I was mostly happy with the game, other than I felt it was too short once I knew I’d reached the final stretch. All of those good feelings were ripped away when I saw the ending. I know it’s only one, and I didn’t even get the best one, but from what I’ve read, it doesn’t get better where it matters. Maybe I’ll change my mind after some more viewing, but here’s what I’m thinking right now.
First off, I’d like to address the comparisons to Fallout 3. Fallout 3's ending bothered me at first, but I decided I could accept the bittersweet ending there. Self sacrifice to make a better world for everyone else. This is different. I admit I've only seen one ending so maybe I'm wrong, but from what I've read, certain things stay the same. I understand that not everything will be perfect, but it sounds as if there is no satisfying ending. Yes, life will
continue in the ME universe, but will it be any good? Can civilization be rebuilt? What happens to my crew? Does Shepard get to enjoy the fruits of his labor?
Again, I love stories and I really like this story of Commander Shepard, his friends, and their war against an unstoppable enemy. The fact ME2 plot didn't add very much to the whole story didn't bother me because it drew me into the characters. I am invested in Shepard and the other ME characters and their stories. I really enjoyed playing these games, getting to see the characters develop, and seeing consequences for my actions. I was very impressed when I saw how many decisions in both ME and ME2 affected things in ME3. I was sucked
back into the world while playing this game. Although I was slightly disappointed at the length, wanting even more, I was engaged up until the very end.
There were so many things Bioware did right. In a game, I don’t like not being able to save people, but it can add to the story. Forcing you to lose a squad member in ME worked. It gave a sadness to a story marked by constant success and another reason to hate Saren. Although it was slightly annoying that the salarians can make it but the squadmate with them dies if you go back to the bomb, I could overlook that for story’s sake.
With this in mind, I find it odd that there was no major sacrifice in ME2. You can have all squadmates survive the “suicide” mission (this fails from a story point, but helps my “hero” feeling) including the crew if you go right away.
It got better in ME3. From the start we get to see the devastation the Reapers caused. I was actually sad watching the Reaper blast those shuttles (the music was also very good and music always draws out emotion for me). We get to see the devastation on other planets too. Depending on choices, people can be lost. And some choices force a true “either/or” scenario with something gained and something lost from that choice. No way to have everything. I loved that. It also helps with replay value, to see the other side of things.
I liked that there were times where Shepard was confronted with failure, particularly the fall of Thessia. I wish there was more of this, more times where victory was truly uncertain, not just the characters saying it as I went
about succeeding at every turn. Maybe more direct conflict with the Reapers themselves would have helped. I also would have liked another confrontation with Harbinger, since he was so critical in ME2 including the Arrival DLC. Yet he was barely involved (don't give me any bs about him being the Reaper that blasted Shepard because which Reaper did it is meaningless).
I was annoyed that the “main path” was pretty much a path. You could divert to do side missions, but mostly I had to do the main missions in a particular order. I would have MUCH preferred the way the first two games did it, where I can choose the order of the main missions, and the order affecting things slightly, mostly in the way of conversations. Also, as a Tali and Quarian/Geth fan, I was annoyed that they was pushed toward the end of the game again, just as it was in ME2. ME2 at least had the initial contact with Tali early on, but I would have like to do that conflict earlier.
My ending concerns started in Hammer FOB talking to squad mates. Including the ones on the video, they all are mentally gearing up for battle, with varying degrees of reservation. However, you can leave each conversation with a sense of hope. The two exceptions are Garrus and Tali, the two who have been with you the longest, through the most of this journey. Their conversations with Shepard are truly grim as if things are definitively over. Garrus and Shepard say “goodbye” after talking about being in Heaven. They blow right past Garrus comment about a nice place to retire, which would have been a much better thought. And the scene with Tali, while touching, is just as disheartening, with her wishing for “more time”. Once the battle started again, gameplay pulled me away from my concerns for a bit.
