Topic: Mass Effect 3 to be more of an RPG?

[sirean_syan]

Huh. I may not have a save before that point in the game. I don't remember if there was a point of no return warning or now. If there was, I may have a save. Otherwise, I'm kinda stuck.

[MysterD]

Huh. I may not have a save before that point in the game. I don't remember if there was a point of no return warning or now. If there was, I may have a save. Otherwise, I'm kinda stuck.

I can't recall if the warning was at...

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Before Cerberus Base attack or right before London.

I'm gonna have to check to see if I have a save RIGHT before

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Cerberus Base...

[gpw11]

I think they made it pretty obvious that you were heading to the endgame at that point.  I think.  I've been wrong before though. 

I loved the game, but I kinda don't want to go back that far.

[Xessive]

I stored a save that was at the point of making choices. Basically what I did was when it autosaved that point, I quit the game (Alt+F4), opened the save folder, copied that autosave file and renamed it to a manual save. Now I can load that specific save at any time. Don't need to do it but I like knowing I have the option of viewing the current endings when I feel like it

[MysterD]

Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut FREE DLC Released at around 2GB.
Go get downloading it!

SPOILERS IN BELOW LINK:

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IGN -> Extended Cut Endings.

[shock]

Yay!  I'm excited.

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and redo the last little bit and not just read/watch the endings.  I'll post thoughts in a few days.

[gpw11]

I can't get on to Origin, much lest download the update.  damn.

[sirean_syan]

That wasn't bad. Had that been the original ending I'm pretty sure most would have given Bioware a high five for pulling off a pretty impressive trilogy. As it is, Mass Effect has more or less been my favorite set of games this generation and if this was the ending I got in March those feelings would have been reaffirmed. Things are mostly the same (with two or three important changes), but it didn't feel rushed or so half-assed. Instead, it mostly feels thought out enough and, most important, respectful enough of the series that you could think someone at Bioware actually gave something resembling a shit about the ending.

It's really a shame that it had to be done this way though. I imagine Bioware is going to have a harder sale for their projects and Mass Effect's legacy is going to have a pretty big mark. I know it dragged down my opinion of the game. So, everything isn't fixed but it is definitely better.

[gpw11]

So, I guess this would be worth playing through?

[sirean_syan]

Hmm. Not necessarily. You could probably get what you need from a Youtube viewing. There are some small changes/modifications that I assume are happening depending on decisions and consequences throughout your Shepard's existence, but after seeing the ending you can probably guess what those changes are pretty easily. The real meat is in the last conversation before the end and cutscenes that show the immediate consequences of the ending.

If you feel like playing through the last couple hours again, go for it. Otherwise, just watch the thing online. It'll probably be close enough.

[gpw11]

Yeah, I just watched it on YouTube.  Pretty good, I imagine most people will be satisfied with it.  Or would have been if that was the original ending.  People like to bitch.

[MysterD]

Tully Ackland of BioWare discusses the Extended Cut and some of the ending's meanings.

SPOILERS GALORE for ME3 Extended Cut endings

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One of the goals for the Extended Cut, as part of addressing player feedback, was to provide more time with the love interest, and more opportunity for players to say goodbye to them and provide additional moments of connection between them. We did this in several ways:

    Shepard can now actually say goodbye to the love interest when they are split up at the conduit run.

    When Shepard sees flashbacks of important characters during the final decision, the flashbacks are now variable based on your playthrough – so your love interest can appear as one of the flashbacks, providing another moment of reflection between Shepard and that character.

    A memorial scene was added, partly to show a close bond between Shepard and the love interest. The scene is variable, and if Shepard has a love interest in a given playthrough, it will be that character who places Shepard’s name on the memorial wall.

    You may notice that in the “Shepard lives” ending, the love interest hesitates to place Shepard’s name on the wall, and instead looks up as though deep in thought. This is meant to suggest that the love interest is not ready to believe Shepard is dead, and the final scene reveals they are correct. As the Normandy lifts off, there is hope that the love interest and Shepard will again be together.

Extended Cut: Spoiler discussion is here:
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/355/index/12756781/14

[shock]

This mostly sums up my thoughts.  I was expecting... more.


