Mass Effect 3

[Engineer]

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

[YOUTUBE="bG2mdZ23eP8"]Mass Effect 3 Launch Trailer[/YOUTUBE]

 

[The Outsider]

 

[JocktheMotie]

My excitement was somewhat tempered by the From Ashes day 1 DLC fiasco, but I'll still probably get it because I'm a sucker. Oddly, multiplayer ended up being a wonderful surprise and extremely well done.

 

[Engineer]

My excitement was somewhat tempered by the From Ashes day 1 DLC fiasco, but I'll still probably get it because I'm a sucker. Oddly, multiplayer ended up being a wonderful surprise and extremely well done.

From what I heard, the DLC was an idea that only got approval to be added into the game when the "actual" game was being pressed... So I'm not as mad. Also, Space Jamaican, so yes.

I agree! Multiplayer felt like... gasp... a natural extension of ME's gameplay. Which was nice, considering EA's usual heavy-handed approach to multiplayer (tack it and tax it).

 

[Spamtar]

Got me finally to begin playing Mass Effect 2...

 

[JocktheMotie]

From what I heard, the DLC was an idea that only got approval to be added into the game when the "actual" game was being pressed... So I'm not as mad. Also, Space Jamaican, so yes.

Well, it was planned early and I understand that starting DLC before the game is released is a good way to keep artists and writers involved in the project when they're no longer needed, however I think the outrage is more that the content is juicy and "feels" essential to the complete universe, so to have it be a 10$ charge right out of the gate just feels like holding your own customers hostage.

Spoilers about the DLC Content ahead.

I mean, a prothean squadmate! With lines and everything? Obviously there's going to be some good lore there. The Protheans are massively important to the set up of mass effect and the Reaper invasions, it's simply psychotic for something so important to be included at extra charge to the standard edition. It's not like this is Zaeed or some useless throwaway. And even if the character is, it's still 10$ bucks on top of the 60 you already paid for the game. They're essentially abusing their fanbase's love for the franchise in order milk more cash from them.

From a business standpoint, it's a wonderful tactic, but as a fan, I think it sucks.

 

[AOA]

[My opinion..]

This game is decent. I've been playing MP on the demo. Was going to create a thread a few days ago but didn't know it was up on the consumer-brand.

I initially played the SP which gives you an insight in two levels that are fantastic. The world it creates is stunning.

I made it to 54 N7 on my MP and more often than not played as the Infiltrator Class Human Female that kicks ass! The Sentinel Class Human Female is also good. You also get the benefit from playing as various other player types (including a branch of alien types). Lately stepped up a notch onto Silver/Gold on Cerberus which are pretty easy to destroy now. The Nemesis and Phantom bosses are difficult how ever and if you confront them alone you get killed. I was mutilated more times than I could remember by either of them. Unfortunately the demo expires in a week so I have to give up all my stuff I worked so hard for! I'm on the Mattock IV (Assault Rifle) and Phalanx III (Ballistic Handgun) among a handful of other useful weapons and have to give them all up.

Looking forward to the actual release in a week! It's going to be worth the money.

 

[Pinker85]

Meh. I see both sides of the argument. I think the fact the game stands on its own even without the DLC is the saving grace for me. Sure, it's a tactic by Bioware and EA to make money but shit . . . isn't that what all game companies do? I mean if they didn't think they could make the money off the DLC they probably wouldn't have made it . . . and I'm just happy to have a richer game experience now due to the DLC.

 

[AOA]

Could somebody kindly explain to me what a "DLC" is? .. Thanks.

I pre-ordered it.

 

[kyuuei]

Could somebody kindly explain to me what a "DLC" is? .. Thanks.

I pre-ordered it.

Downloadable Content.

 

[kelric]

From a business standpoint, it's a wonderful tactic, but as a fan, I think it sucks.

Yeah -- I'm not too happy about it either. At least in their prior games, the day 1 DLC came with any (new, not used) game purchase. But I'll be buying it, in addition to the game -- my rationale being that as much as I've enjoyed the prior games, $10 more for the final game in the series will likely be worth it, as opposed to say, buying another cheaper game that I probably wouldn't enjoy as much.

I'm sort of worried about the multiplayer portion -- I don't have much interest in that, nor any friends that are likely to play it, and I'm hoping (as advertised) that not participating in multiplayer won't prove too much a disadvantage for the single-player storyline and gameplay. But yeah, I'll be stopping off to pick up a copy on my way home from work tomorrow.

 

[Scott N Denver]

anybody played this yet? I'm about to

 

[JocktheMotie]

anybody played this yet? I'm about to

I'm behind in my ME2 playthrough so I've only [blasphemously] played a couple rounds of multiplayer. Yep, the multiplayer is that good.

 

[AOA]

I received my copy today.

I am going to play this game's MP for the whole year! The weapons are so kick-a** I have to get them all.. There's the Spectre pack of weapons now available which dwarfs the Veteran pack.

If I don't though maybe something better came along.. but I doubt that.

 

[Eruca]

I'm behind in my ME2 playthrough so I've only [blasphemously] played a couple rounds of multiplayer. Yep, the multiplayer is that good.

I received my copy today.

I am going to play this game's MP for the whole year! The weapons are so kick-a** I have to get them all.. There's the Spectre pack of weapons now available which dwarfs the Veteran pack.

If I don't though maybe something better came along.. but I doubt that.

Have you guys never played a horde mode before? Gears of war, resident evil 4/5, Halo ODST/reach?

Its fairly common console business. ME3's is good but nothing that special. The one big addition is the objectives. I like those. Make the mode for me, really. They get the players moving. Most other horde modes get stale as the players simply bunker up in the most optimum position.

 

[Engineer]

So, I beat the game last night. Anyone else beat it yet?

