Mass Effect series discussion

[Pluvia]

But 95% of the criticism isn't constructive and could literally be boiled down to "Waaaaah!". There's 3 main different endings and 16 variances of those, and if you were expecting anymore you're really overestimating the processing power of 2 DVD's and an Xbox 360.

Spoiler

And look at how you'd make the endings better, would you have an epilogue that says "2000 years later the Krogan wiped out the galaxy"?

 

[theeboredone]

I want to know how my decisions impacted the galaxy as a whole. Would saving "X" result in the destruction of "Y"? Would saving X, but also saving Z = the destruction of "X" instead of "Y"? Mass Effect is all about the decisions you make as a player. From the diplomatics to the war. I know for a fact Bioware has the ability to add some semblance of our character's decisions to the ending, because they did it so well leading up to that point. I have faith that the writers at Bioware can pull it off.

Spoiler

If anything, I just smell some greedyness coming from EA/Bioware.

I agree that a good chunk of the criticism is just whining, but again I say this, they have that right. The reason for that is, there is a huge majority from all sorts of gaming websites that are siding with this and translating the "whining" to said criticism. Hell, even ESPN had an article on Mass Effect. That's how big the series is. You wanna down talk people whining, then what about fans who blindly praise games without a sense of objectivity? You can't have it one way over the other.

 

[Pluvia]

From what I've seen the majority of game websites have been opposing the whining. It got amazing reviews in the majority of websites yet you see fans giving it things like 0/10. How this gets 0/10 from fans yet CoD doesn't is something I don't think I'll ever be able to comprehend.

Spoiler

Plus all the endings would be made pointless if you saved the Krogans. People say they want answers, yet a Halo 3 ending would be fine for most people, they just don't realise this.

 

[theeboredone]

Dude, didn't you see CoD user reviews at Meta Critic? That game got trolled harder than ME3 lol. I would never give ME3 a 0/10 for simply one part being poorly done, however, the ending does hold a bit of impact to me personally.

And a lot of the criticism from gaming websites is coming out after the fans reacted. I didn't see many reviews talk about the ending, which makes me wonder if they purposely omitted it, or if there was another reason behind it.

 

[Pluvia]

CoD will come out around November this year and make billions. Another Bioware game? Basically nothing seeing as though their "fans" don't care about them.

Look at Black Ops and look at MW3. Black Ops had Ghost, and everyone hated it, complaining about it being almost game breaking. MW3 had Assassin, which was Ghost but worse, yet MW3 made much more money. Mass Effect 3 developes **** loads of it's time into making things that it's fans want, like inside jokes, more RPG elements, every LI and everything Garrus and Tali do after the first game, and what do they get? Threatened to be sued (seriously, check out social bioware) and more hate than most modern dictators.

The fact that not giving a **** about what your fans want (CoD) yet being there for your fans but creating the story you want to tell (Bioware) makes you worse off means that gamers really don't deserve good things. Fans have been hating DLC and games being dumbed down, yet they're too stupid to realise they're the ones causing this to happen.

Even worse is the fact most of the Internet will get down on their knees and gobble anything 4chan has to offer which means that if 4chan wants to troll something it'll basically become the Internet's religion, hence all the damage they managed to do to ME3 before it even came out, despite most of it being bull****.

 

[theeboredone]

Like I said, it's a poor comparison. CoD is by no means a "hardcore" game, whereas you can classify the Mass Effect series just as that. Mass Effect is not going to garner as huge of a audience as CoD, which is also a response to the number of sales it will have. Casual gamers will not complain as much, even though there is a niche audience that does care about the changes, and is not willing to buy the next game. It's just like Madden and other sports games...they are all meant for casual audiences.

Once again, I refer back to Mass Effect being far more story and character driven. It engrosses you in a different matter as opposed to CoD. CoD is simply more "mindless fun."

Also, I think you are overgeneralizing in general, the effects of people hating on games. You mention 4chan, but how many gamers go to 4chan? If Mass Effect sells 1 million copies, how many of those are on 4chan or other gaming communities? With that being said, when a buyer feels like he or she has been ripped off, they are entitled to post their opinion. Whether the company adheres to those opinions is up to them.

