I want to once again say that I appreciate that you are listening to us. To thank you for taking our opinions so highly and for reacting in a timely manner as well.
First, the part of the game where I'm divided between what's good, and what's bad, is where you as the player have Shepard run down the hill, toward the beam, and into the path of Harbinger's laser. It is at this point forward where the game's ending is terrible. Everything that occurred up till this very point was excellent (five out of five star quality). It is at this point, I only had a few minor issues with the game, all superficial, all things I could easily overlook (i.e. the scanning mini-game).
Before I continue further, I want to clearly point out that from a visual presentation (i.e. graphics) everything in that regard is generally excellent. While their is some story elements that conflict with the visual presentation, it is really the story's fault for forcing the visual presentation to go in that direction. For example, the three different colored blasts that comes out of the crucible at each of the ending "choices" just seem tacked on and cheesy. It is with the story and gameplay portions that I have the most issues. Actually, to say "issues", doesn't even begin to describe it; many of these parts are down right putrid at times. And it's just gapping with plot holes and cliff hangers.
Instead of pointing out each single like/dislike with the ending in a paragraph type of form, I've decided to just list them numerically in chronological order. With the chronological event first and then my issue with it second. Also note this is all taken from an X-Box 360 player, female paragon Shepard perspective:
1) Shepard getting knocked out from Harbinger's laser. It seems highly unlikely that Harbinger (or any reaper for that matter), as the highly-intelligent AIs that they are, would risk allowing anyone, at all, to use the beam for transportation to the citadel. The whole beam-transport plot device has striking similarities to the death star's vulnerable, two-meters wide, thermal exhaust port in the original "Star Wars" film. In both cases it seems unlikely that the antagonists (the reapers and the empire) would allow the protagonists (Shepard and Luke Skywalker) to exploit these vulnerabilities. I would have been much more comfortable if Shepard re-used the conduit from Ilos in Mass Effect 1. Maybe even make a mission out of capturing or finding the conduit (from the reapers or possibly Cerberus) a mission in of itself. Story wise, you could say that the conduit has to be closer to the citadel in order for transport to be possible; since the citadel was moved to Earth.
2) Shepard regains consciousness after being struck from Harbinger's blast. This whole scene is just incredibly odd, so much so I've had to break it down into it's own subsections.
2a) For one, why do the dying or dead soldiers in this scene have no recognizable battle damage on their armor? I would have liked to see what they were actually dying from. Like bullet holes that confirm they are dying from that wound rather than just simply "space magic" or being left up to the player's imagination.
2b) Where are your squad mates? In this scene, I had James and Garrus following me down the hill. Why did they suddenly disappear after Harbinger's blast? It is strongly unlike the highly paragon-based commander Shepard I played to just ignore her squad mates. If they were too hurt or injured to follow her, show this! If Shepard decided not to look for them at all, tell us what Shepard's reasoning was behind this. For example, did she feel the beam was humanity's last hope and therefore left her squad mates to die knowing that ultimately her ends would justify her means? Finally, in my game James showed up in the final cutscene (crash-landing-random-planet). This would suggest he was in fact uninjured during Harbinger's attack. And if he wasn't struck by the blast, please explain why he decided not to follow Shepard into the transport-beam.
2c) I understand why Shepard picks up a different heavy pistol from a gameplay standpoint (players might not be carrying a heavy pistol at all). But why does it have an infinite-clip capacity? Give the player a canonically accurate clip capacity (six) and some thermal clips. Then adjust the husks and Marauder Shield's difficultly appropriately. This issue goes hand and hand with the soldiers having no battle damage on their armor. It just feels like this was done to finish the ending quickly, and it leaves the player with too many questions that shouldn't be brought up in the first place.
2d) Speaking of Marauder Shields, why is he so difficult on insanity mode? It seems like if you miss any one shot on that ***hole, he will immediately follow up with a retaliation shot that ends in a game over screen. You need to make almost every single shot you make a head shot to win. And considering that Shepard can't aim worth a dam in this scene, it's almost near-impossible to do this. The problem here is that defeating him takes into account luck more than actual player skill. The player has not experienced anything like this prior in the game, so naturally, they have very little experience for dealing with it. After playing out this scene probably close to over two-dozen times (with game overs considered), and gaining that necessary "skill", I still can't defeat Marauder Shields the very first time I meet him. And let me reiterate that I'm being serious here (at least jokingly serious), that Marauder Shields is one tough s.o.b. on insanity mode. I love a challenge guys, but dam. Just tone down his difficulty on insanity.
2e) What is up with Anderson and where is he? After this scene, Anderson says he followed Shepard into the transport-beam over the radio. But once he gets to the citadel, he makes it to the terminal very quickly (where we meet The Illusive Man). This would suggest he immediately followed Shepard into the transport beam. If that's the case, why didn't we see him at all in this scene, shouldn't he have been close by somewhere? In addition, Anderson is an Admiral now. Tell us what his line of thinking was for following Shepard into the transport beam instead than directing his troops. Was it because they were "decimated" and he had no men to lead anyway? Also did Anderson help Shepard's squad mates if they were injured? Does this explain how they got on the Normandy in the last cutscene (crashing-on-random-planet)? We need something to give us answers for all these questions. Maybe a cutscene that explains what Anderson was thinking at the time when he decided to follow Shepard into the transport-beam.
3) Shepard arrives through the transport beam and onto the citadel, then travels down the tunnel to meet up with Anderson. Like number two, this section has it's own subsection.
3a) Why are the symbols "1M1" written on the left and right tunnel walls right before meeting Anderson at the terminal, isn't this the interior of the citadel? How did human-made symbols end up in an area of the citadel where nobody goes? This goes hand in hand with the previously mentioned battle damage and infinite clip capacity issues. The player should not even have to ask these types of questions.
