23455 réponses à ce sujet

[darkway1]

My own personal disappointment with Mass3 was the basic finale to all things in the Mass universe,it not just the final chapter of Shepard's story,it's the end to the game as we currently play it.
With the Mass Relay's gone I can't get my head around where the universe or further future possible releases could go from this point on,the whole Mass3 end experience has left me with quite a negative, disappointing,sad feeling inside.
What made Mass2's ending so great in contrast was the knowledge that my character,my crew,my adventures would continue in a franchise I love......the way things stand with Mass3,it's more or less brought the franchise to an end.....which is sad.

Well there's nothing left to do now other than taking over the world with my army of alien cyborgs,enslave Bioware,make them immortal and force them to endlessly produce more Mass Effect games or all eternity.

[jeweledleah]

Vox Draco wrote...

To each his own opinion, but I will never understand this obsession with "Shepard needs to die, it was clear from the start"...

Not for me, I guess. Maybe as an option/consequence if all goes wrong, but...well, I guess Shepard indoctrinated me with her "Never give up hope" virus, and therefore I expected her to succeed in the end, at a price, but still alive to view the consequences of her actions.

Yep, I am a hollywood-victim. I like to see the hero getting most things right in the end and kiss his/her sweetheart...and in the case of ME 3 it would have been great to see, after such a nice heartwarming cutscene, how much work and sorrow awaits not only Shepard, but the entire galaxy...

"And they lived…if not happily ever after, at least reasonably so"

this, so very much this.  not to mention, bioware practicaly indocrinated us into expecting at least an option of that, what with the way ME1 and ME2 ended and how damn hopefuly all 3 games were, yes even ME3.  I mean, you are accomplishing the impossible as it is, brokering alliances between bitter enemies left and right.. winning impossible, battles, freaking facing the reapers on foot and living to tell the tale... 

and for every classical example of a tragic hero.. we have a classical example of the hero who triumphed and was greately rewarded for it.

[jcmccorm]

Earlier, I said something along the lines of, "I would have been happier if there was an ending where I found out the reapers were the correct choice, agreed with it, and decided that the cycle really needed to continue."

About this...

This is a bittersweet ending that I didn't hope for at all for the Mass Effect games. But if you can sell me on this enough so where I want to choose this option, then it really is an awesome negative conclusion that I can get on-board with. "Oh, God! This is absolutely horrible. But you know what? We HAVE to destroy intelligent (organic) life and start over again. There is no other way!" I'd close my eyes and turn around as I hit the button, knowing that I was just as responsible for the ongoing genecide as the Reapers had been. (And perhaps even they'd show a previous cycle or two, or possible a future cycle or two where they came to the same conclusion.) That would be an epic heartwrenching ending and if the player really believes it was for the best, would be bittersweet.

Best of all, it would be an original ending that followed a completely different line of thought, and gave the player even more perceived freedom. (And perhaps by having a choice that is so awful, the other choices seem better in comparison.)

Even nicer, I can see a different person's game ending the game with a happy ending, running to the forum, only to find someone saying, "Yeah, In my ending, I intentionally decided to let the Repears consume the galaxy. It really was for the best." That would blow someone a good-ending person's mind and cause lots of good conversations between players. Degree of freedom would be much greater. "OMG! I have to go back and play that..."

Please consider. (Even though I'm a Babylon 5 ending sort of person, myself.)

Modifié par jcmccorm, 23 mars 2012 - 07:30 .

[eminea]

I've played through ME1, 2 and now 3; finishing the game last night. I took my time to contemplate the ending.

In short, I'm disappointed. It seems like BioWare either (a) gave up / ran out of time or ( hired whomever wrote the ending of Big O to write the conclusion of a story that they didn't completely read.

In terms of suggestions, I can go along with the Indoctrination Theory line of reasoning where the current ending is an internal fight between Shepard and the Reapers. I can even accept (to a large degree) the rationale that the Reapers think they're doing the right thing by killing all advanced life rather than let some other unknown synthetic life come along and obliterate all life including cranberries and shrimp just to prevent the risk of organic life threatening them.

I cannot really accept the unknowns of what happens after that internal conflict is resolved. It's reasonable that the internal conflict could lead to some form of Reaper collective melt-down/suicide/logic bomb but even that leaves the story short where we're still left with a "fade to white" ending. Did the Reapers really win/lose/die/change?

Going back to my Big O reference realizing that it may be lost on many, I'm going to go with the ending of "Lost". I have to say that ME 3 wasn't really different than that. We have no real idea what actually happened on the island or what it was or whatever; we just know that eventually everybody died and had one last group hug before fading to white.

Ok, enough complaining.

As for modifying the ending. Keeping the internal dialog between Shep and the Reapers is good. Even having Harbinger represent himself as the kid is fine. Haivng the 3 decisions (kill | control | coexist) is probably even ok.