Spoiler

Like I said, the ending was garbage, and rightfully deserves the criticism. If anything, I feel like the true ending was purposely cut for DLC + more money, which is far more disappointing than anything else. That's what I will be madder about than anything. I get the feeling, if this is true, I will be satisfied story wise with the ending, but my resentment will be towards the decision of holding the ending back like that.

 

[Master Xanthan]

Looking at Bioware's patient responses to most of the nonsense reactions to the ending has made me realise that it's pointless to make something for fans. I used to be slightly uncertain about DLC like the on disc Gears 3 maps or the Catwoman extension for Arkham City, but after seeing how fans react to Bioware, a company that cares about them, compared to CoD, a company that copies and pastes its games, has made me realise that CoD is the way to go.

Games companies have been becoming more greedy and I wholeheartedly welcome this. I really truely hope that games are divided into 3rds in the future with the other two 3rds made as DLC. If 5 minutes can ruin 5 years for people, yet crappy CoD's make billions, then I really hope that the future of games get less Portal 2 and more Modern Warfare.

So you hope the entirety of gaming turns to crap because fans didn't like the ending to a video game? I'm sorry, but that's the worst logic ever. Plus, people being dissapointed by the ending is justified, it leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Now if all the fans cursed out the Bioware devs or something like that, ok then that is going too far. But posting on the forums and sharing their opinion about the ending is not a bad thing.

 

[theeboredone]

There's also been a positive outlook, such as the charity event in pressuring Bioware to change the ending.

 

[Ignatius]

So I havent played the game because I dont want anything to do with origin, but in watching some stuff on youtube am I correct in that

Spoiler

There are three possible outcomes with the Legion/tali scenario, and all of them lead to Legion sacrificing himself or dying? Because that blows, Legion was my bro

.

 

[Pluvia]

People don't post constructive criticism. This is what I posted about the ending:

Spoiler

So I didn't mind the endings, but I think a lot of constructive criticism is being drowned in "I'm not buying anymore Bioware products" and "5 years were ruined in 5 minutes" comments, which is really annoying because it doesn't help anything, so I decided to give my feedback to what I think other people hate.

1. The Normandy running away. This doesn't make much sense, I have to admit, the Normandy shouldn't run like that in every ending for no reason. If you're going to fix the endings then this should be the first thing you change.

2. The lack of epilogue. One thing that needs to be adressed is what happens next, to an extent. Instead of telling us that everything was pointless because the Krogan wiped out the galaxy 2000 years later, instead tell us "Following Shepard's lead, Wrex was determinded to not repeat the mistakes of the past, and to give the Krogan a place in society as a strong but peaceful race. Putting aside past differences such as the genophage, the Krogan establised alliances with both the Turians and the Salarians in their mission for co-operation." for example.

3. More questions for the Catalyst. Give us the ability to challenge it and ask it questions. You said we don't need to know the answers to this universe by why not? Mass Effect hasn't been about mystery, it's better to have an understanding of the universe than to just blindly accept things. People wont mind getting 3 choices once they can challenge the Catalyst but ultimately realise that this is the only way to beat the Reapers, as despite their EMS score their army will fall eventually.

4. Hope. Show all your allies, or most of them, fighting on Earth before they're enveloped by the explosion. And after it, but before the epilogue, show that despite the dark present, there's ultimately going to be a bright future.

I thinkt that if you do this, a majority of people will be happy.

Now you can agree with that or disagree, that's fine, thing is most people on their forums just plain say they're never buying a Bioware product again or that their rights as a consumer has been violated (I have honestly seen 2 threads this week with people threatening to sue Bioware) but what is that achieving?

Yeah it's ok to show your opinion but Bioware has released 2 statements now saying they're listening, yet people just ignore them completely. The CoD analogy is perfect, Bioware wont have as big an audience as CoD but despite that they try, yet they get far worse treatment despite all the effort they put into this game and can lose millions because fans complain about their ending but do nothing to give advice on how to improve it. CoD on the other hand can completely ignore fans they'll make billions for half the effort and will get away with it.

