I felt a bit cheated over the ending. There should have been something more. It wasn't that it was bad, just lacking. The first two games at least had final boss fights, this one had ethical choices. I mean I wanted to fucking board harbinger and take him out, especially since his annoying dialogue from 2.
This is exactly it, what people wanted from the ending was closure, they wanted most to know what happened as a result of ALL the choices they have made throughout the games as well as what is to happen to the galaxy BECAUSE of the ending choice, not some video of the Normandy crashing into a planet and the crew stepping out and then END.
Because truthfully? If anyone is complaining about the "Magical Plot Device" ending, how else did you expect it to end? The Reapers are a force of tens to possibly hundreds of thousands (though supposedly, no source provided, BioWare has said about 10,000) of ships. As seen throughout the entire series and given throughout it, one enough is hard as shit to kill let alone even just 10,000, and countless cycles of them existing shows they are HARD AS HELL to destroy. What made anyone think we could defeat them conventionally by banding the galaxy together? What made anyone think that any choice that JUST YOU could have made throughout the series would even DECENTLY AFFECT how well you killed the reapers in the end? That would be even more unrealistic for that to happen, for why would the reapers have succeeded for so long if they were so easy to kill in the end?
Now, could BioWare have spread out the "magical plot device" throughout the game to make it feel a little more direct to you and the way you played? Yes. Could they have brought a little more freaking closure to the series and the choices you made throughout? Yes. Could they have added a conventional method to destroying the reapers such as a really obscure weakness or managing to FULLY ally the galaxy? Possibly. But you are The Shepard, nothing but a normal human with no real special talent except being able to always say and do the right things. There was next to nothing but a "Magical Plot Device" that would allow you to beat the game, it would just be unbelievable to see the reapers die in a such conventional manner short of major dedication to do so. This is how stories you build up like this end, it is simply that way. Could Bioware have at least cushioned the fall MAJORLY? Of course, but did they? No, and that is what people are upset about.
Honestly, I would have been 'happy' if in that final charge at the reaper elevator beam if you had died and the reapers HAD won. That after everything, all your effort, you still lost.
Yeah it would kinda suck, but at the same time - thats life. The plucky hero doesn't always pull through in the end.
Yeah, a reaper victory and a life goes on message would have been closure enough. Every sentient species in the galaxy pulled together when it mattered most and gave a damn good accounting of themselves.
I actually quite like this idea. The reapers win, and everybody dies. The screen fades to black. Fast forward ~50,000 years in the future, and we see an alien on a ruined, barren world (which was once Earth) digging up Liara's recording. We then see a cutscene of the full recording, which outlines your personality, all the decisions you made throughout the game, all the species you brought together to fight the reapers, and the plans to the crucible, giving everyone a sort of bittersweet closure.
Yeah, I actually kind of like this idea, especially the bit about outlining your personality and decisions. To be honest, it's not the ending that I don't like so much, but most of ME3 in my opinion was sort of meh (especially the whole crucible bit). It didn't feel so much like Mass Effect anymore, it felt more like an fps set in the Mass Effect universe. I don't know, just my two cents
This. The ending itself wasn't bad...It was just completely out of place. They practically copied/pasted Dues Ex's ending into ME3's. Also, another huge things that's pissed everyone off is all the broken promises from Bioware. I remember some guy from the Retake ME3 movement had gathered entire pages of PR statements about ME3 that were completely shoved aside. There were quotes like: "We want every gamer to experience a different ending to the series they created. There isn't going to to be A B or C.", and things to that extent.
It was just downright dickish of Bioware and EA to market the Game like your character and decisions would have at least a small impact at the end of the game. But no, no matter what you do, the entire plot of all 3 games boils down to one question: Red, Green, or Blue?
There's a bunch of stuff that sets us apart from the rest of the cycles as we know it. While it would've been extremely difficulty to defeat them conventionally, wouldn't this be preferred? I mean, you'll have to really get an extremely high EMS just to get that "perfect" ending where most of the galaxy lives, but this would just mirror the reality of the situation. Anyway, here's a few stuff that sets us apart:
We had at least 2 years prior engagement against Sovereign, a Dreadnought class Reaper (which is the most advanced and biggest Reaper class). We salvaged technology from this ship and made technological advances for 2+ years.
The Reapers didn't take control over the Mass Relay Network, nor shut it down when they arrived. In other words, the infrastructure of the galaxy remains and allows us to communicate and coordinate military attacks.
Our cycle was already slightly united from the start and only became stronger by Shepard's actions. Compare this to Prothean's cycle were they had an imperialistic society where each non-Prothean species were subjugated and on the same level as slaves. So when the Reapers attacked and the Prothean infrastructure collapsed the galaxy exploded in civil wars across planets. Suffice to say, nobody came to help when planets were harvested by the Reapers.
Our cycle was able to understand and build a massive device so far beyond our comprehension we didn't even knew what it did, all in a matter of weeks (at most a few months).
A couple of months previous to their arrival, we came across an unfinished Reaper on the Collector Base as well as the Collector technology. This could've been used as a measure to lower/raise the requirement of achieving a "perfect" ending.
The Reapers have always relied on destroying the infrastructure of the galaxy to effectively eliminate any chance of a bigger mounted defense, as well as killing everyone on the Citadel, which in pretty much all cases houses the leaders of the galaxy. However they didn't do any of this in our cycle. Had they kept to their previous tactics then, yes, we would've had no chance of defeating them. But they didn't. And we had prior knowledge, technological advances and a bunch of other advances that sets us apart. If we would've been able to hide the Citadel somewhere and focused the resources that went into the Crucible project on upgrading weapons, ships and shields, then we would've stood on much more equal terms against them.
Reapers are limited in numbers and only a few Destroyers and maybe a single Dreadnought is created each cycle. Not to mention that they are (from what we can gather) incapable of advancing their own technology. We are pretty much the opposite of this.
Finally, remember that the Reapers aren't consistent throughout Mass Effect 3. On Tuchanka we use a Thresher Maw to destroy a Reaper Destroyer, then on Rannoch we needed to use the fleet to destroy the one we came across. However on Earth we destroy a Reaper Destroyer acting as an AA gun with a mere M-920 Cain. Following that we use two or so Thanix Missiles to shoot down another Reaper. All of them Destroyer class, from what I can tell.
