Mass Effect 3 has been one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had. It not only reminded me of why I play video games and why I love Mass Effect, but also the enormous potential video games have to compete with film as a respectable medium for telling a story with mature themes and moral greyness. Mass Effect 2 would not have ellicited the same response from me two years ago despite the fact that I loved the game to death. Mass Effect 3 made me laugh, made me choke up, made me enjoy myself to a degree I have not experienced in a long time. For all I was concerned, Mass Effect 3 was not only the best game of this generation, but the best game of the 21st century because of emotions it evoked in me. Not a single game has managed to do this, and I've played Metal Gear Solid 4.
And then...came the ending.
I did not hate it. To be honest, I don't even understand it fully. However, what I can say for certain is that it was very, very dissatisfying. The three choices I was presented didn't feel unique, and I felt like I was making a losing choice no matter what. I chose to destroy the Reapers, hoping for an explanation after the fact, only to be treated to a vague cutscene of "stuff happening."
Because of what a masterpiece this game is, the ending cannot change my mind on that. At worst, it has left me utterly confused and looking for answers. While Mass Effect 2's ending left me with a sense of closure and anticipation, this game's ending doesn't even manage the former. I've also heard that there are 18 different endings, and that Shepard could have survived if he had X number of assets, which is even more confusing. I was at 89% galactic readiness with the Quarians, Salarians, Asari, Turians, Blood Pack, Blue Suns, Eclipse, Alliance, and ex-Cerberus and Shepard still died. I did not get the final paragon dialogue option in the game despite having a practically full reputation meter.
It seems my opinion is shared among many here. I suppose what I'm looking for now is explanation. It would be appreciated if someone here could offer that.
What Just Happened?
Débuté par
Plasma Prestige
, mars 11 2012 06:01
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#2
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:03
Dreogan
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The answer is Bioware broke the reader-writer contract they had with you.
Modifié par Dreogan, 11 mars 2012 - 06:03 .
#3
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:04
Hanabii
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If you wish to understand the ending, here is what I am thinking after study.
I am of the Hallucination theory you may have seen gabbed on about in other threads.
The whole game Commander Shepard was getting more and more stressed, as time went on she became less and less 'human'. In a way.
When you first get onto the Citadel it feels like a dream. You're crawling through a hallway of your own dead. Mysteriously faced with the Illusive man with no hint at how he got there. When he commands you, you put a bullet in Anderson and are using all your might to resist.
The bodies are like the phantoms in her dreams that she'd been having. They didn't seem real. Her mental state is weakened by blood loss, consistent exposure to indoctrination. They might not have even been real.
Let's use other examples of other people who'd felt it.
Saren said Indoctrination was subtle and crafty. The Illusive Man didn't even know he was indoctrinated unless you Paragon'd the HELL out of him. Rana Thanoptist (Get out of here before I blow up Vermire Girl.) who had a weak mind committed suicide after even her relatively small exposure compared to Shepard. Shialla (Green Girl) was only freed from it by the effects of the Thorien and was Mindlinked to the Feros Collenists who made a suprising effective force. I believe Shialla's mind-link allowed other's minds to stabilize and counter re-indoctrination, that and the exposure to the Thorian's mind.
Shepard in the dream chases the kid, a dream that started as Post Traumatic Stress from watching a kid die, a cross of guilt to bare. But as the game went on Shepard kept being exposed to the Reapers more and more and more, destroying them, getting close. Others even with no reapers around were getting taken over and killing each other.
In the dark dream Shepard is warned, as she runs chasing the phantom she sees herself hugging the child, smiling creepily as they both burn, a forewarning of what lies ahead. That the reapers are riding on an image of her guilt as 'The Catalyst' of her indoctrination.
"Good Endings." -
Finally Shepard stands at the end face to face with her nightmarish guilt. Having made it so far only through the will to beat the reapers. She is offered three choices by the Catalyst.
One is to Control the Reapers, to become them. However as I was hinted, she is indoctrinated herself in the final throws. This destroys the Mass Relays and causes the reapers to withdraw.
