7052 réponses à ce sujet

[Virgil_Harris]

Used this in the other official post on the ending but this still somes up my feelings and suggestions well so I'm using it again. Also I'm the worlds slowest typer probably so I'm not big on taking another hour to repeat myself. No offense.

Not trying to sound like a broken record but I loved the game, brokering a peace between geth and quarian, curing the genophage, a thresher maw killing a reaper, target practice with Garrus, the gameplay (love the upgraded melee combat, only some sword moves could have made it better) but the ending might have killed Mass Effect for me as well as my trust in Bioware. This was not a matter of not wanting to tell too much but rather having an ending that felt completely contradictory to the whole series. ME has always made you feel like your choices as a player mattered. This ending didn't it did not matter if I saved Wrex in ME1, if I Destroyed the Collector base and ensured the survival of my crew in ME2, if I reconciled the quarians and Geth in ME3 or any number of meaningful actions I did throughout the series (managing to get my war asset over 7000 ,if I'm remembering my final count right,) meant nothing in the ending. Sure the Stargazer and child was cute and memorable but that is the only positive thing I can say. The ending said to me all those decisions, the effort you put in, the connection to the Shepard(s) and his or her crew you made over so much time means nothing (there are other issues that fans have already adrresed such as the normandy running off, a fleet of aliens stuck in Sol, and the like but that is not the main thing that bothers me). All of that destroyed in an explosion of red, blue or green depending on which machine I hobled on over to. I might not be able to even try to enjoy a play through with the other two Shepards I made (I had plans for a fourth but that seems pointless as things are now) Not trying to sound over-dramatic but if something is not done about the ending I will never buy a bioware game again. Here are some suggestions on a proper ending. EDI since she is based on reaper tech could alter the crucible's programming so it only destroys the reapers leaving the geth and mass relays alone. Or Shepard uses the combined forces of the galaxy to beat the reapers the old fashioned way (Shep could still potentially die but in a heroic fashion like Spike from Cowboy Bebop). Then after the defeat of the reapers shep has two series of options. First series, should humanity become the dominent force in the galaxy (with potentially shep as leader) or the galaxy become more united by this experience and more races get seats on the council (Or just have more of a large parlament type of thing). Then Should Shepard become the next Counsilor (or leader of galaxy if humanity becomes the dominant species), Stay in the Alliance (Maybe become admiral or something), or retire. Insert part with love interest which might become strained of course given some of these options. Honestly something along this line of thought was what I was thinking they would do anyway (well, minus Shep ruling the universe part, that was kind of a secret hope of mine, possibly with Liara as his second in command). If you got the ending you did because you had trouble balancing telling too much and telling not enough might I suggest your writers watch the following: Princess Mononoke, Cowboy Bebop, Sanjuro, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, I could go on. In conclusion what happened to the Bioware I loved, the makers of such awsome games like KOTOR, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect 1 and 2. I know the Men and Women of Bioware can give Commander Shepard and his/her fans the ending the Mass Effect series deserves.
P.S. If I sound like a sarcastic jerk I don't mean to be, I just don't use online forums that much.

[Ilzairspar]

Okay, right now I can see 2 options that might be able to work.

1.  Run with the indoctrination theory as an alternative DLC.  That way if you liked the ending then you can keep yours, but if you thought it was drivel, you can say that it was all an attempt to indoctronate Shpard.  Everything is an add on, nothing gets changed.  I do recommend that this DLC give us a boss battle and endings that run the gambit of "Happy ending" to you utterly failed.

2.  Give us more options in the current ending.  If you do this I recommend

   Let us argue with the Starchild.  We should be able to pick his brain until we are blue in the face and absolutely 100% sure that the options he gives us are the best possible choices.

Kill Shepard Options:
  As above, You can sacrifice youself for the greater good, and save as much life as possible, create a new synthese in life, or destroy synthetics in the name of organic supremicy.  (with the chance of living after Destroy)

Let Shepard Live Options:  

My Shep has, in 100+ hours of gameplay: gone on TWO suicide missions and gotten everyone except Kaiden out alive, gained the Rachni queen as an ally, cured the genophage, and brokered a Quarian/Geth peace.  He has made a living on doing the impossible.  Give him the option to do it again.  Perhaps using the conversation wheel.  It should ber very very hard, perhaps a EMS of 6000 or more with maxed Paragon bar.  But give Shep the ability to find the 4th option that our little Starchild never though of.  That is after all, what Shepard does best (besides kill things).  This option allows you to defeat the reapers with all of your squadmates that are still alive at this point saved.  You can then have an epilogue with you LI and friends.  (and whomever it is that keeps talking about their little blue babies can be happy )  Your Shep then gets to mourn the friends he has lost while trying to rebuild a life.  You can be a legend and still be alive.   Especially if you suddenly disappear from the public view.

For our Renegade, give them the option of short circuitiing the Starchild or something, making the Reapers uncoordinated and easier to kill.  This will result in the Crucible never being used but the sheer number of War Assets you obtain allowing the galaxy to rally and win...with perhaps 75% casualties.  Perhaps only Joker, EDI, your LI and Traynor are alive from the Normandy.  Hackett is dead, etc.

See Bioware, its not just about clarity, its about choices.   Many of us didn't feel like we got one, and that our Shep was railroaded into doing something that was out of character.  