3b) If Anderson arrived on the citadel after Shepard, how did he end up at the terminal first? Logic would dictate that Shepard had the quickest way of getting to the terminal (despite her injuries slowing her down) since she was traveling in a straight line. Anderson, having been beamed to another section of the citadel probably would have had to climb, crawl, and jump pass certain obstacles in a path that wasn't as linear. Additionally, he talks about seeing things just as Shepard is about to see them, and yet, Shepard never even catches a glimpse of Anderson. Again, it would have been greatly appreciated to show a cutscene that explains all this. Show us where Anderson ended up on the citadel and how he reached the terminal so quickly. Was he scouting ahead, and if so, why didn't helping a gravely injured Shepard take priority? Tell us why he decided not to wait for Shepard.
4) This next scene where Anderson, Shepard, and The Illusive Man are actually talking (subsections).
4a) This scene is great Bioware team! You did a excellent job of making me your enthralled puppet here. However, I do have one resounding question. I heard in a youtube video an extended version of Shepard and Anderson's conversation after the death of The Illusive Man. In this clip, Anderson talked with Shepard about having children and settling down. Why was this scene cut from the final game? It's absolutely brilliant! I don't even know why you don't take it further and have Shepard bring up Anderson's relationship with Kahlee Sanders. It'd be really interesting to hear Anderson's opinions about that relationship (especially since I read the books). In my particular play I want to once again say that I appreciate that you are listening to us. To thank you for taking our opinions so highly and for reacting in a timely manner as well.
First, the part of the game where I'm divided between what's good, and what's bad, is where you as the player have Shepard run down the hill, toward the beam, and into the path of Harbinger's laser. It is at this point forward where the game's ending is terrible. Everything that occurred up till this very point was excellent (five out of five star quality). It is at this point, I only had a few minor issues with the game, all superficial, all things I could easily overlook (i.e. the scanning mini-game).
Before I continue further, I want to clearly point out that from a visual presentation (i.e. graphics) everything in that regard is generally excellent. While their is some story elements that conflict with the visual presentation, it is really the story's fault for forcing the visual presentation to go in that direction. For example, the three different colored blasts that comes out of the crucible at each of the ending "choices" just seem tacked on and cheesy. It is with the story and gameplay portions that I have the most issues. Actually, to say "issues", doesn't even begin to describe it; many of these parts are down right putrid at times. And it's just gapping with plot holes and cliff hangers.
Instead of pointing out each single like/dislike with the ending in a paragraph type of form, I've decided to just list them numerically in chronological order. With the chronological event first and then my issue with it second. Also note this is all taken from an X-Box 360 player, female paragon Shepard perspective:
1) Shepard getting knocked out from Harbinger's laser. It seems highly unlikely that Harbinger (or any reaper for that matter), as the highly-intelligent AIs that they are, would risk allowing anyone, at all, to use the beam for transportation to the citadel. The whole beam-transport plot device has striking similarities to the death star's vulnerable, two-meters wide, thermal exhaust port in the original "Star Wars" film. In both cases it seems unlikely that the antagonists (the reapers and the empire) would allow the protagonists (Shepard and Luke Skywalker) to exploit these vulnerabilities. I would have been much more comfortable if Shepard re-used the conduit from Ilos in Mass Effect 1. Maybe even make a mission out of capturing or finding the conduit (from the reapers or possibly Cerberus) a mission in of itself. Story wise, you could say that the conduit has to be closer to the citadel in order for transport to be possible; since the citadel was moved to Earth.
2) Shepard regains consciousness after being struck from Harbinger's blast. This whole scene is just incredibly odd, so much so I've had to break it down into it's own subsections.
2a) For one, why do the dying or dead soldiers in this scene have no recognizable battle damage on their armor? I would have liked to see what they were actually dying from. Like bullet holes that confirm they are dying from that wound rather than just simply "space magic" or being left up to the player's imagination.
2b) Where are your squad mates? In this scene, I had James and Garrus following me down the hill. Why did they suddenly disappear after Harbinger's blast? It is strongly unlike the highly paragon-based commander Shepard I played to just ignore her squad mates. If they were too hurt or injured to follow her, show this! If Shepard decided not to look for them at all, tell us what Shepard's reasoning was behind this. For example, did she feel the beam was humanity's last hope and therefore left her squad mates to die knowing that ultimately her ends would justify her means? Finally, in my game James showed up in the final cutscene (crash-landing-random-planet). This would suggest he was in fact uninjured during Harbinger's attack. And if he wasn't struck by the blast, please explain why he decided not to follow Shepard into the transport-beam.
2c) I understand why Shepard picks up a different heavy pistol from a gameplay standpoint (players might not be carrying a heavy pistol at all). But why does it have an infinite-clip capacity? Give the player a canonically accurate clip capacity (six) and some thermal clips. Then adjust the husks and Marauder Shield's difficultly appropriately. This issue goes hand and hand with the soldiers having no battle damage on their armor. It just feels like this was done to finish the ending quickly, and it leaves the player with too many questions that shouldn't be brought up in the first place.
2d) Speaking of Marauder Shields, why is he so difficult on insanity mode? It seems like if you miss any one shot on that ***hole, he will immediately follow up with a retaliation shot that ends in a game over screen. You need to make almost every single shot you make a head shot to win. And considering that Shepard can't aim worth a dam in this scene, it's almost near-impossible to do this. The problem here is that defeating him takes into account luck more than actual player skill. The player has not experienced anything like this prior in the game, so naturally, they have very little experience for dealing with it. After playing out this scene probably close to over two-dozen times (with game overs considered), and gaining that necessary "skill", I still can't defeat Marauder Shields the very first time I meet him. And let me reiterate that I'm being serious here (at least jokingly serious), that Marauder Shields is one tough s.o.b. on insanity mode. I love a challenge guys, but dam. Just tone down his difficulty on insanity.
