Mass Effect 3

[mrgstiffler]

So... I took a step into the ME3 discussion thread in the PC section and immediately retreated. No thanks...

I'm playing on the 360, so the graphics are what they are. Definitely looks dated but not bad. I like the story quite a bit and some of the larger events (I'm ~ 17 hours in) are damn cool. My biggest disappointed is related to squad members. They gave me all the people I didn't care about along with new people. Kind of disappointing, but they do all fit together because of the main storyline. I think the quest/mission management is pretty bad compared to ME2. Kind of feels like they didn't have enough time to do it right. I think that's basically the biggest "issue" with this game. They had so many ideas and things they wanted to do that they just didn't have enough time to do all of it the way they intended.

All that said... I'm LOVING the game. I can't wait to see what happens. Time to get back to it.

 

[ElGuapo242]

I am only a few hours in, but I am enjoying it immensely. One thing I am doing different than I did in ME1 and ME2 is completing the side missions immediately upon receiving them. Apparently some side missions have hidden timers and you can fail them if you wait too long.

 

[bpizzle1]

Im playing on 360 too since I played ME1 on it, and I wanted to carry my Shep over w/o replaying the game on PC. My favorite part of ME3 so far has been the Kinect controls. It's so nice not having to constantly pull up radial menus. It makes the combat feel more intense when the game isnt paused half of the time while you use abilities or switch weapons. You can speak your dialogue choice too, but I still just use the controller for that. You can also interact with objects via voice, like saying "open" when you have a door selected, but again I still just press A. Still, I have been impressed with the Kinect implementation so far.

 

[Wheresatom]

I am looking forward to getting this game soon. I played ME2 on PS3 and will be getting 3 for the PS3. I am a little worried about being able to import my save from ME2 though. I have heard there have been some problems. My PS3 gave up the ghost in July but I had my save from ME2 backed up to the cloud so hopefully I will be able to bring that in.

I'm also wondering about download vs disc for the PS3. Has anyone heard one way or the other about advantages of the two? Id really prefer to have it downloaded onto my hard drive, but if the disc version works better I'd be willing to go that route.

BTW, thanks for no spoilers in your posts. I'm really looking forward to playing but have been afraid to read many things about the game for that fear.

 

[CreganTur]

Loving this game but the problem with importing custom faces from ME1 is unforgivable.

I do hate some of the squad choices- there are people I really want on my squad- I'm looking at you, Miranda.

 

[ElGuapo242]

Loving this game but the problem with importing custom faces from ME1 is unforgivable.

I do hate some of the squad choices- there are people I really want on my squad- I'm looking at your ass, Miranda.

Fixed! You video game perv!

 

[CryingGod]

The game would be a lot better if it didn't freeze my playstation 3 2-5 times a day. Funny, I never experienced any bugs in New Vegas(which was apparently bug ridden).

 

[Wheresatom]

The game would be a lot better if it didn't freeze my playstation 3 2-5 times a day. Funny, I never experienced any bugs in New Vegas(which was apparently bug ridden).

Did you download or are you playing off a disc?

 

[RagingSamster]

So the game indicates it is can be used with the Kinect sensor... anyone tried this?

 

[independantvariable]

I both love, and hate, this game.

I encountered my first game breaking bug last night on a mission enemies were suppose to spawn and didn't. I had to replay the mission twice in order to get it to work. There are also other missions that feel broken, insofar as enemies spawn again if you move backwards and not forwards. I've also had other weird clipping issues.

I also am disgusted with the 'fan-service'. It feels like certain elements were added in order to appease every single demographic.

 

[NathanP2007]

Just beat the game, 30 hrs, only one bug, but it was just me walking somewhere on the Normandy on the bridge and getting stuck, just saved and loaded the save and i could move just fine. I had a ME1-ME2 save upload and my custom face showed up perfectly, though i decided to go with the stock Shepard male face.

(No spoilers)
I will say i am still in shock with the ending. I think partly because of the story line, but also coming to terms with the fact that my favorite Sci-Fi universe of all time (Beating BSG, Trek, S-Wars, Stargate, etc) has ended. Yes im sure there will be more Mass Effect games, but for some reason im not sure if they will do them like Mass Effect 1-3, a RPG Shooter, im inclined to think they will switch it up and do something else, which might be awesome but wont tell as much story as ME 1-3 did which in the end, what i love is the story/races/history of the ME universe.

They (EA/Bioware) would get eaten alive if they did another trilogy with just different characters, but not from me, i love the ME universe so much i could buy a ME game every other year, preorder for the rest of my life.

(Tiny hint of spoilers): I hope the DLC will be amazing and really wrap up the story of Shepard and his/her crew. The ending is pretty final for Shepard but what happens to his/her crew is kinda up in the air. Obviously the last 2 scenes show what happens with a few crew mates, but what about the rest?

