101103 réponses à ce sujet

[Costello_Anasazi]

Fully agree with the OP.

This was ment to be the final Mass Effect. The Story has come to an end it doesn't have to tie into anything, they don't need to worry about choices going over to ME4 or anything like that. So why not give more choice over the ending. All 3 endings are the exact same thing even though its hard to explain why Joker always crashes on the same planet while any and all choices made in the rest of the game are completely ignored.

It would be interesting to hear from bioware why they went down this route as it was ment to be the end and could have given many different options.

[Recon911PDW]

Man, when I beat the game, I felt sad in a way. I also agree about not having enough different endings here. They should have atleast added a few more endings where Shepard lives/ the relays don't have to explode and Joker does not have to crash land and the person you chose to romance comes together with Shepard.  That would have been a good ending right there.  I mean come on, having the relays destroyed means no more space travel which is crap. Oh well, i guess we will have to see what Bioware has for us next time.

Modifié par Recon911PDW, 10 mars 2012 - 10:20 .

[gbanas92]

Arios1570 wrote...

This is my "screw vanilla" ending, at least in my first play-through. Male Shepard, Tali LI, Ashley died at Virmire. Haven't covered everyone, but I enjoyed writing this. This may be very Rainbows and Sparkles, but hell, I got everyone together, did everything, my bar was green, so this is what I'm accepting as my ending, vanilla be damned.

After the Catalyst finishes his speech:

Shepard turns back to the Catalyst:

Shepard: You arrogant fool. For someone who was once so obviously wise, you understand nothing of life. Organics, synthetics, they're not destined to war. You look at examples of the past and see only bloodshed, I've seen with my own eyes a peace between us, and no, we don't have to be merged. The Geth now live side by side with the Quarians who once lost their world in attempts to destroy them in a symbiosis you have not anticipated.

You have accepted that your solution will no longer work. You were foolish for seeing this as a solution. This solves nothing, it causes a larger problem, more pain, and enslavement. The reapers aren't ascended, they're made into your play things.

Here's my solution: send these abominations into the nearest black hole to be crushed and never seen again. Destroy all the monsters they have melded from organics, and free your indoctrinated slaves. Shut down any reaper that can't reach a black hole, completely. The souls within could use the rest. Leave the mass relays and Citidel as compensation for all the pain you have caused.

But you, I want you to stay active, I want you to see the impossible: I want you to look out and see that unfathomable peace as it spreads across the galaxy, that peace I worked so damned hard to build.

Catalyst (silent for a moment): That is not an option.
Shepard: Then you give us no option!
Catalyst: You believe your cycle can achieve peace? You think you have the resolve? We will see. If your forces can defeat the reapers, then they may live, but you are throwing every species away...

Shepard looks out to the battle in horror, but straightens and looks to the control console area. He lifts his gun to fire.

Catalyst: What are you doing?!
Shepard: creating my own solution.

Shepard fires at the controls, disrupting the control signal. The view changes to the battle, reapers are in disarray, crying out as if awakening to a nightmare, seeing what they are for the first time. Their shields drop as they turn on each other, each seeing in the others the horrible machines that entombed them in metallic devices of genocide. On the ground, husks are torn apart by their synthetic parts exploding. In a bunker, an indoctrinated prisoner pounds on his door, then falls, holding his head. As he stands, he is more calm, and looking around as though he woke from a dream.

Catalyst: What have you done?! Your society will fall to the machines you create, it is inevitable!
Shepard: We'll find our own solution, obviously, no one ever liked yours.

Shepard leaves the platform, holding his hand to his ear.

Shepard: Admiral Hackett...
Hackett: Shepard? Where have you been? You're missing a hell of a show.
A squadron of fighters fly by a reaper, destroying it in a massive explosion. Shepard looks to Earth, seeing Harbinger rocket angrily toward him, badly damaged. The Normandy fires a shot straight through the side of his face-like area. The eyes flicker out and he roars. A squadron of fighters blast him again. Eyes flicker back on, and he proceeds, seemingly un-phased. Then two reapers latch on, pulling him apart.
Shepard: I've got a nice view up here.
Hackett: What do you mean? Where are you?
Shepard: We did it, the reapers are...
Shepard collapses, as he falls, radio signals call out.

Looking from the eyes of a hospital patient as they open slightly, Tali holding Shepard's hand as she sobs, Garrus and Liara there to comfort her. The others stare on in somber silence. The heart monitor beeps rapidly and unsteadily, then eyes fully close


Shepard opens his eyes, he's badly injured but still alive. Doctor Chakwas turns away from her monitor and smiles.

Chakwas: Good to have you back, Commander. There's someone-
Tali: SHEPARD!
Tali rushes over to his side, almost ready to hop over him in a tight hug but stops.
Tali: Oh...right, I...bad idea right now...Keelah, I...
Shepard: I know, good to be back...did...did we win? Are the reapers gone?
Tali: They destroyed each other, mostly, there were hundreds left, but they were weakened so badly that they were easy prey to our fleet. On the ground, it was madness, husks were ripped apart as their synthetic parts combusted, and I heard that indoctrinated prisoners all are their old selves again. (pause) What did you see up there, Shepard?
Shepard: The Catalyst, he was...he told me his solution: the reapers, were no longer valid, that a new one must be formed. He wanted to keep organics from creating races that would overthrow us. I told him to let us be, let the reapers fade into memory and watch as he was proven wrong, but he refused, and I improvised.
Tali: You saved us, this entire galaxy is in your dept.
Shepard: No, you saved us, you, your people and the geth. Ha, didn't think the geth would represent the hope of life. You gave me all the hope I needed.
Tali: Well, I guess people will start to look at Quarians a bit differently now.
Shepard: I didn't mean to boost your ego, sure you don't need to take off your helmet to make room for your big head?
Tali: Why not? (removes helmet, this time, the camera actually shows her face. They kiss, screen fades to black).

Weeks later. Shepard looks out his window in Huerta memorial, crowds are gathered below holding signs of support, Shepard smiles and turns to a desk. There's a note that reads "Damn, Shep, even I couldn't steal an army of reapers, nice one. ~Kasumi. P.S. Thanks for all the tech loot." Shepard shakes his head and smiles.