Second is the Biomerge of Technology using her as the Palate. Everyone in the universe is made into a Cyborg. Including Synthetics who are Augmented with organic. The Reapers Withdraw.
The Last is to carry on strong, We win or we die! You destroy the reapers once and for all. However the cost will be the death of the Geth (Who would willingly make the sacrifice to save organics if you persuaded them.) and EDI (Who was always ready to die to help Shepard.)
The Catch 22.
I theorize the Catalyst ISN'T what it seems. It the Catalyst of Shepard's Indoctrination. That in each ending Shepard does not die a true death.
Ending 1 and 2, Shepard's mind is overthrown, Shepard is indoctrinated and is now controlled, Shepard thinks (S)he is dead. Now a tool of the reapers who is still alive. The Mass Relays are gone, but the reapers are infinitely patient and truly unknowable.
The Illusive Man's path of control means Shepard didn't stop the reapers and now the universe is stuck without the Mass Relays and the reapers are infinitely patient.
The Biomerge Path, means all life has been given the ideal form for indoctrination of all. Shepard's indoctrinated energy is in all life, organic or not. And the reapers are a part of everyone now. Allowing them to begin a mass indoctrination beyond scale.
The Destruction Path, Shepard destroys the reapers. Overcoming the indoctrination. Waking up amidst the rubble on earth. (Shep is a sturdy SOB to take so much damage.) The Indoctrination attempt failed Shepard's conviction held through to the end and even in an unstable condition Shepard was able to hold to "We fight or we die."
Both other endings Shepard stops fighting and sees Her/Himself die. Stop fighting and die.
However is Shepard dead? Or is Shepard walking indoctrinated while the true ending is under design?
"The Bad Ending" -
Shepard quickly before everyone is ready, before the Crucible is perfected rushes to fight the reapers. The Crucible is incapable of the Technomerge and Outright Indoctrinating Shepard isn't an option.
With some Resistance left (Due to shorter exposure time) Shepard destroys the reapers, the unfinished Crucible destroys the planet, the reapers, everyone on earth and Shepard. Shepard never gave into the Indoctrination and was too strong at the time to ever do so. Too much resistance left.
---
The Joker Vision
A final glimpse at what is going on, Joker crashing down somewhere. Is it a vision to placate Shepard? Is Joker lost and stranded with a need to be picked up?
The Reapers died, but so did the earth.
---
The Possible Future.
"Can you tell me another story about the Shepherd?"
At some point Shepard is required, if (s)he is indoctrinated (Blue/Green) Ending. She awakens to learn the reapers are still out there. That doom is still upon them. And that through the sacrifices of others His/Her indoctrination was broken.
If Shepard destroyed the Reapers, Shepard awakens. Having destroyed the Reapers and fought off the Indoctrination. The Reaper Tech is gone. However Shepard is alive. (Shepard is very largely Cyborg, grey muscles, wires, AKA Lazarus Project Cyborg.) Meaning that the Geth also possibly survived.
The new Mission Either way involves coping with the change to the universe. Tracking down the lost. Picking up the peaces and building a new path.
"I need to find my people.", "I need to know that (Love Interest) is okay." At your side you have your people. "I need to get the Quarian's Home." "Wrex's Family needs him." "The Asari need to return to Thessia."
"We are all together now, our enemy is gone, but we are stranded away from home. We need to rebuild, but we, all the people of this Galaxy, stand together to rebuild. We will do on our own what we always have. We will forge our own path."
Always remember it is a vast universe, there is still Dark Energy out there. There is still many enemies waiting in the universe. What new threats await when the Mass Relays aren't around to guide you?
I am of the Hallucination theory you may have seen gabbed on about in other threads.
The whole game Commander Shepard was getting more and more stressed, as time went on she became less and less 'human'. In a way.
When you first get onto the Citadel it feels like a dream. You're crawling through a hallway of your own dead. Mysteriously faced with the Illusive man with no hint at how he got there. When he commands you, you put a bullet in Anderson and are using all your might to resist.