Spoilers:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2012/06/26/mass-effect-3s-extended-cut-too-little-far-too-late/

[MysterD]

Mass Effect 3 - Extended Cut Soundtrack released for FREE to BioWare Social Network users.

As a key part of creating the new content for the Extended Cut, the team called upon composer Sam Hulick with the challenge of creating new music that would bring the Mass Effect trilogy story to a warm resolution, and inspire the emotions surrounding a variety of different visions of the future. The result was over 16 minutes of powerful new music, which many fans in the BioWare Community have asked for in the form of a downloadable soundtrack. We are excited to release all 7 tracks of the Extended Cut soundtrack for free – right here on the BioWare Social Network site!

[MysterD]

CVG -> ME3: Earth Multiplayer DLC coming next week and it will be FREE.

[MysterD]

IGN -> Mass Effect 3: Leviathan DLC -- Trailer.

[Pugnate]

Just finished the game. So I don't know how much was edited with the extended cut, but the ending was awesome.

My shep survived as did the normandy. My love interest didn't believe he was dead.

edit:

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My relays are repairable.

I just read all your endings. Oh my god, I would have been PISSED OFF! I am so happy they fixed all of this. The edited version lets the Normandy take off from the planet it crashed on, your love interest believes in your survival, and you also survive. But the relays being destroyed would have been terrible. Thank god they survived.

[Pugnate]

Mass Effect withdrawal.

[Xessive]

Enough was changed to make the endings worthwhile this time around

I'm currently replaying the game, though I am waiting for the Leviathan DLC.

[scottws]

I still need to get this game.  I just don't want to do Origin.  Maybe I'll buy it and then use a pirated version or something.

[Pugnate]

I actually like Origin a lot -- aside from the region thing. More than Steam. And there is a 50% off sale on Origin right now.

[PyroMenace]

Are you being a sarcastic asshole?

[Pugnate]

Oh. Origin sucked when it started in 2011. The latest updates just brought it into fairly stable territory.

OK, so it isn't as good as Steam, but it seems less bloaty and prone to crash. That could be because it doesn't offer a lot of functionality. But I like it. When was the last time you guys used it? It is actually pretty good I feel.

[scottws]

I don't care about features or stability. I care about the EULA, which I do not agree to.

I've already witnessed what consumer unfriendly services and EULAs really are all about and I'm not about to get into that situation even more deeply than I already am.

[MysterD]

Mass Effect 3: Leviathan DLC
REVIEWS:

Scored out of 10
OXM -> 8.0
IGN -> 7.5.
Eurogamer -> 7.
GameSpot -> 6.0.
Metro UK -> 6.0.

Scored out of 5
GameSpy -> 3.5 stars.

No score
GameCritics.com

[MysterD]

Mass Effect Trilogy Pack announced for all 3 platforms (PC, PS3, and X360)

Over 75 hours of story content, plus Mass Effect 3’s critically acclaimed multiplayer mode.
Create and customize your own character with his or her appearance and skills, then play your Commander Shepard through all three Mass Effect games.
Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome.
Build a personalized arsenal with powerful weapons complete with their own upgrades and modifications
Unleash devastating abilities and skills as you command and train an elite squad.
Take the war online with class-based, co-operative multiplayer in Mass Effect 3.

MASS EFFECT TRILOGY

When does the Mass Effect Trilogy release?
Mass Effect Trilogy releases on November 6th 2012 for Xbox 360 and PC, and later for PlayStation 3.

What does the Mass Effect Trilogy include?
Mass Effect Trilogy includes all three Mass Effect titles, featured in a new premium foil box featuring artwork of Commander Shepard.

Is the Mass Effect Trilogy compatible with other versions of Mass Effect, for example multiplayer?
Yes, the Mass Effect Trilogy will be compatible with other versions of Mass Effect. You will be able to play Mass Effect 3 multiplayer with other players.

What DLC is included in the Mass Effect Trilogy?
On PC, Mass Effect will include Bring Down the Sky and Pinnacle Station on disk.
For Mass Effect 2, Cerberus Network will be included which features Zaeed – The Price of Revenge, The Firewalker Pack, Cerberus Assault Gear, Arc Projector heavy weapon, and Normandy Crash site mission.
For Mass Effect 3, Online Pass will be included granting players access to co-op multiplayer.