Nurse: We've prepared an escort, Commander, the council would like to see you.

Shepard nods and leaves for presidium tower. Shepard is awarded a metal, announced as the highest award possible, yadda yadda. He walks down the steps, to both sides, high ranking officers and politicians applaud, many notable faces bow slightly or nod, whatever is custom, screen fades to black.

Images of Allied fleet

Hackett: The forced gathered against the reapers suffered heavy casualties, some fleets lost more than others. Upon returning from the war, the militaries watched cautiously for others to make a move, but no one lifted a finger. Everyone had seen enough bloodshed, and they were all grateful for the aid each offered. We were no longer divided by race, we are now a true galactic alliance.

Images of Tuchanka, Wrex issuing decrees over his people, who are, for the most part, in agreement.

Wrex: The Krogan people spread rapidly, populating and rebuilding Tuchanka, then spreading to other worlds...uh, uninhabited worlds, nothing taken by force. I think softer races were relieved at that. We even got an ambasidor, Urdnot Bakara. The years that followed saw things never thought possible. Krogan intellectuals, politicians, engineers, each, of course, could kick a Turian's ass with both arms lopped off.

Bakara and I contributed to the population, about six thousand by now...I think. She got her wish, the first to hatch was named Mordin, second was Shepard, third, though it pains me, Garrus, then (voice fades out.)

Images of Palaven being rebuilt.

Garrus: The Turians returned to Palaven in force, eager to rebuild. We had help though, Geth, Quarians, Rachni, and after a few years, Krogan, though we used them for heavy lifting at first, they later proved themselves with engineering. My heart nearly stopped when our engineers checked their plans and said they'd actually work. I still wouldn't want to live in a Krogan design any time soon.

Me, well, I retired, I travel from one scenic place to another, Illium, the Citidel, Omega. They're...scenic, no greater sight than a busted up crime boss crying for his mother.

Images of Geth and Quarians working together on Rannoch.

Tali: It only took us a year to build up our immune systems thanks to the Geth. However, once the reapers went into that black hole, they were returned to their previous intelligence. Rannoch is now a cultural paradise. We aren't "suit rats" or nomads, and we have the geth to thank for that. They could have destroyed this world with mindless pollution in search of resources, but they kept it for us. As long as I live, I will not let our people forget that.

I built that home on Rannoch, overlooking the shore, it's beautiful. A geth helped, he wouldn't talk to me, but I once saw him doing a dance known to humans as "the Robot".

Shepard lives here as well, Raan says she disapproves of us, but I see her smile when she thinks I'm not looking. When we heard how many Quarian children were orphaned, we stepped in, adopting a young boy and his sister, both children of the Neema. We know we can't have children of our own, but it's fun to try. We visit the others often, and they all seem to be getting by just fine. I'm so happy for Joker and EDI.

Images of mass cleanup of Thessia.

Liara: Thessia's rebuilding was slow, but everyone worked together, the cooperation was remarkable. A former bar owner and matriarch gave the rallying cry for the building of new mass relays into uncharted systems. With so many ears listening, it became a reality, she named the first Asari-built relay, "The Little Wing". We've found many intelligent races, evolved far from relays. It hasn't all been smooth, but we are creating protocols to aid in the progress. And we thought we were in a golden age before the war...I think I will enjoy the next nine hundred years.

Image of Javik in a meditative pose near destroyed cryogenic pods.

Javik: I returned to Eden Prime to put my men's spirits to rest along with mine, but a faint glimmer caught my eye. An active pod, revealed by a crashed Cerberus ship.


(and just for added flavor, inspired by the end of Red Dead Redemption)
20 years later

The camera pans across the navigation area of an advanced starship. The crew is made up of every race from council space. The galaxy map is covered in relay markers, at the head of the team is a Quarian man, unmasked.

Navigator: Calan, we are clear to proceed, just give the order.
Calan: It's Captain now, we're not kids anymore, remember, Nasaan?
Nasaan: This isn't a military vessel, brother, we're scientists. You're still Calan to me.
Calan: Great, hello, history, remember that day we sent a manned mission to another galaxy? Its navigator checked her bed for spiders every night.
Nasaan: And its captain couldn't ask a girl out without wearing a reinforced mask.
Calan: (sighs) I'm sure everyone has heard enough to last the trip. (Presses intercom) Crew of the SS Williams, it is my honor to lead this great mission in the name of discovery, the first of its kind. Our races once worked together to end a cycle of destruction that stifled advancement. My father stood in the presence of those mighty enemies and said "no more", with all our races allied behind him, they fell, the impossible happened, and now, this voyage, deemed just as impossible is going to reveal to us a whole new galaxy. We don't know what we'll find, but we'll be ready. (deactivates intercom)
Nasaan: Now if you could just be that determined around women. (Activates communicator) Unit 4395, we're good to go.
Unit 4395: Acknowledged, Creator Nasaan.

Camera moves to a view of the ship, a design with influences from all major races flying to a colossal mass relay, the power source being dyson web. They fire off toward another galaxy, the view being from over the top of the ship, showing them rapidly approach the galaxy.

Upon slowing, they see several worlds around a blue sun. Zooms in on a small rocky planet.

Calan: That must be the world the signal came from. According to the readings, it's capable of supporting life!
Unit 4395: Captain, I do not believe the local life needs a planet to exist.
Calan: What to you mean?
Unit 4395: This unit's databanks offer no accurate way to describe what it has detected.
Calan marches to the cockpit, Unit 4395 points to an approaching creature, colossal in scale, light blue and best described as a combination between a whale and a manta-ray..
Calan: If only father could see this...

This is utterly brilliant! This is, scene-for-scene (maybe tweak dialogue in the epilogue a tad, but nothing major plus Tali was my romance as well!) how I was picturing my "perfect" ending to go. This is the kind of ending I would pay money to see and something that would properly offer closure while also allowing for other terrible endings (not terrible as in bad like we have now, and not various shades of gray like we also have now) to be dished out if you don't get the maximum for the campaign (leave MP out of the equation for this ending as well. It's entertaining, but it still doesn't need to effect the single player) for assets. This (like I said almost scene-for-scene) is how I would've pictured my game ending. Ah, if only. If only...

