Mass Effect 3 -

Havoc · #**151** 05-02-2012, 02:15 PM

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I just finished it Sunday night. I'm the kind of guy who can get past the flaws in a favourite franchise, defending, rationalising or accepting them for what they are without it ruining the rest for me, or otherwise simply buying into it even if the writing or explanations aren't all that great.

Can't do it here. I'm just astonished. Surely it was deliberate? I don't know how anyone can screw up that bad by accident, let alone the writing team of Mass Effect.

At the very least I was expecting it to have something to do with Dark Energy messing up stars like that of Haestrom as we learned from Tali and Kal'Reegar in ME2, or an explanation for the Collectors building a Reaper without doing the whole invasion thing. But space magic, illogical bullshit and surrendering to the Reapers' own spoonfed solutions? It took Mass Effect's message, spirit, style, plot, lore and the fundamental rules of storytelling, tore it all down and pissed all over it. It's been three days and I still feel sick.

It's been over a month since I completed it and I still feel sick at the thought that this ending is real. Each time I watch something related to the ending on Youtube every fiber in my body is hoping that the indoctrination theory is right and that Bioware is going to go down in history as the greatest troll ever in video game history.

At the same time I can't imagine someone at the PR department at Bioware (or EA for that matter) would think this is a good idea. This is like commercial suicide. Right now it can go either way though, there is evidence (even from Bioware themselves) that the theory might be right. But we're gonna have to wait for the DLC, I guess.

Bullet Magnet · #**152** 05-02-2012, 04:39 PM

It seems that the main Mass effect writer was taken off the series after ME2 and put to work on Old Republic. If the reports are accurate, he did indeed intend for an ended revolving around the Dark Energy (even now that ME2 thread just left hanging is really bugging me). An ancient race turned themselves into the first Reapers (in the usual way) as a means of developing a solution to the Dark Energy that would consume everything, and they direct the technological evolution of other species and then harvest them in order to make new Reapers to add to their computational and implementational ability. This cycle was their last chance, and so the Collectors were made to scour the galaxy for a species that would make the perfect Reaper to complete this purpose, solve the problem and save all things. "We seek salvation, ours and yours." Shepard's choice would be to allow this, sacrificing humanity for the good of all, or destroying the Reapers and hoping modern civilisation can do it themselves. The ultimate Paragon and Renegade choice, though I'm not sure which is which.

Alternatively, this guy fixed the Reaper's origin, the star-child's identity, the purpose of the three choices, Shepard's appropriate response and the proper application of all those decisions and war assets in this spectacular re-write.

Dixanadu · #**153** 05-10-2012, 07:19 AM

If the Catalyst created the Reapers, why does he go on to say the created will always rebel against the created? Seriously, the ending was bullshit. I enjoy the rest of the game immensely, but the last five minutes always fucking annoy me.

Also, this:

OANST · #**154** 05-10-2012, 07:55 AM

But again, everyone is bitching about the logic of it not working when clearly it doesn't need to. I didn't accept that the people that set this in motion contained no flaws, and that their logic was supposed to be undeniable. Look at the governments of our world. Do they never make stupid decisions based on faulty logic? Why can't that be the case here?

Havoc · #**155** 05-10-2012, 08:08 AM

Because as an ending to what is otherwise an epic and solid story, it just feels like a slap in the face. You simply don't introduce new characters or new backstory on the last page of a book or in the last 30 seconds of a movie. If they wanted to introduce a flawed universe they should have done so earlier.

OANST · #**156** 05-10-2012, 08:34 AM

I'm not saying that it's a particularly good ending. I will never say that. I just don't think that it's as disgusting as people seem to think. And how many mediocre space operas end up having good endings anyway? It's the journey, man. It's the journey.

Wings of Fire · #**157** 05-10-2012, 12:28 PM

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It's the journey, man. It's the journey.

Just like them Dark Tower books. Or any Stephen King book, really. Right?

Mac Sirloin · #**158** 05-10-2012, 12:34 PM

HEY. Under The Dome is a materpiece. You watch your mouth.

OANST · #**159** 05-10-2012, 12:43 PM

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Just like them Dark Tower books. Or any Stephen King book, really. Right?

Except that the journey stopped being good after the fourth book, or I would agree with you.

Wings of Fire · #**160** 05-10-2012, 02:12 PM

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Except that the journey stopped being good after the fourth book, or I would agree with you.

I thought you hated the fourth book and I loved it?

We can all agree the fifth book onwards sucked though! Let's talk about how much it did again.

OANST · #**161** 05-10-2012, 02:43 PM

I didn't like that the fourth book contained so many contradictions, but other than that it stands mountains above the following three.

Edit: I'm so ashamed of myself because I am very tempted to buy the new Dark Tower book that just came out.

Bullet Magnet · #**162** 05-16-2012, 03:50 PM

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But again, everyone is bitching about the logic of it not working when clearly it doesn't need to. I didn't accept that the people that set this in motion contained no flaws, and that their logic was supposed to be undeniable. Look at the governments of our world. Do they never make stupid decisions based on faulty logic? Why can't that be the case here?

It can be, disappointing as that is, comparable to what the prequels did to Darth Vader (is it even possible for a civilisation that can't do basic logic to advance computing to the point of godlike AI?). What is especially jarring is that Shepard does not argue with that asshole's stupid logic. There's no option to stick it to the bastard and gamble on the assembled fleets.

Actually seeing all the assets we had gathered in action would have been fantastic. From the Geth fleets covering the Destiny Ascension to Garrus and Wrex holding out against husks together in London. Even if they had lost, and losing was the only possibility, that would have been more satisfying. Having no choice at the end, just hopeless inevitability in the face of impossible odds, would have been harrowing but vastly superior to the insult of three non-choices that don't even make sense. We'd still be ticked off, but the ending was so incompetent that even railroading this way is an improvement.