[Jenrais]

Make our choices actually matter and Tell us what happened to our crew

[deity]

One fan has received an email from an EA employee, and currently has a draft proposal in this post:

http://social.biowar...ndex/10403600/1

If anyone has any comments get them in within the next 20 minutes.

[Good_Chaos7]

Virgil_Harris wrote...

Used this in the other official post on the ending but this still somes up my feelings and suggestions well so I'm using it again. Also I'm the worlds slowest typer probably so I'm not big on taking another hour to repeat myself. No offense.

Not trying to sound like a broken record but I loved the game, brokering a peace between geth and quarian, curing the genophage, a thresher maw killing a reaper, target practice with Garrus, the gameplay (love the upgraded melee combat, only some sword moves could have made it better) but the ending might have killed Mass Effect for me as well as my trust in Bioware. This was not a matter of not wanting to tell too much but rather having an ending that felt completely contradictory to the whole series. ME has always made you feel like your choices as a player mattered. This ending didn't it did not matter if I saved Wrex in ME1, if I Destroyed the Collector base and ensured the survival of my crew in ME2, if I reconciled the quarians and Geth in ME3 or any number of meaningful actions I did throughout the series (managing to get my war asset over 7000 ,if I'm remembering my final count right,) meant nothing in the ending. Sure the Stargazer and child was cute and memorable but that is the only positive thing I can say. The ending said to me all those decisions, the effort you put in, the connection to the Shepard(s) and his or her crew you made over so much time means nothing (there are other issues that fans have already adrresed such as the normandy running off, a fleet of aliens stuck in Sol, and the like but that is not the main thing that bothers me). All of that destroyed in an explosion of red, blue or green depending on which machine I hobled on over to. I might not be able to even try to enjoy a play through with the other two Shepards I made (I had plans for a fourth but that seems pointless as things are now) Not trying to sound over-dramatic but if something is not done about the ending I will never buy a bioware game again. Here are some suggestions on a proper ending. EDI since she is based on reaper tech could alter the crucible's programming so it only destroys the reapers leaving the geth and mass relays alone. Or Shepard uses the combined forces of the galaxy to beat the reapers the old fashioned way (Shep could still potentially die but in a heroic fashion like Spike from Cowboy Bebop). Then after the defeat of the reapers shep has two series of options. First series, should humanity become the dominent force in the galaxy (with potentially shep as leader) or the galaxy become more united by this experience and more races get seats on the council (Or just have more of a large parlament type of thing). Then Should Shepard become the next Counsilor (or leader of galaxy if humanity becomes the dominant species), Stay in the Alliance (Maybe become admiral or something), or retire. Insert part with love interest which might become strained of course given some of these options. Honestly something along this line of thought was what I was thinking they would do anyway (well, minus Shep ruling the universe part, that was kind of a secret hope of mine, possibly with Liara as his second in command). If you got the ending you did because you had trouble balancing telling too much and telling not enough might I suggest your writers watch the following: Princess Mononoke, Cowboy Bebop, Sanjuro, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, I could go on. In conclusion what happened to the Bioware I loved, the makers of such awsome games like KOTOR, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect 1 and 2. I know the Men and Women of Bioware can give Commander Shepard and his/her fans the ending the Mass Effect series deserves.
P.S. If I sound like a sarcastic jerk I don't mean to be, I just don't use online forums that much.

OMG Wall!!  Man! Use Paragraphs:lol:!

[Mr D]

Here is my humble suggestion for a re-write.

After defeating the Illusive Man, the Catalyst will explain the following:

Eons ago an organic race created a synthetic one. The synthetic race
gained sentience and the organic race tried to destroy it. The
synthetics prevailed. The synthetics determined that synthetic life
requires organic life, and organic life eventually evolves to require
synthetic life - but that both forces oppose each other. Their solution
is the Reapers. The synthetics begin harvesting their creators to make
Harbinger. Once Harbinger is complete, the Citadel and Mass Relays are
constructed to better control the future cycles. Harbinger retreats into
deep space, the synthetics merge their programming to become the
Catalyst, and take residence in the Citadel in order to maintain the
cycle and signal Harbinger.

The cycles begin as intended, but eventually the Catalyst calculates
that the process is flawed. It determines that the cycle prevents
synthetics and organics from achieving true harmony, and that eventually
it will break down and result in one side destroying the other again.
It also speculates that eventually the Reaper population will grow too
high, draining resources from the Galaxy. Harbinger refuses to submit,
and using his control of the Reapers he rebels from the Catalyst.
Harbinger designates Sovereign to act as herald to the Reaper Fleet.
Catalyst does not intervene with the Mass Relays since this will only
delay the Reapers, not stop them. Catalyst leaks the original plans to
the Crucible on the next cycle.

Shepard is then given options depending on his choice at the end of ME2, and his assets rating:

Very Low

1) Destroy the Reapers: Shepard can use the Crucible to send out a
destruction code to all Reapers. The resulting explosions destroy Earth,
as well as other areas under Reaper control. The signal does not work
on Harbinger, forcing a fleet confrontation with heavy losses. Normandy
is destroyed, but the threat is ended in the long term. Shepard
collapses and dies from his wounds.

