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. McAdooZ
    Mar 8, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 provides a stunning end to the trilogy. The voice acting is top-notch, and the attention to details of previous installments is gratifying (if you've imported your Shephard). The game looks great and the combat is more streamlined from ME2, with a much needed heavy melee option. The story is very well done, and wraps everything up quite nicely. Definitely worth the wait.
  2. 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
  3. 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.
  4. TristonDaShorty
    Mar 20, 2012
    9
    After the first of this series, I was hooked. The Mass Effect franchise was the thing a cared about most in video games, and I was not disappointed with ME3. The game starts off quick and hooks you immediately and the story progresses as fast or a slow as you want it to depending on how many of the side quests you partake in. Some of the side quests did feel boring but the boring onesAfter the first of this series, I was hooked. The Mass Effect franchise was the thing a cared about most in video games, and I was not disappointed with ME3. The game starts off quick and hooks you immediately and the story progresses as fast or a slow as you want it to depending on how many of the side quests you partake in. Some of the side quests did feel boring but the boring ones were quick, so the gripe is a small one. But the priority missions are where its at, there insanely fun and none of the missions disappointed me. There are three main enemies in this game, each diverse and different from one another (Cerberus, Geth, and of course the Reapers). The multi-player is fun and a great little edition, this is still very much a single player game though. And despite what most people are saying, in my opinion the decisions you made in ME2 and the original do impact your game. If you expected them to have a massive impact then I guess you'll be disappointed, but it does affect the way certain characters treat you, and which characters carry on into Mass Effect 3. Another complaint I keep hearing about is the ending, I could see where people would complain about the ending of ME3, but I thought it was a beautiful way to end the series. The ending would have been more well received if Mass Effect 3 was a movie, because its not your typical video game ending in any way shape or form. Aside from some short but boring side quests there is one more gripe, you will often times find yourself rolling instead of jumping in and out of cover, this for me was really annoying and is pretty much the reason why I'm giving the game a 9 instead of a 10. But overall, this was a fantastic way to end the series and I was not disappointed in the least, a must buy in my opinion.… Expand
  5. BoTheMastaOfAll
    Mar 10, 2012
    9
    I gotta say, this is my favorite Mass Effect so far, except for the last 5 minutes.The ending of this series is so incredibly cheesy and half baked. Honestly this game is a perfect 10 for me, but the ending is horrible. Just have your sibling play the end for you and assume that Sheperd died saving humanity from the reapers, because you will feel so much better about the series if you do.
  6. Deathfire26
    Mar 10, 2012
    9
    Now, I noticed that a lot of people are giving this game a really bad score. I personally really enjoyed the game primarily because the Mass Effect Universe is one of the most detailed sci-fi universes to date. Now, this game was fantastic. Story wise, it was there, 100% just as it was in Mass Effect 1. Gameplay wise, it was also there, 100% just as it was in Mass Effect 2. Now, the reasonNow, I noticed that a lot of people are giving this game a really bad score. I personally really enjoyed the game primarily because the Mass Effect Universe is one of the most detailed sci-fi universes to date. Now, this game was fantastic. Story wise, it was there, 100% just as it was in Mass Effect 1. Gameplay wise, it was also there, 100% just as it was in Mass Effect 2. Now, the reason I am not giving this a perfect 10 was that there was something missing. The game did not have enough things to do. 22 missions, including the final missions, 7 N7 missions that were more like side quests, and only a few places to go. Now, in about 20 hours, I completed everything, thinking that this was really short for Mass Effect. Mass Effect 1 was pretty much a pool to swim in and so many things to do. Mass Effect 2 had a lot of scanning and traveling around, plus so many characters to meet. In the third one, it really just did not have as much content as all of the other games, but where it lacked in amount of content, it made up for the sheer joy the game brought me. Going around and taking down the Reapers was a challenge and there were so many satisfying moments throughout the game making it worthwhile. Now the endings were something interesting. I wont spoil it, but they are pretty cool endings if you think about the changes each one brings about to the whole galaxy. A lot of the people that are complaining about the endings are just whining because they really could not end the game on their own terms. That was the sacrifice of taking down the Reapers. There are really no happy endings when you face a powerful force that wipes out all of organic life. **** just aint easy when you are up against that. The scale of the situation makes the whole game seem so epic and the end, even though it is interesting and not an easy ending to deal with, is worth it. I highly suggest playing a very innovative series and a credit to the Sci-fi genre.… Expand
  7. nexusmind
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    If you liked the first two, you'll love this one. There has been no drop in quality on any front. The gameplay, story, writing, and brilliant set pieces all shine as usual. However, there are 2 major things that bother me on an "ethical" level, if I can be so bold as use the word. Inputing a serial number on a console game is ridiculous, and release-date DLC flies in the face of whatIf you liked the first two, you'll love this one. There has been no drop in quality on any front. The gameplay, story, writing, and brilliant set pieces all shine as usual. However, there are 2 major things that bother me on an "ethical" level, if I can be so bold as use the word. Inputing a serial number on a console game is ridiculous, and release-date DLC flies in the face of what DLC is supposed to be (extending the life of a game). The former is by far the worse, and signals another step towards an attempt to stamp out used games.

