• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Mass Effect 3 |OT| Space Jesus Returns (tag all spoilers)

header29of1s.png

| Multiplayer OT | Spoiler Thread | GAF Plays: Mass Effect series | Franchise Bitching Thread | Alliance News Network |

FOR PEOPLE IMPORTING AN ORIGINAL ME1 CHARACTER:

ME3 is incompatible with faces built on the original ME1 editor. The reason for this is while ME2 takes raw ME1 data to transfer your face, ME3 does not, instead using the generated ME2 face codes. Unfortunately when importing a ME1 face into ME2, your character will not generate an accurate code. Thus, when importing into ME3, no face code exists for the game to read.

You can still import your character and all your decisions from previous games, but you will need to remake your face.

Or you can follow the instructions on this website to generate the most accurate ME2 equivalent face code for your ME1 original Shepard. It works very well. There will be some errors, due to the script used to generate the code, but most of these are basic and easily fixable things like hair/brow/iris colour. All the little details, such as facial shape, jaw width, nose height, etc, these will transfer correctly. The website used to generate your code will list what features it reset to default anyway, making it easy to see what you need to fix.

This works for 360 and PC saves.

News
  • BioWare has announced they'll be releasing free ending DLC this summer. Yes, free.
  • Enjoy the ride, you magnificent bastards. Drink lots of alcohol before the ending.
  • 03/06/12: You damn dirty Americans.
  • The launch trailer is out. It's space sex.
  • 02/28/12: One more week 'til you dirty Americans get the game, so enjoy the OT in the mean time. Or not.

Release:
  • Out now (Space)
  • 03/06/12 (US)
  • 03/09/12 (EU)
Platforms:
platforms1lir8.png


Developed by: BioWare
Published by: EA

On spoilers:

Before release, no spoilers. Post-release, use spoiler tags. Don't use tags randomly, give some context
so people won't be clicking them blind and get spoiled on the secret Shepard/Eiffel Tower romance.
EatChildren is a vengeful god, and he will strike you down should you disobey. Obviously, ME1 and 2 spoilers are free game.

storyc7dgv.png

The galaxy is a dangerous place. Between the geth, the collectors, slavers and Cerberus, you’ve seen the worst it has to offer. But something worse
lurked outside the galactic bounds… And despite everything you’ve done to halt their progress, they’ve finally arrived. The Reapers are here,
and they won’t stop until they've wiped the galaxy clean of all advanced life. Earth's defenses have been breached, and the planet is under siege.

You are Commander Shepard, and you’re the galaxy’s last hope for survival. Everything you've done, every choice you've made has led you to this point.
The rachni, Virmire, the Council, the geth, the genophage and the collector base: your decisions will come back to haunt you before the end.
Whether you’re male, female, black, white or yellow, only you can stem the tide of the Reapers, save the galaxy and finally find out what Tali’s sweat
tastes like. Travel to the farthest reaches of space, unite the species of the galaxy and gather a fleet powerful enough to retake Earth and destroy
the Reapers once and for all. If you fail, the galaxy falls with you.

gameplaym4f3v.png

Mass Effect 3 is a third-person shooter-RPG hybrid. You create your own character (or import your Mass Effect 2 one), choose one of six classes
and develop your character as you earn experience points and make decisions. The RPG elements (which were severely reduced in ME2)
have been deepened to allow for further customization. You get more control over your powers and can outfit your weapons with mods.

On the shooty-explody front, Mass Effect 3 has also seen some refinements. Weapon restrictions for classes have been lifted. However,
each class still only has a set number of firearms it can carry, with the Soldier having the most and Adepts/Engineers having the least. Your
powers are still affected by a global cooldown, but now this cooldown is affected by your encumbrance (i.e. the number of weapons you're carrying).
Taking cover has been smoothened, and Shepard can now roll to evade fire and quickly dive behind it. Grenades return in differing shapes and sizes,
with each class having access to their own unique variant. The omni-tool, previously a handy tool to open locks and watch porn,
can now also be used to stab people in the face. Or gut. Or whichever body part you prefer.

The galaxy map has also become more dangerous, with Reapers now sometimes actively seeking you out in the hopes of turning the
upgraded Normandy into Swiss cheese. Planet scanning works differently now: the Normandy can send out pulses to detect nearby war assets,
and find them by scanning a planet or sometimes by completing a mission.