The 4chan thing also wouldn't be a problem but what I've learnt here is not only will people not challenge 4chan (that Dragon Age lady saying that photoshopped thing everyone believes, as you can see it mentioned without question in most 0/10 reviews) but people also for some insane reason base their opinions on other peoples opinions. It makes **** all difference to me how much people like or dislike something, yet as you could see from that Archangel guy here it makes a difference to him, as for some strange reason he brought up people disliking the ending as some sort of counter to me liking it. What does bother me though is it matters to Bioware, and despite all their best efforts their industry (one that cares about story and fans) is dying off because of the fans. And companies that care very little are thriving.

 

[theeboredone]

The only reason I will not buy another Bioware product is

Spoiler

if the real ending is paid DLC.

It sets a whole other precedent for game companies, and

Spoiler

it's just plain wrong to not have the full main story from the get go.

You wanna put DLC to explore some background story? Okay. You want to introduce more depth to an established character? Okay. Y

Spoiler

ou want to not give the real ending, so you can make more money off of it later? BS.

The only other time I can think of the

Spoiler

"real ending" not being shipped

is Fallout 3. Technically, the DLC following it was

Spoiler

sort of the real ending.

 

[Pluvia]

I think they need to add this cut content back into the finale at least:

Spoiler

Click.

Why they removed that is beyond me I have to agree.

 

[LivewiresXe]

So, I just beat the game, and I've got a random question, although it's not one you'd expect.

Spoiler

Apparently there's 3 endings, but I didn't see any choice to do the "Destroy" or "Control" ones. I mean...I guess the Synthesis one is the "super Paragon, best one", right? And...why is the old guy telling the kid about wondering what life from other planets is like? Shouldn't there be survivors from at least some races other than Earth still left alive well, ON Earth? And oddly enough, the bad ending is the only one where Shepard lives?

 

[Grey Belnades]

I think they need to add this cut content back into the finale at least:

Spoiler

Click.

Why they removed that is beyond me I have to agree.

Why can't I hold all these tears man?

 

[theeboredone]

So, I just beat the game, and I've got a random question, although it's not one you'd expect.

Spoiler

Apparently there's 3 endings, but I didn't see any choice to do the "Destroy" or "Control" ones. I mean...I guess the Synthesis one is the "super Paragon, best one", right? And...why is the old guy telling the kid about wondering what life from other planets is like? Shouldn't there be survivors from at least some races other than Earth still left alive well, ON Earth? And oddly enough, the bad ending is the only one where Shepard lives?

Spoiler

After you can control yourself, you see a blue glowing thing to the left, and a red glowing thing to the right. Those would be the other choices. The green in the middle is what you did. Seems a bit ambiguous I suppose, but if you pay attention to the scene, you'd see what Anderson and TIM are doing.

Hint: Pay attention to the dialogue of the "catalyst" and the imagery they show of Anderson and TIM. There is a lot of symbolism and hidden meanings going on. If you can't figure it out, just let me know and I'll explain.

 

[Pluvia]

So, I just beat the game, and I've got a random question, although it's not one you'd expect.

Spoiler

Apparently there's 3 endings, but I didn't see any choice to do the "Destroy" or "Control" ones. I mean...I guess the Synthesis one is the "super Paragon, best one", right? And...why is the old guy telling the kid about wondering what life from other planets is like? Shouldn't there be survivors from at least some races other than Earth still left alive well, ON Earth? And oddly enough, the bad ending is the only one where Shepard lives?

Spoiler

Technically yes, and FTL travel would still exist it would just be slower.

Speaking of the "bad" ending you mentioned, and about that video you thought spoiled you earlier:

Spoiler

There are so much theories going around that Shepard becomes Indoctrinated at the end. During the events of all 3 games Shepard has spent a lot of time around Reaper tech, such as Soverign, numerous artifacts, the Human Reaper, 2 Reaper destroyers and that thing from "The Arrival".

There's a lot of weird things that happen thoughout the game such as Vega saying "You hear that hum? Is it just me?" which is an incredibly strange thing for a guy whose spent a majority of his life on ships to point out. The only other time someone pointed out something weird like that is if you talk to Kaidan near the Relay Artifact on the Citadel, which turns out to be incredibly important at the end because it's a small Mass Relay.