    Negatives aside, giving this game a 1 or a 0 is completely unfair. I get that it's an act of protest, but give credit where credit is due. This is a beautifully crafted game and a love letter to people who have been hooked by the last 2 games as much as I have. PLAY IT!    … Expand
  8. Truesteel
    Mar 9, 2012
    9
    If you liked Mass Effect 1 and 2, you will like this game. It's more of the same combat, with the return of more of the rpg elements from the first game. Planet scanning has been largely removed, and while this game is somewhat more linear than its predecessors, its still a fun, immersive, and generally well put together game.
  9. ImUnavailable
    Mar 19, 2012
    9
    A beautiful, thrilling and flawed conclusion to the Mass Effect trilogy. ME3 does not disappoint when it comes to intense action set pieces and an epic story. The abundant drama in this game feels earned after playing the previous games in the series and it is nice to see the decisions made in those games impacting on this one. Multiplayer is a surprisingly effective addition, with aA beautiful, thrilling and flawed conclusion to the Mass Effect trilogy. ME3 does not disappoint when it comes to intense action set pieces and an epic story. The abundant drama in this game feels earned after playing the previous games in the series and it is nice to see the decisions made in those games impacting on this one. Multiplayer is a surprisingly effective addition, with a great range of character classes, races and unlockables to keep you hooked. The main problem with ME3 is the character interaction. Shepard's team is not as memorable as before, with few new faces onboard. Conversation options with them are fairly shallow and you miss the loyalty missions of ME2. The exclusion of the latter is understandable since Shepard is on a tight schedule to stop the Reapers. But it is still disappointing. Overall, though, I still greatly enjoyed playing this game and hope to play it again soon. Mass Effect has been the greatest video game trilogy of all time and ME3 is a worthy end to the saga.… Expand
  10. Firebreak
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    I normally don't write reviews but I feel this game had been greatly mistreated by the public. I thought the game and story were so good that going into the final mission I felt a little tense. I personally like the ending it was as Epic as the rest of the series, I mean sure it was not happy but I actually really loved that part of it. I really just don't think that people are givingI normally don't write reviews but I feel this game had been greatly mistreated by the public. I thought the game and story were so good that going into the final mission I felt a little tense. I personally like the ending it was as Epic as the rest of the series, I mean sure it was not happy but I actually really loved that part of it. I really just don't think that people are giving it a fair score and I would recommend it to everyone.… Expand
  11. StapledYeti
    Aug 27, 2012
    9
    Mass effect has always been a series that has been a benchmark for sic-fi role playing games since it was released and with the latest instalment i can't see that changing any time soon. People slate it because they didn't get the ending they wanted or that Bioware changed the game in a way that reaches out to a richer audience, those aren't reasons to give a game a low mark in my opinion.Mass effect has always been a series that has been a benchmark for sic-fi role playing games since it was released and with the latest instalment i can't see that changing any time soon. People slate it because they didn't get the ending they wanted or that Bioware changed the game in a way that reaches out to a richer audience, those aren't reasons to give a game a low mark in my opinion. I believe Bioware did everything perfectly except for a few minor problems. The first of which is that the game world restricts you a lot, you can't really venture anywhere whilst on a mission, this problem has been in the franchise all along and all i wished for was for that to change for this instalment. Its more of a insignificant annoyance than a problem to be honest. Another qualm i have is that the romance is still as stiff and awkward as ever, i found in mass effect that if i ran to the person i found most attractive after every mission to merely talk to them for two minutes they would eventually and consensual sex with me, this was both amusing and irritating to me and simply wasted my time. My final problem i see in the game is that the dialogue is a little bit... well... crap. In mass effect 1 and 2 the dialogue was both engrossing and interesting as what people said actually made a difference most of the time. This time round though you'll find yourself talking to people for no visible reason other than to yet again fill them game with time consuming conversation about matters that I'm sure the supposed saviour of the galaxy really shouldn't give damn about. I also need to mention the ending of the game which really does seem to be irritating people doesn't it! But seriously i see no problem with it, it wraps the game up nicely and gives the player a real emotional reaction, if this wasn't the case for you then lets just agree to disagree to you. Now as for the good points, i could sit here all day and tell you how the game is vastly improved on its predecessor, first of the combat both melee and ranged is vastly improved, i really enjoyed trying out different weapons i either bought or unlocked throughout the game and the ways they could be used, it was a fulfilling way to spend my space money. This is the same for armour unlocks and etc. The only problem with the armour is that some times they looked far too similar and that you could only buy full suits of a certain type if lets say you only wanted the helmet. Other than that making yourself look badass was pretty fun and indulging. Another point is also that the story is both brilliant and emotional, at some points it really hits home whats actually happening and at others it keeps you engrossed to the point where you'll not want t stop playing as you want to find out what happens next. My final point is going to be that the characters are just as interesting and boring as ever, some like garrus will keep you laughing and others will make you wish the conversation would hurry up but the most important thing is that Bioware have done a brilliant job in rounding off the relationships you have built with your crew members and how you come to terms with them before you set out on your final mission. Overall then this game is brilliant with just a few problems which i have outlined, these shouldn't keep you from playing it and enjoying the ride just as much as i did.… Expand
  12. HarveyBirdman
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    Bioware/EA certainly is capable of producing slapdash, focus-grouped crap. Dragon Age 2 is the prime example. But Mass Effect 3 is not Dragon Age 2. Is it the pure RPG of your dreams? No. Is it the greatest squad based shooter ever? Also no. Will it fulfill all of your fanboy dreams of Shepard and Tali living happily ever after in a house on the Homeworld? No again. If youBioware/EA certainly is capable of producing slapdash, focus-grouped crap. Dragon Age 2 is the prime example. But Mass Effect 3 is not Dragon Age 2. Is it the pure RPG of your dreams? No. Is it the greatest squad based shooter ever? Also no. Will it fulfill all of your fanboy dreams of Shepard and Tali living happily ever after in a house on the Homeworld? No again. If you evaluate it under any of these rubrics, you'll become enraged and give it a 0 on metacritic. (Same result if you hate day-one DLC or teh gheys with a passion, but I digress.) On the other hand, if you can just accept ME3 for what it actually is --a great sci-fi story with some good shooter and RPG elements mixed in-- you're in for an extremely enjoyable experience. In short, hating this game is like hating pizza because it's not ice cream.… Expand
