Re: Mass Effect 3
 

Being as vague as possible.

Do you have a problem with the ending?
Seems to be a lot of backlash against Bioware/EA for that. Even as far as gamers setting up petitions to get Bioware to change it.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

What a shitty ending to one of the greatest stories ive experienced. It leaves so much un-answered and just destroys a lot of the mood the other games built up. It doesnt explain what happens to anyone other than implying what happens to the crew of the Normandy(which I dont even know why they were in that situation in the first place. Seriously, wtf?). I spent all this time uniting a divided galaxy, bringing everyone together to face this threat as one force, but now the galaxy is more separated than ever before, not to mention that a majority of every alien races defence is left in the Sol system. Theres just no happy endings here, and thats really all I wanted to see, even if it was just a cliche ending like "you saved the galaxy, heres some medals and an award ceremony followed by kissing your lover, the end" It was just a really disappointing ending that they could have so very easily made better instead of retarded. Uhg.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

Jesus Christ, what a horrible idea.

"Good ending DLC, only $10!"

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

Well there are 16 endings. Is that not enough?

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

Evidently not. I guess there is some overarching plot line that people don't like, regardless of which ending you choose? Maybe the endings only have subtle differences.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

From what I gather there are 3 "main" endings with some minor variations.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

well I know for a fact right off the bat it matters if you saved the collector base in ME2, which splits the endings right up the middle, so it cant be 3 endings.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

How do you know it matters? Have you actually played through both endings, or read plot summaries for each one?

Mass Effect has a way with taking choices you made in previous games, seeming to take them into consideration, and then sweeping them under the rug with the same outcome regardless except for one super minor difference, usually a line or two of dialogue.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

Ive read about it not too long ago.

Basically it matters if you saved the base at all, and your galactic readiness level. 8 Ending for saved the base, 8 for destroyed the base. Each one taking into account your readiness level.

Having not played the 3rd one and not planning to, I think youre making a bit of a conclusion about choice making. A lot of stuff you did over the past 2 games comes into play here.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

Where the hell did you hear that? I havent seen what its like if you save the collector base though, think ill play through that way next and have Mordin alive so I can hear him sing.

For people who beat the game or dont care:
There are 3 "endings". Really, theres only one ending, no matter what path you choose(good/bad/also good) the outcome is the same. The main difference in the endings is the change of color in the final weapons energy pulse. Uber disappointing.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

http://www.ign.com/wikis/mass-effect-3/Endings

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

I think it depends on how you define "ending." As for the actual final string of cutscenes that lead into the credits... There's only three. And those are pretty darn similar. They end in the same place. If you have enough "Effective Military Strength" and choose the right option you can get an extra little bit right before the credits, but that's it.

If you're referring to everything leading up to "the decision" (which then triggers the "we're coming up on the credits" cutscene), then there are several variations depending on what your EMS is. Again, nothing terribly drastic. It all ends up in the same spot.

Also, there's a small coda at the end of the credits. Supposedly it only appears if you finish ME3 with an import from ME2 or as NG+, but I had an import so I don't know.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

This is what I suspected, and why I think choice driven games just do not work well in a series.

Dragon Age Origins would have the same issues if they ever try to make a direct sequel to it.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

I need to play this game just so I can see what all the hubub is concerning ME3's ending...

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

I think it has possibilities, I recently played Alpha Protocol, and while the end suffers the same fate (multiple endings, but really only 3-4 with some variations)

I think the decisions in that game are handled a lot better in Mass Effect as you see the immediate and long-term effects, and the game tends to be nice enough to point it out to you..

Oh you helped so and so first, he'll be able to assist you on this mission if you choose.

Oh you spared what's his face, his allies will not be a threat to you on this mission and has left a secret cache of weapons for you.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

That's not the point I was making at all, I'm talking about a game series being based on choices. As in having the sequel reflect choices made in the first, and then the third entry reflecting choices made in the first two.

At some point there are too many options for the developers to cover them all in a meaningful way, so the choices you make from game to game get generalized or made irrelevant.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

This needs more attention, even though this is a ME3 thread.
I was the only one jerking this game off over a year ago when I had it.
That is why I liked Alpha Protocol so much. Every single minor detail of what you did effected every other thing that happened. I wore body armour to go talk to a dude one time - I just happened to forget to get into casual clothes. He took it as a threat, and attacked me. The game itself was arcade-y, but the choices, oh Zeus the choices.


I also agree that you guys making a ME3: Ending thread would be a lot better than just talking about it in here. Plus more threads never hurt anyone.

Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

This is a thread to discuss the end of Mass Effect. The story and whatever have you, without ruining it for others in the ME 3 thread

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

It sucked.

Re: Mass Effect 3
 

There were several other, minor things I wish Mass Effect/Bioware took away from Alpha Protocol.

Choices aren't Good/Evil, Paragon/Renegade.. even when dealing with different people being a too good, could make them hate you while being a jerk earns their respect or even having a 3rd option.

Second.. is timing... I get that you want to give the player a time to think about their response, but always find it odd when characters will just stand and stare at you until you make up your mind. Alpha Protocol.. gives you a tiny window.. you get to see what you want to say and pick it.. and it continues the conversation smoothly. I think you get more natural responses this way as well.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Im just going to re-post what I said before about the ending now that I dont have to hide it in spoiler thingers.

