The Mass Effect Thread

[Nick Adams]

Contemplatively, the physics of an elcor character would be interesting to see. With angered remorse, I think that EA will not allow BioWare to spend that kind of time on something that will not impact the main story. Cheerfully, a Batarian character is far more probable, though.

[Kane's Mullet Slacker]

There's only 6 multiplayer maps and they all appear as N7 missions in single player.

[Herr Matzat]

You are able to get 5000 WITHOUT multiplayer. Many people have done it. So just stop being lazy and blaming multiplayer for ruining your single player when it doesn't.

I did every mission i could find and scanned every system to 100%. I might have missed something just because it´s a big game and some stuff seems to require you going to the citadel betwen every mission, walking past everyone hopeing you might hear about something they talk about. So it´s not very likey at all you can just play ME3 for the first time and just get to 10000 war assets to have the 5000 you need.

A ton of people are complaining about this so go away. (N)

[EddieRuckus]

You are able to get 5000 WITHOUT multiplayer. Many people have done it. So just stop being lazy and blaming multiplayer for ruining your single player when it doesn't.

I did every mission i could find and scanned every system to 100%. I might have missed something just because it´s a big game and some stuff seems to require you going to the citadel betwen every mission, walking past everyone hopeing you might hear about something they talk about. So it´s not very likey at all you can just play ME3 for the first time and just get to 10000 war assets to have the 5000 you need.

A ton of people are complaining about this so go away. (N)

I got 4000 my first playthrough, 50% readiness, didn't even come CLOSE to scanning everything and doing all of the side quests. I didn't even use a guide or anything, I just played organically and didn't even try to look up help online.

Also, don't tell me to go away. If I wanna fucking post on this forum I will

[The Mask of Norro]

... okay, yeah, don't say "go away" when it's a debate about something that has been proven to work already.

I'll say this: yes, Mass Effect is a game series purely built around your choices for your character; however, in making certain choices, outcomes will happen that might not benefit you in the long run. Playing ME3 for the first time, never touching the past two titles? Yeah, probably going to be harder to achieve a perfect ending without building a story over multiple games first and not touching multiplayer. Played through ME1 and ME2? What were your choices in them? See, because, if you fucked up somewhere along the way, you're not getting that 'glorious' perfect ending just because you worked so hard in the self-contained ME3.

Bioware dropped the ball on the pure scale of how your choices affect ME3, sure, but there's one thing that held true: your choices fucked you over big time if they weren't the right ones leading up to this and you're someone who doesn't want to touch multiplayer. If you make every choice right, and get every nook and cranny covered in all three games (including every side mission, every resource, every war asset that can conceivably be earned to obtain the maximum score despite a non-multiplayer readiness multiplier knocking it down), then you will get the required number of resources regardless of your readiness rating. Is it hard? Damn right, that's why it's called a "perfect ending", even if it might not necessarily be worth the effort in the end. You have to fucking earn the thing, not just "try really hard".

Like it or not, Mass Effect as a series has a set path to obtain a perfect ending. You have a ridiculous number of options that can take you in a vast number of directions but, ultimately, only one of them's gonna get you where you want to be if you're against playing through ME3's multiplayer.

EDIT: Oh, also-- since I never actually put in my own two cents on it here-- yes, the ending was heartbreakingly bad. I really can't wait to see what Bioware comes up with in future DLC, because for such an amazing game that capped off such an amazing series, the ending was one of the most lackluster things I've ever played. Hell, I honestly didn't even mind a moment of any of it up to

the point AFTER the Illusive Man final encounter. I thought it was going great, but when Shepard got raised up on the platform... yeah, that's when things went to shit. Also, having Flippy McBlandninja be the technical final boss fight was just depressing... at least gimme some kind of 'final battle' beyond what amounts to a hardcore level on multiplayer at the end. Kind-of a gaming staple, those final boss battles... kind-of happened in the last two games, too.

But yeah, despite that ending? Still worth my buying the Collector's Edition. Worth every damn penny. This game was fantastic and I'll choose to remember it as the worthy sequel that it was with an amazing story built up through three games coming to a crescendo here. The ending was awful, but damn it, the ride made the rest wonderful.

[Ruki]

Norro! Have you watched the Indoctrination Theory video? It will make the ending better (at least, it did in my mind )

[Herr Matzat]

... okay, yeah, don't say "go away" when it's a debate about something that has been proven to work already.

Even if it is theoretical possible to "get all the endings" without multiplayer there are a couple of counter arguments.