[FsDxRAGE_v2]

IGN

Beat Mass Effect 3 a second time (often referred to as playing a New Game+) and you will unlock a secret ending.

Is this some BS or are we missing something here?

[deathscythe517]

^ Kind of reminds me of New Vegas, how the characters most tied to the setting give a monologue of what happened afterward...if only.

[deathscythe517]

FsDxRAGE_v2 wrote...

IGN

Beat Mass Effect 3 a second time (often referred to as playing a New Game+) and you will unlock a secret ending.

Is this some BS or are we missing something here?

He's either naive from reading the prima guide or trolling, but the ending doesn't change, essentially the 'secret' ending is destroy with a close up of an N7 armor clad soldier under rubble breathing (thought to be Shepard)

[revo76]

Arios1570,

make a game or DLC, i'll buy it. Seriously.

I understand correct the Reaper-Child-Citadel kid (in forums he has another name, oh well) If we choose Anderson's way, we'll lose Mass Relays.

However, we all know that Protheans tried to duplicate Mass Relays and it worked some way. (From ME1)

I guess there could be another ending even we choose to destroy Reapers, we got a Prothean on board, we could start a research for scientists or clues for re-making Mass Relays

That could be good ME4.


PS: I just saw 5000 EMS is the key for alive Shep, That's bull****, i had 3000 or something he 'disappeared' in the end. I collected all Assets, still far away from 5k, looks like i need Geth too, dont know how tho.

[FsDxRAGE_v2]

deathscythe517 wrote...

FsDxRAGE_v2 wrote...

IGN

Beat Mass Effect 3 a second time (often referred to as playing a New Game+) and you will unlock a secret ending.

Is this some BS or are we missing something here?

He's either naive from reading the prima guide or trolling, but the ending doesn't change, essentially the 'secret' ending is destroy with a close up of an N7 armor clad soldier under rubble breathing (thought to be Shepard)

Thing is, that happens on first playthroughs, though.

[cherch222]

experience

c
This is my "screw vanilla" ending, at least in my first play-through. Male Shepard, Tali LI, Ashley died at Virmire. Haven't covered everyone, but I enjoyed writing this. This may be very Rainbows and Sparkles, but hell, I got everyone together, did everything, my bar was green, so this is what I'm accepting as my ending, vanilla be damned.

After the Catalyst finishes his speech:

Shepard turns back to the Catalyst:

Shepard: You arrogant fool. For someone who was once so obviously wise, you understand nothing of life. Organics, synthetics, they're not destined to war. You look at examples of the past and see only bloodshed, I've seen with my own eyes a peace between us, and no, we don't have to be merged. The Geth now live side by side with the Quarians who once lost their world in attempts to destroy them in a symbiosis you have not anticipated.

You have accepted that your solution will no longer work. You were foolish for seeing this as a solution. This solves nothing, it causes a larger problem, more pain, and enslavement. The reapers aren't ascended, they're made into your play things.

Here's my solution: send these abominations into the nearest black hole to be crushed and never seen again. Destroy all the monsters they have melded from organics, and free your indoctrinated slaves. Shut down any reaper that can't reach a black hole, completely. The souls within could use the rest. Leave the mass relays and Citidel as compensation for all the pain you have caused.

But you, I want you to stay active, I want you to see the impossible: I want you to look out and see that unfathomable peace as it spreads across the galaxy, that peace I worked so damned hard to build.

Catalyst (silent for a moment): That is not an option.
Shepard: Then you give us no option!
Catalyst: You believe your cycle can achieve peace? You think you have the resolve? We will see. If your forces can defeat the reapers, then they may live, but you are throwing every species away...

Shepard looks out to the battle in horror, but straightens and looks to the control console area. He lifts his gun to fire.

Catalyst: What are you doing?!
Shepard: creating my own solution.

Shepard fires at the controls, disrupting the control signal. The view changes to the battle, reapers are in disarray, crying out as if awakening to a nightmare, seeing what they are for the first time. Their shields drop as they turn on each other, each seeing in the others the horrible machines that entombed them in metallic devices of genocide. On the ground, husks are torn apart by their synthetic parts exploding. In a bunker, an indoctrinated prisoner pounds on his door, then falls, holding his head. As he stands, he is more calm, and looking around as though he woke from a dream.

Catalyst: What have you done?! Your society will fall to the machines you create, it is inevitable!
Shepard: We'll find our own solution, obviously, no one ever liked yours.

Shepard leaves the platform, holding his hand to his ear.

Shepard: Admiral Hackett...
Hackett: Shepard? Where have you been? You're missing a hell of a show.
A squadron of fighters fly by a reaper, destroying it in a massive explosion. Shepard looks to Earth, seeing Harbinger rocket angrily toward him, badly damaged. The Normandy fires a shot straight through the side of his face-like area. The eyes flicker out and he roars. A squadron of fighters blast him again. Eyes flicker back on, and he proceeds, seemingly un-phased. Then two reapers latch on, pulling him apart.
Shepard: I've got a nice view up here.
Hackett: What do you mean? Where are you?
Shepard: We did it, the reapers are...
Shepard collapses, as he falls, radio signals call out.

Looking from the eyes of a hospital patient as they open slightly, Tali holding Shepard's hand as she sobs, Garrus and Liara there to comfort her. The others stare on in somber silence. The heart monitor beeps rapidly and unsteadily, then eyes fully close


Shepard opens his eyes, he's badly injured but still alive. Doctor Chakwas turns away from her monitor and smiles.