  13. MJR
    Apr 20, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved the game. I thought the ending left a bit to be desired, for some people a lot to be desired, but ultimately I was satisfied. What questions are left to be answered? The ending cinematic may not have made too much sense but rather than focusing on what happened visually consider what actually happened. The final decision was always going to result in removing to the Reapers. The Mass relays blowing up? It had the sense of being a systematic destruction, the difference between a controlled demolishing of a building or throwing an asteriod into one like in Mass Effect 2. I don't know why the Normandy was running away in all circumstances, that part would not have made sense with at least the control option for ending the Reaper threat. I believe that people are upset that the choices were similar in their result, but what other alternative could there have been? Even if you were hard-core renegade you wouldn't have let the Reapers survive with free will. Destruction, control or synthesis, and the amount of damage you do to Earth and your crew was based on how good your war assests were as well as whether or not Shepard survived. All was based on everything you did or didn't do. And if you didn't play through the first two games, or at least the second, then quit **** If you feel cheated or want more answers go and listen to the second half of the Rooster Teeth Podcast #160.… Expand
  14. ColdHardTruth
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is the final chapter in this thrilling and epic franchise created by Bioware. Let me start off saying this has been a pleasure to play all through all 3 games. Mass effect has gone through changes from 1 to 3 for the better (examples: shooting mechanics, graphics, character management). With movie like productions Bioware did an excellent job from creating relationships withMass Effect 3 is the final chapter in this thrilling and epic franchise created by Bioware. Let me start off saying this has been a pleasure to play all through all 3 games. Mass effect has gone through changes from 1 to 3 for the better (examples: shooting mechanics, graphics, character management). With movie like productions Bioware did an excellent job from creating relationships with all characters involved and the decision you need to make to building a huge universe to explore and navigate through. Mass effect 3 succeeds the expectations by a long shot. With an epic story of a race against time to gather help from all edges of the universe to save Earth and other home worlds before the reapers destroy every living being. Simply put it has the drama and action you crave from the last 2 to keep you happy for a while. This one gets a 9.5/10 from me. Hope we see another franchise like this from Bioware for the next gen consoles.… Expand
  15. lionalio
    Mar 29, 2012
    9
    A tragic ending for an excellent game, what a pain, just like it slam out everything you have made so hard going this far. Nevertheless, if we look at the positive sides, there are many things can be approved for this game: intense combat, focus gameplay, the epic galaxy's apocalypse. Beyond the single player, the multiplayer is a lot of fun and require many tactics to survive. OverallA tragic ending for an excellent game, what a pain, just like it slam out everything you have made so hard going this far. Nevertheless, if we look at the positive sides, there are many things can be approved for this game: intense combat, focus gameplay, the epic galaxy's apocalypse. Beyond the single player, the multiplayer is a lot of fun and require many tactics to survive. Overall this is the game which we will not get bored so fast, do not let your hatred throw away a marvelous game that you can hardly find.â… Expand
  16. Shinjitsu
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    A great sequel, with enhanced gameplay mechanics as well as bringing back aspects of the original that were missed, and a story that does not disappoint.
  17. thebrock
    Jul 22, 2012
    9
    Surprised by the user score. However I have never seen the original ending which apparently was shocking. To start with the positives graphics where excellent, gameplay was great . One thing that really annoyed me was if you imported your character from ma1 and ma2 you started at level 30 with the majority of your abilities not far from being maxed out. Not much of a challenge in that.Surprised by the user score. However I have never seen the original ending which apparently was shocking. To start with the positives graphics where excellent, gameplay was great . One thing that really annoyed me was if you imported your character from ma1 and ma2 you started at level 30 with the majority of your abilities not far from being maxed out. Not much of a challenge in that. Overall i feel that with the revised ending mass effect 3 was a fantastic game. Good ending to the trilogy. All in all i would say the best trilogy of games that have been released in gaming history. A must play game for rpg fans.… Expand
  18. twizbuck
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    This game is a perfect 10, until the last 20 minutes. The ending takes every decision you made along the way in all three games and renders them all obsolete. You don't have a good ending where you and your squad lives and there's a big party to celebrate with your chosen romance, nor one where you fail and the reapers win. Both of which should've been incorporated. There's no weight ofThis game is a perfect 10, until the last 20 minutes. The ending takes every decision you made along the way in all three games and renders them all obsolete. You don't have a good ending where you and your squad lives and there's a big party to celebrate with your chosen romance, nor one where you fail and the reapers win. Both of which should've been incorporated. There's no weight of your decisions on the ending, and it really makes me regret playing this series...… Expand
  19. xeis
    Mar 29, 2012
    9
    Insane scores on here for this great game. ME3 has moved on from its RPG roots to action/rpg drama. It does this well (but not without flaws). The bad : cover system is not right, day 1 DLC & the infamous ending, which offers virtually identical endings BUT watching the ending for the first time, it is a worthy ending to a great trilogy. The good : Great Story, humour, acting, greatInsane scores on here for this great game. ME3 has moved on from its RPG roots to action/rpg drama. It does this well (but not without flaws). The bad : cover system is not right, day 1 DLC & the infamous ending, which offers virtually identical endings BUT watching the ending for the first time, it is a worthy ending to a great trilogy. The good : Great Story, humour, acting, great graphics, surprisingly good multi player (-cover system), great musical score, great character realisation, improved accessibility, improved combat mechanics, great AI (at higher levels), properly hard mode. It is not a perfect game, but it is pretty close and the best Bioware game since DAO. Just because a game is not perfect does not mean it gets scored at 0.… Expand
  20. PEDRO_PLANTAIN
    Mar 21, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mass Effect 3 is awesome. Its the best game I've played in memory. Its up there with Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto 4 and Five, Deus Ex Human Revolution and most games in recent memory. Pros- Great story including ending, good writing, great dialogue, good action sequences, cutscenes, gameplay, great difficulty settings. The music and sound is awesome. Some of the visuals are so stunning I wish I could have paused the game to take it in for a bit.