If Shep picks Control, then the game should continue for a bit following a Control path where Shep has options to convince the reapers to leave and stay gone, change to a role of babysitter, or perhaps just cotinue doing what they do.

If Shep picks Destory, then a storyline where Shep continues to the Citadel and does something to try and get the uberweapon used; perhaps this succeeds, perhaps it fails; I think many options are possible.

If Shep picks Borg, then a similar storyline where Shep becomes some cyber-hybrid bridge between organic and synthentic life and continues his efforts to establish a lasting peace between Reapers (who adopt the name "Keepers" or soemthing to be less evil-sounding) and other Milky-Way life.

Those trees dont' always have to have happy endings and can even go with some "let's go find another galaxy to annoy" ending where Shep leaves the Milky Way with the reapers to "bring order" to a less-mature galaxy now that the old MW has matters in hand.

I'd like to close on a positive note. Having ME3 close the loop with many of the other characters you met in ME1/2 was nice. The "this could be the last" fatalistic bits were all well done too. Thank you for a great series and for taking the time to (hopefully) provide improved clarity on the ending of the story and future of the universe. Literally.

[clarkusdarkus]

what im puzzled about is what kind of dlc were they planning after those endings, what possibly could you do when 2 of the endings have you dying and one with a glimmer of hope ur alive. so for those that chose those 2 endings where u die what could they do with dlc?

[jeweledleah]

jcmccorm wrote...


Please consider. (Even though I'm a Babylon 5 ending sort of person, myself.)

Babylon 5 had a great ending.  Sheridan had decades to spend with his friends and lovers, he got a sendoff and he left on his own terms.  he wasn't forced into compromises and chosing between 3 different evils.  and we knew what happened to everyone else.. who incidentaly accomplished great things with their lives.  his life wasn't abruptly and pointlessly cut off and he didn't completely destroy the world alongside himself.

it was a "happy ending"  good balance of bitter.. and sweet. and very hopeful. 

Modifié par jeweledleah, 23 mars 2012 - 06:16 .

[dipdunk]

 I realize I'm a little late to the party here (page 395 already?), but here are my thoughts (http://imgur.com/LV6Qo) on the ending in graphic form because I'm better at making that sort of thing than a wall of text.

Modifié par dipdunk, 23 mars 2012 - 06:32 .

[McGrzegorz]

Hitokiri83 wrote...

So the theory from Drew Karpyshyn  about Dark Energy was real. Bioware What Have You Done. You guys  had such a great idea, and threw it into the trash

:crying:

I still think it will be at least a small part of the explanation.
Why? Hmm... according to the scientist (text from Wiki):

"In physical cosmology, astronomy and celestial mechanics, dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and tends to accelerate the expansion of the universe. Dark energy is the most accepted theory to explain observations since the 1990s that indicate that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.

That led to another theory called Big Rip:

The Big Rip is a cosmological hypothesis first published in 2003, about the ultimate fate of the universe, in which the matter of the universe, from stars and galaxies to atoms and subatomic particles, is progressively torn apart by the expansion of the universe at a certain time in the future. Theoretically, the scale factor of the universe becomes infinite at a finite time in the future.

[ElrondDragon]

dipdunk wrote...

 I realize I'm a little late to the party here (page 395 already?), but here are my thoughts (
http://imgur.com/LV6Qo) on the ending in graphic form because I'm better at making that sort of thing than a wall of text.

support!!!

[Niles Contembras]

Dear Mass Effect Team,

now that i finished the Game and had some time to think about the Ending(s) for myself and having read what other People (Fans and Bioware) had to say, i wanted to share my Opinion.

First of all, the Mass Effect Trilogy is a Masterpiece. It will take its rightfull Place in Gaming History, after most of the Discussion comes to an End. It deserves all the Top Scores it got and the Fans will admit that it was one (if not the) most touching experience in all Gaming History. So all my respect and thanks go to Bioware and all of the Team that was involved in making Mass Effect.

But let me take a look at the Ending wich is the ONLY Part of the complete Mass Effect Experience that could do better.
Until the point in the Citadel where Shepard talks to the "Starchild" everything is fine for me. Yeah I know that there are People out there, who also don't like this scene but until here this is a peace of Art and i admit it as it is even if it is not that one Ending i would have liked best.
But within the discussion about AI there is a Problem for my Shepard who braught peace to Geth and Quarians and talked EDI and Joker into their Relationship, so why should peace not be possible between Organic and Atificial Life? For my Shepard the "destruction" Ending was the one he would logically choose but just to destroy the Reapers and give Peace between AI and Organic Life a chance. That would be the only "other" Ending I would need, a difference in the destruction Ending if you saved the Geth or not. Both other Endings are just fine.