Chakwas: Good to have you back, Commander. There's someone-
Tali: SHEPARD!
Tali rushes over to his side, almost ready to hop over him in a tight hug but stops.
Tali: Oh...right, I...bad idea right now...Keelah, I...
Shepard: I know, good to be back...did...did we win? Are the reapers gone?
Tali: They destroyed each other, mostly, there were hundreds left, but they were weakened so badly that they were easy prey to our fleet. On the ground, it was madness, husks were ripped apart as their synthetic parts combusted, and I heard that indoctrinated prisoners all are their old selves again. (pause) What did you see up there, Shepard?
Shepard: The Catalyst, he was...he told me his solution: the reapers, were no longer valid, that a new one must be formed. He wanted to keep organics from creating races that would overthrow us. I told him to let us be, let the reapers fade into memory and watch as he was proven wrong, but he refused, and I improvised.
Tali: You saved us, this entire galaxy is in your dept.
Shepard: No, you saved us, you, your people and the geth. Ha, didn't think the geth would represent the hope of life. You gave me all the hope I needed.
Tali: Well, I guess people will start to look at Quarians a bit differently now.
Shepard: I didn't mean to boost your ego, sure you don't need to take off your helmet to make room for your big head?
Tali: Why not? (removes helmet, this time, the camera actually shows her face. They kiss, screen fades to black).

Weeks later. Shepard looks out his window in Huerta memorial, crowds are gathered below holding signs of support, Shepard smiles and turns to a desk. There's a note that reads "Damn, Shep, even I couldn't steal an army of reapers, nice one. ~Kasumi. P.S. Thanks for all the tech loot." Shepard shakes his head and smiles.

Nurse: We've prepared an escort, Commander, the council would like to see you.

Shepard nods and leaves for presidium tower. Shepard is awarded a metal, announced as the highest award possible, yadda yadda. He walks down the steps, to both sides, high ranking officers and politicians applaud, many notable faces bow slightly or nod, whatever is custom, screen fades to black.

Images of Allied fleet

Hackett: The forced gathered against the reapers suffered heavy casualties, some fleets lost more than others. Upon returning from the war, the militaries watched cautiously for others to make a move, but no one lifted a finger. Everyone had seen enough bloodshed, and they were all grateful for the aid each offered. We were no longer divided by race, we are now a true galactic alliance.

Images of Tuchanka, Wrex issuing decrees over his people, who are, for the most part, in agreement.

Wrex: The Krogan people spread rapidly, populating and rebuilding Tuchanka, then spreading to other worlds...uh, uninhabited worlds, nothing taken by force. I think softer races were relieved at that. We even got an ambasidor, Urdnot Bakara. The years that followed saw things never thought possible. Krogan intellectuals, politicians, engineers, each, of course, could kick a Turian's ass with both arms lopped off.

Bakara and I contributed to the population, about six thousand by now...I think. She got her wish, the first to hatch was named Mordin, second was Shepard, third, though it pains me, Garrus, then (voice fades out.)

Images of Palaven being rebuilt.

Garrus: The Turians returned to Palaven in force, eager to rebuild. We had help though, Geth, Quarians, Rachni, and after a few years, Krogan, though we used them for heavy lifting at first, they later proved themselves with engineering. My heart nearly stopped when our engineers checked their plans and said they'd actually work. I still wouldn't want to live in a Krogan design any time soon.

Me, well, I retired, I travel from one scenic place to another, Illium, the Citidel, Omega. They're...scenic, no greater sight than a busted up crime boss crying for his mother.

Images of Geth and Quarians working together on Rannoch.

Tali: It only took us a year to build up our immune systems thanks to the Geth. However, once the reapers went into that black hole, they were returned to their previous intelligence. Rannoch is now a cultural paradise. We aren't "suit rats" or nomads, and we have the geth to thank for that. They could have destroyed this world with mindless pollution in search of resources, but they kept it for us. As long as I live, I will not let our people forget that.

I built that home on Rannoch, overlooking the shore, it's beautiful. A geth helped, he wouldn't talk to me, but I once saw him doing a dance known to humans as "the Robot".

Shepard lives here as well, Raan says she disapproves of us, but I see her smile when she thinks I'm not looking. When we heard how many Quarian children were orphaned, we stepped in, adopting a young boy and his sister, both children of the Neema. We know we can't have children of our own, but it's fun to try. We visit the others often, and they all seem to be getting by just fine. I'm so happy for Joker and EDI.

Images of mass cleanup of Thessia.

Liara: Thessia's rebuilding was slow, but everyone worked together, the cooperation was remarkable. A former bar owner and matriarch gave the rallying cry for the building of new mass relays into uncharted systems. With so many ears listening, it became a reality, she named the first Asari-built relay, "The Little Wing". We've found many intelligent races, evolved far from relays. It hasn't all been smooth, but we are creating protocols to aid in the progress. And we thought we were in a golden age before the war...I think I will enjoy the next nine hundred years.

Image of Javik in a meditative pose near destroyed cryogenic pods.

Javik: I returned to Eden Prime to put my men's spirits to rest along with mine, but a faint glimmer caught my eye. An active pod, revealed by a crashed Cerberus ship.


(and just for added flavor, inspired by the end of Red Dead Redemption)
20 years later

The camera pans across the navigation area of an advanced starship. The crew is made up of every race from council space. The galaxy map is covered in relay markers, at the head of the team is a Quarian man, unmasked.

Navigator: Calan, we are clear to proceed, just give the order.
Calan: It's Captain now, we're not kids anymore, remember, Nasaan?
Nasaan: This isn't a military vessel, brother, we're scientists. You're still Calan to me.
Calan: Great, hello, history, remember that day we sent a manned mission to another galaxy? Its navigator checked her bed for spiders every night.
Nasaan: And its captain couldn't ask a girl out without wearing a reinforced mask.
Calan: (sighs) I'm sure everyone has heard enough to last the trip. (Presses intercom) Crew of the SS Williams, it is my honor to lead this great mission in the name of discovery, the first of its kind. Our races once worked together to end a cycle of destruction that stifled advancement. My father stood in the presence of those mighty enemies and said "no more", with all our races allied behind him, they fell, the impossible happened, and now, this voyage, deemed just as impossible is going to reveal to us a whole new galaxy. We don't know what we'll find, but we'll be ready. (deactivates intercom)
Nasaan: Now if you could just be that determined around women. (Activates communicator) Unit 4395, we're good to go.
Unit 4395: Acknowledged, Creator Nasaan.

