Mass Effect 3
- Thread starter nightshade
- Start date
I could have accepted the endings without the Starchild ... if we connected the Crucible to the Citadel on our own power and Liara looked at the console, technobabbled a bit and said "these are the only things we can do with the Crucible before the Reapers overcome us, I'm sorry Shepard ... you chose" that would have been okay. Even if Shepard had to go deep into the Citadel to activate it alone and died after activating it I could have accepted it.
I still wouldn't have particularly liked the endings and overarching plot (come on, a McGuffin 5 minutes in ... you must have groaned just a little too) but I could have accepted them, but as it stands I'm not going to buy any game on which Mac or Casey are leads until they hit the bargain bin. It's the author insert smugness which makes it completely unacceptable. If you ever played D&D you know what the Starchild is ... an overpowered DMPC determining the path for the PCs, one of the greatest faux pas for a DM.
PS. another faux pas is when you have a Paladin player is to present him with situations where he has to fall or be semi-responsible for lots of deaths, the no win you fall scenario ... but again I would have been willing to ignore the fact you could play the game like a complete goody two shoes without being punished for it until Mac Walters took over with Arrival ... wouldn't have liked it, but could have accepted it.
I had a longer reply, but want to get a couple of items understood on my end. A faux pas is a violation of accepted social norms (for example, standard customs or etiquette rules). - from wiki. I always expected a McGuffin. It was one of those things you saw coming a mile away given how ME2 worked out. They only had ME3 left to complete the story arc. You have stated you consider this all acceptable if it were not for the "star child" which you consider a DMPC. I don't quite agree. Between Saren/Sovereign and the Illusive Man/ Harbinger running the game it seemed like something similar would happen again. The Starchild is just a continuation of that. (Though it is Harbinger/ the Reapers in disguise to me). It's just that you turned out to be the one fighting indoctrination.
Basically then, the difference to you is that the "Starchild" was succesfully manipulating you as opposed to Saren and the IM whom you were able to defeat after a fashion? You consider this a hey "loook at me, aren't I clever" act on the part of a new writer?
Basically then, the difference to you is that the "Starchild" was succesfully manipulating you as opposed to Saren and the IM whom you were able to defeat after a fashion? You consider this a hey "loook at me, aren't I clever" act on the part of a new writer?
thatdude90210
Regular
There are no future stories in the ME world. Bioware essentially killed the franchise by having such different endings. There should never have been the Control and Synthesis options. Should have been either victory or defeat. Something like this:
1. Destroy - low EMS: everything is destroyed.
2. Destroy - high EMS: Reapers destroyed, victory
3. Refuse - low EMS: Reaper cycles continues, defeat
4. Refuse - high (higher than EMS for destroy): victory conventionally, but at high cost.
Mac and Casey basically trashed the place on their way out. You can't have games in the future settings when all the endings produced radically different worlds.
More than anything, I resent Hudson and Walters for giving us the steaming turd that is Synthesis. Never in a million years would my Shepard choose to violate every living organism at its DNA level. God, I hate that crap.
1. Destroy - low EMS: everything is destroyed.
2. Destroy - high EMS: Reapers destroyed, victory
3. Refuse - low EMS: Reaper cycles continues, defeat
4. Refuse - high (higher than EMS for destroy): victory conventionally, but at high cost.
Mac and Casey basically trashed the place on their way out. You can't have games in the future settings when all the endings produced radically different worlds.
More than anything, I resent Hudson and Walters for giving us the steaming turd that is Synthesis. Never in a million years would my Shepard choose to violate every living organism at its DNA level. God, I hate that crap.
You beat both ... the second got introduced halfway through the game.
The former was just a conductor to keep the train on the tracks in ME2. I really don't see how you could see a pattern here to explain introducing a new antagonist in the last 5 minutes of the game which you can't really beat but have to acquiesce to. Reallly TIM only became a proper antagonist in the third game, so properly we have Saren/Sovereign, Harbinger, TIM/Harbinger/Starchild ... nope, still don't see it.
It's nice head canon, but it's neither how Mac&Casey intended it nor is open ended Indoctrination Theory without closure terribly satisfying to begin with.
No, I consider it an ego trip with an obvious author insert becoming the protagonist.
Kyyla
Veteran
Oh there will be more games. This much has been confirmed by Bioware. They'll pick one of the endings (propably high ems destroy) and make it canon.