2e) What is up with Anderson and where is he? After this scene, Anderson says he followed Shepard into the transport-beam over the radio. But once he gets to the citadel, he makes it to the terminal very quickly (where we meet The Illusive Man). This would suggest he immediately followed Shepard into the transport beam. If that's the case, why didn't we see him at all in this scene, shouldn't he have been close by somewhere? In addition, Anderson is an Admiral now. Tell us what his line of thinking was for following Shepard into the transport beam instead than directing his troops. Was it because they were "decimated" and he had no men to lead anyway? Also did Anderson help Shepard's squad mates if they were injured? Does this explain how they got on the Normandy in the last cutscene (crashing-on-random-planet)? We need something to give us answers for all these questions. Maybe a cutscene that explains what Anderson was thinking at the time when he decided to follow Shepard into the transport-beam.
3) Shepard arrives through the transport beam and onto the citadel, then travels down the tunnel to meet up with Anderson. Like number two, this section has it's own subsection.
3a) Why are the symbols "1M1" written on the left and right tunnel walls in the interior right before meeting Anderson at the terminal, isn't this the interior of the citadel? How did human-made symbols end up in an area of the citadel where nobody goes? This goes hand in hand with the previously mentioned battle damage and infinite clip capacity issues. The player should not even have to ask these types of questions.
3b) If Anderson arrived on the citadel after Shepard, how did he end up at the terminal first? Logic would dictate that Shepard had the quickest way of getting to the terminal (despite her injuries slowing her down) since she was traveling in a straight line. Anderson, having been beamed to another section of the citadel probably would have had to climb, crawl, and jump pass certain obstacles in path that wasn't as linear. Additionally, he talks about seeing things just as Shepard is about to see them, and yet, Shepard never even catches a glimpse of Anderson. Again, it would have been greatly appreciated to show a cutscene that explains all this. Show us where Anderson ended up on the citadel and how he reached the terminal so quickly. Was he scouting ahead, and if so, why didn't helping a gravely injured take priority? Tell us why he decided not to wait for Shepard.
4) This next scene where Anderson, Shepard, and The Illusive Man are actually talking (subsections).
4a) This scene is great Bioware team! You did a excellent job of making me your enthralled puppet here. However, I do have one resounding question. I heard in a youtube video an extended version of Shepard and Anderson's conversation after the death of The Illusive Man. In this clip, Anderson talked with Shepard about having children and settling down. Why was this scene cut from the final game? It's absolutely brilliant! I don't even know why you don't take it further and have Shepard bring up Anderson's relationship with Kahlee Sanders. It'd be really interesting to hear Anderson's opinions about that relationship (especially since I read the books). In my particular play through, my Shepard had a love interest with Kaiden in ME1, with Thane in ME2, and then with nobody in ME3. This is because I felt like the relationship that her and Kaiden had in ME1 was lost in ME2 when he reacted the way he did on Horizon. If this scene wasn't cut from the final game, I would have felt a serious cord struck in my heart if Anderson mentioned settling down and having children. This is because I would have felt terrible over not restarting that relationship I had with Kaiden from ME1. Basically all I'm saying is please add this scene to the game!
4c) Why is Shepard bleeding profusely, was it because her adrenaline was stopping the bleeding this whole time or was it due to some other injury we did not see? And doesn't Anderson have medi-gel on his person, since it is standard issue for any soldier? Again, explain to us what is going on here. If Shepard got injured when we didn't see it, show us when. If Anderson isn't carrying any medi-gel because he used it already, then have him tell Shepard. It could be a simple "I'm out of medi-gel" with Shepard responding "me too".
5) Shepard faints, and unconsciously is carried by the floating platform, she wakes up later and meets the Catalyst. I'm sure you are well aware this section will have many subsections as well, because it makes no sense.
5a) Again, why is the symbol "1M1" shown off to the sides? I know this is part of the human-partially designed crucible now, but, this doesn't explain why it's also placed on the interior of the citadel; which isn't part of the crucible.
5b) Why doesn't Shepard have blood on her arm anymore, and how did her bleeding stop? If she was bleeding that badly, it seems unlikely it healed on it's own. If the Catalyst had any part of this, show us that he's the one that healed Shepard.
