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Mass Effect 3 Spoiler Thread |OT2| Taste the Rainbow

You'd rather the game end without resolving the main plot for the entire series?

Compared to what the alternative is that sounds pretty good!

But yeah, either way Bioware comes off looking terrible.

Even in the "never gonna happen, best case scenario" where Bioware proves the indoctrination thing was the plan all along and provides free DLC that picks up where the game ended (Shepard "waking up")... That'd still be Bioware leaving their fans without the true ending for well over a month probably more like two or three or even longer by the time that DLC would actually come out.
 

Moaradin

Member
Obsidian and CdProjekt can do choices pretty well, but I don't know if they could make near as interesting characters, which is the heart of the ME series IMO.
 
Compared to what the alternative is that sounds pretty good!

But yeah, either way Bioware comes off looking terrible.

Even in the "never gonna happen, best case scenario" where Bioware proves the indoctrination thing was the plan all along and provides free DLC that picks up where the game ended (Shepard "waking up")... That'd still be Bioware leaving their fans without the true ending for well over a month probably more like two or three or even longer by the time that DLC would actually come out.

Pretty much and I find the bolded to be unacceptable, free or not. It's like if Back to the Future III ended before Marty returned back to 1985 and the credits rolled.
 

Metroidvania

People called Romanes they go the house?
Obsidian and CdProjekt can do choices pretty well, but I don't know if they could make near as interesting characters, which is the heart of the ME series IMO.

I personally would say that the Witcher is more about the series and the lore (aside from maybe Roche, who is awesome) but Obsidian's done some pretty good character work in New Vegas and Alpha Protocol.

Veronica, Arcade, and Cass all have stories that tie into the main plot yet are 'relatively' fleshed out for something like a open-world-crawl conversation-light style game such as fallout. But yeah, that's never been Obsidian's focus either.

The reason ME's characters were recieved so well was not only due to their personalities, but their differences, both as species compared to humans, and from each other. Tali is vastly different from Wrex who is different from Garrus, etc.

The alien species also interact really well with the lore because they can serve as info-dumps on alien culture to the player with a lower risk of having the player get bored.

Pretty much and I find the bolded to be unacceptable, free or not. It's like if Back to the Future III ended before Marty returned back to 1985 and the credits rolled.

But if that's true, you as the player got to experience Indoctrination on a global scale along with everyone else who bought ME3. Isn't that "awesome"?

Wholeheartedly agree with you. If it ends up being true, it should have been released when the game came out in Japan.
 

Coxswain

Member
Obsidian and CdProjekt can do choices pretty well, but I don't know if they could make near as interesting characters, which is the heart of the ME series IMO.

Pretty much every single major character from the New Vegas DLC modules is on par with a Mordin or a Legion. Obsidian (usually) does pretty fantastic characters any time they're making a game/project where specific characters are given enough screen time to get personal development.
 

Aaron

Member
Well aside from the endings. Some issues I had with ME3's plot:

- Every character - except for Mordin, introduced in ME2 is reduced to a minor cameo. The Miranda subplot in particular was so bad, they would have been better off if they did it via email.
You should have known this would be the case after the lame 'suicide mission' ending to ME2 that made everything you did in that game pointless. That's the ending I wish they could have changed.
 

Zeliard

Member
Obsidian and CdProjekt can do choices pretty well, but I don't know if they could make near as interesting characters, which is the heart of the ME series IMO.

Obsidian is pretty damn excellent at creating and developing engaging characters. :p They have a great writing team.

They'd probably do it even better than Bioware does - and Bioware has long been strong at character development for the most part - since Obsidian imbues far more player choice into it (especially the dialogue).
 

Dany

Banned
^ Maybe some new game.

I just saw this. I guess they did just create the end sometime last winter in a rush, as if we hadn't speculated on that.




You did it mega64 . . .

Where do you see that, just look like the normal roadmap that would be for the finaling stages.
 

Zeliard

Member
And I'm dreading that EA is gonna buy Obsidian. Avellone's recent tweet seems pretty ominous, heh. It just reads "Interesting times." Could be read any number of ways.
 

hateradio

The Most Dangerous Yes Man
Where do you see that, just look like the normal roadmap that would be for the finaling stages.
It's from the final hours thing.