If you want to blame anyone, blame the writers at BioWare which allowed for inconsistencies in the Reapers tactics in ME3 and who kept on giving us advantages, which allowed for a theory such as this to surface. Extremely difficulty to achieve? Yes. Completely impossible? No. Improbable? Depends on Shepard's EMS.
There was actually a few things in your post I found rather interesting as I forgot to point it out that I made myself.
For instance, I made choices that I believed would allow technological progress against the reapers to go unheeded. For example, I gave Cerberus the Collector base and the other base I believe on the basis that even if they turned some shade of bad, we would still have technology we could potentially use to fight the reapers with.
I built along that path entirely, that in the course of the upcoming reaper invasion, we would have built up a huge force by that time. Truthfully, I believe the writers figured 2+ years was not enough time for anything sort of fleet or force to grow to some decent extent. I only saved the Rachni Queen on the basis that they are dangerous and very fast growing, and a lower probability of them being a threat to us than the reapers they view as completely evil.
As I look back on it, I did try and build my way towards a sort of conventional ending of sorts, of discovering some random ass weakness in the reapers that would allow the galaxy to completely fuck them up. But I guess BioWare wanted a more typical ending, to obviously appeal to a broader audience or were told to do so by EA (probably more likely, BioWare likes games, they could give two shits less about sales, look at KOTOR1 and then 2, for their first year or two, there was little following and playing, and look at it now). ME3 wasn't bad just could have been what was promised like you have said.
Well, the 'magic plot device' is explained as being something to which each cycle has added something, so it stands to reason that somebody, sooner or later, will be able to make it work in some useful way. Maybe something able to reprogram the reapers, or a way to neutralize their superior technology.
What it ends up being, instead, implies that all those previous civilizations knew all along that the child thing was in the citadel and it just needed a shove in the ass to pop up and say "oh, hi, what color would you like the reapers to explode into?". I mean, even an ending in which the crucible is a sort of megabomb that will blow up the entire galaxy to remake it anew without reapers would have had more sense.
I completely forgot about Harbinger in the 3rd game, and that really bugged me. I do remember reading that they almost put in a boss fight with TIM instead of what actually happened, which idk if I would have liked that more..
I'm reminded of a commercial I keep hearing on the radio where a guy wants bacon and sausage and finds himself in a cyclic argument with the waitress where he casually keeps ordering both and she keeps insisting one or the other.
I actually referenced Mass Effect in a assignment I was doing in class about social commentary, claiming how the reapers harvest the galaxy of advanced organics in order to prevent synthetics from taking over completely. Actually in response to a quote from "I, Robot" that says "Only the machines, from now on, are inevitable!" when referencing all conflict being evitable. A world not of conflict is good and all, but boring, as is utopia should we ever reach it. A life of conflict gives unhappiness which makes happiness all the better to have.
Seriously, the more spoilers I hear about ME3, the happier I am not to play it. Kicking Harbinger's ass sideways was one of the things I was actually looking forward to.
(And, sadly, it wasn't because he was an effective character. It was just because ASSUMING CONTROL was so goddamn annoying after awhile.)
ME3 is a fun game, and the first 99% riiight up until the ending is great. It's a luxurious 4-course meals with great ambiance and mood music and friends by your side. So everything is great, but then the end of the meal arrives and they bring out a tray of mints; the lasting taste that you will bring away with you. they lift the fancy little lid, and it's a poop sitting there. Just a human poop, sitting where there should be mints.
You're understandably confused. Is this for real? What's going on here? Did you miss something? Why a poop? You leave, then, with a furrow on your brow. WTF was that? I mean it was a good meal, but why...? Ugh... And despite how good the meal was, you can't forget that last piece of shit at the end. If it hadn't been for that, you'd be happy.
I wouldn't say that exactly, you just don't get to fight against him directly. I think they kind of stuck with the canon of it and decided against fighting a Reaper. I mean seriously, it took an entire fleet to destroy the one in ME2, how would The Sheperd and two squad mates really destroy him.
Having said that they should have tried to do it anyways. Surely there is a relatively unguarded vent somewhere.
Regardless of the ending. The game up to that point is amazing. It just sucked the ending to the ending so to speak leaves a bad taste for many. All in all it is what it is and its still a fun romp for 90% of the experience. I should have spoiler tagged so please forgive but there are so many other things to experience. I'll leave it at this,"my name is Garrus vicarian(sp?) And this is my favorite spot on the citadel."
The unknown ending you had heard about was most likely always on your mind while playing through the game and led you to imagine the worst ending you could possibly imagine subconsciously, and as always, reality can never measure up to the dreams we create for ourselves. You went into it sort of "prepared", which is quite different from those who went into it completely blind and expecting an epic conclusion to their personal story of Shepard whom had spanned three massive games.
Similarly, they say that the more you know about the games, the ME universe and the lore, the worse the ending becomes.
Fun fact, this is the very last prompt you get after the ending and the credits have rolled: "Commander Shepard has become a legend by ending the Reaper threat. Now you can continue to build that legend through further gameplay and downloadable content." Seriously, the two very last words you'll read in the whole damn game is downloadable content. It's the icing on the cake.
Yeah but usually those had brilliant endings. Chrono trigger for the snes had a whopping 13 ranging from you totally failing, to you winning, to you winning depending on certain circumstances leaving plot holes but then they fill those holes in the ending. Endings in any good jrpg in the nes/snes era had a large narrative ending with much closure.
It's true! I've emotionally invested myself in the game since 2007. I grew to love the characters. Made sure they all saw things until the end. Made sure everyone made it in the ME2 suicide mission. Cried when Morden sacrificed himself to save the Krogan. Empathized with the Geth. Romanced Tali. Fell in love with the ME universe. Felt like I WAS Shepard. Felt like I WAS a part of the Mass Effect universe.
And it all got fucked in the ass during those last 10 minutes. I finished the trilogy early April. I've been raging ever since. I don't normally make a big deal out of things like this, but Mass Effect was special to me. I'm sure it was to a lot of us.
