Mass Effect 3

 Xbox 360
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 3849 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,035 out of 3849
  2. Mixed: 461 out of 3849
  3. Negative: 1,353 out of 3849
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  1. huss2215
    Nov 14, 2013
    9
    Graphics: The graphics are starting to look a little out dated but there are moments where they look amazing. Mostly when there’s blue lighting. 9.0.
    Sound: Professional Bioware voice acting as you know it, themes were great. 10.
    Gameplay: The gameplay feels a little more casual than usual, although it is very similar to Mass Effect 2 (at least for my character). RPG elements are    Graphics: The graphics are starting to look a little out dated but there are moments where they look amazing. Mostly when there’s blue lighting. 9.0.
    Sound: Professional Bioware voice acting as you know it, themes were great. 10.
    Gameplay: The gameplay feels a little more casual than usual, although it is very similar to Mass Effect 2 (at least for my character). RPG elements are similar, but the game doesn’t need any tweaks, it seems just fine. The problem with the gameplay is that it gets way to repetitive, and I went ahead and did every mission available. It feels like a chore at times, and some moments that are meant to be scripted events, look only decent. In my opinion they should have left the scripted events to the professionals at Naughty Dog, but there are still okay moments, but nothing that will drop you out of your seat. Mass Effect 2 was better in almost every way. The way the game builds relationships is a lot more strict than in the previous game. Still with some of those cons, Mass Effect 3’s gameplay is still a must play, especially those like myself who transferred their saves since the first title. 8.5.
    Story: The story was a pretty good story, and near the ending it did get ridiculous but it was still okay. I didn’t really understand all the outrage just because of the ending, it was still a proper way to end a trilogy assuming that was Biowares goal. 8.0.
    Lasting Appeal: The game is still worth the buy, I clocked almost 30hours, doing everything. 10.
    Overall Score: 9.1 out of 10.    … Expand
  2. DragonBall
    Mar 13, 2014
    9
    I won't go into detail, but I have to say this: the ending of Mass Effect 3 is easily the lowest point in the trilogy. The Extended Cut DLC makes it better (I recommend you download and install that before playing), but even then it's still a low point. Other than that, it stands up to the high bar that the previous two games set. However, just like with Mass Effect 2, I recommend that youI won't go into detail, but I have to say this: the ending of Mass Effect 3 is easily the lowest point in the trilogy. The Extended Cut DLC makes it better (I recommend you download and install that before playing), but even then it's still a low point. Other than that, it stands up to the high bar that the previous two games set. However, just like with Mass Effect 2, I recommend that you play through ME1, transfer your save to ME2, then transfer your ME2 save to ME3. It just makes the game that little bit better. The Mass Effect trilogy is an absolute must play.… Expand
  3. banda89
    Jun 28, 2015
    9
    I will admit it, I was one of the people that didnt like the ending of ME3. But still I didnt make a great deal about ir, obviously I wished for a Fairy Tale ending where everyone is alive and all its happy, but it didnt, oh well.
    Minor and sutile improvements, Horde like Multiplayer, intense campaign, everytihng its there. Just hoping ME: Andromeda will be awesome
  4. rotku
    Mar 18, 2012
    8
    Mass Effect 3 could easily have scored a 10, could have been an absolute epic, a poignant storyline in which it felt that you and all the characters within the game mattered and all played their part in shaping the future of the universe. I even thought that a trilogy of movies was possible, however this game is let down by two things, one minor and one major. The minor is the loadingMass Effect 3 could easily have scored a 10, could have been an absolute epic, a poignant storyline in which it felt that you and all the characters within the game mattered and all played their part in shaping the future of the universe. I even thought that a trilogy of movies was possible, however this game is let down by two things, one minor and one major. The minor is the loading times/screens, too many and too often but I could have lived with this as I was so engrossed in gathering my troops for the final battle for earth. The major problems is the ending. It's all over most boards and discussion groups across the net so I'm not going into it in details suffice to say that I felt robbed after playing through three games and hundreds of hours....this is the best that could be developed......what a cop out!!!… Expand
  5. ME_Paruk
    Apr 10, 2012
    9
    Excellent Game, comparable to ME2
    Good- Long, like new gameplay(Climbing smarter enemies), story interesting
    Bad - Audio sync is terrible, ok ending, multiplayer with decrease in galactic rating 1% per day
  6. Sasori261
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game was absolutely great until the ending. It was a terrible ending to end an amazing series, but that doesn't mean the game deserves a bad rating. Although I agree about the day 1 DLC, they don't force you to buy it! I also disliked how none of my decisions made any difference in the end, sure the geth are now extinct, and if I had chosen to, so would the rachni, but it never really mattered for the ending. They only supplied more resources for building the Crucible. So anyone that complains that the game is crap, try and make a game that's better than it, and you'll probably be shot down, just like your trying to do to Bioware and Mass Effect 3. So the game is pretty good until the ending, so don't let all the negative reviews stop you from buying the game.… Expand
  7. Grimloche
    Mar 26, 2012
    10
    This game was amazing and don't let anyone talk you out of playing it because they hate EA. Honestly it's amazingly good. The entire game is filled with endings to all the major plot points maintained throughout the story. Big emotional events with sacrifice being a key theme happen regularly. There is literally an ending for every plot point in the series. So the complaint of the actualThis game was amazing and don't let anyone talk you out of playing it because they hate EA. Honestly it's amazingly good. The entire game is filled with endings to all the major plot points maintained throughout the story. Big emotional events with sacrifice being a key theme happen regularly. There is literally an ending for every plot point in the series. So the complaint of the actual ending being bad, is based on people not realizing that fact. Those same people complaining about the lack of ending are the type of people who rush through the game and skip dialogue. You know who I'm talking about, we all know them. TL:DR; Just play it, ignore these people pretending it's the worst thing ever.… Expand
  8. McNugget
    Mar 28, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 is the best game ive ever played. it has a great story, good graphics and a excellent soundtrack. i was a little disappointed with the ending but other than that the game was amazingly good
    10/10
  9. YendorNostrebor
    Apr 2, 2012
    10
    Great ending, Bioware. Stunning. I dont understand how people can say all three are the same: back-to-zero cave dwelling; self-destroying power-grab; or peaceable melding of flesh and machine â
  10. seagol
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    This was by far the best mass effect experience until the final mission, during the whole playthrought it really was awesome but the end was a big let down, anyways, still a great game!
  11. Khan
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 takes the relationships and choices you've made through the series and wraps them up in an emotional and awesome experience. I wanted to hate this game, just like most of the people here, but it just did such a fantastic job of making me feel real emotions for the choices I made and the characters I've grown to love since the series birth. The story arcs within the game areMass Effect 3 takes the relationships and choices you've made through the series and wraps them up in an emotional and awesome experience. I wanted to hate this game, just like most of the people here, but it just did such a fantastic job of making me feel real emotions for the choices I made and the characters I've grown to love since the series birth. The story arcs within the game are fantastic on their own.