On Xbox 360, Bring Down the Sky and Pinnacle Station are not included with Mass Effect, however they are available as stand-alone downloads through Xbox LIVE.
For Mass Effect 2, Cerberus Network will be included and Online Pass will be included for Mass Effect 3.

Information on PlayStation 3 DLC will be available soon.

Will the original Mass Effect be available as a standalone game on PlayStation 3?
Yes, the original Mass Effect will be available as a standalone digital title through the PlayStation Network for $14.99. It will release the same day as the Mass Effect Trilogy on PlayStation 3.

Is the Mass Effect Trilogy compatible with other versions of Mass Effect?
Yes, the Mass Effect Trilogy is compatible with other versions of Mass Effect. This means you can use saves from across the original Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 titles with the Trilogy. Mass Effect 3 multiplayer is also compatible across different versions.

[sirean_syan]

None of the real DLC. That's sort of amazing and sad at the same time.

[MysterD]

None of the real DLC. That's sort of amazing and sad at the same time.

For ME2 in ALL versions, most of the content $DLC's that are NOT w/ Cerberus Network just ain't there in Trilogy Pack -> Kasumi (Stolen Memory), Overlord, Lair of The Shadow Broker & Arrival are ALL missing.
Many of the weapon and item pack $DLC's and Genesis are missing from this Trilogy Pack, as well.
I was hoping they ALL would be in this Trilogy Pack.

For ME3, Leviathan DLC isn't there, either.

I'll have to keep looking for the rare BioWare Points Sale to happen for PC gamers like myself - which happens like maybe once or twice a year, if that...

[scottws]

I'm currently on my second playthrough of ME2 and have beaten ME1 once.  I don't own any DLC.  Is it the type of DLC that adds stuff during a game or can it be easily played after completion?

[sirean_syan]

A little of both. You can play any of them during the main campaign like an other side or character mission, but a couple feel more appropriate after you've finished (The Arrival and Lair of the Shadow Broker). The Kasumi missions are something you'd probably want fairly early in your playthrough so you can have Kasumi on your squad while Overlord is totally a side thing which can fit in anywhere.

[MysterD]

Change-log for upcoming Patch 1.04 for ME3 on all platforms.

Holy crap @ the long list of fixes & changes in this planned patch.

[Xessive]

- Players can no longer grab Geth Pyros over cover

WHAT?! That's not a fix! That was my main strategy against Geth Pyros!! Take cover right in from of them and when they close BAM dead!

[MysterD]

WHAT?! That's not a fix! That was my main strategy against Geth Pyros!! Take cover right in from of them and when they close BAM dead!

I did say fixes & "changes", right?
That is one of the "Changes" that I don't think is for the better...

[gpw11]

Yeah, that's kinda of bullshit. Chances of getting pinned down just increased dramatically and I can't think of any reason that they'd change it.

[Quemaqua]

Because they hate games that are fun?

[MysterD]

Forbes -> Info on upcoming ME3: Omega DLC.

[scottws]

Finished ME3 finally last night.  I didn't play it without Extended Cut installed, so I don't know what the end was like originally.  I thought the game did a great job making you feel the weight of the story the last couple of hours, but (the ending of course!):

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The end first reminded me of a mashup of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (injured Shephard stumbling about after the blast from the reaper : injured Sgt. Jackson stumbling about after the nuclear explosion) and the original Deus Ex with the very obvious path A, B, and C.  And the paths were so obviously a game construct rather than how I think it might exist if the ME universe were real.  "This is the docking port to control the reapers."  "This is the conduit you blow up to blow up the reapers."  "This is the energy stream you go to to magically make synthectic/organic spliced life."

