Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsThe best in the series
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2012
As a long time fan of BioWare, I loved the entire experience of this game. I've only played through one character I have transferred over from the first two, but already, I'm looking forward to replaying it with future transfers. I believe this game, overall, builds on a combination of strengths from the first two in the series and makes for what as a very excellent gaming experience.
From the release of the demo in February, I've been eagerly anticipating this game, and if you're indecisive, I feel it's a good intro to the feel of the game. Much like the Dragon Age II demo (which, for me, appropriately anticipated the disappointment for that game) I feel that the ME3 demo has the same effect. If you like the demo, odds are you'll have a good experience with the game.
A listing of pros and cons:
+ - The story is the best that it's ever been. Unlike ME1, where the story faded to the background until the finale, and ME2, where the story was more concerned with the collection of party members than the threat of the Collectors, ME3 has a story - Earth (and the galaxy) are invaded by Reapers - and it actually informs the entirety of the game. It's a constant presence in every aspect, from every environment you visit, to each piece of the storyline, which primarily involves the amassing of the galaxy's forces (and by doing so, resolving many centuries-long inter-species conflicts). Unlike the first two game, I actually felt it was a strong story that *mattered*. More than that, it is epic. In a way ME2 never accomplished past its brilliant beginning, and ME1 only managed during its last two hours. I haven't been this tense, nervous, or excited playing a game in a *long* time.
+ - BioWare said they lessened the amount of squad mates to improve character interaction, and it shows. More than that, not just with commentary from your squad mates on missions, there's a much greater sense of them being individuals with lives and personalities outside of Shepard's presence. When you visit the Citadel, various crew members (not just your squad mates) will be found at various places throughout (often changing depending on what point during the game) with unique interactions. Similarly, instead of staying in one place, many will move throughout the ship and be found interacting with one another (my personal favorite was when I came upon Garrus and Joker exchanging jokes). There's also simple interactions that don't necessarily play into cutscenes, which I feel strengthens alongside the ambient dialogue, and has a unique role in the new morality system.
+ - The sheer breadth of environments explored in this game is amazing. Honestly, I was not near this impressed with the first two games; the major plot playthroughs stand out the most significantly, and I was stunned and thrilled at the places I got to see and explore as Shephard. Something even more impressive given how many worlds are visited that appeared in the first two games - and not one is a re-used environment. Long gone are the cookie cutter environments of the first game - ME3 even manages to significantly improve on the second game.
+ - The cover system has been somewhat improved. And I really enjoyed not only the diversity of weapons available (weapons, alongside with armor upgrades - more than what was in ME2 - and credits are scattered throughout combat environments when you explore off the main path) but also the ability to mod each of your weapons. There's also the option to pick how few or many weapons you want to carry, with weight (and class) affecting the cooldown of your powers. I also feel they managed to find a nice balance between the first two games - more diversity and customization than the second, without becoming bogged down in inventory management. When a new weapon or mod is bought/found of the next tier, it automatically is replaced (meaning no time wasted having to sell older versions to clear out inventory).
+ - I also feel the power system found a nice balance between the first two games. More customization (six levels instead of four, with the last three a decision between two different options) without the overblown tediousness of the first game (where I felt so overloaded with points and powers that it was hard to tell if any were making a difference in their use).
- - More auto-dialogue than in previous games. In addition to the neutral (middle) option being entirely eliminated, the option for the player to choose Shephard's dialogue happens much less frequently. I find the writing to be overall fantastic, but it did somewhat take away from the feel of Shepard being *my* character.
- - The journal system is considerably pared down from what it was in the second game. I would even cite this as my biggest beef with the game - and much of the overall sidequest system in regards to planet scanning. Not all quests logged in your journal are done so with enough details of where to go (for example, one quest required me to find the Elcor homeworld and though it gave me the name, it didn't tell me where the homeworld was located). And unlike ME2, they aren't automatically logged onto your galaxy map (the way there would be an arrow with info telling you that this specific quest could be completed at this specific location). What's worse, they changed the planet scanning to one where you send out a radar-like signal from the Normandy, and EDI tells you if she's located anything within that vicinity - but if the system is occupied by Reapers, each scan results in increasing their awareness, and the only way to bring it back down again is to come back after you've completed a mission. I think the idea of it could've worked in theory, except that there's no way to keep track of which parts of a system you've already scanned. So I found myself returning to systems over and over, likely scanning the exact same area with the 2-3 times I had available to me before the Reapers appeared and I had to escape. It definitely gives a feeling of tedium, and I feel is something that could've been easily rectified.