    As someone who hates the second game, I can say without hesitation that Mass Effect 3 makes a great close to the series, even if only for the emotional reunions and choices. If your a fan of the series, and have grown to care for its cast of characters at all, this game will invoke emotions that few others can.    … Expand
  12. Swimming_MANGO
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    I literally just finished the game a few minutes ago, and I have to say, this is one of the best games I have ever played. Bioware did a fantastic job of neatly wrapping up the Mass Effect universe, plain and simple. Anyone that thinks otherwise, while entitled to their opinion entirely, isn't taking into account the scale of the actions in the game. I won't spoil anything, but almostI literally just finished the game a few minutes ago, and I have to say, this is one of the best games I have ever played. Bioware did a fantastic job of neatly wrapping up the Mass Effect universe, plain and simple. Anyone that thinks otherwise, while entitled to their opinion entirely, isn't taking into account the scale of the actions in the game. I won't spoil anything, but almost every major story mission has huge consequences that already alter the game world tremendously, and the ending is simply more extreme. The ending now brings me to my next point. Unlike popular belief that the choices you made in the earlier games do not have any impact, contrary to a statement by Bioware, they really do. There are subtle occurrences that can and will alter the game's multiple endings drastically.
    Now that the controversy around that has been dealt with let me get on with the game. The game is spectacular! The gameplay is nearly identical to Mass Effect 2, but nothings wrong with that, because it works. The combat is fluid, with a slightly tactical edge to it, and even on Normal difficulty, will force you to think, and solve through each combat situation because it is quite challenging compared to most games' normal difficulty. There are several more weapons added into the game, improving on that part of the second game, and even adds simplistic modifications to them to allow for increased stats as you see fit. Outside of the combat, Mass Effect still is heavy story based game, and the story is fantastic, epic, impacting, and fills the player with a sense of desperation, and dread (a rare accomplishment in most games). The multiplayer is some of the best I've seen in a long time, being far more enjoyable, and fun then anything else in a long time, and I mean who hasn't wanted to play in the Mass Effect universe as Turian, or Salarian, or Quarian, or Krogan?
    There are really only a few things that can be said to harm the games rating. At times, the frame rate will get a bit choppy, but thankfully never have I experienced frame rate issues while in combat, and on one occasion the animation for jumping through a Mass Relay played when it should have loaded the next cluster of planets in a system. Aside from these minor issues, there is also downloadable content that can be bought on launch day that contains an overpowered character, and an overpowered weapon. To truly experience the full game, this content is necessary, and its unfortunate to see Bioware forced to do this because of their publisher, EA.
    The game, even with these flaws accounted for, is still nearly perfect. It's clear that Bioware was aiming to make a perfect 10/10 game, but unfortunately due to EA, and the minor graphical issues, the game looks perfect, sounds perfect, plays perfect, and feels perfect. I wish I could give the game a perfect rating of 10/10 but because of its flaws I have to give it the one less regardless of how minor they feel. Bioware has done an outstanding job with Mass Effect 3. I'm proud to call myself a citizen of Edmonton, Bioware's headquarters in Alberta, Canada. A fantastic way to conclude the trilogy.    … Expand
  13. ichigo2601
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    this is simply the best gaming trilogy out there. maybe it doesn't have the best gameplay in the world but it never claimed to. it said it was improving and i believe it has. i hope there are more games from this series set as a sequel maybe hundreds or thousands of years after because i cba with a sequel =]
  14. BizzleTheDon
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    Honestly, Bioware cut corners on this game, and what could have been a hit with both critics (who are clearly paid for by major developers) AND fans, turned into a minor black eye on what is otherwise an excellent trilogy. This IS a good game, but it is flawed when it didn't have to be. A few more months and Bioware could've spent the time developing three alternate endings, as opposedHonestly, Bioware cut corners on this game, and what could have been a hit with both critics (who are clearly paid for by major developers) AND fans, turned into a minor black eye on what is otherwise an excellent trilogy. This IS a good game, but it is flawed when it didn't have to be. A few more months and Bioware could've spent the time developing three alternate endings, as opposed to copy and pasted versions of the same ending that completely eradicated any feeling of your decisions up to that point feeling like they mattered worth nothing. In addition to that, they also could have formulated answers for the clear plot holes in the game. (SPOILER ALERT!!: Who is the being on the Citadel who created the Reapers? What made them come to that decision? Why would the Normandy be in FTL Travel when clearly, they were orbiting Earth assisting the crew?) They also could have worked out to numerous kinks in the cover system, such as popping out of cover when you change weapons, or not returning to cover when popping out to fire.) Other issues include glitches that freeze your game or cause characters to disappear during talking scenes. I believe there was definitely a money grab mentality here. I point to a multiplayer that has very little depth in light of other XBL Shooters, but is a necessity to play if you want your galactic fleet to be at full strength. By forcing that on players, it assures that those who bought the game used will have to buy a pass to play the online Multi. Also, the entire "From Ashes" DLC could have been integrated into the game itself. In the end, there are many flaws with this game. However, none of them stop the game from being fantastic up until the ending. And if it helps: If you haven't played this game to the end? Take my advice: ONLY CHOOSE ONE ENDING AND DO NOT PLAY THE OTHERS. It will ruin it the experience.… Expand
  15. jgzilk
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    This is a masterpiece of a video game. All of you people who are freaking about this game, are the same ones who freaked about Elder Scrolls and such... These are amazing games, that take you on amazing journeys. I don't know what you want from games? If you can't enjoy Mass Effect 3, then you seriously need to analyze if you are just too jaded to be playing video games at all. This gameThis is a masterpiece of a video game. All of you people who are freaking about this game, are the same ones who freaked about Elder Scrolls and such... These are amazing games, that take you on amazing journeys. I don't know what you want from games? If you can't enjoy Mass Effect 3, then you seriously need to analyze if you are just too jaded to be playing video games at all. This game does not deserve a 1 or a zero and for anyone to give it such a designation just shows they nothing about games. You gamers are giving us all bad names, and it must stop. Is the game perfect? No. Is it the best game ever? Probably not. Is it a very good game? Yes, as someone who has been playing games since pong, yes, it is a good game, and it is like nothing else on the market.… Expand
  16. David_wayne
    Nov 13, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 is probably the best game in the series and deserves nothing less than a 10 on a rating scale.the Graphics are superb,and the story is top notch,and let's not forget about the awesome musical score that keeps you're heart pumping and the controller going crazy in you're hands.I know this review is very late,but I wanted to wait until all the bugs were addressed with patchesMass Effect 3 is probably the best game in the series and deserves nothing less than a 10 on a rating scale.the Graphics are superb,and the story is top notch,and let's not forget about the awesome musical score that keeps you're heart pumping and the controller going crazy in you're hands.I know this review is very late,but I wanted to wait until all the bugs were addressed with patches before I give my final review.also the multi-player is awesome and a great addition to an already awesome game.too all you Trolls on here giving ME3 awful reviews,get over you're BS and stop bashing this game.… Expand
  17. Burning_Lettuce
    Mar 18, 2012
    8
    Rather than discuss the ending, I'll just discuss the game. I honestly feel it deserves a 9. It improves on Mass Effect 2 in several areas, yet regresses in others. In Mass Effect 2, you had several planets to explore and interact with. In Mass Effect 3, you only get one area: The Citadel. It feels like you really have no room to explore in the universe. Random banter across the citadelRather than discuss the ending, I'll just discuss the game. I honestly feel it deserves a 9. It improves on Mass Effect 2 in several areas, yet regresses in others. In Mass Effect 2, you had several planets to explore and interact with. In Mass Effect 3, you only get one area: The Citadel. It feels like you really have no room to explore in the universe. Random banter across the citadel tends to repeat, taking away from the immersion factor of this game. Side quests are aquired by listening to conversations on the citadel. Tracking them is a hassle. Shooting and moving is more improved from Mass Effect 2, and multiplayer actually works. However, the entire series gives you the illusion that your choices will shape the galaxy. However, the end result means that everything you did didn't really shape anything.… Expand
  18. Desdicado
    Apr 1, 2012
    9
    Ok, I've just finished the game, took me a few weeks with work commitments etc. I really didn't want to write a review until I had done that based on the other reviews here. I have to say I just don't get the criticism of the ending. I thought it was pretty poignant and kind of logical. I'm not going to add spoilers. I was sorry to lose one particular person earlier on in my play thru butOk, I've just finished the game, took me a few weeks with work commitments etc. I really didn't want to write a review until I had done that based on the other reviews here. I have to say I just don't get the criticism of the ending. I thought it was pretty poignant and kind of logical. I'm not going to add spoilers. I was sorry to lose one particular person earlier on in my play thru but it's about hard choices in war isn't it? So the game, it's nearly as good as ME2, there are way more weapon options which I liked tho. I tended to stick with the modded geth assault rifle tho the Chakram thrower from playing the koatr demo was also cool. So it was an epic run thru, my 6 year old son was invested in it too, he thought he was watching a movie, I have to drop some kudos on the multiplayer too, the first 2 weeks or so with the game I spent on that as it's very well executed and very enjoyable, check it out if you haven't. My major criticism of the game as a whole is it's too short, I like how the mini games to pick locks etc have gone, but I'm in two minds about mining etc being streamlined. So anyway, an awesome game frankly, worthy of the series. 9/10… Expand
  19. Hamzairshad
    Mar 19, 2012
    9
    I enjoyed Mass Effect 3 too much.it is the Best Mass Effect Game.But one thing in Mass Effect 3 from which I had been disappointed is the ending.Bio ware has to change the ending.Please Bio ware,With Mass Effect 3 I have become the Huge fan of Mass Effect Series.Please Change the ending with New DLC.
  20. xHezz90
    Mar 22, 2012
    9
    After waiting months for this game to release, when it finally arrived I was over the moon I ripped open the packaging, quickly looked through all the extra's then slammed the disk into my PS3. As I waited for the day one patch to install I continued to look through the extra's and was delighted with them, with the day one patch all installed I started to play and was blown away by howAfter waiting months for this game to release, when it finally arrived I was over the moon I ripped open the packaging, quickly looked through all the extra's then slammed the disk into my PS3. As I waited for the day one patch to install I continued to look through the extra's and was delighted with them, with the day one patch all installed I started to play and was blown away by how much better the graphics to the game were (though the frame rate was not stellar it was still playable). I played for hours and hours, intrigued and astounded by the story line, the characters development and as always the amazing voice acting. After 1 week I got to the end of the game and that's when things started going down hill, the ending (without giving spoilers) was absolutely terrible, I was upset, bewildered and down right angry. 98% of the game was amazing, just for that to be destroyed in the last 10 minutes.… Expand
  21. Ambrose
    Apr 4, 2012
    9
    Just started playing at the weekend , 1st time playing ME games, truly amazing. This must be the future of entertainment. Anyone who gives this game less than 8 has ISSUES, irrespective of the ending . its all about the journey my friends. Enjoy
  22. Raithix
    Apr 16, 2012
    9
    It would be easy for me to give into emotions and give Mass Effect 3 a low score for the same reasons many of my fellow fans have. I could rail against the ending and any number of minor nuances, but to do so would be dishonest and misleading. The fact of the matter is, for 95 percent of Mass Effect 3, the game is immaculate. Combat is precise, dialogue is to the same level it has beenIt would be easy for me to give into emotions and give Mass Effect 3 a low score for the same reasons many of my fellow fans have. I could rail against the ending and any number of minor nuances, but to do so would be dishonest and misleading. The fact of the matter is, for 95 percent of Mass Effect 3, the game is immaculate. Combat is precise, dialogue is to the same level it has been since the first game, and the cutscenes are absolutely stunning. Seeing the galactic war against the Reapers is breathtaking and magnificent, and was emotionally impactful in a way I have never felt from a video game before. Of course, this made the ending all that much more heartwrenching, and for emotionally invested fans of the series like myself, disappointment, depression, and anger are likely to come about. For players new to the Mass Effect series, this game has to rate a perfect 10, as it is the best installment in the series, and gives a massively immersive feel not seen in many games. For fans of the previous two games, however, it has to rate a bittersweet 7.5. A slightly railroaded plot coupled with a bizarre ending make the conclusion to the franchise a hard pill to swallow, even if the majority of the game is absolutely beautiful, whether we want to admit it or not.… Expand
  23. JamesBondHero
    Jul 2, 2012
    10
    First, to get it clear, all the reviews that gave ME3 a 0 or 1 are just... can't use profanity... there's no way a game could get a score like that. The only problem that made Mass Effect 3 get bad reviews from just "fans" is because of the endings. Now the Extended Cut, a free DLC, fixes probably more than half of the issues, including the bad ones, making the ending a satisfying and sadFirst, to get it clear, all the reviews that gave ME3 a 0 or 1 are just... can't use profanity... there's no way a game could get a score like that. The only problem that made Mass Effect 3 get bad reviews from just "fans" is because of the endings. Now the Extended Cut, a free DLC, fixes probably more than half of the issues, including the bad ones, making the ending a satisfying and sad end to the best video game trilogy ever created. The game has minor flaws: glitches, and awkward moments but not game breaking. The game has everything: fun, epic moments, love, care, role playing, action, adventure, heart pumping moments. Not buying this game would be a HUGE mistake, except if you never played the previous Mass Effect games, which are masterpieces. Maybe I make Mass Effect sound overrated, but the best thing about it, is that ME3 is that good. A simple art masterpiece. But it isn't perfect of course, the game could have been improved with more content, as it lacks of appealing side quests. The side quests (optional assignments) are unnecessary and too the point of boredom, but as I said: optional so I won't add it to my score. It is worth your money and none should be disappointed now, as the end has been fixed. Do not even judge by the extremely negative user reviews. I would tell you to trust the critics on this one, even they ignored the original ending, now, forgettable as Extended Cut is out, at no extra cost.… Expand
  24. TheSoloSlayer
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    I dislike that they are trying to market this game off to casual gamers. As a trilogy I would rather have had them do what they did with this game to the previous two. Aside from that, the game isn't all bad. Although the game still feels much simpler than the first, the shooter element has gotten a vast improvement. The multiplayer is great, addictive and avoidable if you do not haveI dislike that they are trying to market this game off to casual gamers. As a trilogy I would rather have had them do what they did with this game to the previous two. Aside from that, the game isn't all bad. Although the game still feels much simpler than the first, the shooter element has gotten a vast improvement. The multiplayer is great, addictive and avoidable if you do not have means to play it online. All in all the game is great for mass effect fans. If you have yet to play the first and second ME I suggest you do before playing this, it will greatly improve what would otherwise be a very confusing story.… Expand
  25. ComanderShepard
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    I am commander Shepard and this is my favourite game on Metacritic. It is so good I or Commander Shepard that is The Commander Shepard gave "it" a 10 out of 10. Now stop being in the middle of some calibrations and play this game because I have had enough of your disingenuous assertions.
  26. coloradosarge
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    I thought the game was awesome up until the end. I hating the ending and I think BW can do much better. That said, the triology was still one of the most awesome gaming experiences that I've ever had and will be much better if they change the ending. While I think the real score I would rate this is about a 7 or 8 I am giving it a 10 based on the rest of the game and previous games and toI thought the game was awesome up until the end. I hating the ending and I think BW can do much better. That said, the triology was still one of the most awesome gaming experiences that I've ever had and will be much better if they change the ending. While I think the real score I would rate this is about a 7 or 8 I am giving it a 10 based on the rest of the game and previous games and to try and offset the other people trolling on here that are obviously marking the score low because of the ending. I think BW deserves a fair score.â… Expand
  27. Druidan
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is an amazing game with excellent characterization, story and gameplay. There are occasional bugs, and the endings are deeply flawed, but there is no question that this is a journey worth taking. For more details on my perspective, visit my review at: http://edwardcheeverreviews.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/mass-effect-3-review/
  28. ParagonRenegade
