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[darkelightnx01]

 Looking back at the game, I like many others out there was a bit disappointed with the ending, I felt after three games Shephard deserved a final face off with harbinger and I felt the options were too similar in the final choice. I think it would have been a better option to give the reapers free will and have them retreat or be destroyed the assembled armada depending on the galactic readiness mechanic. However the build up to the crucible was amazing a 10 out of 10.

[Frostfiend]

Bonecrushah wrote...

Don’t get me wrong, I loved this game. There are so many amazing moments within it that it’s easier to pick out three things I disliked than to name all of the parts that made me laugh, cry, or say “holy ****!”, which makes it even more important that the ending needs to be changed. Not just for us, the fans, but for yourselves. The entirety of Mass Effect 3 is a beautiful buildup to the final battle; a gigantic set-up, not just in single player, but also multiplayer. To end on a note that was never played throughout the symphony of this brilliant trilogy is not only a below-the-belt blow to the fans, but an insult to yourselves as artists and storytellers. We know you can do better. If you’re worried about money, don’t; a lot of people will pay to get the satisfaction of the ending that they not only deserve, but know that you’re capable of.

.

This!

[PaladinO9]

To the folks at BIOWARE who keep an eye on what fans post,


I created a community account for the sole purpose
of adding my voice to the multitude of concerned fans. I recently finished ME3,
and as a huge fan of the series and BIOWARE games in general after hearing all
the rumors of discontent with the end of the trilogy while playing the game,
was disappointed that I too found no pleasure in the conclusion of an epic
tale. I am not acquainted with the game making process, and have no illusion
that our calls for creating an unplanned expanded ending would be a significant
investment of time and resources, but felt compelled to give a few reasons of
my own that echo so many other comments as to why you should consider our
request as your loyal fans and customers.

 

-BIOWARE has a history of excellence in game
storytelling which on its own has set the standard for your fans. It may not be
fair to judge new products based on the quality of older titles, but games like
the Baldur’s Gate series and original Dragon Age are fine examples of long
adventures given proper closure through a variety of methods, whether text
descriptions such as in the BG games, or an animated and diverse series of
endings in Dragon Age. These endings provided needed closure for the characters
and selected choices, and unlike the finale for characters in ME3, the ending
served to further instigate questions about what would become of all the
characters we grew to enjoy and choices made, which for the end of a trilogy
left us the player in despair knowing they would not be answered in future
titles.

 

-Assuming no plans or development had been
completed on a future ending revision or extension, I can understand starting a
process to amend this based on the desires of fans/newcomers alone would be
difficult to attempt. Obviously fans that have enjoyed the series since 2007
would have a great commitment to seeing it end in a more complete fashion, and
in all probability, would pay any DLC price to help alter what we see as a
lacking conclusion. I can’t speak for future BIOWARE projects, but what is
decided will have a direct influence on customer interest for buying new games.
If an optional extended ending is announced, you’ll have appeased a very large
group of customers if for no other reason than the attempt to address their
concerns, securing trust for listening while customers who felt no need to
alter the ending won’t need to purchase the DLC. Though it may be easier to cut
losses and not attempt to address fans, in the end there are far more
incentives to attempt the problem then let it go with time ignored.  Fans
themselves can be a great source of inspiration if in need of ideas, from the
“indoctrination” theory sweeping through forums, to only adding an epilogue; in
either case would go a long way in addressing the lack of finality currently in
the ending.



 From one BIOWARE fan to whomever reads this, I
simply would like the series to end not on a bad note or black eye, but with the
series coming to a close with the respect and dignity it deserves for such an
inspirational tale, and not to be forgotten as a trilogy that tripped at the
finish line. The Mass Effect series belongs among some of the greatest science
fiction media of this generation, and we as loyal fans wish for it to maintain
a sterling record of quality. Help us seal BIOWARE as the greatest
story telling company in the video game industry.

[SaturnH]

First time posting in the BW forums. First off, fantastic job overall with ME3. The story was mostly awesome and well conveyed, while the combat was probably the best I've ever seen in a RPG. Hats off to the combat designers.

But like many other fans, I felt very disappointed in the ending, especially after the great climax of ME2. The final mission in ME2 was full of decisions on how to use the assets you spent the game acquiring. I was making command decisions. I felt like a Commander.

The final mission of ME3 makes me feel like a regular soldier. Where ME2 cares about how you use your assets, ME3 simply displays those assets in a nice cinematic but with no input from "Commander" Shepard. It also would have been nice if the orbital strike gun was used again to take out a reaper boss. That gameplay scene worked so well earlier that I don't see why it couldn't be used twice.

The other main problem I had was the Starchild. Its logic was very flimsy and conflicted with obvious themes of the series. The choices offered at the end made me feel as if I was handing my victory over this little brat. As a player I wanted nothing more than to argue with him and poke holes in his faulty logic, but Shepard would say nothing. At this most critical moment, I felt a major disconnect between me and the game. Suddenly I wasn't really controlling Shepard- I was just along for the ride.

Finally, upon seeing the Normandy fleeing the blast, the first thing to pop in my head was confusion as to where the Normandy was. I thought it was at Earth. Does that mean I just destroyed the entire fleet? Where is the fleet anyway? How come the crew crashes on an alien planet? How did they get there? What? Huh? Utter confusion. Seems like this idea was shoehorned in despite the context not fitting the scene at all.

I know fans are starting to sound like a broken record, but I think the issues are clear enough for anyone to see. Personally, I don't have much enthusiasm about starting a second playthrough when I see how little my choices impact the ending. I feel like I've pretty much seen everything and that kills re-playability. I would hate to see Mass Effect to go out on a whimper like this, so please consider building an alternate/ extended ending dlc. It's the only thing that could change my new opinion of the game.

[ramenbito]

SaturnH wrote...

le snip



I know fans are starting to sound like a broken record, but I think the issues are clear enough for anyone to see. Personally, I don't have much enthusiasm about starting a second playthrough when I see how little my choices impact the ending. I feel like I've pretty much seen everything and that kills re-playability. I would hate to see Mass Effect to go out on a whimper like this, so please consider building an alternate/ extended ending dlc. It's the only thing that could change my new opinion of the game.

The reason why fans start to sound like a broken record is that most of the players of the game ( according to this poll http://social.biowar...06/polls/28989/ ) are all unsatisfied with the same things. Just wanted to add that there with the poll.

[Tocquevillain]

Favourite moment was Liara saying she loved you in London, based on an ME1/2/3 save, it was just perfect adult storytelling. Loved it.

