My memory of this is all the shitty parts of 2 (most of it) without the good parts - which is to say, a fine game, just in comparison to first it sucks.
It's Mass Effect 3
I know the game is shit to alot of people, or at least the ending but I found myself really enjoying the story. If you play through all the games the ending is (mostly) rewarding and tear jerking. Yeah it's not the ideal ending (depending on what you picked) but I really don't think its as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
10/10 - bc garrus...
10/10 - bc garrus...
I honestly think this game is actually very fun, the gameplay mechanics are exceptional, the different types of ammunition and weapons make the gameplay feel fresh and rewarding, without ruining the pacing.
Story-wise it has some weak moments, but for most of the time it's pretty interesting, and it has some great moments.
Even though the game lacks some RPG elements, the characters are the highlight of the game.
The ending is definitely rushed, but it doesn't really ruin the story. I had a lot of fun playing this game and I totally recommend it.
Final Rating: "Very Good" ~ 7.5/10.
Story-wise it has some weak moments, but for most of the time it's pretty interesting, and it has some great moments.
Even though the game lacks some RPG elements, the characters are the highlight of the game.
The ending is definitely rushed, but it doesn't really ruin the story. I had a lot of fun playing this game and I totally recommend it.
Final Rating: "Very Good" ~ 7.5/10.
The only Mass Effect game I played. It was fun sci-fi adventure.
Mass Effect 3 is one of the best games I’ve ever played. Top 5. Top 3. Maybe the best.
There is a lot of discussion on what doesn’t work in ME3, and most of it is fair and true. The ending is bad. Miserable, really. But it has the skeleton of what could have been a great ending. Cut the game 5-10 minutes shorter, lose the tri-colored beams, and you have a dying Shepard sitting next to his mentor and father figure Anderson, taking that last, long break they have been needing. And right before, in the original ending, your two squad member choices burning into ash from the reaper’s blast. A tragic spin on the choice, for me at least, killing my two favorite characters who I took with me for one last fight. The one time I shouldn’t have.
Gameplay in ME3 has stepped up again. Visuals, animation and writing are at their peak in the third installment - reaching the top of an already tall mountain. The inclusion of multiplayer seemed tacked on when announced, but it was a great time. Shockingly, it still holds up.
But the writing is what rises above all else. A culmination of characters and choices over a 100+ hour trilogy, as a final installment is has the ability to write some final stories. And it does with precision.
Mass Effect is the gold standard for characters in games, and ME3 goes beyond. It is deep, harrowing, funny and ambitious, even if some choices were made with monetization in mind.
I’m wrapping up my final play through of the series right now. This game still rocks.
There is a lot of discussion on what doesn’t work in ME3, and most of it is fair and true. The ending is bad. Miserable, really. But it has the skeleton of what could have been a great ending. Cut the game 5-10 minutes shorter, lose the tri-colored beams, and you have a dying Shepard sitting next to his mentor and father figure Anderson, taking that last, long break they have been needing. And right before, in the original ending, your two squad member choices burning into ash from the reaper’s blast. A tragic spin on the choice, for me at least, killing my two favorite characters who I took with me for one last fight. The one time I shouldn’t have.
Gameplay in ME3 has stepped up again. Visuals, animation and writing are at their peak in the third installment - reaching the top of an already tall mountain. The inclusion of multiplayer seemed tacked on when announced, but it was a great time. Shockingly, it still holds up.
But the writing is what rises above all else. A culmination of characters and choices over a 100+ hour trilogy, as a final installment is has the ability to write some final stories. And it does with precision.
Mass Effect is the gold standard for characters in games, and ME3 goes beyond. It is deep, harrowing, funny and ambitious, even if some choices were made with monetization in mind.
I’m wrapping up my final play through of the series right now. This game still rocks.
This review contains spoilers
It took me like 3 years to actually finish this replay good god. Got a big essay about these coming... soon, so look forward to that!
I did play it on the highest difficulty, but this is a supremely cool action game. They finally figured it out. Big, expressive classes with bombastic powers that interact in simple but strategic ways. This is the least expressive ME as an RPG, which was already slim, but goddamn it feels so good! Shooting infantry with fiery ammo and then exploding with them a biotic attack... Truly never gets old.