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    One of the better games I've played in the last decade; Mass Effect 3 improves on the other preceding titles in virtually all manners barring some subjective ways others may deem inaccurate or useless. To explain: The combat is much better and smoother, conversations are more realistic and just in general top-notch, the characters both new & old are vastly improved, voice actingOne of the better games I've played in the last decade; Mass Effect 3 improves on the other preceding titles in virtually all manners barring some subjective ways others may deem inaccurate or useless. To explain: The combat is much better and smoother, conversations are more realistic and just in general top-notch, the characters both new & old are vastly improved, voice acting (especially from Mark Meer) is vastly superior and the emotion runs high in the story throughout. Most importantly, the story is much better than Mass Effect 2's, although it falls short (barely) of Mass Effect 1. I strongly suggest buying it for these reasons alone, but there is more... The multiplayer, which is unexpected to say the very least, had me underwhelmed when I first saw it disclosed, but when I played the demo, and now in the retail, I have grown to see it as an integral component to the game and like the rest of it is of massive quality. The supplementary "Galaxy at War" is also interesting, if underdeveloped, and I would like to see it improved in future DLC. Lastly, I should mention what I found to be bad: -Animations when taking cover can sometimes glitch and freeze characters or make them look lifeless (i.e. you have full control but while on the wall they don't breath etc) -Some old friends in the textures popping up; this is rare, and happens almost universally after you finish an N7 mission. -I would have liked if it was more difficult, it's easy (to an extent) for a gamer of my skill (Average, possibly slightly above-average). -A few plot holes, easily forgivable given their minimal impact/enjoyable repercussions Other than those small gripes, the game is outstanding, and is well worth the price of the retail and even the Collector's edition; if you own an Xbox or PC (I do not recommend for Playstation due to lack of Mass Effect 1) you owe it to yourself to play -experience- Mass Effect 3 for yourself. Don't listen to the 10's who blindly love the game, or the reds/0's who give their gripes with EA/Bioware/DLC as reasons for hate, carefully evaluate what the critics say and compare it with a rental or a purchase; I promise you will not regret it… Expand
  29. Albie9000
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Brilliant end to a great trilogy. It's all about great characters, story, graphics and an epic movie like feeling. The gameplay is still quite good, but will never compare to the rest of the elements.
  30. WoodyBBad
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    This game hasn't even been out for 24 hours, I don't get where some of the hate on these reviews comes from. I've played the first couple hours and have enjoyed it.
  31. phishhippy
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    good grief. What an amazingly awesome and truly epic finale to a series that I've loved since the first. If you play through this game without playing the first 2 first, you're doing yourself a disfavor. You didn't read or watch the return of the king before watching the hobbit, did you? or watch harry potter 20 or whatever the last one was before reading or watching the first 19 or howgood grief. What an amazingly awesome and truly epic finale to a series that I've loved since the first. If you play through this game without playing the first 2 first, you're doing yourself a disfavor. You didn't read or watch the return of the king before watching the hobbit, did you? or watch harry potter 20 or whatever the last one was before reading or watching the first 19 or how ever many there were first did you? And play it the rpg way the way it was meant to be played. They fixed everything that was slightly wrong with the first two. So much more weapon and power upgrade capabilities. So much more armor customization. So much more story. XP for looking over a balcony? no. XP for helping disputes? Yes. Is it that much more awesome? yes. Everything is polished to a current gen premium shine. sound is brutal and varied and exciting and the best of the series and the sci-fi genre as a whole. I didn't enjoy the demo all that much and seriously didn't think it could recapture that amazement and discovery the first game did what seems like such a long time ago, but it does so much more. the negative reviews aren't from hard core gamers. period. if you know games, or mass effect, or science fiction, or fun, or life, you can't play this game and give it an honest bad review. that would be like saying the mona lisa has too much paint on it. or the zonda isn't fast enough. or the south pole isn't snowy enough. if you own a system that can play this game, do it. if you don't enjoy this game, you're a krogan.… Expand
  32. Pwnskinator
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    This game is AMAZING. People are only bombing the game on metacritic because of the day one dlc thing. These people are flaming idiots. They think that the game itself doesn't have enough without the dlc to offer, which it clearly does, but they go ahead anyway and lie about their "review" for Mass Effect 3 just to ruin its user score. The game is excellent, great graphics, great story,This game is AMAZING. People are only bombing the game on metacritic because of the day one dlc thing. These people are flaming idiots. They think that the game itself doesn't have enough without the dlc to offer, which it clearly does, but they go ahead anyway and lie about their "review" for Mass Effect 3 just to ruin its user score. The game is excellent, great graphics, great story, good voice acting, improved gameplay mechanics. It will definitely be a contestant for the game of the year.… Expand
  33. smb
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    Excellent, a very very good game, I have playes mass effect 1 and 2 and if you like them, you should play it whit no doubt .
  34. floppymule
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    this game is great i love the dialogue and the memorable characters returning and the multiplayer is a great addition to the mass effect series and has rich environments to discover
  35. ImUnavailable
    Mar 19, 2012
    9
    A beautiful, thrilling and flawed conclusion to the Mass Effect trilogy. ME3 does not disappoint when it comes to intense action set pieces and an epic story. The abundant drama in this game feels earned after playing the previous games in the series and it is nice to see the decisions made in those games impacting on this one. Multiplayer is a surprisingly effective addition, with aA beautiful, thrilling and flawed conclusion to the Mass Effect trilogy. ME3 does not disappoint when it comes to intense action set pieces and an epic story. The abundant drama in this game feels earned after playing the previous games in the series and it is nice to see the decisions made in those games impacting on this one. Multiplayer is a surprisingly effective addition, with a great range of character classes, races and unlockables to keep you hooked. The main problem with ME3 is the character interaction. Shepard's team is not as memorable as before, with few new faces onboard. Conversation options with them are fairly shallow and you miss the loyalty missions of ME2. The exclusion of the latter is understandable since Shepard is on a tight schedule to stop the Reapers. But it is still disappointing. Overall, though, I still greatly enjoyed playing this game and hope to play it again soon. Mass Effect has been the greatest video game trilogy of all time and ME3 is a worthy end to the saga.… Expand
  36. MetaZain
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    Ignore the negative user reviews (the exaggeratedly negative). The game is incredible and should be recognized as such, the ending may be regrettable, but judging the game solely by ts last 5 minutes is unfair. If you have liked any of the mass effect series you will thoroughly enjoy the final chapter of Commander Shepard's journey. If you are new to the series GO PICK UP THE FIRST TWOIgnore the negative user reviews (the exaggeratedly negative). The game is incredible and should be recognized as such, the ending may be regrettable, but judging the game solely by ts last 5 minutes is unfair. If you have liked any of the mass effect series you will thoroughly enjoy the final chapter of Commander Shepard's journey. If you are new to the series GO PICK UP THE FIRST TWO although the game does a well enough job for accommodating for those who have not. The multiplayer is also fantastic, especially considering it is not the focus. I only ask those that are bombing this sight with negative reviews too stop, we still don't know what Bioware has in store.… Expand
  37. Darkshivers
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    The justification of these low scores are terrible and wrong. Bioware clearly put a lot of heart and effort into a game which takes over 30 hours to complete. The voice acting is brilliant, the ending isn't the best but it was well designed and impacted you well. The day 1 DLC was wrong, yes. It wasn't anything game changing other than a few spoilt gamers expecting it even though it'sThe justification of these low scores are terrible and wrong. Bioware clearly put a lot of heart and effort into a game which takes over 30 hours to complete. The voice acting is brilliant, the ending isn't the best but it was well designed and impacted you well. The day 1 DLC was wrong, yes. It wasn't anything game changing other than a few spoilt gamers expecting it even though it's neither game changing content or something you need. Mass effect is a brilliant game the quality, graphics of it are brilliant. The controls are generally glitchy but never complete broke the game. Some of the scenes saddened me and made you feel bad for the sacrifices shepherd had to endure. Anybody who reviews this game at 0 is clearly lying to them selves with no effort in actually playing the game completely before bombing it on meta critic. Mass effect 3 is hardly the best game that will come out this year but is one of the best story based games ever released.… Expand
  38. Jdund117
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I preordered this game. I got it, started playing it, and within about 2 hours of playing it I was satisfied. BioWare streamlined and improved every system, including missions (although some were hard to do because they weren't on the galaxy map), and they brought back the Citadel with a number of new really cool areas to check out. Dialogue seemed so much more casual than it had been in the first two games, and in my opinion it was acted and animated better. Any character that was still two-dimensional after ME2 was made three-dimensional, and every character that was three-dimensional after ME2 was so multifaceted you could believe that they were real. For example, the whole interaction between Shepard and Garrus was just priceless. Garrus used to be just another companion in the first two games, but in Mass Effect 3 he became something like Shepard's best friend. The rest of the characters, like Tali, Ashley, and James were very well-developed. Even the Prothean squadmate had his moments. I felt like the romances in this series were also so much more real. I kept Liara as my love interest from the first game, and there was a lot more emotional talking going on than just plain sexy time at the end (that happened too, aw yeah). The plot was pretty freakin sweet, I loved the Tuchanka mission and the Rannoch mission... but man those decisions can be hard. I thought the combat system in this game was better than it had been in the first game (of course) and Mass Effect 2. I really enjoyed Mass Effect 2's combat but at times it seemed altogether too easy... it seems that BioWare improved the AI for ME3. The option of heavy melee is ingenious because there are so many times in the game when you're going to be in a bind. I appreciate the unlimited sprint... well you kind of need it on Tuchanka. The guns feel a lot better, the powers feel a lot better... weapon upgrades are great, armor upgrades are better than ME2's. Oh did I mention there's a **** **** of guns to choose from? Sweet stuff. Conversely, the end of the game was disappointing. The game led the player to believe that every choice would have its unique conclusion to the story, but that never happened. It's really sad to see something that could have been one of the greatest RPG's ever made kind of flop because the ending was lackluster. The multiplayer can be tough getting into it, especially if you fight Reapers or something (don't do it, just don't) but it pays off once you get a good team and get something cool (Krogan warrior or the Widow) and makes for a generally fun experience. This game is pretty freaking cool. The ending sucked, but it's definitely worth playing again with a different experience. I don't know why people posted bad reviews on here the day that the game came out, because you obviously couldn't have finished the game in a single day, and if you did, you didn't pay attention and subsequently the game sucked for you. So boo hoo, go play COD and keep the tissues and vaseline nearby.… Expand
  39. gigadude7
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    The BEST game of my favorite game series. Deserves the 10 I give it. Proud to call it my favorite game. It mixes flawless game play with a compelling story. I was also skeptical of the "kinect enhanced" but i'm SOOO glad that it is easy to use and fun to play with.
  40. AverageToaster
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Solid singleplayer, amazing multiplayer, If you have played mass effect 1 or 2 then you already have this game and love it, I'm not going to be able to say anything to help. If you don't have this game, Think if your favorite shooter had select-able squadmates, customizable weapons and armor. Now if it had a story like a choose your own adventure.
  41. NobleIre
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'll begin this review with my own perspective on the game's ending, since that seems to be the source of most of the low user scores on this site (the controversy over the DLC aside). I'll admit, immediately after completing the game, I felt a little betrayed by the finale - the pseudo-philosophical climatic revelation and choice was quite unexpected, as was Shepard's inescapable death, and the lack of resolution for most of the player's allies left me cold. However, the more I reflected on ending and all of its permutations, the more I appreciated it. In my view, the lead-up, that last ditch charge towards the beam, the horror of the Citadel, the last moments with Illusive Man and Anderson, all worked on a very potent emotional level, no matter what followed. Catalyst's revelation of the Reapers' nature makes a great deal of sense in the context of the rest of the series, giving them motivation and character that transcends the typical pestilential invader trope - indeed, there is even a perverse sort of logic to the Catalyst's solution, preserving organic life as a whole by ensuring that no force can rise up to stamp it out forever, that adds an unexpected element of ambiguity. Then comes Shepard's choice and sacrifice - admittedly, Bioware could have done more to make the consequences of each choice visually distinct, but the choice itself is very powerful and fascinating in terms of its implications. At first, I was afraid that the truly transformational nature of each path nullified all of the other decisions the player makes throughout the course of the series, but that really isn't the case. Barring the "failure" ending, the galaxy lives on as a result of Shepard's triumph, deprived (at least temporarily) of the easy transport of the Mass Relays, but able to rebuild and self-determine all the same. It is a bit frustrating that the futures of your party members and allies are left unstated, but then, it would have been impossible to satisfy every player and all of their investments in particular characters - leaving their fates to the imagination was, perhaps, the most elegant solution. Finally, Shepard's "death" in each ending seems to have rankled a lot of people who would have grown extremely attached to their own Commander over the course of three games. I empathize with this, but I'm inclined to think that killing Shepard was a brave and powerful choice on Bioware's part. It would have been easy to have Shepard bounce up the the Citadel, shoot Martin Sheen, flip the Reaper kill switch, and waltz off into Garrus'/Tali's/Ashley's/Wrex's arms, but that would have diminished the sheer emotional impact and consequence of the finale. No matter what choice is made, Shepard ends a cycle of destruction that has lasted for millions of years and defines the character of the galaxy for the next million â… Expand
  42. ThePath
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    to all of you who gave this game a low score: what did you expect form a story based action rpg? the main focus of this game has always been its great storyline and his awesome characters which are obviously awesome again. the mechanics weren't good in the previous games and they obviously aren't good in this one. but if you didn't expect that... i kinda feel sorry for yourto all of you who gave this game a low score: what did you expect form a story based action rpg? the main focus of this game has always been its great storyline and his awesome characters which are obviously awesome again. the mechanics weren't good in the previous games and they obviously aren't good in this one. but if you didn't expect that... i kinda feel sorry for your slow-wittedness. after all this game is great and i'm thanking bioware for another great story based game... btw i think after playing the whole series i wouldn't call it an action rpg. i think it's more of a tpg (TalePlayingGame) with rpg elements.… Expand
  43. Lait7
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    I don't really understand why some users are giving this game such a low score, while it may differ from the previous slightly its not enough to warrant a 0 or 1 rating. Its interesting that users who game the game a 9-10 for mass effect 2 are now giving it a 1. Seems to me like something else is bothering players and its not the game play, I think the game is pretty freaking good if you ask me
  44. Graverobber
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    Everything about this game proves Bioware's crowning achievement. It takes everything right about the previous games and betters them, and fixes all the technical issues. The combat is better than it's ever been, there are fewer technical issues. The writing is once again brilliant. Applaud Bioware, folks, they have done it again.
  45. HarveyBirdman
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    Bioware/EA certainly is capable of producing slapdash, focus-grouped crap. Dragon Age 2 is the prime example. But Mass Effect 3 is not Dragon Age 2. Is it the pure RPG of your dreams? No. Is it the greatest squad based shooter ever? Also no. Will it fulfill all of your fanboy dreams of Shepard and Tali living happily ever after in a house on the Homeworld? No again. If youBioware/EA certainly is capable of producing slapdash, focus-grouped crap. Dragon Age 2 is the prime example. But Mass Effect 3 is not Dragon Age 2. Is it the pure RPG of your dreams? No. Is it the greatest squad based shooter ever? Also no. Will it fulfill all of your fanboy dreams of Shepard and Tali living happily ever after in a house on the Homeworld? No again. If you evaluate it under any of these rubrics, you'll become enraged and give it a 0 on metacritic. (Same result if you hate day-one DLC or teh gheys with a passion, but I digress.) On the other hand, if you can just accept ME3 for what it actually is --a great sci-fi story with some good shooter and RPG elements mixed in-- you're in for an extremely enjoyable experience. In short, hating this game is like hating pizza because it's not ice cream.… Expand
  46. excretion
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    I've played through both of the first 2 mass effect games, the first one was a little slow but told a good story, the second one was absolutely amazing, the third one in my opinion tops both of them. and to everyone giving this a 0 review because of day one dlc its only 10 dollars, and it doesn't really effect the story from what I've seen of it. so in conclusion i think this game has aI've played through both of the first 2 mass effect games, the first one was a little slow but told a good story, the second one was absolutely amazing, the third one in my opinion tops both of them. and to everyone giving this a 0 review because of day one dlc its only 10 dollars, and it doesn't really effect the story from what I've seen of it. so in conclusion i think this game has a shot at game of the year, and the only reason why this game has such a low user score is because of poor people who can afford a 70 dollar game but can't afford 10 dollar dlc. it just don't make any sense to me… Expand
  47. RK_Bushido
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    Don't listen to the haters. Either they're crybabies over, not getting a CE, the day one DLC "From Ashes", or they overreacted to the leaked ending WITHOUT ever playing through the game from the start themselves. Which is nearly guaranteed since the video leaks happened a week or two before release anyway.