How about that death trap right behind and to the right of Joker's seat on the Normandy? I know it's there, but I've fallen into it about 5 times during my playthrough.
I only got stuck there once and avoided whenever I approached the cockpit. Just go near EDI so that you don't get stuck.
 

SRG01

Member
I personally would say that the Witcher is more about the series and the lore (aside from maybe Roche, who is awesome) but Obsidian's done some pretty good character work in New Vegas and Alpha Protocol.

Veronica, Arcade, and Cass all have stories that tie into the main plot yet are 'relatively' fleshed out for something like a open-world-crawl conversation-light style game such as fallout. But yeah, that's never been Obsidian's focus either.

The reason ME's characters were recieved so well was not only due to their personalities, but their differences, both as species compared to humans, and from each other. Tali is vastly different from Wrex who is different from Garrus, etc.

The alien species also interact really well with the lore because they can serve as info-dumps on alien culture to the player with a lower risk of having the player get bored.

If you want to see choice, Alpha Protocol is the best example by far. AMAZING. None of the choices are actually false choices!
 
I personally would say that the Witcher is more about the series and the lore (aside from maybe Roche, who is awesome) but Obsidian's done some pretty good character work in New Vegas and Alpha Protocol.

Veronica, Arcade, and Cass all have stories that tie into the main plot yet are 'relatively' fleshed out for something like a open-world-crawl conversation-light style game such as fallout. But yeah, that's never been Obsidian's focus either.

The reason ME's characters were recieved so well was not only due to their personalities, but their differences, both as species compared to humans, and from each other. Tali is vastly different from Wrex who is different from Garrus, etc.

The alien species also interact really well with the lore because they can serve as info-dumps on alien culture to the player with a lower risk of having the player get bored.

I'm curious, but how are the characters in KOTOR II I've never played it, but I've always suspected that the strength of Bioware's characters come more from their formula and less from their ability to write. Bioware's formula ensures that a squad member has something new to say after every mission and in theory requires every characters be very different from one another. This definitely forces far more character development from most games. My point is does Obsidian succeed in the same way Bioware does with KOTOR II.
 

Metroidvania

People called Romanes they go the house?
Pretty much every single major character from the New Vegas DLC modules is on par with a Mordin or a Legion. Obsidian (usually) does pretty fantastic characters any time they're making a game/project where specific characters are given enough screen time to get personal development.

Honest Hearts disagrees except for Graham, but I digress. The characters from Dead Money, however....so good.

If you want to see choice, Alpha Protocol is the best example by far. AMAZING. None of the choices are actually false choices!

Oh, I've beaten it multiple times. Thorton can be such a gigantic asshole.

No because i expect them to release the full ending aka Epilogue via DLC.

But what reason would Bioware have for holding onto the "true ending" this long and keeping it completely under wraps, at least officially?

The general fan feedback is hugely negative on the current ending. Would Bioware, and EA, weather as much shit as they have just to try and do something new with players experiencing indoctrination?

edit:

I'm curious, but how are the characters in KOTOR II I've never played it, but I've always suspected that the strength of Bioware's characters come more from their formula and less from their ability to write. Bioware's formula ensures that a squad member has something new to say after every mission and in theory requires every characters be very different from one another. This definitely forces far more character development from most games. My point is does Obsidian succeed in the same way Bioware does with KOTOR II.

Kreia is by far the best out of Kotor II bar the PC's backstory. all of the rest of the characters are fine, but the only one who strikes out at me now is Mirra the bounty Hunger. Atton is "renegade Carth", Handmaiden and Disciple are eh, and Bao-dur is Carth levels of boring. Visas is okay. HK is actually somewhat neutered unless you go full on dark side.

But Kreia's complexity shits all over anything in Kotor.
 
But what reason would Bioware have for holding onto the "true ending" this long and keeping it completely under wraps, at least officially?

The general fan feedback is hugely negative on the current ending. Would Bioware, and EA, weather as much shit as they have just to try and do something new with players experiencing indoctrination?

They get to troll us lol. It creates speculation and controversy. They are handling the ME3 story unlike any developer has. Creating a semi-false ending to mind fuck us.

I feel sorry for those who dont have internet and cant get DLC but its irrelevant to my experience with the ME story so far. The ends may justify the means to some.
 

Zeliard

Member
Then they'll rename Obsidian as Bioware California.