2) Reset the Cycle: Shepard can use the Crucible to send out a 'reset'
code to all Reapers, making them retreat to deep space and await the
next cycle. The signal does not work on Harbinger, forcing a fleet
confrontation with heavy losses. Normandy is destroyed. Shepard
transmits a message to the Galaxy that the threat isn't ended and that
one day the Reapers will return, before collapsing and dying from his
wounds.

Low

1) Destroy the Reapers: Same as above, except the fleet losses are not as heavy. Normandy is among the surviving ships.

2) Reset the Cycle: Same as above, except the fleet losses are not as heavy. Normandy is among the surviving ships.

Medium

1) Destroy the Reapers: Same as above, except loses are moderate.
Normandy survives and the occupied territories are only heavily damaged,
not completely destroyed.

2) Shut Down the Reapers: Catalyst uses the Crucible to issue a
shut-down command to all Reapers. The command does not work on Harbinger
and the fleet is forced to engage. Fleet losses are moderate, but
Normandy survives. Shepard contacts Hackett and warns that there is
still work to be done, as dead Reapers can still indoctrinate and
someone may try to reactivate them one day. Shepard then dies of his wounds.

3a) Become Harbinger [If you destroyed the Collector base]. The Catalyst
can use the Crucible to send Shepard's consciousness into Harbinger.
There he can fight for control of the 'body' while the remaining Reapers
fight the fleet. Moderate losses. When Shepard wins, the eyes of
Harbinger change to blue (Paragon) or orange (Renegade) depending on
Shepard's alignment. All Reapers retreat to deep space. Shepard contacts
Hackett and explains that he will keep the Reapers in line, and leaves
the rebuilding of the Galaxy to Hackett. Shepard departs and the game
ends with all Reapers back in deep space, hibernating, with the Shepard
Reaper watching over them.

3b) Challenge for Leadership [If you saved the Collector Base]. The
Catalyst can use the Crucible to place Shepard's consciousness into the
body of a Reaper newly constructed from the Earth populace. The eyes of
the Reaper are blue or orange depending on Shepard's alignment. The
Shepard-Reaper battles Harbinger in single combat while the fleet keeps
the others busy (with moderate losses). When the Shepard-Reaper wins,
all other Reapers retreat to deep space. Shepard contacts Hackett and
explains that he will keep the Reapers in line, and leaves the
rebuilding of the Galaxy to Hackett. Shepard departs and the game ends
with all Reapers back in deep space, hibernating, with the Shepard
Reaper watching over them.

High

1) Destroy the Reapers: Same as above, fewer losses/damage. Shepard's
team from the Conduit assault, also heavily injured, arrives in time to
say goodbye and carry his body home.

2) Shut Down the Reapers: Same as above, more Reapers die in space and
can be safely disposed of. Shepard's team from the Conduit assault, also
heavily injured, arrives in time to say goodbye and carry his body
home.

3a/b) Become Harbinger/Challenge for Leadership: Same as above, fewer
losses. Shepard's team from the Conduit assault, also heavily injured,
arrives in time to say goodbye and wish him luck.

4) Free the Reapers: Catalyst can use the Crucible to disable all
indoctrination protocols within the Reapers, essentially freeing them
from Harbinger's control. This would result in a Reaper civil war with
some backing Harbinger and some wanting revenge for being made into
Reapers. A massive battle ensues with many Reapers switching sides to
the join the battle against Harbinger. After Harbinger is destroyed the
loyalist Reapers flee. Shepard's team from the Conduit assault, also
heavily injured, arrives in time to say goodbye before he dies of his
wounds. Aftermath shows that the fleet hunts down and destroys the
remaining loyalist Reapers over the next decade. The Rebel Reapers opt
to convert themselves into new Mass Relays and allow for further
exploration of the galaxy.

Very High

1) Destroy the Reapers: Same as above, except Shepard's team arrives in time to save his life.

2) Shut Down the Reapers: Same as above, except Shepard's team arrives in time to save his life.

3a/b) Become Harbinger/Challenge for Leadership: Same as above, except
Shepard's team arrives in time to stabilize his body. After the Reapers
are sent to deep space, Shepard is able to return to his own body (if he
chooses to)

4) Free the Reapers: Same as above, except Shepard's team arrives in time to save his life.

Modifié par Mr D, 21 mars 2012 - 08:50 .

[vampirelupus]

Someone might have said this already, but I'm not going through pages upon pages to find out. I just wanted to throw in my two cents. This is not assuming Indoctrination Theory.

Keep everything up through the conversation with Anderson. That was great. Have Shepard be able to activate the Crucible instead of going up the elevator, it destroys the Reapers, Shepard passes out, then it fades to black.

Then show the consequences of all the decisions we made. No more choices, just cutscenes of how our previous choices mattered.

With enough assets (5000+, some renegade/paragon variants), most of the fleet survives, the relays aren't destroyed, non-Reaper synthetics aren't destroyed, Shepard and Anderson live. They wake up in the rubble of the Citadel and can be rescued. The Geth and Quarians can rebuild their planet. Turians, Krogans, and Solarians all getting along. Maybe Krogan get a place on the Council and a Krogan child is born (if Genophage is cured). Asari rebuilding Thessia. Being somewhere peaceful with your LI. The "fairy tale ultimate triumph" ending.