[Shadow_Phoenix]

Bioware, this ending wasn't as good as your usual standard for storytelling. While I feel the choices Shepard must make are brilliant, I think you missed a key item; the companion's story. We invested into the game and we want to know what happens to those Shepard left behind. How does the universe move on? Do they begin making their own mass relays? Does the love interest move on or, in some cases, tell the story of the Dad who's not coming home?

The previous games ended with a stirring of emotions for me. In the first I believed Shepard had died, and I almost cried, only to cheer on as he emerged from the wreckage with that limp and grin. In ME2 I mourned the loss of Legion and Jack, while shivering in anticipation of the reaper armada making it's way to the galaxy. Mass Effect 3? I was only conflicted in the idea of Shepard killing the geth and edi, while a chance of living to see Tali again vs merging synthetics and organics. I chose to wipe out synthetics only for a chance of a new ending.

I think the endings were good, but you can do better, Bioware. I'm not asking you to change it so shepard wins and everything is happy, but I would like something that tugs at my emotions like you have done in the past.

[gadenp]

Guys, this thread that Bioware are asking us to post.

It might all be a ploy to get us to deplete our energy fast, trying to help them and to get them to listen.

While in actual fact, it is only to delay us till the majority gets burned out and becomes apathetic to ME3 ending. After all they already got our money, even if it leaves a sour taste in our mouths.

If this is their ploy, I say HOLD THE LINE. Never Forget, Never Forgive!

[Gosia]

Killashandria wrote...

This is pretty darn awesome. The 'Retake Mass Effect' group now have their own war assets page. You report in, state where your from and 'join' as a particular war asset. For example 'Adelaide Infiltrators Squad'. It's a fun way to put your feelings out there.

http://lugoentertain...3ending/#!/Home

Awesome it is  already reported in and holding the line!

[neoxus299]

As much as I hated the ending, the game was still very enjoyable. But i'd prefer a happy ending... after all this is a game and you want you see your fights against the reapers to have some effect!

Cheers bioware, it still was a good game, without the ending.

[hchadw]

darkelightnx01 wrote...

 Looking back at the game, I like many others out there was a bit disappointed with the ending, I felt after three games Shephard deserved a final face off with harbinger and I felt the options were too similar in the final choice. I think it would have been a better option to give the reapers free will and have them retreat or be destroyed the assembled armada depending on the galactic readiness mechanic. However the build up to the crucible was amazing a 10 out of 10.

yeah im hoping that after Harbinger Failed attempt to indoctronate shepard for the last time... he staggers to his feet , wakes up from the attempted brainwashing... realizes hes still on earth.. and the real Boss Fight ensues...and shoots harbinger right in the reaper nads with an orbital strike....i wanted to fight harbinger myself.......he talks smack all game long in ME2 but in ME3 not a peep....................    i can hope right!

What gives ?????

Modifié par hchadw, 20 mars 2012 - 09:21 .

[Koldoeb]

we need an ending "celebration party" or something like in DA:O, Star Wars Movies. And an epilogue like DA:O. And we need some answers about Retranslators, and, ofcourse some info on crew members (even about engineer guys)

[Archonsg]

Choices, Closure and the Epilogue

By far the biggest let down would be the lack of the above. I honestly think that had Bioware gave players all three, even the illogical ending would not have stung so much. Hell, I'll probably ignore everything I know about physics and happily put it all to "space magic" AND NOT BE this angry had I been given a choice, had MY choices over the past 3 games be made relevant and counted for something and lastly an epilogue (preferably epic in scale) of sorts made available to the player and say to the player, "This is what you did over the course of 5 years, playing our game and supporting it, thank you."

Instead we go the "A,B,C choice ending that was said that Mass Effect would NEVER have. 

All my game saves, which includes:

1) Paragon Shepard Male, Romanced Ashley / Liara/ Miranda / Tali / Jack, stayed true

2) Paragon Shepard Male, Romanced Ashley / Liara / Miranda / Tali / Jack , played the field

3) Renegade Shepard Male ..... ect.

4) Paragade / and Renegon (mix of high Paragon / Renegade slanting towards one end or the other)

24 of them (including Femsheps) to be exact.

Needless to say NONE I now feel compelled to play, or replay with or without any future DLCs you might want to sell. Why would I since NONE of my choices mattered?

What is even sadder is that I have to come up with something, anything to "replay" at least in my own mind so that I could find some closure instead of the ending we got. 

I have already posted this before on the another thread but will post here and hope it gives those who haven't seen it, see an ending complete with all their favorite characters voices imagined in their heads :

(Version 1.01c Paragon Shepard Dies) 
*note: Most people should get this ending. I do have a “Paragon Shepard Lives” ending scenario floating up in my noggin but that will be done some other time.

Also my version of events scraps everything right after the combined Galactic fleet enters Earth space, assumes the player has completed all side quests and has at least 3300 EMS. 
Why only 3300? I feel that “forcing” players to play Multi-player just to get the “best” possible ending is rubbish. Higher EMS just skews a slightly different cut scene of your ground troops. Higher EMS = more varied troops based on which races you have recruited to the cause. 

The trigger on what causes Shepard to live or die, his personal romances.

Ideally he should have stayed true over at least 2 games to his Love Interest AND have that love interest with him at the end fight. It would be awesome if Bioware allowed for this since I have always thought that Shepard's "romances" while wonderful, still are just "one night things"
These romances in the greater scheme of things don't mean much more then fan service (and very much appreciated fan service it is!! )  Making his romance the key to his / or her living or dying. That would be awesome.

This ending also assumes you have saved every companion in ME2 (just mentally edit them out if you got yours killed) and Assumes that certain paths are followed in ME3. Again you can mentally edit those characters out of the cut scenes if yours are absent or dead. 

Liara assumed to be LI and Shepard to be male. (Just switch him for her if your Shepard is female) Also this is an entire “re-write” of events in London. So no, I don’t follow the Shepard was indoctrinated” school of thought. Sorry shep-zombie fans.

And no Star Child crap either. Sorry Bioware.

Scenario :
Shepard deploys his remaining surviving followers. The final push has key points (say 4) that needs to be bolstered for Hammer to hit and kill the Guardian. This is where your assets come into play, for good or ill depending on what resources you have manged to gathered.

Cut Scene 
Combined Galactic ground forces consisting of all the forces and assets Shepard has gathered. Krogan on Keiosaur mounts charging and overunning Reaper positions, Geth and Quarian engineers setting up hack proof auto turrets to lay cover fire, mercs fighting dirty in hand to hand, pistol shot to the face combat, Turian and Human infantry and armour supported by Asari commandoes led by Samara, Grissom Academy (Jack!) Biotics and Miradanda and ex-cerberus biotics led by Aresh, form a linked shield system and together they all carve a path and take down the Guardian at the Conduit.