Or even worse, EA California.

tumblr_lgklufnrqk1qh55xlz7.gif
 
They get to troll us lol. It creates speculation and controversy. They are handling the ME3 story unlike any developer has. Creating a semi-false ending to mind fuck us.

I feel sorry for those who dont have internet and cant get DLC but its irrelevant to my experience with the ME story so far. The ends may justify the means to some.

Wow... just wow.

Are-are you Mac Walters?
 

DTKT

Member
They get to troll us lol. It creates speculation and controversy. They are handling the ME3 story unlike any developer has. Creating a semi-false ending to mind fuck us.

I feel sorry for those who dont have internet and cant get DLC but its irrelevant to my experience with the ME story so far. The ends may justify the means to some.

Just listen to yourself. No one in their right mind would ever ever ever do such a thing.

You would never get the producers and even less the marketing guys to sign off on such an adventure.

But you know, there was that one guy in Brazil who saw some UFO's and no one can find a explanation.

So, is such a thing possible?

Yes.

Holographic synthetic half-man messed up child.
 

Dany

Banned
They get to troll us lol. It creates speculation and controversy. They are handling the ME3 story unlike any developer has. Creating a semi-false ending to mind fuck us.

I feel sorry for those who dont have internet and cant get DLC but its irrelevant to my experience with the ME story so far. The ends may justify the means to some.

The fuck it won't.
 
Man I want to see the Final Hours of Mass Effect. But I don't got an ipad. You can get it for PC right? Is it worth it? Or is all the interesting/important info out?
 
They are going to buy Obsidian, suck out all the talent, fire everyone else and call it a day.

:|

I'd be super bummed out if that happened. The only game of theirs I've played is New Vegas, but it was immediately obvious to me the stuff the make is special.


Man I want to see the Final Hours of Mass Effect. But I don't got an ipad. You can get it for PC right? Is it worth it? Or is all the interesting/important info out?
All the interesting stuff seems to have come out at this point. Its an extremely well made article/thing. If you have any interest in the process of a company you should still pick it up.
 
If you want to see choice, Alpha Protocol is the best example by far. AMAZING. None of the choices are actually false choices!

Hmm, I've got Alpha Protocol from an old Steam Sale, perhaps it's time to finally put some time in. Any mods/patches/fixes I should be aware of before jumping in?
 

nyong

Banned
I still don't understand why people believed it was going to be a cut-and-dry Reapers die, the universe comes together joins hands and sings songs around a campfire ending. We never knew what the catalyst was or what it would do...and this was explicitly stated ad nauseum throughout the game. If it had just been a doomsday weapon that targeted the Reapers like a cancer drug just cuz, I'd be rolling my eyes. Would it be more emotional satisfying? Sure. Also shallow, though.

Also: the gates were not our technology. We didn't have to come together as a universe and make it happen, like the International Space Station or something...it was always borrowed tech and our time as rulers of the galaxy on borrowed time. I can't remember who said it, but it was stated that we were never ready for that sort of power. We were like cavemen handed a nuclear weapon (Krogan?). Even when faced with utter destruction, the Quarians wouldn't/couldn't put aside their differences with the Geth: we hadn't learned anything and we weren't ready. Fuck, this is the theme that pervades the entire series. There was no thematic shift here.

Bioware's execution wasn't the greatest because they left faaaaar too many open-ended questions, but at least they left us with something to talk/rage about until they fill in the blanks. This was almost certainly their goal from the get-go, I just think they miscalculated in how much closure was necessary to make fans happy. Also, sci-fi fans want to see us expand into the universe, not face NASA cuts on a galactic scale and a subsequent contraction to new roots (in a sense, the cycle did start again....this time, we won't be limited to 50k years of progress though).
 

Zeliard

Member
Hmm, I've got Alpha Protocol from an old Steam Sale, perhaps it's time to finally put some time in. Any mods/patches/fixes I should be aware of before jumping in?

I don't think there are any mods for it. As far as patches, it ran smoothly enough for me bug-wise.

Prepare for some jank in terms of things like character animation and enemy A.I. But also prepare for some meaty dialogue, fun characters and an impressive branching narrative.

As far as the gameplay, I would suggest as most tend to do with AP to go with stealth/pistol. Pump your points largely into those areas. The stealth is pretty enjoyable despite the sort of middling A.I., and getting that pistol skill up will allow you to do some cool stuff like aim/shoot from behind cover, take down multiple enemies at once, etc. Makes you feel pretty badass.