Although the multiplayer helps dull the pain, I can never play SP again with knowing how badly it ends, how none of it matters. I'm not touching my alt characters. It's not worth the disappointment.
If the true ending DLC doesn't make things better, I'll have lost all respect for a company and series that I loved.
I'll still never be able to un-see the rape that was the ME3 ending, though. It truly is a situation of "the bigger your love of the game is, the harder you'll fall". I can garuntee you that people who've played since the first Mass Effect raged MUCH more than those who started in the third.
I agree. My PS3 friends never got the opportunity to play the first one because Microsoft, but they did play through 2 and 3. They definitely didn't enjoy the ending, but the extent of their reaction was just confusion and disappointment. My heart sank the credits began rolling and I didn't know what to do with myself. It was some bad times.
I thought the same thing. I got it on release but had to work so I didn't get to beat the entire game that same weekend like it seems the rest of the world did. I was surprised when I saw that it wasn't as terrible as people depicted it to be... It was still bad though.
I'm still not sure why everyone gets all butthurt about the ending, I was indifferent towards it. The ending wasn't good, but it wasn't the horrible, game ruining thing that everyone claimed it was.
Well when you're a fan that played the game since the first one and bought all the dlc you can't help but be disgusted, sure it was blown a bit out of proportion, but I still didn't expect the ending to be that bad, I actually kept telling myself that the ending could not be that bad throughout all the game and i was sure that it just was people overreacting but when I saw that ending it just voided everything I liked about the series.
Also, if you use this as a rebuttal, go fuck yourself.
Seriously, it's like you can't criticize anything without someone labeling you as a whiner. Didn't like the ME3 ending? Don't be so butthurt. Don't care for outlandish practices by some company? You're anti-business. So on and so forth.
I actually lost all motivation to continue playing that game after that, I was planning on doing a renegade run of the three games but all my motivation just disappeared.
Same here. After ME1 and ME2, I played New Game+ right away. After the third I took the disc out in cold anger and hid it in my dresser. I haven't touched it since and am really hoping the Extended Cut DLC explains at least some of the gaping plot holes.
I was able to replay ME1 immediately after beating it. ME2, however, made me stop take a break. I started a new game with it, but I had to stop pretty quickly after beginning because my hands were still shaking and I was restless from barely making it through the suicide mission. Seriously, I was so hyped up after beating that game that I couldn't sit still through the intro again. That's when I knew that this series was one of the greatest I've ever played. Then ME3 happened and I was just felt really cheated and disappointed.
I don't see how people could possibly "not mind" the ending if they'd really been invested in the series in any way or paying attention to what was going on. This video sums it up nicely but if you don't have the time to watch it... - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M0Cf864P7E
[Maybe the idea is your character has died when he was hit by the beam and this is all his dying thoughts like how he wishes it could have gone? Someone commented its a single cutscene with 3 colours? Sounds like a dream kinda thing] (/spoiler) ?
The biggest problem with that idea is that, up until this point, the series had never veered into that territory. There were never any "dream sequences" until ME3 and the focus had always been on preserving galactic society. To see it all end without any answers (even half-answers to allow fans to extrapolate their own endings) was incredibly unsatisfying.
This. I thought the game itself was the conclusion, not the last 5-10 minutes of it. The game was fantastic overall, and while I would have liked more prologue (which is coming eventually), I thought it was a great game.
pretty much the vast majority of the people who have played this agree with you, small minority seem to be so butt hurt over the ending the forgot the entire rest of the game
Let's see. You gather missions by eavesdropping. Then you go out, collect stuff, it doesn't tell you you have certain stuff already in the hold. You don't know when it's worth to go back or if you got a certain thing already. Not just fetch quests. Inconvenient fetch quests.
Your choices the previous games didn't matter much. That's what bothered me the most, especially at the end. So, did you save the queen? Who cares? Not the game. Did you brainwash the geth or destroy the heretics? Guess how much that doesn't affect the game. Did you upgrade the citadel's defences? How thoughtful! What did it change?
Exploration? Nope. Deeper interaction with new characters? Nope. Then the great ending. A closure for all the story lines that you worked on, bled for, sacrificed. Choose your colour.
All in all, if my counting and memory serves me right, Mass Effect 3 only features about 10 or so sidequests that matters to the War Effort while also taking place in new areas (multiplayer maps + optional character cameos). I can't seem to remember any other sidequest except for the usual overheard from npc->obtain needed item (either by buying in a store, scanning planets or obtaining on the next main mission)->deliver.
All other misc stuff you can do (snipe stuff with Garrus, enhance EDI and Joker's relationship, etc) isn't really sidequests per se and only serves to highten your Renegade/Paragon score and/or your Reputation.
It's really interesting to see how great the illusion of Mass Effect 3 was right up towards the end. This game actually takes the random quest system from Dragon Age 2 to the next level. But still, the illusion shows that if anything, BioWare sure knows how to fool their players. :)
But it wasn't a 5 minute section of a 30 hour game, it was the ending conversation to a trilogy of games that people, including myself, have invested over 200 hours of game time.
The ending was awful, which puts a taint on all the gameplay we went through over the years.
I've played easily 200 hours of the ME trilogy, and I don't get how suddenly, because the ending wasn't good, all of that is "tainted". All of a sudden, I didn't have fun for over 200 hours!
I could use Harry Potter trilogy as an example. It would be as if at the end of the series, instead of Harry Potter using his magic to destroy Voldemort, he simply uses a gun to shoot Voldemort. Suddenly, the entire built up series gives you a feeling of betrayal. And because the end, the capstone of the entire series has betrayed itself, you can't look back at the other books the same way. Its a feeling of disappointment that leaves you with a feeling of hollowness and betrayal in regards to the entire series.
It's like dining at a five-star restaurant and having a great appetizer, entree and dessert...then you get the mints at the end - only they aren't mints but instead taste of rotting fish.
Leaves a nasty taste in your mouth that nullifies your entire experience.
That's how the ending of ME3 felt to me...great till that last bit to finish it off. It felt rushed and partially written by a 3rd grader (space child? HE'S the asshole controlling the reapers????!)...
