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Originally Posted by Ryuukishi That is the crux of the "closure" issue to me. Which of these things is Mass Effect about? 1. Eliminating a galactic threat to safeguard the existence of life 2. Wrex, Tali, Liara, Garrus, Legion and the geth, the salarians, the Citadel Council, Ash, Jack, Kolyat, Aria T'Loak, the elcor, Joker and EDI, Miranda, and on and on and on #1 received 100% of the closure that the ending offered. If #1 is what is important about Mass Effect to you, then maybe you're pretty okay with the existing ending. It's pretty clear that Casey Hudson and Mac Walters ultimately are #1 kind of people, which is great for them. If you answer #2, which, this is a BioWare game for god's sake, they're known for their characters and the extreme involvement that their fans feel with them, well, you got nothing. The whole game up to that point is stuffed with great character moments and a sense that these people and their fates really matter-- and then, suddenly, nothing.

While I think we are on opposites sides on this topic, you have nailed it in a most simple way. My thoughts.... I guess I fall in line with #1. I consciously wanted to like the ending because I was/am such a huge fan and I had faith in Bioware. I had faith in the vision of the team and I, unlike many, don't feel like I have a say. I was thankful for the opportunity to be involved, but when it comes to books, movies or games, I'm there to be taken on a grand adventure and I don't necessarily need to feel like I am calling the shots. I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the end and didn't hate it. I got to see the Reapers fall, Alliance soldiers throw up their guns in victory, I capped that bitch TIM in the head and I saw characters I care about walk out of the Normandy. Is there more I could have hoped for?


The more I think about it, the more I understand that the story was intended to be bigger than my bromance with Garrus, or my love with Liara, or even EDI's fine little behind. The overall message was projected to us in the genophage and geth missions. That's what this was all about. It's truly an epic story of biblical proportions where one badass space soldier and a crew of his buddies defeated the odds thus saving countless future generations and even species. The names are incidental, I'm afraid.

If you have an ipad, I STRONGLY suggest you pick up the app/book "the Final Hours of Mass Effect 3". I've had it for a few weeks, but just putzed with it. Now I've read it through and it really gives you insight into the conscious decisions the team made, all the way up to the final days before release. Casey Hudson and Mac Walters, in particular, give a lot of insight into their thought process, why they did what they did, and where the series goes from here. It really gives a lot of info to the hardest of the hardcore. Specifically, it shares
- a deleted scene during the run to the citadel beam where Shepard tells his crew to "get out of here" and you see Garrus and Liara running from a Harbinger blast (could answer the question how/why they were on the Normandy)
- they talk about the decision to not go with a traditional end boss because it felt to "videogamey" and they felt that the story didn't need to be restrained by traditional game expectations,
- why they didn't give a ton of info on the Reaper backstory
- there is a little insight into what that final scene with Stargazer is all about,
- Casey Hudson confirms that future Mass Effect games won't take place post-Shepard era.

I admit I'm kind of bummed about that last piece. But he did say that there would be content pre or during the events of ME3. Akuze w/ a young Shepard? First Contact War w/ Anderson? You know Anderson was originally the hero of the trilogy, right?

In the end, if nothing else, I had a great ride I had and am having a great time talking about the game with friends and I am making new friends through discussions like this and online with multiplayer. I'm glad that my time with the game will be winding down because my wife is ready to kill me for spending so much time playing games and staying up late.

Lol this is a cool wallpaper, happy ending
Eh it's alright; it's missing Javik (well optional DLC char I guess), EDI and not enough of Mordin .

Also I wouldn't mind a strategy game akin to something like Sins of a Solar Empire in the Mass Effect universe using a galactic map kind of interface for part of it.