    Cons- A few glitches, (had to restart xbox 360 about 4 times during the whole experience.), some quests are not clear, combat is a bit messy with the cover system, most guns feel underpowered. Banshees feel a bit cheap.

    I give the game a 9 because of a few glitches. But I must say, after playing the game, I'm satisfied, the ending works for me and I feel like the gams is te best game i've ever played. Period. Almost cried when I had to kill Legion. Loved the last speech given to troops and saying goodbye to comrades. It reminded me of a AAA blockbuster summer sci-fi flick.

    This is a definite buy for any sci-fi fan. I enjoyed this more than the last 3 star wars movies or sci-fi flicks in recent memory. The only thing to hit me like this is The Matrix.    … Expand
  21. gemini0577
    Mar 9, 2012
    9
    I certainly agree with some who say the ending to this game is a bit of a let down considering all the time invested into the characters if you've played all three games. That said, the game in itself, is exciting and a thrilling top off to an excellent series. The game play is, at least in my view, challenging and the story is engaging. The potential romances, including the same sex ones,I certainly agree with some who say the ending to this game is a bit of a let down considering all the time invested into the characters if you've played all three games. That said, the game in itself, is exciting and a thrilling top off to an excellent series. The game play is, at least in my view, challenging and the story is engaging. The potential romances, including the same sex ones, are a welcome break to all the danger and drama. It becomes clear that this game aims to tie up loose ends early on. There are a few devastating losses throughout the progression. This really added to the tension as it made me wary of no one being safe. Some glitches make it a little choppy at times but my biggest complaint is how you cannot save in the final chapter ( a little warning would have been nice... the scene isn't the easiest, nor really all that fun to navigate and it seemed to take forever). The game is beautifully crafted and the cutscenes are spectacular. I loved the reemergence of some key characters from the other two games.… Expand
  22. Hybridiction
    May 18, 2012
    9
    This is the score the game actually deserves. Now before you down-vote me, you will find if you average around the fifty + critic scores the game received it would be around the 89-93 area. Take off the moronic user score feature metacritic, it is used as a tool by a bunch of forum trolls and butthurt fanboys who really have no clue how to review a game. Of course this review will beThis is the score the game actually deserves. Now before you down-vote me, you will find if you average around the fifty + critic scores the game received it would be around the 89-93 area. Take off the moronic user score feature metacritic, it is used as a tool by a bunch of forum trolls and butthurt fanboys who really have no clue how to review a game. Of course this review will be down-voted by them, and I'll probably be called a "suck up" to the gaming media, but let's look at the facts first. High expectations almost always lead to disappointment, and those who have insanely high expectations will always be disappointed. This is why when you look at a game objectively, or rather as it is, instead of what you wanted it to be, you would find that it truly is a good game. Whether you disagreed with the ending or had problems because you "Felt" that the choices you made in the previous installments weren't reflected enough, it really doesn't matter. It's no reason to give this game a score below 7, and the fact that this game is rated a 3.9 is really quite pathetic. To even think that this game is only worth a "3.9" you would have to be some grumpy old man living in some old folks home or some kid who stays in his room all day, has no friends and doesn't know how to enjoy quality entertainment. The decisions you made in the previous games do reflect in this one, and yes they matter. Characters that die in ME2 wont be around, characters you saved in ME1 do make an appearance and yes your choices DID have reflect in ME3. Name a game that carries the choices you made from game to game on the same level mass effect has? You cant, there is only stand alone games with choices like the witcher 2, but what game from sequel to sequel to sequel does what the ME series has?. The fact people cry because they feel that their choices never meant anything is LAUGHABLE seeing as how they have nothing to compare it to. Give mass effect some credit, it has done a pretty damned good job. The ending to the series is fine, and honestly it really doesn't matter what bioware did people would have cried and crapped their pants. Everybody has a different idea of how it should have "ended" Bioware cant possibly meet everybody's expectations. The gameplay was much improved from the previous two, they added in some more RPG elements, still not as robust as ME1 but pretty close with the talent choices, weapon mods and tons of armor and loot to find. Mass effect 3 is a good game that sold well and that the majority of people enjoyed playing, don't listen to the vocal minority of idiots on here who probably pirated the game or never even played it at all and are just jumping on the hate bandwagon to hate the game like it's some "fad" to do so or makes them "cool and different" Stfu, sit down and enjoy the game. End of story. and....advice to metacritic......implement a system where people need to enter the serial code of the game they bought in order to actually review it. See how many of these idiots are still around after that......you wont find many… Expand