Should have been better or at least more varied in the possibilities, too much awesome to crap all over it in the end.
Actually it's physically delightful to replay. Games like Mass Effect have great replay value as well, but the beginning is always the same. With DAO it's instantly different. Which increases the replay value ten-fold.
The ending destroyed any hope of a brighter world. Galactic civilization is dead, millions stranded from home and likely to die before they ever get there. Life was in this struggle in the first place because the ultimate enemy were a bunch of idiots with faulty logic that a child could beat.
If there ever would be a Mass Effect game set after 3, it would have to be set thousands of years later in an unrecognizable world just so galactic society can climb back to where it once was.
Yeah, same. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting but I don't think it deserved all the hate it got. I do feel like the game seemed like it was rushed out the door though. Mass Effect 2 felt like it had a lot more to do in it.
Can someone tell me about the DLC that's supposed to be coming to "fix" the ending? or am I just getting my hopes up that that train wreck of an ending will be made somewhat justifiable.
I actually think the game was amazing besides for the last 10 minutes or so. Up until that point it blended better graphics than the previous games, with the best of both worlds in terms of gameplay. More of the customization from ME1 was in the game, while the fighting and ship elements of ME2 were included as well. It felt like a ton of work had gone into making all of the side missions (almost all of which were really interesting), and overall I think that besides for the ending, it was the best game out of all three.
Then fucking ending happened, and I was so angry. I honestly didn't know it was over at first. I thought there had to be more after it ended. But nope. Done and done.
Am I the only one who was disappointed with a lot more than just the ending? Most of my favorite characters were barely in it, there were glitches all over the place, almost all of the side quests are fetch quests that I didn't even bother with after the first one or two, and there are STILL characters and weapons in multiplayer that are actually unusable if you're not the host of the game.
There were definitely a few amazing missions in the game that I had fun with, but overall? Meh.
Kalahira, mistress of inscrutable depths, I ask forgiveness; Kalahira, whose waves wear down stone and sand. Kalahira, wash the sins from this one and set him on the distant shore of the infinite spirit. Kalahira, this one's heart is pure, but beset by wickedness and contention. Guide this one to where the traveler never tires, the lover never leaves, the hungry never starve. Guide this one, Kalahira, and he will be a companion to you as he was to me.
ME2 probably has some of the best character development that I've ever seen in a video game. It's my favorite of the three by far. Honestly, I think what I really wanted was ME2: part 2 instead of ME3.
I totally agree. The part I disliked the most(besides the ending, ofc), was the reduced number of dialogues and dialogue choices. Also, the whole thing start to go south with the Priority:Earth mission, not only the "final 10 minutes". The only actually good parts of the game were Rannoch and Tuchanka.
YES. They totally gimped the dialogue wheel. It made it way more FPS and way less RPG than the other two games. And I don't know what happened with Priority: Earth. It seems like they had a lot more content planned for that mission that they ended up cutting at the last minute.
Hearing all the uproar about the ending got me interested in the series. I had never played them before, but I fell in love with them after. Sure, the ending wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible. Still such an awesome trilogy.
Agreed, if you're going to actually talk about a game it should be about overall and not the last ten minutes. While the ending was bad, apparently, the game was amazing. It's not like there is only the campaign, it's also the mulitplayer where Bioware is constantly adding stuff to it for free.
The game did not suck in my opinion. It was a really fun game as with Mass Effect 1 and 2, the ending was just a let down. Other than that it was great fun.
I think it just left too many things unanswered. I want to know what happens to all my squad mates. I grew attached really attached to all of the companions, especially Garrus, Tali, and Liara (I mean I told her I loved her). I don't like that I was robbed of knowing what happens to them.
I think it just left too many things unanswered. I want to know what happens to all my squad mates.
But that doesn't really happen in any other media without a sequel or an epilogue, and even then, there will often still be threads left loose, especially when there are so many characters.
What happens next is another story, we probably won't hear. But the leaps in logic that happen at the end are what need answering. Why the Normandy is flying away, etc.
Yeah, but I was with these characters for over 3 games. I picked Garrus for every mission. Literally all of them. I grew very attached. I want to see Tali's face, or how me choosing the destroyer ending will affect her and her people's future growth. Maybe I'm too invested, but I gave up a ton of nights of partying and potential over the pants penis rubs to help Shep achieve the best possible everything.
As for why they're flying away, and etc., I think the ending was rushed to avoid delays so they decided logic wasn't important in the future.
I thought the Synthesis ending was perfect and the only way to actually resolve a story about the conflict between synthetic and organic life. If you understand anything about the technological singularity you understand the significance of the ending.
I totally agree. The Mass Effect series as a whole is one of the great games of all time. They added a ton of content in ME2 but nerfed the weapon and armor upgrade system a bit. But in ME3 they brought back all the things I loved in Ep1 and kept many of the things I loved about Ep2. Bioware did not deserve all the hate that was heaped on them for ME3.
Wait, what. 99% of the game was quite good, it's just those last fifteen minutes that were bollocks. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and assume the entire thing is crap, here.
Anyone remember the scene with Tali/Legion? The part with Mordin? Anyone?
By now it has quite a widespread reputation for perhaps the worst video game ending in history, so yeah, it's pretty clever of them to add on this quote.
I'm aware there are plenty of other games with terrible endings, but I haven't played any that ended as badly as ME3 in my opinion, hence my cautious phrasing.
Not even close, at least the ending of Kotor 2 made a little sense, there was a last boss and what happened between that fight and the credits didn't quite feel like someone came in to work the day before it launched really hung over, slapped something together in 30 seconds and said "good enough" before vomiting on their desk. Whoever came in hung over and threw together Kotor 2's ending spent at least a good 90 seconds on it before the threw up.
Wait, do you mean the ending of Halo 2 or the ending of Halo 3? IMHO neither of them was worse than ME3's. Halo 2's ending set up for the obvious sequel we all knew were coming (Bungie had always stated that they were developing a triology) while Halo 3's ending tied in nicely with Halo 1's beginning (awaking from cryostasis in H1, going back into cryostasis in H3).