Narratively this is. well. hmm. All of ME3's core conflicts boil down to "can't we just get along?!" Shepard as UN ambassador to the stars. Nice to have some moments where they get legitimately humbled that cannot be negotiated away, but this is as vapid a power fantasy as the series has ever been. The thing that ME1 has over all the others is tone; it's melancholy and spacious. Basically all that is evacuated here in favor of Naughty Dog blockbuster design. This is also maybe the weakest core cast of the series, which is admittedly helped a lot by the frequent cameos from previous party members.
Thane is still MVP. The only person in the franchise that really feels three-dimensional and it's nice that he just gets a lot to do. His deathbed scene is the single most moving part of the franchise to me and it's the only moment that questions Shepard in a resonant way.
The other thing that emotionally works here is despair. The flickering moments Shepard spends on the ground of massive scale conflicts underline that, no matter how "good" you are at the game or how many persuasion checks you pass, a lot of people are dying. This has some political... issues. The only thing that can defeat the reapers is throwing lives into the grinder, accelerating the war machine. There's a mission where you recruit child soldiers and then they turn into numbers in your spreadsheet! But if you can take it on its own terms (I can't personally lol) there's some legitimate melodrama!
The ending itself both tries to make you powerful and weak and therefore it doesn't really succeed at either. You HAVE to be the galaxy's most special boy or girl, but also you can't just win outright. Think the game does a fine job with that incredibly tough hand, but it would help a lot if the stakes weren't scaffolded by being the GREAT MAN who is willing to make the HARD CHOICES.
This is moment-to-moment the most successful Mass Effect I think, but it gets that through a slickness that lacks some of the last twos compelling edges. Despite it all, I thought a lot about ME1's empty spaces. Would make a big difference to have that kind of emotional room here.
I did play it on the highest difficulty, but this is a supremely cool action game. They finally figured it out. Big, expressive classes with bombastic powers that interact in simple but strategic ways. This is the least expressive ME as an RPG, which was already slim, but goddamn it feels so good! Shooting infantry with fiery ammo and then exploding with them a biotic attack... Truly never gets old.
Narratively this is. well. hmm. All of ME3's core conflicts boil down to "can't we just get along?!" Shepard as UN ambassador to the stars. Nice to have some moments where they get legitimately humbled that cannot be negotiated away, but this is as vapid a power fantasy as the series has ever been. The thing that ME1 has over all the others is tone; it's melancholy and spacious. Basically all that is evacuated here in favor of Naughty Dog blockbuster design. This is also maybe the weakest core cast of the series, which is admittedly helped a lot by the frequent cameos from previous party members.
Thane is still MVP. The only person in the franchise that really feels three-dimensional and it's nice that he just gets a lot to do. His deathbed scene is the single most moving part of the franchise to me and it's the only moment that questions Shepard in a resonant way.
The other thing that emotionally works here is despair. The flickering moments Shepard spends on the ground of massive scale conflicts underline that, no matter how "good" you are at the game or how many persuasion checks you pass, a lot of people are dying. This has some political... issues. The only thing that can defeat the reapers is throwing lives into the grinder, accelerating the war machine. There's a mission where you recruit child soldiers and then they turn into numbers in your spreadsheet! But if you can take it on its own terms (I can't personally lol) there's some legitimate melodrama!
The ending itself both tries to make you powerful and weak and therefore it doesn't really succeed at either. You HAVE to be the galaxy's most special boy or girl, but also you can't just win outright. Think the game does a fine job with that incredibly tough hand, but it would help a lot if the stakes weren't scaffolded by being the GREAT MAN who is willing to make the HARD CHOICES.
This is moment-to-moment the most successful Mass Effect I think, but it gets that through a slickness that lacks some of the last twos compelling edges. Despite it all, I thought a lot about ME1's empty spaces. Would make a big difference to have that kind of emotional room here.
Played on the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition on Xbox Series X
I don't care how much the multiple beams ending is a bit guff. This game made my cry multiple times. It's the opposite end of the spectrum from Mass Effect 2's B plot esque tightknit character piece instead presenting a bombastic 30 hour epic. But it's just fantastic. I look forward to replaying these three games every few years.
PS - How overpowered is that bloody M-11 Suppressor? Forget the Crucible Shepherd give everyone in the Alliance one of those bad boys and the Reapers would of been offed within a day.
I don't care how much the multiple beams ending is a bit guff. This game made my cry multiple times. It's the opposite end of the spectrum from Mass Effect 2's B plot esque tightknit character piece instead presenting a bombastic 30 hour epic. But it's just fantastic. I look forward to replaying these three games every few years.
