Bioware. Okay.
You've received a lot of negativity from your fans
(including myself) over the last few months. And to be perfectly
honest, it was grounded. And I think you know it as well, because
otherwise you would not have done this. That said... It's a band-aid. A
big one, and it heals the wound. But there will always be a scar.
(skip to final paragraph for conclusion)
What I noticed to be different in the EC (notice that I only have yet seen 2 endings, the bad one and the synthesis one):
*
In the illusive man's base, they talked about the human reaper a little
bit. I couldn't remember if that conversation was there before, but I
had never noticed it yet, and it gave some background to it, so that was
a nice, small addition.
* In the running to the citadel scene, it
explained where my squadmates went, and I got to say a final farewell to
my love. That was very necessairy and a good addition. I did wonder why
the normandy didnt get shot, hanging there hovering for a minute, but
I'll leave that up to... artistic integrity.
* Marauder shields had
less life. Good, for story's sake. But some people are going to nag that
he's too easy now or something. Don't listen to those. Continuity in
the story is what counts at that time of the game.
* When sheaprd
gets warped into the citadel, he talks to anderson about why the bodies
are there. That's good, but then where the heck is this reaper they're
building? show us! In any case, it got explained. So it's a plus.
* there's a scene that explains that hackett knows someone got in the citadel. Good, that needed clarification.
*The
starchild... well, it's still there. So what can I say? Okay, at least
all the motives and details of the plan are worked out now. I now
understand (and I don't care what anyone else says, this is how I
understand the story and no one will convice me it is otherwise) that
the starchild is an AI, created by organics, who were too flawed in
their own ways, not to have enough longterm vision to see that
ultimately, even their best solution was not enough. It's about the
weakness we all share as living entities. The AI admits even his
solution was wrong in the end, proving that organics and synthetics are
very much alike. The reapers were a mistake, created by a flawed people,
governed by a synthetic who learned he could be wrong. And the
synthesis ending creates a perfect duality. It solves the problem. It's
still space magic. But at least now the theme fits. The irony, if you
will, at leats makes sense now.
* There's an additional scene that has fleets scattering and joker having a tough time leaving. Good addition.
*
I noticed there was no longer a mention about the mass relays being
non-functional after the galaxy 'sploded. That's good. That never made
sense and had no reason to be.
* The endings. When I shot the
starchild, and he went berserk. I laughed out loud. Good one, bioware
good one. If you could do that in vanilla version, I would have said
that was the one true ending for me back then. But I saw the synthesis
ending (see above), and I got... closure. There are still some unsolved
bussinesses (see below), but I got to see what happened to everyone. You
shared your vision. You showed us what wa in your heads, and left us
enough clues to make it up for ourselves this time around (seriously,
what were you thinking last time around? We can't read minds...) The
ending reminds me very much of Peter F. Hamilton's biononics, that were
given to the human race by the silfen and Ozzy. Also, the final talk
between the kid and the grandpa chenges if you shot the starchild. Good
little addition. THAT's the kind of detail players want, and bioware
should have put in from the start. I also caught a glimpse of a
quarian's face. To be honest, you could have revealed it completely, and
then I would have gone Woah! and would have been happy. Maybe it
happens if you have Tali as LI, I dont know. If that's the case, i'll be
looking for it in future endings ill be watching, but that was exactly
the place to fully reveal it. So job well done. Also...Krogan babies.
Awesome.
What it DIDN'T fix:
*Still no explanation for dark
energy. The starchild makes a very small note about it in his
explanation, but otherwise... nothing. It should have been elaborated.
*
Where are the rachni? Nothing was shown about them. Also, more to the
point, the rachni decision in ME1 changes nothing, and that is a big
whiff.
* Where the heck was Zaeed?? He got shafted AGAIN!! I was
already pissed that he had such a small role in me3, becuase I loved
this character in me2, and now he doesn't even get an ending? Same goes
for kelly chambers! She was my prime LI in me2, and I get shafted on
this too!
* Still no final battle with the illusive man. For such a
good antagonist, he deserves a more worthy ending that just plain simply
realising he was wrong.
* Still a very, very, VERY long slow walk
through the citadel. This might as well have been a movie, there was no
need to annoy the player with this.
* The starchild's logic is still
flawed, and it's still pretty lame that this is the whole setup of the
galactic destruction cycle. But as I stated above, it comes full circle
this time around. So it's... less painful to take this time around.
*
During the starchild's loooooooong explanation, he made me feel like a
retard for not getting it, and that makes me think bioware thinks I'm
dumb and need 'special attention'. Also, shepard is talking for like 20
minutes, while the reapers are still killing everyone. I felt guilty.
This is kinda weird.
* It' still deus ex ending. No matter how you
look at it, that has been a storyteller's faux-pas since before
scripture was invented.
* EMS still has no real influence. That's still a big fault.
So in conclusion: I'm not going to say: "Bioware's done it again!"
You've certainly made the ending liveable and I had some good closure. I felt like I had choice again. For which I am very, VERY greatful and extremely thankful. Let that be the one sentiment that reaches you guys above all. It also has some nice little details in there which I loved and laughed at.
That said... It's not perfect and it doesn't fix the core of what was wrong. I also have a few little personal grievances for non-canon stories that weren't wrapped up.
Lastly, it restored faith. Now don't you EVER do this again, you hear me?