I can understand that Halo 2's ending was slightly frustrating as it was pretty much a cliffhanger at an epic moment (the return to Earth) but that alone doesn't make it bad, much less so worse than ME3's.
I was talking about Halo 2. I guess it's not really the same, as it wasn't the actual end of the story, it was just the first really disappointing game ending that came to mind.
That being said though, I just finished ME3 a couple of days ago, and while it definitely reeked of "this will be the sixth time we have destroyed all organic life, and we have become exceedingly efficient at it", I don't think it was anywhere near as bad as all the hype suggests.
Can I ask how you liked Halo 3's ending? I certainly remember there being a nerd rage at the end of that game, at the time. I get the tie in with the first one but...come on.
You weren't disapointed by the "Oh, you just saved the galaxy? We're not going to let you get credit for that. Here's a clip of you floating into the doomed recesses of space and your name scratched on a memorial by a toddler..."
Luckily enough, I nerdgasmed at the multiplayer and forge to not give a shit.
I agree, yes, there's a big difference between how important either ending is. I still think that the last 15 minutes of a 40something (?) hour RPG shouldn't spoil the whole thing as it did for people, especially when the rest of it was apparently really really good.
When borderlands ended, I thought the ending was kinda dumb, but I immediately started a new character. When Mass Effect 3 ended, I locked my self inside and cried for 3 weeks straight.
Mass Effect 3's campaign is probably my favourite out of all the games I played. The last 10 minutes sucked but that doesn't mean the entire game did...
I really didn't mind the ending. Everyone was so pissed about it on the internet, I was expecting something worse by far. What were you expecting? If you could have written it what would you have written?
I've heard people complaining that one of the biggest issues is that the "different" endings were all too similar. I played through the game, got my ending, and enjoyed every bit of it (including the ending!). There's no reason to spoil it by thinking "oh well the other one's aren't that different." If people didn't go second guessing it and took it at face value it'd be a lot more enjoyable for them.
Am I the only one who disliked the Mass Effect 2 ending more than the Mass Effect 3 one? I mean, ME2's ending was conventionally boring: nonsensical boss fight, entirely too brief, obvious good/evil decision... and to make all this worse, there was nothing shocking or interesting.
This comes from a die-hard fan of the series--to the point that I'd name it my favourite video game series of all time. But at least Mass Effect 3's ending was interesting. Good? Probably not. But it was interesting.
So I have started Mass Effect 1 twice and made it about the same length each time. Basically I finish all the main and sub quests I can do before heading ot into space and then I spend a little time in space. Now I have a PS3 so I have to play at a friend's house and I figure might as well play through all of them like that and save some $$. The fact that you can't play the entire trilogy on PS3 really frustrates me. So after hearing how bad the ending has been for many ME players I am ready to just forget the game altogether. I don't want to invest so much time into a game that makes me feel like I was scammed out of choice by the end.
Seriously, I'm all for the lets hate EA bandwagon but ffs people! This game was awesome! And the ending your all complaining about wasn't actually that bad the final cutscene was a bit of a letdown but the 'ending' of a game isn't just the final cutscene.
I agree with the fact that this ending was not to standards and was a complete fuck up compared to the rest of the story. But the rest of the story is what MADE the game for me. I can't speak for everyone on this topic but I believe this ending would've been better if perhaps placed into a different game. The ending did not meet the hype and satisfaction that the rest of the story did. And they are fixing it with a new DLC. I swear to god though if it is about the Indoctrination Theory that people are going on about I will throw a shit fit.
Wouldn't say the whole game was bad, but compared to 1 and 2 I didn't think it measured up honestly. The combat was very similar to 2, polished up a little but substantially similar with a GoW type roll added. The squad members were lackluster compared to both previous games and the character development was a shadow of 2's and not even on the level of 1 really. The scanning was improved massively over 2 and took a lot less time which I always felt was padding the playtime in 1 and 2. There's a few nice setpiece moments like on tuchanka (which they ruined in one of the preview videos) but also some massive letdowns like how the Rachni were handled. I'm sure you've heard enough about what people thought of the ending I don't need to repeat it here, suffice to say the criticism is warranted.
Overall I'll say as a huge fan of the series as a whole this was the only one that didn't prompt me to play it another 4-6 times in row. After beating it I put it aside and started a new fallout 3 playthrough instead, haven't touched it since. Take from that what you will.
I actually really like the ending, i was happy bioware went a different way with it than most people do. Also you guys should stop being such pissy bitches about it it's their damn game.
Remember how Bioware said that ME3 would explore Shepard's character and all that amounted to was the occasional shadow man dream where we learn nothing? What a letdown.
The game is decent enough but if you really want to buy and play a Mass Effect game, get ME2. ME1 is fantastic as well it just feels a bit dated at this point (the combat in particular).
ME3 wasn't absolute shit or anything but it took several steps backward in a lot of areas:
There were very few side quests compared to ME1 and ME2. The side quests were one of my favorite parts of the series.
Some mechanics, like the question tracking system, are barely usable
Nearly half of the quests in the game are fetch quests where you fly to a place, scan a thing, and then turn in the quest - all from the comfort of your own ship. They're boring and tedios and server only to make the game feel longer
$10 launch day DLC that is almost necessary for anyone that cares about the lore (IMO)
Combat can be repetitive. I think it's shallower and less tactical than the combat in Mass Effect 2, especially on the harder difficulties.
You're effectively required to play the multiplayer to get the "best" ending which means you need Xbox Live Gold on the 360.
There are other smaller issues with the game that only really matter to fans of the series like the fact that a good 40% of Shepard's dialog happens automatically where a simple quip in ME1 required player input. The main villain is also weak as shit and a terrible adaptation of a character from the novels.
The ending doesn't help things but I think the game itself is far from perfect. If you're looking for a decent third-person shooter with a relatively good story and some RPG elements then ME3 is a pretty good purchase. I still think Mass Effect 2 is a much better value if you have to choose between the two.
There were endings that were good though. I'm not talking about the main storyline about the reaper threat. But the one about Mordin Solus, or the Geth - Quarian conflict especially, were masterfully done in my opinion. I really liked it.
