Sorry about the extended absence from updates. Mass Effect happened ;)
I have beaten the game now, and unlike “the internet” I am not filled with rage and hate about the ending (more on that in a bit).
As a review of the game itself.. The squad mate AI is much improved over ME2, textures have been improved (BioWare, please note, those of us on the PC would like the option to have even better graphics), excellent voice over work, good conversation choice… you know.. pretty much what we expect from a BioWare game.
More…including possible spoilers, after the jump.
One more warning.. possible spoilers in this part (though, with it being a month since release.. probably not spoiling anything for anyone).
I skipped a good portion of the side quests (not intentionally, I just didn’t get them completed before the ‘main’ story arc had shut them off to me). Because I purchased the Collector’s Edition, I got the Day 1 DLC for ‘free’ (side note: DLC development time, does not necessarily take away from Game development time.. the artists can start on the DLC, after they’re done with the Art for the game..for example).. I actually liked the Prothean character.. especially how he came across pretty much the exact opposite of what Protheans had been built up, and turned into via ‘history’. If you have the DLC, you NEED to take the Prothean with you and Liara when you go to the Asari home world.. the dialogue between those two on that planet is great!
The fights, even on ‘normal’ mode are fun, challenging..and when swarmed with Banshees and Brutes… fricking panic inducing. I like the change to planet scanning from ME2 to ME3.. not as tedious and ‘time sinky’ now.. also don’t have to deal with the probe inventory management. Kind of sad about the removal of hacking/lockpicking.. I would have liked to have seen that go back to the way ME1 did it.
The companion story missions were well done..and there are parts of the overarching story..that will make even Commander Shepard tear up.. to me, this shows what a great job BioWare did of getting us to invest in our relationships with these characters over the years…
Which brings me to the ending…
As I mentioned, unlike “the internet”, I do not hate the ending (I chose the left side – controlling the Reapers). I do, however, think that BioWare should have done a better job with closure in the cinematic “epilogue” part of the ending…and, it should have been more consistent..
The dialogue as you’re going up into the Citadel says that everyone in the assault party was wiped out.. yet, some folks have seen the two companions that they took with them on the assault party… step off the Normandy in the cinematic? I guess that could explain why the assault party got wiped out.. 2 of them ran to board the Normandy (at some unknown location) instead of helping, you know…assault. ;)
I know BioWare has announced DLC coming ‘this summer’ to help provide some closure to the ending (though, from what’s been said so far… they’re not changing the ending.. which I think is good – they shouldn’t give in to the ‘haters’ and change their story, to soothe other people’s egos). I’m hopeful that this will be along the lines of showing the survivors gathered around the memorial on the Normandy..and quick short shots showing you what happened to each of them.
I do plan on playing through again, going full Renegade this time, because some of the conversations I had during this play through, hinted at things being different if I’d made different choices in 1 and 2..so.. we’ll see what happens.