1. I did every mission that was presented to me and got every planet scanned that I was able to scan. I ended up with a Total military strength of 6351. ( / 2 = 3175 )... i know the developers tell us that it can be don. I know some of the people that also claim they have don it. But seriously are you telling me i basicly missed half the game? Or am i lacking 4000 points because in my game

Miranda, Mordin and Thane

died?

If you ask me they designed the game for having to play Multiplayer. Saying you don´t have to is just as silly as Bioware pointing at good reviews ignoring the ending or the two and a half players that actually liked the ending. It´s like saying in the right genetic labratory pigs could grow wings and fly.

2. Scanning everything is just booooooooring gameplay.

3. The maps (most? all?) are included in the single player campaign and in my eyes are the most boring missions you get. (more on this you can find in my initial review a few pages back when i beat the game) - So they still interfere with your singleplayer entertainment (just thank god they did not make these 30 Minutes aswell...)

Bioware dropped the ball on the pure scale of how your choices affect ME3, sure,

They did not do to much different from the 1 -> 2 transition. And to be fair it´s very hard to create a game that actually takes all these decisions into the next game. Because the second you move into something that is more than just characters talking you might end up players not getting to play full missions or even characters at all... and thats a lot of design work and money spend on something maybe half your audience will never see. (like saving or killing the collectors base at the end of ME2... if it is around there should be more to it than just talk. But ME just issent that game.).

There were a lot of players running around telling everybody that plaing on x-box was the only way to fully experience mass effect but if you look at how little effect the gennisis comic actually had on your ME2 gameplay you knew better.

But that has nothing/little to do with war assents and multiplayer. They managed to get a better conclusion/showdown with ME2.

ME3s buildup was a bit better (if only because there were less private missions, everything had it´s purpose in the war) but the second you go towards the ceberus main base it just feels like the last third of the game has been choped of.

Still worth my buying the Collector's Edition.

A cheap postcard, a cheap patch, a incomplete comic and an artbook both castrated down to dvd size... well worth paying at least 20€ extra compared to the undiscounted normal game + 10€ dlc you say? I sure would like you to be one of my customers. ^_^

[King Ellis]

I'm Matzat and I hate everything on the Citadel.

[Herr Matzat]

Clearly the right answer when multiplayer is talked about.

[The Mask of Norro]

1. I did every mission that was presented to me and got every planet scanned that I was able to scan. I ended up with a Total military strength of 6351. ( / 2 = 3175 )... i know the developers tell us that it can be don. I know some of the people that also claim they have don it. But seriously are you telling me i basicly missed half the game? Or am i lacking 4000 points because in my game

Miranda, Mordin and Thane

died?

If you ask me they designed the game for having to play Multiplayer. Saying you don´t have to is just as silly as Bioware pointing at good reviews ignoring the ending or the two and a half players that actually liked the ending. It´s like saying in the right genetic labratory pigs could grow wings and fly.

I never said they didn't center the game around multiplayer. You're right there; however, you're wrong in thinking that just because you didn't get the perfect ending because you didn't play it means that it's cheap and unfair that the 'only' way to get it is multiplayer when no, it isn't. You're lacking points because the buildup of your choices from the first two games plus your choices in the third did not get you the necessary number of points to sustain without multiplayer's multiplier.

So you can bitch all you want but the fact remains that if you want the perfect ending you have to play the perfect game. Try getting a hole in one on every course in golf, or hitting a homerun every time you're at bat/pitching a perfect game, or making a touchdown pass with every throw in American Football. Can it be done? Yeah. Are you going to do it? More than likely no. The multiplayer mode is there to make it much, much easier to attain, but without it, the perfect ending is just that: the ending to playing a perfect game.

So yeah, Matz, they designed the game for having to play multiplayer if you absolutely positively have to reach the perfect ending and can't be arsed to play the perfect game, but I'm not going to fault them for making it exactly as difficult to attain as it should be.

2. Scanning everything is just booooooooring gameplay.

Seriously? It's been in place since the first game so if you're seriously complaining about it now then Christ, where have you been? Is it for everyone? No. I personally enjoyed it but that's because I like stupid little things like that, searching around and collecting little things across the galaxy map. It's something I've enjoyed since ME1.

Granted I won't defend this point too heavily-- too many games rely on the "complete every little thing to get the edge" mechanic-- but seriously? It's been around forever now. Regardless of if you think it's boring or not, it's there and in place for you to get the most war assets possible. If you're really wanting the right ending so badly just do the damn thing, it's called a perfect ending for a reason, it's not supposed to be easy.

