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Was the ending a hallucination? - Indoctrination Theory


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#6651
CDHarrisUSF

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IhateEA-Mask wrote...

What does Shepard dying to Husks(which is kind of hard but possible if you dont' shoot them) after waking up in slow motion or TIM killing him mean for the theory?

If a critical mission failure pops up, it's not canon.  That's how all of your other deaths are treated. It's like the prince in Prince of Persia saying, "Wait... that's not how it happened."

Modifié par CDHarrisUSF, 13 mars 2012 - 05:49 .


#6652
lavosslayer

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crimsontotem wrote...

Doctor Quinn wrote...

Occum's razor is about cutting away excess to institute simple elegant solutions. How is magic crucible that turns everyone into a synth hybrid, kills all synthetic life, or has magic spheres that make the reapers surrender to shepherd simple or elegant? How do these even solve the problems of singularity and conflict that the reapers posit they exist to solve? It is no less absurd than it being a fevered indoctrination dream. In fact it's more palatable if it were.


that is why i wanna punch any people in the face when they try to bring Occum's razor to any discussion... 


lol yeah Occum's Razor has to be the worst copout response ever! 

#6653
MissMaster_2

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hex23 wrote...

I don't mean to be rude but if you disagree with this theory, or have a counter point actually read the thread before  you respond. Every single post disagreeing is parroting things that were addressed 100+ pages ago. You aren't bringing anything new to the table, trust me.


This :wizard:

#6654
Vikali

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I think it's also important to know that in the realm of dreams, you cannot experience anything outside of your own comprehension. Meaning, you can't learn anything that you don't already know, consciously or subconsciously. Shepard really learns nothing in anything past the blast, and the paragon line of the TIM conversation almost directly mirrors the Saren situation in ME1.

This also could explain the terrible explanation for the reapers. If it is really 'beyond our comprehension', that could be Shepard trying to find logical reasons as to why it is happening and why it seems very '... wat?'

#6655
Fledgey

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ReclaimedHavoc wrote...

Noob451 wrote...

G4m3_Fr34k wrote...

 I'm almost certain that with the sheer amount of people looking into this theory that this little tidbit has been found somewhere in the 200+ page thread. But since this isn't in the opening post, I have no way of knowing for certain if it's known, so I'll go ahead and reveal what is even more definitive proof this "theory" is true (again if already posted sorry just ignore this post)

Right at the beginning of the game you'll notice the enigmatic kid playing in a pit of grass on the ground next to a road as Shepard is watching. Now we all know this BUT there's a crucial easter egg you probably didnt notice afterwards. AS soon as youre controlling Shepard, play normally following Anderson right until you get to the first climbable ladder. DON'T climb it yet!

Look directly to the right at the building where your eventually prompted to melee the husks when you're out of ammo. See who that is on the side looking through the railing? Yep, it's the kid, who has magically teleported from the ground roadside all the way up approximately 6 floors of a building in minutes from the opening to as soon as the reapers are invading! Obviously impossible, but even more suggesting evidence further on. As soon as you get to when the husks start climbing up the building, the kid will run TOWARDS the husks as he makes it inside ignored and unharmed by both them AND anderson as you two shoot the husks down. If not already discovered, rhis proves without a doubt that the kid is a complete fabrication by Shepard, assumingly due to indoctrination.

Start a new game and try it yourself if you don't believe me. Hell, you can even shoot the kid and he doesn't even react :P



had to make it easier to read, sorry.

Any vids on this?

This is a big affirmative. I just videoed it. Uploading now. AMAZING CATCH by the way. Absolutely brilliant.

#6656
ReclaimedHavoc

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ceruleancrescent wrote...

ceruleancrescent wrote...

 Was looking over a video of the dream sequence(s) HERE
And found what the voices (non-dead crew members) were whispering
 Posted Image

"Some souls die in battle, some in their sleep, and some die for no reason at all"
I know this could refer to the child who died who represents those Shepard could save, but it just sound so downright ominous. Plus the sudden development of "oily shadows" in the dream that wasn't there during the first sequence.

Posted Image

I know this has been pointed out before, but look at the child's freaky smile, he's smirking as they are being lit on fire while Shepard looks somewhat dispairing.


Also, when Shepard wake from the dreams, they see this

Posted Image

And when they see as they are hit by the repear beam

Posted Image

To me, what Shepard sees when coming out of his dreams, looks a lot like what he sees when he gets hit by the reaper beam/enters the indoctrinated/dream-like state that is the ending.