As previously stated, you can import your Mass Effect 2 character into Mass Effect 3, providing he or she survived the Suicide Mission.
Major story decisions you made (whom you boned and whom you killed) in the previous two games will carry over, as well as your Mass Effect 2
level and abilities. To accomodate this, the level cap has been raised to 60.

Oh, and there’s Kinect functionality.

futuramas02e08001kine24pf6.gif


In all seriousness, it works pretty well. You can shout orders to your squadmates, open doors and select dialog options using your voice.

classeshxbc9.png

soldiermbxp9.png

Soldiers are pure combat specialists: no one is tougher or more suited to taking down enemies with barrages of gunfire. Soldiers have thorough
weapons training and can use all special ammo types as well as grenades. High-level operatives are outfitted with ocular synaptic processors that
allow them to focus on targets with lethal accuracy.

Powers: Adrenaline Rush, Concussive Shot, Frag Grenade, Incendiary Ammo, Disruptor Ammo, Cryo Ammo​

vanguardbraka.png

Vanguards are feared for their high-risk, high-reward combat style, closing quickly on enemies and destroying them at short range with weapons and
biotic abilities. They are outfitted with L5n implants, enabling them to perform a biotic charge that strikes the opponent with incredible force
while bringing the Vanguard in for close-range combat.

Powers: Biotic Charge, Shockwave, Pull, Nova, Incendiary Ammo, Cryo Ammo​

adeptsazfj.png

Adepts are biotic specialists, capable of disabling and killing enemies with raw biotic power. While they lack advanced combat training, they are the
best at defeating enemies without firing a shot. They are outfitted with L5x implants that can spawn a micro-singularity, damaging enemies and pulling
them into the air.

Powers: Singularity, Warp, Throw, Shockwave, Pull, Cluster Grenade​

sentinel58abp.png

Sentinels are unique, bringing both tech and biotic abilities to the battlefield. In addition to complete weapons training, Sentinels are equipped with
an advanced shield that makes taking cover much less necessary and rushing their enemies much more productive. This armor system can also be detonated
to blast nearby enemies.

Powers: Tech Armor, Warp, Overload, Cryo Blast, Throw, Lift Grenade​

engineernyzlo.png

Engineers are tech specialists, the most effective class at disabling the defenses of the toughest enemies or incapacitating them to render them harmless.
In combination with their weapons training, Engineers have the unique ability to spawn combat drones that can harass enemies or force them out of entrenched
cover positions.

Powers: Combat Drone, Overload, Sabotage, Incinerate, Cryo Blast, Sentry Turret​

infiltratore1xbr.png

Infiltrators are tech and combat specialists with the unique ability to cloak themselves from visual and technological detection. Their inventory is stacked
with a wide variety of weapons, equipment and powers. Infiltrators are deadly at any range, but particularly so with a sniper rifle. When scoping a target,
superior reflexes take over, time momentarily slows down, and the Infiltrator finds an easy picking.

Powers: Tactical Cloak, Sabotage, Incinerate, Sticky Grenade, Disruptor Ammo, Cryo Ammo​

mediafbc2a.png

Screenshots



Video's



galaxyatwarcbiyc.png

Shepard may be Space Jesus, but he can’t stop the Reapers on his own. While he’s busy having sex with recruiting other species
to take back Earth, the Reapers are breaking shit wherever they find it. With the Galaxy At War system, you can kick ‘em in the proverbial quad
from multiple directions. Your progress in the campaign mode and your doings in Galaxy At War can be synched, potentially giving you an edge
against the Reapers in the former. Note that the Galaxy At War system is entirely optional: you can reach the optimal ending in the campaign
perfectly fine without it. Or you can utterly doom civilization. It’s all up to you.

Cooperative multiplayer

For the first time in recorded history, a Mass Effect game comes with a multiplayer suite. Before you highlight this part in a quote and post
your favorite bailout.gif, however, hear me out. Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer pits you and three allies against a horde (see what I did there?)
of baddies, ranging from Cerberus scum to Reaper thralls. As in the single player mode, you can create your own character, choosing from
a variety of classes and species. The victories you score in this mode can influence your galactic readiness meter in Mass Effect 3’s story mode.
Shepard and your character might even cross paths.

For more info and multiplayer discussion, visit the official multiplayer thread by EatChildren.