Camera moves to a view of the ship, a design with influences from all major races flying to a colossal mass relay, the power source being dyson web. They fire off toward another galaxy, the view being from over the top of the ship, showing them rapidly approach the galaxy.

Upon slowing, they see several worlds around a blue sun. Zooms in on a small rocky planet.

Calan: That must be the world the signal came from. According to the readings, it's capable of supporting life!
Unit 4395: Captain, I do not believe the local life needs a planet to exist.
Calan: What to you mean?
Unit 4395: This unit's databanks offer no accurate way to describe what it has detected.
Calan marches to the cockpit, Unit 4395 points to an approaching creature, colossal in scale, light blue and best described as a combination between a whale and a manta-ray..
Calan: If only father could see this...

I would have been so happy to have an ending where you get to see what happens. I love Tali and this would be a perfect happy ending for me.

[deathscythe517]

^
Yeah, but prima gets things wrong sometimes, so it's not surprising.

[Caelistas]

Arios1570 wrote...

This is my "screw vanilla" ending, at least in my first play-through. Male Shepard, Tali LI, Ashley died at Virmire. Haven't covered everyone, but I enjoyed writing this. This may be very Rainbows and Sparkles, but hell, I got everyone together, did everything, my bar was green, so this is what I'm accepting as my ending, vanilla be damned.

After the Catalyst finishes his speech:

Shepard turns back to the Catalyst:

Shepard: You arrogant fool. For someone who was once so obviously wise, you understand nothing of life. Organics, synthetics, they're not destined to war. You look at examples of the past and see only bloodshed, I've seen with my own eyes a peace between us, and no, we don't have to be merged. The Geth now live side by side with the Quarians who once lost their world in attempts to destroy them in a symbiosis you have not anticipated.

You have accepted that your solution will no longer work. You were foolish for seeing this as a solution. This solves nothing, it causes a larger problem, more pain, and enslavement. The reapers aren't ascended, they're made into your play things.

Here's my solution: send these abominations into the nearest black hole to be crushed and never seen again. Destroy all the monsters they have melded from organics, and free your indoctrinated slaves. Shut down any reaper that can't reach a black hole, completely. The souls within could use the rest. Leave the mass relays and Citidel as compensation for all the pain you have caused.

But you, I want you to stay active, I want you to see the impossible: I want you to look out and see that unfathomable peace as it spreads across the galaxy, that peace I worked so damned hard to build.

Catalyst (silent for a moment): That is not an option.
Shepard: Then you give us no option!
Catalyst: You believe your cycle can achieve peace? You think you have the resolve? We will see. If your forces can defeat the reapers, then they may live, but you are throwing every species away...

Shepard looks out to the battle in horror, but straightens and looks to the control console area. He lifts his gun to fire.

Catalyst: What are you doing?!
Shepard: creating my own solution.

Shepard fires at the controls, disrupting the control signal. The view changes to the battle, reapers are in disarray, crying out as if awakening to a nightmare, seeing what they are for the first time. Their shields drop as they turn on each other, each seeing in the others the horrible machines that entombed them in metallic devices of genocide. On the ground, husks are torn apart by their synthetic parts exploding. In a bunker, an indoctrinated prisoner pounds on his door, then falls, holding his head. As he stands, he is more calm, and looking around as though he woke from a dream.

Catalyst: What have you done?! Your society will fall to the machines you create, it is inevitable!
Shepard: We'll find our own solution, obviously, no one ever liked yours.

Shepard leaves the platform, holding his hand to his ear.

Shepard: Admiral Hackett...
Hackett: Shepard? Where have you been? You're missing a hell of a show.
A squadron of fighters fly by a reaper, destroying it in a massive explosion. Shepard looks to Earth, seeing Harbinger rocket angrily toward him, badly damaged. The Normandy fires a shot straight through the side of his face-like area. The eyes flicker out and he roars. A squadron of fighters blast him again. Eyes flicker back on, and he proceeds, seemingly un-phased. Then two reapers latch on, pulling him apart.
Shepard: I've got a nice view up here.
Hackett: What do you mean? Where are you?
Shepard: We did it, the reapers are...
Shepard collapses, as he falls, radio signals call out.

Looking from the eyes of a hospital patient as they open slightly, Tali holding Shepard's hand as she sobs, Garrus and Liara there to comfort her. The others stare on in somber silence. The heart monitor beeps rapidly and unsteadily, then eyes fully close


Shepard opens his eyes, he's badly injured but still alive. Doctor Chakwas turns away from her monitor and smiles.

Chakwas: Good to have you back, Commander. There's someone-
Tali: SHEPARD!
Tali rushes over to his side, almost ready to hop over him in a tight hug but stops.
Tali: Oh...right, I...bad idea right now...Keelah, I...
Shepard: I know, good to be back...did...did we win? Are the reapers gone?
Tali: They destroyed each other, mostly, there were hundreds left, but they were weakened so badly that they were easy prey to our fleet. On the ground, it was madness, husks were ripped apart as their synthetic parts combusted, and I heard that indoctrinated prisoners all are their old selves again. (pause) What did you see up there, Shepard?
Shepard: The Catalyst, he was...he told me his solution: the reapers, were no longer valid, that a new one must be formed. He wanted to keep organics from creating races that would overthrow us. I told him to let us be, let the reapers fade into memory and watch as he was proven wrong, but he refused, and I improvised.
Tali: You saved us, this entire galaxy is in your dept.
Shepard: No, you saved us, you, your people and the geth. Ha, didn't think the geth would represent the hope of life. You gave me all the hope I needed.
Tali: Well, I guess people will start to look at Quarians a bit differently now.
Shepard: I didn't mean to boost your ego, sure you don't need to take off your helmet to make room for your big head?
Tali: Why not? (removes helmet, this time, the camera actually shows her face. They kiss, screen fades to black).

Weeks later. Shepard looks out his window in Huerta memorial, crowds are gathered below holding signs of support, Shepard smiles and turns to a desk. There's a note that reads "Damn, Shep, even I couldn't steal an army of reapers, nice one. ~Kasumi. P.S. Thanks for all the tech loot." Shepard shakes his head and smiles.