Source


Good catch. :D
There's way to much evidence for this to be the hugest coincedence in the world, no doubt.

#6657
balance5050

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Since someone said that the hidden ending of Shepard being alive was our strongest evidence, I just want to remind everyone that his armor was STILL INTACT in the breathing scene, reinforcing the notion that the whole scene where your armor is damaged DIDN"T HAPPEN.

Even the choices you make are abstract ideas, and not real solutions to anything.

#6658
Urumashi

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 Also one last thing i just thought of, when you first encounter the child in the air vent at the beginning of the game i think the first or second line he says is "You can't save me" 

Now let's reflect on this line for a moment, first off what kid would ever say something like that, it doesnt represent any form of youth coping mechanisms, at that age the human brain is programmed so seek out help in the event of an emergency. To put it bluntly, when you were a kid, if you were afraid of a monster under your bed did you go hide in the closet? Hell no, you ran to your parents like the bed was on fire. Second, the statement seems to be a lot less of an answer to Shepard's offer of help and a lot more of a statement to scare him, as the trailers have mentioned that child is supposed to represent all of the people Shep can't save. If the child, this metaphorical Every-Man tells him "you can't save them" its not a response, its a threat from the reapers.

The second (or first, can't remember) statement the child makes is "Everyone's dieing". Now this one boils down a bit to personal assumption but honestly, when has a child of that age ever fully understood death? Would you not expect something more along the likes of "everyone's screaming" or "everyone's running"? For example, if you tell a child of a war veteran that his/her father or mother has died overseas it's highly unlikely that they will understand what it means, they are more likely than not to ask several weeks later "Where's mommy?". The child would be more aware of the more physically apparent evidence of the attack, not of what might be happening to people in buildings miles away. You will notice that there are no bodies within the building where you find the child so how would he even know that people were dieing anyway? Also, and this is really just an afterthought; wasnt the building hit full on by a reaper lazer only seconds before seeing the kid? How the heck would he have survived that regardless of the airvent? The blast hit so hard it broke the door after all which is only several feet away from where the kid was hiding. To go back to the "everyone's dieing" comment this, again sounds more like a threat from the Reapers if anything as, again; by placing the child in the symbolic "Every-man" position it sounds more like the reapers are trying to tell him "We are killing every person you can't save".

Anyway, there's my piece on the matter, happy hunting folks. Keela Selai!

#6659
seventh_sorrow

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I had an epiphany moment,

please correct me if this has already been posted.

I fully believe that it is a hallucination, because of the Child.  Shown in three points:

Point one:
In the game we are flat out told that the Catalyst is the Citadel,
In the game we are flat out told that the Citadel was built by the Reapers
In the game the Catalyst is shown to us as the Child.

If A equals B equals C

Then its safe to assume that the Child is built/made by the Reapers

This is important because THE CHILD IS IN SHEPARD'S HEAD
If the Child was an image made by the Reapers then the Reapers would be inside his head too with the Child.
Specifically the Child is in his dreams and it is noted that Shepard is the only person who interacts with the Child.

Point Two:
Dreams seen in order 1, 2, 3: here, here and here respectively

Look at dream number three, listen to the voices
They are the voices of Shepard's dead friends and allies

This is important, because in the indoctrination process the Reapers use this tactic to convince people to believe them.  More specifically in Greyson's indoctrination in the book, the Reapers used his memories of Sanders to manipulate him.  In the books Greyson and Kaylee Sanders had an antagonistic relationship in Ascension, and a benign relationship in Retribution.  But when Greyson tried to commit suicide in Retribution, the Reaper's flooded his mind with memories and hormones to convince him that he was in love with Sanders.  If we extrapolate from that event in Retribution, then using Shepard's dead friends in his dreams is not that much of a stretch in ME3.

Point Three:

Why is the God Child there in the first place?

If no one else in the game sees the Child on Earth, how would anyone other than Shepard know what the Child looks like?  If the Catalyst/Citadel shows itself to Shepard in any form what so ever, why choose that one?  Why not Harbinger or one of Shepard's dead or living allies?

In order to get what the Child looks like from Shepard, the Citadel/Catalyst would have to look into Shepard's memories in order to conjure up that specific Image.  And if they had too look into his memories, see point 2, then they would be already inside his head.



For me, it's the Child, a Reaper construct, that makes the indoctrination arguement hold together. 

edit'd for clarity

Modifié par seventh_sorrow, 13 mars 2012 - 05:53 .


#6660
ReclaimedHavoc

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Fledgey wrote...

ReclaimedHavoc wrote...