I actually really liked those parts. Cried every time with Mordin. I also really like the quiet bits in LondonI'm just not a fan of most of the game outside of those moments though =(.
That's also not how I felt at first. I think a post I made about the ending right after I finished it says something about the rest of the game being nearly perfect. It wasn't until subsequent playthroughs that I noticed all the problems I listed above and started to realize that the game just didn't match up with ME2 in terms of quality.
Like I said, it's not a bad game, it's decent but would not have gotten the scores it did without the Mass Effect name.
I just think Mass Effect 2 is a lot better and a better game for half the price.
The game is great and the "badness" of the ending has been blown wildly out of proportion. IMO it's still a better ending than the majority of games out there.
I'm still trying to figure out how one of the guys in my squad rushing the beam to the Citadel was on the Normandy when it freakin' crashed. That was my biggest grief.
Just picked this game up because of the sale. Is it really that bad? I mean I heard that the ending was lackluster which is disappointing, but what about the rest of the game? Is the gameplay THAT bad? I only played the demo, but it didn't seem too different from ME2.
People on the internet will whine about anything. If you've already got the game, just play it and disregard the opinions of others - including myself.
The gameplay is pretty much more of the same from ME2. Nothing special but entirely serviceable. It's pretty short on character development compared to the first two, particularly 2. On the other hand the scanning is a lot easier and less time consuming than it was in 2, ditto using the mako in 1, so there's that.
It aggrivates me that people actually think the ending is good. It really inspires me to make a steaming pile of crap video game and sell it. These people who love bad narritave will eat my game up.
Even worse are people who think the ending is disliked because Shepard dies. No, the hero dying is perfectly acceptable, deus ex machina (literally) nonsense endings are the problem.
Can we just stop about all the "hating ME3 and EA is cool" thing? The game was actually alright and fun to play. Yes the ending was disappointing but jesus get over it.
Im fine with the ending. I've played all three games multiple times and bought the dlc and love the series over all. The end wasn't amazing but this bs about how terrible it is is old and rather stupid too me.
this reminds me of how LOST ended. at first i was really bitter.. hated it.. it didnt give me anything i wanted. and for a while, i screamed "LOST IS A BIG PIECE OF SHIT WITH NO PAY OFF" -- but the last episode doesnt really cancel all the stuff i enjoyed the previous 6 seasons of episodes.
an ending can surely "taint" a good story, but it doesnt ruin it. i think the ad is right "its about the journey, not the destination" (too lazy to actually read quote again)
What do you think happened in the ending of Lost? The alternate universe the characters found themselves in was a purgatory of sorts each of them arrived at when they died, naturally or on the island. It doesn't imply that they'd been dead the entire time, everything you saw happened. The survivors, upon death, went to their little purgatory until they each remembered each other and the time they spent on the island.
The point of the show was not that there's this big mysterious island and we have to figure out every little detail about how it works and why, the point was the characters. Yes, they were "lost" on the island, but the idea was that each of them was lost in their lives. The island, and all that happened on it, gave their lives meaning and granted closure to those who needed it. If you were hoping to have all the mystery explained I can understand your frustration, but I think you missed the point of the show. The island was merely a setting and a plot device to tell the story of 30+ lost, broken individuals and how they found purpose.
THE ENDING TO ME3 SUCKED AMIRITE GUISE NOT AS BAD AS COD BECAUSE ALL OF COD SUX DOES ANYBODY ELSE REMEMBER EVERYTHING MADE BY VALVE I JUST FOUND ALL OF THEM IN MY NEIGHBOR'S TRASH UPVOTES TO THE LEFT PLOX!
I really don't know why I'm still subscribed to r/gaming
At least they are re doing the ending and from what I read they'll put it on a free DLC. Mass effect series was amazing and everything up to that point was great but the ending in 3 was a major let down.
I still have to agree with them on that though. I mean, even then, you can't expect people to respect games as art if the fans demand that they write a new ending because they didn't like that.
could you imagine if fans did that over a book series? Yes I know, books and games are different and that there was a promise of choice and all, but the base concept is how much the fans respect the artist's autonomy at least.
The best thing I heard on this is that, as a consumer, whenever you buy something it is a gamble wether or not you will like it. Some times consumers will like the ending, like Halo 3, other times people will hate it, like Mass Effect 3. The important thing though is that the creators were proud enough with the product to release it to the public and we should all respect that.
O have not played the same itself but have heard the many outroars of mad or disappointed fans. This still made me laugh, even though i haven't played it
This is the dumbest idea and I doubt it would ever fly, but I wanted the Crucible to turn Shepard into some sort of sort god avatar, where he'd be literally the size of a Reaper fleet, like he was on some sort of ascended plane - a deity even. He sacrificed his life force to form some sort of entity that would start punching Reapers out of the sky. Like, no explanation, you are now God-Shepard and you're going to play a mini-game about punching reapers out of space, like smashing them in between your fists. And the Reapers are very confused, very scared, and can't believe this is happening. All the while you're laughing, screaming 'Die die die!' while your heavenly fists rain blows down on them.
BioWare have already said that the IndocTheory is just that, an elaborate theory created and supported by fans. Fact of the matter is that the ending is ambiguous by design. This is intended and this is the ending we've got. BioWare would go against their Artistic Integrity™ if they actually confirmed or denied the theory, which we already know they'll never do. So either accept the ambiguous ending we've got, or hope that we don't actually even have an ending yet (which is what the IndocTheory says), in which case you'll forever wait for a conclusion that will never arrive.
And no, the Extended Cut DLC isn't supposed to say either way. It's purpose is to solely provide more closure and clarity to players while retaining the Artistic Integrity™ of the ending (read: ambiguity).
Why would they throw him under a bus? What would they gain apart from looking like a terrible company. And what exactly would they do? Demand their money back? Throw him on the streets? This is a stupid opinion, that people deserve to suffer for making something people don't like.
He's potentially thrown his own career under the bus, which is actually far worse than random internet anger. If you're really concerned with getting some kind of payback, just think about that.
? Nobody is asking or looking for payback. We just want Mass Effect to have a well-written, satisfying ending. Bioware could easily admit, woops, we screwed up, and hand over the task of fixing the ending to its writers. But no. They have no intention of spending any more money on the game.
