Gameplay
By gameplay I mean, the basic shooter mechanics. I do not think anyone can argue that this has become a lot better since Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. Personally I especially like the new skill trees which provide greater tailoring of your character and the modding of your weapons. This was by far a better choice than returning to the mechanics of ME that many wanted - in my opinion. The combat is smooth and engaging, you can absolutely feel it in the multiplayer. Enemies are now also actual teams with a lot of different types to provide an organized attack force. The Reapers probably have the best of that.
It still has its problems however, and my greatest concern - which is not that big really - is the use of the [SPACE] button. It does everything. Or rather it does far too much, I have a whole keyboard - please let me make use of it.
Dialogue
In Mass Effect 3 we experienced that some of our dialogue has been taken away and as far as I see it then it is both a good and a bad thing. It allows for a more in depth Shepard and smoother cutscenes, but it also takes away from what this game should be all about: roleplaying. Outside of the major choices Shepard will now always be a predefined character. That is kind of sad when you had been able to mold him the way you wanted in the previous games.
Another thing is the Zaeed/Kasumi dialogue has spread to just about everywhere. Again, good and bad. I personally like it if I do not have any choices in what to say anyway, and the small comments always amused me, not so much getting out the dialogue wheel. Yet I find that the lack of choice here really detracts from the ability to roleplay in the game, and pushes it more towards a JRPG kind of style, where you just watch the story unfold.
Characters
Or rather previous crew members. I find that a lot of them did make a great return, which is awesome - Mordin, Legion, Wrex and the two engineers. You do not necessarily have them as squad mates, but they get on the Normandy and help you for a while. And while I understand that the story is as it is then the fact that love interests cannot join up with your crew is a major oversight. When you add this many characters to a trilogy, some with major influence like romance then they should be able to make a return completely. Kelly, Jacob, Miranda and Jack are the major blunders here - Thane not so much, that was coming since ME2 and closes off quite well, I was ready to shed a tear and I did not even like that character, great work on that one.
Regardless Kelly, Jacob, Miranda and Jack should be able to return to the squad. Kelly, Miranda and Jack(who do not want a bunch of biotics?) should be available, and Jacob if LI (The whole getting a kid thing is fine as long as he is not romanced, honestly what the hell?).
Also where is my cook/janitor/whatever? I do not care if he washes his hands! No one else makes food around there!
Galaxy map
Exploring in this game is... Fun. I like the new scan system. It is really good. However I do think it lacks what made the previous one great: Side missions. Why do we not find side missions on this one? I know there are others and the side missions in ME2 was not exactly as polished as everything else but it was fun and a nice break from the main plot. Personally I really miss that. I do not care for mining or driving around - the ME2 side quests were awesome. That is all this system needs to be really perfect.
Story
Uh, oh. Well. I personally really liked the story except for the small character quirks mentioned. Up until the ending the game is really awesome, I do not have much to say here, but the collection of war assests was really great it felt like you were building up to something, like you were gathering a massive army to take down the reapers once and for all. The invasion of planets and reapers in the background really adds to the atmosphere. I love the story up until the ending, it is definitely worth my money. Great job. Hackett is also awesome. Also love the little chat in the commons where two NPCs chat about Sanctuary, and then you get a mission to go there, felt great. Good way to introduce a place.
Technical
Just a small note I wanted to pass by: Mass Effect 3 - despite its better graphics, runs smoother on my machine than ME2 ever did. No idea how you did it, but awesome. I was afraid I would not be able to play it on my machine. Only positives here.
The ending
Is... Well. You can just look at the forum to see the massive amount of flak it has taken. One of the big things about this being a trilogy is that this is supposed to be the final arc in the Shepard story. It is meant to wrap up everything, answer the major questions and not leave you with a major plothole feeling or something like that. And apparently the third instalment was also meant to give us a lot of choice on how to end it. Thing is, you get three choices. Sure it is more than the two you were given in the last two games, but it is basically the same choices with the same cutscenes and with the same lack of explanation of what the **** is going on.
Honestly I think the biggest blunder of the ending is to build up to this massive battle and then when you finally get there they give a great show of a beginning fleet battle and a great ground advance. Cool. I loved that. But then when you get to the crucible and meet that kid you are all done. What? That was it? Who is this kid? Why am I talking to that? It lacks so much context. It is like they ran out of time or ideas and just decided to slam on the kid, or were so afraid that people would make fun of Harbinger that they just left him out?
In fact that is one of my major problems with the story and the ending. You have this major build-up in Mass Effect 2 for Harbinger and yet we only see him once in Mass Effect 3. You would think he is more intent on killing Shepard now instead of being passive and reaping. Why not let him be a face of the reapers? Leading the invasions and trying to convince Shepard to stop? Mass Effect 2 seems like a total waste when you give this villain that treatment. He would never be able to be a Sovereign anyway, because Sovereign - like ME1 - was the first of its kind that we saw. It will always have a place in our hearts.
Now this is not about getting a happy ending. This is about getting an ending where you wrap up the trilogy and say "Hey, this was Shepards story, hope you liked it." It lacks an epilogue like in Dragon Age: Origins where you get to know what the characters does afterwards. Just a little story. It also needs to scrap the whole kid-thing. I do not know what went on when Bioware decided that, but it has to be their worst mistake in recent years.
What I personally would have preferred is that the crucible simply shut down the reaper defences and jammed their communication which would allow the organics to wipe out the major bulk of the reaper forces near Sol, thus granting them a fighting chance to clean up the rest of the Galaxy with the help of the crucible. Then slap on an epilogue that explains things and done. The kid has no point, it is just... Stupid. Seriously. Get your act together on that one Bioware.
But yeah. All fans have their ideas of how the game should have ended, which is also probably why the ending is taking so much flak. They will not please everyone, no matter what. I just wish they gave the ending more meat, and of the good kind.
Closing
I know the ending rant was long, and the post is probably going to attract some TL:DR, but hey. This is just my feedback to ME3, take it or leave it.
Modifié par sorentoft, 10 mars 2012 - 11:39 .
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