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[Esthlos]

Spoilers ahead from both Mass Effect 3 and Baldur's Gate 2

So, was considering the ending of Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal (with Ascesion installed, but should apply to the base game too).
Essentially, you just beat the final boss (Amelyssan) and an external being (Solar) gives you a choice: you can choose to keep the power for yourself and essentially become a god, or destroy it for good.

[sarcasm]A shame we couldn't merge Bhaal's essence with the DNA of everything in Faerun[/sarcasm]

In Mass Effect 3, you just beat the final boss (a battle of words with the Illusive Man) and an external being (Starchild) gives you a choice: you can choose to keep the power for yourself and essentially become a god, or destroy it for good.

Now, I don't know you, but for me the ending in TOB feels epic, while the end of ME3 feels like a massive let down, despite them being so similar.
Currently I think it is because of how they were done...

> in TOB, Solar is introduced early and you keep being lectured by it constantly.
< in ME3, the Starchild is mentioned in a DLC and otherwise only presented at the very end.
- What if the Starchild contacted you the first time you got on the Citadel in ME3, told you the exact same story it tells in vanilla ME3; with the difference that the Reapers turned on it (we wouldn't know why they keep harvesting... but after all, their reason is supposed to be unknowable for our mere mortal minds, isn't it?), he lost control of them, and is the one that gives us the plans for the Crucible and helps us along the way?
(It was created to stop conflict, so it makes sense that it tries to help each cycle's races trying to stop the Reapers - also, maybe it only manifests itself when the Reapers come back because otherwise it feared they wouldn't believe it and would try to shut it down instead)

> in TOB, the ending slides span many decades, and tell in a way better way what happens to your friends
< in ME3, you're told in a very generic way what will happen, and while the span isn't specified it probably only covers a few years.
- What if the ending sequence showed more in-depth the destiny of our companions and of the various races and groups we met?

>in TOB, the choices were presented throughout the game (master/give in to the taint, or refuse the taint).
<in ME3, (in a Paragon or Paragade playthrough; not sure about Renegade and Renegon) only one of the choices was presented as viable during the game (Destroy), with the others being either belittled as the ravings of an indoctrinated megalomaniac (Control) or never even hinted at (Synthesis).
- What if the Starchild lectured you on the possible uses of the Crucible the whole game?

Opinions?

[CrutchCricket]

Agree with most of the outlined points. Didn't know the ending of Baldur's Gate 2 but love that "artistic integrity" means ripping off your previous game as well, in addition to then other bullshit.

As for your holokid suggestion, better that it be unassociated with the Reapers completely. Also, you know, not a holokid. Otherwise contact with it beforehand setting things up is a good idea.

[Iakus]

Couple of big differences, though

 

There was no "Synthesis option in ToB

 

Destroying the taint means the Bhaalspawn lives on as an ordinary (albiet powerful) mortal.  No "artistic" breath scene.  No "Speculations"

 

Mastering/surrendering to the taint means the Bhaalspawn ascends to godhood.  None of this "You will die.  You will control us, but lose everything you have" garbage.  

[Esthlos]

Couple of big differences, though
 
There was no "Synthesis option in ToB

Destroying the taint means the Bhaalspawn lives on as an ordinary (albiet powerful) mortal.  No "artistic" breath scene.  No "Speculations"
 
Mastering/surrendering to the taint means the Bhaalspawn ascends to godhood.  None of this "You will die.  You will control us, but lose everything you have" garbage.

Of course there are differences... Mass Effect 3 is a much darker game, with a much more hopeless mood; a "and Shepard lived happily ever after" end would probably be out of place, while "it's possible that he/she survived. Maybe. If you did everything very well." on the other hand is more fitting.
(Forcing this in a badly executed way actually is probably even worse, but this is part of the point of the thread after all)

Also, when Gorion's ward ascends to godhood it is esplicitly warned and told in the ending slides that his/her perspective changes radically, so much that most of what mattered before becomes insignificant.
This is particularly explicit if you romanced Aerie: if you ascend you abandon her, and the best you can do is having your church protect her from your enemies.
He/she will control the essence of Bhaal, but lose everything he/she has.
 

Didn't know the ending of Baldur's Gate 2 but love that "artistic integrity" means ripping off your previous game as well, in addition to then other bullshit.

I suspect that, whenever EA is involved, "artistic integrity" actually means "we are not going to pay someone to fix something that you already bought".