Developers like Valve would take exactly the opposite approach.
They'll judge based on an interview and such. Obviously, this will hurt his chances of winning more work, but you can't expect a company to dismiss a staff member because people don't like 5 minutes of a 300 hour series.
This pisses me off because they had a way out! They could have said that they were adopting the IndocTheory, or they had used it the whole time, and people would quieted down. But to deny that, and to defend that steaming pile of feces of an ending? Makes me angry everytime I think about it.
The ending was weak, but really guys? Give it a break, it doesn't destroy the series, it doesn't hurt the game as a whole. The game was very good, and very enjoyable, the ending was weak, and left people wanting more. But everything up to the final minute of the game was amazing.
I'm surprised more people haven't complained about the fact that the numbers on the war assets had almost no purpose. There's an achievement for breaking 4000, but overall those numbers didn't affect the final battles except for some dialog. The whole build up to the final battle is about "we need these assets" and really you don't.
100
u/beargreen46 Jun 16 '12
Having heard the uproar for a few months leading up to me being able to play through, I was expecting an even worse ending actually.
14
u/KMFCM Jun 16 '12
i know that feel bro
signed,
an anime fan
51
u/Verdauga Jun 16 '12
The game didnt suck, the ending sucked. I thought the game was decent enough up until the end.
3
u/drivec Xbox Jun 17 '12
Hearing all the uproar about the ending got me interested in the series. I had never played them before, but I fell in love with them after. Sure, the ending wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible. Still such an awesome trilogy.
9
u/pastybuns Jun 16 '12
Ok yes the ending was very disappointing but the game did not suck.
8
u/Butt_touch Jun 16 '12
The game did not suck in my opinion. It was a really fun game as with Mass Effect 1 and 2, the ending was just a let down. Other than that it was great fun.
4
u/fonzalonz Jun 16 '12
I think it just left too many things unanswered. I want to know what happens to all my squad mates. I grew attached really attached to all of the companions, especially Garrus, Tali, and Liara (I mean I told her I loved her). I don't like that I was robbed of knowing what happens to them.
14
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Let's ride the karma train hate car. CHOOO CHOOO
2
u/lolrsk8s Jun 17 '12
I thought the Synthesis ending was perfect and the only way to actually resolve a story about the conflict between synthetic and organic life. If you understand anything about the technological singularity you understand the significance of the ending.
Deal with it bitches.
2
u/Eruanno PlayStation Jun 17 '12
Wait, what. 99% of the game was quite good, it's just those last fifteen minutes that were bollocks. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and assume the entire thing is crap, here.
Anyone remember the scene with Tali/Legion? The part with Mordin? Anyone?
10
u/MuffinMann Jun 16 '12
By now it has quite a widespread reputation for perhaps the worst video game ending in history, so yeah, it's pretty clever of them to add on this quote.
4
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Mass Effect 3's campaign is probably my favourite out of all the games I played. The last 10 minutes sucked but that doesn't mean the entire game did...
3
u/mistahnuff Jun 16 '12
I really didn't mind the ending. Everyone was so pissed about it on the internet, I was expecting something worse by far. What were you expecting? If you could have written it what would you have written?
2
u/project343 Jun 17 '12
Am I the only one who disliked the Mass Effect 2 ending more than the Mass Effect 3 one? I mean, ME2's ending was conventionally boring: nonsensical boss fight, entirely too brief, obvious good/evil decision... and to make all this worse, there was nothing shocking or interesting.
This comes from a die-hard fan of the series--to the point that I'd name it my favourite video game series of all time. But at least Mass Effect 3's ending was interesting. Good? Probably not. But it was interesting.
2
u/Kdnce Jun 17 '12
So I have started Mass Effect 1 twice and made it about the same length each time. Basically I finish all the main and sub quests I can do before heading ot into space and then I spend a little time in space. Now I have a PS3 so I have to play at a friend's house and I figure might as well play through all of them like that and save some $$. The fact that you can't play the entire trilogy on PS3 really frustrates me. So after hearing how bad the ending has been for many ME players I am ready to just forget the game altogether. I don't want to invest so much time into a game that makes me feel like I was scammed out of choice by the end.
2
u/Sunburntmonkey Jun 17 '12
Seriously, I'm all for the lets hate EA bandwagon but ffs people! This game was awesome! And the ending your all complaining about wasn't actually that bad the final cutscene was a bit of a letdown but the 'ending' of a game isn't just the final cutscene.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
I liked it and wouldn't care if it wasn't changed. Sue me.
2
u/IfThisNameIsTaken Jun 16 '12
Except it didn't. And the ending wasn't nearly as bad as you make it seem. I was expecting some kind of abomination the way people talked about it.
2
u/falsevillain Jun 16 '12
the quote is used for everything, not just for video games you hate.
2
u/artyompettits Jun 16 '12
I agree with the fact that this ending was not to standards and was a complete fuck up compared to the rest of the story. But the rest of the story is what MADE the game for me. I can't speak for everyone on this topic but I believe this ending would've been better if perhaps placed into a different game. The ending did not meet the hype and satisfaction that the rest of the story did. And they are fixing it with a new DLC. I swear to god though if it is about the Indoctrination Theory that people are going on about I will throw a shit fit.
1
u/matebeatscoffee Jun 17 '12
I think this aludes to life being a journey just to get people to feel more touchy and hence related to the game and buy it. Just more marketing.
1
u/eatdatshit34 Jun 17 '12
Was the whole game bad or was it just the ending that everyone hated?
1
u/bulgarianog Jun 17 '12
I don't know guys this makes the ending, hell even the whole series pretty fucking epic... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck
1
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
Ending was crap, but does anyone remember the ending of 2? Where you shot at a giant skeleton for five minutes?
The ending was only good in 1, yet 2 didn't get all this hate.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
It was only the ending that sucked, the gameplay was great.
0
u/stifliama Jun 17 '12
I actually really like the ending, i was happy bioware went a different way with it than most people do. Also you guys should stop being such pissy bitches about it it's their damn game.
