Let me preface this by saying that my review is based on the story and observing the game-play. I did not actually play Mass Effect 3; I watched Mark play. I experienced Mass Effect 2 in the same manner, as well as a number of other games. I've taken my games this way, since I watched Ryan play Metroid 2 way back in the day. Because this is how I absorb most games, I focus quite a bit on the story. A game with great combat means nothing to me without a great story. This is precisely why I am not a reviewer of games. I'm making a special exception for Mass Effect 3.
As a standalone game, Mass Effect 3 is quite good. However, as a followup to Mass Effect 2, it has been found wanting. This may not seem fair, but the series is based on the idea that your decisions matter. This in itself draws comparisons between the games. The first game, which we never actually finished, had problems with the combat system, according to Mark. He assured me those problems had been fixed by the second game.
Mass Effect 3's problems begin with what they left out from the second game when transitioning into the third game. In the second game, it was important to interact with your crew and finish their personal missions in order to earn their loyalty. This made the game feel epic. If we weren't nice to Jack in the second game, it could impact the ending we received. She could die. Each character was important, as were your interactions with them.
Mass Effect 3 abandons that particular device. You still have missions that highlight different characters stories and personal plot, but you are no longer earning loyalty. Your personal conversations with Garrus are less important in this game. Additionally, the romance subplot is also reduced. The options are there, but it doesn't feel as if you've earned it. After experiencing a game where taking the time to talk to your crew meant something, your interactions with them in this game feel a bit hollow. That game is still good, and there are still great moments with the characters. Unfortunately, without having played with them in Mass Effect 2, you wouldn't care as much.
There have been positive additions to the game in the form of the multiplayer. To be able to attempt the final battles in the game, your galactic readiness must reach a certain percentage. Playing the multiplayer portion of the game will increase that rating, helping you reach the end of the game. It doesn't have much bearing on the game otherwise, but Mark felt it was a nice enough addition.
The makers swapped out another type of preparation in Mass Effect 3. In the second game, you scanned planets to obtain resources. For whatever reason, I really liked doing this. It was one of the few things I actually contributed by doing. Mark had to go pee? No problem! I would scan planets! In the third game, you scan the galaxies to discover planets and wreckages from which to collect resources. Most of the time, it just summoned reapers, which you had to fly away from. It turns out that a lot of players didn't like scanning planets in the second game, so this is probably an upgrade for most. I just really liked scanning the planets. I blame Tricia Helfer.
Casting for Mass Effect 3 carried on the tendency to be awesome that the second game established. As far as I know, all the major players returned. It's refreshing to have the characters you know and love continue to speak in the voices you are familiar with. It doesn't hurt that some of those voices are Martin Sheen, Keith David, and Seth Green. Mass Effect 3 nails the voice acting.
While the sounds are good, the visuals suffer at times. The uncanny valley is alive and well in the human characters. There is an exchange between Shepard and Joker that is almost un-watchable. This problem isn't present when watching the alien characters; as a matter of fact, the Asari, not my favorite race, look amazing.
In a previous post, I discussed the downloadable content. It turns out that we have more downloadable content on the way, some of which is going to be free. I'm not sure why some of the upcoming dlc is free. It could be a goodwill act on the part of the game-makers, or it could be in response to the cries of the masses who were unhappy with the ending of the game.
You might be wondering why anyone would be unhappy with the ending of Mass Effect 3. The ending you received in the second game was influenced by your choices throughout. Because of this fact, you would expect that if you didn't like your ending, you just didn't do the right behaviors to earn the best finale. You could play through again to improve your decisions, allowing you to earn the coveted final scene.
Before you read further, be aware that I am going to discuss the ending of Mass Effect 3. I'm not going to go into too much detail, but the general statements I will be making will clue you in to what you have to look forward to as the game closes. If you want to go in completely blank, don't read the next paragraph.
If you're sure you want to be here, I'm going to tell you about the biggest problem with Mass Effect 3. As I said before, Mass Effect 3 is successful as a stand-alone game. What the game-makers forgot is that it is not meant to stand on its own. They promised that your decisions would impact how the story ended, what happened to the characters you had spent so much time with. In the end of Mass Effect 3, it doesn't matter what you did. Who you saved is unimportant. What you achieved is unimportant. You will receive a canned ending that means nothing. It actually undoes much of what you spent three games creating. There are giant plot holes. There are decisions beyond your control that cause characters to act contrary to their established behavior patterns. Very little in the final moments of Mass Effect 3 is acceptable. I can not hope to understand the decisions made by the game-makers, but those decisions allow the Mass Effect saga to end with a whimper. Actually, a whimper would have been better than the messy direction they decided to take.
To those of you that stopped reading to keep away from spoilers, welcome back. It's time to re-visit the idea of the dlc. Soon, there will be dlc for Mass Effect 3 that will flesh out the ending a bit. It will be free, but it will not change the ending. I like to think this is the game-makers offering an apology to the masses that are displeased with the ending, but I don't imagine that is actually the case.
If you played Mass Effect 3, you will feel compelled to play Mass Effect 3. Heck, you probably beat it weeks ago. In that case, I'm sorry. The game itself, while not as epic feeling or fulfilling as Mass Effect 2, is solid. It's a fun play with some very touching moments. It's those moments that let me know that the ending could have been spectacular. Instead, it is what it is. Check it out and let me know what you think.
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