I am unbelievably disappointed in the ending. It quite honestly ruined my weekend. All of that chatter about "your choices affect the outcome of the game! No two players will have the same ending" reduced down to an RGB color-swapped cinematic and a ridiculous nod to the asinine ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey... Speaking as someone who got attached to the characters of the game(s) and massively enjoyed all of the awesome conclusions of some long-running plot threads in this third installment, the ending (there is really only one... ) seemed so out of place and just... wrong. But that's just me.

 

[JocktheMotie]

So, I beat the game last night. Anyone else beat it yet?

I am unbelievably disappointed in the ending. It quite honestly ruined my weekend. All of that chatter about "your choices affect the outcome of the game! No two players will have the same ending" reduced down to an RGB color-swapped cinematic and a ridiculous nod to the asinine ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey... Speaking as someone who got attached to the characters of the game(s) and massively enjoyed all of the awesome conclusions of some long-running plot threads in this third installment, the ending (there is really only one... ) seemed so out of place and just... wrong. But that's just me.

I was pissed too. But then, if you read around about the "Indoctrination/Hallucination Theory" it does make sense. The thing is, it was such a joke of an ending it is almost impossible to believe they'd actually end their trilogy/epic that way, so the fans are forced to come up with these alternatives.

I don't think the choices are so bad on their own, despite being ripped from Deus Ex it seems, but it's the complete lack of coherency and conclusion that is most mystifying.

 

[Engineer]

I was pissed too. But then, if you read around about the "Indoctrination/Hallucination Theory" it does make sense. The thing is, it was such a joke of an ending it is almost impossible to believe they'd actually end their trilogy/epic that way, so the fans are forced to come up with these alternatives.

I don't think the choices are so bad on their own, despite being ripped from Deus Ex it seems, but it's the complete lack of coherency and conclusion that is most mystifying.

Basically my opinion is this: http://www.gamefront.com/mass-effect-3-ending-hatred-5-reasons-the-fans-are-right/3/
I've heard unconfirmed rumors about a DLC called "The Truth" which is set for release in April as a free expansion... but I certainly do not want to get my hopes up for that, especially considering how depressed the current ending made me.
And you're completely correct: none of the ending made sense.

Where did TIM come from? How did Anderson get to the console first? Who the hell was the Star Child? Why should we trust him? How exactly are all three things necessary for the control, integration, and destruction of synthetic life all located within fifteen feet of each other? Why was he so blase about Shepard killing all synthetic life? Why did Joker leave the battle? How did the teammates I took to Earth end up on the Normandy?

Basically the last ten minutes were made of pure, uncut, unfiltered "what the fuck"... And the fact that all the endings are identical outside of the color of the explosions... well, that didn't help anything.

 

[JocktheMotie]

Basically my opinion is this: http://www.gamefront.com/mass-effect-3-ending-hatred-5-reasons-the-fans-are-right/3/
I've heard unconfirmed rumors about a DLC called "The Truth" which is set for release in April as a free expansion... but I certainly do not want to get my hopes up for that, especially considering how depressed the current ending made me.
And you're completely correct: none of the ending made sense.

Where did TIM come from? How did Anderson get to the console first? Who the hell was the Star Child? Why should we trust him? How exactly are all three things necessary for the control, integration, and destruction of synthetic life all located within fifteen feet of each other? Why was he so blase about Shepard killing all synthetic life? Why did Joker leave the battle? How did the teammates I took to Earth end up on the Normandy?

Basically the last ten minutes were made of pure, uncut, unfiltered "what the fuck"... And the fact that all the endings are identical outside of the color of the explosions... well, that didn't help anything.

I've also heard of the "Truth" DLC but I don't know how that'd work for fans/players who do not have internet connections for the consoles or what have you. Even if the "real" endings were DLC, how do you get that to people without those connections? How do you deflect the criticism that ME3, sold as is, is an incomplete product without a true conclusion? While the fan in me is hopeful, I can see how that answer can be just as messy. And if they ever had the balls to charge for this Truth DLC...wow. Pitchforks would be an understatement.

I've read that gamefront article and thought it was very good, and accurately portrays the fan criticism even while other media outlets have taken the strawman approach in criticising the reaction. I will say, that I am not in favor of "demanding a change" because if that's how a creator/artist/whathaveyou wants to end their product it's perfectly within their right, but they need to recognize it is also my right as a critic of that entertainment to tell them it's shitty and horrible and here's why.

 

[kelric]

I agree -- I finished it late last night, and had pretty much the same reaction.

The plot just completely fell apart in that last series of cutscenes. I've read that it wasn't the original ending, and that after the original one (which apparently made more sense) was leaked, they changed it. Which certainly explains the lack of continuity with pretty much everything else in the series. Most of the third game was setting us up for a martyred Shepard, so that wasn't awful (not what I wanted, but not awful), but the whole starchild thing, gaping plot holes, and "different endings" was a pretty big letdown.

I know that it's sort of cliche and the "easy way out", but I'd have been pretty happy with a "win the fight and everyone lives happily ever after" sort of ending. Even a "martyred hero" ending could have been a good thing, in a "grand finale" sort of way. But the way it ended... just bleh. Especially since they followed up on the finale with a pitch for future DLC. Sigh.

Speaking of DLC... I did buy the "From Ashes" pack. And I'm leaning with the folks who side with the "it had major backstory implications and should have been in the full game" criticism. I did enjoy it, for all that it was a regular-sized mission and conversations with a Prothean, but that sort of thing lore-wise should have been in the main game.

All in all, I had fun playing it, and thought that most of the story was really pretty well done. It suffered a little bit from the (sometimes forced) large number of cameo appearances from characters in the prior games, but honestly, I'd have been disappointed not to see all of the folks I took such pains to save in ME2.