Shepard and team go in, and it’s a race find the master control and open the Citadel Arms so that that Crucible can dock.

Shepard and team fights way to Citadel central command room which EDI helps to pin point. Within the Citadel itself Shepard faces a combined force of indoctrinated Cerberus forces and reaper forces. 

Midpoint Cut Scene.
Harbinger’s holo appears and in the course of talking to it. Shepard learns that the Reapers were once AI meant to protect a race, created at a time when there was another war of organics and Synthetics. The AI’s primary directive was to Protect and dictate the race’s war efforts. In the course of time the AI decided that to win the war against Synthetics, organics had to become Synthetics themselves and thus the Reapers and Cycles came about.

Harbinger shows nothing but disdain for Shepard, for all organics. It demands that Shepard submit as it is the only way to salvation that it is the only logical outcome. 

Shepard tells it to go to hell.

Harbinger then tells Shepard that Organic life in this Cycle had become too much of a problem, that order was disrupted when Sovereign was destroyed and later the planned entry point in Batarian space blocked.

That it has decided that the best solution for the current situation now, is for the galaxy to reboot itself and life and the Cycle can start anew.

Shepard is confused by what it meant till Admiral Hackett communicates that reports are coming in that Charon's Mass Relay is powering up, gathering Charge at a rate that make it go critical and cause Ultra Super Nova.

Harbinger tells shepard that it will cleanse reboot the Galaxy one relay at a time once its down here on earth. 

Everyone is shocked and horrified by the implications.

Harbinger gloats that order will be restored and the Cycle can start anew again. 

Shepard Speech.

Chooses final Squad members and forges on.

Last checkpoint.

Shepard Meets Illusive man who holds the final key to unlocking the Citadel. The Illusive man lays it all out, from what he has pieced together. The Citadel is not only a huge mass relay, it is also the Reaper’s command and control centre from which the reapers direct their systematic “cycles” and that means it’s also one big galactic broadcasting device and that some ancient race finally figured this out and came up with the Crucible which is not a weapon but a signal modifier and booster carrying code that is essentially the Reaper's "kill swtich”.  This signal however can also be used to take control of the Reapers. This old race figured out that you can send the signal from the Citadel but such a signal would only effects its local space for the signal work galactically, the signal needs to be sent simultaneously across the galaxy using the Mass Relays as piggy back signal towers. 

Illusive man tries takes control of Shepard’s implants.

Illusive Man Makes Shepard shoots both squad members and they are out of combat (not dead)
If Love interest is in squad however, Shepard finds strength to resist after he shoots the first squad member and when the illusive man tries to make Shepard shoot his LI. (Love has to count for something ya?)

Boss Fight.

One on One Shepard vs Illusive man or two vs one if
Shepard is with LI

Shepard wins, Illusive Man slumps to the ground.

Cut Scene.

Harbinger arrives at the Conduit and starts blasting at ground troops. (poor EMS = more die, not just nameless troops but Jack, Grunt, Wrex and any other non-squad companions from previous games at the scene, we will however assume high EMS for this cut scene)  More Reaper Destroyers land and starts blasting as well.
Jack plays mother hen and orders Asari commandoes around to help bolster the linked shields so that ground forces can hold ground. She refuses to leave but realise her shields cannot withstand too many direct hits from Reaper cannons. Reluctantly leaves when Miranda tells her, “Shepard will find away, he always does.”

Meanwhile on the Citadel, Shepard with EDI’s help shuts down the Relay Nova sequence and call's Hecket to keep the Reapers off while they try to dock the Crucible.

Harbinger realises what is happening and take offs along with most of the Destroyers headed towards the Citadel. 

HUGE fleet space battle ensues!
(I thought about making the boss fight againt Harbinger for Shepard but, the Illusive Man should be Shepard's Boss fight while Harbinger and his guardian's should be Fleets, they came all the way here to Earth after all, its only fair they show off what a combined Galactic force can do)

With enough (that 3300 mark)  Assests, they keep the Reapers off. With low casualites.

No or low assests, reapers break though and Crucible gets destroyed, "Failure cut scene plays, showing more reapers arriving and decimating Galactic fleet.

Mid point assests, fleet still hold off the reapers but major leadership dies giving shepard a chance.

Crucible docks.

Harbinger’s Avatar appears one last time, but this time it shows fear. It knows death is imminent and it doesn’t want to die. Harbinger admits that perhaps its assessment is wrong and gives Shepard a choice, instead of killing every reaper, it asks Shepard to shackle them.

Each Reaper would then be Humanity’s tool and weapon against anything or anyone, organic or synthetic. Through them, Humanity would achieve power unimaginable and through humanity’s control of the reapers, order be imposed on all organic life. (Renegade Choice of course) 

Shepard refuses.

Takes the Paragon path and triggers the kill switch.

THE CITADEL DOES NOT BLOW UP, BREAK APART OR GETS DESTROYED.

(Final moments / epilogues)

Garrus : “So Shepard, do the honours?”

Shepard: “I thought you’d do it, I mean, isn’t that why you calibrate stuff so much?” 

Garrus : “The guns. Are. On. The. Normandy. Shepard.” ”But now that you mentioned it, why not? I could never resist pushing big red buttons... Uhhh There is a big red button right?”

EDI. : “No Garrus. Just your standard VI overlay”

Garrus : “Pity. Well Palaven isn’t free of Reapers yet while we stand here talking.” *reaches up and touches controls*

Signal beam goes out to the Charon Relay, Relay pulses then shoots out beam to other Relays.

”RELAYS ARE NOT DESTROYED.*

Pretty colour signal rings Galactic map display depicting each relay receiving and sending the kill switch out. Reapers across the Galaxy flat lines. Cheers from ground troops in Palaven, Asari on Thessia, everywhere, troops emerge bloodied but not beaten. 

*Everyone in room cheers*

Ashley : “We did it! We finally did it! It’s all because of you Shepard, I am sorry I doubted ….”

*Sound of rapid auto gun fire. Shepard’s Shields flare, then in slow motion, HEAD SHOT*

(1) IF Shepard has been true to his LI and did not go dipping into the pond so to speak, depending on LI they'd see TIM, and will do a number of things, taking the hit (NOT FATALLY but unknown to the player at the time) example. Liara sees TIM, cast Singularity but the bullets fired richochets and hits her / Tali sabotages his gun but TIM manages to get ONE shot off at her, Ashley simply stands in the line of fire and pushes Shepard away ...different things from different LIs - - - back to the show!