5c) Why does the Catalyst take the form of the boy from her memory? It is a terrible plot device and belittles it's omnipotent-factor. In addition, every-single-one of his statements are baseless and make absolutely-no-sense (explained in other sections). Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5d) How does the Catalyst "control" the reapers, aren't reapers sentient AIs? If it is the controller of the reapers, why does it even bother talking with Shepard, wouldn't it just try to kill or harvest Shepard instead? This eludes that the Catalyst is lying to the player, and only raises further questions as the cutscene continues. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5f) What does the Catalyst mean by the ominous use of the word "chaos"? Is this a war between organics and synthetics, or the destruction of the universe? This does not make sense within the pre-established canon of Mass Effect. When the quarians created the geth initially, all that happened in the morning war was that the quarians were kicked off their home planet. From there on out their was only a cold war between the quarians and the geth. Their was never any "chaos", as in the destruction or annihilation of the universe. And if the Catalyst actually meant "chaos" as in disorder, why is disorder bad enough to warrant extinguishing nearly all organic life? After the second war between the quarians and the geth (ME3) they decided to live peacefully and symbiotically together. That's a pretty good resolution to a war, so again, is this really so bad to warrant the extinction of organics every fifty-thousand year cycle? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5g) The Catalyst says "the created will always rebel against their creators", as in "the synthetics will always rebel against the organics". Why does he say this? It's simply untrue that they will always rebel! You can prove this fact by helping the quarians and the geth get along during the course of ME3. Secondly, it wasn't even the geth (synthetics) that started that war, it was actually the quarians (organics) who started it! EDI is also another perfect example of an AI not "rebelling". In both instances, AIs are choosing to live symbiotically with organics! Their is no rebelling about it at all. Yes their is some instances in the Mass Effect story of AIs rebelling against their creators. But the fact still remains, they don't "always" rebel. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5h) How exactly did the Catalyst figure that killing organics every cycle was a good solution? And what happens to synthetics during those cycles? Are they destroyed too? If they aren't, why aren't they still alive each cycle? Also, if it's reasoning behind this entire cycle is that "synthetics will always rebel against organics", why do they appear every fifty-thousand years? Shouldn't they appear at the exact time organics make their first sentient synthetic, or close enough to it? What would happen if the organics created their first sentient synthetic too early? "Chaos" might occur even before the reapers have any chance to stop it. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5i) The Catalyst also says they do this so that synthetics don't destroy all organic life. Again, this is untrue within the canon of Mass Effect. In the morning war between the quarians and the geth, the geth had a chance to obliterate the quarians completely. They choose not to. Again, this is another instance where the catalyst is wrong because synthetics don't always choose to wipe out all organic life. Not to mention it's just ridiculous! Synthetics (the reapers) are killing organics to stop the synthetics from killing organics? How does that make any sense at all! Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5j) How does Shepard actually being there disprove that his solution won't work anymore? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5k) How did the Crucible change it? And why can't it choose any of the new possibilities? Again, it makes it seem like the Catalyst is actually not omnipotent. It's also odd that it points out that even if it could choose one of the new possibilities, it wouldn't. This (in addition to 5d) suggests it might be lying to the player to get them to choose the wrong decision. It makes further sense when you consider that it controls the reapers. Why would the very thing telling the reapers to kill and harvest organics suddenly actually try to help organics? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5l) The destroy option - why does it kill off all other synthetics as well? And why does the Catalyst suggest it as a solution if it specifically points out the fact that organics will still create AIs that would eventually rebel and cause chaos by the Catalyst's line of thinking? For the third time now, this eludes that the Catalyst is purposely and maliciously lying to the player. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5m) The control option - what is the extent of Shepard's control? Does she make just one command or a series of commands? Do they last until she dies or do they last permanently? Since it's heavily eluded that the Catalyst is lying, maybe your also indoctrinated, if so, wouldn't you be controlled just like The Illusive Man would have been? Their is too many what-ifs associated with this choice to rationally pick it. And even still, how is this a solution, won't organics still create AIs that would eventually rebel and cause chaos by the Catalyst's line of thinking? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5n) The synthesis option - how is this a solution, can't organic-synthetic hybrids still create AIs? And wouldn't those AIs still eventually rebel and cause chaos by the Catalyst's line of thinking? And finally, what's to stop the newly formed hybrids from rebelling against even themselves, and causing "chaos"? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5o) Why are the mass relays destroyed in every choice? And given the canon we know from the Arrival DLC, isn't it safe to assume resulting explosion from the mass relays is going to destroy every solar system where their is a mass relay? This means then that all life in every solar system where their is a mass relay has effectively been wiped out. And what are the space fleets of the various aliens over Earth left to do? Earth doesn't have the resources to support that huge armada, especially after it's all been beat to hell by the reapers. This just means their all going starve and die and create more chaos than the reapers ever "stopped" in this cycle. This is a terrible direction to go for the future of the Mass Effect franchise! Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
6) The last, final ending cutscene (subsections).
6a) If Shepard picked control, why did the reapers lift off Earth; as if Shepard's command was "get the hell off my planet"? I would have told the reapers "make new mass relays and then go kill yourselves". Instead, the player is forced to make a choice they never made and only allowed to guess what that choice was. Players should have been given choices of which command they wanted to make.
6b) Why is Joker near a mass relay during all this? Shouldn't he be helping defend Earth against the reapers? And how did James, who was there when my Shepard got hit by Harbinger's blast, arrive on the Normandy? And if the Normandy's mass effect thrusters got destroyed by the mass relay's shockwave; how in the hell did Joker manage to make a near perfect, horizontal landing on some random planet? And the fact that he came in contact with a lush planet at all is just too coincidental. Not only in the sense that his ship's trajectory was already in route to land on a such planet, but also in the sense that it was a planet that could support life! Please further elaborate on this cutscene, it seems highly unlikely all of this would occur so perfectly without the aid of "space magic".
6c) As previously mentioned how the heck did James end up on the Normandy? Considering he was with me when Harbinger's blast struck Shepard, he looks completely unharmed! So why didn't he come help Shepard by running to the transport-beam? If he wasn't harmed by the blast then explain to the player why he decided not aid Shepard.
6d) In secret ending, via destruction, it's shown that Shepard is alive in a pile of rubble (presumably in London). If this is true how did she survive, in what looks like, the citadel being destroyed (just before it sends out a red beam to the mass relays)? This ending suggests that the popular indoctrination theories are true or that the whole end game sequence was just a dream or a hallucination. If they aren't true, then how did Shepard make it off the crucible alive? Please show us how she avoided the destruction of the citadel.
All in all Bioware, many parts of the ending make little to absolute no sense at all. The fact pre-launch we were told we couldn't simply relate our endings to a simple "a, b, or c" type-of-choice is completely false. Choice a is control, choice b is synthesis, and choice c is destruction. From there on out, the endings do not differ radically from each other. The reapers are stopped, the relays are destroyed, and Joker crashes the Normandy. Furthermore, we were told the game wouldn't end on cliffhangers, like the show "Lost". And as you can see from my above examples above; their is dozens upon dozens of questions there. To say Mass Effect 3 doesn't end on cliffhangers is a huge understatement! And finally, much of the ending just isn't the same quality writing that we expect from a Mass Effect title. The Catalyst plot device is disgusting.