Things like the kid, who disappears as soon as Anderson appears (and there's a weird Reaper growl when it happens, like in the novels when Greyson resists the Reapers) and who everyone for some reason ignores when he's getting into the shuttle. Then you see shadowy figures and hear whispers in Shepard's dreams (like people who had been indoctrinated sayng they hear voices), and the kid is highlighted by a Reaper light when you approach, and when you finally catch him both you and him are engulfed in flames. Then at the end the kid appears as the Catalyst, and for some reason wants you to pick the 2 options that'll let the Reapers survive, and TIM's choice is blue and Anderson's choice is red. That should be the opposite way around, heck Shepard says to TIM you can't control the Reapers just beforehand.

Anyway there's so much evidence that points towards Indoctrination, just read this, if you can sit down and read through that first post it's really worth it:

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/355/index/9727423/1

So yeah I didn't mind the endings, but I have to admit I love this theory too. Pretty much everyone is now waiting for Bioware to elaborate, and people suspect ending DLC of some sort.

Why can't I hold all these tears man?

I know how you feel. Manly tears were so close to happenning.

 

[Archangel]

What's funny is everyone forgot about/never played Neverwinter Nights 2. I have seen this before. Bioware has failed completely and then made up for it at a later date.

@Pluvia you have a serious lack of intelligence at times, You seem like you should be a smart guy though....so I don't understand...Why....why would you relate a game like CoD to ME? Why would you wish for all games to designed for cheating fans? What the hell is wrong with your mind? Are you really indoctrinated by Bioware and completely under their control?

In any case Halo is not even properly comparable to ME. It's closer but most people only cared about fragging mother****ers, Same thing goes for CoD really. A select few people got into Halo and only they were mildly upset by Halo 3's conclusion. With that said...They did nothing to the extent of Bioware.

Spoiler

It's not like Halo 1,2,3 were heavily choiced based games that all lead to the same end or anything.

If ME series had played like a halo game I am sure their would be alot less money made from the series and there would've also been much less complaining about the ending.

 

[Pluvia]

For someone who types a lot you don't say very much.

Bioware has failed completely and then made up for it at a later date.

What later date?

@Pluvia you have a serious lack of intelligence at times, You seem like you should be a smart guy though....so I don't understand...Why....why would you relate a game like CoD to ME? Why would you wish for all games to designed for cheating fans? What the hell is wrong with your mind? Are you really indoctrinated by Bioware and completely under their control?

You said nothing of relevance here. Scroll up and read again if you have any questions.

In any case Halo is not even properly comparable to ME. It's closer but most people only cared about fragging mother****ers, Same thing goes for CoD really. A select few people got into Halo and only they were mildly upset by Halo 3's conclusion. With that said...They did nothing to the extent of Bioware.

Spoiler

It's not like Halo 1,2,3 were heavily choiced based games that all lead to the same end or anything.

If ME series had played like a halo game I am sure their would be alot less money made from the series and there would've also been much less complaining about the ending.

I don't know where you're getting this same end thing from seeing as though there's 3 with 16 variences.

Mindless FPS shooters is what the fans want (CoD and Halo to an extent) and anything the goes against that is shot down.

If I could choose between the side that extremely overreacts and screams and whines

Spoiler

because they can't make blue babies, and because they never paid attention to the plot in all 3 games and for some deluded reason think that means they can defeat the Reapers through conventional means

to the extent that they're calling for the downfall of one of the few companies that was heavily invested in them, or the side that will soon be just mindless shooters and paid DLC (because what publisher is going to fund games that spends time listening to fans if it means they'll make less money and be crippled, when they could just fund games that don't care about fans and creates generic FPS' that rake in billions) then I choose the developers side.

I really hope games are split up into DLC, or have paid subscrpitions for things such as multiplayer (hope MW4 has this) because while I can choose not to pay for this and I don't like it, I can't stand by the side that is causing this to happen because their whiney actions are destroying the industies that care about them.