Nurse: We've prepared an escort, Commander, the council would like to see you.

Shepard nods and leaves for presidium tower. Shepard is awarded a metal, announced as the highest award possible, yadda yadda. He walks down the steps, to both sides, high ranking officers and politicians applaud, many notable faces bow slightly or nod, whatever is custom, screen fades to black.

Images of Allied fleet

Hackett: The forced gathered against the reapers suffered heavy casualties, some fleets lost more than others. Upon returning from the war, the militaries watched cautiously for others to make a move, but no one lifted a finger. Everyone had seen enough bloodshed, and they were all grateful for the aid each offered. We were no longer divided by race, we are now a true galactic alliance.

Images of Tuchanka, Wrex issuing decrees over his people, who are, for the most part, in agreement.

Wrex: The Krogan people spread rapidly, populating and rebuilding Tuchanka, then spreading to other worlds...uh, uninhabited worlds, nothing taken by force. I think softer races were relieved at that. We even got an ambasidor, Urdnot Bakara. The years that followed saw things never thought possible. Krogan intellectuals, politicians, engineers, each, of course, could kick a Turian's ass with both arms lopped off.

Bakara and I contributed to the population, about six thousand by now...I think. She got her wish, the first to hatch was named Mordin, second was Shepard, third, though it pains me, Garrus, then (voice fades out.)

Images of Palaven being rebuilt.

Garrus: The Turians returned to Palaven in force, eager to rebuild. We had help though, Geth, Quarians, Rachni, and after a few years, Krogan, though we used them for heavy lifting at first, they later proved themselves with engineering. My heart nearly stopped when our engineers checked their plans and said they'd actually work. I still wouldn't want to live in a Krogan design any time soon.

Me, well, I retired, I travel from one scenic place to another, Illium, the Citidel, Omega. They're...scenic, no greater sight than a busted up crime boss crying for his mother.

Images of Geth and Quarians working together on Rannoch.

Tali: It only took us a year to build up our immune systems thanks to the Geth. However, once the reapers went into that black hole, they were returned to their previous intelligence. Rannoch is now a cultural paradise. We aren't "suit rats" or nomads, and we have the geth to thank for that. They could have destroyed this world with mindless pollution in search of resources, but they kept it for us. As long as I live, I will not let our people forget that.

I built that home on Rannoch, overlooking the shore, it's beautiful. A geth helped, he wouldn't talk to me, but I once saw him doing a dance known to humans as "the Robot".

Shepard lives here as well, Raan says she disapproves of us, but I see her smile when she thinks I'm not looking. When we heard how many Quarian children were orphaned, we stepped in, adopting a young boy and his sister, both children of the Neema. We know we can't have children of our own, but it's fun to try. We visit the others often, and they all seem to be getting by just fine. I'm so happy for Joker and EDI.

Images of mass cleanup of Thessia.

Liara: Thessia's rebuilding was slow, but everyone worked together, the cooperation was remarkable. A former bar owner and matriarch gave the rallying cry for the building of new mass relays into uncharted systems. With so many ears listening, it became a reality, she named the first Asari-built relay, "The Little Wing". We've found many intelligent races, evolved far from relays. It hasn't all been smooth, but we are creating protocols to aid in the progress. And we thought we were in a golden age before the war...I think I will enjoy the next nine hundred years.

Image of Javik in a meditative pose near destroyed cryogenic pods.

Javik: I returned to Eden Prime to put my men's spirits to rest along with mine, but a faint glimmer caught my eye. An active pod, revealed by a crashed Cerberus ship.


(and just for added flavor, inspired by the end of Red Dead Redemption)
20 years later

The camera pans across the navigation area of an advanced starship. The crew is made up of every race from council space. The galaxy map is covered in relay markers, at the head of the team is a Quarian man, unmasked.

Navigator: Calan, we are clear to proceed, just give the order.
Calan: It's Captain now, we're not kids anymore, remember, Nasaan?
Nasaan: This isn't a military vessel, brother, we're scientists. You're still Calan to me.
Calan: Great, hello, history, remember that day we sent a manned mission to another galaxy? Its navigator checked her bed for spiders every night.
Nasaan: And its captain couldn't ask a girl out without wearing a reinforced mask.
Calan: (sighs) I'm sure everyone has heard enough to last the trip. (Presses intercom) Crew of the SS Williams, it is my honor to lead this great mission in the name of discovery, the first of its kind. Our races once worked together to end a cycle of destruction that stifled advancement. My father stood in the presence of those mighty enemies and said "no more", with all our races allied behind him, they fell, the impossible happened, and now, this voyage, deemed just as impossible is going to reveal to us a whole new galaxy. We don't know what we'll find, but we'll be ready. (deactivates intercom)
Nasaan: Now if you could just be that determined around women. (Activates communicator) Unit 4395, we're good to go.
Unit 4395: Acknowledged, Creator Nasaan.

Camera moves to a view of the ship, a design with influences from all major races flying to a colossal mass relay, the power source being dyson web. They fire off toward another galaxy, the view being from over the top of the ship, showing them rapidly approach the galaxy.

Upon slowing, they see several worlds around a blue sun. Zooms in on a small rocky planet.

Calan: That must be the world the signal came from. According to the readings, it's capable of supporting life!
Unit 4395: Captain, I do not believe the local life needs a planet to exist.
Calan: What to you mean?
Unit 4395: This unit's databanks offer no accurate way to describe what it has detected.
Calan marches to the cockpit, Unit 4395 points to an approaching creature, colossal in scale, light blue and best described as a combination between a whale and a manta-ray..
Calan: If only father could see this...

*sniff.. that was... beautifull. Why didn't they hire you to write the ending. I want this as an ending, plz bioware read this and make it happen.

Are you going to write fanfics? If so pm me the links of them, i am eager to read your stories.

Modifié par Caelistas, 10 mars 2012 - 10:23 .

[NPH11]

Arios1570 wrote...

*Wall of ending*

Meh, little too happy for my tastes. That said, I can see why people would want endings like this. Had I been in charge, something along these lines would've at least been an option, one of many options. Two difinative endings and everything in between.