If i had something to pick out that i was disappointed story wise with, it would be that i wish there was more character interaction/development. I get that this was the end, the final war, that ME2 was the "meat" of the RPG story (did the most in depth talking/building relationships) but i wish they would have understood that almost everyone that plays ME1-3 play it for the in-depth character story building. I wanted multiple full on real deep conversations, not like 1-3 in the whole game with only like 3 characters. Let alone my relationship was with Miranda and there was no progression there. I bought the DLC (Ashes) and loved it, loved what it revealed about the Protheans, however IMHO it shouldnt have been DLC, it can be said its not integral to the game but i disagree, besides the last 5 minutes of the whole game, it reveals the most about the ME universe.

(Spoilers on Tali/Geth mission): Only story thing that happened to me that i was like WTF, let me go back! Was when doing the Tali /homeplanet mission(s), they didnt show you a order in to do them, so i did the last mission before the "servers" mission, and because of that (and the game having some weird point system of things you had to had done to add up to getting a decision) i couldnt choose to save the Quarians+the Geth, so i chose to help Legion cause how it was worded sounded like i was freeing his people, but then Tali goes and kills herself, the Geth wipe out the Quarians and Legion dies to advance his people...so WTF. Build into the game a way to warn me (the player) that a big decision is coming up and i do need to do ____ and ____ to get result ____. Granted i didnt mind wiping out the Quarians cause of that one damn Admiral who was a giant asshole, but i was playing this time as a good guy/complesionist, so i was pissed cause the only thing story/war asset wise i didnt get was both the quarians and geth together alive supporting me.

If they do make another trilogy or something, i really hope they nut up and use a brand new engine, i agree its looking OLD. I kinda wished they would have pulled a Assassins Creed 3 and had been working on this game while working on ME2 but using a new engine. (Granted im playing on 360 so that limits things, but i played ME2 on PC so i know what the difference is).

 

[Ragenrok]

So the game indicates it is can be used with the Kinect sensor... anyone tried this?

very slightly, ive only played for 5 minuites so far (waiting for the next 3 days as I prepare for night shift, three days of all ngiht gaming lol) but the saying out the dialoge features works very well lol.

Just got my first surround set-up (onkyo ht-s5400) and im enjoying it very much. First xbox 360 game I've boughten since halo reach came out and I think I will enjoy it.

 

[mrgstiffler]

I finished the game last night. In-game timer said around 45 hours. Actual time is prolly closer to 38. I had about 6500 military strength and 100% readiness. Now I just need to finish the last book. But then I'll be craving more Mass Effect

 

[NathanP2007]

I had no clue the 50% readiness thing was multiplayer required, so i just found out i went to the final battle with like 3200 points (100% readiness though), SPOILER: i could choose any of the three options in the end, but didnt get that last shot showing Shepard still alive
And apparently there is a secret ending when you do a new game + (import ME3 finished game, start it over), so im doing that now.

I got the new book (third) but wont read it cause i heard its horrible and full of mistakes and errors cause it was written by a crap guy. All iv got is the secret ending to look forward too, DLC (which i pray they dont do "Before the final battle DLC" only, but some after the battle, seeing how your teams lives turned out and shepard being revived again or something). And the final ME comic, i wait till they are trade paper backs , i dont buy the individuals so once thats out il get it.

 

[mrgstiffler]

I got the new book (third) but wont read it cause i heard its horrible and full of mistakes and errors cause it was written by a crap guy.

The new book is the fourth book. It's not bad, but there are some discrepancies.

 

[NKDietrich]

Beat the game a couple days ago. Probably the most fun gameplay of the three games. I felt like I had a lot more choice about how I loaded out my character with the extra power evolutions and weapon mods.

Other than that, it's basically Mass Effect, just more.

Story-wise, it really did feel like a war story complete with politicians with heads so far up their cloaca they'd dare to try and play games with the galaxy crumbling around them. I often found myself thinking "They really nailed the disconnected and absurd nature of politics."

I think they did a fairly respectable job of paying off the decisions I made in the previous two games, given the obvious practical limitations of accounting for so many variables, and the fact that the game has to be more than just a payoff to decisions made in the previous games. It has to be able to stand on its own as well.

Without posting any spoilers, the endings weren't up everyone's alley, but there's a reason endings are the most controversial and polarizing part of any story. Especially in games where people are acclimated to having endings that giftwrap everything with a neat little bow for them, leaving no questions unanswered and making sure everyone lives happily ever after.

Personally I didn't really feel the endings were that bad, or that great.

To close, I don't buy a lot of games at full price in a given year, but this is one purchase I don't regret. Going to wait for a patch or two and maybe some DLC and then go through it again with my other character.

 

[CryingGod]

Did you download or are you playing off a disc?

Off a disc.

 

[Wheresatom]

I went ahead and downloaded this game this past weekend. Fun so far but I have noticed a few bugs. One of the members of my party got stuck at a railing they were supposed to vault and follow me. She caught up at the next cut scene. Also, once I saw an NPC "walking" but he was just gliding, his legs were not animating.

I haven't really played enough to make much judgement though. Only about an hour and a half so far. I'm looking forward to getting into it.

 

[Dan_D]

Beat the game a couple days ago. Probably the most fun gameplay of the three games. I felt like I had a lot more choice about how I loaded out my character with the extra power evolutions and weapon mods.