Liara : “Goddess! Noooooooo…”

*everyone turns to see a shakily Illusive man standing with a modified machine pistol in hand .. Everyone unloads their weapons into Illusive man. All except Liara, who is cradling Shepard and crying.

*Fade to black.*

*scene opens 5 years later. We see a small Asari child playing in the grass on Thessia laughing and giggling with another Asari child. She turns when she hears someone approaches and it is Liara and Matriarch Aethyta. One of the girls run up to Liara.* Child : “Mother, Aria here says that everyone is nice to me only because my father is famous. Why do you never talk of him?

Liara : “Oh Hannah, *breathes in deeply* your father was the most important man in the galaxy. He is why we still have Thessia, our home.”

Hannah : “Aria says he’s human. Aria’s mother says humans are at best century flings. I don’t understand….*looks up and sees Liara in tears* I am sorry mommy. I didn’t mean to make you cry. *stays silent for a few seconds* What was he like, my father?”

Liara : “He was …he was….*breaks down and cries*

Aethyta : “ He was a man. Had a quad on him for sure but he had heart, he….."

*scene cuts to Garrus at SPECTRE Academy*

Garrus : “ … was not just a SPECTRE, he was THE SPECTRE. I was there when he took down Saren, when at the time we Turians still thought all humans were only good as cannon fodder." 

Spectre trainee: “But sir, surely he was JUST a human....”

Garrus : "Son, on Rannoch, Shepard played tag with a reaper, on foot. He won. *touches side of his face* You see this, got this from a Gunship’s rocket in Omega. Shepard took it down, with small arms and saved my life. No, I learned from the best and that was Shepard.  I learned that no matter how good you are, nothing is better than a true friend guarding your back and Shepard was …”

*scene cuts to Wrex and Grunt*

Wrex : “….an Honorary Krogan because I made him so! Arrrhharrhahhaaa!”

Grunt : “Bah, I knew that before you. You remember? He fought beside me on my Rites of Passage and at the time he said he was “my krant” *does finger air quotes* …huh. When that Thresher Maw popped up and he didn’t flinch, just stared down that big ass rifle of his and shot, I knew then, that he’s no one’s Krant. That I was lucky to be his.” 

Krogan : “Clan Utnev says The Shepard is human and they spit on humans.”

Wrex Grunt : “SHEPARD IS URDNOT! Shepard is why our women are whole again!

Grunt : "WHO IS SHEPARD?!!"

Krogans :" URDNOT!!"

Wrex : "WHAT IS SHEPARD?!"

Krogans : " KROGAN!"

Grunt : "AND IF THEY SPIT ON SHEPARD THEY SPIT ON...."

Krogans : "UDNOT!! SHEPARD IS KROGAN!! SHEPARD IS...."

*Scene cuts to Samara on Thessia now chief caretaker of the Ardat Yakshi monastery

Samara : " ......... honour personified."

Falere : "Is that why you left us, and followed him, his honour?"

Samara : "He helped me kill Morinth..."

Falare : " So he murdered my sister too .."*bitter*

Samara : " Your sister would have murdered him."

Falare : " So how did it feel, to have the great commander Shepard do your dirty work for you?"

Samara : " Shame, that is why I almost....why I wanted it all to end. I used him Falare. In the end I even when I tracked Morinth down, deep down in my heart I did not want to kill her, I ....knew that if Shepard was there. I would have to do what I swore to do."

Falare : "Is that why you almost...."

Samara : " I could not kill another of my Children. So I thought there was only path left to me. And Shepard stopped me. He still believed Falare, that I had honour." 

Falare : " I ....I guess I misunderstood, Shepard is....."

*scene cuts to Tali. ALL Qurians have their helmets off*

Tali : “ ….the most compassionate man I know.”

Quarian girl : "What is it like travelling with the humans? With Shepard?

Tali: “Trying. Often you just want to shoot them. *she grins* Sometimes I don’t get them at all but when I see Shepard I see the best humanity has to offer. Let me tell you of a story about a Quarian named Lia’Vael nar Ulnay a young Quarian girl on her pilgrimage. She went to the citadel but before long, her money was stolen, she was beaten and people spat on her. All because she was Quarian. We met her while a Csec officer and a Volus had her held for questioning and NO ONE wanted to help. Shepard did. He cared. He didn’t see us as Quarians or aliens but as people. As someone of worth and Lia was someone worth helping. I asked him afterwards, why did he helped. He just said “It’s what I do.” *Tali falls silent for a bit, eyes with a faraway look, wishful*

Quarian girl : “Was he dreamy? *giggles*

Tali : *flushed* “Uhhh.... what? …Shepard was …”

*scene cuts to Aethyta*

Aethyta : “…. Many things to many people. But most of all he was hope. He never stopped trying. They took away his ship, they took away his command they took everything that he was but they could not take away his spirit. Your mother loves him very much because of that spirit. Hell, if your mother had not already claimed him, I would have been tempted to myself! Bet I can teach him a thing or two…”

Liara : “Aethyta!”

*Hannah climbs into Liara’s lap*

Hannah : “He sounds wonderful. I wish he was here.” 

Liara : *wraps arms around Hannah and hugs her tightly*

“We all do, little dove, we all do.”

*FADE TO BLACK*
END CREDIT ROLL.

(Only did those few companions, would have,  Jack, Miranda, everyone who is still alive retelling Shepard as they saw him..... Different "memories if Shepard was Renegade and of course a VERY different one if Shepard Lives) 

But to me, it would have been epic even if my Shepard died ( I'd play to keep him alive of course though) and we have all the people he touched speak of him and their memories of him? What better end can you think of?

Anyways, if you have been reading this far.
Thank you.

Modifié par Archonsg, 20 mars 2012 - 10:11 .

[Thorwind]

overall ME3 is superb game with minor flaws, which I can ignore...but the endings...total disappointment, there are so many things left unsaid and some that really defy logic leave you asking WTH?, just follow what everyone said for the bigger picture, more or less

I for one wouldn't change anything about the game apart for the ending and maybe I would add more customization to the characters

Modifié par Thorwind, 20 mars 2012 - 09:45 .

[Primula Nightfall]

Best moment?

The ending. The "Indoctrination theory" ending, of course.

No, I'm serious. I really can't express my feelings when I discovered BioWare indoctrinated us players, and despite me wanting to destroy the Reapers, they made me choose the "green" ending. I WANTED to choose the green ending.

They indoctrinated me.

This was one of the most brilliant moves in videogame history. Kudos.

And honestly, I don't understand why all the issues with the "omg I don't know what happened to my friends! Please tell me, Bioware!!"