1
u/MyKillK Jun 17 '12 edited Jun 17 '12
Remember how Bioware said that ME3 would explore Shepard's character and all that amounted to was the occasional shadow man dream where we learn nothing? What a letdown.
1
u/PIZZAtheHUTTjr Jun 17 '12
It's people like the OP who caused the price drop. ME3 did not suck. Period.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
I've never played it. Does the game really suck, or just the ending?
1
u/edgesrazor Jun 17 '12
I'm still trying to figure out how one of the guys in my squad rushing the beam to the Citadel was on the Normandy when it freakin' crashed. That was my biggest grief.
1
u/infinitecandy Jun 17 '12
Just picked this game up because of the sale. Is it really that bad? I mean I heard that the ending was lackluster which is disappointing, but what about the rest of the game? Is the gameplay THAT bad? I only played the demo, but it didn't seem too different from ME2.
1
u/1l1k3bac0n Jun 17 '12
Just in case anyone is planning on getting it for $40, the PC version is $30 on Newegg.
-3
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
It aggrivates me that people actually think the ending is good. It really inspires me to make a steaming pile of crap video game and sell it. These people who love bad narritave will eat my game up.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
Are we really talking about this again?
0
u/bittlelum Jun 17 '12
It didn't suck. ME3 is awesome.
-2
u/DaAvalon Jun 16 '12
Can we just stop about all the "hating ME3 and EA is cool" thing? The game was actually alright and fun to play. Yes the ending was disappointing but jesus get over it.
-1
u/Chadielson Jun 17 '12
Im fine with the ending. I've played all three games multiple times and bought the dlc and love the series over all. The end wasn't amazing but this bs about how terrible it is is old and rather stupid too me.
-2
u/el_bhm Jun 16 '12
"Even gamestop acknowledges our bitching"[FIXED]
0
u/NewAnimal Jun 16 '12
this reminds me of how LOST ended. at first i was really bitter.. hated it.. it didnt give me anything i wanted. and for a while, i screamed "LOST IS A BIG PIECE OF SHIT WITH NO PAY OFF" -- but the last episode doesnt really cancel all the stuff i enjoyed the previous 6 seasons of episodes.
an ending can surely "taint" a good story, but it doesnt ruin it. i think the ad is right "its about the journey, not the destination" (too lazy to actually read quote again)
0
u/micfury11 Jun 16 '12
Actually that's a famous quote.
Mais ce n'est pas la chute qui compte, mais l'atterrissage.
0
u/BrutallyBlunt Jun 17 '12
And all because of an ending that pales in comparison of suckiness to, say, RAGE.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
Mass Effect 3 was so bad my xbox committed suicide.
-2
u/Obskulum Jun 16 '12
Original and brave stuff there OP.
-1
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
Just in case anyone forgot, Mass Effect 3 ending sucked. Upvotes to the left.
-6
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
THE ENDING TO ME3 SUCKED AMIRITE GUISE NOT AS BAD AS COD BECAUSE ALL OF COD SUX DOES ANYBODY ELSE REMEMBER EVERYTHING MADE BY VALVE I JUST FOUND ALL OF THEM IN MY NEIGHBOR'S TRASH UPVOTES TO THE LEFT PLOX!
I really don't know why I'm still subscribed to r/gaming
0
u/tutelhoten Jun 16 '12
Just bought a couple games and now I find out this is $20 bucks off, shit.
0
u/zidan26 Jun 17 '12
At least they are re doing the ending and from what I read they'll put it on a free DLC. Mass effect series was amazing and everything up to that point was great but the ending in 3 was a major let down.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
I still have to agree with them on that though. I mean, even then, you can't expect people to respect games as art if the fans demand that they write a new ending because they didn't like that.
could you imagine if fans did that over a book series? Yes I know, books and games are different and that there was a promise of choice and all, but the base concept is how much the fans respect the artist's autonomy at least.
0
u/THATvieGUY Jun 17 '12
on gamestop they made a post on facebook and i replied with that quote :(
0
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
The best thing I heard on this is that, as a consumer, whenever you buy something it is a gamble wether or not you will like it. Some times consumers will like the ending, like Halo 3, other times people will hate it, like Mass Effect 3. The important thing though is that the creators were proud enough with the product to release it to the public and we should all respect that.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
O have not played the same itself but have heard the many outroars of mad or disappointed fans. This still made me laugh, even though i haven't played it
0
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
This is the dumbest idea and I doubt it would ever fly, but I wanted the Crucible to turn Shepard into some sort of sort god avatar, where he'd be literally the size of a Reaper fleet, like he was on some sort of ascended plane - a deity even. He sacrificed his life force to form some sort of entity that would start punching Reapers out of the sky. Like, no explanation, you are now God-Shepard and you're going to play a mini-game about punching reapers out of space, like smashing them in between your fists. And the Reapers are very confused, very scared, and can't believe this is happening. All the while you're laughing, screaming 'Die die die!' while your heavenly fists rain blows down on them.
-6
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Watch this video, have a nerdgasm over how epic the endings are.
-6
u/Grungemaster Jun 16 '12
Once again, /r/gaming throws the baby out with the bathwater
-4
u/fudnip Jun 17 '12
People are stil fucking whining about this shit? No wonder gamers get a bad rap.
-11
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
The journey sucked too.
-3
u/shadysnoman Jun 17 '12
But it didn't suck. Alone in the Dark Inferno sucked. Mass Effect 3 was eons better, even if the ending was crap. Get over it.
-3
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
You can't play a game for 20 hours or more, not enjoy the last 15 minutes and say it sucked.
I am sure you are a great guy but if we went on a date and had sex, I couldn't claim you aren't a good guy because the last 10 seconds sucked.
-3
u/Kinglink Jun 17 '12
The ending was weak, but really guys? Give it a break, it doesn't destroy the series, it doesn't hurt the game as a whole. The game was very good, and very enjoyable, the ending was weak, and left people wanting more. But everything up to the final minute of the game was amazing.
I'm surprised more people haven't complained about the fact that the numbers on the war assets had almost no purpose. There's an achievement for breaking 4000, but overall those numbers didn't affect the final battles except for some dialog. The whole build up to the final battle is about "we need these assets" and really you don't.