The other problem I see for myself and for many others is that the conclusion is by far too short. When an Epic Ends - and if Mass Effect is not an Epic nothis is - the Viewers/Readers/Gamers need an Epilogue. In the Lord of the Rings (Books) there is so much more to read after Sauron has fallen. And that is a good thing because at the true Ending of the Book we are finally willing to let go. That is the same thing with Shepard, we lived 100+ hours with him, have gone through all these diffcult choices you set up for us and most of us are also willing to pay the ultimate price, sacrifice their Shepard to save the Galaxy. But what did we archieve with that?
I understand, that you might not want to give a deeper look into the future, for that could interfere with future plans for the Mass Effect Universe, but what is the story for the firends me made, our love and the seeds we carefully planted in the relationships?

I think, that from the Moment the absolutely amazing Music "an end once and for all" starts the Scenes differ too less, the People we see are not really the ones we expected to see. You made us make all this great decisions. That was one of the most important features of the Game. I can only barely imagine how hard ist must have been to consider all the choices that Players may had made in ME1 and 2. You did almost perfect for the whole Game but leave us with a feeling that in the End it didn't really matter.
Now being a filmmaker myself I would say that a little recut of the scene, like bringing back the major decisions the player made, it could fit much better to the individual Shepards. After that scene ends it would be great to know, what became of the Crew Members. I must say that at first i really didn't be aware that my two Teammates must be dead, because the radio says there were no suvivors, but I don't know for shure.

So these would be my points. An Ending where it is considered if I made Peace between Geth and Quarians. A slight recut of the Finale to fit better for the personal Shepards. And an Epilogue where we are allowed to learn what became of our Friends.

That is shurely not what most other people would prefer for their perfect Ending but i think that it is not possible to satisfy everyone. But with these changes that should be just fine with most of us (hopefully).

Having said this (and hoping someone will read it) I'd linke to let you know, that even if the End remains how it is (in that case i will just start over again, filming my ME Experince and Edit an Ending that fits better for me ) ME was an Experience would definitely not want to miss. That was entertainment for the 21th Century. So I must say THANK YOU. I shurely will buy whatever DLC will come out and I'm looking foreward to whatever your Genious Minds will come up with next.

[k8ee]

jeweledleah wrote...

Vox Draco wrote...

To each his own opinion, but I will never understand this obsession with "Shepard needs to die, it was clear from the start"...

Not for me, I guess. Maybe as an option/consequence if all goes wrong, but...well, I guess Shepard indoctrinated me with her "Never give up hope" virus, and therefore I expected her to succeed in the end, at a price, but still alive to view the consequences of her actions.

Yep, I am a hollywood-victim. I like to see the hero getting most things right in the end and kiss his/her sweetheart...and in the case of ME 3 it would have been great to see, after such a nice heartwarming cutscene, how much work and sorrow awaits not only Shepard, but the entire galaxy...

"And they lived…if not happily ever after, at least reasonably so"

this, so very much this.  not to mention, bioware practicaly indocrinated us into expecting at least an option of that, what with the way ME1 and ME2 ended and how damn hopefuly all 3 games were, yes even ME3.  I mean, you are accomplishing the impossible as it is, brokering alliances between bitter enemies left and right.. winning impossible, battles, freaking facing the reapers on foot and living to tell the tale... 

and for every classical example of a tragic hero.. we have a classical example of the hero who triumphed and was greately rewarded for it.

The very fact that a game about choice restricts us to ending Shepard's story with her/his death (other than that short supposed rubble scene) seems crazy to me. i just don't get why they wouldn't have had a 'died trying' ending, a 'self sacrifice' ending AND a 'Shep lives and is happy' ending. Why didn't they think of this?? They must have KNOWN what people would want... well... obviously not.

[Gorwyn87]

Alright, although I already quoted someone else since this was almost exactly what I was thinking, I want to take a personal take on this as well. I've read through many opinions in here and and really enjoy to see other perspectives on this series.

Let me first tell you: Since I bought my copy of Knights of the Old Republic I've been totally in love with everything you guys created. Having so many decisions, watching the companions react to it, actually influencing how the character is instead of only adjusting his combat abilities - It was always something special and offered things you rarely find in the gaming world. That put games to a whole new level.

Mass Effect went even further with the consequences from decisions - and it felt awesome. Playing Mass Effect 3 was such an incredible experience I can hardly describe it - and then there was the ending. It wasn't just bad, it also managed to destroy every single moment since we set foot on Eden Prime.

Let me tell you, I'm absolutely no person who wants happy endings. Almost everything on my favorite list has either a depressing ending or something to think about. In fact I was hoping to have a few moments in this game where things don't turn out good no matter what you do. I would have liked it if I lost a companion who was dear to me and encountering them again as a Husk or something like that. I would have liked it if someone had died in an unsatisfying way for him, blaming himself for making the wrong decisions until the very end. Moments like that can be so sad that they become beautiful to me - I don't need butterflies in everything.

