So without further adieu, let the review commence!
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Six years ago Bioware first debuted Mass Effect. Their goal was a simple one: to craft a trilogy of games where player decisions mattered throughout the entire series. They wanted to make you think about how your decisions would effect the story, not just in the present or near future, but all the way to the grand conclusion. Bioware has finally delivered the final installment of their storytelling experiment. Bioware has spent the last six years fine tuning the Mass Effect experience, taking fans comments into account and trying to steer this series towards a conclusion worthy of it's ambition.
And boy did Bioware deliver.
I'll be clear about this upfront, you will defiantly appreciate this game a lot more if you've played the previous two games in the trilogy. You don't have to, Bioware does a solid job of setting the stage for those who haven't, but you should if you really want to feel the true impact of this game.
The path that Bioware takes to tell the final chapter in Commander Shepard's story is a brilliant examination of war and the price individuals pay in it, both physically and mentally, and Biwoare often pauses briefly to show the toll that this war against the Reapers takes on Shepard. In fact two of the scenes that paint his state of mind are not traditional Mass Effect moments, but they are among some of the most emotionally powerful moments in any game. In fact the whole game never sugarcoats the galactic situation. The Citadel, one the center of activity and political togetherness in the galaxy has become a place for refugees and casualties of the war, and there are many very small moments you will hear in passing that will impact you just as much as the big ones that Shepard is directly involved with.
The characters and univerese are incredibly well presented, as they always have been. The voice acting for just about every character is outstanding, and the settings you visit are well detailed,. even the places you take return trips to manage to find a way to feel fresh and offer a new take on their location. The sounds of the various locations at war reel you into the action, whether it's the sound of a Reaper preparing to fire it's laser, or a gunship racing over head as it's chased by Reaper air units just keep, or even just a conversation between two refugees the sound design will keep you sucked into the experience. The past two titles have had some of the best original soundtracks in recent memory, and Mass Effect 3 delivers another epic musical backing to the universe. The music is more orchestral than it has been in the past games, but it also stays true to the sci-fi roots. The final overture is one of the most intense and satisfying and emotional moments of music in game ever. This is one of the most immersive game universes of all time.
Every major decision you make is tough one. For the first time in this series the right choice is never necessarily the easy one, and no matter what you do, or how hard you try, some people will make the ultimate sacrifice. Your decisions from the past two games play an important part in the story, including how has made it this far, but Bioware has done well to make sure that you don't miss out on sections of the game because of your choices, though those moments will change depending on who is alive or what choices you have made, making for different experiences for different playthroughs.
The story is presented fantastically. I have never played a game with a more cinematic feeling to it. Nearly every moment in this game is framed perfectly, and it really adds to the experience. The story rarely takes it's foot off the accelerator once it starts, nearly every hour is filled with pulse-raising excitement, and emotionally striking moments. Mass Effect 3 will often leave you stunned or speechless, especially when they involve the characters you've come to know from the past two games. Rarely has a game made me feel so much for it's characters but Bioware has found a way to really bring the characters life. The ending of this game left me with no words at all. I could only sit there, as the credits rolled, and reflect on everything I had just seen. The story leaves no real questions either, wrapping the story up nicely. Bioware has become known for crafting amazing stories, but it will be hard to outdo what the experience that Mass Effect 3 brings to the table.
However, despite the intense narrative, the combat is not to be forgotten in Mass Effect 3. Combat is hectic, intense, and provides a good mix of challenge and entertainment. This really is the first Mass Effect title to embrace the shooting aspect of it's combat. The mechanics are solid, though the cover system can sometimes be a tad finicky, something Mass Effect has always seemed to struggle with. Level design is well thought out, and the environments are such that cover areas never feel forced. Some levels offer various opportunities to get you out of your comfort zone. Taking control of turrets to control a position or taking out a mech pilot and using the mech yourself changes up your tactics from time to time, and are often welcome changes in pace during a mission. The omni-blade also finally overs a viable option for melee in the game, though it can be somewhat difficult to line your enemy up properly to strike him down. Bioware has done a very good job of offering a multitude of different enemies to face off against, and each class of enemy has it's own purpose. I sometimes found myself having to retreat back a bit because the enemy tactics forced me to fall back to a better position, and dealing with some enemies like the banshee requires good strategy and use of you and your squad mates powers.
Fear not however, you have vast inventory of different weapons at your disposal to help you through combat, along with a multitude of modifications that can be made to them. Each weapon has it's own strengths and weaknesses, and Bioware has also found a really nice balance between customization of your weapons and armor, and keeping inventory management to a minimum. You'll find yourself sometimes saving credits for the things your really want, because you often times won't have enough for everything you want to get, making stores and finding credits during missions important once more.