...why? Why do you need them to tell you what happened to the people you cared for? If they did not choose to tell you that, it's probably because they do not feel it's so important. If they think so, what's the point in FORCING them to invent something that was not planned? If you want to know so hard, just invent something yourself. Why do you need a holding hand? Make up your own ideas. This game is about CHOICES, right?

Really, I believe that this aspect simply wasn't relevant. This is a tale of "the Shepard", the legend that stopped the Reapers. Not about his friends.

Modifié par Primula Nightfall, 20 mars 2012 - 09:54 .

[Major Durza]

I will warn the obvious, Bioware: when you make some DLC, make sure you make the fans satisfied with the endings. You will find very few are willing to even replay the singleplayer game because of the state of the ending. So if you plan to add something in between the beginning and the end, do not plan on it selling well if you have not done anything about the ending.

Do not let the hours played on multiplayer fool you, we do play the game for its multiplayer. It is not in this that the crucial problem lies. It is the ending of the single player campaign that sapped the will of fans to replay (Speaking of my own experience, I know many others feel similar)

I know that I will not buy any mid-game DLC, because I will not be able to use it. I am far too disgusted with the way the game ends to keep it out of my mind as I play through the campaign. It left a sour taste in my mouth that will not go away, that continues to negatively flavor everything I think and feel about what happens in singleplayer.
I loved it up until that point, even then I think that is an understatement. I couldn't wait to talk about everything that happened with my friends, almost to the point of annoying them. I was ecstatic, this story was turning into everything I had hoped and then some. It was awesome, I loved it. Just as passionately as I loved the storyline, I was shoecked by the ending. Shocked, which turned into revulsion not too long after
I did not think Bioware would allow such an ending to such a masterpiece.
I am not the only one who feels this way, and any attempt at mid-game DLC will put my hypothesis to the test.

My hypothesis is that mid-game DLC will only sell well when the fans are satisfied with the endings.
This is mostly based on my unwillingness to buy such DLC unless the sour taste left by the endings disappears. Then again, I didn't buy any DLC for DA2. I don't even have it installed, I honestly didn't much care for it.
I care about Mass Effect 3. The Mass Effect series is your best work yet, in my opinion. I hate to see something so awesome end in such a horrible way.

I suggest you not gamble with mid-game DLC, it would be wise for you to amend the ending as you see fit.

I know where I stand; and now you do, too. I have spoken, one voice among the many, hoping that my message is clear.
I also trust that if/when you decide to have the ending changed/fixed/extended/overhauled that you will do so with mastery. I am hoping for the same level of mastery that was displayed throughout the rest of the game.
I have not lost hope yet, but the sour taste is still strong.

It may be naive, but I hope someone from Bioware reads this at page... 302, perhaps 303.
Know that I have a lot of respect for this company and what it does, which is why I consider this ending as out-of-character.

[Gtacatalina]

Thank you Bioware for all your dedication and hard work on the brilliant ME series.

I've loved playing ME1, ME2 and ME3 BUT I'm afraid I'm another fan who doesn't like the endings.

What happened to all of our decisions throughout the ME games would shape the end.
Instead your decisions end up as war assets, to then get endings which are virtually all the same.  Relays blown up, Normandy lands on lost island, Your friends and LI well who knows what happens to them. Shepard dead (ok you see him breathe if you get up to 4000EMS which nobody I know has done yet by only playing SP including me).

I was expecting some sort of end battle where you could see all your allies (war assets) kicking ass. Maybe even directing them in the war.

It's such a shame, that because of how it ended I have no interest in replaying the game. I was so looking forward to playing my other Sheps in ME3 and maybe starting from ME1 again.

I really love Bioware games and I hope you will be able to sort something out for the many fans who are disappointed with the ending.

Modifié par Gtacatalina, 20 mars 2012 - 11:28 .

[Bama]

The number of games I've played must be in the thousands, but the Mass Effect trilogy has pushed video games to places I previously thought unimaginable.

For what it's worth I want to thank Bioware for pouring their hearts and souls into this franchise and making it such an incredible experience for us gamers.

That being said I do have to agree with those who say the endings leave quite a lot to be desired. I understand essentially the entire game is a sequence of events that each bring closure to the story, but the way the final events play out are just completely out of line with the entire game. It certainly feels rushed and left me with a sour taste after such a phenomenal experience up to that point.

I could go on but I feel this Gamefront article sums up best why I was so disappointed with the conclusion to the greatest gaming trilogy of all time:

http://www.gamefront...fans-are-right/

Modifié par Bama, 20 mars 2012 - 10:16 .

[Guylus]

Feels like I'm in the minority. I'm fine with that, and completely respect others' feelings regarding the ending (or the rest of the game, for that matter). But I wanted to add my voice to the fold and say I felt it was powerful, appropriate, and bitter-sweet.

My Shepard destroyed the reapers because he did not believe in the ideals of the Catalyst. He was a paragon, but not infallable. The blue ending was not a guaranteed resolution to the problem he was fighting against, because he saw himself as capable of falling from grace, so to speak (especially after the bit with Anderson and Illusive Man). The green ending would have felt, to my Shepard, as too much of a leap of faith, as the Reapers would still exist, and stop fighting for no reason that the general galactic populace would be able to know, especially since he'd have to sacrifice himself before telling anyone what had happened (not that they'd believe him) And making synthetics more physically similar to organics would not change the fact that the basic problem between the Geth and anyone else was that they were simply perceived as a threat and treated as such. The red ending my Shepard chose was to provide peace of mind to the innumerable sentients in the galaxy by taking away the icon of their fear, allowed them to continue their free choice (at the expense of EDI and the Geth, which made me -very- sad, but it was a sacrifice he felt had to be made, as they would still live on in those they mattered to), and the feeling of accomplishment after surviving despite the odds would have shown that the galactic community that, no matter what happens, they would be able to pull through.

[Carefactorzero]

So tired of people QQing all over the net about not getting their happy ending. I so didn't see this coming and cried when I choose to walk down the middle path. There is no game like the Mass Effect trilogy and it will be a long time before anything comes close.

Loved everything Bioware. Thank you so much for making this epic trilogy.

[Kuranai3]

Carefactorzero wrote...

So tired of people QQing all over the net about not getting their happy ending. I so didn't see this coming and cried when I choose to walk down the middle path. There is no game like the Mass Effect trilogy and it will be a long time before anything comes close.

Loved everything Bioware. Thank you so much for making this epic trilogy.

Its not about a happy its about one that makes sense.

[Haargel]

Archonsg wrote...