However, this is one of the few works were there has to be some kind of happier outcome. I wouldn't even mind if the whole crew died, but the decisions I as a player made during the long journey still have to take fruits. Why should I bother playing this series again (or let's say: In a way that everything goes the way I want it to) when it all doesn't matter in the end? Why should I save a race when it will starve on earth anyway afterwards? Why should I try to solve conflicts when there's not enough time to make something of it?
Mass Effect was one of the few games were I actually wasn't able to play the renegade path. It always felt too cruel, I felt too bad doing those things. That is an incredible achievement. But with an ending like that I wouldn't have any second thoughts about renegade decisions anymore.

As already mentioned by many people, with the indoctrination theory it could be the other way around: Not only having the main character getting indoctrinated, but also the player itself would be an incredible thing. But no matter whether this turns out to be true and we get an actual ending after that or not, the experience will not be the same as when it would have been in the game in the first place. In 1-2 months I will be "out of it". Never again will the experience in this game be as intense as in the first time.
Since it reminds me a little bit of the older plot twists in Bioware games (Kotor, Jade Empire...) I still have hope this theory is true since it connects all the things that the series, including the books, was about all the time. And I can't imagine a team of professional writers screwing up so much in the last few minutes when everything else was so wonderful.

The fact that so many people write such long texts in these message boards really proves how special these games are to many. I can't even imagine anyone thinking "yeah, this is how it should end". I don't even know if it's worse or better if the indoctrination stuff is correct and we get more later. That's just playing around with the fans (given we even have to pay money for that even worse).

After the disappointment of Dragon Age 2 I was really getting my hopes up for this company again. Mass Effect 3 was an incredible game. If it had a proper ending it would certainly get on the no. 1 on my favorite list. But with all the DLC stuff that even seems to go as far as hiding the true ending I'm starting to feel betrayed, especially after all the quotes about the ending that turned out to be nothing but lies.

I'm especially shocked because everything before the actual ending was incredibly detailed. Even the smallest things were done with exceptional great dialogs and cutscenes. Shooting stuff on that Citadel bridge with Garrus, all the meaningful discussions with Kaidan, etc. etc.. (I won't even mention the greatest scenes from the main story like Mordin's death and all that, those were already mentioned often enough and really astonishing). These little things are the ones that really draw me into a game. And there were countless ones this time. The whole crew became so lively, I was really sad to know this would all end with this game. You mixed everything from the previous games into something better and even added much to it. Everything felt really "alive".
Making Shepard much more human was another thing that totally blew me away. Seeing his doubts and the crew giving him hope for a change was incredible. I finally felt like I didn't play some kind of god, but a character with emotions. It added a darker tone to the game and that was more than fitting for what this game was about. And although I already mentioned I hated the ending, how unsure and weak he was during that time was great as well. The death beside Anderson could have been wonderful as well in another context and given that my choices matter anyway. It would have been a very heroic end to enable the Crucible in the last moment and - after Shepard's death - seeing how the fleets and troops put it to use and be victorious or fall after that (depending on the military strength and the units that are there).

I wasn't really expecting that much. Something similar to the ME2 ending would have been enough. Just little scenes that tell me everything had a purpose. Some human troops getting rescued from certain death by charging krogans, stuff like that. This plus a little information how the Galaxy evolves afterwards and I would've been happy.
There was so much quality in everything else, why wasn't this creative energy used for the most important thing about every story? Or was it just a time or PR thing and the ending DLC was planned in the first place to let us discuss in here like idiots?

So much from me, that had taken much more time than I planned .

[Benchpress610]

I finished the game a week ago and came to this forum and thread, overwhelmed with anguish and confusion, trying to find out what had I done wrong in my play through to so royally screw up my finale. I remember describing my state of mind as feeling EMPTY. Not until I spoke on the phone with a close friend I realized how much this game had affected me. She immediately noticed it in my voice and asked…”What’s wrong with you?...Is everything OK?...At first I was surprised and then I was embarrassed to admit and explain that I felt depressed because a dammed video game. To that point I wasn’t aware of how much emotionally invested I was in the Mass Effect universe.
 
Now I’ve had a week to read many different articles and posts in this and other boards discussing the likes and dislikes of the endings. I’ve had time to separate myself from my own emotions and analyze the issue objectively.
 