The bodies are like the phantoms in her dreams that she'd been having. They didn't seem real. Her mental state is weakened by blood loss, consistent exposure to indoctrination. They might not have even been real.
Let's use other examples of other people who'd felt it.
Saren said Indoctrination was subtle and crafty. The Illusive Man didn't even know he was indoctrinated unless you Paragon'd the HELL out of him. Rana Thanoptist (Get out of here before I blow up Vermire Girl.) who had a weak mind committed suicide after even her relatively small exposure compared to Shepard. Shialla (Green Girl) was only freed from it by the effects of the Thorien and was Mindlinked to the Feros Collenists who made a suprising effective force. I believe Shialla's mind-link allowed other's minds to stabilize and counter re-indoctrination, that and the exposure to the Thorian's mind.
Shepard in the dream chases the kid, a dream that started as Post Traumatic Stress from watching a kid die, a cross of guilt to bare. But as the game went on Shepard kept being exposed to the Reapers more and more and more, destroying them, getting close. Others even with no reapers around were getting taken over and killing each other.
In the dark dream Shepard is warned, as she runs chasing the phantom she sees herself hugging the child, smiling creepily as they both burn, a forewarning of what lies ahead. That the reapers are riding on an image of her guilt as 'The Catalyst' of her indoctrination.
"Good Endings." -
Finally Shepard stands at the end face to face with her nightmarish guilt. Having made it so far only through the will to beat the reapers. She is offered three choices by the Catalyst.
One is to Control the Reapers, to become them. However as I was hinted, she is indoctrinated herself in the final throws. This destroys the Mass Relays and causes the reapers to withdraw.
Second is the Biomerge of Technology using her as the Palate. Everyone in the universe is made into a Cyborg. Including Synthetics who are Augmented with organic. The Reapers Withdraw.
The Last is to carry on strong, We win or we die! You destroy the reapers once and for all. However the cost will be the death of the Geth (Who would willingly make the sacrifice to save organics if you persuaded them.) and EDI (Who was always ready to die to help Shepard.)
The Catch 22.
I theorize the Catalyst ISN'T what it seems. It the Catalyst of Shepard's Indoctrination. That in each ending Shepard does not die a true death.
Ending 1 and 2, Shepard's mind is overthrown, Shepard is indoctrinated and is now controlled, Shepard thinks (S)he is dead. Now a tool of the reapers who is still alive. The Mass Relays are gone, but the reapers are infinitely patient and truly unknowable.
The Illusive Man's path of control means Shepard didn't stop the reapers and now the universe is stuck without the Mass Relays and the reapers are infinitely patient.
The Biomerge Path, means all life has been given the ideal form for indoctrination of all. Shepard's indoctrinated energy is in all life, organic or not. And the reapers are a part of everyone now. Allowing them to begin a mass indoctrination beyond scale.
The Destruction Path, Shepard destroys the reapers. Overcoming the indoctrination. Waking up amidst the rubble on earth. (Shep is a sturdy SOB to take so much damage.) The Indoctrination attempt failed Shepard's conviction held through to the end and even in an unstable condition Shepard was able to hold to "We fight or we die."
Both other endings Shepard stops fighting and sees Her/Himself die. Stop fighting and die.
However is Shepard dead? Or is Shepard walking indoctrinated while the true ending is under design?
"The Bad Ending" -
Shepard quickly before everyone is ready, before the Crucible is perfected rushes to fight the reapers. The Crucible is incapable of the Technomerge and Outright Indoctrinating Shepard isn't an option.
With some Resistance left (Due to shorter exposure time) Shepard destroys the reapers, the unfinished Crucible destroys the planet, the reapers, everyone on earth and Shepard. Shepard never gave into the Indoctrination and was too strong at the time to ever do so. Too much resistance left.
---
The Joker Vision
A final glimpse at what is going on, Joker crashing down somewhere. Is it a vision to placate Shepard? Is Joker lost and stranded with a need to be picked up?
