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. ISeeDeadPikmin
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    My earlier review was removed... I don't know why, it contained no spoilers, profanities, hate speech, or anything that would violate Metacritics strict terms and conditions.

    I am only guilty of giving this game a 10 out of 10. Because it is another excellent addition to BioWares already incredible franchise!
  2. Easydisposal
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 delivers in all respects. This game is truly firing on all cylinders, gameplay, characterization, plotting, action, everything! I fail to understand all the negative ratings, that really seem to be more out of spite that the game didn't fit into what were there preconceived "notions" than actual reasonable criticisms of the game itself. Because, let's face it people, MassMass Effect 3 delivers in all respects. This game is truly firing on all cylinders, gameplay, characterization, plotting, action, everything! I fail to understand all the negative ratings, that really seem to be more out of spite that the game didn't fit into what were there preconceived "notions" than actual reasonable criticisms of the game itself. Because, let's face it people, Mass Effect 3 probably won't be topped again in 2012. Or 2013. Or 2014. Etc. Releasing dlc on the release date of the game is a money grab, but it doesn't make the game bad. The number of fallacies that contradicts is astounding.… Expand
  3. zotune
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    The new standard of decision-making and storytelling in games, Mass Effect 3 sets an example of a narrative which will make you consider your decisions thoroughly, or regret otherwise. The Clint Mansell composed music is emotional and the soundtrack pays homage to many sci-fi series of the past with its electronic touch - the presentation is also exquisitely refined with vastly improvedThe new standard of decision-making and storytelling in games, Mass Effect 3 sets an example of a narrative which will make you consider your decisions thoroughly, or regret otherwise. The Clint Mansell composed music is emotional and the soundtrack pays homage to many sci-fi series of the past with its electronic touch - the presentation is also exquisitely refined with vastly improved lighting and art design which far exceeds most games. That being said, besides an otherwise improved combat system, the enemies are quite dull and mainly runs towards you in a very outdated and unintelligent fashion. I also resent the idea of having to purchase the Day 1 DLC, especially in this case since it involves a major story arc which should have been part of the game in the first place - and I refuse to endorse the abuse of loyal fans who have become invested in the story thus far, and are being exploited monetarily in order to have complete narrative experience. To purposely leave out the answers to some of the most important questions in this otherwise wonderful sci-fi universe comes across as non-appreciation towards loyal fans, and I cannot with my principles intact overlook such an inconsiderate move upon giving a numerical score - in addition to the publisher's behavior towards Windows fans who were not able to buy the game for their Steam library along with previous installments and the rest of their collection, making the whole process very inconvenient for them as consumers. In regards to previous installments it is an improvement in certain aspects such as the leveling system, at the same time however, Mass Effect 3 also appears more dumbed down by introducing genre stereotypes such as characters who seem to have been put in place only to appeal to a more casual audience - instead of remaining true to the initial values of the series. To conclude, this is quite possibly one of my favorite sci-fi universes, and I cannot recommend the journey enough. Though towards the end of the ride I didn't truly feel like I was given complete closure, and the game wasn't quite the improvement Mass Effect 2 was either. All in all I don't think I'm alone in conveying my dislike for the way BioWare has decided to treat their loyal fans. I would still recommend the game to those who would like to see how it all ends, though I would add to that recommendation and advise to disregard the DLC, and perhaps buy the game at a later date - when it's much cheaper. Because otherwise publishers such as EA will continue to set a bad example by withholding important content for monetary gain in order to exploit gamers.… Expand
  4. RavenWolfx
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First, I have to say that this a very entertaining game to play and I highly recommend it to Mass Effect fans. That said, there are a few issues with the game. Most of this review is **** about the stuff I would like changed, but it really is a great game. There are SPOILERS below.

    I would have really appreciated having a Krogan squadmate. Not that big of a deal, but disappointing.

    There are a lot fewer conversations choices in this game, specifically the Blue Paragon choices and Red Renegade choices. I did all side missions and spoke with everyone I could after every priority mission and I got maybe a dozen Blue/Red choices and freaking four of them were at the end. Several times your conversations with your squadmates is just said without any choices whatsoever. The whole Tali issue with not showing her face and getting a crappy stock photo really pisses me off. I was really hoping for a big pay off with getting the Geth and the Quarians to cease hostilities. When Tali takes off her mask for the first time on Rannoch, BAM! That is where we should have seen her face. But no.

    The Endings (the three that I have seen) are all kind of lackluster and similar. I brokered peace with the Geth, why do I have to destroy all sentient life (including EDI) to destroy the Reapers? Why does the Normandy always crash land on some planet? What the hell were they running from? Why do the Mass Relays have to be destroyed? If you choose the middle Ending (Synthesis), why does Joker not go,"WTF? Why am I turning green?" Why does Shepherd flash back to Joker, Anderson, Liara, and no one else (especially if you didn't romance Liara)? Can we get some kind of epilogue that tells us what happened to all our people? Such a let down after a great series of games.    … Expand
  5. SimpsonFan
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    What can I say that hasn't already been said? The game is a masterpiece. It is flawless. It is the apex of artistic achievement. While it is true that nothing is perfect I think this comes as close as possible to perfection and thus the only possible score I can give it is a 10 since its minor imperfections would only take away mere decimals from its score.

    Where to begin? The story, the    What can I say that hasn't already been said? The game is a masterpiece. It is flawless. It is the apex of artistic achievement. While it is true that nothing is perfect I think this comes as close as possible to perfection and thus the only possible score I can give it is a 10 since its minor imperfections would only take away mere decimals from its score.

    Where to begin? The story, the universe, established by this franchise is tremendous in its detail and scope. Its on par if not better than the likes of Star Wars and Star Trek in terms of its sheer size and detail. There is so much to do and so much to learn. Even more so now than in previous games. In terms of its conclusion to the tale of Shepard, there are no complaints whatsoever. Every loose end is tied up, every question is answered and there are absolutely no plot holes, regardless of your choices in the previous installments. And yet all of these choices do play some sort of role, leaving us to wonder just how meticulous and neurotic the writing team at Bioware must be. More power to them because such an intricate plot line which adapts to your every move really is a monumental achievement. The game play is another high point. Unlike most RPGs, the combat does not take a back seat in any way, only improving on the impressive precedent set by Mass Effect 2. It plays like a thrilling action game while maintaining its RPG focus. There are more powers to learn, more guns to find, an improved melee system, more challenging enemies to fight, and simply a lot more fun to be had. What more could you want? The characters and dialogue are another high point. Most major characters from the previous games will make some sort of appearance (assuming they survived) and it is a joy to see your favorites once again. There are a lot more options in regards to relationships which can be developed in new and interesting ways. The dialogue is often witty and sharp and at times quite heavy and intense. Some scenes will pull at your heartstrings with a surprising intensity, packing a serious emotional sucker punch. These are often a direct result of your choices, carrying even more weight as a result.

    Perhaps the biggest change to the Mass Effect formula is the addition of multilayer. These matches are quite a bit of fun, keeping the strategic feel of the single player while integrating the thrill of the human factor. It is at times reminiscent of classic multilayer crowd pleasers such as Gears of War which is certainly a tremendous accomplishment. In the end, while the game does have a few technical kinks here and there, Mass Effect 3 is an unforgettable experience and monumental accomplishment in complex gameplay, captivating storytelling and smart dialogue as well as many other things. It truly is a fitting end to the epic saga of the legendary Commander Shepard.    … Expand
  6. jpainterpc
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Watching all these people come here and write these reviews about a game that has been out less than 10 hours. Writing as though they have even the slightest clue what they are talking about. The pure hatred coming from **** and other related places is just pathetic. This game is easily the best game released in the past few years, and I would say it in combination with ME and ME2 ratesWatching all these people come here and write these reviews about a game that has been out less than 10 hours. Writing as though they have even the slightest clue what they are talking about. The pure hatred coming from **** and other related places is just pathetic. This game is easily the best game released in the past few years, and I would say it in combination with ME and ME2 rates this trilogy the highest of any in my book. The Demo alone is considerably better than half the games that are rated higher from many of these people who are reviewing this game. Second is the fact that nearly every 0/10 review or 1/10, 2/10, 3/10, 4/10 are simply speaking about the download center. A fact that was widely announced has little bearing on the storyline. They are a side quest as many would call it. If you don't choose to do it, nothing will be missed in the grand scheme of things. People are going out of their way to find reasons to dislike the game simply because they do not agree with a DLC. I mean honestly, $5 bucks? How about you buy one less drink at the bar, or one less coffee in the morning, and 'Ta-da!', you've done it you can now afford to pay for this absurd complaint. Here's a hypothetical (is actually the truth in sheeps clothing):
    Those that say "It shouldn't be a DLC since the game was released at the same time as it." If I developed a game and got it ready to be distributed; spoke with distributors and find out it'll take roughly 3 months to get it out. So I need to hand them a finished product to be duplicated a billion times and packaged and sent out. ... Sooooo great, what do I do now with the 90 days until release? Oh! I know I'll start developing Downloadable content. 90 days passes:

    Ok, so I have 30 different download packs, but I REALLY like this one that i've been working on, in fact, I am going to make it available now since it deserves to be seen.

    Publics reaction:
    HOW DARE YOU CHARGE US FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME?!?!

    The logic behind this outrage is almost entirely based on pure ignorance. I hate to say it like that but it's true, this game would otherwise be rated 100/100 if there wasn't so many protesting things that don't even matter. $5 bucks guys.... $5 bucks. I could wander the streets collecting cans and gather that much in an hour. As for the game: I mentioned before the gameplay is amazing, the combat is so fluid in combination with the newer moves available in ME3(diving, etc..) The multi player itself could be sold as an independent game, hell I spent 50 or so hours just on the demo. There are several styles to play, story / rpg / action so you can choose just how much storyline or action you want out of your gaming experience. Seriously, these guys thought of it all! I don't want to throw in any spoilers, so just go out and get the game, you won't be dissapointed.    … Expand
  7. baldursgateisaw
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    People, don't listen to the trolls. Everyone who enjoed the first 2 ME will love this one. It's a perfect mix between both that focuses on smoother action gameplay and more customization. The dialouges, writing and overall story are top notch and definetely up there with some the greatest games.
  8. Edmank
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    This has been some ride, since Mass Effect first grabbed my attention. I have played through every bit of the first two games, and loved every minute. Now the final comes, and I feel equal parts excited and sad. Sad that it will have to end, but thrilled to get a chance to play it. And it does not disappoint. The emotion - always the strong point of Mass Effect - is brought to anotherThis has been some ride, since Mass Effect first grabbed my attention. I have played through every bit of the first two games, and loved every minute. Now the final comes, and I feel equal parts excited and sad. Sad that it will have to end, but thrilled to get a chance to play it. And it does not disappoint. The emotion - always the strong point of Mass Effect - is brought to another level. The characters that I have come to care so much about are even more fleshed out. And the goosebumps at certain points of the game...well, I won't spoil. Just get it.… Expand
  9. mrjohill
    Mar 12, 2012
    10
    Mass effect 3 is awesome and dont let any of these trolls tell you differently. emotionally engaging and technically excellent, you wont find another experience like it. one of the best games of all time
  10. thiefbeef
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Honestly, everybody loves this game so they're playing it. it's only the haters here. The game is fantastic, one of the best games this generation without a doubt
  11. DevastationInc
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 is an incredible game and ends the trilogy successfully. The gameplay and graphics are top notch, but as expected the storytelling is where the game truly shines. Bioware manages to keep improving the series right until the end and should be commended for it. Buy copies for yourself, your friends and all their friends as you won't be disappointed.
  12. rudolfo
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    This is one of gaming's greatest achievements so far. Bioware have created a masterpiece. It's unbelieveable how people can give this a 0 because of gay romances and day 1 DLC. I bet none you have actually played the game
  13. Adastrius
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    I honestly can't see why anyone would negatively review this game. Yes the game has day one DLC, stop crying. If the DLC had been held for a month no one would have cared. This game is irrefutably amazing so stop giving it a bad score because it deserves every ounce of the 94 critics have given it.