    This is a fitting conclusion to an EPIC trilogy, and it closes well enough.    Don't listen to the haters. Either they're crybabies over, not getting a CE, the day one DLC "From Ashes", or they overreacted to the leaked ending WITHOUT ever playing through the game from the start themselves. Which is nearly guaranteed since the video leaks happened a week or two before release anyway.

    This is a fitting conclusion to an EPIC trilogy, and it closes well enough. Obviously, you can't please everyone! Yet I think I writers did a good a job bringing it to life. For a saga as huge as Mass Effect, They came through. If the whiners can write a better story, then go, stop whining, and MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN GAME. Since ME3 wasn't good enough for your amazing tastes, and they are so much more talented than the people that make these games anyway... ;)    … Expand
  48. meurix
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    All these negative reviews are a joke. The game is a league above every other game out there. Looking at the critic reviews, this will be game of the year.
  49. Her02N0one
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    The story takes you along a grand ride through beautiful cinematics and epic battles. Bioware knows the correct formula in making a great game and they stuck by what makes Mass Effect great. The storyline is simple, save Earth. You are faced with the task of assembling your team again to face the group Cerberus, the infamous reapers, swarms of husks, and some great new enemies. YouThe story takes you along a grand ride through beautiful cinematics and epic battles. Bioware knows the correct formula in making a great game and they stuck by what makes Mass Effect great. The storyline is simple, save Earth. You are faced with the task of assembling your team again to face the group Cerberus, the infamous reapers, swarms of husks, and some great new enemies. You are able to explore and discover various planets full of resources, weapons, upgrades and more... This galactic adventure will have you glued to your seat addicted for more and if you haven't played ME1 or ME2 there's no need to worry. The story allows you to hop right into the present time and it will fill in the gaps for you. Don't pay attention to the Mass Effect trolls who think Bioware is attempting to gain the COD audience. No offense, but the average COD players are the one ones trolling the forums blasting this game because they are mostly simple minded and complexity in games isn't favorable to them. Take a chance on Mass Effect if you enjoy a great story and intense war sequences. This game is the real deal!… Expand
  50. Urza
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Lots of fun, great game. The game has 3 settings; 1 for people wanting to play a shooter, 1 for traditional mass effect players, and 1 for people that don't want to deal with shooting. Be warned, this choice effects the rest of the game. There's no mandatory DLC, it's an optional character with no story outside the DLC.. just like Mass effect 2's DLC.
  51. Lerak92
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    The greatest ending for one of the best trilogy of these years. I'm surprised of all these bad reviews...Bioware succeeded in creating the only possible continuation , perfectly linked to the previous episodes and an absolute mind-blowing experience.
  52. ShippouX411X
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    You are a anally frustrated man-child if you honestly give this game a 0/10

    Yeah, sure, it has it's problems, every game does, you're not supposed to go into it expecting 10/10 GOTYAY! That's stupid and building yourself up for disappointment. Is this game fun? Yeah, quite fun. Is it the best game ever? No, I wouldn't go that far. Is it a satisfying end to a trilogy? Yes. If you reviewed    You are a anally frustrated man-child if you honestly give this game a 0/10

    Yeah, sure, it has it's problems, every game does, you're not supposed to go into it expecting 10/10 GOTYAY! That's stupid and building yourself up for disappointment. Is this game fun? Yeah, quite fun. Is it the best game ever? No, I wouldn't go that far. Is it a satisfying end to a trilogy? Yes.