  23. TheMaximalist
    Jun 1, 2012
    9
    The Mass Effect series for me has been one of the best for this generation and now Bioware is bringing us the final show down we have been waiting for since 2007. I must say this is one of my favorite games ever. The story is naturally awesome because the player makes it with the many more complex decisions and epic battles. The galaxy is in chaos and the only way to survive is to uniteThe Mass Effect series for me has been one of the best for this generation and now Bioware is bringing us the final show down we have been waiting for since 2007. I must say this is one of my favorite games ever. The story is naturally awesome because the player makes it with the many more complex decisions and epic battles. The galaxy is in chaos and the only way to survive is to unite and to do this Shepard must bring the galaxy together. This idea allows Bioware to add those tough decisions and those epic battles so the game isn't so action centered like Mass Effect 2. Talking about the action all the shooting and power distribution mechanics have been smoothed and the game feels less static than ME2. The set pieces and the remarkable battles have made even more epic and weaves dialogue into it all. The graphics are great but not the best on 260 and the soundtrack was great and weapon sounds had a great bang bang to them. 360 users can also use Kniect to issue commands on the battlefield and speak in cutscenes. This was good most of the time but sometimes I did a really loud "ohhh what do I do" and it chose for me which sucked. This game is suitably awesome with the whole shooter rpg mix done perfectly. Mass Effect 3 also includes co-op multiplayer which is a first for the series and I really enjoyed this. Most co-op multiplayer isn't really that compelling but this was great. It's a wave mode with bonus objectives which you gert credits for which you can spend on new characters,weapons and upgrades. There has been 2 free dlc packs with new characters and bonuses.
    Story-10-Mass Effect has always had a great story but this is amazing
    Graphics-8-Great sci-fi sfx and battlefields
    Sound-9-Weapons have great kicks and effects and the soundtrack is another sci fi epic
    Value-10-Mass Effect has always been about replaying for that perfect ending and this is no different
    Gameplay-9.5-Great shooting and cover mechanics, never gets old but a few tech glitches here and there
    Overall-46.5/50    … Expand
  24. 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
  25. dpila33
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The only thing that is kinda lame about ME3 is all the day 1 DLC. I agree that if we're already forking over $60 for a brand new game it's pretty cheap to make us pay another $10 for a few extra guns that aren't that great. That aside though ME3 is still an awesome game. If you've played the first two and had a good time I don't think the average player, who isn't a picky little priss, will find very much to complain about.… Expand
  26. 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
  27. timn17
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    (SPOILERS, MAJOR) Seriously, don't listen to all the whiners. Yes, they made some changes, and yes, it is not Mass Effect 1, but then again, why would you want it to be? Overall, it's an amazing game, and I think the main reason it has such a low user score, especially when compared to the critic score, is that all these cry babies just couldn't stand to see their shep get killed off(SPOILERS, MAJOR) Seriously, don't listen to all the whiners. Yes, they made some changes, and yes, it is not Mass Effect 1, but then again, why would you want it to be? Overall, it's an amazing game, and I think the main reason it has such a low user score, especially when compared to the critic score, is that all these cry babies just couldn't stand to see their shep get killed off (unless you get the "special ending.") It was always supposed to be a trilogy people, and I personally think the ending was amazing. Sacrificing yourself so that the universe can survive in peace? What's more heroic than that? The series was always gonna have a bittersweet ending and if you couldn't see it coming you are a failure. The only problem I have with this game is that it seems like many of your dialogue choices have been removed and turned into cut scenes, likely a result of their attempt to "streamline" the game for the mouth breathers who can't finish a game unless it holds their hand all the way through. and yes, some of the "emotional moments" were hamfisted, but some were extremely well done. Also, to everyone crying foul about how greedy ea and bioware have been with this game, I will concede that the day 1 dlc was obnoxious, and that I too could not figure out how to get my ems above 3500 without multiplayer. Pretty annoying, but at the same time, they had the balls to actually kill off their main character and, unless they plan on a ridiculous retcon, they killed their series (at least with shep as the main character.) If they were that greedy, don't you think we'd have gotten some stupidly unrealistic fairly tale ending that everyone seems to want? I know I didn't review the game, but I figure people reading here aren't looking for reviews, they are looking for complaints, and I wanted to tell you that most everyone is probably just sad about the ending and think that sad ending equals bad game, which it does not. 9 or maybe even 10 out of 10 for me.… Expand