    This game is a satisfying end to one of the greatest sci-fi universes of all time. Single    I honestly can't see why anyone would negatively review this game. Yes the game has day one DLC, stop crying. If the DLC had been held for a month no one would have cared. This game is irrefutably amazing so stop giving it a bad score because it deserves every ounce of the 94 critics have given it.

    This game is a satisfying end to one of the greatest sci-fi universes of all time. Single player is smooth and game play is very fun, however the story is where Mass Effect shines through. The game knows how to keep you interested when you may be tired of the game play. I was also very impressed by the quality of the multiplayer. It may not be as good as Gears or Nazi Zombies but for a game that has always been devoted to singleplayer they pulled off an amazing transition to coop multiplayer. In summary, ignore the haters, buy the game. Don't miss out on one of the greatest games of this generation just because some people are stupid.    … Expand
  14. Theeventhorizon
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Truly an amazing conclusion to one of the best trilogies of my generation. This series has been compared to star trek and star wars, and with good reason. This is truly a game for the history books! Its has proven that games can have a story on par with movies books and even the sci-fi classics! This game is a must buy for anyone, new to the series or not!
  15. BioFan12
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Bioware retrurns to the stage to provide a magnificent end to an epic series!

    Mass Effect 3 provides beautiful scenery, invigorating combat, heart wrenching stories and an all around immersive experience. Bioware has once again proven that they are one of the greatest developers around! Check out Mass Effect 3 available on EA Origin alongside other great hits such as: Battlefield 3, The    Bioware retrurns to the stage to provide a magnificent end to an epic series!

    Mass Effect 3 provides beautiful scenery, invigorating combat, heart wrenching stories and an all around immersive experience. Bioware has once again proven that they are one of the greatest developers around!

    Check out Mass Effect 3 available on EA Origin alongside other great hits such as: Battlefield 3, The Sims 3, annd Star Wars - The Old Republic!    … Expand
  16. LJon737
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Bioware has done it again folks. The conclusion to one of the greatest stories ever told is here and it does not disappoint. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you care and it will make you think. No game that I know can meet its match. In the end, you cant really put a score on a game like this. Sure, there maybe technical hiccups here and there, but itsBioware has done it again folks. The conclusion to one of the greatest stories ever told is here and it does not disappoint. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you care and it will make you think. No game that I know can meet its match. In the end, you cant really put a score on a game like this. Sure, there maybe technical hiccups here and there, but its Bioware's ability to make you forget these problems even exist and fully put you in a world where everything is at stake. Id go further in depth but I don't really feel that I need to. The game says everything that needs to be said.… Expand
  17. TheQuietGamer
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    When I first started playing this game I hated it, it felt to me like Bioware had sold out in order to make more people com to the series so they could make the most money, I thought this because Shepard did most of the talking and you only had one or two chances to choose a response, but that was just the opening moments and after the first hour or two you begin to realize that this isWhen I first started playing this game I hated it, it felt to me like Bioware had sold out in order to make more people com to the series so they could make the most money, I thought this because Shepard did most of the talking and you only had one or two chances to choose a response, but that was just the opening moments and after the first hour or two you begin to realize that this is still your story, your choices matter, and this is one of the greatest games of all time, it's true Shepard will do a lot of the talking, but you'll still get to make the big decisions in the conversation that define you as the main character, they just get the small talk out of the way so you can make the real decisions, and while I don't want to see that happening anymore in future Bioware games it just works for some reason here, and speaking of decisions you have some extremely tough ones to make, every choice you make truly effects the galaxy, and it kept me more emotionally invested in it than any other game ever has, and every choice you made in the first two Mass Effect games including the DLC come back here to either help or haunt you, and that truly makes the fact that this is your story all the more believable, and the relationships you've made through the first two games affect this one in such an emotional and powerful ways I can't help but love this, you'll find yourself falling in love with the characters all over again, and you'll also love the new characters just as much, another thing that puts this game above every other is the fact that this game captures the feeling of all out galactic warfare like no other game has, the battles are intense and truly give you the feeling of fighting in a war, and every decision you make carries wait and affects the war like no other game has, the combat is tight but not the tightest, basically it's no Gears of War in the combat, I'd even say that combat was smoother in Mass Effect 2, but it's far better then the first Mass Effect, and it is still addicting and fun to kill enemies, and the ending, while most people are complaining about it, I personally liked mine, granted I would have rather walked of happily with Tali off into the sunset and lived happily ever after with my friends, but it's still emotional and leaves a lot open for other games in this series, and hopefully more DLC and sequels (bring Shepard back please!), and the ending and the scene after the credits just brought a lot of question I need answered, it also has some fantastic multiplayer (similar to Gears of War's horde mode) that ties in well to the campaign, it does have some issues like one or two plot holes, glitches, it's not going top please newcomers all that much, and one or two other issues, but after playing this emotional masterpiece I can't help but give it a 10 out of 10, and when I think about this game and how it does things that no other game has ever done and I doubt ever will the issues mean nothing, this is truly a masterpiece and I'm just going to come out and say it the greatest game I've ever played, oh yeah and this is also the best looking game I've ever seen, it has some of the craziest moments and awesome set pieces that put the Call of Duty series to shame, and the voice acing is phenomenal, a true masterpiece and one of, if not the greatest game/games of all time, and a must play for fans.… Expand
  18. Anarion25
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    This is an awesome game. I can't believe the amount of trolls that are hammering it. Seems that many good games these days get poor user reviews and awesome critic reviews. Anyway... I love this game. I fitting end to an excellent series.
  19. Bojo
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    You simply can't please everyone with a game as anticipated as this, it is the end of a very deep trilogy, and it simply can't make the mark. Everyone expected something different. This game has flaws in it's story, but as a game it is good.

    To summarize, the story is good, if not somewhat linear. However this may come out of necessity to finish the story. While plot holes are noticeable    You simply can't please everyone with a game as anticipated as this, it is the end of a very deep trilogy, and it simply can't make the mark. Everyone expected something different. This game has flaws in it's story, but as a game it is good.

    To summarize, the story is good, if not somewhat linear. However this may come out of necessity to finish the story. While plot holes are noticeable and some pieces donâ    … Expand
  20. HMPB
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    I'm giving this game a 10 because if fully deserves it . To me it is more than a game , it represents the culmination of the best series in video game history and it is something that everyone has to experience . In comparison with other Mass Effect games here is my ideal ME game by taking the best from each 3. 1. ME 1 squad 2. ME 2 dialogue 3. ME 3 setting 4. ME 3 combat and gameplay
  21. isturbo1984
    Mar 21, 2012
    8
    I am very disappointed with the gripers of this game. while it does a developing mechanical issues... and the genre isn't as defined as some of the raging fans might want it to be... the game as a whole is outstanding.

    Let's talk about that ending, spoiler free: It wasn't the cliched "happily every after" ending. Get over it. Nor was it the macabre "everybody dies" ending that some people    I am very disappointed with the gripers of this game. while it does a developing mechanical issues... and the genre isn't as defined as some of the raging fans might want it to be... the game as a whole is outstanding.

    Let's talk about that ending, spoiler free: It wasn't the cliched "happily every after" ending. Get over it. Nor was it the macabre "everybody dies" ending that some people were expecting. It was a nested medium of the two, while having conflict resolution.

    It might help if some of the casual gamers who bought this game just because of the advertising and high school chatter would actually go back and play the first two. Find some middle-ground. This game shouldn't be in the red, lol. Be ashamed.    … Expand
  22. Masseffectfan1
    Mar 19, 2012
    9
    This wraps up the mass effect trilogy in a perfect way (apart from the endings) which will hopefully be patched at a later date via DLC and what have you got an amazing brilliant game Stop complaining about the ending and before you say anything i have been a fan of the mass effect series since ME1 First came out and Bioware since KOTOR. Okay now onto the ending yes I agree we needed moreThis wraps up the mass effect trilogy in a perfect way (apart from the endings) which will hopefully be patched at a later date via DLC and what have you got an amazing brilliant game Stop complaining about the ending and before you say anything i have been a fan of the mass effect series since ME1 First came out and Bioware since KOTOR. Okay now onto the ending yes I agree we needed more closure but bioware know this and who knows this may have been wanted all along to get the ending so talked about that when they release a DLC for the ending everyone will get it.
    Bioware are smart have faith!    … Expand
  23. Thurgrim
    Mar 30, 2012
    10
    Don't let people's impressions of the last 5 minutes of this game put you off of what is probably the best entry in one of the greatest series of video games ever created. Seriously, the entire game is the ending to a trilogy, and the fact that the last 5 minutes weren't great does not diminish the rest of the game or series in any way. And really, if you look around, that's all people areDon't let people's impressions of the last 5 minutes of this game put you off of what is probably the best entry in one of the greatest series of video games ever created. Seriously, the entire game is the ending to a trilogy, and the fact that the last 5 minutes weren't great does not diminish the rest of the game or series in any way. And really, if you look around, that's all people are complaining about is that last 5-10 minutes. Even if you hated those last moments, to say that those final minutes completely ruin either the game or the entire series is just ludicrous. If you skip it because of that, you're missing out. Only thing I would say is that as the end of a trilogy I would not recommend this game unless you've played at least the 2nd one if not both.… Expand
  24. Aran
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    It's great to see a game that allows such a wide range of experiences between people experiencing it.

    For instance, I experienced a game where you could choose to have relations with a wide range of characters in cut-scenes, or choose not to, on top of being a well-written epic about war, loss, hope, faith, and human redemption. Others, somehow, experienced a game where you're forced    It's great to see a game that allows such a wide range of experiences between people experiencing it.

    For instance, I experienced a game where you could choose to have relations with a wide range of characters in cut-scenes, or choose not to, on top of being a well-written epic about war, loss, hope, faith, and human redemption.

    Others, somehow, experienced a game where you're forced into gay bondage and have to spend every second of the game staring at naked floppy penises spinning around you like the Wicked Witch during the tornado in The Wizard of Oz.