I’ve read many posts debating the dilemma between artistic integrity in one side and customer satisfaction in the other. Now, I’m not here to qualify or debate if video games are a form of art, but let’s read the definition according to Merriam-Webster on-line Dictionary:
************************************************************
“Definition of ART
1: skill acquired by experience, study, or observation <the art of making friends>
 
2 a: a branch of learning: (1): one of the humanities (2)plural: liberal arts barchaic: learning, scholarship
 
3: an occupation requiring knowledge or skill <the art of organ building>
 
4 a: the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic    objects; also: works so produced
 b (1): fine arts (2): one of the fine arts (3): a graphic art
 
5 aarchaic: a skillful plan b: the quality or state of being artful
 
6: decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter “
**********************************************************************
When video games became an art form? Did they always were? Or they added artistic elements and endeavor gradually over the years? …I’m not going to answer these questions as I’m not an expert, but according to the definition, the creation of a video game certainly requires the conscious use of skill and creative imagination…it is created by people who have skills acquired by experience, study, or observation…and most of the time, depending on personal taste, is an aesthetic object.
 
Have specific forms of art been misunderstood in its own time? …Definitely… We all know countless stories of artists who starved because their work wasn’t understood in their time, only to become priceless centuries later. Some of the most celebrated works of art engender feeling of sadness and despair, a classical example being the 6th symphony by Tchaikovsky (for the most part)…Will the endings of the Mass Effect trilogy become and example to follow by future game developers? …only time will tell
 
All that being said however, video games, being the newest form of art are different and should be treated as such. The difference is that they are interactive. Although video games are the intellectual property of the developers and, as creators, they can shape them any way they want, we as players, perform a huge roll on them. Without us, there is no video game industry. Therefore, the customer satisfaction component should be addressed appropriately.
 
I’ve been playing video games since Pac Man and Space Invaders,… yes I’m that old. One common characteristic in every video game that they always implement some kind of reward system for performing well. And I think this is the fundamental difference between video games and any other art form. In order to keep the player interested, they reward the player every time he/she conquers a level or section. When playing a video game one expects to be rewarded when following specific patterns or rules that the game developers establish to define victory or success. Therefore, when a game doesn’t deliver on gamers expectations of reward for a well played performance, it’s considered a failure.
 
Last but not least, a video game is…well… a GAME. It’s supposed to be fun. If there is no fun in a game, we might as well call it something else. Yes, video game is an art form. It requires considerable effort and dedication from a talented and artistic minded group of people who deserve to be rewarded monetarily and morally for their art. But at the end of the day, it’s still a game that we play to overcome some kind of challenge and have fun beating it. When I say fun, I mean satisfaction, the satisfaction of seeing my hero come through in the must difficult situations, the satisfaction of achieving a good outcome when I know I accomplished every goal according to the game parameters established beforehand.
 
I don’t know if anything BioWare would come up with will erase the disappointment and despair of the moments after I finished the game last Sunday. I think the damage has been done. I’m not emotionally invested in it anymore. If by any chance they come up with a clever twist that would suck me back into the Mass Effect universe, I would sing praises to their talent and genius.

[HetmanNG]

My feelings.


I come to home from work upset and I watch TV with 75% sad informations. Why the game can't end well? 99,9% of games have "good endings" (even if it's only one choice). ME trilogy is good game with superb graphic and story. It's first "interactive story" which we can experience but we have 3 sad endings and nothing above them. Option 1st - we die, 2nd - wie die, 3rd - we probably die. I admit that I have some problems with start new game because I know that ending is sad and depressing*. If I want be upset and sad I watch TV with "terrorists who kill children". I play games to relieve negative emotions, break away from that "****" and BioWare gave me sad endings. If it's a new canon, ME will be my last game in my life**.

ME1 - 11/10 - I played over 7 times
ME2 - 12/10 - I played over 15 times
ME3 - 8.5/10 - I played only once "huh"

*Negative emotions are good in the beginning and at the end of the game, not in the last 15 min of the game.
** Before it happens I will check the last game from Assassins Creed "trilogy" maybe Ubisoft will do better ending.

sry for eng.:innocent:

Modifié par HetmanNG, 23 mars 2012 - 06:52 .

[Sans Changer]

Okay, I am just going to break down.

Despite my own explanations for how things could work and my amazing imagination... I am freaking depressed. It just won't feel real unless BioWare does something about it.

Yeah, everyone who loves the endings can call me a wuss. Go ahead, you even have my permission.

I'm going to go back to Duke Nukem Forever for a while, where you feel invincible, you never lose, and you get a massive dose of pure hyper-masculinity in the arm. That's the one game in the world where if I catch myself sneaking around, worried about ammo or health, or taking cover, I can say; "What the heck? I'm Duke!" and run out with guns blazing. And win.

Maybe that will make me feel better for destroying galactic society, my friends somehow getting stranded on an alien world, my lady special-friend being separated from me as well as her people, and all the tears (two, I think) I shed as I made the final sacrifice. But lived.

[Sans Changer]

Still- bravo to BioWare for evoking such emotions. Still, the ending needs to make some sense.

