*HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!*
After finishing the game, and reading several theories about the ending, I decided to go back and look at it piece by piece, taking notes on everything I saw and heard. With the help of some great posts here on this forum, and some very observant friends, I have discovered a wealth of evidence that suggests we may not have seen the actual ending yet. The evidence also suggests that if we have seen the real ending, it's not as bad as so many think it is. This all based on my observation and conjecture, and should be taken as such. This is a long and detailed theory based on observation, and nothing more.
-Upon awakening after Harbingers beam hits, everything is out of focus and Shepards head is ringing(this is actually important as I will point out later). Everything moves in slow motion and nobody is around. The movement is similar to your dream sequences. It is my theory that the dream sequences are evidence of the ongoing battle in Shepards mind to fight off the indoctrination that was initiated by the beacon in the first MAss Effect.
-During this sequence, you walk towards the beam with a pistol that has UNLIMITED ammo. Also aiming at husks that attack is very slow and diffucult. Ever tried to aim or throw something in a stressful dream? It feels just like this! It also feels as if you are floating, and you can not move the camera down to see your feet.
- Upon entering the Citadel, Anderson contacts you, saying that he followed you to the Citadel, even though there was NO ONE AROUND. Very suspicious. Shepard mentions that it doesn't look like the Citadel, and Anderson confirms that it looks like Shepards description of the Collector base. This is also an important piece of evidence.
-There is a Keeper near the door at the end of the hall you can literally walk through. Could be a glitch, could be something more.
-The next room you enter looks very similar to the Shadow Broker base with the moving panels and electrical current. This supporrts the fact that Shepard is constructing the area he is in by using memorable places he has been before, like the collector base. This happens frequently in all dreams.
-When Shepard catches up with Anderson, they are confronted by the Illusive Man. The camera gives a disorienting zooming effect that is often used in dream sequences. There is also a strange black fuzziness, like ink, around the edges of the screen.
-The Illusive Man and Anderson argue for Shepard's support in a way that suggests that Anderson is a representation of Shepard's humanity, and the Illusive man a representation of the part of him that is already indoctrinated.
-During this conversation, Anderson tells the Illusive man that he has been indoctrinated. My interpretation of this is that Anderson, acting as Shepard's humanity, is telling Shepard that he is being indoctrinated and to fight it!
-Regardless of dialogue choice, I was unable to save Anderson, and the Illusive man gets shot.
-After the confrontation, Shepard recieves word from Hackett that nothing is happening. Shepard goes for the control panel, but collapses. He activates nothing, and yet a platform beneath lifts him up to another place.
-Shepard finds himself in an area of the citadel with some stange Alliance markings(1M1) furthering the theory that this world is in his head..
-The ghostly child that talks to Shepard is likely Harbinger. It makes sense that Harbinger would attempt to manipulate Shepard by donning the form of the chil that has haunted his indoctrination dreams. The ringing in Shepards head at the start(something he has also complained to Vega about!) is a symptom of indoctrination.
-The child/Harbinger proceeds to logically explain the Reapers purpose, and why they feel the need to repeat the cycle. When discussing the Reapers, the child/Harbinger even says "we". All but admiting that he is a Reaper, and very likely Harbinger, as it has always been his goal to indoctrinate Shepard. The child actually speaks with three voices that I belive are a child, Male Shepard, and Female Shepard. Listen carefully with headphones.
-Shepard is now presented with three options to end the war:
1. The first option is the total destruction of all synthetic life(represented as a red renegade choice). The child/Harbinger tries to steer you away from this option by assuring you that you are part synthetic and will die(this is a lie). He also suggests that this will wipe out the Geth, making this option seem less appealing. Also there is EDI to consider. He assures Shepard that although it will destroy the Reapers, his children will simply develop more AI and the cycle will repeat. This option is represented visually by Anderson(Shepards humanity).
2. The second option is control(represented as a bue paragon choice). The child/Harbinger assures Shepard that he is different from the Illusive Man and has the ability to control them. Shepard will die, and lose everything, but the Reapers will obey him. This sounds like the completion of the indoctrination process to me, as it's the only way Shepard could "die" and still control the Reapers. This option is represented visually by the Illusive Man(the part of Shepard that is already indoctrinated).
3.The third and final option is synthesis(represented as the best option by the child/Harbinger). I believe this is Harbinger attempting to trick Shepard into releasing his unique DNA into the Reapers so they can complete the human Reaper they have been working on since Mass Effect 2. Essentially harvesting Shepard. The child/Harbinger tells Shepard that this choice represents a leap forward in evolution for organics and synthetics. The Reapers call it harvesting, the Borg call it assimilation. In effect, the Reapers feel they are doing humanity a favor. "We are your salvation through destruction" and all that.
-Whether Shepard chooses synergy(harvesting) or control(indoctrination) I believe this MUST be Shepards choice. Harbinger knows he is beaten, so he trys to manipulate Shepard into doing what the Reapers want by appealing to his humanity. HARBINGER IS TRYING TO TRICK YOU!
-For the purpose of this theory, I am assuming that total destruction of all synthetic life is the correct choice.
-After making this choice the following cinimatic shows Shepard recovering from his limp as he is shooting! The Reapers and Mass Effect relays are then destroyed, and armies on earth celebrate. Shepards crew escapes in the Normandy, but are marooned on a tropical planet. It is unlikely that the Normandy could have picked up the squad and made a break for it. I believe this is Shepard projecting what he needs to see to feel like he made the right decision, should he have gone with one of the other two options.
-After the Normandy scene, the camera pans over rubble that is almost certainly the ruins of London, untill it reaches Shepards torso. The last image is of Commander Shepard taking a breath, in direct contridiction to what the child/Harbinger said would happen. This is the ONLY ending in which Shepard lives.
In conclusion, I believe that the final sequence of Mass Effect 3 is Harbingers final attempt to indoctrinate, or better yet, harvest Commander Shepard. I think it is likely that we will see some DLC soon(April Fools Day maybe?) that expands upon the ending. I think Shepard will wake back up in the rubble of London, enter the citadel, and destroy the Reapers like he did in his mind.
As long as it's free DLC, it's an excellent decision that accomplishes two things:
1. It assures that the ending of Mass Effect 3 will not be leaked due to different release dates. I'm also convinced that most critics reviewed the game based on the full ending and signed confidentiality agreements. Bioware had to know there would be backlash for this ending, and I'm sure they didn't want poor critic reviews eating into their game sales. This would explain the diparity between the user reviews, and the critic reviews.
2. It gives everyone the opprotunity to save the earth together on the same day! That would be pretty amazing!
- One more note. It is possible that this theory is true, and there will be no DLC. Bioware could just expect us to put the pieces together ourselves to figure out which ending is the best. Either way, it gets around the "dream/hallucination" theory because it actually happened.
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real."
-Albus Dumbledore
Keep the faith Mass Effect fans! :happy:
Modifié par MustacheManatee, 14 mars 2012 - 10:55 .
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