I would have liked to learn more about what happened to my crew afterwards, but that isn't my biggest complaint.  Nor are the various results after you make your choice.  The part that bothered me the most was the stupid story The Catalyst told.  It tripped over itself badly trying to explain everything.  So he sends the reapers to do what they do to protect organic life from the synthetics that organic life creates... by harvesting and destroying organic life?  Also, he says that they pick a race to harvest each time.  Other than EDI, what synthetic AI did the humans create?  And EDI got along just fine with humans that weren't hostile to it.  And it was the Quarians that created the Geth, not the humans.  Why weren't the Quarians targetted?  It would have been better if there was no attempt at an explanation of the reaper's motives.

And what happened to Harbinger?  It was like Bioware just ran out of time or something when making the game.  They even say one of the reapers coming to Earth to stop Hammer from reaching the beam is Harbinger, but then that's the last you hear about Harbinger at all.

I don't know... I did like the game, but the ending was just not very satisfying.  I also missed some of the RPG elements.  They had a couple of more fleshed out side quests but they were nothing special.  And the majority of side quests were just item fetches.  And not even cool item fetches.  Just randomly scan a planet and hey you magically got the Rings of Alune!  Now go find the inconsequential NPC on the Citadel that invariably wants that item.  It would have at least helped if the Journal updated to reflect the items you had collected.

On the positive side, the action elements were pretty great and the overall story arc was well done.  Bioware did a great job building the sense of urgency and importance as the game went on.  I also liked the return of credit music done by Faunts, which was very reminiscent of the first game.

Finished the game. For the most part, AWESOME game.

Cerberus Base

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The battle w/ Jack [Subject Zero] was just...so thrown together.
But, it felt like a battle w/ her, a major character from ME2, should've been a lot more epic, interesting, and different than *THAT*.
It felt like...just another battle w/ a Phantom.

There was

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a battle with Jack

?  I didn't get that or realize you could trigger such a thing.

[gpw11]

Shit. You can't spoil tag in Tapatalk?   We will discuss this later.

[scottws]

Shit. You can't spoil tag in Tapatalk?   We will discuss this later.

You can but you have to type it out

[MysterD]

Finished ME3 finally last night.  I didn't play it without Extended Cut installed, so I don't know what the end was like originally.  I thought the game did a great job making you feel the weight of the story the last couple of hours, but (the ending of course!):

(click to show/hide)

The end first reminded me of a mashup of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (injured Shephard stumbling about after the blast from the reaper : injured Sgt. Jackson stumbling about after the nuclear explosion) and the original Deus Ex with the very obvious path A, B, and C.  And the paths were so obviously a game construct rather than how I think it might exist if the ME universe were real.  "This is the docking port to control the reapers."  "This is the conduit you blow up to blow up the reapers."  "This is the energy stream you go to to magically make synthectic/organic spliced life."

I would have liked to learn more about what happened to my crew afterwards, but that isn't my biggest complaint.  Nor are the various results after you make your choice.  The part that bothered me the most was the stupid story The Catalyst told.  It tripped over itself badly trying to explain everything.  So he sends the reapers to do what they do to protect organic life from the synthetics that organic life creates... by harvesting and destroying organic life?  Also, he says that they pick a race to harvest each time.  Other than EDI, what synthetic AI did the humans create?  And EDI got along just fine with humans that weren't hostile to it.  And it was the Quarians that created the Geth, not the humans.  Why weren't the Quarians targetted?  It would have been better if there was no attempt at an explanation of the reaper's motives.

And what happened to Harbinger?  It was like Bioware just ran out of time or something when making the game.  They even say one of the reapers coming to Earth to stop Hammer from reaching the beam is Harbinger, but then that's the last you hear about Harbinger at all.

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Even though EA and BioWare said this "rumor" here was false, I don't buy that one bit.
I think this "rumor" totally explains why the ending...well, turned-out like it did...
There was a rumor floating that this is actually what happened w/ on the ending - that most of the BioWare Writers were cut-off from doing the ME3 ending together:
http://www.gamesthirst.com/2012/03/25/mass-effect-3-writer-accuse-casey-hudson-of-going-it-alone-bioware-stays-silent/

There was

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a battle with Jack

?  I didn't get that or realize you could trigger such a thing.

Yup - to get that...

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Either You do NOT do the Grissom Academy Mission;
OR you do that mission and completely FAIL it.

http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Grissom_Academy:_Emergency_Evacuation