[Lily Moonbeam]

I've been lurking in Bachuck's explosive forum thread since early Sunday morning, a few hours after I'd completed Mass Effect 3 and was finally able to snap myself out of the shell-shocked state I'd been plunged into. This post was meant for his forum. Sadly, the thread has been closed.

The following statement consists of things that been said over and over again. I thought I'd add my voice to the hundreds of others. Also, I'd like to state that my dissatisfaction with the ending was not fed by previously read forum posts or game reviews. I was far too drawn in by the game to spend my free time reading up on current events.

For the last five years Mass Effect fans have held "the line". We've melded Commander Shepard into the greatest hero possible, weighing each decision carefully in our battle against the collectors, Cerberus, and the Reapers. I will say this - 99% of ME was incredible and lived up to my expectations. I have greatly enjoyed the hours I've spent immersed in these games. I explored countless worlds, made new friends, bonded with old ones, and won epic battles. It's easy to be swept away in the story, to feel a kinship to the character you had a hand in creating and the crew who supported you along the way. Bioware did a darn good job with the product line. The outpouring of newly enraged customers is telling of just how emotionally involved the fans have become.

I am one of those fans.

After investing around $200 in the games and dlc along with countless hours of hardcore gaming, I am left with more questions than I began with and an overall sense of disappointment. While it would have been wonderful for a clique ending in which my version of Shepard saves the rest of humanity from the Reapers, retires to some beachfront property, and proceeds to occupy herself with attempts to defy biology in which she tries to procreate half turian/human babies, I never actually expected such an ending. But the “numerous” endings we are presented lack depth. For all the build up, it seems that Bioware rushed the ending. I can excuse the deaths of some of my much beloved squad members as the scenes were done tastefully and were meaningful as well as realistic to the nature of game itself. I can even roll with the deus ex machina and the fact that they chose the little boy (instead of the LI or even a fallen comrade) to be the “physical” example of catalyst. But what I cannot stand is the complete lack of consistency in Shepard's character. Its been said before but I will say it again - Shepard would not have swallowed the thin explanation offered by the catalyst, especially after she'd just debunked his “slippery-slope” scenario by reuniting the quarian and the geth. A sudden shift in character at the very ending of a trilogy is simply unacceptable.

As if that is not bad enough, we are given the choice between three depressing endings that, for the most part, turn out exactly the same. Fans understand the implications and after-effects of the decisions - the destruction of all AI's, the continued cycle of war against organics and synthetics, or the “evolution” ending. We understand that life is forever changed by this decision. But after spending countless hours interacting and building relationships with our companions, we would really like to know a little bit more about the fate of our friends. We cannot accept the complete lack of information afterward – why the heck did Joker flee the scene, another example of inconsistency in character? Then there is the unexplained existence of the characters who emerge from the Normandy. Imagine my surprise when Garrus, who'd been with me during the ending battle, strolls out of the Normandy after the crash landing. I guess he thumbed a ride on the Normandy right before Joker decided to chicken out.

I know there are more gripes about the game, but I believe I've said enough. Just doing my part to "Hold the Line".

[Lordambitious]

improperdancing wrote...

Lord Atherios wrote...

You can believe or not in the "indoctrination theory" if you want. but the facts are the facts:

• They promised 16 different endings. Are there 16 different endings? NO
• Thet promised that your acts will impact directly in the ending. If the indoctrination theory is true, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF DECISIONS YOU MADE DURING THE GAME, 100% OF THE PLAYES WERE INDOCTRINATED (Because the Indoctrination theory is about that, every single player is getting indoctrinated in the end). So, your decisions are impacting directly in the end? NO (youre going to be indoctrinated yes or yes)

You can go with the indoctrination theory or against it, that doesnt change that the "16 endings" was a lie, and that our decision arent changing the ending. The ending is "youre indoctrinated and choose red/green/blue, out of that, nothing matters.

^this and this
I'm glad someone here gets it.

And I don't understand why people keep saying the indoctrination theory is so brilliant.  As I've said before, all it means is that BioWare purposefully shipped an incomplete game with the intentions of charging us for the real ending later.  How is that brilliant?  If anything, that's essentially criminal.  It would be like if you went to see the third Lord of the Rings movie in the theater and, right before the final battle, the screen shut off and a worker came in and demanded you pay him ten more dollars to see the ending.

You either take the ending at face value, in which case it sucked, or you believe the indoctrination theory, in which case BioWare broke every promise they made to us about the game's ending at the expense of an annoying twist and no real resolution, plus some paid DLC later.  Both ways suck, in my opinion.

[MysticBinary82]

Bioware, I know you wanted a fresh start by blowing up all Mass Relays. I see that now, but that does not make Shepard the Legend you want us to beleave. He is a mess murderer and that I can not worship.