Noob451 wrote...

G4m3_Fr34k wrote...

 I'm almost certain that with the sheer amount of people looking into this theory that this little tidbit has been found somewhere in the 200+ page thread. But since this isn't in the opening post, I have no way of knowing for certain if it's known, so I'll go ahead and reveal what is even more definitive proof this "theory" is true (again if already posted sorry just ignore this post)

Right at the beginning of the game you'll notice the enigmatic kid playing in a pit of grass on the ground next to a road as Shepard is watching. Now we all know this BUT there's a crucial easter egg you probably didnt notice afterwards. AS soon as youre controlling Shepard, play normally following Anderson right until you get to the first climbable ladder. DON'T climb it yet!

Look directly to the right at the building where your eventually prompted to melee the husks when you're out of ammo. See who that is on the side looking through the railing? Yep, it's the kid, who has magically teleported from the ground roadside all the way up approximately 6 floors of a building in minutes from the opening to as soon as the reapers are invading! Obviously impossible, but even more suggesting evidence further on. As soon as you get to when the husks start climbing up the building, the kid will run TOWARDS the husks as he makes it inside ignored and unharmed by both them AND anderson as you two shoot the husks down. If not already discovered, rhis proves without a doubt that the kid is a complete fabrication by Shepard, assumingly due to indoctrination.

Start a new game and try it yourself if you don't believe me. Hell, you can even shoot the kid and he doesn't even react :P



had to make it easier to read, sorry.

Any vids on this?

This is a big affirmative. I just videoed it. Uploading now. AMAZING CATCH by the way. Absolutely brilliant.

Can't wait to see this Posted Image

#6661
G0thicRhino

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IhateEA-Mask wrote...

What does Shepard dying to Husks(which is kind of hard but possible if you dont' shoot them) after waking up in slow motion or TIM killing him mean for the theory?

Also two more things: Everyone is dead or damaged after Harbinger beam, but Anderson looks completely fine. HOW the heck Anderson apparently survives to beam without getting hit?

Secondly, Anderson says that walls are shifting in Citadel. Without that line, Shepard would be walking to control panel on straight path with Anderson somehow being there before him despite ending up in different place. What was last time we heard walls shifting with reaper thing? On Derelict reaper on logs of indoctrinated scientists.


The idea with Shepard dying at that part is more of a gameplay related thing. It's just a seqence of the game to complete. Doesn't mean it's real, but I still need to complete it to progress the game. Similar to the dreams, I wasn't ACTUALLY running through a death forest after a burning child. That was just in my head, had to complete it to wake up. Naw'mean?

On your other two points, exactly. Use that noggin! :]

#6662
BlackDragonBane

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balance5050 wrote...

Since someone said that the hidden ending of Shepard being alive was our strongest evidence, I just want to remind everyone that his armor was STILL INTACT in the breathing scene, reinforcing the notion that the whole scene where your armor is damaged DIDN"T HAPPEN.

Even the choices you make are abstract ideas, and not real solutions to anything.


Actually, in the breathing scene, the armor is damaged in the same manner as it was after Harbinger's attack, connecting the fact that Shepard was indeed attacked by Harbinger, but never made it to the Conduit, just got knocked on their ass.

#6663
blooregard

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IhateEA-Mask wrote...

What does Shepard dying to Husks(which is kind of hard but possible if you dont' shoot them) after waking up in slow motion or TIM killing him mean for the theory?

Also two more things: Everyone is dead or damaged after Harbinger beam, but Anderson looks completely fine. HOW the heck Anderson apparently survives to beam without getting hit?

Secondly, Anderson says that walls are shifting in Citadel. Without that line, Shepard would be walking to control panel on straight path with Anderson somehow being there before him despite ending up in different place. What was last time we heard walls shifting with reaper thing? On Derelict reaper on logs of indoctrinated scientists.




I imagine the getting killed by TIM or the husks is just game mechanics since all the enemies take what like 2-3 shots to kill? 

anderson being unscathed does add even more creedence to this theory being true as NOBODY walked away from that without a scratch

as for the walls moving looked around and did notice the walls move myself kinda like the shadow broker base 

#6664
Sl4sh3r

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ReclaimedHavoc wrote...

Noob451 wrote...

G4m3_Fr34k wrote...

