Mass Effect 3 review

[Attachment 8883]The first two instalments of the Mass Effect series are widely considered to be some of the best games ever made. Certainly they rank among the greatest RPGs. With the outstanding quality of their story telling, and their stunning audio and visuals, they set the bar so high for the third instalment that some began to wonder if disappointment was inevitable.

Thankfully the doubters have been proven wrong, as with Mass Effect 3 Bioware has not only cleared the bar, but they raised it several notches before doing so.

The game is not without its problems. There are numerous visual glitches, importing character appearance from Mass Effect 2 saves doesn't work, one of the quest lines in the 0-day DLC crashes the game (though can be completed with a bit of well timed button mashing), and like all Bioware titles, the first hour is rough and just a little slow.

There has also been a great deal of backlash at the game's endings. Having seen all three endings myself, I don't understand this backlash, though I do know that many others feel let down. Obviously a review is not the best place to discuss the endings of a game, so I won't. All I will say is that the backlash relates only to one aspect of the endings, and overall, you won't be disappointed with their scale or impact.

[Attachment 8884]The game play in Mass Effect 3 takes a solid step forward from previous instalments, with a lot more movement introduced to combat, and much more effective AI, both for your squad members and the enemies. The movement and cover system takes quite a while to get used to, but is ultimately quite fluid and enjoyable.

While the game is still most certainly an RPG, for better or worse a lot of the 'fat' has been trimmed. Mini-games are non-existent (though there are a few minor environmental puzzles), scanning has been greatly simplified, and most side quests are acquired automatically by overhearing conversations. Much like Mass Effect 2, exploration of the Citadel (the focal point of activities) is quite limited, but a few quests allow you to step outside these restrictions and see the Citadel in amazing detail.

[Attachment 8885]Visually the game is breathtaking. It may lack some of the polish delivered by the modern super-engines used in games like Rage and Battle Field 3, but the cut scenes are framed expertly, and the scenery is simply amazing. Character animation is a little stiff, and facial animation often leaves a lot to be desired, but overall the graphics come together to really add to the story telling experience.

While the graphics could have been better, the same cannot be said about the sound track. It is hard to imagine how the audio could have been improved. The voice acting was of the highest quality, and the sound effects were atmospherically perfect. As always the musical score delivered that extra emotional kick to every scene, and this game is all about emotion.

[Attachment 8886]It is hard to discuss how amazing the writing in Mass Effect 3 is, as to do so in any detail would be to ruin the readers' experience. But there are moments in this game where you will feel desperation, sorrow, regret, and on rare occasions relief and joy (which is appreciated even more in the grim setting of war). While the Mass Effect series has always delivered a choice system that felt meaningful, Mass Effect 3 takes it to the next level. You will agonise over your choices, and on occasion you will want desperately to take the decisions you have made back.

I am not afraid to admit that there was at least one scene in Mass Effect 3 that caused me to shed a tear or two. It was one of the most emotional experiences I have had invoked by a story in any medium. Reading a book, or watching a television series, you develop an attachment to the characters. Playing Mass Effect, you develop a relationship with the characters.

[Attachment 8887]If you are a fan of science fiction, RPGs, or even just a fan of a good story, then you will love the Mass Effect trilogy. Whether you will love Mass Effect 3 on its own is another story. Bioware claims that this latest instalment is as accessible to new players as it is to diehard fans, but I have my doubts. I feel the story is just too complex, and that new player's lack of connection with the game's characters will be highly detrimental.

While it has been claimed Mass Effect 3 has a solid 30 hours of game play in the main story, I found the true figure to be closer to 15 to 20 hours. But given the superb quality, it is still a bargain at AU$80.

<div class="score-area"><img class="score-image" style="border:none;" src="http://img.gamers-underground.com/gu-style/review-pc-10.png"><div class="score-blurb">If you played and enjoyed the first two instalments, you must play this latest instalment. Even if you do end up disappointed with the ending, you will not regret playing the game. If you haven't played the earlier games then you should consider doing so, but even if you don't, I think Mass Effect 3 offers enough that you can't go wrong giving it a shot.</div></div>

I am excite.

The only thing I'd take a quarter or even half a point away for is the SPACE BAR IS FOR EVERYTHING control decision, the annoyance of this in multiplayer can't even be described.

context based controls are good, when the system allows for a clear indicator of the context in question... looking at a guy at your feet - seeing the message PRESS SPACE TO REVIVE - then hitting SPACE to revive him, the context is clearly NOT "i want to dive into that cover 4m behind me"

played a round the other night on that interior map with all the metalwork overhead, me and a squadmate trying to activate a comm router - we just could not trigger it! looked like 2 retards fighting to be the one who got to lick the podium it was sitting on.

I was really annoyed with the SPACE issue as well, until a certain fight that required an insane amount of movement. It burnt the cover system controls in to my mind, and after that I actually found it to work quite well.

Takes a hell of a lot to get used to though.

Though I have to admit I would have much prefered a seperate key for activating objects.

The space for all movement and cover works when you get used to it, but the activation is a tad annoying as the activation area is usually a tiny spot on a huge cover surface.

Until you have to activate an object that's close to cover(s) with dying squadmates at your feet and a turret overlooking your position.

yeah, what Jay said, it's in MP that's a real clusterfuck control option. Haven't had a prob with it in SP (though i still hate that running past an object still 9/10 makes you leap against it like some kind of magnetised motherfucker).

The thing i hate most about TF2 is the unforgiving environment in terms of: if you touch a PIXEL of a doorway, you can't get through it til you strafe aside from it. In ME3 if you touch a pixel of an object, or run near it, or look at it sideways at, think about it, or otherwise consider the meta-ness of it as an object - you leap against it like some kinda proponent of box fetishism - then you have to perform mad jutsu to disengage from it(space and W having the annoying habit of throwing you EXACTLY where you don't want to go).

I think they could have easily made E or Q activate keys. I can count the number of times I actually used them to control my squad on one hand (though I don't know what function they serves in multiplayer).

none that i know of. But yeah, it's the only blemish I've found in the game so far (not far into the story but have racked up a few hours in MP now) :)

I agree with your review 100%.

I fucking LOVE this game.
Three play-throughs and still want to do more :p

Fuck you Bioware... worst endings ever.

I am on my second complete play through now. I have to say it is shocking how unpolished that starting block is compared to the rest of the game. It really is the weakest point of the game.

And I still don't understand people's objections to the endings. I thought they were fantastic. But horses for courses I guess.

Fuck I hope this doesn't get GOTY, id rather a good game gets it.

I just played ME2 so I'm ready to play ME3. I can barely stomach reading the above review. I enjoyed ME2 but it's only a pretty scifi dating sim corridor shooter with levels smaller than 1/16th of a doom level. The writing is ok the story is ok. Customisation is fun. Smashing chicks is fun. If the writing wasn't ok I wouldn't have played it. If you think this is good scifi writing the good news for you is that there's a whole range of great books for you to read. Anyway, bring on ME3. Hopefully it's cheaper than $80 and is atleast as good as 2.