Choices, Closure and the Epilogue

By far the biggest let down would be the lack of the above. I honestly think that had Bioware gave players all three, even the illogical ending would not have stung so much. Hell, I'll probably ignore everything I know about physics and happily put it all to "space magic" AND NOT BE this angry had I been given a choice, had MY choices over the past 3 games be made relevant and counted for something and lastly an epilogue (preferably epic in scale) of sorts made available to the player and say to the player, "This is what you did over the course of 5 years, playing our game and supporting it, thank you."

Instead we go the "A,B,C choice ending that was said that Mass Effect would NEVER have. 

All my game saves, which includes:

1) Paragon Shepard Male, Romanced Ashley / Liara/ Miranda / Tali / Jack, stayed true

2) Paragon Shepard Male, Romanced Ashley / Liara / Miranda / Tali / Jack , played the field

3) Renegade Shepard Male ..... ect.

4) Paragade / and Renegon (mix of high Paragon / Renegade slanting towards one end or the other)

24 of them (including Femsheps) to be exact.

Needless to say NONE I now feel compelled to play, or replay with or without any future DLCs you might want to sell. Why would I since NONE of my choices mattered?

What is even sadder is that I have to come up with something, anything to "replay" at least in my own mind so that I could find some closure instead of the ending we got. 

I have already posted this before on the another thread but will post here and hope it gives those who haven't seen it, see an ending complete with all their favorite characters voices imagined in their heads :

(Version 1.01c Paragon Shepard Dies) 
*note: Most people should get this ending. I do have a “Paragon Shepard Lives” ending scenario floating up in my noggin but that will be done some other time.

Also my version of events scraps everything right after the combined Galactic fleet enters Earth space, assumes the player has completed all side quests and has at least 3300 EMS. 
Why only 3300? I feel that “forcing” players to play Multi-player just to get the “best” possible ending is rubbish. Higher EMS just skews a slightly different cut scene of your ground troops. Higher EMS = more varied troops based on which races you have recruited to the cause. 

The trigger on what causes Shepard to live or die, his personal romances.

Ideally he should have stayed true over at least 2 games to his Love Interest AND have that love interest with him at the end fight. It would be awesome if Bioware allowed for this since I have always thought that Shepard's "romances" while wonderful, still are just "one night things"
These romances in the greater scheme of things don't mean much more then fan service (and very much appreciated fan service it is!! )  Making his romance the key to his / or her living or dying. That would be awesome.

This ending also assumes you have saved every companion in ME2 (just mentally edit them out if you got yours killed) and Assumes that certain paths are followed in ME3. Again you can mentally edit those characters out of the cut scenes if yours are absent or dead. 

Liara assumed to be LI and Shepard to be male. (Just switch him for her if your Shepard is female) Also this is an entire “re-write” of events in London. So no, I don’t follow the Shepard was indoctrinated” school of thought. Sorry shep-zombie fans.

And no Star Child crap either. Sorry Bioware.

Scenario :
Shepard deploys his remaining surviving followers. The final push has key points (say 4) that needs to be bolstered for Hammer to hit and kill the Guardian. This is where your assets come into play, for good or ill depending on what resources you have manged to gathered.

Cut Scene 
Combined Galactic ground forces consisting of all the forces and assets Shepard has gathered. Krogan on Keiosaur mounts charging and overunning Reaper positions, Geth and Quarian engineers setting up hack proof auto turrets to lay cover fire, mercs fighting dirty in hand to hand, pistol shot to the face combat, Turian and Human infantry and armour supported by Asari commandoes led by Samara, Grissom Academy (Jack!) Biotics and Miradanda and ex-cerberus biotics led by Aresh, form a linked shield system and together they all carve a path and take down the Guardian at the Conduit.

Shepard and team go in, and it’s a race find the master control and open the Citadel Arms so that that Crucible can dock.

Shepard and team fights way to Citadel central command room which EDI helps to pin point. Within the Citadel itself Shepard faces a combined force of indoctrinated Cerberus forces and reaper forces. 

Midpoint Cut Scene.
Harbinger’s holo appears and in the course of talking to it. Shepard learns that the Reapers were once AI meant to protect a race, created at a time when there was another war of organics and Synthetics. The AI’s primary directive was to Protect and dictate the race’s war efforts. In the course of time the AI decided that to win the war against Synthetics, organics had to become Synthetics themselves and thus the Reapers and Cycles came about.

Harbinger shows nothing but disdain for Shepard, for all organics. It demands that Shepard submit as it is the only way to salvation that it is the only logical outcome. 

Shepard tells it to go to hell.

Harbinger then tells Shepard that Organic life in this Cycle had become too much of a problem, that order was disrupted when Sovereign was destroyed and later the planned entry point in Batarian space blocked.

That it has decided that the best solution for the current situation now, is for the galaxy to reboot itself and life and the Cycle can start anew.

Shepard is confused by what it meant till Admiral Hackett communicates that reports are coming in that Charon's Mass Relay is powering up, gathering Charge at a rate that make it go critical and cause Ultra Super Nova.

Harbinger tells shepard that it will cleanse reboot the Galaxy one relay at a time once its down here on earth. 

Everyone is shocked and horrified by the implications.

Harbinger gloats that order will be restored and the Cycle can start anew again. 

Shepard Speech.

Chooses final Squad members and forges on.

Last checkpoint.

Shepard Meets Illusive man who holds the final key to unlocking the Citadel. The Illusive man lays it all out, from what he has pieced together. The Citadel is not only a huge mass relay, it is also the Reaper’s command and control centre from which the reapers direct their systematic “cycles” and that means it’s also one big galactic broadcasting device and that some ancient race finally figured this out and came up with the Crucible which is not a weapon but a signal modifier and booster carrying code that is essentially the Reaper's "kill swtich”.  This signal however can also be used to take control of the Reapers. This old race figured out that you can send the signal from the Citadel but such a signal would only effects its local space for the signal work galactically, the signal needs to be sent simultaneously across the galaxy using the Mass Relays as piggy back signal towers. 

Illusive man tries takes control of Shepard’s implants.

Illusive Man Makes Shepard shoots both squad members and they are out of combat (not dead)
If Love interest is in squad however, Shepard finds strength to resist after he shoots the first squad member and when the illusive man tries to make Shepard shoot his LI. (Love has to count for something ya?)

Boss Fight.

One on One Shepard vs Illusive man or two vs one if
Shepard is with LI

Shepard wins, Illusive Man slumps to the ground.

Cut Scene.