 I'm almost certain that with the sheer amount of people looking into this theory that this little tidbit has been found somewhere in the 200+ page thread. But since this isn't in the opening post, I have no way of knowing for certain if it's known, so I'll go ahead and reveal what is even more definitive proof this "theory" is true (again if already posted sorry just ignore this post)

Right at the beginning of the game you'll notice the enigmatic kid playing in a pit of grass on the ground next to a road as Shepard is watching. Now we all know this BUT there's a crucial easter egg you probably didnt notice afterwards. AS soon as youre controlling Shepard, play normally following Anderson right until you get to the first climbable ladder. DON'T climb it yet!

Look directly to the right at the building where your eventually prompted to melee the husks when you're out of ammo. See who that is on the side looking through the railing? Yep, it's the kid, who has magically teleported from the ground roadside all the way up approximately 6 floors of a building in minutes from the opening to as soon as the reapers are invading! Obviously impossible, but even more suggesting evidence further on. As soon as you get to when the husks start climbing up the building, the kid will run TOWARDS the husks as he makes it inside ignored and unharmed by both them AND anderson as you two shoot the husks down. If not already discovered, rhis proves without a doubt that the kid is a complete fabrication by Shepard, assumingly due to indoctrination.

Start a new game and try it yourself if you don't believe me. Hell, you can even shoot the kid and he doesn't even react :P



had to make it easier to read, sorry.

Any vids on this?


Holy crap you're right. Just recorded it . Will get it on Youtube ASAP!

#6665
mooney6023

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Fledgey wrote...

ReclaimedHavoc wrote...

Noob451 wrote...

G4m3_Fr34k wrote...

 I'm almost certain that with the sheer amount of people looking into this theory that this little tidbit has been found somewhere in the 200+ page thread. But since this isn't in the opening post, I have no way of knowing for certain if it's known, so I'll go ahead and reveal what is even more definitive proof this "theory" is true (again if already posted sorry just ignore this post)

Right at the beginning of the game you'll notice the enigmatic kid playing in a pit of grass on the ground next to a road as Shepard is watching. Now we all know this BUT there's a crucial easter egg you probably didnt notice afterwards. AS soon as youre controlling Shepard, play normally following Anderson right until you get to the first climbable ladder. DON'T climb it yet!

Look directly to the right at the building where your eventually prompted to melee the husks when you're out of ammo. See who that is on the side looking through the railing? Yep, it's the kid, who has magically teleported from the ground roadside all the way up approximately 6 floors of a building in minutes from the opening to as soon as the reapers are invading! Obviously impossible, but even more suggesting evidence further on. As soon as you get to when the husks start climbing up the building, the kid will run TOWARDS the husks as he makes it inside ignored and unharmed by both them AND anderson as you two shoot the husks down. If not already discovered, rhis proves without a doubt that the kid is a complete fabrication by Shepard, assumingly due to indoctrination.

Start a new game and try it yourself if you don't believe me. Hell, you can even shoot the kid and he doesn't even react :P



had to make it easier to read, sorry.

Any vids on this?

This is a big affirmative. I just videoed it. Uploading now. AMAZING CATCH by the way. Absolutely brilliant.


So does this mean the kid is a reaper tool from the beginning of ME3 or a TIM tool implanted in Shepard when he was rebuilt and co-opted by the reapers at the end of the game?
--
this is a signature.

Modifié par mooney6023, 13 mars 2012 - 05:53 .


#6666
CreepingGeth

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balance5050 wrote...

Since someone said that the hidden ending of Shepard being alive was our strongest evidence, I just want to remind everyone that his armor was STILL INTACT in the breathing scene, reinforcing the notion that the whole scene where your armor is damaged DIDN"T HAPPEN.


This, beyond anything else, is the only absolute proof you even need to support the theory. This scene all but writes on the screen in gigantic letters "NOW BACK TO REALITY".

#6667
Noob451

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Noob451 wrote...

ReclaimedHavoc wrote...

Noob451 wrote...

G4m3_Fr34k wrote...

 I'm almost certain that with the sheer amount of people looking into this theory that this little tidbit has been found somewhere in the 200+ page thread. But since this isn't in the opening post, I have no way of knowing for certain if it's known, so I'll go ahead and reveal what is even more definitive proof this "theory" is true (again if already posted sorry just ignore this post)

Right at the beginning of the game you'll notice the enigmatic kid playing in a pit of grass on the ground next to a road as Shepard is watching. Now we all know this BUT there's a crucial easter egg you probably didnt notice afterwards. AS soon as youre controlling Shepard, play normally following Anderson right until you get to the first climbable ladder. DON'T climb it yet!