AlexFili · #**163** 05-17-2012, 09:32 AM

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Just like them Dark Tower books. Or any Stephen King book, really. Right?

Love em.

They've made the Premium Spectre Packs and Jumbo Equipment Packs permanent now which is ace.

OANST · #**164** 05-17-2012, 01:49 PM

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It can be, disappointing as that is, comparable to what the prequels did to Darth Vader (is it even possible for a civilisation that can't do basic logic to advance computing to the point of godlike AI?). What is especially jarring is that Shepard does not argue with that asshole's stupid logic. There's no option to stick it to the bastard and gamble on the assembled fleets.

Actually seeing all the assets we had gathered in action would have been fantastic. From the Geth fleets covering the Destiny Ascension to Garrus and Wrex holding out against husks together in London. Even if they had lost, and losing was the only possibility, that would have been more satisfying. Having no choice at the end, just hopeless inevitability in the face of impossible odds, would have been harrowing but vastly superior to the insult of three non-choices that don't even make sense. We'd still be ticked off, but the ending was so incompetent that even railroading this way is an improvement.

I don't disagree. It wasn't good. I just don't think it was the worst thing I've ever seen.

Havoc · #**165** 05-17-2012, 02:21 PM

I am actually having a hard time coming up with a worse conclusion to an otherwise good story. Maybe Command & Conquer... but at least we knew that was doomed the second EA took over.

Still, I'm putting my faith in the DLC and giving Bioware a chance to set things straight. I hope they use it.

OANST · #**166** 05-17-2012, 02:30 PM

I wish they wouldn't. I just don't see how changing your story just to placate people, no matter how bad it was, can be a good thing. There is no way that they will change it enough to please anyone, and like WoF said, it's basically artistic prostitution.

Varrok · #**167** 05-18-2012, 12:04 AM

The ending will not be changed, they stated it'll only try to 'explain' things like 'what happened to XXX' in the form of FMVs, afair

Havoc · #**168** 05-18-2012, 01:56 AM

Yes, but that means the Indoctrination Theory is still possible, or something like it. Bioware said at some point that 'if people only knew what we were planning, all this wouldn't be happening'. So I'm putting my faith in that phrase and hope they still blow my mind.

Varrok · #**169** 05-18-2012, 02:58 AM

Bioware said a lot of things, including one that there will not be "A, B or C"-style endings in ME3. And if they wanted to blow your mind, they'd do it in original game (they kinda did, didn't they?)

Havoc · #**170** 05-18-2012, 03:10 AM

Stop messing with my faith

Bullet Magnet · #**171** 05-18-2012, 01:44 PM

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I don't disagree. It wasn't good. I just don't think it was the worst thing I've ever seen.

It's made worse by the quality of what preceded it and the expert way they invested me in the story, characters and world. And living vicariously through the fiction doesn't help either.

They'll never placate everybody, just as you can't make something so awful that everyone hates it. But there is a good balance to strike, and they hit far too close to the "something so awful" side of the equation.

Dixanadu · #**172** 05-22-2012, 08:35 AM

The ending is bad, but I don't think it ruins the whole game. There's still some brilliant moments in the game, like the Tuchanka campaign.

Damn that was perfectly done.

Bullet Magnet · #**173** 05-22-2012, 02:47 PM

I don't think it ruins the whole game either. But every time I play it now, and the others, it's like taking a fantastic holiday, all the while knowing that at the end of it some mobster is going to break my kneecaps.

OANST · #**174** 05-22-2012, 02:52 PM

I think I must just be more used to life sucking than the rest of you.

Disgruntled Intern · #**175** 05-22-2012, 03:30 PM

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Edit: I'm so ashamed of myself because I am very tempted to buy the new Dark Tower book that just came out.

If you don't then you've forgotten the face of your father.

OANST · #**176** 05-22-2012, 03:34 PM

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If you don't then you've forgotten the face of your father.

I actually already did. I bought it yesterday so that I would have something to read on the plane.

Edit: Just to make sure eeeeeeeveryone has noticed, and that I'm bragging just enough, when I say plane, I mean the plane to San Francisco. And when I say the plane to San Francisco, I mean the plane to San Francisco that Double Fine paid for so they could fly me out to their studio, and show me their new game.

Just wanted to be clear about that.

Disgruntled Intern · #**177** 05-22-2012, 04:13 PM

Edit: nevermind. read your blog.

Bullet Magnet · #**178** 05-26-2012, 06:52 PM

Hazel-Rah · #**179** 06-02-2012, 01:10 AM

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The ending is bad, but I don't think it ruins the whole game. There's still some brilliant moments in the game, like the Tuchanka campaign.

Damn that was perfectly done.

That and Thessia were my favorite missions.

I'd have to pick defending Thessia as one of my favorite moments in the trilogy. It's amazing how increasingly hopeless that entire situation felt and how inspiring the conversation with Anderson felt afterwards. Plus Kai Leng is a badass and I felt like he clashed with the aesthetics of this franchise in a good way.

Also to me it seemed that they ramped up the difficulty in ME3 which I liked; however, ME2 is still my favorite because of loyalty missions.

Bullet Magnet · #**180** 06-02-2012, 09:38 AM

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Also to me it seemed that they ramped up the difficulty in ME3 which I liked

Unless you're playing an Adept optimised for power speed and crowd control. Even on Insane it's a chaotic melee of biotic explosions and weightless Cerberus guys flying around.