151 réponses à ce sujet

[NirvanaRain]

Ok so I just replayed ME3 today for the first time since the Citadel DLC came out and I have the extended cut installed, all the other DLC etc etc and I'm still left wondering what the hell happened at the end.

I am familiar with the Indoctrination Theory and I do believe it makes a lot of sense but if Shepard was indoctrinated and picking the destroy option is him 'destroying' the Reapers hold over him, and with the required EMS you get the breathing scene and Shepard wakes up in the wreckage in London. That's all well and good but has it ever been clarified if he then went on to actually defeat the Reapers or what?

I haven't been on the forums in over a year and I haven't been keeping up with news of Mass Effect so I'm just wondering if any of this has been clarified,  is it still being debated, or have people just moved on?

[chris2365]

Bioware maintains their position about the endings with the following statement:

"Speculations for everyone!"

As for the rest of us, some have moved on, most have lost interest. Many are just waiting to hear more about the next Mass Effect.

[SporkFu]

Don't Hackett/EDI/shep explain the aftermath of the crucible beam? Or, I suppose Liara explains the aftermath if shep does nothing, heh. 

[Iakus]

Don't Hackett/EDI/shep explain the aftermath of the crucible beam? Or, I suppose Liara explains the aftermath if shep does nothing, heh. 

Meh, they just say how everything is so AWSOME for you making the choice, and sweep any unpleasant implications under the rug.

 

Except the Refuse thing, which is little more than trolling.

[Excella Gionne]

There is no ending, because the stupid kid keeps saying "Tell me another story about The Shepard." It's a never ending cycle of endings with no end.

[Revan Reborn]

Ok so I just replayed ME3 today for the first time since the Citadel DLC came out and I have the extended cut installed, all the other DLC etc etc and I'm still left wondering what the hell happened at the end.

I am familiar with the Indoctrination Theory and I do believe it makes a lot of sense but if Shepard was indoctrinated and picking the destroy option is him 'destroying' the Reapers hold over him, and with the required EMS you get the breathing scene and Shepard wakes up in the wreckage in London. That's all well and good but has it ever been clarified if he then went on to actually defeat the Reapers or what?

I haven't been on the forums in over a year and I haven't been keeping up with news of Mass Effect so I'm just wondering if any of this has been clarified,  is it still being debated, or have people just moved on?

I'll explain:

 

Indoctrination Theory is only partially right, not completely. First and foremost, there is no "right" or "wrong" choice and the Reapers only "win" with one option, Refuse, which isn't actually choosing. So that entire aspect of IT is completely incorrect. The ending is largely explained thanks to the EC and what the aftermath is.

 

Secondly, while Shepard was in a "dream-like" state, his action to choose Destroy in fact did happened. The Citadel discharged its Mass Effect energy and destroyed all the reapers throughout the Milky Way. The entire ending is more so Shepard's conscious doing the fighting rather than physically doing it.

 

BioWare has never publicly clarified or explained the endings, and it is likely they never will. The only clarification we will likely receive is from the next Mass Effect and how our choices in the original trilogy impact the new game. BioWare already confirmed this is happening.

[NirvanaRain]

Secondly, while Shepard was in a "dream-like" state, his action to choose Destroy in fact did happened. The Citadel discharged its Mass Effect energy and destroyed all the reapers throughout the Milky Way. The entire ending is more so Shepard's conscious doing the fighting rather than physically doing it.

 

 

Thank you!!! This is all I wanted to know, so the Reapers actually were destroyed, just via Sheps conscious. Great, now I can at least have some closure to the series.

[DoomsdayDevice]

Thank you!!! This is all I wanted to know, so the Reapers actually were destroyed, just via Sheps conscious. Great, now I can at least have some closure to the series.

Um, he's only expressing an opinion. He's just stating it as a fact.

Bioware never made any official statements as to how to interpret the ending(s).

Everything is still as much up in the air as it was before.