    If you reviewed this and gave it a 0/10 and justified it by saying "They abandoned their roots!" Go to bed. If you enjoyed Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 there's no reason to hate this game, especially considering that it's a big step up from Mass Effect 2.

    So yeah, don't listen to the cry babies giving it a 0/10, everything has a redeeming quality, sorry this isn't "Super Waifu Desu Simulator Uguu 2012", but it is a very nice space opera and a fitting close to a nice story.    … Expand
  53. Yankee902
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    How can you not give the game a 10 when the gameplay just keeps improving in each installment among tons of other things? As far as value..when most games these days you pay $60 for 5-8 hours of gameplay..this has its huge campaign and now addicting XBL multiplayer. Give me a break with the zero ratings. When a game of this caliber gets user reviews of a ridiculous score of a 0-4, its notHow can you not give the game a 10 when the gameplay just keeps improving in each installment among tons of other things? As far as value..when most games these days you pay $60 for 5-8 hours of gameplay..this has its huge campaign and now addicting XBL multiplayer. Give me a break with the zero ratings. When a game of this caliber gets user reviews of a ridiculous score of a 0-4, its not fooling anyone that you only posted this only because its cool to hate things on the internet. Be rational..if you read this this and want to say your entitled to your opinion and you could actually not like it, that may be true, but it's inhumanly impossible to say this game is a 0 out of 10. At least rate it a 5 and then your case for why it "sucks" may be believable to the poor reader than comes on here expecting an honest review. Anyways, worth the money. May even be worth the day 1 DLC. Or ya know, that could be wrong because EA didn't follow the unwritten rule of how many days need to pass after a games release for selling a DLC to seem ethical. 10$ for NEW campaign gameplay and features that needs to be added to the hard-drive in order to be included into the game OR 15$ to download a few lines of code for 3 multiplayer maps in COD to appear as a selection to play that is already contained in the disc....?… Expand
  54. thormart
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    Best game in my favorite gameseries of all time. there are truly few games whose story has a real soul to it. I laughed cried and often found myself just sitting there smiling at what happened at the screen. And for me it simply does not get any better.
  55. cellophanesoul
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    So far the interface is incredible, it feels very cinematic, and the degree to which your actions affect the story line is amazing. I recommend this game to any RPG enthusiasts as well as to anybody that like first person shooters. Beautiful and awesome in its scope.
  56. TJZ5
    Mar 28, 2012
    9
    The only true thing that should ever be fixed about Mass Effect 3 is not just the end but the last mission. The whole last hour of the game seems rushed and unfinished whereas the rest of the game is well done. Adding a new ending wont change the fact they released the game with this ending and people wont forget they can forgive but not forget.
  57. ParaVi
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    Game is AMAZING! Many emotions, many drive. Find story like in Mass Effec!. Find so fantastic emotions! Find so amazing EPIC You can't find it in Skyrim or Amalur. Free world is not better than GREAT story! So many agressive! Why? Gamers, WAKE UP! Stop it. This game survive is better than 5! It is a LEGEND.
  58. wejx89
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    The game gives us the best story, the voice acting gives you tears as the characters come to life. Yes, many including me didn't really like the ending but even then the game ends leaving everything open and closing the chapter on Shepard's story. It is up to the individual to make what he wants from it and that is true art. To leave things so open and yet finishing it all is hard and fewThe game gives us the best story, the voice acting gives you tears as the characters come to life. Yes, many including me didn't really like the ending but even then the game ends leaving everything open and closing the chapter on Shepard's story. It is up to the individual to make what he wants from it and that is true art. To leave things so open and yet finishing it all is hard and few actually can do this. The problem Bioware did was that they made the best game possible and some thought the deserved to have the ending fit them. The story gives us Shepard who is on Earth when the Reapers attack. He/she must flee and unite the known Galaxy against this threat or else all will be lost. The soundtrack is perfect and make you want to cry or yell in some parts from sheer joy or sadness. The characters especially Tali'Zorah vas Normandy and Garrus Vakarian feel more alive then any characters in any game and in almost any movie, the game is that good. The graphics have been fine-tuned and are truly beautiful, the fact that eyefinity now works is also an added Bonus. The combat is smoother then ever before and is now a true cover to cover shooter like Gears of war in terms of combat. The romances are wonderful, I let a few tears drop as my Shepards love interest in the final battle said "I want more time" in a tone of desperation, sorrow and love that I couldn't take. The emotional investment the gamer forms is truly marvelous. The game gives the player an almost outrageous amount of free will in many aspects like combat, exploration and story which is typical for Mass Effect and gives players an even greater feeling of immersion. The fact that you can load your save files from the previous games is superb as your individual story continues which the choice from every quest and conversation following you to the next game. If you like a truly good sci-fi adventure, if you like to have real characters threat travel with you, characters that almost feel alive, if you want all that then start playing Mass Effect and buy the next two games when you finish. This is in my opinion the best game series in the world and the only faults I was able to find in this game was that you have to be emotionally prepared for this game as it really touches your heart in ways you couldn't possibly expect. the other fault is that this is the end of Shepard's saga and I will never again be play him or romance Tali'Zorah and save the galaxy with her along side Garrus Vakarian the best turian there is.… Expand
  59. Hamed360
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    the best in this generation full of innovation this game is and it won't let you down even if u play it twice again !!! and based on the strong story it will just attract your attention for some weeks
  60. mb22
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    I got the ps3 version, which I now regret deeply, due to the somewhat laggy experience. The games progress and story is totally ok, aswell as the fact that you can just plow though if you want, or run about doing errand and scanning and god knows what to build up your army.

    The lag I mentioned? As far as I have experienced, its occurring mostly in the "in between moments", like in the    I got the ps3 version, which I now regret deeply, due to the somewhat laggy experience. The games progress and story is totally ok, aswell as the fact that you can just plow though if you want, or run about doing errand and scanning and god knows what to build up your army.

    The lag I mentioned? As far as I have experienced, its occurring mostly in the "in between moments", like in the Citadel and in the cutscenes. And its totally killing me in the menus at some points, but so far I have not seen it in combat. *knock on wood*

    Now dont get me wrong, its not a bad game, despite the fps issues. That (alongside some other minor bugs) is the only really bad thing if you ask me. I love the fact that you can choose if you want to do it like an actiongame, a story experience or something in between. The class choices are the same as before. If you want to get it, get it for xbox or pc, not for the ps3.    … Expand
  61. Frug0
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    The game is just brilliant. I've played 1&2 as well and although 3 seems a bit easier, I still love it. I am only disappointed that there are so many pathetic people, who scores that game so badly, only because of ending. DO NOT BE STEREOTYPICAL. Not every ending has to be happy. C'mon! I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND MASS EFFECT 3!
  62. Kevinj37
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    I love this game and Bioware games in general. Great story, great characters, I actually felt regret when I had to make a tough call in the Geth storyline. I haven't finished yet and I've been playing constantly since it came out- tons of content! Would have given it a ten, except I deducted one point for the DLC BS they pulled, and 1 point for the multi-player, which I can't accessI love this game and Bioware games in general. Great story, great characters, I actually felt regret when I had to make a tough call in the Geth storyline. I haven't finished yet and I've been playing constantly since it came out- tons of content! Would have given it a ten, except I deducted one point for the DLC BS they pulled, and 1 point for the multi-player, which I can't access because I don't happen to know any other players, and public games are inaccessible to first-time players (tried to join one and was immediately booted, presumably for my level). But, as far as the gameplay goes, this is among the best I've ever played.… Expand
  63. grassninja
    Apr 20, 2012
    9
    PAY NO ATTENTION TO ALL OF THE NEGATIVE HYPE. Yes, the ending of this game sucks sweaty donkey taint, especially if you've played since ME1, but that's 10 minutes out of 30+ hours of game. Everything leading up to the ending is well worth the money spent. This game is not perfect. Characters will stare off into space while talking, some squad mates will just run out and stand in front ofPAY NO ATTENTION TO ALL OF THE NEGATIVE HYPE. Yes, the ending of this game sucks sweaty donkey taint, especially if you've played since ME1, but that's 10 minutes out of 30+ hours of game. Everything leading up to the ending is well worth the money spent. This game is not perfect. Characters will stare off into space while talking, some squad mates will just run out and stand in front of enemies needing to constantly be revived, some conversations just cut out midway through, the DLC feels like a half-assed and pointless afterthought, but the positive FAR outweighs the negative. If you want a good, satisfying story with a **** Disney ending go watch the Lion King. I hate EA, I was pissed about the day 1 DLC shenanigans, and I"M VERY PISSED about the horrible ending, but I still loved playing this game.… Expand
  64. Sh0dan
    Mar 28, 2012
    8
    I went into this game extremely sceptical and critical because of the last game, which I hated. But I am happy to say that ME3 has made me a believer again. Its took me about a week to get through it all, and I still miss the deeper RPG elements, and planet exploration from ME1, but at the same time, I gotta admit, ME3 actually does feel like a return to form in many ways, and now that itI went into this game extremely sceptical and critical because of the last game, which I hated. But I am happy to say that ME3 has made me a believer again. Its took me about a week to get through it all, and I still miss the deeper RPG elements, and planet exploration from ME1, but at the same time, I gotta admit, ME3 actually does feel like a return to form in many ways, and now that it can stand on its own two feet as a solid Third Person shooter comparable to GoW, its actually a pretty fun game. In fact it can get quite tactical on the harder difficult settings, due to the much smarter A.I. So game-play wise I was impressed.

    As for the ending, I quite liked it. It was a bit ambiguous, left open to interpretation, perhaps even too vague for some, but at the same time it did actually end, and thankfully, it wasnt your fan service, typical Hollywood ending in which everyone rides flies off into the sunset together. Instead it ended with some pretty big metaphysical questions about the purpose and evolution of life. So I was satisfied with the finality of it all, even if smaller individual questions didn't quite get the attention that some fans feel they deserved. Personally though, most of the story and characters arcs that I cared about did come to a conclusion during the course of the game, before the final push, so I didnt feel like there was much else left unanswered that bothered me. And really, the revelation at the end didn't leave much room for the smaller concerns. The bigger picture took priority.

    I think the developers set out to make the ending, open-ended. To encourage fans to examine the various endings and creatively discuss their meanings. Problem is, it seems many fans wanted a more closed ending. A final CGI cutscene with black and white conclusion to their personalised story, so that they wouldn't have to spend any more time pondering what it all meant. But that ending would have left less room for fan creativity and hypothesis. Which in my book would have been an uninteresting ending, because sci-fi is supposed to be about stimulating the imagination. Having said that, they probably could have done better with the final couple of scenes and individualised them a bit more to represent one of the three choices that we made.
    But anyway, I liken the endings to 2001 A Space Odyssey, not in content or context, but in the way that the individual viewer (gamer) makes of it what he will. I.E. the ending is only limited by the scope of our own imagination.