Originally Posted by chubbyninja1319 The more I think about it, the more I understand that the story was intended to be bigger than my bromance with Garrus, or my love with Liara, or even EDI's fine little behind. The overall message was projected to us in the genophage and geth missions. That's what this was all about. It's truly an epic story of biblical proportions where one badass space soldier and a crew of his buddies defeated the odds thus saving countless future generations and even species. The names are incidental, I'm afraid.

You're right, I could not disagree with that statement more completely. But I think the fact that the series can be interpreted and appreciated in such totally different ways just speaks to how great it is.

You know what I miss from ME2? Not being able to sell out to the shops for lower prices. I imagine there's some in-game text blurb that explains the Shop Owners got wise to Shepard and decided to band together to prevent it from happening again.

They made the discounts a part of Glyph's terminal now. A strange decision, but I imagine it had something to do with "I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on the Citadel" becoming a meme.

If there's anything I miss, it's all the comedic moments from ME2. It was a much funnier game than ME1 and then they had to make ME3 really serious, with fewer comedic moments.

Mass Effect 3 isn't really one for charm. Nor is it one for little details.

I thought there were some pretty good lines. Joker's gun that fires thresher maws, "That was a joke," Javik ridiculing James.

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

Originally Posted by Ryuukishi I thought there were some pretty good lines. Joker's gun that fires thresher maws, "That was a joke," Javik ridiculing James.

Prothy is such a rascal! It was weird hearing him laugh, actually.

Originally Posted by Ryuukishi You're right, I could not disagree with that statement more completely. But I think the fact that the series can be interpreted and appreciated in such totally different ways just speaks to how great it is.

Aye. Thing for me is that... well, that's kind of boring. Bioware doesn't really do interesting stories. They do generic save the x from y. They make some pretty interesting characters and they write some pretty good lines for 'em (usually) and they hire some pretty damn good voice actors and sometimes, sometimes they even animate 'em well.

But the "grand story"?

Nah. Not really their thing.

Just got the game today and have a question. I have tried my best to avoid spoilers and everything, and not really paid much attention to all the DLC and online stuff but I was wondering should I get this From Ashes DLC? I have just started the game Just left Mars and I heard its best to play it pretty much straight away.

I have 1020 MS points and have no real sign of spending them on anything soon.

By the way I am a fan of the series, played them all through and imported my character all the way also if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

There are two answers to this.

Yes, you should get it because the character you get has more plot-relevance than anyone else in your squad. Like, dude's super important.

No, you should not get it because you guys for selling a core part of the plot on release day for ten dollars.

Yeah, see this was what I was thinking.. I just ask because i'm really excited to start playing but don't want to progress too far

Originally Posted by Ryuukishi I thought there were some pretty good lines. Joker's gun that fires thresher maws, "That was a joke," Javik ridiculing James.

That joke killed me, dude. Also, James and Garrus comparing war stories/penis size was damned near my favorite exchange in the game.

Originally Posted by saunderscowie Yeah, see this was what I was thinking.. I just ask because i'm really excited to start playing but don't want to progress too far

I'd say get it because they made so many unique lines for it, the character's rather hilarious (something sorely lacking in ME3), and if you believe some people (I don't), he comes with the best needle shooter.

Originally Posted by saunderscowie I have tried my best to avoid spoilers and everything, and not really paid much attention to all the DLC and online stuff but I was wondering should I get this From Ashes DLC? Thanks.

Yeah pick up the DLC and then afterwards take a shower for feeling dirty.
$ $
---

Originally Posted by Spybreak8 Yeah pick up the DLC and then afterwards take a shower for feeling dirty. $ $ ---

This, minus the shower part because this dlc is totally worth it and this content WAS NOT READY to launch with the retail game. It was cut from the main game due to time constraints, so we are lucky we got it at all.

Irrelevant.

Is there a point to getting the plot relevant character when the ending makes the entire plot irrelevant?

Definitely get Javik. From Ashes is worth $10 and the rest of the game is worth $60, screw the other noise.

And make sure to take James on his recruitment mission, he has a great exchange with Liara if you do.