Look directly to the right at the building where your eventually prompted to melee the husks when you're out of ammo. See who that is on the side looking through the railing? Yep, it's the kid, who has magically teleported from the ground roadside all the way up approximately 6 floors of a building in minutes from the opening to as soon as the reapers are invading! Obviously impossible, but even more suggesting evidence further on. As soon as you get to when the husks start climbing up the building, the kid will run TOWARDS the husks as he makes it inside ignored and unharmed by both them AND anderson as you two shoot the husks down. If not already discovered, rhis proves without a doubt that the kid is a complete fabrication by Shepard, assumingly due to indoctrination.

Start a new game and try it yourself if you don't believe me. Hell, you can even shoot the kid and he doesn't even react :P



had to make it easier to read, sorry.

Any vids on this?


I'm about to start a new game and check this out, idk if there are any vids, but i'll post back if i see anything.


yeah, he's there alright.... you really gotta look for him though.

#6668
G0thicRhino

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DarkSeraphym wrote...

G0thicRhino wrote...

While all may be a long shot, we're still giving Bioware the benefit of the doubt here. 

With most games the outside fiction stays outside of the games, but the fact is, ME3 ties more over from it's fiction (books, comics, etc.) than any other game I've played recently. So I don't see those tie-ins as reaching. I do however, agree with you on the 1m1. I think it's just a recycling of game assets, Bioware has always been rather notorious for that. Which I'm totally fine with. At the same time, you could explain those away as Shep's mind rationalizing the dream. ( I don't know that I believe that one yet.)

As for the kid, sure. I thought throughtout my first playthrough it was a form of PTSD and I found it completely compelling. So we say the kid in the nightmares isn't a form of indoctrination. At the end of the game... how do you explain that all of the "ones he couldn't save" are in control of the Reapers? It's Harbinger/Reapers using the most um... what's the word... distressing(?) thought to connect with him and further their indoctrination process.

Even if you don't believe he is part of the indoctrination throughout the game, on the crucible, it makes the most sense that he is part of that process.

I agree that attempting a stunt like this is a HUGE risk, but... what would stick with you more? An ending that gave you little closure and made almost no sense. Or an ending that made you seriously question everything, be angry, and think, followed by the reveal that it wasn't truly the end? 

I still believe it is a stunt. One that takes some serious risk and heartbreak. Do you think they like the way everyone is ripping the game apart? Something they put their souls into creating? They would not crush their fans like that, nor themselves. They're purposely staying hush-hush. Otherwise they would just come out and say, "That's it. As is."

This will end with a bang.


To be fair, the game is still new. There are still sales to be had and admitting that the customers are stuck with lackluster endings is not going to sell games, especially to people you will not recommend it to because of the endings. Damage will be done from silence entirely, but not nearly as much damage will be done as would be had they just come out and admitted this is all we are getting.


Exactly, if this were how they really and truly decided to end the series, with those endings as reality... They would effectively be flushing away future purchases and quite a fanbase. From a $ perspective, it makes no sense.

#6669
Elidor109

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God damn kids. It's bad enough they ruin your wife/girlfriends vag, but now they even have to ruin the ending of Mass Effect!?!?

;)

#6670
Lost Cipher

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G0thicRhino wrote...

Lost Cipher wrote...

DarkSeraphym wrote...

BlackDragonBane wrote...

I think you keep missing the point.

EMS is based on time.

Rush through the game: Missing alot of assets, resources, and allies: Reapers only give you Destroy because they know you can't win. You don't have the manpower or firepower to, so it wouldn't matter. You'll fail and die, meaning they don't have to worry about indoctrinating Shepard

Actually play the content: Have all or majoirty of assets and resources, gain all possible allies: Reapers suddenly have a massive army to fight. that could possibly destroy them. Self preservation kicks in. The time spent gathering a large EMS score means indoctrination has had a longer time to manifest. Reapers use it by presenting you with 3 options and make the 2 they want appealing to Shepard's sensibilities while making Destroy sound like the worst possible option.

If you give in, the Reapers turn you into a sleeper agent and use you to destroy your fleets and alliances from within.

Don't give in and your resist the indoctrination and can obliterate the Reapers in to particle dust.

Anything not clear about this explaination at all still?

The deicision ONLY determines if you succumb to indoctrination or not, not if the Reapers are destroyed. It's not real, it's just Harbinger trying to keep you from undoing the cycle.