[Sharrack]

revo76 wrote...

However, we all know that Protheans tried to duplicate Mass Relays and it worked some way. (From ME1)

That for example would have been great for an epilogue scene: starting up the first, new rela or at least mentioning of it's research. If I end a game i don't want to have to remember every piece of lore to get some closure for myself.

[Total Biscuit]

Arios1570:

That's quite beautiful man. The epic triumphant ending this series deserved, and wonderfully consistent with the bombastic, triumphant tone of ME1&2. Love it.

Of course I've yet to read any fans idea for an ending that wasn't superior to what Bioware gave us, but that's the best I've seen so far.

Truly magnificent. Bravo!

Modifié par Total Biscuit, 10 mars 2012 - 10:35 .

[xenos25]

well what can i say that hasn't been said already. I feel like kind of empty inside. Why did u do this to us Bioware. I had put my faith in you, I had thought that this was going to be the finally where all the choices i had made throughout the 3 games would come together to give me a unique ending to MY Shepperd's story. Then you give us this pile of pretentious dog **** for an ending that doesn't take any of our choices into account and does not reward us for playing all 3 games through from begingin to end... **** you EA. **** you Bioware.

[P_sutherland]

fix it!!!!!!!!!!

[Sarz91]

Stop with the insults. Yes I would really like a new ending in the form of DLC but cursing and swearing at Bioware is going to get you nowhere. We need to be civil about this. For my masters in Mechanical Engineering I had to design and build a fully functional Cooling Tower. After finishing it I was told that were a few problems. Apparently it was hard to see and understand exactly what was happening. I got an awful lot of grief off some of the students who were trying to use it. So I thought "stuff that, they should be happy with what they ****ing got." It wasn't until one of them pointed out what they thought was wrong and politely asked if id be so good as to fix it that I actually did anything.

Half of you on this site have no idea what its like to work on a project for 12 months let alone 3 years and then have people complain about it. At least show some respect to the guys at Bioware for bringing us countless hours of enjoyment. I would like a better ending to the finale of the series as much as the next person but Bioware won't listen if we just keep abusing them.

[MordiMoro]

The final of Mass Effect

Modifié par MordiMoro, 10 mars 2012 - 10:50 .

[Moliat]

I consider Mass Effect (the trilogy) to be the best game(s) I have ever played, and I have played a fair deal. Rivaling even Zelda: Ocarina of Time in the experience it has given me, ME1, 2 and 3 (up to the ending) gave me an epic feeling in a compelling and convincing universe. I have total and utter respect for the creators of Mass Effect, on every level, as they created the 3 best games I have played to date. They are my favourite movies, except I get to play out the story, and it reacts to me. For that, I applaud them.

I do feel a need for them to take a step back and really think about how they concluded the trilogy, however. We all make mistakes, and in my eyes, the ending(s) of ME3 was their only big mistake. Problem is, it was the very conclusion of 4 years of a lot of time invested by very many devoted fans. It was a conclusion for which the fans deserve better.

The ending has little relevance to the overarching story of Mass Effect. The three choices you face all tie into the symbiosis of organic and synthetic life, but Mass Effect is about far more than that. All the small stories, all the relationships you built, all the tough decisions and the possibility to make the right calls and overcome the odds in an epic and huge way. This was evident in ME1 and 2, but completely lacking in ME3.

In ME3, you're simply given the choice of what way you want to screw over the galaxy, submitting to the limitations of The Catalyst's imagination, and giving up everything you have fought for. No matter what you do, the Mass Relays (it seems) are destroyed, and with them disappear the convincing magic of the ME universe. The spacefaring galaxy is doomed to existence localized within solar systems, as can be directly read from the destruction of the mass relays, as well as extrapolated from the metaphor of Normandy's crash landing.

This crash landing is as well a monumental letdown for the true ME fans. For the Normandy to have reached the Mass Relay to fly away (as it appears it is), it must have departed from Earth before the Catalyst was used. In other words, they left a battle that was very much still going on, even before Shepard makes his decision, or is indeed faced with it, to retreat. This goes against everything Shepard, his team and Joker stand for; fighting for what they believe in, until the end.

The 3 games of Mass Effect do the developers huge credit up until the very conclusion. The ending itself is irrelevant to the story, vastly depressing, does not reveal anything of the aftermaths, and above all; it is the same no matter what you have done. In any case, all Mass Relays are destroyed, and Normandy with its crew is stranded on an uncivilized planet after retreating from the battle for the Galaxy and everything they fought for.

For the fans and for yourselves, I urge you, the developers, to take a step back and look at the very disappointing way in which you concluded an amazing trilogy. Games otherwise littered with choices and their consequences are concluded in a fashion where the player's choices, relationships and efforts are of no relevance. For this reason, I hope you do the honourable thing; reconsider, redo, and provide the true fans with a conclusion worthy of the series. Again; I have the utmost respect for you for creating such an amazing trilogy. We all make mistakes, even devoted and talented developers like you, but it's how we amend and/or improve the consequences of our mistakes that matter.

Modifié par Moliat, 10 mars 2012 - 10:54 .

[Pallid]

Remember how people joke about possible endings like: "In the end of ME3 Shepard will wake up in the Normandy SR1 sick bay right after Eden Prime". Or: "Reapers will be stopped by the power of love", or: "in the end it will be a dance off between Shep and Harbinger", etc. Well, the most humorous or/and insane assumptions was better then this abomination of an ending.

[ChopyChopZ]

I felt liked I did something wrong when I beat the game.I had hoped for some sort of option just to kill the reapers. I didn't understand how the catalyst basically said organics and synthetics simply an not co-exist when i just ended a war and probably ensured galactic peace between the two.

[OneMonthBan]

I think that it is safe to say that only a handful of players liked or is ok with the ending (me including). The nicest thing i can say about the ending was that it was good, up till the point where they implement it into the game cause there's too many questions unanswered.

The ending didn't reflect all the choices that was given at all throughout the trilogy, too, and i have to abstract the plot from previous games in order for this ending to make sense.