After analyzing the ending I would even have the audacity to say this has all been preplanned on Bioware's part. It's just unconceivable in my opinion that no one saw the public backlash that would occur over this ending. Their is so many plot holes in the story that it could be mistaken for a wheel of Swiss cheese! It's so bad I almost believe the indoctrination theories are true. Even if they aren't, I could swear even the Catalyst is lying to us to some extent. This is because everything the Catalyst says is entirely false. Their is no proof to back up any of it's claims in Mass Effect's accepted canon. Trusting it is a complete leap of faith on the player's part.
Now that I've said what I find wrong with the current ending, I would like to present the kind of ending I would like to see. I've come up with four that I would find satisfactory.
1) You completely cut the scene where Shepard is elevated to the Catalyst's domain. Don't show that elevator thing, don't show the Catalyst at all. Now, Shepard still fumbles forward toward the terminal, but this time, he/she actually manages to get over to it enough hit a single button on it before going unconscious. Miraculously, this is correct button and the terminal lights up. Soon after we're given an ending cutscene very similar to the destruction-based ending the Catalyst gave us. However, in this scene, the crucible actually sucks energy from the relays (instead of destroying them) and uses the energy as a weapon to eradicate the reapers from the galaxy. The reaper created creatures from the war with are still active however. And in the next few scenes we see the humans and various alien species winning triumphantly against them. It is assumed that the war with these reaper-creatures will end quickly due to the overwhelming odds stacked against them (without aid from the reapers). The scene with Joker escaping the blast never occurs, obviously. Later, we show Shepard's lifeless body, still laying beneath the terminal where he/she hit the button. The camera pans out to also show Anderson, and The Illusive Man's bodies as well, to put emphasis on the possibility that Shepard may be dead as well. Soon his/her love interest and the rest of his/her crew members walk into the chamber. The love interest, if their is one, walks over to check on Shepard. If their is no love interest, then Liara, Tali, and the Virmire survivor go to check Shepard's body first (since they are the most sentimental party members). Garrius, EDI, Javik, and James all look on to Shepard's body in despair. The love interest or the sentimental party members almost begin to cry. They all presume Shepard is dead. But Shepard's arm twitches and they quickly discover that Shepard is alive. All of the squad mates rush to help Shepard. Scene fades to black. You could also kill off Shepard instead, if you wanted to still emphasis the whole sacrifice thing. Doesn't matter to me either way.
2) You accept the indoctrination theory. Shepard was being indoctrinated after being hit by Harbinger's blast. We discover that the scene with The Illusive Man and the Catalyst were just all mental trials. If Shepard picks the destroy option given to her by the Catalyst, the hold on her mind is released and he/she wakes up, laying in a pile of rubble (the secret scene presented in the original destruction ending). It is at this point as developers that it is up to your discretion to how continue the game. Presumably the player would be allowed to experience more gameplay. Probably a couple more fights in London before she meets up with her crew. Maybe she discovers that the transport-beam to the citadel is all a lie. Maybe Anderson believed it would work because he was partially indoctrinated. They decide that the only other way they can get to the citadel now is by finding the conduit, the same mass relay they used in the first game to reach the citadel. They eventually find and use the conduit, get to the citadel and finish the game. Play endings cutscenes as you see fit.
3) You accept the idea that the Catalyst is lying to the player. The player discovers this by choosing the destroy option with the Catalyst. We also find out that the Catalyst lied about the other synthetics (i.e. geth and EDI) dying. A blast is sent out from the crucible that destroys all the reapers in the galaxy. The people on Earth fight a triumphant battle against the reaper-creatures. However, after all the cutscenes play out we discover that Catalyst also lied that Shepard wouldn't die if they chose the destruction choice; Shepard dies. Play ending cutscenes as you see fit.
4) Shepard is at the terminal in the interior of the citadel. Hackett tells Shepard they need to press some kind of button on their end. Shepard still fumbles and falls unconscious. They are then carried up by the elevating platform to the Catalyst's domain. Upon reaching there, the conversation generally ensues as usual from the regular ending. Except, when Shepard tells the Catalyst they have no future, no hope, the Catalyst responds to the effect of "you do have hope". The camera pans out to show the forces in space shooting down the reapers. A reaper dies due to the overwhelming fire power of an alliance fighter squad. The Catalyst begins to explain "for the first time ever, the organics have negated my solution". Shepard asks ominously "So what will you do now?" to which the Catalyst responds "We find a new solution. Even with the reapers gone, organics will still create synthetics, and synthetics will try to wipe out all organ---" Shepard cuts the Catalyst off "Your wrong!" he/she shouts and then continues "The geth are working in harmony with the quarians, just look over there!" Shepard points outside to a battle where quarian and geth ships working in unison to destroy a reaper. "The synthetics you say that want to destroy all organic life are actually fighting to stop you!". It is at this point the Catalyst pauses for a moment, as in thought. He "You... you are right. Everything we've done, everything we've accomplished, did not work as we planned that it would". Shepard lets him wallow in it for a bit before saying "Now what?". The Catalyst thinks then responds "We will try to fix the damage that's been done. I will return the reapers back to dark space until we come up with a new solution. We may never return". A cutscene plays, showing the reapers killing the mindless reaper-creature abominations they created on Earth, Palaven, Thessia, and everywhere else. Soon after they lift off these planets and fade from the galaxy, back to dark space. Ending cutscenes play as you see fit.
I'll be honest, none of my examples of the endings above are perfect. I'm just trying to give you a general idea of the type of ending I would like to see. If you do choose one, or a very similar one, I imagine you fill in the details.