It's probably not a game you're gonna want to be playing too much as a shooter, i.e. going with assault rifles and shotguns and such. The mechanics aren't strong enough for that, but landing headshots with a silenced pistol or tranquilizer is still fun, as is sneaking up on enemies and silently taking them out.
 
Even when faced with utter destruction, the Quarians wouldn't/couldn't put aside their differences with the Geth:

I know right.

Quarians would never stand down. Geth building quarian houses and helping out with fixing their immune system would never happen in a million years. Quarians letting Geth integrate with their suite, not a chance.
 

DTKT

Member
I still don't understand why people believed it was going to be a cut-and-dry Reapers die, the universe comes together joins hands and sings songs around a campfire ending. We never knew what the catalyst was or what it would do...and this was explicitly stated ad nauseum throughout the game. If it had just been a doomsday weapon that targeted the Reapers like a cancer drug just cuz, I'd be rolling my eyes. Would it be more emotional satisfying? Sure. Also shallow, though.

Also: the gates were not our technology. We didn't have to come together as a universe and make it happen, like the International Space Station or something...it was always borrowed tech and our time as rulers of the galaxy on borrowed time. I can't remember who said it, but it was stated that we were never ready for that sort of power. We were like cavemen handed a nuclear weapon (Krogan?). Even when faced with utter destruction, the Quarians wouldn't/couldn't put aside their differences with the Geth: we hadn't learned anything and we weren't ready. Fuck, this is the theme that pervades the entire series. There was no thematic shift here.

Bioware's execution wasn't the greatest because they left faaaaar too many open-ended questions, but at least they left us with something to talk/rage about until they fill in the blanks. This was almost certainly their goal from the get-go, I just think they miscalculated in how much closure was necessary to make fans happy. Also, sci-fi fans want to see us expand into the universe, not face NASA cuts on a galactic scale and a subsequent contraction to new roots (in a sense, the cycle did start again....this time, we won't be limited to 50k years of progress though).

Here's the thing, they were not supposed to fill in the "blanks". The Mass Effect series is a trilogy nothing more. Casey Hudson stated that he was not interested in anything happening after ME3.

I won't even mention the fact that the reason for the Reapers to exist is idiotic. In fact, it might be the most baffling thing out of this entire clustefuck. I won't mention the 3 possible endings behind idiotic and all the same.

So, it was a badly planned and executed ending. I just want something that makes a little bit a of sense and isn't some "high-minded" bullshit.


I know right.

Quarians would never stand down. Geth building quarian houses and helping out with fixing their immune system would never happen in a million years. Quarians letting Geth integrate with their suit, not a chance.


Yeah, and did I just unite the entire Galaxy? Including curing the Genophage, brokering a peace between everyone and the Krogan?
 
I still don't understand why people believed it was going to be a cut-and-dry Reapers die, the universe comes together joins hands and sings songs around a campfire ending. We never knew what the catalyst was or what it would do...and this was explicitly stated ad nauseum throughout the game. If it had just been a doomsday weapon that targeted the Reapers like a cancer drug just cuz, I'd be rolling my eyes. Would it be more emotional satisfying? Sure. Also shallow, though.

Also: the gates were not our technology. We didn't have to come together as a universe and make it happen, like the International Space Station or something...it was always borrowed tech and our time as rulers of the galaxy on borrowed time. I can't remember who said it, but it was stated that we were never ready for that sort of power. We were like cavemen handed a nuclear weapon (Krogan?). Even when faced with utter destruction, the Quarians wouldn't/couldn't put aside their differences with the Geth: we hadn't learned anything and we weren't ready. Fuck, this is the theme that pervades the entire series. There was no thematic shift here.

Bioware's execution wasn't the greatest because they left faaaaar too many open-ended questions, but at least they left us with something to talk/rage about until they fill in the blanks. This was almost certainly their goal from the get-go, I just think they miscalculated in how much closure was necessary to make fans happy. Also, sci-fi fans want to see us expand into the universe, not face NASA cuts on a galactic scale and a subsequent contraction to new roots (in a sense, the cycle did start again....this time, we won't be limited to 50k years of progress though).

They could have done all that without involving a little boy hologram that created the reapers and can wield space magic.
 
I don't think there are any mods for it. As far as patches, it ran smoothly enough for me bug-wise.