    Still peeved off about the day 1 dlc though, and all the weapons and armour DLC cut out of the game for use in other promotions. Also there seems to be a couple of achievements I cant get because they require online play. Oh and the MP component was pretty pointless, since i'll never play it again. Wished they had spent more time on SP content instead.    … Expand
  65. twistedownz
    Mar 19, 2012
    10
    This game is a true masterpiece. Even the multiplayer is sleek and done well. All the negative reviews are from people who complain about the ending, but truly don't understand it. They believe they are entitled to what they want when they buy the game but they are very wrong. Buy this game it is fully worth every penny spent
  66. YipManSays
    Mar 26, 2012
    9
    I thoroughly enjoyed Mass Effect 3. The mechanics have been improved again and combat is still the fast paced and fluid combat it was in the second entry in the franchise. The story obviously takes a more serious tone because the galaxy is being annihilated by the Reapers in this entry. But the journey is fantastic and it is cool to see how decisions you made from back in the first orI thoroughly enjoyed Mass Effect 3. The mechanics have been improved again and combat is still the fast paced and fluid combat it was in the second entry in the franchise. The story obviously takes a more serious tone because the galaxy is being annihilated by the Reapers in this entry. But the journey is fantastic and it is cool to see how decisions you made from back in the first or second game come back to change outcomes in the third. Multiplayer is also a nice addition and again Bioware integrates it with the single player outcome so that you are motivated to participate in it. As far as the ending goes it does leave a little more to be desired but I commend Bioware for trying something different. For me personally the ending wasn't a big deal because I enjoyed the journey along the way and characters I met. Overall a great title and worth your time!… Expand
  67. KingWilke
    Mar 15, 2012
    8
    I love the Mass Effect series. I loved Mass Effect 3. The pacing was near genius and the story was stirring. Your interactions with your crew and others was fantastic. The gameplay was a great middle of the road between ME1 and ME2 allowing for more customization without inventory overkill. This game kept me up later then intended and took up a quick 30 plus hours of my life. As I watchedI love the Mass Effect series. I loved Mass Effect 3. The pacing was near genius and the story was stirring. Your interactions with your crew and others was fantastic. The gameplay was a great middle of the road between ME1 and ME2 allowing for more customization without inventory overkill. This game kept me up later then intended and took up a quick 30 plus hours of my life. As I watched characters I've grown to love appear and react to all the decisions made in my previous 80 hours of time in ME1 and 2 I thought, "Wow, this could be the greatest epic of not only video game history, but of entertainment history." Never before has something with this much ambition been made in games.

    So, why an eight?

    Because, without ruining anything you receive almost no closure.

    Because Bioware promised a ending that would utilize all I had done in the series, and it wasn't true.

    After finishing every Bioware game I have played I immediately have want to play again. Do things different. Play as I didn't before and experience all the differences. This time though, as the credits rolled, I set down my controller and felt betrayed.

    I had been promised so much and I have never been so disappointed. I heard complaints about the end before I finished and thought that it couldn't be that bad. I heard so much negative about Dragon Age 2 (another Bioware game) and I loved it. I'm on my third play in it.

    Not so with ME3. I have no ambition to ever play it again. The media I feel is not being fair. I have seen these same websites and magazines kill a games score based on the ending. Not so this time. The reviews were glowing, calling ME3 a perfect conclusion.

    Really?

    Who remembers when at the end of star wars Luke was being electrified and Darth Vader walked towards the emperor and the scene suddenly changed to Leia and Han on Dagobah swimming in a swamp and then went to black?

    No one?

    Cause that's how the end of ME3 felt. You were led on this amazing journey. You reach the end only to know that the journey was BS. It felt like being cheated on by a significant other. It felt like betrayal.

    Is the game a good game? Yes, very much so. The gameplay, multiplayer, and 99% of the story are amazing. That 1% that isn't?

    It was Bioware screwing your girlfriend while you were at work and then texting you pictures.    … Expand
  68. Flamewielder
    Mar 19, 2012
    9
    Up to the finale, ME3 felt like the natural continuity of the previous 2 installments. Great music, improved visuals (in spite of a few minor glitches), obvious efforts were made to make the fans feel at home and bring closure to the story. The characters feel like old friends and you're happy to see them one last time. The design team did a fantastic job of it.

    Then, 5 minutes before    Up to the finale, ME3 felt like the natural continuity of the previous 2 installments. Great music, improved visuals (in spite of a few minor glitches), obvious efforts were made to make the fans feel at home and bring closure to the story. The characters feel like old friends and you're happy to see them one last time. The design team did a fantastic job of it.

    Then, 5 minutes before the end, the designers break the compact made with the players that made ME an interactive art form by taking control of YOUR Shepard's story. The conclusion felt obviously rushed and writers obviously forgot that since ME is YOUR Shepard's story, YOU should decide how it all ends... sad, bittersweet or happy should be YOUR choice. And that's why I give it a 9, rather than the 10 I would have otherwise given it. Good news is: that can be fixed through a patch or DLC.    … Expand
  69. Eillas
    Apr 1, 2012
    10
    This game is vastly underrated because of the controversy. It's a good game has its quirks here and there but overall a good finale game for a good series.
  70. mctavish
    Apr 8, 2012
    10
    something wrong when games like mass effect or modern warfare 3 have 3.5 average user score , and games like too human have 7.1 average user score . Metacritics should do something to link gametag with user id and if you don't finish the game, you can't post any valoration relative to the game.
  71. distaula
    Apr 9, 2012
    10
    I've loved every minute of my time with the Mass Effect series and the third installment is no different. Every decision I've made throughout the series felt like they mattered and I saw the effects of these choices show throughout the story being told. I often found myself doing nothing more but wandering around overhearing conversations that told even more about the story.

    The story    I've loved every minute of my time with the Mass Effect series and the third installment is no different. Every decision I've made throughout the series felt like they mattered and I saw the effects of these choices show throughout the story being told. I often found myself doing nothing more but wandering around overhearing conversations that told even more about the story.

    The story is epic, well acted, and immersing. The game-play is better than ever and caters to many play styles. Like stealth, hitting hard and running away? Go for it. Standard FPS? Sure. Like the Rock/Paper/Scissor decisions of a classic RPG? You have skills for that.

    The negative attitudes about downloadable content and a disappointing close to one of the greatest gaming accomplishments of all time is a shame. Sure, I would have liked a bit more from the ending, but that shouldn't be enough to drag this WONDERFUL piece of down.    … Expand
  72. OverDos
    Apr 24, 2012
    8
    Everybody needs to take a chill pill. Don't bash the game because of personal opinion towards subjects unrelated to the game's final product. The point of a User Review isn't to complain about a company, its about to rate a game so potential buyers know what they're getting themselves into.

    Anyway, I think the game is solid, but is the weakest in the series. However, that isn't    Everybody needs to take a chill pill. Don't bash the game because of personal opinion towards subjects unrelated to the game's final product. The point of a User Review isn't to complain about a company, its about to rate a game so potential buyers know what they're getting themselves into.

    Anyway, I think the game is solid, but is the weakest in the series. However, that isn't saying much since i'd give the last two games 10/10's. Mass Effect 3 really is a great game with a breathtaking storyline, but it missed the mark in terms of how innovative the game truly could have been. The differences between the first and second games were huge. So many things had changed for the better, and, in my opinion, some things had been changed for the worst. Instead of correcting mistakes made previously in Mass Effect 2, EA chose to use an almost identical mold for the third game. The potential of learning from the first and second games' mistakes was virtually ignored. I suppose in the end though, the game was fun and it was worth the buy. I just they did more with it. As for the dreaded ending that everybody is up in arms about, it isn't as bad as people claim it to be. The game's grand finale is whatever you make of it. Chances are it wont end the way you had imagined it would and therefore you might not like it. The fact of the matter is, the developers designed an ending that they believed was appropriate. Whether or not you accept that is up to you. I didn't think it was all that bad. The Pros:
    +4 Points for a great story
    +2 Points for solid gameplay
    +2 Point for the new multiplayer

    The Cons:
    -1 Point for lack of originality
    -1 Point for using the Mass Effect 2 formula    … Expand
  73. SaltyRT
    Apr 24, 2012
    10
    Let me begin by saying that Mass Effect 3 is an excellent game, and is worthy of the five star rating I have assigned to it. However, you may have heard some lackluster comments about the ending, and yes, the ending was a disappointment for me, as well as many others, but this doesn't detract much from the rest of the game. The gun play has been refined to the point of near perfection, andLet me begin by saying that Mass Effect 3 is an excellent game, and is worthy of the five star rating I have assigned to it. However, you may have heard some lackluster comments about the ending, and yes, the ending was a disappointment for me, as well as many others, but this doesn't detract much from the rest of the game. The gun play has been refined to the point of near perfection, and the RPG elements have been expanded upon from Mass Effect 2, though still not as in-depth as Mass Effect, which in my opinion was a bit too complex. However, it feels as if the game took a hit in the story department, limiting your overall choices in conversations by removing the neutral options. It may seem as if I'm complaining about the story, but across all three games, it's still one of the best stories ever told in gaming. (And if you're concerned about the ending, Bioware has confirmed that a free DLC titled "Extended Cut" will be released this summer, hopefully putting an end to everyone's ending woes.)

    While Mass Effect 3 may not be as amazing as it's predecessor, Mass Effect 2, they are both definitely worthy of being on the list of the best games I have ever played.