PS - How overpowered is that bloody M-11 Suppressor? Forget the Crucible Shepherd give everyone in the Alliance one of those bad boys and the Reapers would of been offed within a day.
Oh, I got to tell you, it was perfect. Perfect! Everything, down to the last, minute details.
Asides the SHITTY ending regardless of what you choose, fantastic end to the trilogy as the choices made in the past games all lead up to an incredible and enthralling journey to save the galaxy from the Reapers, Game plays the best and the squad system's A.I finally feels competent acting independently outside of user commands. Tighter controls aiming and the improved melee rewards different styles of play heavily and make each battle unique. I truly abhor the ending but it shouldn't affect an overall review and ME3 is the best in the franchise barring it's ending.
This game plays the best out of the 3 real mass effect games, and I don't have much negative to say about the story other than that it's contrived in more than a few ways
My favorite moment was then Joker said "It's joking time!"
He really said that.
He really said that.
Yes the last 15 minutes of this game sucks ass but everything else is such a fucking banger. Also the multiplayer was so good let’s not forget about the multiplayer.
Amazing conclusion to a trilogy!
" THERE IS NO SHEPARD WITHOUT VAKARIAN" 😭😭😭
People give this game so much shit, but I have always defended it. Some of the criticism is definitely valid, the writing is not as strong as the first two games, it is clear there was meddling from above to get this game out quick. But I still think, especially with the Extended Cut, it is a solid end to the trilogy. People complain about the ending, which of the three colours to pick–the whole game is the ending. It's the culmination of the trilogy, and it fulfills those demands. Yeah, Kai Leng sucks or whatever. The crucible is a cop out, sure. But everything with the Genophage and solving the Geth/Quarian conflict and not to mention the DLCs are all great. Despite all the problems, I think the gameplay is the tightest and seeing the culmination of your friends throughout the series makes it easy to overlook all that.
This is my favourite of the series and I won't apologize for that. It's the most special of the trilogy to me. It's the first game to ever make me cry. The deaths of Mordin, Legion, and Thane are all so sad and I think really well-handled. Also Garrus is the canonical LI.
This is my favourite of the series and I won't apologize for that. It's the most special of the trilogy to me. It's the first game to ever make me cry. The deaths of Mordin, Legion, and Thane are all so sad and I think really well-handled. Also Garrus is the canonical LI.
didn’t mind the ending… playing these right after kh trilogy, there’s a lot of parallels with how i feel.. ultimately both are kinda mid with some good moments here and there
I can't remember why, but I didn't end up playing this game until after the initial furor around the ending had died down with Bioware's fix. And you know what, I liked it a great deal.
The continued refinement of the moment to moment gameplay worked really well for me. And while the later half of the story suffered a bit as they tried to bring every single thread to a conclusion, there were powerful moments to be had as we said goodbye to the crew.
The continued refinement of the moment to moment gameplay worked really well for me. And while the later half of the story suffered a bit as they tried to bring every single thread to a conclusion, there were powerful moments to be had as we said goodbye to the crew.
Not as good as ME2, but it still carries on quite competently, if you ignore the ending.
Hey, I didn't mind the ending the first time I played it - I was just retroactively disappointed when I found out that everyone's endings were the same.
Great beats on the way there - the Geth/Quarian and Genophage conclusions stood out as highlights
Great beats on the way there - the Geth/Quarian and Genophage conclusions stood out as highlights
Great ending!
Unfortunately the weakest part of the series but better than its reputation. Yes, the ending is rubbish but I thought it was great how they integrated the stories and decisions from the first two games. Gameplay was also fun, but the fact that you had to play online to unlock offline points for the better ending is a crap idea^^ The story with the kid was also unnecessary and seemed to have been added to add some emotional weight to the story which felt super artificial. Still, I liked the game, some of the best quests in the series are here and the dialog is still very well written. All in all a worthy conclusion.
Mass Effect 3 is a game of highs and lows. The highs of this game are the highest points of the entire franchise, while the lows are its lowest before Andromeda. However even with all of these highs and lows, it manages to successfully wrap up many story threads built up over the course of two previous games based on your choices in those previous games. That, I believe, is a triumph we will never see again. The main campaign is also much more interesting than Mass Effect 2's, and so is its combat. However there are so many flaws with this game that opinions can wildly swing from glowingly positive (like mine) to highly negative. Ultimately for me, this game concludes my favorite trilogy in video games. I have replayed this ten times. I love this game, even with all of its flaws.