Saying "I disliked the ending, here's some constructive critisism" is fine. Saying "I hate the endings I want this company to collapse and I'm going to do everything in my power to tell everyone and the previous 5 years mean nothing to me" isn't. It's disgusting that games like Mass Effect get such hate and CoD games aren't, and the fans are bringing this terrible future of bad quality and DLC upon themselves, they are just too stupid to realise this, and I say good. I can't stand by the side that goes out of its way to cripple industries that try and go against this.

 

[Archangel]

Mindless FPS shooters is what the fans want (CoD and Halo to an extent) and anything the goes against that is shot down.

This alone pretty much says enough about your lack of understanding. There are a huge amount of FPS fans but they make up a small portion of the ME fanbase. Depending on what class(Soldier I'm looking at you) and mode you play one this game can be pretty much a mindless shooting game but that's besides the point. This game is a RPS(Role playing shooter) which is completely different from Galo and **** of Duty. Even better it's a choice based game. If you have never played a choice base RPG then you should know that the decisions you make guide the story and ultimately decide how your game ends. By ending the way it does in ME3

Spoiler

they took money from people who were interested in that kind of game.

Most reasonable people are mad because

Spoiler

they thought they were playing a choice based game but ultimately ME3 took a turn away from that. Legion's death, Mordin's death, thane's death(he was dying anyway) are set in stone. No choice you make changes them. Still, people let them go because they are minor in the grand scheme of things.

What pissed people off was the fact that

Spoiler

the whole series ended up the same way Regardless of your choices. Choosing to save the collector base or choosing to destroy it for example.....that means jack and **** in terms of how the game ends.

Spoiler

"Oh, the point is to say that no matter how hard you try you can't stop what is meant to be!" Even if you think that is deep. That isn't what the game was sold as and that is not why people payed .

The fact that fans feel lied to, betrayed, and tricked by the DEVs is the reason for the uproar over the ending(s). It was lazy, it was sloppy, it was all unprofessional. Period.

If I could choose between the side that extremely overreacts and screams and whines

Spoiler

because they can't make blue babies, and because they never paid attention to the plot in all 3 games and for some deluded reason think that means they can defeat the Reapers through conventional means

to the extent that they're calling for the downfall of one of the few companies that was heavily invested in them, or the side that will soon be just mindless shooters and paid DLC (because what publisher is going to fund games that spends time listening to fans if it means they'll make less money and be crippled, when they could just fund games that don't care about fans and creates generic FPS' that rake in billions) then I choose the developers side.

what kind of people do you talk to on a daily basis that makes you think blue babies are the desired outcome? But I get where you are coming from. You are in love with bioware as a company. Even if the love is 1-sided and they are abusive from time to time you still love them. I get it but I'm not that kind of person. If you would rather lie and say that you ran into a wall then admit bioware gave you a black eye that is fine with me.

You can't generalize a fans as a singular unite of silliness. Some people's whining and complaining may not have a base in reality but surely 90+ % of the millions that payed $200+DLC+Tax for this game are not mad about the lack of goddamn blue babies.

for the record I am not a big fan of Galo or CoD. I respect them for being genuine in the sense that they are what they claim to be. No tricks or marketing tactics really needed. People who like to shoot other people will play them. Other companies could take a lesson or 2 from them.....

I really hope games are split up into DLC, or have paid subscrpitions for things such as multiplayer (hope MW4 has this) because while I can choose not to pay for this and I don't like it, I can't stand by the side that is causing this to happen because their whiney actions are destroying the industies that care about them.

This is just foolishness. You sound more like a child than anyone I've heard. Actions speak louder than words. If you believe the Devs care about you then you are a bigger fool then I thought. They don't even know who you are. They aren't aware that you exist.

Saying "I disliked the ending, here's some constructive critisism" is fine. Saying "I hate the endings I want this company to collapse and I'm going to do everything in my power to tell everyone and the previous 5 years mean nothing to me" isn't. It's disgusting that games like Mass Effect get such hate and CoD games aren't, and the fans are bringing this terrible future of bad quality and DLC upon themselves, they are just too stupid to realise this, and I say good. I can't stand by the side that goes out of its way to cripple industries that try and go against this.

you are comparing apples to....cars when you compare CoD to ME. Stop doing it.