    9.7/10    … Expand
  74. Asrugan
    Apr 29, 2012
    9
    It's a shame so many users have chosen to take out their frustration with the game's ending rather than rate the whole thing. The team behind these games really polished the engine and concept from ME2 and made it work better than ever in ME3. It's true, for many the ending may detract from the experience for some (I was not disappointed, but I can see how it would seem unfulfilling forIt's a shame so many users have chosen to take out their frustration with the game's ending rather than rate the whole thing. The team behind these games really polished the engine and concept from ME2 and made it work better than ever in ME3. It's true, for many the ending may detract from the experience for some (I was not disappointed, but I can see how it would seem unfulfilling for some, and why DLC is coming to flesh it out). The rest of the game though is tremendous, and even the multiplayer works well (and is FUN). This is one time you should go with the critics, and less with the user score, it's less biased on one single point of the game.… Expand
  75. tylerdurden516
    May 1, 2012
    10
    Every user review is a 10 or 0 because no game has ever created such a deep story as this trilogy has, and no game has ever made its players as emotionally invested in its story and characters. Yea a lot of people hate the ending, but the journey there is one of the greatest sci-fi adventures I've ever enjoyed.
  76. el_rico12t7
    Apr 17, 2012
    9
    Good game. The single player campaign wasn't as good as the first two but the multi player is a very nice addition. Unlike Mass effect 1 and 2 that I traded in after finishing the single player campaign this one i will be keeping for a while.
  77. fonewn
    Mar 26, 2012
    10
    No spoilers here. Mass Effect 3 is the best in the saga, also the best game I have played in all my life (playing since the 8bit era). Long story short, Mass Effect 3 has the best of Mass Effect 1 and 2 without the annoying parts of tediously collecting resources. Is is an experience and enjoyment to play this game. As always Bioware has been able to give personality, feelings and emotionNo spoilers here. Mass Effect 3 is the best in the saga, also the best game I have played in all my life (playing since the 8bit era). Long story short, Mass Effect 3 has the best of Mass Effect 1 and 2 without the annoying parts of tediously collecting resources. Is is an experience and enjoyment to play this game. As always Bioware has been able to give personality, feelings and emotion to the characters, also very good gameplay and storyline. Thanks Bioware. For sure I will buy more games in this saga.

    Alex    … Expand
  78. sias
    Mar 25, 2012
    8
    A decent yet highly flawed finale to a great trilogy, that feels really quite dated. GOOD: Fantastic presentation and production values gives the game a fantastically epic feel at times (Palaven level in particular); Fun and varied combat that improves upon both ME1 and 2 by presenting the player with a greater diversity of enemies that require radically different techniques to beat;A decent yet highly flawed finale to a great trilogy, that feels really quite dated. GOOD: Fantastic presentation and production values gives the game a fantastically epic feel at times (Palaven level in particular); Fun and varied combat that improves upon both ME1 and 2 by presenting the player with a greater diversity of enemies that require radically different techniques to beat; Generally stunning graphics and crisp, clean textures; Most character interactions are superb with a mostly decent script; Around 90% of the story is brilliantly told and exciting to participate in; Voice acting is top-notch and fleshes out the characters well; Much improved powers progression over ME2 with a slight decrease in overall linearity; Weapon mods are a welcome return as are the armour upgrades from ME2; Seeing the conclusions of many of your choices in previous games play out is generally pretty well done; Multiplayer is very good and offers a wealth of customisation and character progression; Space Hamster, Auto-Fish feeder and Blasto! BAD: Journal is terribly designed and does not update when new items for a quest are found, so quest progression can be confusing; When opening quest log it does not default to top of screen so you have to scroll through all the quests you've completed whenever you open it which is irritating and totally unnecessary; Graphical pop-in during many different parts of the game creates an unfinished look in an other wise highly polished game; Characters vanish during cutscenes and necks twist in weird laughably bad directions to compensate for bad character placement during some cutscenes; Human faces look awful at times compared to other Alien races and detract somewhat from the emotion of many cutscenes; During cutscenes graphical bugs occur wherein pistols are holstered on back or are invisible where Bioware always expected players to apparently be using an assault rifle; Shepard has an awful script which is positively cringe worthy in most instances and again detracts from the quality of cutscenes; Story has many exhaustingly contrived instances, such as the sudden emergence of a weapon that can destroy all the Reapers highlighting some terrible writing in parts; The Ending is horridly put together and highlights Bioware's inability to conclude compelling stories (Space Jesus? Why? Deus Ex Machina anyone?); Many quest bugs which require reloading from previous saves to proceed; The one-button-for-every-action is at it's worse now that Bioware have introduced rolling to the combat - having the same button for running, going into cover, interacting with an item, rolling and reviving team mates reeks of bad game design and causes far too many frustrating moments (See Vanquish for how to do this correctly); In multiplayer there are many gameplay bugs such as falling through floor, enemies becoming invisible/invincible, not being able to forward roll and use heavy attack for minutes at a time and being stuck on the spot forcing you to quit out of the game; The galaxy map is now at its most redundant with sections cut off until you reach "that part of the game" meaning actual exploration in Mass Effect 3 is incredibly linear; Scanning for War assets is dull and requires almost no input from the player; Side-quests are incredibly shallow and mostly require you to scan a planet to find some lost religious texts for a species and then find the numbered NPC on a map of the citadel to complete it (bearing in mind the journal never updates, so you only know if a mission is complete if a new numbered NPC appears on the map); Other side-quest follow a sloppy pattern of coincidently bumping into old team mates from ME2 under increasingly dull and contrived circumstances; Zero customisation of your teammate armour; Weapon mods are uninteresting and are mostly just scopes and bigger clips; Character progression is still immensely shallow, especially for your teammates; All aspects of character progression are combat based and there are no class specific skills to give you an advantage in any moments out of combat so your class has zero identity outside a combat situation; No mini-games for hacking doors now, just stand and watch Shepard wave his omni-tool around for a good 20 seconds (fun?...no); Reaper awareness meter on galaxy map is badly implemented and just becomes a nuisance instead of creating a feeling of actual panic; War Assest acquisition is wholly artifical and is quite simply a bar to raise so you get more of a choice of the same badly written and horribly presented ending. Overall Mass Effect 3 is a fun game to play, but it's shallow, buggy, has some terrible scripting blunders and horrid design choices that really tarnish what could have been a superb game and a definite contender for my GOTY.… Expand
  79. TheBainanator
    Mar 18, 2012
    9
    in my opinion i thought that MA3 was a fantastic game, i mean sure they didnt keep all of what the series made great but still a great experiance, and without giving anything away i thought the ending was good, well my ending, and it kind of very slightly left it open, even though it was ment to be a trilogy
  80. CjN
    Mar 20, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 is the best game in the trilogy; the combat has been improved since the last game. Itâ
  81. AtlasMickey
    Mar 21, 2012
    10
    This is the best game I've ever played. I love the game 100% beginning-to-end, top-to-bottom. BioWare created a masterpiece. The ending requires your thought, attention, and patience, but it is worth it and very rewarding. It's a shame that so many fans who disliked the ending and have acted so immaturely.
  82. Sprity
    Mar 24, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Disappointing ending aside...I really enjoyed Mass Effect 3. Though it does feel a bit stripped down compared to Mass Effect 2. There is only one hub world. Your journal doesn't update and give you new information to help with quests. A majority of the side quests are nothing more than fetching something from a planet by simply scanning it, while side missions that have you land on a planet often feel more like a tease and doesn't feel like there are as many this time.

    Other aspects like Paragon/Renegade and the RPG elements don't feel as necessary this time. It really is more of a 3rd person shooter now. Which I was fine with since my favorite parts of Mass Effect has always been the story and the universe Bioware created. All of which is expanded upon in this game, and that's why the ending feels so painful to many fans, cause it seems to throw it all away.

    Another questionable decision by Bioware is that it feels like they ignored Mass Effect 2 beyond Cerberus. Mass Effect 3 references the 1st game more than anything. The squad you had in 2nd game(assuming they survived) are put in small supporting roles and many simply have cameos. It makes me wonder why it was made such a big deal on whether they survived or not when they have no impact beyond the second game. And I think it can be assumed that Mass Effect 2 is more popular than the 1st overall, so when seems odd that the writers seem to ignore a great deal of it.

    And without spoiling the ending too much...I did not need some fluffy scene with Shepard skipping on a beach with Ashley or anything like that. But when your trilogy is about saving the galaxy from giant robots...one would expect it to end on a more positive note. At least with some closure. But unfortunately Shepard's goal for the entire series felt over shadowed, thus lacking any real victory for the player. There are a lot of games with bad endings, but when the series and story is so good, it makes it all the more painful.