    How two such different experiences can be had from a single video game is breathtaking!    … Expand
  25. xdsportsx
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Amazing!!!!!! Don't look at all these noobs who just can't afford to play it and are jealous. These noobs just want to hate on bioware and ea for pointless reasons. Bad Ending. Which is actually one hell of an ending and also day-1-dlc, (go back to can't afford it)
  26. PistolPete7556
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    I'm about 12 hours into the story, and let me just say that all the people that are giving this game a zero are very bitter people. This is an Epic game, and although it isn't 100% perfect, it blows it's predecessors out of the water when it comes to game mechanics. The story is compelling, and and the Characters deep. The only thing that feels forced are some of the side-quests, but it'sI'm about 12 hours into the story, and let me just say that all the people that are giving this game a zero are very bitter people. This is an Epic game, and although it isn't 100% perfect, it blows it's predecessors out of the water when it comes to game mechanics. The story is compelling, and and the Characters deep. The only thing that feels forced are some of the side-quests, but it's still better than many other games. It is more action than RPG, although they removed everything that was annoying in ME2. I would recommend the entire series to anyone that wants an experience rather than simply a game.… Expand
  27. iklsjicb
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    ok firstly all of the 0's jus what the hell is wrong with you people barely any game deserves a zero truely terrible games maybe a 2 or 3 but a zero for a game that is this brilliant even if you dislike it, it should at least be a 5 and secondly in my opinion this is one of the best games ever and a perfectly brilliant and satisfying ending to one of the best trilogies gaming has ever seenok firstly all of the 0's jus what the hell is wrong with you people barely any game deserves a zero truely terrible games maybe a 2 or 3 but a zero for a game that is this brilliant even if you dislike it, it should at least be a 5 and secondly in my opinion this is one of the best games ever and a perfectly brilliant and satisfying ending to one of the best trilogies gaming has ever seen this is why i give a 10/10… Expand
  28. Dexter317
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    This game is excellent - not sure what others are trying to do with low scores.
    Like really? What's the end game here? Hurt a good developer?
    Clearly Bioware put a lot of love into the finale. Great story - refined gameplay - nvidia 3D looks incredible. Psyched my girlfriend can try the 'narrative only' mode. They've filled a void in the sci-fi universe - something between blade runner    This game is excellent - not sure what others are trying to do with low scores.
    Like really? What's the end game here? Hurt a good developer?

    Clearly Bioware put a lot of love into the finale. Great story - refined gameplay - nvidia 3D looks incredible. Psyched my girlfriend can try the 'narrative only' mode. They've filled a void in the sci-fi universe - something between blade runner and star wars. Not through the entire game - but level of polish, combined with great story, puts it on track for a 9 or above.    … Expand
  29. HDIC87
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    (9.44)-I rated it a 10 to counteract the negativity, but a 9.44 rating is what this game deserves in my heart.
    Combat
    To start off the combat system has evolved a lot over the sequels. ME1 was my favorite, it was a straight up RPG with shooter elements, and sported the best "ammo" system to date that rewarded the cerebral tactician with the closest thing to unlimited ammo with no damn    (9.44)-I rated it a 10 to counteract the negativity, but a 9.44 rating is what this game deserves in my heart.
    Combat
    To start off the combat system has evolved a lot over the sequels. ME1 was my favorite, it was a straight up RPG with shooter elements, and sported the best "ammo" system to date that rewarded the cerebral tactician with the closest thing to unlimited ammo with no damn reload! I was so pissed off they changed this going forward in the trilogy, and all to appease to the brain dead FPS crowd (that I also shamelessly indulge in). Anyone that has played ME1 can attest to the superiority (and uniqueness) of this system versus the cliched FPS standard. Now ME3 manages to build upon the FPS element of ME2 and turn it more Gears of War (GOW) like in ME3 (Complete with combat rolls to get out of a tight squeeze). Listen BioWare (I am talking to you Casey Hudson!) if I wanted to play GOW, I would of gone out and f$(%ing brought GOW, but I didnt (Didnt buy GOW3, but I copped 1 +2) for a reason. I(Partially) brought ME3 because I was promised a truer more faithful representation of ME1 over ME2. I got the best of ME2 combat mobility with some of ME1 weapons upgrade (a plus to me). Overall ME3 combat is a positive, but on higher levels (I play on hardcore and Insanity) its annoying because its an amalgamation of the worst from GOW with COd W@W. To be more specific, ME3 plays like GOW with the Grenades at War Variant of COD..hence you will see alot of damn grenades being chucked at you for no reason, and combat engineers laying down turrets even though I blow their heads off before they should of had a chance to lay anything down. In short the Combat is a net positive, but its not a step forward, it just is, and it works (sorta) so I give it a C+.
    Story
    No spoilers, but lets just say I wasn't disappointed and I give it a 10/10. Interactions
    The interactions were "dumbed down" but perhaps it was a memory issue. Either way, it was a good step forward, since I no longer need to have a conversation with a Turian and Jellyfish, just to get the Jellyfish to STFU about the enkindlers. Now all I need to do is "support" one or the other and I get my "benefits". This allows me to focus my attention on real matters, like a suicidal zealot Jellyfish and two unlikely allies.Kudos BioWare!
    Intangibles
    Its the little things that bring life and realism to a game, and ME3 has that. Yes, you will come across "Michael Bay-esque" scenes of explosion, but hey this is the end of sentient life we are talking about, their MuthaFing betta be some crazy ish going! And those scenes, along with the emotional toll that it causes makes the game that much more credible and enjoyable. 10/10    … Expand
  30. imprettycool
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is everything you want it to be. One of this generations greatest games so far, and I'm 6 hours into it. Seriously, how can anyone take those 0's and 1's seriously?
  31. Rycr
    Nov 19, 2014
    10
    A good game with a disappointing ending. To be honest, I never really believed the hype about how every choice throughout the series would have a huge effect on the end result of the game, so in the end I wasn't really disappointed. I do think the gameplay is a nice balance of the better combat mechanics of ME2 with the customization options of ME1, though.
  32. TeutonicTank
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    God like. Absolutely godlike. I enjoyed playing this more than Skyrim. I haven't finished the whole play-through but I'm a few hours in and I'm loving it. Gameplay's solid, voice acting's solid, graphics are solid, and freedom is solid. LOVED IT
  33. RedmanJ22
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Honestly this game is just down right amazing. Mass Effect 3's story is just breathtaking, its graphics are great, the action is good, and the way your choices impact the story makes you truly feel like you make a difference. Please don't let the user score on this website sway you from playing this game. Mass Effect 3 is a great game that should be experience by everybody who owns aHonestly this game is just down right amazing. Mass Effect 3's story is just breathtaking, its graphics are great, the action is good, and the way your choices impact the story makes you truly feel like you make a difference. Please don't let the user score on this website sway you from playing this game. Mass Effect 3 is a great game that should be experience by everybody who owns a console or a pc.… Expand
  34. sillypsyche
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    This game is beautiful. I'm not sure how anyone could possibly have played through the entire thing so quickly. Even playing straight through I'm not all that far in.
  35. Comrade_Critic
    Mar 21, 2012
    8
    This is a great game. Visually it is a masterpiece. Content wise I too was disappointed with how short the game is and that includes release date DLC--which is a complete and utter rip off move. ME2 was by far the most fun of the series, but ME3 still delivers. And despite what the whiners say, the ending was a satisfactory conclusion to a great trilogy. My only real complaint is that theThis is a great game. Visually it is a masterpiece. Content wise I too was disappointed with how short the game is and that includes release date DLC--which is a complete and utter rip off move. ME2 was by far the most fun of the series, but ME3 still delivers. And despite what the whiners say, the ending was a satisfactory conclusion to a great trilogy. My only real complaint is that the game is too short. ME2 felt much more open for exploration, whereas ME3 is much more limited and closed off. I also wish there was more continuity between ME2 and ME3. All those characters I devoted so much time into building relationships with were mostly chucked within the first 10 hours of ME3. Ultimately though, I wish more games were like Mass Effect 3. Except for the release day DLC. That's a total dbag move.… Expand
  36. Marleyboro
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. PLEASE READ. I first wanna start by saying I understand everyones disappointment with the ending. But thats not why I'm writing this, I dont want to sit here and feed you line after line of clever ways to say the ending was bad. So to kick it off, first the graphics are the main reason i gave this a 9/10 in fact i wouldve done a 9.5/10 but this obviously isnt a .5 scale. The reason for this is that although the major portion of the graphics are good you'll soon see that there are some framerate issues (and i played on the 360 with the discs installed on my harddrive) not only will the game be framerate glitchy but it will also have sound cut in and cut out during cutscenes. Now theses problems obviously can be overlooked but the reason they "muddy" the experience is because overall the game is soooo impressive and when you add in these framerate issues and graphical hitches it easily stands out. Now for the story obviously you know the gist of it by now. (Reapers attacking Earth, and the rest of the galaxy, you play as Commander Shepherd and have to gather other races to help you defeat the Reapers blah blah) now what Bioware has done with the story in this third installment is very impressive. From the writing to the voice acting and the way its delivered is all top notch. My only problem with the story though is..yup you guessed it, the ending. NOO im not going to put down the ending harshly like everyone else has. But i will say FAIL BIOWARE. I'm not tryin to "hate" but obviously once you get to the ending you find that there are 3 different choices you can make..AND STOP!..first off why have RPGs adopted this "choice" fettish at the ending of theyre games (Fable 3, Dragon Age, Fallout etc..) and expect the player to approve of them, we get it we made choices throughout the whole damn game developers, now roll a cutscene that puts all of our choices into affect and sums up the story and allows our ending to be distinctly different from other players. Was that hard...i dont think so. Its not that the ending is broken i mean it sums up the story descently but i couldnt help but feel as i walked up to those three paths on the Crucible, that one of my favorite game franchises was giving in to the "pick a path and see what happens" kind of ending. So i think thats enough of "dogging" the story. But i wanna say one thing to people who think the ending ruined the triology. If you think thats true you arent a true Mass Effect fan, if 15 minutes of a 200 hour overall experience (combining all 3 games) ruined the series for you..I feel sorry for you. Mass Effect is an amazing franchise and deserves all the praise it can get...And a quick little suggestion if Bioware changes the ending. I suggest releasing a free DLC ending that if you like it you can enable it to override the current ending and then play through the game with the new ending. Thanks for Reading!!… Expand
  37. TheLastAssasin1
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    are you people serious....the only reason this game is getting zero is because of homophobes who don't even want the option for same sex relationships...and whiners who are still butthurt from the day 1 dlc thing...i agree its stupid...but a game dosen't deserve a zero just for that...especially if you never played it
  38. Nimzabaat
    Mar 7, 2012
    8
    So we have people review bombing and giving the game 0, and I guess counter-bombing and giving it 10. The truth lies somewhere in between. (Though I gotta say the guy who said the game was terrific and he would definitly recommend it yet still gave it a 0... I don't know about that guy.) There have been slight improvements made over ME2. The combat is still a GoW rip-off and nowhere nearSo we have people review bombing and giving the game 0, and I guess counter-bombing and giving it 10. The truth lies somewhere in between. (Though I gotta say the guy who said the game was terrific and he would definitly recommend it yet still gave it a 0... I don't know about that guy.) There have been slight improvements made over ME2. The combat is still a GoW rip-off and nowhere near as unobtrusive and intuitive as it was in the original ME. The character models looks worse than ME2 and the lip-syncing isn't as good. There is some actual loot now for RPG players. Okay honestly I think the only reason ME3 feels like an improvement was because ME2 managed to set the bar so much lower. Anyways it is worth picking up if you feel the need to finish the trilogy. It would also be a great game if it came from a studio with less of a pedigree than Bioware.… Expand
  39. logan35
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    Mass effect 3 does everything the previous games did and does them even better. Everything in ME3 is great the combat is fluid, conversations are still fun to listen to, and the story is better than ever. The guys at Bioware really nailed the overall feeling of hopelessness and survival in the story. The characters that Mass Effect fans know and love make even more appearances thisMass effect 3 does everything the previous games did and does them even better. Everything in ME3 is great the combat is fluid, conversations are still fun to listen to, and the story is better than ever. The guys at Bioware really nailed the overall feeling of hopelessness and survival in the story. The characters that Mass Effect fans know and love make even more appearances this time around. I really have nothing bad to say about this game, there is nothing wrong or annoying with the game at all. Bioware even removed the annoying mining mini game from the first two games. I can't get enough of the customization on my guns and armor. The Mass Effect series is great and really ends with perfection, and is definitely a good time. Oh and by the way, to all of the people giving this game bad **** you:)… Expand
  40. Gometdog
    Mar 12, 2012
    10
    Great game! Heavy competition for game of the year. Awesome multiplayer.
  41. RicoElBloodEdge
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    I wanted to wait to finish the game before giving my final score, but al these random negative reviews are absurd. The game is fantastic thus far, Bioware knew what it wanted to do the series. Yeah there was DLC the first day...there was day 1 dlc for mass effect 2! and a bunch of other games. Honestly cant understand these folk. If you played me1 and me2, finish it the trilogy, you willI wanted to wait to finish the game before giving my final score, but al these random negative reviews are absurd. The game is fantastic thus far, Bioware knew what it wanted to do the series. Yeah there was DLC the first day...there was day 1 dlc for mass effect 2! and a bunch of other games. Honestly cant understand these folk. If you played me1 and me2, finish it the trilogy, you will not be disappointed. All those negative reviews are BS and would no be surprised if some are the same user… Expand
  42. Bishopmikey
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    This game is a great culmination of me1 and me2. Battle system is very responsive. Kinect features add for seamless battles with no pause for a weapon wheel. Graphically a great improvement. My only grip would be a confusing side mission system. That however is not enough to detract from a fantastic game. On a side note so many of the "0"s given on this site aren't people even reflectingThis game is a great culmination of me1 and me2. Battle system is very responsive. Kinect features add for seamless battles with no pause for a weapon wheel. Graphically a great improvement. My only grip would be a confusing side mission system. That however is not enough to detract from a fantastic game. On a side note so many of the "0"s given on this site aren't people even reflecting on the game but Bioware or some personal issue. I dare anyone to find a more engrossing story. Yes the endings aren't picture perfect, but has anyone realized the galaxy just got its ass handed to it? What are we expecting? Rainbows and unicorns? Happy reapers holding hands with turians in lush fields? This game isn't that. The possible endings are wonderful and go with the story. Play it though and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed!… Expand
  43. mikiblabla
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    great game great end to the best trilogy. really perfect. 10 don't beleave all those 0, there is people on metacritic that has given 0 to the godfather part 1..
  44. Squirrilly
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    This game is awesome but what i really wanted to say was that at least 95% of the negative reviews are fake spam reviews, also they came like 12 hours after the release which is impossible ALSO the spam accounts are also just downing bioware and i am not really sure why. Everybody should get this game ONLY IF you played the first two because it is definitely worth it and there will neverThis game is awesome but what i really wanted to say was that at least 95% of the negative reviews are fake spam reviews, also they came like 12 hours after the release which is impossible ALSO the spam accounts are also just downing bioware and i am not really sure why. Everybody should get this game ONLY IF you played the first two because it is definitely worth it and there will never be a more satisfying trilogy than the mass effect series.… Expand
  45. Shibbywan
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Im loving the game so far. It`s funny, click on ``all this users review`" for some of the 0/10's. You will realize some people made an account to give 0/10 to ALL 3 MASS EFFECT 3's ON ALL OF THE CONSOLES. Thats just horrible, clearly some hardcore trolling going on. ME save ported perfectly and can't wait to see what the decisions i made in me3.
  46. N64Go
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    A good game for a shooter. Not so much for the RPG part though. Excellent more in the vein of action adventure type of game with some dialogue choices (which is not a bad thing!)