As for the constructive critisism. What makes you think I haven't done that already? Read the Review thread on Bioware. You have alot of people who are so disillusioned by the ending that they rate it separate from the rest of the game. I personally gave the game 10/10 and the ending 2/10 and I stand by my choice.

I do agree with one thing though. The hate for ME is a little bit unfair by some. The whole game and series was is good and still is. Would have been great with a solid ending. I was already going to crown it as the best series I have ever played but I had to take the crown away upon completion. It was a pioneer in it's RPS form of gameplay was great. It had some of the most brilliant moments in the history of gaming and it should not be forgotten or overshadowed by a ****ty ending.

I have to strongly disagree with your statement about bad DLC heavy and the reasoning behind it. The truth is this is the best way to fight against it and if Bioware crumbles as a result of this I won't then it's just a casualty of war. The war itself is between the increasing prices of games that aren't worth it and the original relationship between loyal fans and gamers and companies who don't **** over their base of fans for short term gain.

Basically, You and all those like you who actually sit by and take let companies anally violate you are the cause of this problem. If nobody reacted to the ending, the mass glitches and general sense of being incomplete. Bioware would not only get away with it. They'd milk it with more useless DLC and then go on to do it again. If you really want to take a stand....do something aside from bending over in front of Bioware and EA.

 

[LivewiresXe]

Re: Pluvia (and Boredone), kinda a bit long though.

Spoiler

Well, what's kind of odd to me is that the "Destroy" ending kind of makes little sense as to why the old man would be saying there might be life out there as with the Reapers dying and falling over in front of a bunch of cheering soldiers, there's NO WAY that none of the surviving people, or people in the future would study them and super fast-track back to space exploration. And I can understand people complaining that they don't get to start a family with their LI, since well, it wouldn't be that hard to show say Ashley or Liara or whoever touching her stomach as she steps out of the Normandy or something to imply she's pregnant.

I HAVE heard the theory that the "Control" and "Synthesis" endings are actually the bad ones and that Shepard gets indoctrinated in them. There's some whole weird thing that says about how the Control endings has the Citadel blowing up therefore meaning that it's impossible for the Crucible to EVER be used again, meaning that there's no way the Reapers will ever be stopped in the future. Conversely, there's a theory that in Synthesis, with the new DNA strain including the Reapers, that when they DO come back, they can just instantly Indoctrinate everybody due to the DNA matching or something. So yeah, I've heard the theory about how "Destroy" is actually the "best" ending due to it being the one you're attempting to be steered away from and that it kills the Reapers.

The thing that I didn't like though, is how Harbinger didn't seem like a big deal in the game at all. Like, he was mentioned a few times, but there was no "Harbinger heads to Palaven" or communicating to Shepard, or anything aside from a Reaper that I ASSUME is Harbinger (due to the eye things) blasting at you as you make a break for the Citadel beam. But yeah, with essentially some Asari, Krogan, Salarians, Turians, Quarians, Geth, and potentially Volus/Vorcha/Batarians/Elcor survivors and even possibly a Prothean stranded on Earth, you would have to think that they'd try to make sure their history gets preserved in some way shape or form, so the old guy would have to have known about them on Earth. Though...I guess you could say the old guy and child are descendants of the Normandy crew (it has what, 80-120 crew members on it?) that landed on that jungle planet.

Am I on the right track about any of this so far?

 

[Pluvia]

You completely missed the point Archangel.

Just continue giving severe overeaction hate to Bioware and hope that this somehow convinces publishers to invest more time in fans and make less money and get more hate, than convincing them to invest in generic FPS' and stifle the industry with less creativity.

 

[Archangel]

I'm a fool

I missed the point huh? Let me ask you. If someone was to **** your mother would you suggest ignoring it if the person who ***** her was someone you held in high regard?

 

[Pluvia]

I honestly can't believe I just read that. I think that was quite litterally the worst analogy I've ever seen.

 

[theeboredone]

Arch, simmer down. You don't need to come off as insulting for a discussion.