What a shitty ending to one of the greatest stories ive experienced. It leaves so much un-answered and just destroys a lot of the mood the other games built up. It doesnt explain what happens to anyone other than implying what happens to the crew of the Normandy(which I dont even know why they were in that situation in the first place. Seriously, wtf?). I spent all this time uniting a divided galaxy, bringing everyone together to face this threat as one force, but now the galaxy is more separated than ever before, not to mention that a majority of every alien races defence is left in the Sol system. Theres just no happy endings here, and thats really all I wanted to see, even if it was just a cliche ending like "you saved the galaxy, heres some medals and an award ceremony followed by kissing your lover, the end" It was just a really disappointing ending that they could have so very easily made better instead of retarded. Uhg.

Mass Effect does do that, maybe not as much, but you sure as hell couldnt be "nice" to Wrex in ME1. Same with Jack in ME2, being nice to her got you no where.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

I don't personally mind the lack of super happy endings. A horde of invincible apocalyptic Cthulhu robots invading from the dark space between galaxies is not going to end well no matter how Paragon your Shepard is. A bittersweet ending is okay. I also don't really see ME3's ending as "dark" as a lot of people are saying. The final image of Joker and EDI standing together to face the dawn of a new synthorganic future seemed pretty optimistic to me. Sure, the galaxy was not the same you one in ME1, but again, Cthulhu robots and all... Bound to happen.

If you can't tell, I also didn't really mind the details of the ending either. Blending organics and synthetics together (which is the ending I chose) seemed to make some sense on a thematic level and fit fairly well with the rest of the series. I don't know about anyone else, but my Shepard would totally choose that option (I saved the Geth and the Quarians and might have even chosen the Geth over the Quarians if forced... maybe). I didn't mind the choices or that they were there.

I don't even mind the lack of a "and here's a list of how your choices mattered in the years to come" epilogue like in DA:O. I felt my choices flavored the story at least (even if it may not have drastically changed it as some had hoped for) which is enough for me.

My issue is that the star child thing and choices itself came out of no where and felt really surreal. The series was based on a more or less realistic feeling universe. Everything in the series pointed to a more or less conventional "robots go boom" type ending. To have the origin of the Reapers suddenly thrust on us with barely any explanation and a lot of extrapolation and asking us to make some choice with forces that don't make much sense just really flies in the face of the rest of the series. The tone of it just doesn't fit with the tone of everything else. It borders on mystical which the rest of the series was not. If the game had ended with Anderson and Shepard talking (and probably dying) and the reapers blowing up with everything else mostly the same (Mass Relays 'splodin' and all) I'd have probably been more satisfied.

End coda, however, I'm not nearly as unhappy about the ending as a lot of people are. I was a little disappointed, but I'm actually already planning a full trilogy run through soon (with a FemShep!), so it clearly doesn't bother me that much.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

I wouldnt have minded a bittersweet ending either, but there was no sweetness to it at all. It left so much unanswered.
Ya I didnt find the ending dark, maybe those people got the ending where Earth is destroyed? But speaking of Joker and the Normandy, why was it in a Mass Relay jump in the first place? Wasnt it around Earth? And what about everyone else? What happened to Admiral Hackett, or all your other squad mates who should have been on Earth, or the Synth reapers, did they just chill around Earth now?
Ya, I would have chosen the Geth over the Quarians, I was so sad when Legion sacrificed himself. I think the synthorganic option was the best one.

And one more thing about the crew of the Normandy on that uncharted planet. The human portion of the crew wasnt that big, not big enough to support a new colony of humans without inbreeding, so assuming Liara made it there, does that mean everyone on that planet would eventually be Asari?

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Wizard did it.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Hahaha, alright, that explains everything. :p

Perhaps it was a space wizard, or some sort of magic fight wizard...

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Looks like there are oodles of people mad about this as well. Im not alone!

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Some may have gone a BIT overboard with their dislike of it though

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/to...dex/10065503/1

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Wow. That guy has way too much time on his hands.

I haven't seen the promotional material he is referring to, but it would most likely slide into the definition of "puffery" ... so that will go nowhere.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Unsatisfying. The little scene after the credits was nice, dealing with the legend of Shepard. The normandy landing on some random planet was confusing and way too ideal/unrealistic. Also why did Liara get off the normandy when she was with me and Garrus down on earth fighting the reapers? And losing the relays makes everything moot.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Geez, did everyone pick Liara and Garrus? There's even a Final Hours app out for ME3 (similar to the Portal 2 one) and it also describes a cut sequence where the squad members you picked would actually be visibly vaporized and they, too, used Liara and Garrus as an example.

(BTW, I also used Liara and Garrus. When I got hit by Harbinger I was all like, "Oh no, that must mean Liara and Garrus are dead!" and was expecting clarification later, but all I got was Liara walking off the Normandy and I was like, "Wha...?")

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

I also used Liara and Garrus. :p

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

I used EDI and Jarvik or whatever the Protheans name was. And that ending...happenend?

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

What's this Portal 2 app? There aren't multiple endings to P2, are there?

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

The Final Hours of Portal 2


The "final hours" refers to the development cycle, not the end of the game. Its the same thing, actually with ME3, but a lot of people are focusing on the section of the app that talks about the ending of the game.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

WTF?

This is about ME3, not P2. H3.2 HL2-3 GF3 SC2 GTA5 Af2 CHLL8 9H2FG BDSM2.

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

Terrific burn minus the improper use of "then."

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

this video gave me new perspective on the ending. worth checking out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck

Re: Mass Effect 3 Ending Discussion
 

If Biowares accepts this as what actually happened, then I will take back my hatred towards the ending, and have new hatred for them making an unfinished game.