    The good: -Gameplay wise, shooting is responsive and using powers is fun. Enemies can push you to use tactics. Guns shoot differently too and you can "feel" the difference. -Graphically it is better in terms of    A good game for a shooter. Not so much for the RPG part though. Excellent more in the vein of action adventure type of game with some dialogue choices (which is not a bad thing!)

    The good: -Gameplay wise, shooting is responsive and using powers is fun. Enemies can push you to use tactics. Guns shoot differently too and you can "feel" the difference.
    -Graphically it is better in terms of lighting and realistic hair.
    -Dialogue/Voice acting: Dialogue is not perfect and can range of incredibly cliche to excellent but Voice acting is so good even the cliche lines sound good.
    -Cut Scenes: Very cinematic. Felt like I was watching a movie.
    -Music is very good.

    The Bad:
    -The 'A' button for everything can be problematic in combat (like wanting to cover but rolling instead).
    -Graphically animation seem worse than Mass Effect 2 particularly when people talk. It was quite strange that this aspect of the game actually degraded from its processor.
    -Story: Plot is atypical and tries to force drama too many times that for some it maybe annoying. An unsatisfying endings that may cause some player to feel like the first two games were for naught and a lack of a rewarding epilogue might be the defining factor of replay value.
    -Choices: Due to auto dialogue (even for Story mode) take up around 50 percent of the time and thus choices in dialogues seem lacking. Also, some may feel that their "Shepard" got hijacked because of the auto dialogues.