    I know my review seems awfully critical, but really did love the game overall. It is still better most other games on the market.    … Expand
  83. Artic_Flood
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For all the haters out there...GET OVER IT! Its a video game its not real life. Boo Hoo they didn't end the game the way YOU wanted. Grow up people if you dont like the way it ended thats just too damn bad. I happened to enjoy the ending. If you didnt understand what was happening at the end...I feel sorry for your ignorance. Since ME1 Shepard has been fighting indoctrination. By ME3 his indoctrination is nearly complete. Its little things that happen during ME3 that show you his indoctrination...like...the little boy who nobody else sees, i mean he was struggling to get on the shuttle and not one soldier helps him on. Do you know why??? Its because he's not real he's a hallucination brought on by Harbinger to try and crush Shepards will to fight. What about during the end when the laser hits Shepard and Harbinger leaves the beam. Why do the other soldiers retreat if Harbinger has left? or why when its asked if anyone made it to the beam do you hear that no one makes it? Or the fact that Anderson beats you to the Citadel control room even though he's clearly not ahead of you? How about how the Destruction choice (paragon) and Control choice (renegade) are represented by the opposite colors on the pathways? They're switched because the Reapers want you to "control" them not destroy them because control shows that you've become fully indoctrinated. The Mass Relays are still there...the Geth are still alive...VI's,AI's, all synthetic life is still alive.… Expand
  84. marwood87
    Mar 27, 2012
    10
    10/10 for ME3, not played 1 or 2, but I am buying them tomorrow! Admittedly I had played upuntil where you have to defuse the bomb in the first game, but couldn't get the hang of it, now I got into the third game, like I said I'm buying 1 and 2
  85. classicaldon
    Apr 19, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 IS a great game. Sure the ending is a bit disappointing, but the game is so much more than just the ending. The epic adventure of Shepard continues in style, with grand action sequences and encounters with folks from the previous 2 games. And the choices taken in the previous games do matter. If you did good, you'll get a lot of extra help for the final battle.
  86. freemanlouis
    Apr 28, 2012
    10
    Incredibly fun and satisfying game. A great blend of RPG and shooter elements from the previous games. Multi player was better than I expected but not needed. A little corny in places towards the end of the game however. I respect the writers choice in the endings and I can't wait for some DLC :)
  87. resolent
    May 4, 2012
    9
    The Mass Effect franchise started strongly with ME1, a combination RPG shooter that while a little wooden at times, was an engaging and entertaining game. ME2 built on this, adding flesh to the story and depth to the galaxy while improving slightly on the slightly awkward combat dynamic of ME1.
    ME3 has bettered it's forebears, with a fluid combat system, improved interface and truly    The Mass Effect franchise started strongly with ME1, a combination RPG shooter that while a little wooden at times, was an engaging and entertaining game. ME2 built on this, adding flesh to the story and depth to the galaxy while improving slightly on the slightly awkward combat dynamic of ME1.
    ME3 has bettered it's forebears, with a fluid combat system, improved interface and truly engrossing story.
    Further, the added multiplayer element offers brilliant gameplay and well thought out locations to enjoy with friends. The graphics and cut-scenes are high end throughout and the soundtrack at times breathtaking.
    Given the number of decisions made in the journey from ME1 to ME3's ending, the limited number of ending options is a little disappointing, but overall this is a strong finish to the ME series.    … Expand
  88. R3DRocket
    May 10, 2012
    10
    Amazing game!!! People giving this game are such trolls. They probably enjoyed the game all the way up to the end, when they started to cry. So what the ending isn't the best send off? The gameplay was the best in the series and the multiplayer is great fun with friends. People giving this a bad review need to have a better reason then hating the story, because gameplay wise it is probablyAmazing game!!! People giving this game are such trolls. They probably enjoyed the game all the way up to the end, when they started to cry. So what the ending isn't the best send off? The gameplay was the best in the series and the multiplayer is great fun with friends. People giving this a bad review need to have a better reason then hating the story, because gameplay wise it is probably one of the best of this generation. And personally I like the story and ending, I was just bummed out that all the endings were the same.… Expand
  89. StrangeFairy
    Jun 28, 2012
    9
    The Extended Cut has definitely improved the endings, allowing more closure, a more visual representation of player choices, and a prevailing feeling of optimism rather than the overly ambiguous and even bleak nature of the originals. Perfect game? Not quite. There is still too much auto-dialogue/protagonist passivity, and the journal isn't exactly helpful. But this is nitpicking a gameThe Extended Cut has definitely improved the endings, allowing more closure, a more visual representation of player choices, and a prevailing feeling of optimism rather than the overly ambiguous and even bleak nature of the originals. Perfect game? Not quite. There is still too much auto-dialogue/protagonist passivity, and the journal isn't exactly helpful. But this is nitpicking a game that has so much going for it. Increased squad interaction (particularly with each other, a nice touch), some great characters, missions such as those on Tuchanka, Rannoch and Grissom Academy, a MUCH improved Citadel from ME2, and hugely fun combat make this a game well worth playing.… Expand
  90. KotorEffect3
    Jun 28, 2012
    10
    Is this game actualy perfect? No but there needs to be a counterbalance to all the morons that dishonestly review bomb the game and give it a ridiculously low score. Seriously people are giving it 0s and 1s? What the hell is wrong with these people. There is no way you can honestly give the game that low of a score. Mass Effect 3 is an incredible game that had a weak ending that hasIs this game actualy perfect? No but there needs to be a counterbalance to all the morons that dishonestly review bomb the game and give it a ridiculously low score. Seriously people are giving it 0s and 1s? What the hell is wrong with these people. There is no way you can honestly give the game that low of a score. Mass Effect 3 is an incredible game that had a weak ending that has now been fixed thanks to the extended cut. Mass Effect 3 deserves a better fanbase.… Expand
  91. mRon12
    Jul 1, 2012
    10
    Ignoring the last ten minutes, this game is incredible. The ending was incredibly disappointing, especially for those who completed all three games and built relationships, strong and weak, between the different characters. Regardless, this game improved combat beyond the others, and is an incredible experience. The ending couldn't be worse, but the rest of the game has to be praised forIgnoring the last ten minutes, this game is incredible. The ending was incredibly disappointing, especially for those who completed all three games and built relationships, strong and weak, between the different characters. Regardless, this game improved combat beyond the others, and is an incredible experience. The ending couldn't be worse, but the rest of the game has to be praised for what it does.… Expand
  92. FemShep
    Jul 1, 2012
    10
    The problems that everyone had with the ending have been fixed with the Extended Cut and additional closure and clarification was added making this game the ideal choice for purchase if you haven't already. :)
  93. Enforcer122
    Apr 16, 2013
    10
    If the user score wasn't so low I'd give it a 9 or 8, but a 10 because it's so low... Why is it so low?! This game was absolutely incredible. It wasn't as good as the first or second, but this game is epic. Multiplayer was a worthy inclusion to it and everything else came together... An awesome game
  94. calebb96
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Maass Effect 3 is the best one in the series. The story is amazing and it gives a very immersive experience. By the way ignore the negative reviews they're just people who are complaining about dlc and will never get laid in life.
  95. wasd0109
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    I've played all 3 Mass Effect
    This. Is a great game!
    The gameplay is a bit weird as the dialogue choices decreased. But I still love the gameplay!
    Moreover, the story!!
  96. Issen323
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    I've previously really enjoyed the mass effect series. Played the whole thing, taken the time in each game to explore every facet of the universe, explore each nook and cranny; and ultimately enjoy the ending i (felt) like i carved wth my character. ME3 let me into the mass effect universe again which i was happy about, it let me make differences, resolve rivalries and most importantlyI've previously really enjoyed the mass effect series. Played the whole thing, taken the time in each game to explore every facet of the universe, explore each nook and cranny; and ultimately enjoy the ending i (felt) like i carved wth my character. ME3 let me into the mass effect universe again which i was happy about, it let me make differences, resolve rivalries and most importantly form a connection with characters both new and old. Graphics were fine, there was some texture pop in, and characters randomly dissapearing but i accept that as just part of the course for a game of such scale. Sound and music were fine too, alot of recycled music and effects but hey they worked, they still do. Gameplay was fine, typical ME gameplay, i liked the alterations to the skill try that let you customize it abit more. Customizations for weapons could have been made abit more so that they actually made a noticeable difference rather than passive alterations. But overall no real complaints with gameplay, not groundbreaking, but a tried and tested formulae.

    Story: this is where my problems lay. I like the idea of the reapers, the whole cyclic nature of the galaxy shepard lives in.. and even all the characters. I liked vega, even though he was a massive stereotype. I had nothing against that reporter wearing skin tight pvc, but i thought she was just a gimic and could have been implemented alot better. BUT what i didnt like was the ending... i spent the entire game making decisions that i felt mattered to be slapped in the face with that pile of rubbish. Normally i'm not one to really care, because hey.. its a game. But i spent a good portion of my life playing mass effect, and i feel abit screwed over by poor writing in the end! Its like buying a brand new car only to find out the air conditioning makes the car smell of fish, not soul destroying, but damn annoying. Everything boils down to an a'la deus ex:human revolution style ending, rendering everything you did previously useless. I just feel cheated by the designers that they sold (and i bought), massively marketed, pushed and succeeded in pushing something shoddy like this. I just fear its a sign of the times we live in when designers think its fine to end a story like this. Its not fine to create and sell something that ends like this.    … Expand
  97. SolidOni
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    The problem with Mass Effect 3 is that it stems too far from its roots. Mass Effect 1 was an rpg that took place is an incredible future that you wanted to explore for hours. Mass Effect 2 continued to do the same, albeit in a lesser way. The trade though gave us gameplay that far surpassed the first. Then comes Mass Effect 3. Forced homosexuality and transgender roles on the Normandy, aThe problem with Mass Effect 3 is that it stems too far from its roots. Mass Effect 1 was an rpg that took place is an incredible future that you wanted to explore for hours. Mass Effect 2 continued to do the same, albeit in a lesser way. The trade though gave us gameplay that far surpassed the first. Then comes Mass Effect 3. Forced homosexuality and transgender roles on the Normandy, a placid universe despite the fact that it is allegedly being torn apart, and then the most lackluster story of the entire trilogy. Many people will debate otherwise but the game has lost any flavor it once had. If you must play it rent it, but if you enjoyed 1 and 2 you might find it hard to enjoy 3.… Expand
  98. Mumajugs1
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    Excuse my french but are you people **** crazy? This game is simply outstanding! Sure your decisions don't have as much impact as the previous 2 titles, but this game is a masterpiece in its own right! Easily one of the best if not THE best games on the 360/PS3, it deserves nothing less then 10. All games have small imperfections, and apparently people cant see past that. I now hold muchExcuse my french but are you people **** crazy? This game is simply outstanding! Sure your decisions don't have as much impact as the previous 2 titles, but this game is a masterpiece in its own right! Easily one of the best if not THE best games on the 360/PS3, it deserves nothing less then 10. All games have small imperfections, and apparently people cant see past that. I now hold much less value in the opinion of the users. To anyone out there on the fence. BUY THIS GAME, you will not regret it.… Expand
  99. jaidenator
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Guys this game is amazing! Why are you all complaining about the lack of interactivity? It's been toned down because there's no guarantee of a direct sequel unlike the last two had. So Bioware really has no reason to include many mutual decisions that wouldn't help create a definitive end, nor more random decisions because they won't have anything else to carry on with. And if you don'tGuys this game is amazing! Why are you all complaining about the lack of interactivity? It's been toned down because there's no guarantee of a direct sequel unlike the last two had. So Bioware really has no reason to include many mutual decisions that wouldn't help create a definitive end, nor more random decisions because they won't have anything else to carry on with. And if you don't like the ending, play it again, find one you like. It's Bioware's story to tell, they decide how this universe finishes.… Expand
  100. Dantie
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    I bought the game at midnight and played it solid until about 10am, thats because the story and writting is just so damn good that I want to see what happens next. I haven't beaten it yet, and while I know alot of people have I am trying to enjoy it and do the side missions, and the fetch quests, and really take in the Final chapter of Commander Shepard and his crew. Point being this gameI bought the game at midnight and played it solid until about 10am, thats because the story and writting is just so damn good that I want to see what happens next. I haven't beaten it yet, and while I know alot of people have I am trying to enjoy it and do the side missions, and the fetch quests, and really take in the Final chapter of Commander Shepard and his crew. Point being this game is EXTREMELEY fun and takes care of the true fans and new comers alike. If you loved ME 1, 2, then you owe your self to see this through. Those that are bad mouthing this game seemed to be expecting a pure run and gun action game and nor a RPG. Once more, play this game and see what an amazing feeling it is to see choices you made in 2007 (ME 1), 2010 (ME 2) and now come to an Epic close. Have fun!!!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2012
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012
14
#14 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 74 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 74
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 74
  3. Negative: 0 out of 74
  1. Gamer.nl
    May 12, 2012
    95
    Mass Effect 3 is an emotional rollercoaster ride with lots of tension and moving moments. The threat of the Reapers make every decision a hard one and your relationship with other characters will be tested. This, in combination with tight gameplay, makes this the complete experience.
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  2. Polygon
    Apr 26, 2012
    100
    As a bombastic action-RPG with no previous context, Mass Effect 3 is a dark, engaging game with great combat, a well-written story, and all the epic space-opera you could want. But for those who have played through Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, it's something much more.
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  3. GameFocus
    Apr 18, 2012
    96
    The storytelling itself, the more refined combat, the voicework, the visuals, et all, stand as a fine example of some of the best this industry has to offer, and with my minor complaints aside, there's no doubt that Mass Effect 3 will be deservedly at the top of everyone's list come this year's award season.
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