3. The maps (most? all?) are included in the single player campaign and in my eyes are the most boring missions you get. (more on this you can find in my initial review a few pages back when i beat the game) - So they still interfere with your singleplayer entertainment (just thank god they did not make these 30 Minutes aswell...)

When I played through my single-player run, I didn't touch the multiplayer until after. I honestly did not notice any difference when I was playing in single-player in the maps from the other normal maps. I always think people just give you too much of a hard time for being such a pessimistic prick about things but Jesus, Matz, if you seriously think that those missions interfered so much with your single-player experience that you absolutely had to complain about them and it just ruined the flow of things then I think it's safe to say that whatever Bioware chose to do with this game would have you with your panties in a bunch regardless. There was literally no difference, it was continuing the game in the same flow and direction with the same setup.

I mean shit, there've been maps in ME1 and ME2 that now feel like they could easily be added to the multiplayer mode for their layout. The map layouts felt exactly the same as they have been, if not just a little more polished. You're complaining about it now just because they slapped multiplayer on it and nothing more-- if the multiplayer mode wasn't added and the maps were the same, I'm almost completely positive we'd not hear a peep out of you about it (though I'm also certain you'll be making plenty peeps about this particular paragraph now).

They did not do to much different from the 1 -> 2 transition. And to be fair it´s very hard to create a game that actually takes all these decisions into the next game. Because the second you move into something that is more than just characters talking you might end up players not getting to play full missions or even characters at all... and thats a lot of design work and money spend on something maybe half your audience will never see. (like saving or killing the collectors base at the end of ME2... if it is around there should be more to it than just talk. But ME just issent that game.).

There were a lot of players running around telling everybody that plaing on x-box was the only way to fully experience mass effect but if you look at how little effect the gennisis comic actually had on your ME2 gameplay you knew better.

But that has nothing/little to do with war assents and multiplayer. They managed to get a better conclusion/showdown with ME2.

ME3s buildup was a bit better (if only because there were less private missions, everything had it´s purpose in the war) but the second you go towards the ceberus main base it just feels like the last third of the game has been choped of.

Of course it is, I'm not implying that. What I'm implying is that ultimately, BioWare dropped the ball because they built it up that it was going to be something more. I'm not expecting my choice involving the Rachni Queen, for example, to cause the entire Rachni branch of the game to either exist or not exist at all. That's far too grand scale and could have seriously shortened the game a big chunk with that and other areas; however, BioWare built up that my choices were going to have massive ramifications and they didn't. It changed my war asset bonuses, but that was it. A little number to add up towards that ending. Shit, I didn't even get a mention of it during the ending build-up where

Joker was listing off the fleets coming in to the Alliance's aid. There were most of the people there, sure, but I never really saw the Rachni despite my saving the queen and getting her out of there. Even in the montage of different races working together, the Rachni weren't fighting there with them. The whole time I was left wondering where the hell they ran off to when the Crucible was complete.

So yeah, I wasn't expecting game-changing results on a grand scale-- as you said, that wasn't the case with ME1 to ME2, and it wasn't going to be the case going into ME3; however, BioWare insisted that it would be, and they shouldn't have done that. They shouldn't have built up the hopes of the fanbase, because ultimately they weren't going to be able to attain that goal. They made a perfectly fine game in my opinion, one that was a worthy addition to the series and a fulfilling cap-off to the story aside from that ending. They didn't need to do anything more, but they insisted that they were going to.

When you swear up and down that you're putting out the best thing since sliced bread and you put out something that's really great, but not on that level, there's going to be some amount of disappointment to be had in the aftermath.

A cheap postcard, a cheap patch, a incomplete comic and an artbook both castrated down to dvd size... well worth paying at least 20€ extra compared to the undiscounted normal game + 10€ dlc you say? I sure would like you to be one of my customers. ^_^

And, speaking as a manager of GameStop, I sure do hate it when I have to deal with customers like your pessimistic ass.

I like the patch, figure I'll wear it to work, be a little extra thing to have around and help sell. The post-card can go up with the other bits of merchandise and posters I have scattered about so that when Lorina and I have our own home and I have my gaming room set-up, it'll be hung up with everything else. An 'incomplete comic' is a stupid complaint, did you sincerely think they were going to just give away the entire series in there? What, were they going to throw in the novels too? We got to sample something that's still coming out for free, stop being such a bitch about it.

The artbook was a normal collector's edition artbook. I liked it, wasn't really expecting a strategy guide sized artbook or anything, that's for certain.