Then the less war assets you have, the more grim the outcome.
Doing as little as you can, everything is destroyed. Like how Shepard and all of her crew can die in ME2. (<2000 assets)
Otherwise, lots of the fleet can be killed. Synthetics might be killed. The relays might be destroyed, etc, but then show little pockets of hope. Shepard can die, but show that her death mattered. Some of her decisions should still play out even if a lot of people die. (2000-4000, variants depending on renegade/paragon choices)

To me, there is no need for an explanation of the Reapers. They just exist, and I am okay with that. I don't want some convoluted and illogical back story for them given to me by a ghost child who comes from nowhere (how did the Reapers even know that Shepard had been troubled by this child?). I think that should be left to speculation, not what the outcome of Shepard's decisions are.

[Jenrais]

vampirelupus wrote...

Someone might have said this already, but I'm not going through pages upon pages to find out. I just wanted to throw in my two cents. This is not assuming Indoctrination Theory.

Keep everything up through the conversation with Anderson. That was great. Have Shepard be able to activate the Crucible instead of going up the elevator, it destroys the Reapers, Shepard passes out, then it fades to black.

Then show the consequences of all the decisions we made. No more choices, just cutscenes of how our previous choices mattered.

With enough assets (5000+, some renegade/paragon variants), most of the fleet survives, the relays aren't destroyed, non-Reaper synthetics aren't destroyed, Shepard and Anderson live. They wake up in the rubble of the Citadel and can be rescued. The Geth and Quarians can rebuild their planet. Turians, Krogans, and Solarians all getting along. Maybe Krogan get a place on the Council and a Krogan child is born (if Genophage is cured). Asari rebuilding Thessia. Being somewhere peaceful with your LI. The "fairy tale ultimate triumph" ending.

Then the less war assets you have, the more grim the outcome.
Doing as little as you can, everything is destroyed. Like how Shepard and all of her crew can die in ME2. (<2000 assets)
Otherwise, lots of the fleet can be killed. Synthetics might be killed. The relays might be destroyed, etc, but then show little pockets of hope. Shepard can die, but show that her death mattered. Some of her decisions should still play out even if a lot of people die. (2000-4000, variants depending on renegade/paragon choices)

To me, there is no need for an explanation of the Reapers. They just exist, and I am okay with that. I don't want some convoluted and illogical back story for them given to me by a ghost child who comes from nowhere (how did the Reapers even know that Shepard had been troubled by this child?). I think that should be left to speculation, not what the outcome of Shepard's decisions are.

I am assuming the Catalyst took the form of someone Shepard considered important or close


But according to that why didnt it take the form of your LI?

[mulder1199]

add another 2 choices in the elroythespaceboy scene....you can tell him off or choose the new option......either one wakes you back at shep breathing in london and you finish out the battle with tanks and ships etc....have a few flags that accounts for some player choices.....show a bit in the end that clears up what happens with the crew and LIs and you are gold bioware, it's gold!

[Aedera]

I think I finally figured out my entire issue with the ending. To a point, ME3 is the ending and our choices did matter. For better or worse, we built up the war assets and went into the (maybe) final showdown. We were taken to the point of no return and then we were presented with...nothing but plot holes and inconsistencies. It's not a matter of closure per se but it's the payoff I wanted. I wanted to SEE the big battle. I wanted to see wrex's Krogen head butting...well everything. I wanted to see the rachni, quarians, volus etc.

I built the damn army and I want to see it in action. And I want to see the GD reapers kicked off my planet. In addition, the closure for MY squad, particularly, my love interest is needed.

I didn't pay 80 to think this up. I paid the money to see it play out on my tv after 5 years of foreplay. Everyone involved deserves better then what we got. From the top down from EA to ray to the artistes, the CM, the fans and Commander Shepard.

[mulder1199]

Aedera wrote...

I think I finally figured out my entire issue with the ending. To a point, ME3 is the ending and our choices did matter. For better or worse, we built up the war assets and went into the (maybe) final showdown. We were taken to the point of no return and then we were presented with...nothing but plot holes and inconsistencies. It's not a matter of closure per se but it's the payoff I wanted. I wanted to SEE the big battle. I wanted to see wrex's Krogen head butting...well everything. I wanted to see the rachni, quarians, volus etc.

I built the damn army and I want to see it in action. And I want to see the GD reapers kicked off my planet. In addition, the closure for MY squad, particularly, my love interest is needed.

I didn't pay 80 to think this up. I paid the money to see it play out on my tv after 5 years of foreplay. Everyone involved deserves better then what we got. From the top down from EA to ray to the artistes, the CM, the fans and Commander Shepard.

this!

[Garrison2011]

This is a rough script I posted on my blog, showing how I think Mass Effect 3 should end. Just an idea.

http://www.thevoiceo...n.blogspot.com/

[C Trayne]

using the indoctrination theory may not be the only way to fix the endings but it would def be the best and make the most sense. Honestly the only way i could live with the endings we have now is if they were a dream/hallucination, however if they did use the indoctrination theory i would be extremely happy and think that it would be a good way to go. I love the idea of hte theory and everything involved with it

[Gamer790]

I would like it if Galactic readiness would maintain at its current level and never deteriorate. Either that or get rid of the mechanic all together. I know that that is a relatively minor gripe and hardly a game breaker, but it is still annoying to have to keep checking back on it in order to maintain it during times when I would rather just focus solely on the single-player. I don't expect any of this to be changed, of course, but I'm just saying.