You should have used the Dark Energy Storyline and continued it in further games. As an unvisible threat.

But for the ME3 ending I think this flowchart is still the best around here.

http://h9.abload.de/img/jhtqyrqxxg.jpg

[jasperrdm1]

Hmm guess I an .1%. I like the ending. All thru the series, you had to make a choice to let some one live or die. All thru the series, things changed and the information you thought you knew changed.
So now that you have already died once, and united the galaxy you again have the choice who lives or dies, or peace. But since YOU have UNITED the GALAXY, don't you think this decision should have a final Effect?

[Lotus577]

I know much of this has probably already been said but I wanted to first state I appreciate the honesty that was brought to this game. The sheer torture of human/alien survival and make it a real issue inside of a game is amazing to me and it was capture brilliantly through Mass Effect 3 and the Mass Effect Series. I enjoyed every minute of the game and am currently in process of replaying and ultimately beating the game again. As for what Mass Effect 3, Electronic Arts and Bioware are up against as far as the protests are concerned I say bravo to you all and thank you for creating such a controversy. I dont think there has been a dispute like this over the ending of a game ever. For your game, company and creativity to stir the community and fans of the series into something that would cause fans to do this I applaud you. That being said, I do hope that you continue to defend your stance on the game as an art form and as a product. I loved all of the games that I have played from Bioware and each one draws me in. These games, atmospheres and decisions that you guys create are wonderful and exciting. So, thank you and continue to do so in the coming years.

As far as the ending is concerned, I thought it performed well. It was not what I was expecting but it endings are rarely what we or I expect them to be. It told me exactly what I needed to know about the final stages of Earth, the Reapers and my companions who I fought with in the game. I think my favorite moment was the execution of Kai Leng and Sheperd's omni-blade, in slow motion being wielded into the gut of Cerebus's top dog. And then watching Kai Leng being slumped onto the ground like a dead carcass and Sheperd walking away motivated me to continue on and take down the Reapers and the Illusive Man. I do wish that there was a big epic battle similar to the one faced on Earth but on the Citadel because the cycle that was created by the Reapers as illustrated by the storyline. I'm not sure what effect that might have on the end result but overall it might add something that may not have been there before.

I did enjoy the way the Illusive Man was handled. He was handled as a person with a disagreement and not an enemy. (Though he was an enemy). I felt like I was convincing a man to see the wrong he was doing to not only himself but the rest of humanity was something I hadn't expected and was completely contrite for the Ilusive Man and although his intentions were proper and his heart was in the right place, both Sheperd and Anderson handled the situation and the Illusive Man in such a way that made me feel compelled to do the right thing.

*NOTE FOR EA AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY*

Bioware does an excellent job of creating two very distinct choices but muddles them so you don't exactly know if the choice you are making is the right one. I felt for Legion as he asked, "Does this entity have a soul?" and Tali's reply of "Yes" as his Geth brothers were destroyed and himself shut down. It is interesting choosing the fate of every race and every culture in a mythos of a land with one decision. It impacts who your character is. EA NEVER LET THIS COMPANY SLIP THROUGH YOUR HANDS LIKE YOU GUYS DID WITH MEDAL OF HONOR: ALLIED ASSAULT AND INIFINITY WARD!
(You know, just as a warning).

*Close note*

I am so appreciative of this game and the ending that has been brought about. I think you guys did right by Sheperd and the Mass Effect 3 and you should feel honored. I feel honored to play this game (though I did purchase it).

One BIG thing, I loved about Mass Effect 2 that was not in Mass Effect 3 was the diversity in squad characters. I appreciated adding a Prothean into the mix but it felt slightly unnatural at times to just have so few characters. I wish that the Missions with Thane, Grunt, and Miranda you had the possibility to play with those characters by your side instead of meeting them somewhere or just watching them run back into the battle. The situations with all of these characters satisfied me but I felt and wish that there could have been and one more time for old time's sake kind of feel to it while playing with the characters. However, I do understand the decision and I am glad that Kaiden/Ashley and Liara made a return in this game as squad members. I do appreciate Garrus being a character that was played with throughout.

As for DLC and continuing the ME 3 story. I want to more of the origin or continuance of the Spectres and what they meant for the Citadel. I felt like ME1 was great in telling this but was not deep enough for me and I wish that both ME 2 and ME 3 had expanded on this but they hadn't done so. If this is possible I would like to see something along these lines come to fruition. I would like to include more Prothean style missions with Javik as he reclaims his homeland or something along those lines. It could add for an interesting dynamic.

Again, thank you Bioware and EA for a fantastic ending to a fantastic gaming experience.

If you guys do select or use my suggestions please let me know.