Harbinger arrives at the Conduit and starts blasting at ground troops. (poor EMS = more die, not just nameless troops but Jack, Grunt, Wrex and any other non-squad companions from previous games at the scene, we will however assume high EMS for this cut scene)  More Reaper Destroyers land and starts blasting as well.
Jack plays mother hen and orders Asari commandoes around to help bolster the linked shields so that ground forces can hold ground. She refuses to leave but realise her shields cannot withstand too many direct hits from Reaper cannons. Reluctantly leaves when Miranda tells her, “Shepard will find away, he always does.”

Meanwhile on the Citadel, Shepard with EDI’s help shuts down the Relay Nova sequence and call's Hecket to keep the Reapers off while they try to dock the Crucible.

Harbinger realises what is happening and take offs along with most of the Destroyers headed towards the Citadel. 

HUGE fleet space battle ensues!
(I thought about making the boss fight againt Harbinger for Shepard but, the Illusive Man should be Shepard's Boss fight while Harbinger and his guardian's should be Fleets, they came all the way here to Earth after all, its only fair they show off what a combined Galactic force can do)

With enough (that 3300 mark)  Assests, they keep the Reapers off. With low casualites.

No or low assests, reapers break though and Crucible gets destroyed, "Failure cut scene plays, showing more reapers arriving and decimating Galactic fleet.

Mid point assests, fleet still hold off the reapers but major leadership dies giving shepard a chance.

Crucible docks.

Harbinger’s Avatar appears one last time, but this time it shows fear. It knows death is imminent and it doesn’t want to die. Harbinger admits that perhaps its assessment is wrong and gives Shepard a choice, instead of killing every reaper, it asks Shepard to shackle them.

Each Reaper would then be Humanity’s tool and weapon against anything or anyone, organic or synthetic. Through them, Humanity would achieve power unimaginable and through humanity’s control of the reapers, order be imposed on all organic life. (Renegade Choice of course) 

Shepard refuses.

Takes the Paragon path and triggers the kill switch.

THE CITADEL DOES NOT BLOW UP, BREAK APART OR GETS DESTROYED.

(Final moments / epilogues)

Garrus : “So Shepard, do the honours?”

Shepard: “I thought you’d do it, I mean, isn’t that why you calibrate stuff so much?” 

Garrus : “The guns. Are. On. The. Normandy. Shepard.” ”But now that you mentioned it, why not? I could never resist pushing big red buttons... Uhhh There is a big red button right?”

EDI. : “No Garrus. Just your standard VI overlay”

Garrus : “Pity. Well Palaven isn’t free of Reapers yet while we stand here talking.” *reaches up and touches controls*

Signal beam goes out to the Charon Relay, Relay pulses then shoots out beam to other Relays.

”RELAYS ARE NOT DESTROYED.*

Pretty colour signal rings Galactic map display depicting each relay receiving and sending the kill switch out. Reapers across the Galaxy flat lines. Cheers from ground troops in Palaven, Asari on Thessia, everywhere, troops emerge bloodied but not beaten. 

*Everyone in room cheers*

Ashley : “We did it! We finally did it! It’s all because of you Shepard, I am sorry I doubted ….”

*Sound of rapid auto gun fire. Shepard’s Shields flare, then in slow motion, HEAD SHOT*

(1) IF Shepard has been true to his LI and did not go dipping into the pond so to speak, depending on LI they'd see TIM, and will do a number of things, taking the hit (NOT FATALLY but unknown to the player at the time) example. Liara sees TIM, cast Singularity but the bullets fired richochets and hits her / Tali sabotages his gun but TIM manages to get ONE shot off at her, Ashley simply stands in the line of fire and pushes Shepard away ...different things from different LIs - - - back to the show!

Liara : “Goddess! Noooooooo…”

*everyone turns to see a shakily Illusive man standing with a modified machine pistol in hand .. Everyone unloads their weapons into Illusive man. All except Liara, who is cradling Shepard and crying.

*Fade to black.*

*scene opens 5 years later. We see a small Asari child playing in the grass on Thessia laughing and giggling with another Asari child. She turns when she hears someone approaches and it is Liara and Matriarch Aethyta. One of the girls run up to Liara.* Child : “Mother, Aria here says that everyone is nice to me only because my father is famous. Why do you never talk of him?

Liara : “Oh Hannah, *breathes in deeply* your father was the most important man in the galaxy. He is why we still have Thessia, our home.”

Hannah : “Aria says he’s human. Aria’s mother says humans are at best century flings. I don’t understand….*looks up and sees Liara in tears* I am sorry mommy. I didn’t mean to make you cry. *stays silent for a few seconds* What was he like, my father?”

Liara : “He was …he was….*breaks down and cries*

Aethyta : “ He was a man. Had a quad on him for sure but he had heart, he….."

*scene cuts to Garrus at SPECTRE Academy*

Garrus : “ … was not just a SPECTRE, he was THE SPECTRE. I was there when he took down Saren, when at the time we Turians still thought all humans were only good as cannon fodder." 

Spectre trainee: “But sir, surely he was JUST a human....”

Garrus : "Son, on Rannoch, Shepard played tag with a reaper, on foot. He won. *touches side of his face* You see this, got this from a Gunship’s rocket in Omega. Shepard took it down, with small arms and saved my life. No, I learned from the best and that was Shepard.  I learned that no matter how good you are, nothing is better than a true friend guarding your back and Shepard was …”

*scene cuts to Wrex and Grunt*

Wrex : “….an Honorary Krogan because I made him so! Arrrhharrhahhaaa!”

Grunt : “Bah, I knew that before you. You remember? He fought beside me on my Rites of Passage and at the time he said he was “my krant” *does finger air quotes* …huh. When that Thresher Maw popped up and he didn’t flinch, just stared down that big ass rifle of his and shot, I knew then, that he’s no one’s Krant. That I was lucky to be his.” 

Krogan : “Clan Utnev says The Shepard is human and they spit on humans.”

Wrex Grunt : “SHEPARD IS URDNOT! Shepard is why our women are whole again!

Grunt : "WHO IS SHEPARD?!!"

Krogans :" URDNOT!!"

Wrex : "WHAT IS SHEPARD?!"

Krogans : " KROGAN!"

Grunt : "AND IF THEY SPIT ON SHEPARD THEY SPIT ON...."

Krogans : "UDNOT!! SHEPARD IS KROGAN!! SHEPARD IS...."

*Scene cuts to Samara on Thessia now chief caretaker of the Ardat Yakshi monastery

Samara : " ......... honour personified."

Falere : "Is that why you left us, and followed him, his honour?"

Samara : "He helped me kill Morinth..."

Falare : " So he murdered my sister too .."*bitter*

Samara : " Your sister would have murdered him."