As for end game cutscenes it's really up to your discretion as the developers to come up with more ideas. Just show players the type of things that would give them closure. Show them what happened to Earth, Palaven, Thessia, Rannoch, and even the citadel after the game. Show them what your squad mates are doing now. Show them what other characters are doing. Show them Wrex, Jacob, Miranda, Jack, Grunt, etc... But also maybe even show us other memorable characters like Conrad Veiner or Doctor Chakwas. Show what happened to Shepard. Does Shepard have kids? Does Shepard still live a military type of life or did he/she settle down and have a more peaceful life? If does Shepard die, what is the funeral or memorial like? Does Earth hold a vigil for Shepard's death? What happens to the creatures (i.e. cannibals, marauders, etc...) after the ending? Does the galaxy find peace at last from the reaper menace or does the reaper threat, or a new threat, loom on the horizon for the future of the Mass Effect universe?
In closing, I have to say if this is all a joke, and that you, Bioware, have already pre-planned to release some kind of ending-based-DLC since the beginning of this public backlash; the joke's not funny. In any case I once again thank you for your time and considerion.
*edit 1: Added general ideas for endings I would have liked to see.
*edit 2: Spelling and grammar fixes. I further elaborate on why the things I didn't like are a problem rather than leave them completely up to the reader to speculate. Removed sections where I list the problems of other players that I do not agree on. Removed sections that seemed irrelevant.through, my Shepard had a love interest with Kaiden in ME1, with Thane in ME2, and then with nobody in ME3. This is because I felt like the relationship that her and Kaiden had in ME1 was lost in ME2 when he reacted the way he did on Horizon. If this scene wasn't cut from the final game, I would have felt a serious cord struck in my heart if Anderson mentioned settling down and having children. This is because I would have felt terrible over not restarting that relationship I had with Kaiden from ME1. Basically all I'm saying is please add this scene to the game!
4c) Why is Shepard bleeding profusely, was it because her adrenaline was stopping the bleeding this whole time or was it due to some other injury we did not see? And doesn't Anderson have medi-gel on his person, since it is standard issue for any soldier? Again, explain to us what is going on here. If Shepard got injured when we didn't see it, show us when. If Anderson isn't carrying any medi-gel because he used it already, then have him tell Shepard. It could be a simple "I'm out of medi-gel" with Shepard responding "me too".
5) Shepard faints, and unconsciously is carried by the floating platform, she wakes up later and meets the Catalyst. I'm sure you are well aware this section will have many subsections as well, because it makes no sense.
5a) Again, why is the symbol "1M1" shown off to the sides? I know this is part of the human-partially designed crucible now, but, this doesn't explain why it's also placed on the interior of the citadel; which isn't part of the crucible.
5b) Why doesn't Shepard have blood on her arm anymore, and how did her bleeding stop? If she was bleeding that badly, it seems unlikely it healed on it's own. If the Catalyst had any part of this, show us that he's the one that healed Shepard.
5c) Why does the Catalyst take the form of the boy from her memory? It is a terrible plot device and belittles it's omnipotent-factor. In addition, every-single-one of his statements are baseless and make absolutely-no-sense (explained in other sections). Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5d) How does the Catalyst "control" the reapers, aren't reapers sentient AIs? If it is the controller of the reapers, why does it even bother talking with Shepard, wouldn't it just try to kill or harvest Shepard instead? This eludes that the Catalyst is lying to the player, and only raises further questions as the cutscene continues. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5f) What does the Catalyst mean by the ominous use of the word "chaos"? Is this a war between organics and synthetics, or the destruction of the universe? This does not make sense within the pre-established canon of Mass Effect. When the quarians created the geth initially, all that happened in the morning war was that the quarians were kicked off their home planet. From there on out their was only a cold war between the quarians and the geth. Their was never any "chaos", as in the destruction or annihilation of the universe. And if the Catalyst actually meant "chaos" as in disorder, why is disorder bad enough to warrant extinguishing nearly all organic life? After the second war between the quarians and the geth (ME3) they decided to live peacefully and symbiotically together. That's a pretty good resolution to a war, so again, is this really so bad to warrant the extinction of organics every fifty-thousand year cycle? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5g) The Catalyst says "the created will always rebel against their creators", as in "the synthetics will always rebel against the organics". Why does he say this? It's simply untrue that they will always rebel! You can prove this fact by helping the quarians and the geth get along during the course of ME3. Secondly, it wasn't even the geth (synthetics) that started that war, it was actually the quarians (organics) who started it! EDI is also another perfect example of an AI not "rebelling". In both instances, AIs are choosing to live symbiotically with organics! Their is no rebelling about it at all. Yes their is some instances in the Mass Effect story of AIs rebelling against their creators. But the fact still remains, they don't "always" rebel. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5h) How exactly did the Catalyst figure that killing organics every cycle was a good solution? And what happens to synthetics during those cycles? Are they destroyed too? If they aren't, why aren't they still alive each cycle? Also, if it's reasoning behind this entire cycle is that "synthetics will always rebel against organics", why do they appear every fifty-thousand years? Shouldn't they appear at the exact time organics make their first sentient synthetic, or close enough to it? What would happen if the organics created their first sentient synthetic too early? "Chaos" might occur even before the reapers have any chance to stop it. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5i) The Catalyst also says they do this so that synthetics don't destroy all organic life. Again, this is untrue within the canon of Mass Effect. In the morning war between the quarians and the geth, the geth had a chance to obliterate the quarians completely. They choose not to. Again, this is another instance where the catalyst is wrong because synthetics don't always choose to wipe out all organic life. Not to mention it's just ridiculous! Synthetics (the reapers) are killing organics to stop the synthetics from killing organics? How does that make any sense at all! Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5j) How does Shepard actually being there disprove that his solution won't work anymore? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5k) How did the Crucible change it? And why can't it choose any of the new possibilities? Again, it makes it seem like the Catalyst is actually not omnipotent. It's also odd that it points out that even if it could choose one of the new possibilities, it wouldn't. This (in addition to 5d) suggests it might be lying to the player to get them to choose the wrong decision. It makes further sense when you consider that it controls the reapers. Why would the very thing telling the reapers to kill and harvest organics suddenly actually try to help organics? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5l) The destroy option - why does it kill off all other synthetics as well? And why does the Catalyst suggest it as a solution if it specifically points out the fact that organics will still create AIs that would eventually rebel and cause chaos by the Catalyst's line of thinking? For the third time now, this eludes that the Catalyst is purposely and maliciously lying to the player. Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5m) The control option - what is the extent of Shepard's control? Does she make just one command or a series of commands? Do they last until she dies or do they last permanently? Since it's heavily eluded that the Catalyst is lying, maybe your also indoctrinated, if so, wouldn't you be controlled just like The Illusive Man would have been? Their is too many what-ifs associated with this choice to rationally pick it. And even still, how is this a solution, won't organics still create AIs that would eventually rebel and cause chaos by the Catalyst's line of thinking? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5n) The synthesis option - how is this a solution, can't organic-synthetic hybrids still create AIs? And wouldn't those AIs still eventually rebel and cause chaos by the Catalyst's line of thinking? And finally, what's to stop the newly formed hybrids from rebelling against even themselves, and causing "chaos"? Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
5o) Why are the mass relays destroyed in every choice? And given the canon we know from the Arrival DLC, isn't it safe to assume resulting explosion from the mass relays is going to destroy every solar system where their is a mass relay? This means then that all life in every solar system where their is a mass relay has effectively been wiped out. And what are the space fleets of the various aliens over Earth left to do? Earth doesn't have the resources to support that huge armada, especially after it's all been beat to hell by the reapers. This just means their all going starve and die and create more chaos than the reapers ever "stopped" in this cycle. This is a terrible direction to go for the future of the Mass Effect franchise! Please explain or remove the Catalyst plot device entirely!
6) The last, final ending cutscene (subsections).
6a) If Shepard picked control, why did the reapers lift off Earth; as if Shepard's command was "get the hell off my planet"? I would have told the reapers "make new mass relays and then go kill yourselves". Instead, the player is forced to make a choice they never made and only allowed to guess what that choice was. Players should have been given choices of which command they wanted to make.
6b) Why is Joker near a mass relay during all this? Shouldn't he be helping defend Earth against the reapers? And how did James, who was there when my Shepard got hit by Harbinger's blast, arrive on the Normandy? And if the Normandy's mass effect thrusters got destroyed by the mass relay's shockwave; how in the hell did Joker manage to make a near perfect, horizontal landing on some random planet? And the fact that he came in contact with a lush planet at all is just too coincidental. Not only in the sense that his ship's trajectory was already in route to land on a such planet, but also in the sense that it was a planet that could support life! Please further elaborate on this cutscene, it seems highly unlikely all of this would occur so perfectly without the aid of "space magic".
6c) As previously mentioned how the heck did James end up on the Normandy? Considering he was with me when Harbinger's blast struck Shepard, he looks completely unharmed! So why didn't he come help Shepard by running to the transport-beam? If he wasn't harmed by the blast then explain to the player why he decided not to aid Shepard.
6d) In the secret ending, via destruction, it's shown that Shepard is alive and in a pile of rubble (presumably in London). If this is true how did she survive, in what looks like, the citadel being destroyed (just before it sends out a red beam to the mass relays)? This ending suggests that the popular indoctrination theories are true or that the whole end game sequence was just a dream or a hallucination. If they aren't true, then how did Shepard make it off the crucible alive? Please show us how she avoided the destruction of the citadel.
All in all Bioware, many parts of the ending make little to absolute no sense at all. The fact pre-launch we were told we couldn't simply relate our endings to a simple "a, b, or c" type-of-choice is completely false. Choice a is control, choice b is synthesis, and choice c is destruction. From there on out, the endings do not differ radically from each other. The reapers are stopped, the relays are destroyed, and Joker crashes the Normandy. Furthermore, we were told the game wouldn't end on cliffhangers, like the show "Lost". And as you can see from my above examples above; their is dozens upon dozens of questions there. To say Mass Effect 3 doesn't end on cliffhangers is a huge understatement! And finally, much of the ending just isn't the same quality writing that we expect from a Mass Effect title. The Catalyst plot device is disgusting.
After analyzing the ending I would even have the audacity to say this has all been preplanned on Bioware's part. It's just unconceivable in my opinion that no one saw the public backlash that would occur over this ending. Their is so many plot holes in the story that it could be mistaken for a wheel of Swiss cheese! It's so bad I almost believe the indoctrination theories are true. Even if they aren't, I could swear even the Catalyst is lying to us to some extent. This is because everything the Catalyst says is entirely false. Their is no proof to back up any of it's claims in Mass Effect's accepted canon. Trusting it is a complete leap of faith on the player's part.
Now that I've said what I find wrong with the current ending, I would like to present the kind of ending I would like to see. I've come up with four that I would find satisfactory.