Thanks,

Lotus577

[Creeptis]

I decided that before I really commented on here that I would take the time to really educate myself on the different sides to this whole on going dilemma. I think there is some confusion about what the fan's expect and I also think things have been twisted and enough people have not approached this situation in an adult manner.

Mass Effect 3 IS a phenominal game. The sheer emotional intensity of the whole game had me laughing one second and crying the next. The choices I had to make had serious consequences. The interaction between Shepard and the other characters were so well written. All of these things made the game great. Honestly, it was more intense then the first and second game.

I also loved how you finally got to see it effect Shepard. In the previous games Shepard blazed forward, paragon or renagade and took on all the challenges. ME3 finally shows the stress and anxiety with all Shepards decisions. His/her doubts and own fears. I really liked that. It gave Shepard even more depth. The storyline itself was beautifully written and handled very well. Even for new players this game drew you in.

I think the fans need to state this and I felt the need to clarify this for Bioware. The game is really beautiful. Yes, the endings leave a die hard fan like me confused but I still think the ending was very bittersweet and heartwrenching. I can see why and understand the need to defend yourselves against fans raging.

Creative writing is truely an art and art, as my drawing instructor once said, has no rules. I think there is a bit of a difference between typical art and the written art of a story that encompasses player choices, written art that has to have several different endings and appease millions of different styles of players. This is quite the challenge and I have to commend Bioware for taking on these endeavors and attempting to please its fan base with the choices and freedoms we have come to love.

I honestly think we were all shocked to see the endings take away from that. I completely understand the need to set up a new world and the need to get us all ready for the upcoming Mass Effect universe.  I am still a die hard Bioware fan, I will always be. No one out there has offered us the game universes that you have.

In summation, Bioware, we do love the game. We would not fight for something we dont love and cherish.

That being said I have a few ideas about helping mold then endings and then I shall remove myself from the soap box and hope that the future of ME3 rests in good hands.

In previos ME games, we did the unthinkable. First of all, we beat death itself. We died. "Meat and tubes". Poof, toast. We walked away from Soverign with dramatic music and that ever famous smirk. We lauched a suicide mission, saved the entire crew and walked away from TIM with another smirk. We have already done the impossible. Why would beating the Reapers and walking away with a smirk be any different?
I see that as easier than getting spaced and having Cerberus rebuild me.

The happy ending. Of course we all want a happy ending. I would love to see my Shepard run off and have tons of little blue Shadow Brokers or my other Shepard build Tali that house. (It would be amusing to see Shepard attempt to build something instead of blowing it up). Either way, we are the hopless romantics and yes we are the dreamers that want to see something beautiful come from something so dark. It's called hope and ME3's storyline is about hope because that's all they have.
I think that it is possible to give the fan base these things and remain well within the artists idea's. The world is still going to have to rebuild. And honestly, I really think my Shepard is done saving the world after this. Smirk or not, he's pooped.

Other endings:
Happy or not so many questions are left unanswered. Yes, I would like a happy ending but I understand the defense of the writers and the ideas the company has and the need to stick with those. I think we would just like to know what happens to all the characters you have made us fall in love with.

All in all, the game is truely beautiful and your fans forget to tell you that. The endings have shocked them into forgetting those moments along the way. It's hard to play again when you know there is no closure. I know you are listening and taking things into account. The critics that get paid money to play your games are not wrong. The game is great. But the ones who pay to play your games are asking (and we should be asking nicely) for you to take into consideration the things we are hoping you will change and offer us as closure.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[Chinirojo]

Lordambitious wrote...

improperdancing wrote...

Lord Atherios wrote...

• Thet promised that your acts will impact directly in the ending. If the indoctrination theory is true, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF DECISIONS YOU MADE DURING THE GAME, 100% OF THE PLAYES WERE INDOCTRINATED (Because the Indoctrination theory is about that, every single player is getting indoctrinated in the end). So, your decisions are impacting directly in the end? NO (youre going to be indoctrinated yes or yes)

You can go with the indoctrination theory or against it, that doesnt change that the "16 endings" was a lie, and that our decision arent changing the ending. The ending is "youre indoctrinated and choose red/green/blue, out of that, nothing matters.

^this and this
I'm glad someone here gets it.

And I don't understand why people keep saying the indoctrination theory is so brilliant. 

... Well, that is the indoctrination theory says: if you choose red-destruction ending, your Shepard survives in Earth and is not indoctrinated.

[Abreu Road]

I think we can agree that ME3 is the most emotionally engaging game Bioware ever made.

For better or worse

[Stygian1]

ElrondDragon wrote...

dipdunk wrote...

 I realize I'm a little late to the party here (page 395 already?), but here are my thoughts (
http://imgur.com/LV6Qo) on the ending in graphic form because I'm better at making that sort of thing than a wall of text.

support!!!

Even more support! BioWare, please listen.