Mass Effect: Infiltrator

This iOs game, developed by IronMonkey Studios, puts you in the boots of Randall Ezno as he kicks Cerberus ass throughout the galaxy.
Your progress in the game can be synched to Mass Effect 3, unlocking special weapons and giving you more assets to send to war.



Mass Effect: Datapad

An iOS app that will allow you to keep track of your Galactic Readiness-meter, even when you’re not at home.
Because fighting the Reapers will totally impress the ladies.

systemrequirementsjyd8t.png

Minimum:
  • Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
  • 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD CPU
  • 1GB RAM (Windows XP) / 2GB RAM (Windows Vista / 7)
  • 56 MB video memory with Pixel Shader 3.0 support; NVIDIA 7900 or better; ATI X1800 or better.
  • DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card

Recommended:
  • Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
  • 2.4+ GHz Core 2 Duo Intel or equivalent AMD CPU
  • 2GB RAM (Windows XP) / 4GB RAM (Windows Vista / 7)
  • ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB, NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB, or better recommended
  • 100% DirectX compatible sound card and drivers
dlctudxc.png

From Ashes

fromashesiha1l.png


Unearth the secrets of those who came before. Mass Effect 3: From Ashes introduces a new squadmate (
the Prothean
) to Shepard's crew.
In order to recruit this enigmatic character, Shepard will have to travel to the once verdant world of Eden Prime, now a battleground in the war with
the Reapers. Includes the new squadmate, a new mission, a new weapon and an alternate appearance for every squadmate.

Price: 800 MSP / 800 BWP / $9,99 (PSN) / Free for Collector's Edition owners
Release date: 03/06/12

Pre-order DLC
Mass Effect 3, once again, comes with a multitude of pre-order and promotion DLC, unlocked through various means, ranging from
buying an art book to finding the Jade Monkey.

Pre-ordering from Origin nets you the AT-12 Raider shotgun. Playing the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning demo gives you access to the
Reckoner Knight armor. Completing said demo also delivers the Chakram Launcher assault rifle into your greedy hands. Pre-ordering from
various retailers can get you the N7 Warfare Gear and/or the M-55 Argus. Pre-ordering “The Art of the Mass Effect Universe” from Barnes and Noble
makes you the proud owner of the Collector Assault Rifle for some multiplayer mayhem. Buying the Collector’s Edition gives you a robot dog
for the Normandy, an N7-hoodie to wear aboard your ship, a character appearance pack, an extra crewmember and mission (see above) and extra weapons.

swagkzc52.png

Collector’s Edition:



Sometimes, the standard edition is not enough. Sometimes, you want more than the common rabble. Sometimes you want a robotic dog
running around the Normandy, no matter what the cost. Never fear, BioWare has you covered. The Collector’s Edition includes:

  • The game in a premium metal case
  • A 70-page hardcover art book
  • A limited edition Mass Effect: Invasion comic issue
  • A 4x6 lithograph featuring our favorite ship, Serenity The Normandy SR-2
  • A digital soundtrack
  • A Normandy prop for your Xbox Live avatar
  • Some swag for your BioWare Social Network account, should you ever dare to venture there
  • Extra DLC, including new weapons, an extra squadmate, an extra mission and extra outfits.
Prima Strategy Guide:

strategyguidesveup5.png


The strategy guide comes in two flavors, a normal edition and a Collector's Edition. The normal edition includes:

  • Fight YOUR Way - Multiple approaches to every key battle
  • Dominate in Multiplayer - Comprehensive maps prepare you for battle and help you survive
  • Choose the Best Gear - Every weapon and piece of armor revealed, including mods and upgrades
  • Take Earth Back - Class breakdowns and build recommendations give you the advantage you need against the Reapers
The Collector's Edition comes in a hardcover with metallic finish. It includes exclusive access to the online guide, a behind-the-scenes interview
with BioWare employees and an art section with never-before-seen panorama shots of the game's many areas.