Prepare for some jank in terms of things like character animation and enemy A.I. But also prepare for some meaty dialogue, fun characters and an impressive branching narrative.

As far as the gameplay, I would suggest as most tend to do with AP to go with stealth/pistol. Pump your points largely into those areas. The stealth is pretty enjoyable despite the sort of middling A.I., and getting that pistol skill up will allow you to do some cool stuff like aim/shoot from behind cover, take down multiple enemies at once, etc. Makes you feel pretty badass.

It's probably not a game you're gonna want to be playing too much as a shooter, i.e. going with assault rifles and shotguns and such. The mechanics aren't strong enough for that, but landing headshots with a silenced pistol or tranquilizer is still fun, as is sneaking up on enemies and silently taking them out.

Alright, sounds good to me, thanks for the heads up. I remember it getting mixed reception and 'jank' being brought up (wasn't sure how serious it was though), so it never hurts to check if there are fan patches or things of that nature. Glad to hear it was mostly minor stuff though and I'll probably have a great time since I love going stealth anyway.
 

nyong

Banned
They could have done all that without involving a little boy hologram that created the reapers and can wield space magic.

Space magic is everywhere in Mass Effect. Not sure why you're focusing on a hologram that may well just be an anthropomorphized AI that shows itself in that form for any number of reasons (i.e. indoctrination...an image that haunted Shepard, something familiar and non-threatening that he trusts and is willing to let his guard down when around).
 
I still don't understand why people believed it was going to be a cut-and-dry Reapers die, the universe comes together joins hands and sings songs around a campfire ending.
You are already starting out bad.


Also: the gates were not our technology. We didn't have to come together as a universe and make it happen, like the International Space Station or something...it was always borrowed tech and our time as rulers of the galaxy on borrowed time. I can't remember who said it, but it was stated that we were never ready for that sort of power. We were like cavemen handed a nuclear weapon (Krogan?).

This ties into the dark energy plot that was present in ME2. We were haphazardly using mass effect which was causing a buildup of dark energy in the galaxy. We didn't know the consequences of it and it would have eventually led to our destruction.


Even when faced with utter destruction, the Quarians wouldn't/couldn't put aside their differences with the Geth: we hadn't learned anything and we weren't ready. Fuck, this is the theme that pervades the entire series. There was no thematic shift here.

In my game they were able to overcome their differences. And there was a major thematic shift. Throughout the games, we were told that not all people were alike and that we should be tolerant, second chances and such. Synthetics vs. organics was also present, but it mostly involved the geth and the quarians. Then the ending decides that that was the major conflict in the series when it wasn't.
 
Space magic is everywhere in Mass Effect. Not sure why you're focusing on a hologram that may well just be an anthropomorphized AI that shows itself in that form for any number of reasons (i.e. indoctrination...an image that haunted Shepard, something familiar and non-threatening that he trusts and is willing to let his guard down when around).

There's a ton of explanation that goes into just about every other sciencey part of ME. Most of the technology makes sense in their universe as it's defined. This is just out of left field stuff that I guess "we can not comprehend".
 

GSR

Member
As has been said, AP really nails choice and consequence, even if other parts of it are lacking. It also integrates gameplay and narrative in some nifty ways; for example, in one part of the game you have to choose between recovering some important data and letting an ally be executed - unless you've invested significant points into technical skills, in which case Thorton is able to do both.
 

DTKT

Member
Space magic is everywhere in Mass Effect. Not sure why you're focusing on a hologram that may well just be an anthropomorphized AI that shows itself in that form for any number of reasons (i.e. indoctrination...an image that haunted Shepard, something familiar and non-threatening that he trusts and is willing to let his guard down when around).

Actually, if there is one thing that ME tried to do, it's to keep some kind of "science" behind most of the technology. But yeah, the Mass Effect fields are pretty much space magic.

Also, let's not even enter the realm of indoctrination. It's not worth it.
 

hateradio

The Most Dangerous Yes Man
Man I want to see the Final Hours of Mass Effect. But I don't got an ipad. You can get it for PC right? Is it worth it? Or is all the interesting/important info out?
It's out for PC, but I bet you can view most of the pics around.

I think someone posted this one before, but I hadn't paid much attention to it. I know it glazes over everything, but no indoctrination agent detected on the very end.

 
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