[ZipZap2000]

A few things

 

Dreams were dreams. Shepard is grappling with being the hope of a galaxy and being human. He can't be seen to show weakness and instead the dreams become an outlet and the symbol of his grief, fears and regrets.

 

Destroy is destroy. Control is control. Synthesis is synthesis. Refuse is refuse. It all actually happened in the game and the chain reaction that follows the crucible firing happens in real time. How you interpret the meaning behind each of those endings is up to you.

 

The Reapers are the result of the catalyst's machine logic. It is programmed to carry out a task to preserve organic life at all costs and has judged that preserving the genetic material of those life forms at the cost of their lives falls within that directive.

 

The crucible messes with it's head but it's directive remains and to interfere with itself would be counterproductive to achieving it's task, so Shepard has to choose.

 

The Reapers aren't individuals, they are controlled by the Catalyst. They may think they are individuals or they may not again that's up to you.

[Orikon]

The last 10-15 minutes have been. Sort of. I'm still not how exactly Shepard managed to breathe in space but whatever....

 

The other plot holes in P:E are still there though.

[ImaginaryMatter]

The Reapers are the result of the catalyst's machine logic. It is programmed to carry out a task to preserve organic life at all costs and has judged that preserving the genetic material of those life forms at the cost of their lives falls within that directive.

 

The crucible messes with it's head but it's directive remains and to interfere with itself would be counterproductive to achieving it's task, so Shepard has to choose.

 

Preserving the organic material seems to be secondary to wiping out the cycles before they can develop an AI that will destroy all organics. Putting the slushy mix into your only attacking force is a very bad idea if you're actually trying to preserve the stuff.

 

The Catalyst seems to be no longer bound by it's programming once the Crucible is introduced. It allows the Destroy option, which by it's own admission, does nothing to solve the conflict -- instead it is only a function of the Crucible. Control is in a similar boat. Instead it seems like the Crucible does some literal 'changing of variables' to the Catalyst's code.

[DeathScepter]

i am partial to IT Arrival Edition and IT Harbringer Troll Edition.

[GalacticWolf5]

There's no need to explain the endings because they've already been explained in the game itself. What happens after each ending is perfectly clear and if you want to know more then you just have to use your brain and think a little.

 

Destroy > All synthetics are destroyed. People rebuild everything but it takes time. Shepard appears to have survived (High EMS only). What happens besides that? Well who knows? Maybe they build synthetics again, maybe they don't. What happens if Shepard survives? He/She continues being a hero.

 

Synthesis > Organics become part ''Synthetic''. Synthetics become part ''organic''.Final evolution of all life. Possible immortality. Reapers share the knowledge of the past cycles. People rebuild everything pretty quickly. What happens besides that? I don't know. Peace.  (Quick reminder that husks become intelligent beings. What the hell? Creepy!)

 

Control > Shepard becomes the new Catalyst. He/She uses the Reapers to protect the galaxy (Different ways depending if you're a Paragon or Renegade).Everything is rebuilt pretty quickly. What happens besides that? Nothing much. The Reapers are all around the galaxy protecting stuff. I have other things to say about this ending, but I'm gonna make a new thread soon.

 

What about the Krogans, Quarians, Geth and Rachni? Well that depends on what choices you made.

 

Krogans > If you cured the genophage: They rebuild Tuchanka. Expand on other planets.

                 If you didn't cure the genophage: They'll become extinct someday, unless a cure for genophage is found.

 

Quarians > If they won the war against the Geth: They go back on Rannoch.

                  If they lost the war: They become extinct.

                  If peace made with the Geth: Both species go back on Rannoch. Quarians adapt their immune systems with the help of the Geth.

 

Geth > If they won the war against the Quarians: They go to Rannoch. Maybe they build that Dyson Sphere thing Legion was talking about.

            If they lost the war: They become extinct.

            If peace is made with the Quarians: Both species go back on Rannoch. They help the Quarians adapt their immune systems.

            If Destroy ending is chosen: They become extinct.