[LeBerridge]

I've posted before (thanks to those who agreed with me) but in light of recent news I couldn't help bringing a few more specific suggestions to this thread.

Firstly, I'm so glad you guys are taking all this feedback on board. I'm barely able to keep up with this thread but I think everyone has made so many valid points and great suggestions already.

I am a little concerned, however, at the use of the phrase 'lack of closure' as what has left us all downbeat over the ending. Don't get me wrong, it is an issue but in my opinion the plot holes are the biggest let-down. Joker fleeing, the squad suddenly being back on the Normandy, the mass relays destruction which could only obliterate the galaxy or at least lead to everyone starving to death in the sol system.

That's why I'm in support of the indoctrination theory.

So we're back on Earth, Shepard shakes off that whole thing (or his squad slap him about until he sees straight again) here's a few things I'd like to see:

Up to 16 (or in excess of) endings ranging from 'yay, no one else important died, the reapers were destroyed' to 'oh dear everyone I knew died'. I'd still personally like the Reapers to be destroyed in the saddest ending because I only play to lose when I'm playing with someone who will spit the dummy if I beat them. The war should be won (I know a lot of people are okay with it being lost and I'd just not play it that way if you did include it as an ending - simple).

No star-child.

Face off with Harbinger.

More of the battle above Earth - particularly the Normandy in action.

If there is a scene depicting the future, how about a statue of Shepard on the Citadel (assuming it's not destroyed) much like the Krogan statue and Avina explaining its significance to some rookie or space tourist rather than the detached grandad angle on that.

Aria taking back Omega with what's left of her mercs.

The fate of every character who I had alive at the start of the battle for Earth - whether their death in battle or what they did after the war was won (ever looked down at buildings? 'This stone was laid by Garrus Vakarian (Primarch?) who fought alongside Commander Shepard in the war against the Reapers).

Who helps rebuild? Who goes back to what they were doing? Does Liara stay The Shadow Broker? Does anyone throw in the towel on a military life? Let's not pretend everyone would be best buds after this and all unsavoury characters would suddenly become beacons of light. Does Kasumi stay a thief? What does Miranda do with her sister safe and no Cerberus?

I'd love to see the entire squad helping Shepard to the end - directly or indirectly.

Perhaps a scene exclusive to the background you chose for your Shepard.

I said it in my previous post but I'll reiterate - I think everyone who could be alive at the end of my game was. That's because I want to save as many people as possible. Who lives and dies could be more dependent on how many characters are still standing by the end.

And finally, if Shepard lives, I think a promotion is way overdue.

[JC426]

Is the catayst pyschic? Otherwise why would it appear to Shepard as the child he saw in the attack on Earth unless it really is an indoctrination ploy by the reapers and if so then it would be a good way to then continue the story if you have a high enough EMS and you choose the destruction ending, then you wake up back in London and see Harbinger bearing down on you, furious that its attempts to convert you have failed and as it seemingly is about to strike on you, in flies the Normandy and two blasts from its cannons knock Harbinger to the ground giving Shepard the chance to reach the Citadel transport beam.

When in the Citadel, it should be an epic battle against Reaper forces as you team up with C-Sec to force your way to the arm controls in the Presidium. When reached you see the Illusive Man their spewing on about "Control" of the Reapers. You can try and talk him into seeing the threat to humans if he does not step aside and if you have a high enough reputation, then you can confuse him enough to give you the chance to either kill him, wound him or knock him out. You allow the crucible to dock, with scenes of the gathered fleet sacrificing ships to allow it to happen (perhaps with one of the Quarian Admirals taking charge). Once the crucible in docked you get a call from Hackett saying it has to be activated from the Citadel as that is the power source for the device. As you are about to hit the switch, you see Harbinger flying up from Earth and dependent on your EMS rating, you either see Shepard hit the switch and get caught in a blast from harbinger (low rating) and die but the crucible fires seconds before, if you have a mid EMS rating you see Shepard get mortally wounded by a blast but not killed outright as part of the assmebled fleet intercepts Harbinger, or a high EMS sees Harbinger attacked by your fleet and it allows Shep to fire the crucible which is shown disabling the Reapers, leaving them defenceless given you the chance to see your fleet and armies tearing into the reaper forces and destroying them. Shepard can then sit back on the Citadel, looking out to see his hard work pay off.
Cut to an epilogue based on what has gone before where you see either Shepards funeral with all his crew and comrades, the wounded Shepards death in your love interests arms after they board the Citadel to find him, or the surviving Shepard returning to Earth a hero. Then shots of the various plot points of the last 3 games (Rachni Queen in peace, the Quarians returning home, the birth o baby Mordin Wrex etc).

[Somath Cegem]

Okay, I'll list out what i was expecting to happen with the ending after having read all codex entries shadow broker emails and stuff on my private terminal as and when it popped up and also taking to Hackett about things and how he thought they worked.

Right so when I was told the crucibel was gonna give off mountains of energy but they had no clue how it would be dispersed my mind immediately leapt to the citidel, it links in to all the relays so the energy could be dispersed thought the network easy, what was it gonna do, no clue, but I got the idea that several things could happen with the relays.