@Livewire,

Spoiler

If you chose the destroy ending, you should get a scene of Shepard coming out of the rubble in his torn up armor. The biggest implication of that is that he had just escaped indoctrination by choosing to destroy the Reapers. There are a lot of variables pointing towards that. For example, why is the catalyst represented as the boy that has been haunting Shepard's dreams? I didn't know Reapers could read minds. Second, notice how when the catalyst explains what he can do, TIM's action is shown as BLUE (paragon), where as Anderson's action is shown as Red (renegade.) That action is the only time the boy seems to imply, he doesn't want Shepard to do, because it will destroy them.

It's hard to pinpoint the whole epilogue after the credits. It wouldn't make sense in any of the endings so to speak, because the Mass Relays are destroyed, and everyone is stuck in their respective solar system. I am gonna explain it like this. The endings that make the Reapers win, that scene is played out in Shepard's indoctrinated head. If you choose to destroy the Reapers, it's played out as something genuine later on in life. It also doesn't make sense for your squad mates to have magically teleported from the battle field (I took Tali, but she's shown getting off the Normandy?)

And yeah, Harbinger...well, I get the feeling we'll see more of him in DLC.

 

[Archangel]

I honestly can't believe I just read that. I think that was quite litterally the worst analogy I've ever seen.

a yes or no would do.

according to your stance no.

 

[O D I N]

But 95% of the criticism isn't constructive and could literally be boiled down to "Waaaaah!". There's 3 main different endings and 16 variances of those, and if you were expecting anymore you're really overestimating the processing power of 2 DVD's and an Xbox 360.

Spoiler

And look at how you'd make the endings better, would you have an epilogue that says "2000 years later the Krogan wiped out the galaxy"?

This proves the endings aren't different. Not really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPelM2hwhJA&fb_source=message

Don't click unless you've finished the game.

 

[Pluvia]

@Archangel Don't worry we're done.

I'll continue to think people who suggest suing Bioware, saying 5 years were destroyed in 5 minutes, they're never buying another Bioware game again, and comparing the ending to analogues of getting their mother *****, are severely overreacting. You wont be able to convince me otherwise, and likewise I wont be able to convince you from your stance. I wont clog up this thread with more nonsense discussions with you, but feel free to quote this, delete the text, and insert whatever text you want in place of it, I just wont respond.

 

[Archangel]

stuff.

There is no such thing as an overreaction really. It's based on passion, perspective, and perception. The strength of reactions to the game are based on the same amount of passion you have for the game. It is possible for people to love the game without having passion for it. I believe you fit in this category.

 

[LivewiresXe]

Arch, simmer down. You don't need to come off as insulting for a discussion.

@Livewire,

Spoiler

If you chose the destroy ending, you should get a scene of Shepard coming out of the rubble in his torn up armor. The biggest implication of that is that he had just escaped indoctrination by choosing to destroy the Reapers. There are a lot of variables pointing towards that. For example, why is the catalyst represented as the boy that has been haunting Shepard's dreams? I didn't know Reapers could read minds. Second, notice how when the catalyst explains what he can do, TIM's action is shown as BLUE (paragon), where as Anderson's action is shown as Red (renegade.) That action is the only time the boy seems to imply, he doesn't want Shepard to do, because it will destroy them.

It's hard to pinpoint the whole epilogue after the credits. It wouldn't make sense in any of the endings so to speak, because the Mass Relays are destroyed, and everyone is stuck in their respective solar system. I am gonna explain it like this. The endings that make the Reapers win, that scene is played out in Shepard's indoctrinated head. If you choose to destroy the Reapers, it's played out as something genuine later on in life. It also doesn't make sense for your squad mates to have magically teleported from the battle field (I took Tali, but she's shown getting off the Normandy?)

And yeah, Harbinger...well, I get the feeling we'll see more of him in DLC.

Another question though, Boredone.

Spoiler

Since the thing was mentioned about James asking if Shepard heard the 'hum', and the whole bit described...would that not mean that Vega's potentially indoctrinated too? And yeah, I get that Sur'kesh gets cut off, so do Thessia and Palaven, and so does Earth, etc, but...my point was just that each of those planets should have different species on them (i.e. the whole Turian/Salarian/Asari/Human/etc thing) all. Actually...thinking on it, Sur'Kesh especially, and even a little Rannoch get off pretty easy from the whole war. It's Earth/Thessia/Palaven that get messed up bad.