Falare : " So how did it feel, to have the great commander Shepard do your dirty work for you?"

Samara : " Shame, that is why I almost....why I wanted it all to end. I used him Falare. In the end I even when I tracked Morinth down, deep down in my heart I did not want to kill her, I ....knew that if Shepard was there. I would have to do what I swore to do."

Falare : "Is that why you almost...."

Samara : " I could not kill another of my Children. So I thought there was only path left to me. And Shepard stopped me. He still believed Falare, that I had honour." 

Falare : " I ....I guess I misunderstood, Shepard is....."

*scene cuts to Tali. ALL Qurians have their helmets off*

Tali : “ ….the most compassionate man I know.”

Quarian girl : "What is it like travelling with the humans? With Shepard?

Tali: “Trying. Often you just want to shoot them. *she grins* Sometimes I don’t get them at all but when I see Shepard I see the best humanity has to offer. Let me tell you of a story about a Quarian named Lia’Vael nar Ulnay a young Quarian girl on her pilgrimage. She went to the citadel but before long, her money was stolen, she was beaten and people spat on her. All because she was Quarian. We met her while a Csec officer and a Volus had her held for questioning and NO ONE wanted to help. Shepard did. He cared. He didn’t see us as Quarians or aliens but as people. As someone of worth and Lia was someone worth helping. I asked him afterwards, why did he helped. He just said “It’s what I do.” *Tali falls silent for a bit, eyes with a faraway look, wishful*

Quarian girl : “Was he dreamy? *giggles*

Tali : *flushed* “Uhhh.... what? …Shepard was …”

*scene cuts to Aethyta*

Aethyta : “…. Many things to many people. But most of all he was hope. He never stopped trying. They took away his ship, they took away his command they took everything that he was but they could not take away his spirit. Your mother loves him very much because of that spirit. Hell, if your mother had not already claimed him, I would have been tempted to myself! Bet I can teach him a thing or two…”

Liara : “Aethyta!”

*Hannah climbs into Liara’s lap*

Hannah : “He sounds wonderful. I wish he was here.” 

Liara : *wraps arms around Hannah and hugs her tightly*

“We all do, little dove, we all do.”

*FADE TO BLACK*
END CREDIT ROLL.

(Only did those few companions, would have,  Jack, Miranda, everyone who is still alive retelling Shepard as they saw him..... Different "memories if Shepard was Renegade and of course a VERY different one if Shepard Lives) 

But to me, it would have been epic even if my Shepard died ( I'd play to keep him alive of course though) and we have all the people he touched speak of him and their memories of him? What better end can you think of?

Anyways, if you have been reading this far.
Thank you.

This.

Wauw, just wauw.

[MaddestHatter]

As i stated before, i like the end. And i makes pretty much sense. I don't understand what kind of sense is "missing" for some people...

[Kastrenzo]

Major Durza wrote...

I will warn the obvious, Bioware: when you make some DLC, make sure you make the fans satisfied with the endings. You will find very few are willing to even replay the singleplayer game because of the state of the ending. So if you plan to add something in between the beginning and the end, do not plan on it selling well if you have not done anything about the ending.

Do not let the hours played on multiplayer fool you, we do play the game for its multiplayer. It is not in this that the crucial problem lies. It is the ending of the single player campaign that sapped the will of fans to replay (Speaking of my own experience, I know many others feel similar)

I know that I will not buy any mid-game DLC, because I will not be able to use it. I am far too disgusted with the way the game ends to keep it out of my mind as I play through the campaign. It left a sour taste in my mouth that will not go away, that continues to negatively flavor everything I think and feel about what happens in singleplayer.
I loved it up until that point, even then I think that is an understatement. I couldn't wait to talk about everything that happened with my friends, almost to the point of annoying them. I was ecstatic, this story was turning into everything I had hoped and then some. It was awesome, I loved it. Just as passionately as I loved the storyline, I was shoecked by the ending. Shocked, which turned into revulsion not too long after
I did not think Bioware would allow such an ending to such a masterpiece.
I am not the only one who feels this way, and any attempt at mid-game DLC will put my hypothesis to the test.

My hypothesis is that mid-game DLC will only sell well when the fans are satisfied with the endings.
This is mostly based on my unwillingness to buy such DLC unless the sour taste left by the endings disappears. Then again, I didn't buy any DLC for DA2. I don't even have it installed, I honestly didn't much care for it.
I care about Mass Effect 3. The Mass Effect series is your best work yet, in my opinion. I hate to see something so awesome end in such a horrible way.

I suggest you not gamble with mid-game DLC, it would be wise for you to amend the ending as you see fit.

I know where I stand; and now you do, too. I have spoken, one voice among the many, hoping that my message is clear.
I also trust that if/when you decide to have the ending changed/fixed/extended/overhauled that you will do so with mastery. I am hoping for the same level of mastery that was displayed throughout the rest of the game.
I have not lost hope yet, but the sour taste is still strong.

It may be naive, but I hope someone from Bioware reads this at page... 302, perhaps 303.
Know that I have a lot of respect for this company and what it does, which is why I consider this ending as out-of-character.

-Agree.
Most of the DLC planned for SP is probably things like "WEAPON PACK A", "SUPER ARMOR SET", etc, with an occasional mission like "Retake Omega" or something.

For the majority of long time fans who are dissatisfied with the ending, it's going to take closure on the conclusion before most of these people will even be interested in buying other DLC.

I think it's totally reasonable to have a change/alternate/slight extension to the ending that suits the common concerns, 

Whether that Change/Alternate ending be of the happy rainbows and butterflies type or Shepard reunited with his crew and LI and whatever, or just simply something less bitter and morbid.

All of this is perfectly possible without adding any real gameplay, Bioware wanted ME3 to be the conclusion, not many argued about that, we knew this was the end of the series *so to speak*,

Anyway, long story short. this can all be done in additional cutscenes and dialogue and such,
I'm pretty confident in saying that most people won't even take generic Item DLC seriously until their major concerns are answered.

[darkelightnx01]

It just occurred to me the sacrifice motif is very similar to Dragon Age, but executed in a haphazard manner. The sacrifice in DA made sense. Sacrifice so all may continue. That option was not present, destroy everything back to the stone age, so you saved organics but wiped out quarians and geth edi, control where you have unleashed a new monster ie shepherd. Or synthesis altering everything into something new. Not a single outcome is what he would have fought for. Which was to save what was already. So to me it felt wrong that shepherd would make any of those options and it seems to me even a paragon Shepherd would refuse to end his own civilisation. However like any good hero he would sacrifice himself to save the present form of the galaxy and it's future.