DXHR left a bad taste in my mouth because it has such a rich story but they got lazy in the end and gave a (for lack of a better word) cheap ending, never thought that ME would follow suite. Many choices promising many endings, but in the end only 3 not very related ones. Think BW might have to admit that much.

(And is it just me, or did BW did a Battlestar Galatica twist to the ending?
Our crews stranded in an unknown planet with nothing and no one other than those on the ship, tech from the ship most likely destroyed.
Half human, half robot hybrids repopulating the entire planet with no trace of previous civ's technology? Got the same lady to act as the half-human half-robot character, too... Hmmm...)

[Majandraja]

I'm from Germany, finished my playthrough late in the evening or better morning and I don't feel any different than most of you here. I'm shocked, heartbroken and more than disappointed.

Overall, the game was awesome. If it was just the Game, minus the endings, I would give 9/10 points. Sure, there were some glitches and bugs around, some textures not worthy of beeing called that. Yes, I didn't get to choose more than 2 options for my Paragon/Renegade points, so I had to choose instead of beeing neutral. And yes, there were still some annonying parts in the game I didn't like.

But nevertheless, playing this game was a total emotional rollercoaster and that made up for (almost) everything else. Seeing how everyone I knew from M1 and M2 made it (or did not) to M3 were simply some of the most emotional moments in the entire series and for me. Seeing how my FemShep suffered when forced to leave Earth behind and seeing how everyone fought till their last breath to make an ending without Reapers happening - that was simply big storytelling.

And then I get a kick in the guts with the ending. My Paragon FemShep had to make choices, tough choices. In M1, we saw a conflict between Geth and their way of destruction of organic life. Shep and his/her team fought with everything they had, they didn't give up when most just would have done exactly that - wait till the inevitable happens and all die. And they won. Against all odds, Shep was able to get out of this alive, honoring those that gave their life to make it possible.

In M2, Shep had to form a team out of the most diverse alien species and human figthers. Enemies and Friends alike. The message? You can do anything if you work together, no matter what species you are. They fought against all odds, and again, we were presented with choices, they were tough as hell to make. We got to know our Shep even better. My Paragon FemShep was Loyal to her team and tried to do the best decisions for everyone, no matter how bad an attitude people showed towards her. But that is who Shep is. A fighter to the bone for those who call him/her friend and for everyone else in the Galaxy who let Shep do exactly that (and even for those who ignore the warnings). We took down the freaking Collector base with - oh wait, how many Squadmates did we have? And the dozens of ships, eh, bardon me, with only ONE ship.

So in M3, it's all about building support in a grand scale of whole species, friends and enemies coming together, people and dear ones sacrificing their life so that Shep and everyone she was able to get to fight had a "fighting chance". Shep fights for her ideals, for humanity, for EVERYONE. She fights against all odds and doesn't care if it can be done. She fights the Reapers. And if Shep looses? Shep fights till nobody - or Shep him or herselg - can't anymore.

Where is that reflected in the ending? How often has Shep said "We fight until we can't", just in different words and more inspirational? Were is my big fight for my "Happy Ending" for my Paradon FemShep? Where is my vast and different ending for my screwup Paragon Shep who lost nearly all of her Team at the end of M3?

Instead of fighting like Shep did in the previous Games, telling people to suck it and that she doesn't submit, she does exactly that - to a little spoiled brat who gives her 3 choices, which really are no choices for Shep. Shep always made her own destiny. So now, at the end of the series, Shep let's said brat decide her/his destiny? And even worse, the sacrifices of everyone who died will be made meaningless, shallow.

Why did I even bother then to save all my Squadmates in M2 for my Paragon Shep if their sacrifices don't mean anything in the end? Why did I bother to unite Geth and Quarians, Krogan and Turian? Just so I betray all of them and everything I was made to believe Shep was about? No option to say: No little kid, I make my own destiny. Take your choices and leave. No: let's see how the reapers deal with a lot of different species with different tactics, working together.

What did I expect? I expected my choices to mean more than "getting war assets", which then decide if the three choices I get are "even worse than catastrophic",catastrophic, really freaking bad, bad or just plain bad. Yes, I expected to see if it was better to have the rachni Queen on my side than the Salarians or Krogans. Does it even matter that Quarians, Geth, Krogan, Turians and who knows what fight together? Did I do a good job in getting all their support so there might be - an albeit small- chance Shep survives and can keep his/her promise to his LI? No, it doesn't. Because everything I do is collect numbers, pardon me, "war assets".

What was so bad with the M2 mechanic of recruiting teammates, and earning their loyalty? And their loyalty increasing chances of success? You could have even kept your story with this mechanic, just moving it over to a whole species, not just squadmates. But then, it would have meant something to actually cure the genophage or prevent the turian bomb from exploding on Tuchanka, even uniting Geth and Quarian would have, in my opinion, improved the chances. Those who want a really bad ending (for whatever reason) could surely make it happen too.

I'm not saying I 'm a fan of "happily ever after". But what is so bad about giving those who want such an ending this option? Certainly, the previous games showed that the reapers can be defeated. Yes, there have to be sacrifices. But giving the player 3 choices which go against everything the whole series is about, which don't count their paragon/renegade status in and which go only from bad to worse to catastrophic is no worthy end of the Shep story.

Taking one of the 3 choices doesn't make Shep a hero in my eyes, but a coward who submitted and betrayed everyone who trusted Shep to do what had to be done right. I loved the series for the gameplay and the diverse endings dependent on my choices, and that in all my delusions, I could get a somewhat happy ending if I wanted to. Thanks Bioware for taking this from me. I certainly will not make a second playthrough, because what's the point? And giving the player "room for interpretation" is no valid point to excuse this ending, because honestly? This ending can't be excused, no matter what.

[Katsuya Kaiba]

I just want to remind you all to act mature when posting here. Doing anything less is not going to further the cause.

[Ultra Prism]

That Tali fan-mande ending was really good, that's how I would like to see...too bad Bioware won't and ending of this game wasn't simple satisfying...it was vague and didnt explain a lot of things in couple of seconds ...