 

[Archangel]

This proves the endings aren't different. Not really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPelM2hwhJA&fb_source=message

Don't click unless you've finished the game.

This nearly killed me. Maybe Puvia should see it. I'm not sure he's completed the game yet. I know he's read spoilers and such though.

 

[theeboredone]

Another question though, Boredone.

Spoiler

Since the thing was mentioned about James asking if Shepard heard the 'hum', and the whole bit described...would that not mean that Vega's potentially indoctrinated too? And yeah, I get that Sur'kesh gets cut off, so do Thessia and Palaven, and so does Earth, etc, but...my point was just that each of those planets should have different species on them (i.e. the whole Turian/Salarian/Asari/Human/etc thing) all. Actually...thinking on it, Sur'Kesh especially, and even a little Rannoch get off pretty easy from the whole war. It's Earth/Thessia/Palaven that get messed up bad.

Spoiler

Yeah, I'm not sure what to think about the whole "hear the humming" sound. I mean, James was pretty green, so it seems weird for him to be hearing it, but then again, I'm no expert on indoctrination. My take is that, with all these races left, and the only place to live is destroyed Earth (in that solar system I mean)...there would not be much resources left, resulting in some civil war between the races. The Krogans would probably come out on top, but that would probably be useless as well given they would have to eventually start eating themselves. It all sets up for a depressing ending when you think about it. I honestly don't know where Bioware plans to go with this stuff, and I hope it is addressed soon.

 

[O D I N]

This nearly killed me. Maybe Puvia should see it. I'm not sure he's completed the game yet. I know he's read spoilers and such though.

Spoiler

If you saw the statement from Casey Hudson, the Executive Producer, he said the ending for Mass Effect 3 was, AND I QUOTE:

Victorious and Uplifting

... Yeah... That ending really made me feel like I ****ing accomplished something...

I feel so much better about everything now too.

 

[Pluvia]

Spoiler

Yeah, I'm not sure what to think about the whole "hear the humming" sound. I mean, James was pretty green, so it seems weird for him to be hearing it, but then again, I'm no expert on indoctrination. My take is that, with all these races left, and the only place to live is destroyed Earth (in that solar system I mean)...there would not be much resources left, resulting in some civil war between the races. The Krogans would probably come out on top, but that would probably be useless as well given they would have to eventually start eating themselves. It all sets up for a depressing ending when you think about it. I honestly don't know where Bioware plans to go with this stuff, and I hope it is addressed soon.

Spoiler

FTL travel is still possible. And due to the whole no Relays thing, they could be 2 years away from making a technology that surpasses it.

 

[Master Xanthan]

Pluvia hasn't actually beaten the game yet, so I'm surprised that he's even talking about the ending right now. Did you actually see the ending?

 

[O D I N]

Behold, the revamped Gentleman's Guide to playing a Vanguard!

 

[Pluvia]

The few scenes I've seen of the ending have been more epic than the dialogue I've read. While I know what's going to happen, the music and drama of the scene in the few seconds I've seen completely blows the text out of the water, so I have been saving it for when I complete it.

 

[sakuraZaKi]

So I hear that you can max out all 8 skills. This true? *_*

Thanks for the Vanguard chart.

 

[mood4food77]

in 1 player, unless for the last few levels you gain that extra 8 points you need, you can't, but you get really close, you can max out all of them except 1 which can get to level 4, and you're left with 3 points

idk about MP

 

[O D I N]

So I hear that you can max out all 8 skills. This true? *_*

Thanks for the Vanguard chart.

Here's a better one;

 

[Archangel]

Spoiler

FTL travel is still possible. And due to the whole no Relays thing, they could be 2 years away from making a technology that surpasses it.

Fun fact: Galaxy = about 115,000 light years in diameter.

Spoiler

even at 20 times the speed of light most of these remaining people would not survive to get anywhere close to their home planets. a few like the asari might live long enough to make it to a close habitable planet over a few hundred light years but they would not have the supplies to last such a trip.

Another note. Mass relays blowing up all over the galaxies are bound to have an impact. Waves of energy are now flowing over the galaxy with untold destructive power.