So, for like $20 more I got to support BioWare for a series that I've followed since the first one and enjoyed immensely, got a few extra bits of swag and got the nicer case. Well worth it? Yeah, it was, because unlike you I actually will support the industry that's churned out classics for decades now that I've had the pleasure of buying and enjoying. Is it an industry dominated by big wigs and rich assholes getting successful off of the hard work of others? Yeah, and they'll probably see most of my money for now, but all things change in time. I'll keep supporting the industry, because I know times are changing and the industry will change with it eventually. If there's a game coming out that I love, I'm sure as shit going to see if I can't support it more by getting the Collector's.

Plus, you know, I fucking collect the things, you assuming little shit.

[/rant]

[Kaney]

Norris wins, flawless victory.

[Nick Adams]

Well, I'm about the break one of the ten commandments, because dammit, Norris has the N7 version and I don't, and I WANT ONE. The art book and the trade paperback collection of the most recent Mass Effect comics had me sold on it, but by the time I had the money saved to buy it, all the pre-order N7 versions were sold.

Still, I totally agree with Norris on every point. I especially agree with the part where it isn't that BioWare made a bad game - it's that they hyped it to the point where there was no way that it could realistically meet expectations.

[Your Mom]

I have the N7 too! Covet mine as well!

[Summers]

Scanning was introduced in 2, Norris. Flaw. >_>

Also you called him a prick, but if he called you one he'd be suspended/warned/blah.

Yes he's being negative, plenty. And everywhere. But he does have a small point. The game kinda does require multi to reach the best ending. But hey, BioWare's prerogative and the multi was a blast, so it doesn't bother most of us. I wouldn't have liked only getting 50% of the asset score or whatever, though.

Besides, it's Matzat. We KNOW he's like this. It's nothing new.

I dunno why I'm defending Matzat. Most of Norris' points game-wise are bang on, I agree completely.

[The Mask of Norro]

Scanning was introduced in 2, Norris. Flaw. >_>

Also you called him a prick, but if he called you one he'd be suspended/warned/blah.

Yes he's being negative, plenty. And everywhere. But he does have a small point. The game kinda does require multi to reach the best ending. But hey, BioWare's prerogative and the multi was a blast, so it doesn't bother most of us. I wouldn't have liked only getting 50% of the asset score or whatever, though.

Besides, it's Matzat. We KNOW he's like this. It's nothing new.

I dunno why I'm defending Matzat. Most of Norris' points game-wise are bang on, I agree completely.

Planet exploring started in ME1. Don't care what spin they put on it, it's all the same to me-- perfectionistic gameplay that happens to cater perfectly to me

And yes I called him an assuming little shit (didn't really call him a prick-- "I always think people just give you too much of a hard time for being such a pessimistic prick"-- was more saying others did). Because he was being one in his last sentence there. If he called me one I wouldn't suspend/warn/blah him, that's just stupid and the only reason you're even making the comment is because I'm a mod. My 'rank' here doesn't exactly prohibit me from interacting with other posters the way they'd interact with each other, and I'm certainly not going to try and say something that I'd only get away with because of it.

If Matz thinks I'm being anything negative then by all means he can call me on it, it's not like others have been warned in the past because they expressed distaste towards a mod. It's when they go overboard with it that it's an issue, so let's not try and play that card here.

Also I know he's like this but it's hard for me not to play into it a bit when he's basically judging me because I bought the Collector's edition, which was where calling him an assuming little shit came from in the first place. His little snippet was unnecessary and intended only to aggravate and I called him out on it

Anyway, agree to disagree on the ending really. I think it's about time games with multiple endings and one 'perfect' ending require you to bust your ass and play 'perfectly' to attain it, and not just work really hard at it. The multiplayer helping it part, to me, was nice because it made an easier outlet to attain it, but really if I had no means of going online with the game I wouldn't be too fussed, a perfect ending should be as the name implies.

[Kaney]

Can someone please explain to me something about the endings, with absolutely no spoilers at all since I'm just about to do the Cerberus base? I realise it's pretty vague but that'll do. I'll add spoiler tags for discussion, but remember, if you spoil the story, you're getting a harsh worded PM from me. Really harsh.

I haven't found out what the endings are, but as far as I can gather theres three endings that are all virtually identical barring some colour changes? Is that correct? Because Norris talking about a perfect ending makes it seem as though there are some major changes that can happen depending on what your final stats are.