Call this the profiler in me, but normally people who think they have become ingenius with their stories in the form of these kinds of twists will leave subtle hints that are accessible to the greatest audience. They make it the responsibility of the audience to pick up on their clues. The part that I take issue with in this theory is the evidence of Shepard surviving, in which many people on these forums have complained about due to the fact that such an ending is extremely difficult and entirely impossible for some to come by without the use of multiplayer or Readiness. I myself have not been able to access the ending without bumping my Readiness up at least 5% more in all of my playthroughs. I would think that if BioWare had this kind of stuff planned out all along, they would have made it a little easier to get this ending; especially since Shepard waking up is one of your strongest pieces of evidence for the indoctrination theory. Right now, it seems to me like BioWare just really wants Shepard dead in your endings, especially since he'll "die" in 6 of 7 endings andthey  just tacked it on there so they could say "There, now you have an ending where he lives. Work hard and you can get it. Now you can leave us alone."

Assuming that this theory is true, it also presents a marketing problem as most people will succumb to Reaper indoctrination anyway, unless they are willing to raise their Readiness and its not normally a good practice of marketing to limit your product in such a manner, in this case post-ending DLC, to individuals who are already going to have a problem getting the proper ending to use it in the first place.


People who are desperate will believe what they choose to believe. The fact of the matter is that all the
evidence for the Indoctrination/Hallucination theory, though good on principle is circumstantial at best. A lot of it comes from sources outside of the game, like the novels or comics (growls). Also Bioware tends to recycle assets, most game development studios do as well. Their have been examples of human writing and numbers on alien worlds. 1M1 is most likely some aesthetic piece of art work. The roman numeral M equals 1,000.

The endings are meant to be open to interpretation for one reason, and one reason alone. So they can
continue to sell more Mass Effect titles. Casey Hudson telling you to keep your save, is like ME2 telling you to keep your save file. It will affect the explanation of the legend of Shepard in ME4.

The voice of Harbinger – Keith Szarabajka has no credits or postings in relation to Mass Effect 3.

This idea that the kid represents the effects of Indoctrination is a lie, in the Mass Effect art book it clearly states that the kid represents everyone Shepard cannot save. This is the most logical definition of this character. The dreams are the result that the toll of the war is having on Shepard's mind. For anyone who has fought, its supposed to represent PTSD. You can tell this by the fact that if primary characters die before each dream,
their voices echo in the dreams. This is most notable with Legion.

Also the practicality of this stunt makes no sense. People purchased Mass Effect 3 with the promise that it concluded the story of Shepard. Multiple developers said the game was a complete experience. To release the game and then release DLC that contains the “true” ending(s) would be suicide. People might begin to doubt that future Bioware titles are complete and decide not to purchase them on release.

The combination of voices for the Star Child at the end are to add a surreal quality to the it's voice... NMNL. The reason for this is simple, voice actors of their quality and experience cost lots of money.


While all may be a long shot, we're still giving Bioware the benefit of the doubt here. 

With most games the outside fiction stays outside of the games, but the fact is, ME3 ties more over from it's fiction (books, comics, etc.) than any other game I've played recently. So I don't see those tie-ins as reaching. I do however, agree with you on the 1m1. I think it's just a recycling of game assets, Bioware has always been rather notorious for that. Which I'm totally fine with. At the same time, you could explain those away as Shep's mind rationalizing the dream. ( I don't know that I believe that one yet.)

True the Mass Effect series has more relationship with its tie-ins than other Science Fiction properties, so do others.

As for the kid, sure. I thought throughtout my first playthrough it was a form of PTSD and I found it completely compelling. So we say the kid in the nightmares isn't a form of indoctrination. At the end of the game... how do you explain that all of the "ones he couldn't save" are in control of the Reapers? It's Harbinger/Reapers using the most um... what's the word... distressing(?) thought to connect with him and further their indoctrination process.

Even if you don't believe he is part of the indoctrination throughout the game, on the crucible, it makes the most sense that he is part of that process.

Or the child is all that Shepard's mind can choose to represent this unknowable force. A force that caused great devastation and destruction upon the human race. Which the child was chosen to represent.

I agree that attempting a stunt like this is a HUGE risk, but... what would stick with you more? An ending that gave you little closure and made almost no sense. Or an ending that made you seriously question everything, be angry, and think, followed by the reveal that it wasn't truly the end? 

Yes the ending from the far left field, cleverly composed, and revealed with awe and inspiration; would amaze and dazzle. However that requires putting faith that such a maneuver would not be financially costly in the long run. From a company that wants to be the next activision.

I still believe it is a stunt. One that takes some serious risk and heartbreak. Do you think they like the way everyone is ripping the game apart? Something they put their souls into creating? They would not crush their fans like that, nor themselves. They're purposely staying hush-hush. Otherwise they would just come out and say, "That's it. As is."