It would be nice if that were true ... it would be huge defeat for Mac&Casey (the retcon of the mass relays was already a significant one to begin with). I imagine the writers will push hard for a prequel though, at least the ones not ready to politically align against Mac&Casey (dunno what the environment inside Bioware is at the moment, but it seems they are sticking with Mac for the moment).
Mac&Casey obviously did intend to trash the place on their way out ... a sequel would be spitting in their face.
Mac&Casey obviously did intend to trash the place on their way out ... a sequel would be spitting in their face.
Agreed. It probably be Mass Effect 4: The Search for Shepard with a new trilogy based on around some new enemy. Maybe some new organic based antagonist that invades the galaxy as we begin to restart the mass relay network.
I really would've preferred them to drop the mass relays and take a step forward with the universe. Everyone's relying on pre-existing technology for space travel and there haven't been any serious scientific breakthroughs for thousands of years, the only changes were political and maybe cultural/social (chief among them: the appearance of humanity on the galactic stage). Rebuilding the network would only restore the status quo, and the various species could thus get back to their old conflicts, making for more of the same in terms of the setting.
I'd much rather see something similar to the first Privateer game, set in a universe that has to develop new technology for long range interstellar travel. The species would have to invest in trade and exploration, there'd be always something new to look forward to, old conflicts would be meaningless without free long distance travel, and previously small issues could become much more serious.
This revised setting would be an ideal match for a combination of the existing gameplay elements with a new space combat gameplay, and also career paths like trader, smuggler, bounty hunter or pirate. The player would have to do some sort of work to equip his team and his ship and stand a chance in space combat; but it'd also be possible to go on "away missions" with the existing 3rd person combat and interact with NPCs on hub worlds too.
Edit: it also wouldn't take away too many characteristics of the universe - the mass effect would still exist, it'd be the driving principle behind space travel, weapons and biotics; but without the relay network it could be seen in a new light, with a lot of fresh potential for interesting developments.
Going back to the same old formula would be a disappointment to me. We've already had three Mass Effect games and countless DLC missions, it's time for something new.
I'd much rather see something similar to the first Privateer game, set in a universe that has to develop new technology for long range interstellar travel. The species would have to invest in trade and exploration, there'd be always something new to look forward to, old conflicts would be meaningless without free long distance travel, and previously small issues could become much more serious.
This revised setting would be an ideal match for a combination of the existing gameplay elements with a new space combat gameplay, and also career paths like trader, smuggler, bounty hunter or pirate. The player would have to do some sort of work to equip his team and his ship and stand a chance in space combat; but it'd also be possible to go on "away missions" with the existing 3rd person combat and interact with NPCs on hub worlds too.
Edit: it also wouldn't take away too many characteristics of the universe - the mass effect would still exist, it'd be the driving principle behind space travel, weapons and biotics; but without the relay network it could be seen in a new light, with a lot of fresh potential for interesting developments.
Going back to the same old formula would be a disappointment to me. We've already had three Mass Effect games and countless DLC missions, it's time for something new.
(((interference)))
Veteran
Does anyone know whether you can transfer ME3 saves from 360 to PC?
I know you could do this for ME1 & 2, was just wondering whether it was possible for 3 as well?
I know you could do this for ME1 & 2, was just wondering whether it was possible for 3 as well?
DuckThor Evil
Legend
Heh brings some memories. It was worse before the patch 
I can't get the patch to activate. Tried on my first run through, tried with a completed save (that puts you back before the attack on Cerberus) twice, I've wasted about 6 hours trying to get the extended ending and all it's done is further sour the Mass Effect experience.
Won't be buying any of the Mass Effect 3 DLC, or Mass Effect 4, or anything else from Bioware.
Won't be buying any of the Mass Effect 3 DLC, or Mass Effect 4, or anything else from Bioware.
Kyyla
Veteran
I feel you man. Seriously install extended cut.
Meanwhile BioWare just released Shepard and crew's last hurrah (Citadel DLC) with universally positive reception. I guess they still have the touch. I'll be getting it soon because after all is said and done I do love my virtual friends.
Kyyla
Veteran
The original game doesn't have any great DLC content. You can get the BDTS dlc free from ea.com, I've not managed to install it though, so I've just always skipped it. ME2 on the other hand has some great DLC, especially Lair of the Shadow Broker.
Sigfried1977
Legend
You cannot get Mass Effect 1 on the PS3 without the dlc anyway. It's built-in.
