not okay to exploit DLC, and we need to stand up against this - to ensure that it will not happen again.

The only way they'll stop making shitty games and excessive DLC is if they aren't profitable. Ratings mean nothing if they still make bank on the game.

[Lord Bale]

Why? Because they want our money. If it's a free patch that updates the endings to what they were supposed to be, fine. But paying money for a resolution to the plot does not sit well with me.

Then you really don't care much for the plot, and shouldn't be very upset anyways.

I've spent too many hours in these damn games to just say Screw Bioware, they no longer deserve my money, especially if they resolve the issue.

[Notos]

Then you really don't care much for the plot, and shouldn't be very upset anyways.

I've spent too many hours in these damn games to just say Screw Bioware, they no longer deserve my money, especially if they resolve the issue.

I do care about the plot, and Bioware is trying to take advantage of that to get more money out of me. Their DLC thus far has been strictly optional stuff like side missions and extra characters, and that is perfectly fine, it's just extra fluff. The ending to the game is NOT OPTIONAL. It's as if an author all of a sudden decides to publish a book without the last chapter, and then sells the last chapter separately for more money.

Saren and Benezia described indoctrination as making Sovereign's or respectively Saren's arguments much more compelling to them, which kept them highly motivated and also highly functioning. They didn't perceive it as being directly influenced but rather steered in the direction Sovereign desired. Once they were able to resist it temporarily, they saw their wrongs.

I understand how they explained it, however I am looking at what actually happened to the character of Benezia rather than what she said. She understood that she was doing something wrong, trying to kill her own daughter and all, yet after her brief lapse she continued trying to kill you. If indoctrination was based purely on making Saren's arguments more compelling, then once she realized that what she was doing was wrong, she should have been able to stop herself. Any further action she took against Shepard was against her own will.

[Leonard McCoy]

Their not infallible. If they read your feedback and make improvements based on that, you should be happy. Or not. I could care less at this point. As for user reviews, I posted this in another thread but it deserves some attention, because frankly user reviews are fucking useless at best. It's not just me3 btw.


http://www.metacritic.com/feature/ga...s-user-reviews


Enjoy.

[Kaneiac]

OH SHIT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/to...index/10089946

So where do we go from here? Throughout the next year, we will support Mass Effect 3 by working on new content. And we’ll keep listening, because your insights and constructive feedback will help determine what that content should be. This is not the last you’ll hear of Commander Shepard.

Odds are it's just pre-ending DLC but still.

[Flextt]

OH SHIT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/to...index/10089946

So where do we go from here? Throughout the next year, we will support Mass Effect 3 by working on new content. And we’ll keep listening, because your insights and constructive feedback will help determine what that content should be. This is not the last you’ll hear of Commander Shepard.

Odds are it's just pre-ending DLC but still.

Mass Effect 1: "The Mass Effect universe is designed as a trilogy."
pre-pre-ME 3: "Mass Effect 3 will be the last installment of the ME universe"
pre-ME3: "ME 3 will be the last installment with Commander Shepard."
ME 3: "ME 3 will bring the trilogy to an end, all questions answered"
post-ME 3: "Since so many of you guys are discontent with the current endings, I guess we will have to pour in some more content for just a few DOLLLLLLLLARZ!"

Not being disappointed in their policy, I love the series and am a proud fan deeply immersed in its lore. It just seems to fall into place a bit too neatly.

[Kaneiac]

Mass Effect 1: "The Mass Effect universe is designed as a trilogy."
pre-pre-ME 3: "Mass Effect 3 will be the last installment of the ME universe"
pre-ME3: "ME 3 will be the last installment with Commander Shepard."
ME 3: "ME 3 will bring the trilogy to an end, all questions answered"
post-ME 3: "Since so many of you guys are discontent with the current endings, I guess we will have to pour in some more content for just a few DOLLLLLLLLARZ!"

Not being disappointed in their policy, I love the series and am a proud fan deeply immersed in its lore. It just seems to fall into place a bit too neatly.

I read his post as a giant "fuck you, we're listening but we're happy with the ending anyways."

I dunno about you.

[Deleted]

I read his post as a giant "fuck you, we're listening but we're happy with the ending anyways."