  28. 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
  29. EnigmaReviews
    Jul 24, 2012
    9
    Well one of the best gaming series ever has come to an end. When I first got my hands on the game I immediatly notices differences from the second game. The first of course is the graphics. Although they don't compare to the those of Uncharted, Gears of War, and Crysis they are still good in their own way. The next thing I noticed is new animations. This is good because in a lot of sequelsWell one of the best gaming series ever has come to an end. When I first got my hands on the game I immediatly notices differences from the second game. The first of course is the graphics. Although they don't compare to the those of Uncharted, Gears of War, and Crysis they are still good in their own way. The next thing I noticed is new animations. This is good because in a lot of sequels devs will recycle the same animation. I got to the story and it was extremely good no suprise there. The gameplay was great, weapons where awesome, and the characters where likeable. The multiplayer isn't that great to be honest. It seem like something they tacked on to add more to the game. Although the free DLC is a bonus it isn't much of a plus. Now here comes the ending drama. (Please note that I am writng this review after the extended cut dlc). This part of the game has gathered a lot of negative feedback. The ending by far was good. The main thing I have a problem with is what Bioware promised. The ending didn't have much variety in them. Also your decisions really don't have zero effect on the ending as well which is a huge let down. Overall this is an amazing game but if you where a fan from the begining them you will feel disapointed at the end. That doesn't take away from the game though. It does so much good that it heavily out weighs the bad. Mass Effect 3 is a 9/10 if they would have got the ending right it would have been a master piece.… Expand
  30. Desdicado
    Apr 1, 2012
    9
    Ok, I've just finished the game, took me a few weeks with work commitments etc. I really didn't want to write a review until I had done that based on the other reviews here. I have to say I just don't get the criticism of the ending. I thought it was pretty poignant and kind of logical. I'm not going to add spoilers. I was sorry to lose one particular person earlier on in my play thru butOk, I've just finished the game, took me a few weeks with work commitments etc. I really didn't want to write a review until I had done that based on the other reviews here. I have to say I just don't get the criticism of the ending. I thought it was pretty poignant and kind of logical. I'm not going to add spoilers. I was sorry to lose one particular person earlier on in my play thru but it's about hard choices in war isn't it? So the game, it's nearly as good as ME2, there are way more weapon options which I liked tho. I tended to stick with the modded geth assault rifle tho the Chakram thrower from playing the koatr demo was also cool. So it was an epic run thru, my 6 year old son was invested in it too, he thought he was watching a movie, I have to drop some kudos on the multiplayer too, the first 2 weeks or so with the game I spent on that as it's very well executed and very enjoyable, check it out if you haven't. My major criticism of the game as a whole is it's too short, I like how the mini games to pick locks etc have gone, but I'm in two minds about mining etc being streamlined. So anyway, an awesome game frankly, worthy of the series. 9/10… Expand
  31. HofmanT
    Mar 16, 2012
    9
    I give Mass Effect 3 a 9.5. If you like video games focused on telling spectacular and immersive story's with tons of customization, then you will fall in love with the Mass Effect series. You will fall in love with this game. If you're new to the series and are thinking about playing this game, I would STRONGLY recommend playing the first two games before you play this one. Each game isI give Mass Effect 3 a 9.5. If you like video games focused on telling spectacular and immersive story's with tons of customization, then you will fall in love with the Mass Effect series. You will fall in love with this game. If you're new to the series and are thinking about playing this game, I would STRONGLY recommend playing the first two games before you play this one. Each game is about making difficult decisions shaping the future of the galaxy then carrying your decisions over into the next game in the series. So in order to get the full experience out of Mass Effect 3, then you should play the other two games first. If not, then you will be completely lost.