El gameplay mas pulido de la trilogía
Les perdonó todo
Tal vez no es el final que la gente quería, pero es el que la galaxia necesitaba
Les perdonó todo
Tal vez no es el final que la gente quería, pero es el que la galaxia necesitaba
Played the Wii U version.
i see myself a lot in javik as in i also have sensory issue and need to wash my hands like a lot
uj/ for a more serious review:
It took me three games and hundreds of hours to finally tap into the magic of Mass Effect, and I'm so happy that I'm finally here.
The third installment stands as a triumph in the trilogy, merging the best elements of its predecessors while surpassing the second game in many areas. It boasts better gunplay, more mature writing, featuring characters who interact with each other in meaningful ways, all presented in a prettier package. I love the funny but sometimes creepy quips from crewmates, and most welcomingly, homosexuality is finally legal in the Citadel. The base game is action-packed and had me hooked from the start, while the DLCs expanded on various gameplay styles and added so much breadth to the galactic lore.
The game is a masterclass of character building, I found myself growing to love every crew member, even those I previously hadn't cared for. The offshore activities provided some of the most memorable moments throughout the trilogy. Massive kudos to all the voice actors for delivering stellar performances and bringing these characters to life (with the exception of male Shepard, although his portrayal remains inoffensive).
However, my critique lies in the narrative direction and thematic coherence. It feels as though the game imposes a different meaning onto the story, failing to recognize the thematic groundwork laid out in the previous two games. The resolution of the storyline, centered around the incompatibility of organics and synthetics, feels disconnected from the established themes and was massively anticlimactic.
This is coming from someone who thought that The Last of Us 2 had a perfect story and never liked a happy ending in media because it discounts the emotional labor imposed onto the audience. This departure from established narrative threads creates a sense of dissonance and detracts from the impact the previous games had.
The potential of AI as a classic sci-fi trope within an RPG format is immense; it's a question that has been thoroughly explored by the previous two games. However, Mass Effect 3's ending dismissed this well-established narrative foundation, negating the possibility that creators and their creations could coexist under a mural agreement. In doing so, it undermined the significance of EDI’s character arc and the sacrifices made by beloved crew members in the Geth and Quarians plotline. Consequently, it falls short on a rhetorical level and fails to provide a logical resolution to Mass Effect's established central conflict.
The resolution also feels disappointingly cheap; it’s completely disconnected from the personal choices you have made throughout the trilogy and the collective efforts of the squad. Despite the multitude of choices presented across the trilogy, the conclusion narrows down to three essentially identical endings, trivializing the significance of the hundreds of carefully considered decisions into an unnecessarily lengthy epilogue followed by "Pick a color." It lacks the depth to provoke thought or evoke emotional catharsis; instead, I found myself dumbfounded by the absence of any meaningful attempt to elevate the message at the end.
At the risk of being yelled at by half of the community here, I think Starfield achieved a more satisfying conclusion and served some higher meaning with its ending. Surprisingly, both games share similar story arcs, featuring the introduction of the Starchild and Starborn characters tasked with safeguarding galactic evolution. Themes of the pursuit of truth and power, symbolized by artifacts and the Catalyst, echo the story of Icarus, presenting protagonists with moral dilemmas and the ultimate choice of their fate.
The contrast lies in the distinct themes and the emotional resonance they evoke. Starfield delves into the story of humanity, emphasizing the fundamental need for purpose in our existence. On the other hand, Mass Effect tackles the existential peril posed by the creation of artificial life forms. However, its conclusion feels flawed, lacking substance beyond the rushed decisions made in the final hours of gameplay. This isn't a direct comparison between the two games, as both excel in exploring the breadth and depth of their universes. But I can't help but hope that BioWare dedicated more time to crafting an ending that acknowledges alternative solutions to the narrative conundrum already established within the series.
Nevertheless, I love the trilogy to pieces, and I can’t believe it took me so long to finally get into it. Playing all three games back to back immediately after Starfield only made me realize how ambitious this franchise was set out to be. The depth of the world-building, the intricacies of the characters, the diverse colonies portrayed, and the romantic interest (singular as I had my eyes on Kaidan from ME1) my Shepard had along the way all contributed to an unforgettable journey.
uj/ for a more serious review:
It took me three games and hundreds of hours to finally tap into the magic of Mass Effect, and I'm so happy that I'm finally here.