1. The energy goes out, but because of shoddy construction, the relays go up with it entire systems get wiped out.
2. The energy goes out, but due lack of resources and man power it does not work perfectly and the relays are seriously damaged, relay to relay travel takes years to restore
3. The energy goes out, due to the odd cut corner to get it ready in time, the relays are damaged, however the damage is only minor and easily repaired, relay to relay travel is stored within months instead of years.
4. The energy goes out and works perfectly, the relays are fine afterwards.

Instead no matter what I do the relays go boom, unless I decide that the option I've been told all game is wrong, the control option, oddly coloured blue, which I'll get to later, this bothers me, the relays going up should have depend on my choices and how well I gathered resources, not on the last choice alone.

In fact I can just boil my criticism of the game down to those few words.

Too much of the finale was based on my final choice and not my other 1000+ choices and how well I played the game.

Also explain things, everything. Mass Effect is a series that has got codex entries on everything from FTL travel to how my Pistol actually works, Krogan Military Doctrine to Turian Physiology, this is a game series where literally nothing went unanswered, even the individual planets you never went to had loving crafted and detailed info on climate, orbit and such.
The ending explains literally nothing and leaves me with so many questions it feels like something out of Lost instead of Mass Effect.

Modifié par Somath Cegem, 21 mars 2012 - 09:13 .

[Sanrei]

Here's my feedback, for what it's worth.

First of all, let me address a few things:

1. Don't for a second believe we all buy into the ending in its current form being solely the grandmaster plan of artistic perfection. Even on an artistic level, it is lacking. I am a lover of fine art and have had plenty experience in the critiquing of art and I can tell you that the ending is so glaringly off with the rest og the series that it would cost you very a many point in artistic cred. so to speak. Call it artistic vision all you want, please understand with no hard feelings to the staff that it was poor artistic vision.

2. You are not giving nearly enough credit to your unhappy fans, and it shows with the heavy-handed fervor you keep mentioning those who are 100% for you as if they were shining examples of what a Bioware fan should be, even when many of these people are being outright rude and insulting to those with criticism. But no. WE get lectured about being nice. Most of us have been exceedingly nice, even in the face of being called selfish, entitled and being told we just don't get it, and not just by other fans, but by the gaming media as well.

Maybe you don't understand that the fans who are upset are upset because we love you so much. We know you worked hard on this game and the game over all is a masterpiece. It was so well done that by the time we reached that hastily slapped together ending, we fell all the harder. You uplifted us the entire game only to drop us in the end. That hurts.  We know you are capable of so much better, and no, saying that is not an insult to the staff or their artistic vision. Just don't insult our intelligence. You had to have been rushed. I can respect that you can't admit that, but don't expect us to believe it.

Kudos to Muzyka for responding to us.. I guess. It hardly comes off as sincere. Maybe you should read this:
www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/03/21/bioware-co-founder-apologizes-to-fans-for-the-mass-effect-3-ending-sort-of/

What I'd like to see changed:

Closure was important, but I see from your response that you're already taking that into consideration. Understand though that more than just closure needs to be addressed.

The plot holes and the fact that the end choices are contrary to the long-running themes in the game.
This needs to be dealt with. Why would Shepard consider controlling the reapers at the loss of her humanity? That surely opens the door to the cycle continuing. Why would Shepard force the entire galaxy to be the same? This is eugenics, and there is everything wrong with her making that decision for billions of people. Then you have the destroy option, at this point the most promising option, but oh, it's going to kill the Geth(and EDI) and set civilization back thousands of years. There is nothing victorious and uplifting about anyt of these options. Keep in mind, you created Shepard, and people developed their Shepard withint the constraints you created for us, vast and varied as they were. YOU created a Shepard who wouldn't stand for this, and yet you made her give up in the end.

This ties into the lack fo varying options. It's more than just recycled endings with different-colored explosions. Sure, control, eugenics, and destroy are all different decisions, but in the short term there isn't much difference. Relays explode, the galaxy as we know it is screwed, Shepard most likely dies. IN ME2, we could have a heroic, perfect ending, or we could make it bittersweet, or we could completely halt the series by killing off Shepard and screwing the galaxy. Given your track record, Bioware, why did you think we'd expect anything different? You don't give the player that much control and then wrest it from them in the name of artistic vision.

That's it, really. I've played through ME and ME2 multiple times. I had three different Shepards and was working on a fourth, but the ending as it is has made replay pointless. I played through ME3 to completion, doing as many missions and side-quests as feasible. You've made an excellent game, but you dropped the ball so hard with the ending that it is overshadowing the entire series. And that is what i've been telling my friends and coworkers. How you handle this situation in the end, will determine how I represent you in the future. Before I finished the game I was shouting your praises to the rooftops for years. It would be my honor to continue to do so, but I need proof that you are still the Bioware who made KotOR, Dragon AgeL Origins, and 95% of the Mass Effect series.

With love, Aimee(and her fiance Brian, who graciously introduced her to your games).

Modifié par PedEgg, 22 mars 2012 - 05:50 .

[TheMadLieut]

the 2 things that i really hope that gonna ne fixed are:

• the normandy and the crew: i really think all the fans deserve to know they're alive ( or dead) without the last nonsense part where all the crew gonna die on a remote planet because the normandy it's broken and they cannot ask for help or because with the reapers destroyed there isn't also the technology for help them...and of course i really love a REAL good ending...with the normandy's crew that will help to find shepard and can reunite him/heer one last time before the end of commander's shepard saga
  
  
  
• the relay net must not be destroyed...as you, bioware, told us in "the arrival" dlc, if a realay explode the entire system fonna blow up with that...in that case shepard, with every possible ending, gonna destroy the galaxy! i don't think that's exactly what he/she would like to do...you know...