The Art of the Mass Effect Universe:

artofthemeuniversevruti.png


Do you ever look at an asari and wonder what painstaking mental process must’ve gone on in the artist’s head? Wonder no more, this
184-page artbook answers every question you might have ever had. In all seriousness, this thing looks awesome and you should buy it.

expandeduniverseivip7.png

Can’t get enough Mass Effect? Want to know everything that’s happened in the universe so far? Is your name EatChildren?
Our friends at BioWare have what you need.

novels21z0n.png



If your thirst is still not sated after reading these four three novels, you might want to consider reading the comics
or playing Mass Effect Galaxy, the first Mass Effect iOS game.

creditsssc3a.gif

The war fought around this OT makes the war for the survival of the galaxy looks like child’s play. I'd like to thank Shingonation
for offering his assistance, and Dax01 and RoboPlato for proofreading. I'd also like to thank EatChildren because he’s an awesome guy and
I couldn’t resist taking a jab at his self-professed Mass Effect-obsession. Finally, I'd like to thank Chinner for handing the OT over to me.
I feel bad about all the controversy surrounding his potential thread, but I think he'll like what I conjured up here.

It’s pretty tough finding a balance between information and humor, but I think I found it. And if I didn’t, well…

dealwithit2rtihz.png
 

Dennis

Banned
Good OP - meaty but not too cluttered.


tl;dr I am Commander Shepard and this is my favorite Mass Effect 3 |OT| on the NeoGAF.
 

Arjen

Member
Nice OP! Love the deception cover. lol
Can't believe it's almost a week away, so looking forward to it.
 

EatChildren

Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Origin ball and chain master race icon made me laugh then cry.

Excellent op.

Does anyone know if Thane will be back?

He is back, along with basically every single major character (eg: every ME2 squadmate), though not as a recruitable squadmate.
 
OP said:
. I'd like to thank Shingonation
for offering his assistance, and Dax01 and RoboPlato for proofreadingI'd also like to thank EatChildren because he’s an awesome guy and
I couldn’t resist taking a jab at his self-professed Mass Effect-obsession.

Please tell me this was intentional
KuGsj.gif
 
Oh shit, I had completely forgotten that this is out next week.

Must do my next ME2 playthrough... but I have so much school work to do.
 

glaurung

Member
Superior OP for the win.

All that's missing is the fact that anyone who pre-ordered the game from game.net or gamestation.co.uk is going to get nothing. Nothing!

*cackles insanely*
 

Riposte

Member
I wouldn't be surprised if the multiplayer is a huge hit. Very, very addictive. Doesn't even need to be good (it's rather meh taken on its own) to get people hooked on it. I think a lot of games will copy it.
 

Dennis

Banned
Origin ball and chain master race icon made me laugh then cry.

Excellent op.



He is back, along with basically every single major character (eg: every ME2 squadmate), though not as a recruitable squadmate.

Damn, he was my favorite character and I wanted him back on team Shepard Thane Garrus
 

MasterShotgun

brazen editing lynx
Shit, this means it's only one more week. I'm playing through Dead Space 2 right now, so if I don't rush through it, I should be kept busy until this releases.

Good OP by the way.
 

rdrr gnr

Member
Well, here we go. I have my fingers crossed that this game will deliver.

Clint Mansell will undoubtedly deliver a God-tier soundtrack.
 

Dennis

Banned
I like how the focus on Ashley is Biowares way of telling me that I made the right choice when I made a nice little crater out of Kaidan.

Now the wait to kill Vega begins......
 

Bowdz

Member
I wouldn't be surprised if the multiplayer is a huge hit. Very, very addictive. Doesn't even need to be good (it's rather meh taken on its own) to get people hooked on it. I think a lot of games will copy it.

I have to admit, I was staunchly opposed to multiplayer in ME3, but Bioware completely proved me wrong based on the demo. On the PC, it is really enjoyable and addicting and I'm eager to see more maps and upgrades in the full game.

Kudos on a great OP.
 

EatChildren

Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Is the "Take Back Earth" the launch trailer, or can we expect something like ME2's? in a few days?

We can expect another launch trailer like ME2's, yeah. The Take Back Erf trailer is similar to the CGI trailer ME2 received.
 

Dennis

Banned
Waiting to upgrade my videocard to play this, Nvidia better hurry up with those keplers

I don't think this is a particularly demanding game from what I have seen.

You don't need much power to render one or two colors! *badum-tish*

Don't ban me already!
 

Feature

Banned
I love the game, but I seem to have forgotten everything about it. I see people mentioning characters and I keep having to go and google them to know who they were. Like this Thane guy or Ashley... maybe it's because I only played in a squad with that big grunt guy and the girl who could teleport all over the place.
 
Top Bottom