I know it's hard to explain, I just want a simple quick answer, is it all the same ending or can it swing drastically? Because if it alters a lot then I will strive for as perfect as I can, but if it's all pretty much the same then I will just finish the game. Is it worth going mental on multi and scanning everything, basically?

On an unrelated note, has anyone read the ME novels? Any good?

[Ruki]

Can someone please explain to me something about the endings, with absolutely no spoilers at all since I'm just about to do the Cerberus base? I realise it's pretty vague but that'll do. I'll add spoiler tags for discussion, but remember, if you spoil the story, you're getting a harsh worded PM from me. Really harsh.

I haven't found out what the endings are, but as far as I can gather theres three endings that are all virtually identical barring some colour changes? Is that correct? Because Norris talking about a perfect ending makes it seem as though there are some major changes that can happen depending on what your final stats are.

I know it's hard to explain, I just want a simple quick answer, is it all the same ending or can it swing drastically? Because if it alters a lot then I will strive for as perfect as I can, but if it's all pretty much the same then I will just finish the game. Is it worth going mental on multi and scanning everything, basically?

On an unrelated note, has anyone read the ME novels? Any good?

The 'perfect ending' gives you an additional 5 second cut scene. Something you will be able to find online no problem.

To get it, your war assets need to be at 5000+ AND you have to choose correctly.

[Sam]

Ergh the ending ruined what had been a perfect game for me.

Spoilers discuss a couple of points, and THAT ending.

Didn't realise I was going to wipe out the entire Quarian race when I sided with Legion and the Geth and then he bloody died, Tali killing herself as a result of my incomprehension of the damage I was doing was particularly damaging. At least I righted the wrongs that had been done to the Krogan though. That fight with the ninja guy got on my nerves, I took an age to finish it!

As did any fight with banshees, they scare me so much, just go warp crazy on them.

Not being able to romance Jacob made me sad, what was the point of romancing him in ME2? Mind considering the ending it made no difference as I died giving my soul to the citadel or whatever the green ending is.

I'm just sad that I wasn't able to have everything nicely wrapped up, I mean Garrus, Jacob, Jack, the other Korgan from the tank... forgotten his name, Wrex, Kaiden, Liara and James are still out there and I don't know what they're doing. Would have loved to have just had 5 or 10 minutes of footage showing the different worlds and their reaction to the defeat of the Reapers. Would have also been nice to see Kaiden dealing with the loss of his sexy femshep. Instead I see a crashed Normandy with Joker and EDI, which whilst being a relationship I enjoyed seeing develop was not something I wanted to have as my final memory of Mass Effect. Not even going to mention the tell me another story granpa bit at the end.

Edited April 3, 2012 by Sam

[Ruki]

Ergh the ending ruined what had been a perfect game for me.

Spoilers discuss a couple of points, and THAT ending.

Didn't realise I was going to wipe out the entire Quarian race when I sided with Legion and the Geth and then he bloody died, Tali killing herself as a result of my incomprehension of the damage I was doing was particularly damaging. At least I righted the wrongs that had been done to the Krogan though. That fight with the ninja guy got on my nerves, I took an age to finish it!

As did any fight with banshees, they scare me so much, just go warp crazy on them.

Not being able to romance Jacob made me sad, what was the point of romancing him in ME2? Mind considering the ending it made no difference as I died giving my soul to the citadel or whatever the green ending is.

I'm just sad that I wasn't able to have everything nicely wrapped up, I mean Garrus, Jacob, Jack, the other Korgan from the tank... forgotten his name, Wrex, Kaiden, Liara and James are still out there and I don't know what they're doing. Would have loved to have just had 5 or 10 minutes of footage showing the different worlds and their reaction to the defeat of the Reapers. Would have also been nice to see Kaiden dealing with the loss of his sexy femshep. Instead I see a crashed Normandy with Joker and EDI, which whilst being a relationship I enjoyed seeing develop was not something I wanted to have as my final memory of Mass Effect. Not even going to mention the tell me another story granpa bit at the end.

How can you forget Grunt?

Also...

If you believe in this theory, you'll feel better about the ending

Anytime someone dislikes the ending, I will be sharing this video >_>

[Sam]

How can you forget Grunt?

Also...

If you believe in this theory, you'll feel better about the ending

Anytime someone dislikes the ending, I will be sharing this video >_>

... interesting but doesn't change the fact I wanted to see some happy salarians and turians celebrating their win, a link to the past style ending! Also the one thing I don't like about killing the reapers is that you kill the geth, the same geth who I seemingly sacrificed the Quarians for, seems unfair I have to then kill them all...

Edited April 3, 2012 by Sam