The Reapers died, but so did the earth.
---
The Possible Future.
"Can you tell me another story about the Shepherd?"
At some point Shepard is required, if (s)he is indoctrinated (Blue/Green) Ending. She awakens to learn the reapers are still out there. That doom is still upon them. And that through the sacrifices of others His/Her indoctrination was broken.
If Shepard destroyed the Reapers, Shepard awakens. Having destroyed the Reapers and fought off the Indoctrination. The Reaper Tech is gone. However Shepard is alive. (Shepard is very largely Cyborg, grey muscles, wires, AKA Lazarus Project Cyborg.) Meaning that the Geth also possibly survived.
The new Mission Either way involves coping with the change to the universe. Tracking down the lost. Picking up the peaces and building a new path.
"I need to find my people.", "I need to know that (Love Interest) is okay." At your side you have your people. "I need to get the Quarian's Home." "Wrex's Family needs him." "The Asari need to return to Thessia."
"We are all together now, our enemy is gone, but we are stranded away from home. We need to rebuild, but we, all the people of this Galaxy, stand together to rebuild. We will do on our own what we always have. We will forge our own path."
Always remember it is a vast universe, there is still Dark Energy out there. There is still many enemies waiting in the universe. What new threats await when the Mass Relays aren't around to guide you?
#4
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:04
Der Estr Bune
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I am by no means an authority, but if you post any specific questions you have, I'll try to answer them based on my own theories, and those I've seen floating around the boards the last couple days.Plasma Prestige wrote...
It seems my opinion is shared among many here. I suppose what I'm looking for now is explanation. It would be appreciated if someone here could offer that.
#5
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:05
durasteel
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18 endings? I got the red/blue/green choice, if there are other endings (including a "good" one) I want to know about them!
#6
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:10
malkuth74
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durasteel wrote...
18 endings? I got the red/blue/green choice, if there are other endings (including a "good" one) I want to know about them!
The 18 endings is a lie.
Basically it the 3 choices with the pre EMPT if THe Admiral dies from TIM, Tim kills himself.
Also including the readiness of your fleet.. If its too wimpy earth is destroyed in the choices too..
Etc... In the end there is only 1 ending.. That is The Mass Effect relays are destroyed, and the Normandy crew is stranded on Some rock.
#7
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:13
durasteel
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Also, how did the crew make it to the Normandy? Last I saw, they were all on the ground in London, and there was a war on that made taxi service to the ship unlikely.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
#8
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:16
KainD
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Hanabii wrote...
The Biomerge Path, means all life has been given the ideal form for indoctrination of all. Shepard's indoctrinated energy is in all life, organic or not. And the reapers are a part of everyone now. Allowing them to begin a mass indoctrination beyond scale.
That is what I did, and haven't thought of it as a vision. So you think the guardian lied and that reapers are not concerned with synthetic life? What do you think is the purpose of repaers then?
#9
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:16
KainD
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durasteel wrote...
Also, how did the crew make it to the Normandy? Last I saw, they were all on the ground in London, and there was a war on that made taxi service to the ship unlikely.
Just sayin'.
My thoughts exactly.
#10
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:17
Militarized
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KainD wrote...
Hanabii wrote...
The Biomerge Path, means all life has been given the ideal form for indoctrination of all. Shepard's indoctrinated energy is in all life, organic or not. And the reapers are a part of everyone now. Allowing them to begin a mass indoctrination beyond scale.
That is what I did, and haven't thought of it as a vision. So you think the guardian lied and that reapers are not concerned with synthetic life? What do you think is the purpose of repaers then?
We aren't going to know the purpose, if what Sovereign said is true. It goes back to my idea that a large part of Mass Effect is cosmicism. We shouldn't really... we SHOULD however be able to fight back.
#11
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:19
ABCoLD
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Seriously. It's like playing the Path of Neo all over again. (By the way, they cribbed the end of that video game for ME2.) Basically they set up a grand, expansive story, then threw you under the bus at the end. Of course in the Path of Neo, the actual writers had the decency to show up in the video game and explain why they felt they needed to change a satisfying story and give it a crappy ending. (Of course, then they laughed at you. Seriously, check it out on Youtube.)durasteel wrote...