I dunno about you.

He wrote a lot of words and said absolutely nothing.

[jtgizmo]

He wrote a lot of words and said absolutely nothing.

That is EXACTLY how I saw it - long long post and I was like - right...the point of this post is - it solves nothing, explains nothing, gives nothing. But there will be more DLC's

I think that hold the line movement and the fb group should use their influence to advocate people just torrent the DLC's instead buying them and giving BW their money.

fuck BW!

[flarecde]

I'm just going to spoiler the whole post. I think at this point it's kinda not needed, but to avoid ruffling some feathers...

So I finally finished the game. I'm finding I have fewer issues than most with the ending. A few minor complaints...

There's the whole why was Normandy in FTL question, and how did you crew members get back on it. Probably the biggest actual plot hole. The only thing I can think of is that something happened that caused Joker to pick them up and leave the system while Shepard was on the Citadel. One small scene could fix that up.

The whole "here's some synthetics to wipe out organics so organics don't create synthetics to wipe out organics" was a little dumb. They should have gone with something a little less... hypocritical? Ironic? I would have bought something alone the lines of pruning the garden - removing advanced life (of all types) because inevitably advanced life would destroy all life (including that only just forming). By removing advanced life, you preserve the galaxy for future life to grow. It makes a twisted sort of sense.

There's a glaring option missing from the ending too, IMO. If the Catalyst was so intent on preventing synthetic life from destroying organic life, why the fixed cycle? Shepard could have told the Catalyst to put the Reapers back into deep space on ice and have it watch. If it's predictions came true, then call them back in. Otherwise, wait and watch.

I agree that the whole Harbinger thing was handled poorly. I think they should have left in the scene with your dead teammates. Then right before Shepard blacks out, or right after, if your score is high enough have Harbinger get blown up. Bittersweet victory, fits the tone of the game.

As far as the whole choices not affecting the ending, I would have been happy with a few before and after scenes depicting the results. More shots of your various war assets in action. Particularly the ground assets. Krogan riding Kalikosaurs with James cheering them on would have been awesome :P. A little scene at the end for each of the major characters would have been nice too, with a poignant memorial for the ones who didn't make it. All in all, for a trilogy of this scale, something longer than 5 minutes would have been nice. And I disagree with the whole "the third game was your ending" thing... the ending happens after the final climax. Proper storytelling .

I'm also just a little cranky that I couldn't pick that last paragon option during the last convo with TIM. I imagine you must need a perfect paragon score to nab it... I'm not sure how much content I missed besides a few minor sidequests.

I don't know about this whole indoctrination theory. It feels too much like a "and then they wake up, it was all a dream" cop out. Almost as bad as playing the god card. I'd almost prefer the existing ending to stand, mindboggling though it can be.


I do hope they do more games in the ME setting. They game was a blast to play, and I love the lore.

[Snuzzfizzle]

More news (from Jessica Merizan's Twitter) -

@Xaeldaren @batchix what did you want it to say? #curious (PS this discussion re: the endings is not OVER - it's just beginning) - They're still discussing the ending and post-game content! Have hope!

When we are ready to announce specific projects, we will. There's a lot that happens behind the scenes. Not being cruel

[Xuvial]

Wait just because the PLOT got LEAKED, Bioware changed the ending into something this terrible? That makes no logical sense :S

[Reah]

Wait just because the PLOT got LEAKED, Bioware changed the ending into something this terrible? That makes no logical sense :S

Actually I'm starting to think that because of the leak they elected to release the ending in parts. What we see at the end currently is only the first part. Wishful thinking perhaps but there have been a lot of hints dropped the past week that there may be more to come.

[Leonard McCoy]

Wait just because the PLOT got LEAKED, Bioware changed the ending into something this terrible? That makes no logical sense :S

It does if Bioware is trolling you.

[Deleted]

So I'll just leave this here.....

[Notos]

So I'll just leave this here.....

Uhh...thanks? (edit: not being mean or anything, I'm glad the playing field is more level for both maleshep and femshep, it's just kinda...abrupt and not related to anything being discussed atm)

I still have a glimmer of hope that the DLC will be free as was leaked. But it's very very slim.