[chrislynn]

Again, I say get rid of the galactic readiness altogether. Speaking as a single player, If I put the work and hours in to earn 7000+ war assets, I should get credit for those assets regardless of whether I play multiplayer or not. Especially as it does impact the ending or any ending that they may impliment in the future.

Multiplayer should be played because it is fun, not because we *have* to.

[cw889]

Issues with Mass Effect 3:

Unsatisfying conclusion:

There are two key issues with this that inform one another; first, there is no successful release of tension at the end of the narrative. One of Mass Effect 3’s main strengths is the emotional intensity and anxiety it provides in the player that manages to start at a high level (invasion of earth and death of the kid) and actually increases from there all the way until the final choice in the end. That’s no mean feat, and if there is a positive to say about how Mass Effect 3 currently ends, it’s that it leaves the game’s bleakness intact and valid for subsequent playthroughs.

However, the lack of relief for this tension in any form of the game endings means that Mass Effect 3 is not a pleasant experience to re-visit in that it makes you feel desperate and anxious (then confused) then ends.

Now the lack of relief can be tied directly into the second problem which is that the game’s end is trying for mystery and ponderance, but it’s only murky and befuddling. It gives us nothing to latch onto to speculate on what happens next, or if it’s even a victory; witness how most discussions of the ending are the meta-commentary on whether or not it’s a publicity stunt or if it will be changed (hence my posting this, not something I thought I’d do when I beat the game) or artistic-license. There is not much in the way of exciting or satisfying conversations on the in-text consequences for the story and universe or ways to replay the series now that the whole scope can be considered.

The appearance of the Normandy and crew in the ending isn’t the relief it may have been intended, because all it does is raise basic narrative questions of: why is Joker fleeing? Is that FTL or Mass Relay? Why is the crew suddenly there when they were just with me back on earth? Wait, did Shepard just blow up the galaxy? And if you chose the synthesis ending: is that really how that works? Really?

None of those are big, or good, questions to ask at the end right after an already question-raising and murky climax after a desperate and hope-crushing thirty plus hours (as a single game experience; triple that as trilogy... then square that for the amount of hours I’ve put into the series). Thus there is no tension relief in the story (now three games long), or satisfaction or anything resembling the conviction of “that was worth it” in either the game narrative or game experience sense.

TMS, EMS, Galactic Readiness:

Conceptually I find this a brilliant mechanic in that it quantifies and acknowledges choices you’ve made in the series and how they effect the war effort against the reapers. It’s a cause and effect scoring system for the games’ stories and I’m still giddy with the concept. The galactic readiness is a clever buffer that gives flexibility to those who may have made destructive decisions in past games to still have access to all possible endings if they play multiplayer.

However as it stands now, the effect of the EMS (or TMS – can’t remember which is which) on the ending is way too much of an abstraction. That it functions as a “gate” to ending access (too low only gives destruction choice, past a certain number you get access to control, even more gives access to synthesis) was a given, but the game itself never explains or (most importantly) portrays the effect of your TMS (or EMS) on the ending choices. Like, the star kid doesn’t say “You can only choose destruction because your Crucible score is only 50 and so can’t harness the energy to create synthesis!” or “The crucible was heavily damaged by lack of sufficient military strength and thus you can only destroy it and the reapers!”. Nope, you either get one choice, two choices, or three choices depending on the score but the game never directly or satisfyingly acknowledges the relationship. It has to be inferred several levels by the player to actually make sense, and is thusly not ultimately rewarding. And it doesn’t seem to factor much into the end-game sequence itself, which really should include at least one noble-death (or hell, even ignoble deaths) or victory-from-jaws-of-defeat cinematic for major factions recruited in the game: Geth, Quarians, Turians, Krogen, Salarians, etc.

Also, Galactic readiness: There needs to be a way to reset it back to fifty percent for those of us who want to keep playing multiplayer but would like a low EMS (or TMS or whatever!) for a specific ending specific to my Shepard. I don’t like the idea of having to wait a month to play multiplayer again so my galactic readiness drops low-enough that my sole-survivor Shepard (lost entire Normandy crew including Chakwas and only Kasumi and Morinth alive) gets the true apocalyptic ending she deserves and not "the successful-reaper-destruction or control" choice.

Also!

Not cool just saying the Citadel is gone and implying everyone is dead inside (or near everyone) and not having anyone comment on it. At all. Shepard wades through a hallway of dead bodies and isn’t even like, “huh… you know I think I knew some people who lived on this thing once!”

Saying it will be addressed in future DLC does not excuse not acknowledging it in the game proper. Kill everyone in the Citadel if you want, but at least tell us you did. Leaving it so… uncommented on is really narratively off-putting and the one element of the end that does feel like a genuine insult to those with emotional investment in the universe.

Modifié par cw889, 21 mars 2012 - 11:40 .