Also, how did the crew make it to the Normandy? Last I saw, they were all on the ground in London, and there was a war on that made taxi service to the ship unlikely.
Just sayin'.
#12
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:19
KainD
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Militarized wrote...
We aren't going to know the purpose, if what Sovereign said is true. It goes back to my idea that a large part of Mass Effect is cosmicism. We shouldn't really... we SHOULD however be able to fight back.
You can't fight back what you can't comprehend.
#13
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:20
Jaysh
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My Shepard died in the end. Worst Ending Ever.
#14
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:21
HighScore 2600
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Hanabii wrote...
The Destruction Path, Shepard destroys the reapers. Overcoming the indoctrination. Waking up amidst the rubble on earth. (Shep is a sturdy SOB to take so much damage.) The Indoctrination attempt failed Shepard's conviction held through to the end and even in an unstable condition Shepard was able to hold to "We fight or we die."
The whole time im thinking, "This is completely crazy, shes out of her mind." Then I get to this part thats bolded. It kinda makes sense in a way. If you watch the www.youtube.com/watch the rubble he is under suggests hes on Earth. If the Citadel exploded as we seen in the cutscene he would have been exposed to space.
#15
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:25
Plasma Prestige
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What was up with the Shepard story at the end? Was technology taken back a couple thousand years? Was it all a dream? Is Shepard now a legend who is talked about for generations? How does Shepard survive the endings, or is that impossible?
This ending has raised so many questions for me.
This ending has raised so many questions for me.
#16
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:26
Hanabii
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Read my post Plasma, it's a wall of text but it's the only rationalization for the endings I can come up with. And it might help you come to terms with it...
I swear I feel like a grief councilor when I say it like that. But it's a good read.
I swear I feel like a grief councilor when I say it like that. But it's a good read.
#17
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:27
Plasma Prestige
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Never mind on if Shepard is dead or not question. He survived in my play through, I just did not notice the very last part. Still raises plenty of questions though.
#18
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:28
Plasma Prestige
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I read it. Even more mind boggling. And now there are supposedly rumors that Bioware has another ending it will deliver later?Hanabii wrote...
Read my post Plasma, it's a wall of text but it's the only rationalization for the endings I can come up with. And it might help you come to terms with it...
I swear I feel like a grief councilor when I say it like that. But it's a good read.
#19
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:30
KainD
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Hanabii wrote...
Read my post Plasma, it's a wall of text but it's the only rationalization for the endings I can come up with. And it might help you come to terms with it...
I swear I feel like a grief councilor when I say it like that. But it's a good read.
I read it all, but can you answer the questions?
#20
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:31
Der Estr Bune
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I think some of the prevailing Stargazer theories are that:Plasma Prestige wrote...
What was up with the Shepard story at the end? Was technology taken back a couple thousand years? Was it all a dream? Is Shepard now a legend who is talked about for generations? How does Shepard survive the endings, or is that impossible?
This ending has raised so many questions for me.
- It's a convenient segue to toss you back into the game, and presumably the "one more story" is whatever you do during that period. Shepard has become a galactic legend after your sacrifice. I daresay this is supposed to be the canonical explanation.
- The whole thing is like a big St. Elsewhere, and none of it happened
- It's a manifestation of some part of Shepard psyche (which part varies by theory)
- It's Joker/the descendants of the Normandy colony
#21
Posté 11 mars 2012 - 06:33
Hanabii
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I am NOT Bioware staff. I cannot tell if they have or don't have a new ending. Mine is logical speculation. Bioware hasn't let me down in the stories department yet. And even the Dragon Age 2 Ending was a definative ending (Even if people didn't like it.) making me think that ME3 will continue on through some DLC. I'd buy Post Ending DLC but until they release POST ENDING DLC I won't buy Pre-Ending DLC unless it effects the ending.