    Overall, this is a good game despite its short comings. Depends on the players though if it is "A must play". A long time fan may love it or hate it. However, new players may find the game okay due to not experiencing the previous games to appreciate it.    … Expand
  47. livingkills
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 personally has everything the others had and more the kinect features feel natural the multiplayer is great fun and for those it doesnt interest is optional and the story simply sucks you in
  48. Naujj
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Are you kidding me?.. This game is AWESOME! it is different from the others and that's ok. Bioware manages to inject newness into a stellar franchise, at first i was a bit annoyed with the imported facial features being updated, but im begining to realize how awesome that feature is also, it allows the game to have an updated older feel for my Shepard. Bioware has certainly done it again!Are you kidding me?.. This game is AWESOME! it is different from the others and that's ok. Bioware manages to inject newness into a stellar franchise, at first i was a bit annoyed with the imported facial features being updated, but im begining to realize how awesome that feature is also, it allows the game to have an updated older feel for my Shepard. Bioware has certainly done it again! AMAZING game!!! Why so many zeros, i have no clue but there seems to be some sort of battle going on here. Definately a 10!… Expand
  49. BIG_MCLARGEHUGE
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    As a generic rank and file sphess mareen, I really related to James Vega. It's good that bland, roid pumped people like me are getting represented in video games. Thank you Bioware.
  50. LittleMeow
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Some of you people need to grow up with your 0's. Obviously this game is not getting a 0 It makes you people looks childish.
    Anyway---another great installment in the series, if you liked the others you will surely enjoy the third.
  51. Dara
    Mar 17, 2012
    8
    **** aside this a fantastic game. The graphics are beautiful, gameplay is some of best third person shooter controls I've played next to Gears of War and the soundtrack is spot on. Voice acting is great too but he writing can be a bit cheesy. The new multiplayer mode is also surprisingly brilliant. Probably the best survival mode I've played in a game yet. That being said the game's not**** aside this a fantastic game. The graphics are beautiful, gameplay is some of best third person shooter controls I've played next to Gears of War and the soundtrack is spot on. Voice acting is great too but he writing can be a bit cheesy. The new multiplayer mode is also surprisingly brilliant. Probably the best survival mode I've played in a game yet. That being said the game's not without it's problems. Day one DLC is never a good thing and it cut's out a very important part of the story. The fact that most controls are on the A button is kinda awkward too, I found myself taking cover or rolling over and over when trying to revive a teammate and then have them bleed out on me. The biggest problem I have with the game is the ending and I'm sure my fellow Mass Effect fans will agree. Everything story-wise up until the last 10 minutes is fantastic. But then the ending kicks in. Without spoiling it all I can say it's a confusing, plothole-filled mess that kinda just says **** you" to all your decisions in the past games and only gives you one conclusion but with a different colour. Bioware have said they're listening to feedback over the ending so here's hoping to some future DLC that will resolve everything.… Expand
  52. drake_avi
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    I have to state that Mass Effect 3 is one of the best games i have played in years. The previous two games were extremely compelling and engaging, however the final game in the series makes everything all so personal and emotional that puts other games to shame. Mass Effect 3 overall tone is of a bleak, hopeless war against a god-like entity known as the reapers and they manage to conveyI have to state that Mass Effect 3 is one of the best games i have played in years. The previous two games were extremely compelling and engaging, however the final game in the series makes everything all so personal and emotional that puts other games to shame. Mass Effect 3 overall tone is of a bleak, hopeless war against a god-like entity known as the reapers and they manage to convey that in an outstanding manner. The combat is fluid and much better than the previous two games. The enemy A.I is excellent. Enemies constantly flank you and you are forced to move between covers and use powers aggressively. Although the same cannot be said for the companion A.I. The difficulty scale is very well crafted. It is not punishing as Dark Souls or kid-easy as Fable (I play in Hardcore/Insanity difficulty) but finds a perfect balance. Also for all hardcore action game fans, Mass Effect is not an action-centric games but it gives challenges at a constant pace. If you are looking for more action-oriented games you should stick to Halo or Gears of War. Mass Effect series has always been about the story and character interactions that make you want to care about the galaxy and the myriad species that reside in it. It pulls your heart-strings and makes you emotionally invested in it's story. Commander Shepard has never felt more human. The best part about that is we can sympathize with his cause and his pain. It's not like the commander is a unstoppable tank who cannot be beaten and whose only motivation is Revenge; you see doubts, fear, pain and all the other emotions that one generally expresses when over a thousand god-like ships take over you home and kill it's people. People have stated that they find the ending unsatisfactory. They are entitled to their opinion however i rudely disagree. I found Mass Effect 3's ending as one of the most spectacular and beautiful moments in games. It provides the perfect closure to Shepard's epic journey across the galaxy. I argue about the ending because: The galaxy is at war and there is noway of predicting which way the war can go. War is unpredictable and Mass Effect 3 capitalizes on that. War is not for the weak and it states that clearly from the very beginning and galactic war is the premise of the entire game. Mass Effect 3 does have a few weak points and while it's far from perfect (let's face it no freaking game in the entire universe is perfect) it's by far the most compelling game i have ever played. The multiplayer component is another part that i like a lot. The levels are very well designed and provided you know how to play the game properly and find the right team, it is thoroughly enjoyable. In conclusion, Mass Effect 3 does everything right. It is more like it's famed predecessor Mass Effect 2 in terms of gameplay and graphics but that's not a bad thing at all and it brings back many of the things players enjoyed in Mass Effect. I really recommend playing the other two games too just to appreciate the depth of Mass Effect's world and characters. Mass Effect 3 in my personal opinion is the best game i have ever played and the series as a whole is one of the best video games series that has ever been created.… Expand
  53. Bzilla024
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    About 6 hours into the game and i'm really enjoying ME3 so far. As for these trolls and haters with all the negativity, just because you don't like the game doesn't mean you need to ruin it for everybody else. If you have an issue with the day one DLC, then don't buy it. If you don't like the multiplayer, then don't play it. If you don't like ME3, get the 35% of cash you will get backAbout 6 hours into the game and i'm really enjoying ME3 so far. As for these trolls and haters with all the negativity, just because you don't like the game doesn't mean you need to ruin it for everybody else. If you have an issue with the day one DLC, then don't buy it. If you don't like the multiplayer, then don't play it. If you don't like ME3, get the 35% of cash you will get back from trading in the game and buy something else you will probably complain about.… Expand
  54. LordPigNugget
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 proves a more than worthy conclusion to the always outstanding Mass Effect series. With the exception of a minor glitch here or there, the experience is a seamless masterclass in gaming, one that is still able to provide an emotional and memorable experience beyond the simple shooting mechanics. Not to downplay those, however, as they have also been drastically improved fromMass Effect 3 proves a more than worthy conclusion to the always outstanding Mass Effect series. With the exception of a minor glitch here or there, the experience is a seamless masterclass in gaming, one that is still able to provide an emotional and memorable experience beyond the simple shooting mechanics. Not to downplay those, however, as they have also been drastically improved from previous installments. Of particular note is the new and improved melee system, which has come leaps and bounds ahead of where it was in the last two games. Mass Effect 3 is a brilliant conclusion to an already exemplary series, and I could not have asked Bioware for more.… Expand
  55. LV4RedMage
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 lives up to the Mass Effect legacy. It's awesome game. I loved ME and ME2. ME3 is as good, if not better than the first two games. Ignore the hate. This is a quality game. I love how Bioware took the time to add multiplayer to the game, but it is not required in anyway.
  56. KevPuk
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    What's up with all the negative feedback? There were over a 100 negative user reviews like an hours after release, you cannot possibly run the game that fast. Mass Effect is the best game series there is now adays, i'm 15 hours in and i can't stop, it's made tear up twice and the only thing i can find negative is a few minor bugs. Did /b/ raid this thing or something? Or are there just CoDWhat's up with all the negative feedback? There were over a 100 negative user reviews like an hours after release, you cannot possibly run the game that fast. Mass Effect is the best game series there is now adays, i'm 15 hours in and i can't stop, it's made tear up twice and the only thing i can find negative is a few minor bugs. Did /b/ raid this thing or something? Or are there just CoD children running around? Seriously learn what a good game is and stop with the negative feedback without even playing the game!… Expand
  57. Andruson
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    The user rating for this game is utter BS and anyone with a brain knows it. ME3 has it's problems, sure, but the current 5.1 (was as low as a 4.5 at one point, seriously?!) is a pure result of immature fanboys whom expect the world in innovation and content, and whom flame out of control because they employ some false sense of ownership over a multimillion dollar franchise. When everyThe user rating for this game is utter BS and anyone with a brain knows it. ME3 has it's problems, sure, but the current 5.1 (was as low as a 4.5 at one point, seriously?!) is a pure result of immature fanboys whom expect the world in innovation and content, and whom flame out of control because they employ some false sense of ownership over a multimillion dollar franchise. When every little detail isn't exactly as they want, they react. Thus the growing problem with the gaming industry as a whole. We are becoming overly-demanding, under-appreciating, immature, picky, and senseless dimwits. Anyone who plays Mass Effect 3 as it was intended and for what it was intended, that being the concluding chapter in a self-built story where your choices DO impact the game on a large and small scale, will walk away with a more refined game than ME1 or ME2 and most importantly one that tries so desperately hard at every turn to make the time you spent doing missions and building connections feel worth it. If people complained that ME2 was overly referential, nobody should play Mass Effect 3 for the story at all unless they have completed both (yes, unfortunate PS3 users, both) of the old titles. No, not every decision impacts the galaxy, and I never list potential spoilers, but the level of interactivity and changes that can take place from one play to the next are staggering. So many details had to be taken into account by Bioware and they have succeeded in any way that any true fan cared about. Most haters are over-expecting bastards and have no place rating Mass Effect. The first game had a small audience for a reason.… Expand
  58. Forst1999
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    Story: Mass Effect 3's plot has a good pacing and can pull the right emotional strings. Nearly all of the trilogy's plot points are resolved in a satisfying manner, the character's plot pleased me as well. You will witness the consequences of your past decisions. The dialogues are better than ever. There is some automatic dialogue, but only in places where it serves the flow of theStory: Mass Effect 3's plot has a good pacing and can pull the right emotional strings. Nearly all of the trilogy's plot points are resolved in a satisfying manner, the character's plot pleased me as well. You will witness the consequences of your past decisions. The dialogues are better than ever. There is some automatic dialogue, but only in places where it serves the flow of the conversation, and it never is important or changes your character against your will. Only one thing bothers me in the story department: The ending could have used more build-up, the choices presented seem contrived, there are some illogical aspects. The ending is neither well-written nor satisfying. It doesn't kill the story, but yes, the ending isn't good. Gameplay: Combat is better than ever. Rolls, heavy melee, grenades and new powers benefit the fights greatly. The character system is deep and allows for more customization than any of the predecessors. The weapon system gained depth to, allowing for many upgrades, while never being as clunky as ME1 about it. The new scanning is actually fun, no comparision to the Mako or planet scanning. There is more variety in quests, some interesting boss battles and enemies that requires different tactical approaches. My only gripe here is the quest-log. It is quite confused, mission description are often very unclear. And rolling needs some practice.
    Technical aspects: The voice acting is phenomenal, the music is great, the graphics are good. Some animations are a bit off, but mostly they are fine. I only encountered one big bug, regarding my face import. Irritating, but i can live with it.
    So there are some minor inconveniences and a bad ending to a game that is utterly perfect in nearly every regard. 9/10 points.    … Expand
  59. GoldenSphinx
    Mar 8, 2012
    9
    This game is amazing. The galaxy is at war and Mass Effect makes you feel it, there is tragedy, triumph, heroism and sacrifice. Moments of this game have knocked me all around the emotional spectrum. It looks great, and the different modes are a great idea and lets you play it the way you want to. The controls can be strange- rolling into gunfire instead of taking cover is my leastThis game is amazing. The galaxy is at war and Mass Effect makes you feel it, there is tragedy, triumph, heroism and sacrifice. Moments of this game have knocked me all around the emotional spectrum. It looks great, and the different modes are a great idea and lets you play it the way you want to. The controls can be strange- rolling into gunfire instead of taking cover is my least favorite aspect, but this game is one of the best I've ever played.… Expand
  60. decoder
    Mar 12, 2012
    10
    This game is just a masterpiece, the mix between nice graphics and low requirements makes it hardware friendlily as never before, great story and great combat, good job bioware.
  61. cryochamber
    Mar 12, 2012
    10
    The game was beautiful. The gameplay was tight, the characters were well realised, the story was great. I loved every second of my time with the game and the multiplayer aint half bad and i can totally see Bioware going with it somewhere in the future. I personally liked the ending and found it really interesting, however i can understand why people may not like it, but these reviewsThe game was beautiful. The gameplay was tight, the characters were well realised, the story was great. I loved every second of my time with the game and the multiplayer aint half bad and i can totally see Bioware going with it somewhere in the future. I personally liked the ending and found it really interesting, however i can understand why people may not like it, but these reviews suggesting the game is worth a 0 or 1 is ridiculous because the rest of the game was fantastic and well worth my purchase and I bloody loved it!!!… Expand
  62. mako_psy
    Mar 23, 2012
    9
    Most people seem to be jumping on a bandwagon about this game. Secretly they love it, but you know what teenagers are like, they want to impress everyone. Yes, the end isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and no it won't tailor itself to the decisions you made throughout the series - but that's okay! Is it really that bad to have an end that feels like something is happening for the greaterMost people seem to be jumping on a bandwagon about this game. Secretly they love it, but you know what teenagers are like, they want to impress everyone. Yes, the end isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and no it won't tailor itself to the decisions you made throughout the series - but that's okay! Is it really that bad to have an end that feels like something is happening for the greater good? No. That's what makes an awesome ending. I've been a fan of this series since it first came out and I still love it. I love each character and the intricate details within Mass Effect 3. Rating this game 0 is insulting when so many idiots go out and rate games like Skyrim a 10 for no reason other than joining in with the hype. You have to ignore what is being said and play it for yourself - you'll love it!… Expand
  63. Nosghy
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is just incredible throughout the process, except the ending, which can be frustrating for some. But overall it's great, epic and unique.