When your not fighting to save the galaxy on the battlefield, you'll find yourself searching for resources to help your cause. Don't be concerned if you hated the system from Mass Effect 2 though, the scanning is streamlined this time around, and it can actual get kind of addicting to wander from system to system looking for additional ships and resources to aid in the fight against the Reapers. The minigames have also been otherwise removed, and there are no awkward vehicle segments to deal with.
The multiplayer, once upon a time, was something I was the most concerned about. However, Bioware has really delivered a great horde mode like co-op mode that ties into the single player. Playing multiplayer can increase your "Galactic Readiness" meter in your single player story, but it's not required to succeed in the story at all. The mode itself is extremely fun, and offers objectives during the mission where it isn't just about shooting every enemy on screen. The missions are also challenging, especially as you up the difficulty, and it truly takes a team working together to achieve victory. At the end of every mission you gain experience to level your character with and credits to spend on packs that will give you new equipment, weapons, characters, and customization options which will keep you coming back for more all the time. Whether you want to supplement your single player experience or not, this mode is a solid addition to the game, and is well worth spending some time with.
Bioware has struggled somewhat with trying to find where this game belongs. The first title was heavy on the RPG, but the combat was weak and the side missions felt tacked on at times. The second one was much more action oriented, which made the combat much stronger, but the RPG elements seemed to all but disappear. Mass Effect 3 finds a happy medium between the two. Really across much of the game it'd be fair to say that it is a marriage between the best parts of the first two titles in the trilogy.
Mass Effect 3's conclusion brings to an end one of the most finely crafted stories of all time. This is the kind of game experience that defines a generation of games. We haven't had a game series with a story so far above the rest in a long time, and for the people who played the first two, Mass Effect 3 is something so much more. It is impressive to see what Bioware has accomplished with this game. The Mass Effect series has shown what a game is truly capable of when it comes to storytelling. As the credits rolled I felt the story was truly finished, but in the best way possible. It will take years for another game to deliver this kind of experience again. Mass Effect 3 delivers on it's promises and surpasses them. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.
(Final Note: This review is based on the 360 version of the game. I did not play this game with the 360's Kinect Function so I can't report how well that functions.)
Gameplay
Combat is intense, and offers plenty of complexity. The shooting aspects of this game finally feel like part of a shooting game, but the cover system is still not perfect though, and the omni-blade cane be frustrating to use sometimes.
Sound
The sound design of this game will pull you in and never let go. One of the most beautiful soundtracks of the past five years in gaming.
Story/Writing
One of the most intense and emotional stories of all time. It will be hard to outdo what Mass Effect 3 has done here. The pacing is perfect, and even small moments have impact. It can get a bit depressing at times but given the situation thats more something to be expected than it is a mistake.
Graphics and Design
The game is visually stunning, and the settings feel vibrant but also show how the war with the Reapers has taken it's toll. Some sputtering and stiffness can at times detract from the experience, but the important moments are well presented, and wonderfully executed.
Lasting Appeal
Playing through this game time and time again to see how things play out with different decisions, from the whole series and Mass Effect 3 on it's own, is well worth the time and the multiplayer is fun and addictive, which will also keep you busy for a while.
Final Verdict
Extremely Fluffy
Fluff Choice
Where Mass Effect 3 Succeeds
+ The story is intense and emotional throughout the whole game
+ Gameplay is hectic and fun
+ The universe is extremly immersive
+ The game leaves no "what if's" The end is clearly defined and wraps things up nicely
+ The cinematic quality is beautiful and the entire game is well presented
Where Mass Effect 3 Struggles
- A few graphical hiccups can detract from some of the big moments of the game
- Can get a bit too depressing for some people
- The cover system still doesn't always function properly. Omni-blade could use an auto targeting feature.
I hope you enjoyed the review, you can look forward to more in the future, I actually had fun doing this and I like the system I have in place. I have a few more changes coming, possibly in the near future. Will keep you posted (maybe) on whats going on, but I'm excited about some of the things I'm looking at doing.
Until next time!
Image Sources
#1. http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/promo/promo_1572.jpg
#2. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5911/2141069-at02_042.jpg
#3. http://punchdrunkgamer.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/257/files/mass-effect-3-2-1-12/mass-effect-3-screenshot-4.jpg
#4. http://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/4/6/4/5/5/9/Mass_2.jpg.jpg
#5. http://www.nohighscores.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/masseffect3_nuked.bmp
#6. http://www.thunderboltgames.com/s/img600/me3pm.jpg
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