1) You completely cut the scene where Shepard is elevated to the Catalyst's domain. Don't show that elevator thing, don't show the Catalyst at all. Now, Shepard still fumbles forward toward the terminal, but this time, he/she actually manages to get over to it enough hit a single button on it before going unconscious. Miraculously, this is correct button and the terminal lights up. Soon after we're given a ending-cutscene very similar to the destruction-based ending the Catalyst gave us. However, in this scene, the crucible actually sucks energy from the relays (instead of destroying them) and uses the energy as a weapon to eradicate the reapers from the galaxy. The reaper created creatures from the war with are still active however. And in the next few scenes we see the humans and various alien species winning triumphantly against them. It is assumed that the war with these reaper-creatures will end quickly due to the overwhelming odds stacked against them (without aid from the reapers). The scene with Joker escaping the blast never occurs, obviously. Later, we show Shepard's lifeless body, still laying beneath the terminal where he/she hit the button. The camera pans out to also show Anderson, and The Illusive Man's bodies as well, to put emphasis on the possibility that Shepard may be dead as well. Soon his/her love interest and the rest of his/her crew members walk into the chamber. The love interest, if their is one, walks over to check on Shepard. If their is no love interest, then Liara, Tali, and the Virmire survivor go to check Shepard's body first (since they are the most sentimental party members). Garrius, EDI, Javik, and James all look on to Shepard's body in despair. The love interest or the sentimental party members almost begin to cry. They all presume Shepard is dead. But Shepard's arm twitches and they quickly discover that Shepard is alive. All of the squad mates rush to help Shepard. Scene fades to black. You could kill off Shepard instead, if you wanted to still emphasis the whole sacrifice thing. Doesn't matter to me either way.
2) You accept the indoctrination theory. Shepard was being indoctrinated after being hit by Harbinger's blast. We discover that the scene with The Illusive Man and the Catalyst were just all mental trials. If Shepard picks the destroy option given to her by the Catalyst, the hold on her mind is released and he/she wakes up, laying in a pile of rubble (the secret scene presented in the original destruction ending). It is at this point as developers that it is up to your discretion how to continue the game. Presumably the player would be allowed to experience more gameplay. Probably a couple more fights in London before she meets up with her crew. Maybe she discovers that the transport-beam to the citadel is all a lie. Maybe Anderson believed it would work because he was partially indoctrinated. They decide that the only other way they can get to the citadel now is by finding the conduit, the same mass relay they used in the first game to reach the citadel. They eventually find and use the conduit, get to the citadel and finish the game. Play endings cutscenes as you see fit.
3) You accept the idea that the Catalyst is lying to the player. The player discovers this by choosing the destroy option with the Catalyst. We also find out that the Catalyst lied about the other synthetics (i.e. geth and EDI) dying. A blast is sent out from the crucible that destroys all the reapers in the galaxy. The people on Earth fight a triumphant battle against the reaper-creatures. However, after all the cutscenes play out we discover that Catalyst also lied that Shepard wouldn't die if they chose the destruction choice; Shepard dies. Play ending cutscenes as you see fit.
4) Shepard is at the terminal in the interior of the citadel. Hackett tells Shepard they need to press some kind of button on their end. Shepard still fumbles and falls unconscious. They are then carried up by the elevating platform to the Catalyst's domain. Upon reaching there, the conversation generally ensues as usual from the regular ending. Except, when Shepard tells the Catalyst they have no future, no hope, the Catalyst responds to the effect of "you do have hope". The camera pans out to show the forces in space shooting down the reapers. A reaper dies due to the overwhelming fire power of an alliance fighter squad. The Catalyst begins to explain "for the first time ever, the organics have negated my solution". Shepard asks ominously "So what will you do now?" to which the Catalyst responds "We find a new solution. Even with the reapers gone, organics will still create synthetics, and synthetics will try to wipe out all organ---" Shepard cuts the Catalyst off "Your wrong!" he/she shouts and then continues "The geth are working in harmony with the quarians, just look over there!" Shepard points outside to a battle where quarian and geth ships are working in unison to destroy a reaper. "The synthetics you say that want to destroy all organic life are actually fighting to stop you!". It is at this point the Catalyst pauses for a moment, as in thought. It says "You... you are right. Everything we've done, everything we've accomplished, did not work as we planned that it would". Shepard lets him wallow in it for a bit before saying "Now what?". The Catalyst thinks then responds "We will try to fix the damage that's been done. I will return the reapers back to dark space until we come up with a new solution. We may never return". A cutscene plays, showing the reapers killing the mindless reaper-creature abominations they created on Earth, Palaven, Thessia, and everywhere else. Soon after they lift off these planets and fade from the galaxy, back to dark space. Ending cutscenes play as you see fit.
I'll be honest, none of my examples of the endings above are perfect. I'm just trying to give you a general idea of the type of ending I would like to see. If you do choose one, or a very similar one, I imagine you fill in the details.
As for end game cutscenes it's really up to your discretion as the developers to come up with more ideas. Just show players the type of things that would give them closure. Show them what happened to Earth, Palaven, Thessia, Rannoch, and even the citadel after the game. Show them what your squad mates are doing now. Show them what other characters are doing. Show them Wrex, Jacob, Miranda, Jack, Grunt, etc... But also maybe even show us other memorable characters like Conrad Veiner or Doctor Chakwas. Show what happened to Shepard. Does Shepard have kids? Does Shepard still live a military type of life or did he/she settle down and have a more peaceful life? If does Shepard die, what is the funeral or memorial like? Does Earth hold a vigil for Shepard's death? What happens to the creatures (i.e. cannibals, marauders, etc...) after the ending? Does the galaxy find peace at last from the reaper menace or does the reaper threat, or a new threat, loom on the horizon for the future of the Mass Effect universe?
In closing, I have to say if this is all a joke, and that you, Bioware, have already pre-planned to release some kind of ending-based-DLC even before this public backlash; the joke's not funny. In any case I once again thank you for your time and considerion.
*edit 1: Added general ideas for endings I would have liked to see.
*edit 2: Spelling and grammar fixes. I further elaborate on why the things I didn't like are a problem rather than leave them completely up to the reader to speculate. Removed sections where I list the problems of other players that I do not agree on. Removed sections that seemed irrelevant.
Modifié par ShdwFox7, 18 mars 2012 - 02:20 .
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