This will end with a bang.

I hope so too, however sometimes one must be critical of what one desires...


My replies in bold in the quote.

Modifié par Lost Cipher, 13 mars 2012 - 05:58 .


#6671
The Bridgeburner

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seventh_sorrow wrote...

I had an epiphany moment,

please correct me if this has already been posted.

I fully believe that it is a hallucination, because of the Child.  Shown in three points:

Point one:
In the game we are flat out told that the Catalyst is the Citadel,
In the game we are flat out told that the Citadel was built by the Reapers
In the game the Catalyst is shown to us as the Child.

If A equals B equals C

Then its safe to assume that the Child is built/made by the Reapers

This is important because THE CHILD IS IN SHEPARD'S HEAD
If the Child was an image made by the Reapers then the Reapers would be inside his head too with the Child.
Specifically the Child is in his dreams and it is noted that Shepard is the only person who interacts with the Child.

Point Two:
Dreams seen in order 1, 2, 3: here, here and here respectively

Look at dream number three, listen to the voices
They are the voices of Shepard's dead friends and allies

This is important, because in the indoctrination process the Reapers use this tactic to convince people to believe them.  More specifically in Greyson's indoctrination in the book, the Reapers used his memories of Sanders to manipulate him.  In the books Greyson and Kaylee Sanders had an antagonistic relationship in Ascension, and a benign relationship in Retribution.  But when Greyson tried to commit suicide in Retribution, the Reaper's flooded his mind with memories and hormones to convince him that he was in love with Sanders.  If we extrapolate from that event in Retribution, then using Shepard's dead friends in his dreams is not that much of a stretch in ME3.

Point Three:

Why is the God Child there in the first place?

If no one else in the game sees the Child on Earth, how would anyone other than Shepard know what the Child looks like?  If the Catalyst/Citadel shows itself to Shepard in any form what so ever, why choose that one?  Why not Harbinger or one of Shepard's dead or living allies?

In order to get what the Child looks like from Shepard, the Citadel/Catalyst would have to look into Shepard's memories in order to conjure up that specific Image.  And if they had too look into his memories, see point 2, then they would be already inside his head.



For me, it's the Child, a Reaper construct, that makes the indoctrination arguement hold together. 

edit'd for clarity


Very nice. I was thinking how to sum this up... but you did it better! :P

#6672
Feanorfenwe

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Finally able to post, but I sincerely hope this is the correct interpretation. Otherwise, I just don't know. It really doesn't make sense.

#6673
AscendBaldur

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Urumashi wrote...

 Also one last thing i just thought of, when you first encounter the child in the air vent at the beginning of the game i think the first or second line he says is "You can't save me" 

Now let's reflect on this line for a moment, first off what kid would ever say something like that, it doesnt represent any form of youth coping mechanisms, at that age the human brain is programmed so seek out help in the event of an emergency. To put it bluntly, when you were a kid, if you were afraid of a monster under your bed did you go hide in the closet? Hell no, you ran to your parents like the bed was on fire. Second, the statement seems to be a lot less of an answer to Shepard's offer of help and a lot more of a statement to scare him, as the trailers have mentioned that child is supposed to represent all of the people Shep can't save. If the child, this metaphorical Every-Man tells him "you can't save them" its not a response, its a threat from the reapers.

The second (or first, can't remember) statement the child makes is "Everyone's dieing". Now this one boils down a bit to personal assumption but honestly, when has a child of that age ever fully understood death? Would you not expect something more along the likes of "everyone's screaming" or "everyone's running"? For example, if you tell a child of a war veteran that his/her father or mother has died overseas it's highly unlikely that they will understand what it means, they are more likely than not to ask several weeks later "Where's mommy?". The child would be more aware of the more physically apparent evidence of the attack, not of what might be happening to people in buildings miles away. You will notice that there are no bodies within the building where you find the child so how would he even know that people were dieing anyway? Also, and this is really just an afterthought; wasnt the building hit full on by a reaper lazer only seconds before seeing the kid? How the heck would he have survived that regardless of the airvent? The blast hit so hard it broke the door after all which is only several feet away from where the kid was hiding. To go back to the "everyone's dieing" comment this, again sounds more like a threat from the Reapers if anything as, again; by placing the child in the symbolic "Every-man" position it sounds more like the reapers are trying to tell him "We are killing every person you can't save".

Anyway, there's my piece on the matter, happy hunting folks. Keela Selai!