    At the end of the game, the only thing that really bothers me is that we lose the relays. In other respects, I think it's a good ending to the saga.    … Expand
  64. Gokalex
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    I didn't like how the game had day1 dlc, but that the only thing i didn't like (and btw if u just change an ini file u can unlock the dlc) anyways everything else is good about this game, multi-player is good, single-player was awesome, except how the multilayer affected the single-player, anyways i loved almost everything about it, even the ending, a real ending to a game for once.
  65. Thevakarian
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    So, just finished this game, and i completely disagree with everything any of the bad reviews have said. The combat is improved for the better, and a lot of customization has been re introduced from ME1, with out the inventory overload the first game had, or the streamlining the second had. Don't get me wrong, I loved ALL 3 of the games. The only problems i had with this game wereSo, just finished this game, and i completely disagree with everything any of the bad reviews have said. The combat is improved for the better, and a lot of customization has been re introduced from ME1, with out the inventory overload the first game had, or the streamlining the second had. Don't get me wrong, I loved ALL 3 of the games. The only problems i had with this game were technical problems; Some lip sync bugs and a few audio cut outs, but that may have been attributed to my headset. The true purpose of the Reapers is actually very interesting, albeit that it was exactly what I expected. If you have closely listened to the dialogue of Reapers in the past 2 games, you should somewhat expect it. THE ENDING IS NOWHERE NEAR AS BAD AS PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE. I am getting sick and tired of people complaining about the ending. Yes, it's sad, characters die depending on your readiness level, and some characters just die anyways, which is one other complaint I have, but it's a small one. The ending is a tear jerker, and I wish there was a happier resolution, but all in all, it concludes the series extremely well, and leaves it open for more **** If Bioware did release something that had a happy resolution, I would most likely pay for it, but it doesn't really matter to me. In short, this game is nowhere near as bad as all of you haters make it out to be. Yes, it could have been better, and i question some of the design ideas, but all in all, this is a great conclusion to one of the most beloved RPG series OF ALL TIME.… Expand
  66. Glogglies
    Mar 13, 2012
    8
    It's a polarizing finale to what some gamers consider one of the best franchises in videogaming. For me, Mass Effect 3 was a fantastic journey, well told, nicely fleshed out, and incredibly beautiful (at times); but the main issue in this game comes with it's final scenes, and that's where the replayability of the game can really be weakened. This game has some gripping scenes, some willIt's a polarizing finale to what some gamers consider one of the best franchises in videogaming. For me, Mass Effect 3 was a fantastic journey, well told, nicely fleshed out, and incredibly beautiful (at times); but the main issue in this game comes with it's final scenes, and that's where the replayability of the game can really be weakened. This game has some gripping scenes, some will even have you in tears if you're one for sappy scenes. There are a number of moments that really heavily on your knowledge of previous games, in order to pull at your heart strings, but I think any gamer coming into this will appreciate the way a lot of the scenes are choreographed and written. Another noteworthy point is the voice acting, which is very well done (aside from the protagonist, unusually).
    Biowares signature morality and choice system returns here, but it feels really old and outdated. Heres the gist of it, pick the top choice you're being the nice guy, pick the bottom choice you're being the bad guy. There's little room to really give the player real choice, it all really boils down to if you want to be bad or good. I was impressed with the graphics here, but the CGI cutscenes seemed a notch down in graphical quality than the actual gameplay, which was incredibly distracting. And the character animations, face models, character pop ins etc will be immediately noticeable to anyone playing the game. It's pretty bad. But somehow, despite my gripes, I had a hell of a ride with this game. The final hours of the game are incredibly suspenseful, and there are moments where this game is down right brilliant. Steer clear of the multiplayer in this one, forgive the sometimes laughable animations, and try to hold of on beating the game for as long as possible. This one's not devoid of flaws, but any player who wants to call it a disaster is just kidding themselves.    … Expand
  67. ME3isAdfdf
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    It was an emotionally intense game from beginning to end. However, like the other reviews said, the ending was disappointing. Still, the game was definitely worth playing. And then you finish it by taking an arrow to the knee =(
  68. yukimoda
    Mar 19, 2012
    10
    a wonderful ending to an amazing trilogy. I will personally count Mass effect 3 as one of my favorite games because it both ends the trilogy I love and gives the developers a place to start the next part from.
  69. YetiConfetti
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    1. Bioware tried to listen to its fans, and it shows in the drastic differences between each game. Cut them some slack, it's impossible to account for everybody's personal preferences. 2. Bioware, I really hope you learn something from this catastrophe. I loved this game from start to finish, but I also agree with many of the complaints. Day 1 DLC, rushed and/or overly convoluted ending,1. Bioware tried to listen to its fans, and it shows in the drastic differences between each game. Cut them some slack, it's impossible to account for everybody's personal preferences. 2. Bioware, I really hope you learn something from this catastrophe. I loved this game from start to finish, but I also agree with many of the complaints. Day 1 DLC, rushed and/or overly convoluted ending, and worst of all - forced multiplayer. I want to hate this game...yet after putting 90-some hours into it I can't bring myself to say it was bad. 3. I recommend this game to those who are patient and open-minded. It's a dialogue-heavy shooter, which is already something of an oxymoron, but ultimately either the story or the gameplay will hook you. It's just a shame that at this point in the series it's easy to see which element is obviously receiving more attention from the developers.… Expand
  70. Theremin
    Apr 16, 2012
    10
    Great ending to the best trilogy for years. I don't get why people are crying a river over the ending? What did you expect, Shepard riding in the sunset like some cliche children's hero? The ending we get is a great way to end this story arch. I didn't felt screwed over, I felt over all that this was the only, logical way to end the series. One man can only do so much and let's face it:Great ending to the best trilogy for years. I don't get why people are crying a river over the ending? What did you expect, Shepard riding in the sunset like some cliche children's hero? The ending we get is a great way to end this story arch. I didn't felt screwed over, I felt over all that this was the only, logical way to end the series. One man can only do so much and let's face it: the situation Shepard ends in at the end of the game has only one conclusion. People, grow up.… Expand
  71. KellySheppard
    Apr 18, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is an amazing addition to an amazing trilogy. The move away from RPG components and lack of decisions are downsides, but the only reason this game fall short of a ten, for me, is the stupid ending. I could go on and on about the plot holes, lack of your actions being reflected in the end, or Bioware lying. On the positive side the combat is vastly improved, greatMass Effect 3 is an amazing addition to an amazing trilogy. The move away from RPG components and lack of decisions are downsides, but the only reason this game fall short of a ten, for me, is the stupid ending. I could go on and on about the plot holes, lack of your actions being reflected in the end, or Bioware lying. On the positive side the combat is vastly improved, great storytelling, and multiplayer is a great addition, to my surprise. All and all a great game.… Expand
  72. WintersLMJ
    Mar 28, 2012
    10
    Despite the ending, BIOWARE put together another game that I fully engrossed myself in for two straight days. This game may not have had any new graphics, but it came with a plethora of weapons and gear which the Mass Effect 2 lacked. This game meshed ME1 and ME2 perfectly and the decisions felt as real as ever. The one blemish to this amazing game of course us the ending. As a true fan ofDespite the ending, BIOWARE put together another game that I fully engrossed myself in for two straight days. This game may not have had any new graphics, but it came with a plethora of weapons and gear which the Mass Effect 2 lacked. This game meshed ME1 and ME2 perfectly and the decisions felt as real as ever. The one blemish to this amazing game of course us the ending. As a true fan of anything BIOWARE, I can truly say that this is not enough to ruin a perfect score especially with the company re-writing the ending. It is TBD whether or not they will force you to pay money for said "DLC". But if i were BIOWARE, given the absolutely terrible feedback from FANS, i would think they would not charge. BUT EA is the overall leader and has the finals say in that matter. EA has had a bad history of being untrue to their fans. We'll see folks. Although the ending of ME2 is much more memorable, this game ended how it should have and will now have an even better ending with more closure. I think we can all thank BIOWARE for giving us such a great trilogy to remember (and still be playing over and over and again) for years to come. So, fans of the trilogy and BIOWARE, stop with the bad reviews, the game was glorious and the games will always be the best storyline I have ever experienced. So with that, I give this game an 11 out of 10 for effort on BIOWARE's behalf. Keep up the good work guys!… Expand
  73. AnthonyLucas198
    Mar 28, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I can't honestly see what all the slating of this game is really all about. I am going to try and give an unbiased opinion to this game as much as possible. Also there might be some SPOILERS so for people who are still questing the galaxy and putting the fight to the Reapers look away. Right where to start, Bioware have always been renowned for epic storytelling and immersion into whatever world/galaxy they throw you into, Mass Effect 1 is a prime example. The story of the survival of humanity, in fact the entire universe, has always been a heavy plot point for the entire trilogy. Shepard the protagonist in this " Space Opera " Sci-Fi whatever label or genre you would like to put on it progresses through the trilogy having to make some choices that would leave Chuck Norris scratching his head for a spilt second or two. Bioware in my opinion do this very well even in Mass Effect 3, no matter what controversy is surrounding their writers and script for this game. I have read very nit picky opinions and reviews from lots of people about plot holes and flaws in this game. Some of them are pretty valid yet others are just arguing for arguments sake. I am not going to go through them all now but one for example that i have read on many sites is how Shepard managed to escape through the mass relay after escaping Earth at the very start of the game. Please this is being too picky, really?

    There is a very interesting theory circulating on you-tube and the Internet to the so called " Indoctrination Theory " for people who have finished and didn't like or understand the ending check it out. This theory basically goes on the theory that after Shep is blasted by Harbinger on the way to the relay for the Citadel everything that happens after is a hallucination if you will or conflict in Shepard's mind. The indoctrinated part of his mind portrayed as the Illusive Man and the Heroic Saviour part being represented as Captain Anderson. In the discussion that follows the Illusive man trys to convince our hero that controlling the Reapers is the best solution. Anderson on the other hand wants you to destroy them, without revealing to much the only possible way to progress is to kill the illusive man and i stress the only way! After the confrontation Shep is brought to an undisclosed part of the citadel and greeted by a Star Child or the catalyst. He tells the commander that he has three choices control, synthesis or destruction. This point on the theory of indoctrination comes to fruition. Taking control Shep grasps two conductor looking devices and appears to turn into a husk/reaper. Which kind of makes the indoctrination theory more poignant as before the Star Child is trying to convince you control is the best option also that the control conduits are bathed in blue light Paragon anyone. The synthesis option turns out pretty much the same.

    Destruction according to Indoc Theory is the right one and i am inclined to agree. Shepard pulls out his pistol (which has unlimited ammo throughout another bold case for Indoc) and suddenly recovers from all his injuries his limp everything. This ending is the only ending that he doesn't turn into a husk like creature and if your Effective Military Strength is high enough after the CGI video which according to Indoc Theory is not real, Shep is lying in a pile of rubble which is not from the previous blasted citadel. Plus there are loads of whispering talking leading up to Shepard taking a sharp breath. I like the idea of this theory and would explain a lot of plot holes in those last 15 minutes or so. It remains to be seen whether this was BW's intention or not but if it is it is GENIUS writing and leaves it wide open for DLC (which i am opposed of as it is a cheap tactic if they charge for the ending)

    Or it could be bad story writing i do not think this is the case as if it is bad writing then a bunch of kids could do better. I mean come on this is Bioware here some of the best story tellers and writers in the business and it would be really not like them if it was bad script. Overall the game is a great mix of story telling, hard hitting dramatic choices, gun play and action and i think basing peoples ratings on an ending that they probably don't understand undermines this whole game. As light as the side quests were they were rather good and the plot was the most thought provoking i have played in, well EVER!!

    For these reasons i am going to give this game top marks and not to mention i never touched on the multi player which is actually a diamond in the rough. Charming, intelligent and really good fun not to mention challenging on gold setting. Bioware have made an instant classic and epic game Top Marks hats off ( or N7 Breather Helmets) to Bioware.    … Expand
  74. AllergevKev
    Apr 21, 2012
    10
    An amazing game,and a fitting conclusion to, arguably, the greatest trilogy this generation. While there are certain aspects that may be a bit disappointing, such as the resolution of certain character arcs and the ending (I can see why people both like and hate it, I'm in the middle), it doesn't take away from the greatness of the rest of the game.

    PROS -Epic Story -Strong Writing -Great    An amazing game,and a fitting conclusion to, arguably, the greatest trilogy this generation. While there are certain aspects that may be a bit disappointing, such as the resolution of certain character arcs and the ending (I can see why people both like and hate it, I'm in the middle), it doesn't take away from the greatness of the rest of the game.