+/- - Once again, aspects of the morality (Paragon vs. Renegade) system have been changed, and though I'm still not entirely sure I understand, I do think it was done for the better. When receiving points after character interactions, oftentimes it will be given as general Reputation points - which, from my understanding, adds to the combined scores of your Paragon and Renegade scores, while keeping them balanced (so the overall changes, while the difference between each bar remains the same, if that makes sense). I think it's a nice idea, because it definitely adds to the ability of playing as pure Renegade or pure Paragon (since not every interaction is going to give points strictly one way or the other). On the other hand, I felt like there were overall fewer Charm/Intimidate options spread throughout the game, and oftentimes when I used them, it was difficult to tell how/if they were making a difference in the conversation.
- - My first playthrough clocked in at just over 30 hours. About ten hours less than ME2. I'm hoping this will improve with more playthroughs, as I attempt to reach closer to 100% completion. A little bit disappointing, though.
EDIT 4/15: I'm actually opting to change my opinion on this - a single-play through is shorter than ME2, but from what I understand, the script was longer, which I imagine was due to the sheer amount of permutations for how the story can play out. Really, the more I read around on-line, the more I find the variety (whether your have Ashley or Kaidan in your squad, who you romance, and a countless number of minor and major decisions from the first two games) and how it can be altered in this game is staggering. It gives an unprecedented amount of replay-value, more than almost any other game I've ever played.
+ - The climax is epic. Much more so than anything in ME2, and I feel it gives the last two hours of ME1 a serious run for its money.
Of course, this is all not addressing the elephant in the room, being the fact that this game has a very controversial ending that has displeased a great number of fans. Though I realize this puts me in the overwhelming minority, I enjoyed the ending. Perhaps it came in part because I went into it knowing that others were upset about it, but despite what I feel others have argued as justifiable holes, it really, really worked for me.
More than that, without wanting to invalidate the opinions of those who disagree with me, all I can offer is my perspective, which is this: It took me long enough to beat this game that by the time I did, I was already well aware the ending was controversial. And in those days leading up to it, I thought about it a lot, and I couldn't name one game that I've played to completion where the ending fundamentally altered my overall experience of a game. ME1 has a fantastic ending, but is still a bit of a chore to replay. Dragon Age II has a so-so ending in keeping with a so-so game - and even if it did have a great ending, it would still be a so-so game. ME2 has a lackluster ending, but is overall an amazing game. And so what really matters to me is how I feel when I'm playing a game. And throughout the *entire* experience of this game, I loved it. When I wasn't playing it, I was thinking about it, and wanting to play it more. And I feel confident that had I been unhappy with the ending, I would still be on here gushing about what a great game this is. Because I feel the experience of a game is more than just one piece, like the ending, or the combat mechanics, or the story, or what have you. If the majority of elements are working - which I feel they are here - then I think, for me, the game can be called a success. Enough so that I'm willing to forgive the elements which I felt were weaknesses (like the journal/side-quests).
So all I can say is that I understand why others are unhappy, but I loved it, I loved the game, and I love the series overall. And I think if you skip this because others warn you away from the ending, I think you're missing out on participating on one of the greatest video gaming experiences ever. Battlestar Galatica is still an amazing tv series, even if it does have an ending this is rushed and incoherent.
I also am appreciative of BioWare's approach to having both Male and FemShep. In an era and industry where it's still too easy for people to dismiss female gamers as a relative minority (and thus don't need to be given notice), BioWare went the opposite direction, incorporating FemShep into the marketing for the first time (with two trailers, and appearances in combat videos), as well as making the insert reversible, so I can have FemShep on my cover. It might not be an issue to others, but as a female gamer, I really appreciate it.
Overall, Mass Effect 3 is an amazing end to an amazing series. For myself, I would rank it up there just below Dragon Age: Origins and Baldur's Gate II among my all time favorites. And I know that I will be playing this for many years to come.
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