I loved the run toward the beam into the citadel. Reminded me of Ilos, especially after they referred to the beam as Conduit again. While I hated moving so slow, Shepard getting blasted made it epic and tense, though I was looking for my squadmates.
As much as I would love to save him, Anderson’s death works perfectly as a story element. I love that Shepard gets to talk to him first, though I am disappointed that they cut out the great extended conversation that is out on
youtube. I was glued to my screen watching that conversation and Shepard crawl toward the controls, the whole time hoping I could save Anderson in another try, maybe if I had my reputation high enough to unlock paragon or renegade for that final conversation with the Illusive Man. It was a beautiful scene, though I would have been somewhat disappointed if it ended there because I still want my "Shepard lives a decent life" ending.
Then I spoke to the weird little ghost kid. His argument didn’t make sense, and there wasn’t enough of a protest from my Shepard who had united Quarian and Geth. The idea that the Reapers were just the tool of some other force was a very intriguing concept, but they just brought it up and let it die. They never really developed it. The choices sounded odd and none sounded terribly appealing but I was willing to give it a shot.
Then everything collapsed. There were several unacceptable outcomes. The Mass Relays being destroyed would have worked in another setting (Descent Freespace comes to mind) but not one where we have this massive intergalactic fleet now stranded in the Sol system. One where countless colonies are now cut off, and
the other homeworlds can’t get their forces back for their own rebuilding process.
Worst and most unforgivable of all, Shepard has to take the options given to him by this being. There is no way out, no "third option" for him to take. Even though the ghost child tells him the Reaper "solution" is no longer valid because Shepard reached that room, Shepard is still stuck with the options given to him by this being. He hasn't truly won over his enemy. It seems exactly like the scene in the Matrix: Reloaded where Neo talks to the Architect.
Despite all his work to get there, he is there because he is “supposed” to be. What he thought was his fight against the Machines, was part of the Machines plan. The synthesis option sounds like this scene too. “Return to the Source”.
Then there is the scene with the Normandy, seeing it flee through FTL or more likely the Charon Mass Relay. We see it crash on a beautiful world. It looks like a great place to be, but not stranded from everyone you know. Then I see my own squadmates, who should have been on Earth with me, inexplicably exiting the Normandy. Now, even if I survive, I am cut off from the people closest to me, including the one I love, if applicable. I’ve read that the two shown are the two with the highest relationship score, so Shepard’s two closest friends, he will never see again.
I can’t help being reminded of the ending of the TV series “Lost”. I was a fan for several seasons, then kept watching even after the story dive bombed, just because I wanted satisfaction for characters I liked. The last season, and the end itself, destroyed the whole series for me because it made everything before it irrelevant, with the end making the last season itself pointless. That said, the very last scene was brilliant, with Jack lying down where he first woke on the island, the series ending with his eye closing just as it started with Jack’s eyes opening. Jack’s death was sad, but it was artistic and brilliant. He got to watch the plane fly off with his friends, knowing they would have a life beyond that point. Maybe that’s the idea of the Normandy crash, but while
I see that, Shepard doesn’t.
With my ending, some things don’t matter. The Genophage is gone, but the Krogan can’t leave their system in their search for planet to colonize. The Geth, who are now helping the Quarians, are wiped out. Tali won’t get to go back to the homeworld she just gained. Joker loses EDI, even after Bioware bothered to include a scene of his concern for her when going to the Cerberus base. And despite a good journey, it’s a disappointing end to Shepard’s relationship with his LI (Tali in my case).
I don’t mind disappointing endings, especially with so many things affecting the outcome. I don’t need a perfect, everyone lives ending like in ME2 because loss is inevitable with a conflict of this scale. But I do need the possibility that my Shepard gets to live a decent life in the galaxy he just saved, with the lover I put him with. Or, I need his death to matter, perhaps succumbing to wounds from the final enemy, not in some made up sacrifice. Otherwise, what was the point? What am I supposed to take away from the ending as is, even the "best" one?
Edited to fix format.
Modifié par Natureguy85, 11 mars 2012 - 07:57 .
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