Other than that, it's basically Mass Effect, just more.

Story-wise, it really did feel like a war story complete with politicians with heads so far up their cloaca they'd dare to try and play games with the galaxy crumbling around them. I often found myself thinking "They really nailed the disconnected and absurd nature of politics."

I think they did a fairly respectable job of paying off the decisions I made in the previous two games, given the obvious practical limitations of accounting for so many variables, and the fact that the game has to be more than just a payoff to decisions made in the previous games. It has to be able to stand on its own as well.

Without posting any spoilers, the endings weren't up everyone's alley, but there's a reason endings are the most controversial and polarizing part of any story. Especially in games where people are acclimated to having endings that giftwrap everything with a neat little bow for them, leaving no questions unanswered and making sure everyone lives happily ever after.

Personally I didn't really feel the endings were that bad, or that great.

To close, I don't buy a lot of games at full price in a given year, but this is one purchase I don't regret. Going to wait for a patch or two and maybe some DLC and then go through it again with my other character.

Gameplay is definitely better than it was in the previous two games. However I do miss my heavy weapons as I don't really like grenades. I never have. But the heavy weapons can take a lot of the challenge out of the game so I understand their reasoning behind this. They are still there, but not the ones you want necessarily and you only really get to use them once and then toss them aside.

The reason the endings blow is that it takes choice completely out of the equation with all the endings being virtually identical. They don't really factor in your choices from any of the earlier games. Now the flow of the actual game itself does for the most part, reflect your choices well. There are far worse issues with the endings than that which are far reaching in multiple ways and none of it good. But you can visit the Mass Effect Spoilers thread if you want to hear more. Frankly it's almost worth spoiling the ending so that you don't get blind sided by just how bad the endings are. Then again you may not finish or continue to play what is otherwise a 10/10 game.

On the squad mates, many people wanted more time with the ME1 squad members who were all pretty much absent from the second game save for Garrus and Tali. The problem is that with so many great characters from both games, someone was going to see some of their favorite squad members sidelined. There was no getting around it. Otherwise you'd have 17 squad members and two alternates. And of course not all of them necesarily survived the events of ME1 and ME3. In ME1 you could have lost Wrex and either Kaiden or Ashley. In ME2 it was possible to lose virtually everyone. If more squad members were left integral, then they'd not only have to include stories for them and dialog, but for alternates to those characters to replace them much as Wreav / Wrex and Kaiden / Ashley are interchangeable now. As it is this had to be done in certain instances anyway depending on your earlier choices. One thing to do it for small part type characters and former squad mates with a short cameo than basing entire engaging squad mate plot lines around two different people.

In contrast, the way they've done it makes a lot of sense. Liara couldn't have died in the previous two games. There was absolutely zero chance she could have been killed earlier. As a result she takes over as Shepard's right hand replacing Miranda and of course, there is a lot of history with Liara going back to ME1. From a story perspective, she pretty much had to be there. Garrus and Tali are super popular, and are the most popular squad mates in general, so they had to be there. Ashley / Kaiden seem to be there more because you had to have one or the other still alive and they were there for people who wanted to continue their ME1 romance. What I do like is that Kaiden and Ashley aren't meerly stand ins for one another. Though they are in an identical situation, their dialog seems more varied than it was in ME2. In ME2 they said virtually the same things and took the same actions. It was almost as if they were the same person, but your romantic status and their gender switched depending on how you set things up. Here it's more like you've got two totally different people in the same situation.

And again I think that due to the huge amount of varied possibilities for the rest of the team, it made sense for them to introduce Vega. There is no history with him and you can do whatever you want with the character from a development standpoint. Plus it would be the same fixture for all variants of Shepard. Thus easy to write for and easy to script. Javik functions in much the same way. Easy to integrate and easy to write for since there isn't any history to work with. From a story perspective I think he's a great addition.

EDI was an addition that was similar to Liara in that you knew her, but she couldn't have been killed in ME2. In fact she and Joker are the only two guaranteed to survive the events of Mass Effect 2. Even Shepard can die and you can still technically beat the game. As a squad mate, EDI is terrible. She drops too easily and her abilities just aren't all that great. I find her to be next to useless in combat. Taking her with you jumps the difficulty of the mission up about two levels. What a pain in the ass. Fortunately in the one mission you are required to take her, you should have so many upgrades by then that you can handle the enemy, but be warned. You will have to compensate for her being terrible. So choose your other squad mate carefully. Garrus or Ashley work well here, especially if your Shepard is a biotic.

They also made a choice from a development standpoint to reduce the overall number of squad members for richer interactions with them. They succeeded brilliantly on that count as you have far more blocks of conversation with each squad member and far more random dialog than you did in the previous games. The relationships have always for the most part been good, but they are nothing short of excellent in this game. ME3 definitely raises the bar on that.

With all of that said, I didn't necessarily get the squad mates I wanted either. For the most part I did, but I missed a lot of the team from Mass Effect 2 and wish we at least had some of them as temporary squad mates even if only for one mission.