The third installment stands as a triumph in the trilogy, merging the best elements of its predecessors while surpassing the second game in many areas. It boasts better gunplay, more mature writing, featuring characters who interact with each other in meaningful ways, all presented in a prettier package. I love the funny but sometimes creepy quips from crewmates, and most welcomingly, homosexuality is finally legal in the Citadel. The base game is action-packed and had me hooked from the start, while the DLCs expanded on various gameplay styles and added so much breadth to the galactic lore.
The game is a masterclass of character building, I found myself growing to love every crew member, even those I previously hadn't cared for. The offshore activities provided some of the most memorable moments throughout the trilogy. Massive kudos to all the voice actors for delivering stellar performances and bringing these characters to life (with the exception of male Shepard, although his portrayal remains inoffensive).
However, my critique lies in the narrative direction and thematic coherence. It feels as though the game imposes a different meaning onto the story, failing to recognize the thematic groundwork laid out in the previous two games. The resolution of the storyline, centered around the incompatibility of organics and synthetics, feels disconnected from the established themes and was massively anticlimactic.
This is coming from someone who thought that The Last of Us 2 had a perfect story and never liked a happy ending in media because it discounts the emotional labor imposed onto the audience. This departure from established narrative threads creates a sense of dissonance and detracts from the impact the previous games had.
The potential of AI as a classic sci-fi trope within an RPG format is immense; it's a question that has been thoroughly explored by the previous two games. However, Mass Effect 3's ending dismissed this well-established narrative foundation, negating the possibility that creators and their creations could coexist under a mural agreement. In doing so, it undermined the significance of EDI’s character arc and the sacrifices made by beloved crew members in the Geth and Quarians plotline. Consequently, it falls short on a rhetorical level and fails to provide a logical resolution to Mass Effect's established central conflict.
The resolution also feels disappointingly cheap; it’s completely disconnected from the personal choices you have made throughout the trilogy and the collective efforts of the squad. Despite the multitude of choices presented across the trilogy, the conclusion narrows down to three essentially identical endings, trivializing the significance of the hundreds of carefully considered decisions into an unnecessarily lengthy epilogue followed by "Pick a color." It lacks the depth to provoke thought or evoke emotional catharsis; instead, I found myself dumbfounded by the absence of any meaningful attempt to elevate the message at the end.
At the risk of being yelled at by half of the community here, I think Starfield achieved a more satisfying conclusion and served some higher meaning with its ending. Surprisingly, both games share similar story arcs, featuring the introduction of the Starchild and Starborn characters tasked with safeguarding galactic evolution. Themes of the pursuit of truth and power, symbolized by artifacts and the Catalyst, echo the story of Icarus, presenting protagonists with moral dilemmas and the ultimate choice of their fate.
The contrast lies in the distinct themes and the emotional resonance they evoke. Starfield delves into the story of humanity, emphasizing the fundamental need for purpose in our existence. On the other hand, Mass Effect tackles the existential peril posed by the creation of artificial life forms. However, its conclusion feels flawed, lacking substance beyond the rushed decisions made in the final hours of gameplay. This isn't a direct comparison between the two games, as both excel in exploring the breadth and depth of their universes. But I can't help but hope that BioWare dedicated more time to crafting an ending that acknowledges alternative solutions to the narrative conundrum already established within the series.
Nevertheless, I love the trilogy to pieces, and I can’t believe it took me so long to finally get into it. Playing all three games back to back immediately after Starfield only made me realize how ambitious this franchise was set out to be. The depth of the world-building, the intricacies of the characters, the diverse colonies portrayed, and the romantic interest (singular as I had my eyes on Kaidan from ME1) my Shepard had along the way all contributed to an unforgettable journey.
Good up until they fucked it.
You can literally feel the upper management EA brain-leak in every facet of this game, but it still manages to be so good. Writing, while contrived at times, still shines best with it's characters and worldbuilding. Gameplay is now on-par with other dedicated 3rd person shooters, and the multiplayer for this game is (surprisingly) fantastic. Make sure to download the "actual ending" patch before you play.
If this game only had multiplayer I would rate it 4 at least. One of the best multiplayers I had a chance to play. The depth of character's powers and weapons is incredible, really. Single player suffered, ending is horrible and also the story sometimes falls into generic B TV quality.
It's not your fault Mass Effect 3 my dog died and I can't get back into it