    So overall, it's a fantastic game and one of my personal favorites. I'd strongly recommend it!    … Expand
  32. B3ckett
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    ME3's ending = LOST ending ?!?!

    First of all - please disregard those 0's or 1's for user scores. Thats simply dumb and irrelevant. And it doesn't give this game proper credit. Let's hop to the review. I am a ME fan. A big one, I must say. I really enjoyed both ME1 and ME2, even as they were different games. Did I enjoy ME3? Hm... yes, but I am not overwhelmed. The ending CAN be    ME3's ending = LOST ending ?!?!

    First of all - please disregard those 0's or 1's for user scores. Thats simply dumb and irrelevant. And it doesn't give this game proper credit. Let's hop to the review.

    I am a ME fan. A big one, I must say. I really enjoyed both ME1 and ME2, even as they were different games. Did I enjoy ME3? Hm... yes, but I am not overwhelmed.

    The ending CAN be dissapointing, but mostly due to the fact, that it depends on your overall score in SP and MP. Therefore BioWare wasn't completely honest with us. You HAVE to max out the MP experience and max out the SP experience for the best possible ending (with all possible choices).

    This is the game's biggest flaw - the ending. No matter how complete it is. It just ... brings the whole experience down. To be honest, I found the ending of my first game a complete atrocity.
    I think the best way to describe would be the Lost series finale. It feels exactly the same. We've been promised miracles, all the answers and we get... if you've seen it, you'll know what to expect.

    The rest of the story, on most occasions is proper, but feels written in a hurry. The chance of one of your comrades sacrificing for your cause is almost 90%. And it probably will happen - sooner or later.

    There are a lot more technical bug than in both games before, IMHO. The sound glitches ( you see the subtitles, you can't hear the voice), camera glitches or interface problems (for the first time in history I had trouble pressing a button due to the introduction of roll-overs for Shepard mapped to the same button).

    The visuals are generally better than before. The obvious anomaly is Ashley Williams. I am sorry, but her facial animations are at moments simply grotesque and I AM NOT ROMANCING that thing ever again (really!). The rest is, luckilly, better than okay.
    The lightning and models have been improved (in majority). Occasional glitches ruin the mood from time to time, but overally it's an enjoyable experience.

    The music is very well in the place it should be. Kudos for that.

    The MP experience is fun, quick paced and satisfactory. I bet I will spend a few hours enjoying it.

    To sum up - for a fan of this universe, the final moments are unworthy of the overall masterpiece that Mass Effect trilogy is. That's suprising, when it's a BioWare game. On the road to the finale a few tear bringing moments are to happen for sure. It's just that when you watch the ending, your eyes are dry and your somewhat bored. And that's the one thing I didn't expect from this game.