    PROS
    -Epic Story
    -Strong Writing
    -Great Visuals
    -Wealth of Content
    -Seamless Genre -(Not terrible) Multiplayer

    CONS
    -Occasional Bugs
    -Wasted Potential for certain characters
    -The Ending (maybe)    … Expand
  75. Jbrizzy
    Mar 17, 2012
    8
    First off the Game is Amazing, when you play through the game you will love almost every aspect of it. BUT then you get to the last ten minutes, and everything is thrown into the trash. It really pains me to admit it because i love this trilogy so much, but Bioware couldid a hell of a lot better with the ending. Its like they worked so hard on the game that when they got to the ending theyFirst off the Game is Amazing, when you play through the game you will love almost every aspect of it. BUT then you get to the last ten minutes, and everything is thrown into the trash. It really pains me to admit it because i love this trilogy so much, but Bioware couldid a hell of a lot better with the ending. Its like they worked so hard on the game that when they got to the ending they just halfassed it, Otherwise if it werent for the ending this game woulda been the perfect 10/10 it shoulda been but fanboy or not i cant rate this game any higher. Like i said the game is Brilliant but once you beat it, you wont want to pick it up and play it again(atleast thats how I felt) And the collectors Edition just feels like a lie that i slightly regret purchasing, buts thats just me, otherwise all gripes aside, this game is EXCELLENT. So idl where the future of the franchise is going, but if they can have a HALO4, im pretty sure there will be a ME4 in the future.… Expand
  76. Fatspud
    Mar 22, 2012
    8
    All im going to talk about is the really pointless and aggravating multiplayer, because everything else possible has been said. why force me to play the multiplayer to get the best ending? in the end it seemed to make no difference, but still, the reason i play single player games is because i dislike other people, because they tend to be idiots. the multiplayer is also repetitive to suchAll im going to talk about is the really pointless and aggravating multiplayer, because everything else possible has been said. why force me to play the multiplayer to get the best ending? in the end it seemed to make no difference, but still, the reason i play single player games is because i dislike other people, because they tend to be idiots. the multiplayer is also repetitive to such a painful extent it hurts- playing it was like a chore. But hey, turns out it makes no difference, so i'll never have to play it again. yay.… Expand
  77. sheepishdolphin
    May 5, 2012
    9
    Ignore the stupid reviews sub 7. This is a fantastic game. Everything is improved- the storylines are fantastic. The set pieces are enjoyable. There are big decisions to make. Each mission, unlike previous games, features a unique, totally different environment which are amazingly well realised and lovingly crafted. The soundtrack is sublime and the voice acting ranges from good toIgnore the stupid reviews sub 7. This is a fantastic game. Everything is improved- the storylines are fantastic. The set pieces are enjoyable. There are big decisions to make. Each mission, unlike previous games, features a unique, totally different environment which are amazingly well realised and lovingly crafted. The soundtrack is sublime and the voice acting ranges from good to fantastic. The controls are pretty much spot on, and each character class means that there is a style of play to suit every player. I love using biotic abilities, throwing enemies around and letting my team finish them while they are in the air. Basically you are going around the galaxy assembling forces and 'assests' for the impending galactic war.Multiplayer is pretty good, it is skanky that you basically need to play it to get the best endings, but it is a good diversion.

    And the ending.. taken at face value, it is pretty poor, but fitting I thought. However, look up online about a theory with regards to the ending. There are hits and titbits throughout the game which explain the ending, seal the holes, and turn it from being pretty lame into damn clever as hell- for players who are insightful enough to figure it out.

    Right now I'm nearing the end of my 2nd playthough, straight after finishing it a first time. This is the defining game of this generation, with the best storytelling to grace a video game, fantastic locations, and fun-can't put it down gameplay. Ignore the reviews- this is a game that needs to be played    … Expand
  78. RPGameX
    Mar 17, 2012
    8
    Oh what a tale has been woven. Itâ
  79. quazzymojo
    Mar 18, 2012
    10
    Considering people reviewing this game have given in my opinion lesser games higher scores is just sour grapes. For me a good game is one where I can't wait to get home to play, where im constantly thinking about what's going to happen next. This game does exactly that!
    Ok day one DLC is cheeky but if you don't want it don't buy it! We are consumers and they have exploited our need for    Considering people reviewing this game have given in my opinion lesser games higher scores is just sour grapes. For me a good game is one where I can't wait to get home to play, where im constantly thinking about what's going to happen next. This game does exactly that!
    Ok day one DLC is cheeky but if you don't want it don't buy it! We are consumers and they have exploited our need for more, that's business get over it. As for the ending I wouldn't want it to be happy ever after ,the essence of the story is one of sacrifice and despair.
    As I read a few reviews before playing I felt set for disappointment. Don't!    … Expand
  80. dredgman
    Mar 18, 2012
    9
    Fantastic! Would rate 9.5 if possible.
    Mass Effect 3 is every bit as good as Mass Effect 2, if not better. Many will complain about the "lack of choice" toward the end of the game. Who cares? BioWare may have backed themselves into a corner with how much variability is possible in a character, but they do a fantastic job carrying everything through to this final chapter. Sure, the ending    Fantastic! Would rate 9.5 if possible.
    Mass Effect 3 is every bit as good as Mass Effect 2, if not better. Many will complain about the "lack of choice" toward the end of the game. Who cares? BioWare may have backed themselves into a corner with how much variability is possible in a character, but they do a fantastic job carrying everything through to this final chapter. Sure, the ending of the game is short, but at least it's somewhat conclusive. Besides, it's a wild ride to get there and journey worth experiencing.

    The only real detractors in the game are the sidequests. They can be difficult to track, and it would have been nice if objectives and been either more clearly spelled out, or more clearly designated with markers.    … Expand
  81. gamingxlife
    Mar 29, 2012
    10
    I loved this game, every minute of it (YES EVEN THE END). The game definitely doesn't deserve the harsh reviews these users have given it. Many top game reviewers have given it a high score, and so unless you think EA has paid all of them off and yet no one has managed to expose this, I think it's safe to assume this game is damn good.

    Screw the trolls, come see me.
  82. Whyohwhy
    Mar 20, 2012
    9
    I went into ME3 expecting another repetitious game along the same style of ME2. I liked ME2 for it's story but the missions itself didn't feel good as it was just "get this guy, get this guy, now get that same guy loyal, now the next one, onwards and onwards" I got tired of it, and hoped that ME3 would refrain from such tactics. I was happy to see a heavy emphasis on the story and drama ofI went into ME3 expecting another repetitious game along the same style of ME2. I liked ME2 for it's story but the missions itself didn't feel good as it was just "get this guy, get this guy, now get that same guy loyal, now the next one, onwards and onwards" I got tired of it, and hoped that ME3 would refrain from such tactics. I was happy to see a heavy emphasis on the story and drama of galactic politics. I was intrigued by their different characters shown and the way they decidede that more characters wasn't better. Instead they focused on the continuation of the story and the characters of whom we allready knew.

    Speaking of which, my favorite moments of this game have been in relation to previous characters. There were two in particular that made me more emotionally connected to a character of a video game before. I didn't feel like it was very tacked on the way the earlier characters reappered since it was very varied. Sometimes you would do a simple sidemission and get caught up in helping an earlier teammate escape a facility that you had expected to be a simple get-in get-out quest.

    Would i recommend this game? Hell yes. This game is great because Bioware decided to focus on what they do best, a great story with great dialogue. I didn't expect this game to be as good as it was. Since this is also a hot-topic i feel like i can't leave this out, the ending. As far as i can tell people are up in arms about how nothing they did mattered in the end. I have a feeling those people weren't really thinking straight sometimes, because who cares if you saved the Rachni in ME1 when they propably wouldn't / couldn't do anything against the reapers anyway. It is a great game and I believe this is a strong contender for game of the year.
    96 / 100 from me!    … Expand
  83. Jaye9001
    Mar 20, 2012
    10
    One of the better games I have played this generation. If you liked the style and gameplay of Mass Effect 2 you will enjoy this game.

