Mass Effect 3 (PS3)
Also available on Xbox 360, PC
4/5
Released March 9th 2012
The finale to the Mass Effect series lets you know that it is back and ready to prove it’s bigger than ever.
You are thrust straight into the action as Reapers invade Earth in a style reminiscent of War of the Worlds. Huge mechanical constructs strut across cities, crushing and disintegrating anything in their path. The tough choice to escape and find a way to save Earth and leave its people behind is the only option available.
From there the story grows as you build your team and prepare for the final battle.
This is a whole different level to Mass Effect 2 however. Where in that game, you readied a team for a battle against one foe, in this adventure you are in charge of assembling a galactic army to wage a universal scale war against the invading enemy.
There is much more on the line, with entire planets being lost and the future of whole races at stake.
Shepard is tasked with both being the front line of the fight and bringing together the different species and people to follow him. As ever, the choices you make as Shepard are what will ultimately shape the destiny of the universe.
It is definitely recommended that you play Mass Effect 2 before starting this game, (and ME1 if you are an Xbox or PC player) as they are designed as one story, this being the final chapter.
You are able to carry over your saved game from previous titles so that you have the same Shepard you have always played with and the choices you made will form the basis of how events unfold here. Shepard begins with the level and powers he had at the end of ME2, really making it feel like a continuation rather than a start over.
Playing the previous games will also give you a deeper understanding of the universe, the people, the events and your team. The game does include a Codex which details all of this for you, but it is much better to have experienced it for yourself.
The game feels quite familiar for those who have played ME2, but some minor changes have been implemented.
For one, Ashley Williams looks better than ever.
The combat system remains quite similar, with the combination of gun and powers as well as team mates and the ability to command. Melee has been given an upgrade with Shepard now having a heavy strike move.
The ability to curve powers around corners does not seem to have the same effectiveness as in ME2 however. Fired powers seem to hit enemy cover more often than not unless they are in clear view.
There is a new added feature which allows you to set Shepard and his squad to remove their helmets during conversations, while equipping them in battle. This was missing in ME2 meaning that those who chose to wear protective headgear missed out on the expressive faces in game.
The weapon choice system is a huge improvement too. In ME2 you were given a written description of weapons. Now each gun has a set of stats so you can see exactly what it can do. You can also add modifications to increase power and effectiveness in a number of ways.
As well as this, Shepard is now proficient in all weapon types. Players are limited to how much weight he can carry rather than simply not being able to use a type of gun. More weight in guns increases power recharge time, which means players may have to choose whether to rely more on bullets or biotics.
As with most things in game, power upgrades also come with choices. Similar to ME2, where the most advanced version of a power came with a choice of how to upgrade it, ME3 has this choice on the three top levels.
Just like the scale of what is at stake, the battles are bigger. A lot more battlefields are on wider areas, allowing for more chances to be tactical with your team, getting into defensible positions and flanking the enemy. The enemy AI seems to be somewhat smarter too, as well as coming thick and fast in swarms of powerful foes. Each battle is more intense than the last.
Although the scale of everything is huge, the game does not forget the little things. It is important for Shepard to maintain personal relationships and worry about individuals needs. Talking to people reveals various problems people are having among themselves.
As ever, there is also the opportunity for Shepard to forge romantic relationships with characters, some of either gender and orientation. He can also do a little match making for his friends.
A few more bonuses are new team mates, a retrofitted Normandy, a purchasable VI so that you needn’t worry about feeding your fish and a great range of different types of enemy.
A major new feature is the Galaxy at War. This is an area that ties in to a number of things. Accessible in the single player game for viewing stats, it affects the outcome at the end of the game and Shepards chances of success against the Reapers. However, the way to increase the odds are by playing the online multiplayer mode or by using one of two iPhone app games: Datapad or Infiltrator.
Multiplayer allows players to join up with a squads of up to four and battle against waves of increasingly difficult enemies and in some cases complete specific objectives such as defending an area or hacking systems. It offers players the chance to play as one of the various types of alien and try out powers they may not have had access to before. It is entirely a cooperative experience and players are rewarded for working together. Wannabe Rambos are generally punished by death.
As well as adding to Galactic Readiness you can also promote your fully levelled multiplayer character to become a War Asset for Shepard in single player, further helping his fight.
Some game features have changed. Bypassing doorways and computers is no longer included. Shepard will now do this automatically instead of the player going through a minigame. Planet scanning is hugely different now too. Rather than running a scanner over every inch of each planet, you now scan a section of a system. If a red marker appears that means you have found something and can scan closer. The close planet scan is similar to ME2, but much more straight forward. The major difference in scanning however, is that doing it too often will alert nearby Reapers to your presence, which will then come after you forcing you to flee.
There are a few bad points to the game. Online play is limited to first time buyers only, unless you buy an extra code through the network store. There is also some DLC which has been available from release day. Gamers tend to prefer having their games come complete without extra costs and unfortunately this technique of milking more money from fans is becoming increasingly common.
The DLC ‘From Ashes’ bears similarity to that in ME2 in which you gain Zaeed or Kasumi as an ally and complete a mission each for them. It does add a great extra flavour to the game as a whole, mainly for the new ally, but the price tag is quite excessive.
In the game itself are a few other niggles. You may find that you spend a lot of time walking and talking in comparison to getting into action. A lot of people in the Citadel need help, (though it does feel weird eavesdropping on strangers) and your crew regularly want to chat. This may or may not be a problem for players depending on preference. Helping people on the Citadel provides a chance for missions which give something a little different to the all guns blazing approach.
In ME2, your scanner/radar picked up objects from quite a distance. You might be able to see a medical cache that is in a room two doors down. ME3 has fixed this so that you need to be closer, though I personally feel it has gone too far in the opposite direction, now requiring you to be a little too close before seeing things.
Though you are given numerous missions, you do not get many updates on your progress or any way of checking if you have acquired a necessary item to complete one. The Codex Mission log could do with a big update.
The biggest problem with the game is some crashing issues. There seems to be no real cause, but from time to time, the game will crash or freeze forcing you to restart. Fortunately autosaves are quite regular, and you are also able to force them with a simple tap of the Select button.
If you are looking for a pick up and play shooter, this is not for you. If you want a totally immersive, fleshed out story with a personal touch and real consequences you will rarely find better.