Yup, I agree with everything here. A normal child would immediately run into the arms of a human if presented with an invasion of gigantic ****ing robots! Not say "You can't save me." When added to the evidence that the kid does a LOT of teleport like movements through that whole opening ex. Seen  on the ground playing, then off to the right, then running through husks safely, then inside a vent of a seconds before destroyed building, growling when Shephard turns to Anderson, then just gone, with more growling, then suddenly he's at a ship, where NO soldier helps him on? The kid ain't real, he NEVER was.

#6674
ReclaimedHavoc

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G0thicRhino wrote...

DarkSeraphym wrote...

G0thicRhino wrote...

While all may be a long shot, we're still giving Bioware the benefit of the doubt here. 

With most games the outside fiction stays outside of the games, but the fact is, ME3 ties more over from it's fiction (books, comics, etc.) than any other game I've played recently. So I don't see those tie-ins as reaching. I do however, agree with you on the 1m1. I think it's just a recycling of game assets, Bioware has always been rather notorious for that. Which I'm totally fine with. At the same time, you could explain those away as Shep's mind rationalizing the dream. ( I don't know that I believe that one yet.)

As for the kid, sure. I thought throughtout my first playthrough it was a form of PTSD and I found it completely compelling. So we say the kid in the nightmares isn't a form of indoctrination. At the end of the game... how do you explain that all of the "ones he couldn't save" are in control of the Reapers? It's Harbinger/Reapers using the most um... what's the word... distressing(?) thought to connect with him and further their indoctrination process.

Even if you don't believe he is part of the indoctrination throughout the game, on the crucible, it makes the most sense that he is part of that process.

I agree that attempting a stunt like this is a HUGE risk, but... what would stick with you more? An ending that gave you little closure and made almost no sense. Or an ending that made you seriously question everything, be angry, and think, followed by the reveal that it wasn't truly the end? 

I still believe it is a stunt. One that takes some serious risk and heartbreak. Do you think they like the way everyone is ripping the game apart? Something they put their souls into creating? They would not crush their fans like that, nor themselves. They're purposely staying hush-hush. Otherwise they would just come out and say, "That's it. As is."

This will end with a bang.


To be fair, the game is still new. There are still sales to be had and admitting that the customers are stuck with lackluster endings is not going to sell games, especially to people you will not recommend it to because of the endings. Damage will be done from silence entirely, but not nearly as much damage will be done as would be had they just come out and admitted this is all we are getting.


Exactly, if this were how they really and truly decided to end the series, with those endings as reality... They would effectively be flushing away future purchases and quite a fanbase. From a $ perspective, it makes no sense.

While this is true, there is so much news about the bad ending getting around, wouldn't it be for the best if they came out and said "Yes, there is a better ending?"

#6675
Fledgey

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ReclaimedHavoc wrote...

Fledgey wrote...

ReclaimedHavoc wrote...

Noob451 wrote...

G4m3_Fr34k wrote...

 I'm almost certain that with the sheer amount of people looking into this theory that this little tidbit has been found somewhere in the 200+ page thread. But since this isn't in the opening post, I have no way of knowing for certain if it's known, so I'll go ahead and reveal what is even more definitive proof this "theory" is true (again if already posted sorry just ignore this post)

Right at the beginning of the game you'll notice the enigmatic kid playing in a pit of grass on the ground next to a road as Shepard is watching. Now we all know this BUT there's a crucial easter egg you probably didnt notice afterwards. AS soon as youre controlling Shepard, play normally following Anderson right until you get to the first climbable ladder. DON'T climb it yet!

Look directly to the right at the building where your eventually prompted to melee the husks when you're out of ammo. See who that is on the side looking through the railing? Yep, it's the kid, who has magically teleported from the ground roadside all the way up approximately 6 floors of a building in minutes from the opening to as soon as the reapers are invading! Obviously impossible, but even more suggesting evidence further on. As soon as you get to when the husks start climbing up the building, the kid will run TOWARDS the husks as he makes it inside ignored and unharmed by both them AND anderson as you two shoot the husks down. If not already discovered, rhis proves without a doubt that the kid is a complete fabrication by Shepard, assumingly due to indoctrination.

Start a new game and try it yourself if you don't believe me. Hell, you can even shoot the kid and he doesn't even react :P



had to make it easier to read, sorry.

Any vids on this?

This is a big affirmative. I just videoed it. Uploading now. AMAZING CATCH by the way. Absolutely brilliant.

Can't wait to see this Posted Image

youtu.be/aOxP219KesA Interesting, no?