    The story is fantastic and the combat is better than average. It will not take the place of Gears of War, but compated to Mass Effect 1 it has come along ways.
  84. snOmis
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    This game is amazing. I mean, the ending is a bit disappointing (Didn't they say there would be NO long lost "Reaper off button"?) but everything else is perfect. Great graphics, sound, and game play.
  85. stratosfeyr
    Mar 26, 2012
    10
    Sometimes I hate the goddamn internet. Every piece of **** is enabled to share pure **** which can be seen on this case. All those bad ratings dont rate the game itself, but the ending. Thats a difference. In their disappointment, the forget about hundreds hours of fun with the Mass-Effect game, and break one of the best Next-Gen series down to about 10 minutes. Thats hilarious. MassSometimes I hate the goddamn internet. Every piece of **** is enabled to share pure **** which can be seen on this case. All those bad ratings dont rate the game itself, but the ending. Thats a difference. In their disappointment, the forget about hundreds hours of fun with the Mass-Effect game, and break one of the best Next-Gen series down to about 10 minutes. Thats hilarious. Mass Effect 3 plays mostly like 2, but feels more like 1, due to the focus on the Citadel. To me, its the best part of the ME universe, no matter how it ends. You shouldnt give a f*ckin **** about these kiddies outwhere, ****storming everyone and everything like theyd be goddamn nazis. This is an amazing game, with a disappointing ending. No more no less. 10/10.… Expand
  86. dcsoda
    Apr 2, 2012
    10
    This game combines the great elements of 1 and 2 wonderfully. Decisions have tremendous weight and I never realized how much these characters meant to me until this game. The scores on here are an absolute joke. I can't think of many video game experiences me or anyone I know in real life has enjoyed more.
  87. AndrewE
    Apr 16, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm not just giving this a "10" to attempt to combat all the "0"s out there, I honestly think this game is a 10 and it is probably the best game I've played in the last 7-8 years. I was genuinely astounded... as to how WONDERFUL the ending was. The controversy is ridiculous. It basically boils down to unintelligent individuals who need to have everything explained to them very slowly to be satisfied, and intelligent people who are capable of inferring their own ideas for the future of the galaxy. Shepard did his job, he sacrificed himself not only for the galaxy, but every single life that will ever come into existence in the future. That is amazing. The specifics of what happened after his death are no longer his concern. Please DO NOT change the ending Bioware. Don't give in to the lowest common denominator. People were expecting a Michael Bay ending and instead were introduced to Andrei Tarkovsky. It's unfortunate that people don't have a far enough reaching intellectual grasp.… Expand
  88. acisawesome
    Apr 21, 2012
    10
    Ah yes "Mass Effect is an awful game series", I have dismissed that claim. ME3 brings in quite a few innovations to the table since ME2, and I think that it brings in almost all of your major choices from previous games amazingly. The combat is quite similar to the untrained eye, and, even though that would be a good thing anyway (ME2's combat system was sublime) it's not true. Combat itAh yes "Mass Effect is an awful game series", I have dismissed that claim. ME3 brings in quite a few innovations to the table since ME2, and I think that it brings in almost all of your major choices from previous games amazingly. The combat is quite similar to the untrained eye, and, even though that would be a good thing anyway (ME2's combat system was sublime) it's not true. Combat it ME3 is much more brutal, difficult and it forces you to make use of its environments (which are a much more 3-dimensional setting than previous games. One mission in it particular forces you to pull out every trick you have in an attempt to survive long enough to finish (immensely difficult on insanity). The combat it also much more cinematic, being able to pull enemies over cover near you at either stab them, crush them, or a variety of other things much to my humor. The story (ending excluded, is one of, if not the best writing in games I have ever played, pulling at emotional heart strings, but with enough witty dialogue to keep it from being depressing. In response to the ending controversy, is the ending good, god no, does it makes sense, again no, but does it ruin the entire series, or even the game? No, do you know what I did when I finished ME3? I sat down and played it again. Then I went out and bought points for the "From Ashes" DLC, (not necessary, but I would recommend it, it adds to the story and adds some interesting dialogue) got that onto the game, but I didn't play it as soon as I got that. I went back to ME1and started the whole series again (that's about 40 hours a game, 50 if your going for everything like I was). And I still loved the journey as Commander Shepard, even though the ending was lack luster. The multiplayer is surprisingly good, and I found myself surprised at how much I was enjoying it, though it is harder than the single player campaign, and with the free "Resensurgence" DLC that was released earlier, its only getting better, the only fault is it doesn't show your total play time, but I can forgive that. So, in the end Mass Effect 3 is a modern triumph in games, with some faults (ending, and loss of SOME dialogue options (though you still retain most of them)). Take this review from a fan who has put over a thousand hours into Mass Effect, over a thousand hours into EACH Mass Effect and that isn't including the multiplayer, this game is great, perfect? No, but still a modern miracle in the gaming. As a side note, all of these awful reviews (the 0, and 1's) are from fans who feel cheated by the ending, and are so angry that they cant see that the journey there is magnificent. Some of them are right about it, but they have far to harshly judged it. e.g. the ending is awful, I can never play Mass Effect again 0/10; which I proved wasn't always true in this review. All I can do now is urge you to buy this game (and the others as well, they make it better, especially if you save a guy called Wrex in the first game, his dialogue is amazing).… Expand
  89. FD3355
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Never before has a game trilogy come together like this, the story is epic the gameplay is refined, and the scale is unlike the biggest blockbuster hits. Some of the side quests can be a little silly and there are some technical bumps but they don't distract from the main, amazing experience.
  90. Ccreepincrud
    Mar 8, 2012
    9
    Great game. Picked up ME 2 just to finish another toon. I was a little leery at first and I almost jumped on the boycott wagon. I thought for myself and managed to snag a CE. Loving it. Combat is dynamic. Lots of room to improvise. MP is also a blast. If you are a fan of the series pick this up if you haven't already. Oh and ignore the troll reviews. It was a raid done for the lulz only.
  91. shinjuo
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    I love this game so far. I played through ME1 once and ME2 twice. I liked 2 more and I may like it more than this one. That said it is still a great game. I decided to write a review to counter some of these stupid mad about same day DLC comments. First off it makes sense what bioware said they did it for. It takes time from game completion to release. So why not work on more content. JustI love this game so far. I played through ME1 once and ME2 twice. I liked 2 more and I may like it more than this one. That said it is still a great game. I decided to write a review to counter some of these stupid mad about same day DLC comments. First off it makes sense what bioware said they did it for. It takes time from game completion to release. So why not work on more content. Just because it was done before the games release doesnt mean it should be free. Also all those saying that it is unlocked off the disc are full of crap. Its a huge download. Well over its on the disc content like other games.… Expand
  92. shgn
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 is pretty awesome, like the rest of the series. Stop **** about there being a gay sex scene, you don't have to watch it, you don't have to have a gay Shepard, you don't have to talk about it, and you don't have to think about it if you don't want to. And a lot of people are saying the ending sucked, and I havn't finished it yet, but I played five hours of it today, andMass Effect 3 is pretty awesome, like the rest of the series. Stop **** about there being a gay sex scene, you don't have to watch it, you don't have to have a gay Shepard, you don't have to talk about it, and you don't have to think about it if you don't want to. And a lot of people are saying the ending sucked, and I havn't finished it yet, but I played five hours of it today, and considering it only cam out about 19 hours ago and there is more than 19 hours of gameplay, I think either most of them are lying, or skipping half the game. The one downside is, they say over and over that thousands are dieing every minute, but then have a little speech about it, wasting time. Other than that, the game is wonderful!… Expand
  93. Molotch
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    A brilliant game, one of my favourites and with the first two games my favourite gaming trilogy. ME2 but well refined and with some leanings toward the expansive RPG elements of ME1. Lots of choice but you don't feel lost in anyway.
  94. Sonicphoto
    Mar 18, 2012
    10
    It's really a shame people give the game a low score just because the last 5 minutes of the game aren't good. You have to review the game has a complete package, the action is the best in the entire trilogy, weapons are much better, the story is very emotional, the war is at grand scale at different places, and every decision you take is crucial to the life of many characters or races.It's really a shame people give the game a low score just because the last 5 minutes of the game aren't good. You have to review the game has a complete package, the action is the best in the entire trilogy, weapons are much better, the story is very emotional, the war is at grand scale at different places, and every decision you take is crucial to the life of many characters or races. Plus the ending will be fixed, I have hopes that it will be, it was all indoctrination there are so many facts that prove it. We can say a game sucks, just because of a writer or some writers went all weird on the story when the other people that worked hard on other aspects did an excellent job.… Expand
  95. Anubisan
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    A fantastic and highly-satisfying conclusion to one of the best RPG series of all time. I bought the collector's edition of the game and have been unable to tear myself away from it since 12:01am on release day.
  96. CloudStrifeVII
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    This game is a masterpiece.
    The most part of the people who doesn't like it is because they just don't have it.
    This is really an awesome game.
    The story, characters, music...everything is awsome.
  97. NextGenFilter
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    After spending somewhere around 25 hours getting through Mass Effect 3's single-player campaign, there was one question I couldn't quite answer: why is this game called Far Cry? The sequel, developed by Bioware Montreal, retains nearly nothing from Crytek's 2004 original or from the Xbox and Xbox 360's Instincts and Predator derivations. The story doesn't carry over, the characters aren'tAfter spending somewhere around 25 hours getting through Mass Effect 3's single-player campaign, there was one question I couldn't quite answer: why is this game called Far Cry? The sequel, developed by Bioware Montreal, retains nearly nothing from Crytek's 2004 original or from the Xbox and Xbox 360's Instincts and Predator derivations. The story doesn't carry over, the characters aren't the same, there's no mention at all of Jack Carver, there are no mutagens, no feral powers, and no Trigens. Instead, it's a struggle between warring factions, called the APR and UFLL, in an unnamed African nation.

    The game also doesn't give players a pre-determined protagonist. Instead, you select a character to play as, and the rest of the cast appear in the game world around you as friendly NPCs, called buddies, who you can choose to work with. Things begin with a simple tutorial section, introducing you to basic first-person shooter controls and the game's premise. Your main goal is to find The Jackal, a menacing character that supplies weapons to the APR and UFLL to keep lit the fires of conflict.

    The point is, with this kind of setup, it's odd that the Far Cry name was even used at all, other than for its obvious name recognition value. Pushing that issue aside and accepting that this is basically a totally different game, you'll find there's quite a bit to like.

    There are few direct analogues for Mass Effect 3, as it truly is an open-world shooter. It's a stark contrast to Infinity Ward's unrelentingly linear Call of Duty games, and offers more freedom than what Crytek wound up delivering post-Far Cry with its pseudo-linear Crysis franchise. Perhaps GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is the best comparison, though even that game differs, because where it leaned more toward role-playing elements, Mass Effect 3 is almost all about shooting. There are still ways to upgrade your character, but the focus here is most definitely on action.

    For instance, there's no inventory in the game, just four weapon slots. There's one for your machete, one for a sidearm or accessory, one for a primary weapon (assault rifle, SMG, sniper rifle, shotgun), and one for a special weapon (rocket launcher, mortar, flamethrower). All these weapon types aren't available at the game's beginning; you must unlock them by performing side-quests for weapons vendors located around the world. Much of the game works like this, letting you unlock little bits and pieces here and there to make your journeys across the grassy plains, mountains, and jungles of the world more convenient, and make the process of killing a little easier.

    Outside of main quests there are several types of distractions for you. You can do the weapon vendor quests, which always involve hunting down a convoy and disabling it. The rewards are good, as you get access to more weapons, but the quests themselves can get repetitive. There are also quests you can get from buddies you find around the game world and assignments from ominously garbled voices transmitted over electrical towers. Ultimately, they all boil down to pretty much the same thing: go to a location and kill a guy, blow something up, steal something, or force someone to do something they don't want to and then kill them. And if you're particularly obsessive compulsive, you can spend plenty of hours tracking down the multitude of hidden briefcases which contain varying quantities of diamonds. You'll also occasionally have to quest for medicine since, surprise, your character has malaria. While the premise of a sick protagonist seems like it could have had some interesting implications, the way it's implemented here makes it seem like more of a nuisance than anything else.

    Some of the main quests can be fairly interesting, but usually only if you choose to work with an NPC buddy. Whichever buddy you've unlocked that likes you best will give you a call after main missions are acquired, offering an alternate method of completion. Sometimes it screws over the faction you're working for but ultimately involves the same infiltrate / kill mechanic used in most of the other quests. More rarely you'll get to do something totally different, like using a warhead to drop a bridge on a barge instead of having to infiltrate the barge and killing a target on it. Using buddies like this to complete missions in different ways is also to your benefit, as it gradually upgrades all the safe houses in the game world with ammo stashes, health supplies, and eventually vehicles.    … Expand
  98. DanyloZ
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    Terrific addition to the series! Mass Effect 3 is a perfected version of the second game of the trilogy. Mass Effect 2 was terrific and one of the best games I've ever played. For them to be able to add another one to the series with better game play and a better plot is an amazing achievement. Small, yet likable additions have been made to the combat; such as powerful melee attacks, andTerrific addition to the series! Mass Effect 3 is a perfected version of the second game of the trilogy. Mass Effect 2 was terrific and one of the best games I've ever played. For them to be able to add another one to the series with better game play and a better plot is an amazing achievement. Small, yet likable additions have been made to the combat; such as powerful melee attacks, and far more maneuvering and dodging capabilities. In terms of the plot, the characters are always unique and interesting. Although at first glance it may seem tedious, talking to other members of your team never seems to get boring, as they all seem to have relatively interesting back stories. And ignoring the occasional cliches in the dialogue, credit should also be given to the voice actors, who conveyed emotions extremely well.

    Some of the most important improvements to game lie in the character customization. Now, players can customize weapons and armor far more extensively. A large variety of perks are available which can improve any characteristics of the weapons and armor. Shops are now available inside the player's own ship, which makes it far less laborious to buy upgrades to weapons and armor.    … Expand
  99. conboydude
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    What really gets me mad is that some idiotic people hate all over this game because it didn't end like they wanted it to. Guess what you have not finished the main quest if you did you either 1 pirated 2 need to get a life or 3 the best videogame player alive and again need to get a life. This game is phenomenal, With a few set backs I am of what I have played so far really enjoying thisWhat really gets me mad is that some idiotic people hate all over this game because it didn't end like they wanted it to. Guess what you have not finished the main quest if you did you either 1 pirated 2 need to get a life or 3 the best videogame player alive and again need to get a life. This game is phenomenal, With a few set backs I am of what I have played so far really enjoying this game. All of the people giving it a zero are why no body takes the user reviews on this site serious. You are a load of selfish people ranting on a game that is near perfect. 4.7 score that is ridiculous. Give this game the credit it deserves not because you don't believe it lived up to be the most climatic ending to such a franchise. I can I agree how people would not like it but honestly not 317 people wrote a negative review because they did not enjoy it. This game is a great way to start off the year, so come on don't be so selfish give this game the credit it deserves.… Expand
  100. NathanScmidt000
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    Amazing game! Half way through my second playthrough and still loving it!!! I will say that the PC version is the version to buy as the low resolution textures and load times are ridiculous.
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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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