            If Control ending is chosen: Maybe Shepalyst gives them a Reaper so they can all upload themself in it because all Geth want to be one (Which is why some allied themselves with Sovereign, he had promised them a Reaper body)

 

Rachni > If the Queen died on Noveria: They are extinct.

               If the Queen was saved on Noveria and Utukku: They continue whatever they were doing. Maybe they go back to Suen.

 

Well this post turned out bigger than I expected.

[ZipZap2000]

@ImaginaryMatter Plot holes don't actually change the ending itself they are observed in hindsight of the ending. Preserving the genetic material was it's way of getting around the fact it needed to preserve organics while stopping them creating from synthetics, after it came to the conclusion that organics will always create synthetics, the cycle is designed to preserve them before they reach that point.

[MegaIllusiveMan]

Another ending discussion?

 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

And another thing. Suppose your last name really was Shepard and you were playing the game, and when you found they left you under a pile of rubble in the end, how would you feel?

[Vazgen]

Glad that I survived. In pain because of my injuries. Hopeful that at least some of those assets I got for Citadel Defense Force will find me and get me somewhere safe.

[themikefest]

And another thing. Suppose your last name really was Shepard and you were playing the game, and when you found they left you under a pile of rubble in the end, how would you feel?

I would be upset and demand Bioware make another game showing  me being rescued. 

[Iakus]

Glad that I survived. In pain because of my injuries. Hopeful that at least some of those assets I got for Citadel Defense Force will find me and get me somewhere safe.

Hey, Joker, thanks for coming back for me.  No hard feelings about EDI, right?"

[Vazgen]

Hey, Joker, thanks for coming back for me.  No hard feelings about EDI, right?"

I would not mention anything about EDI. For all Joker knows, I have nothing to do with EDI's death. Might as well keep it that way for now. 

EDI herself would've gladly given her functionality to stop the Reapers.

War comes with a cost. Sometimes you experience loss, sometimes you must make sacrifices. Sacrifice is a choice you make, loss is a choice made for you. Everyone on the Normandy knows that.

[Iakus]

I would not mention anything about EDI. For all Joker knows, I have nothing to do with EDI's death. Might as well keep it that way for now. 

EDI herself would've gladly given her functionality to stop the Reapers.

War comes with a cost. Sometimes you experience loss, sometimes you must make sacrifices. Sacrifice is a choice you make, loss is a choice made for you. Everyone on the Normandy knows that.

Except this isn't like the archdemon fight where Alistair or Loghain are willing to step in and give thier life to end the Blight.  This is EDI being struck down unaware by Shepard. 

 

EDI didn't make that choice.  Shepard did.

[Vazgen]

Except this isn't like the archdemon fight where Alistair or Loghain are willing to step in and give thier life to end the Blight.  This is EDI being struck down unaware by Shepard. 

 

EDI didn't make that choice.  Shepard did.

Remember EDI modifying her code? She's willing to risk non-functionality rather than ally with the Reapers. EDI made her choice long ago. 

[Oni Changas]

Ok so I just replayed ME3 today for the first time since the Citadel DLC came out and I have the extended cut installed, all the other DLC etc etc and I'm still left wondering what the hell happened at the end.

I am familiar with the Indoctrination Theory and I do believe it makes a lot of sense but if Shepard was indoctrinated and picking the destroy option is him 'destroying' the Reapers hold over him, and with the required EMS you get the breathing scene and Shepard wakes up in the wreckage in London. That's all well and good but has it ever been clarified if he then went on to actually defeat the Reapers or what?

I haven't been on the forums in over a year and I haven't been keeping up with news of Mass Effect so I'm just wondering if any of this has been clarified,  is it still being debated, or have people just moved on?

Yes, over a two years ago.

 

[Iakus]

Remember EDI modifying her code? She's willing to risk non-functionality rather than ally with the Reapers. EDI made her choice long ago. 

Yeah, she's willing to risk being killed by Reapers.

 

But by her own commander?