[GeneralBacon339]

if the indoctrination theory goes forward:

In the end there are 3 choices

Red: destroy synthetics (will break Reaper indoc. and shepard will wake up with no ill affects)

Synth and Control: Shepard will wake up and be indocrinated, you'll have to use Paragon Or Renegade (both availible, paragon you save your love interest, renegade you end up killing them just as you regain control) While you are killing allied soldiers.  (not team members)

If bioware thinks the ending so far is great?  then imagine what they could pull out of their hat if they extend the ending and give us the chance for both closure and happy ending where everyone lives (including shepard), the ending as is just doesn't seem to fit in the Mass Effect series at all.  everything from the waking up after being blasted by harbinger to the end is terrible.

the praise you'd get for creatively coming up with a ending that both provides Closure and an Optional happy ending would be EMENSE!

sorry i'm not that great on details like dialog

Note my obsession with OPTIONAL happy ending   that is the perfect way to do it.

heres a story idea for ya:

Shepard Lives or Dies idea:

The "Shepard's Star" the highest honor an individual can get from the Galactic council for those who go above and beyond the call of duty, would be a good place to have shepard start tearing up (show that he/she is actually human, if he/she survives) and get some recognition from the council for once!!! (that apology better be damned epic!!!!) 

as for how to fight harbinger?  (already submitted a post but)

a Hand Held thanix cannon would be the best way to fight it out with him.... or alot of Cain's Scattered about.

[Twinzam.V]

Fighting something massive as Harbinger on foot i dont think it would work. For me it would be the best option to use some avatar like Sovereign used Saren's corpse and the Armada in space finishing him off. The amount of war assets could determine the losses of the armada.

Modifié par Twinzam.V, 21 mars 2012 - 09:37 .

[Gruzmog]

Posted alot in various posts but I think this spot is the most important. The ending has various issues and I will list most of my point, but in the end it basicly comes down to this two points. :The ending makes no logical sense. The endings do not live up to the things we were promised in interviews pre-release. I will first list my grievances, then point out what I hope can be done.

Now to my list
- The ending has too many plotholes, to list a few stand alone plotholes: Normandy fleeing the scene in an all or nothing battle, squadmates that should have made it to the citadel or should have died in the laserbeam, teleporting to the normandy, the crucible even making it to the citadel when a single shot from a reaper rips trough a dreadnought.

- The War assets don't matter at all ingame except as a background statistic at the very end, with the amazing ending of ME2 in mind this is very disappoiting. Were are the krogans, the mechs, the vorcha etc. etc, etc.

- Any lore about the citadel and purpose of the reapers from ME1 seems to be disregarderd in ME3. If the controller of the reapers is or is in control of the citadel, why can he not just: take control of the relay network, open the citadel relay in ME1 in the first place without organic help. In addition, why would they use a signal to reach the keepers when the reaper leader is at the citadel in the first place. ME1 and 3 just do not add up in this respect.

- In my opinion it is bad writing to add a new keycharacter at the finale of a story or game without any foreshadowing, period.

- With the destruction of the relays alot of our accomplishments in the game are made moot and void. Wrex can not lead his people, they will probably fall in disarray esp. without Eve, The quarians won't reach their homeworld for countless generations. If the quarians are lost before the endgame the turian fleet will probably starve etc.

- It it totally out of character for Shepard to just accept the premise of the organic versus synthetic argument of the starchild. Its not a stretch that it would be better to lose this cycle and try to put a big enough dent in the reapers for the next cycle to succeed then chose any of the offered options. As mentioned earlier Jeff's action is out of character aswell.

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On the subject of marketing, perhaps it will not stand in court, but I do feel lied too and with that you have lost my trust. I can't help feeling that way, when we do get and ABC ending, the Rachni decision does not have a big influence on the ending at all. The endings are not wild different. And all the other statements that have been quoted by others before me.

Suggested changes:

- First and foremost make people stay in character at all cost especially for the finale. Shep should have more options in the final scene and unless Joker is ordered away for some reason he should not leave. You're crewmembers should be with you or dy trying too. No teleports please. They were all on earth,

- The game would be best for me if the starchild was just cut entirely but I realize that is alot to hope for. If he has to stay make what he says make sense, expand upon it vastly, make it fit into the universe and explain why certain events from ME1 occured if this guy existst.

- What would make the game far better in my opinion if is there is no final choise at all, or a much smaller one, like the destory or irradiate one from ME2. The decision you make during the game and in previous ones decide what ending you get in tandem with field decisions during the final mission.

Things that would help but are not needed:
 - atleast the option to get better endings
 -  visualization and actual impact of you're war assets
 - epilogue

Ofcourse it is ok to have a bad or bittersweet ending, but then you have to do it right. and I can not for the live of me see this as right.

In addition the PR department should really look at the way they promoted this game. Having people who buy it feeling lied too can't be the intention, wether it would hold up in court or not.

Modifié par Gruzmog, 21 mars 2012 - 09:41 .

[red.dot.mist]

The overwhelming smugness of Dr Muzukya's 'blog' post makes me regret ever purchasing a Bioware product. I should have learned with SWTOR, or DA2. But I gave Bioware the benefit of the doubt so I could see the end of this series, and you betrayed that trust, and you've been nothing but confrontational about it ever since.

So congratulations!  You win, Bioware!  You've made me not care anymore how this game ends, because I'm never buying anything made by you ever again.

Modifié par red.dot.mist, 21 mars 2012 - 09:41 .