    Therefore, I can't give it more than a 9. If I didn't play the whole thing, it'd be an 8.    … Expand
  33. Asrugan
    Apr 29, 2012
    9
    It's a shame so many users have chosen to take out their frustration with the game's ending rather than rate the whole thing. The team behind these games really polished the engine and concept from ME2 and made it work better than ever in ME3. It's true, for many the ending may detract from the experience for some (I was not disappointed, but I can see how it would seem unfulfilling forIt's a shame so many users have chosen to take out their frustration with the game's ending rather than rate the whole thing. The team behind these games really polished the engine and concept from ME2 and made it work better than ever in ME3. It's true, for many the ending may detract from the experience for some (I was not disappointed, but I can see how it would seem unfulfilling for some, and why DLC is coming to flesh it out). The rest of the game though is tremendous, and even the multiplayer works well (and is FUN). This is one time you should go with the critics, and less with the user score, it's less biased on one single point of the game.… Expand
  34. PopeDizzle
    Mar 28, 2012
    9
    Everything you have come to enjoy and expect from mass effect. The gameplay is improved and the places you go feel alive. Multiplayer is a nice tack on fun to play with friends bad is its a pick up group. The game as a whole is fantastic...until it ends. I'm not going to down my score based on that alone but I will let be known that I hope Bioware does follow through and give their loyalEverything you have come to enjoy and expect from mass effect. The gameplay is improved and the places you go feel alive. Multiplayer is a nice tack on fun to play with friends bad is its a pick up group. The game as a whole is fantastic...until it ends. I'm not going to down my score based on that alone but I will let be known that I hope Bioware does follow through and give their loyal fan base the ending they deserve. It's not a band wagon thing or trying to ruin their artistic integrity because I do believe games have become a form of art. I believe it is their right to tell their story the way they want. But a story is not a story without the final act. Bioware has done something amazing that no other game has done to date. Made a series when the player is so engaged and involved in a game that it has become the players story. That in itself is an accomplishment and it shows with the player backlash with the ending we were provided. So I recommend this game and the entire series to anyone. I have high hopes that Bioware will prove they are as loyal to their fans as their fans are to them and the Mass Effect universe.… Expand
  35. tripleb2k
    Mar 9, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mass Effect 3 is a brilliant game. For someone whose played the previous 2, there are lots of nods and implications for previous decisions and interactions. Playing through the game and randomly running into previous squad mates or characters is a treat. The game encourages you to explore and take in everything around you.
    The Multiplayer is a lot of fun but it does have a few short comings. It points out to some of the combat issues that game has had since the beginning. Cover can still be sloppy and reviving can be a pain in the ass. Hopefully these things can be solved in the future with patches.
    The only reason I won't give this game a 10 is the ending. I won't spoil the whole thing, but no matter which ending you pick, the same thing happens. A game that asks you to make your own choices and creates your own path leads to a very linear, scripted ending. I'm left asking more questions and demanding closure in what should have been a perfect 10 game.    … Expand
  36. meurix
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    All these negative reviews are a joke. The game is a league above every other game out there. Looking at the critic reviews, this will be game of the year.
  37. Her02N0one
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    The story takes you along a grand ride through beautiful cinematics and epic battles. Bioware knows the correct formula in making a great game and they stuck by what makes Mass Effect great. The storyline is simple, save Earth. You are faced with the task of assembling your team again to face the group Cerberus, the infamous reapers, swarms of husks, and some great new enemies. YouThe story takes you along a grand ride through beautiful cinematics and epic battles. Bioware knows the correct formula in making a great game and they stuck by what makes Mass Effect great. The storyline is simple, save Earth. You are faced with the task of assembling your team again to face the group Cerberus, the infamous reapers, swarms of husks, and some great new enemies. You are able to explore and discover various planets full of resources, weapons, upgrades and more... This galactic adventure will have you glued to your seat addicted for more and if you haven't played ME1 or ME2 there's no need to worry. The story allows you to hop right into the present time and it will fill in the gaps for you. Don't pay attention to the Mass Effect trolls who think Bioware is attempting to gain the COD audience. No offense, but the average COD players are the one ones trolling the forums blasting this game because they are mostly simple minded and complexity in games isn't favorable to them. Take a chance on Mass Effect if you enjoy a great story and intense war sequences. This game is the real deal!… Expand
  38. MethodicCircle
    May 25, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm not like most of the people who have reviewed ME3 here up to this point. By this I mean that I'm 47 years old. I also was introduced to this series with ME3. I only got into console-based gaming three or four years ago; the last console I owned before my PS3 was an Intellivision (swear to God). There were several titles in 2009 which grabbed my attention by the ba11s and totally immersed me into gaming. That being said, I tried the demo to ME2 when it hit the PSN a couple of years ago and it made NO sense to me - controlling 2 other characters and figuring out how AI had progressed SO much was just too much for my head to grapple with. Then came ME3. Not only did it romance the heck out of me with the ads (still can't believe they worked so well on me), I suckered into the hype of release day. Still didn't play it for 2 weeks. Then once I started I couldn't stop. I was overwhelmed by the emotions that this game was pulling out of me ... when I went to work, I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd just experienced. I couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen next ... the first time I had to wipe out an entire civilization it devastated me. My friends started becoming concerned about my inability to separate fact from fiction! ; ) I wasn't aware of the romance options ... and when Steve Cortez said that he had lost his husband in a Collector invasion ... I dropped my controller. (I'm a gay guy). Thank God a friend was here to confirm what I thought I had just heard. (so what if the dialogue betw. Shep and Steve becomes a little contrived ... the ADVANCEMENT that this is for us gays feels MONUMENTAL to me). I almost fell off the edge of my chair while bringing Javic back to life. THAT, ladies and gentlemen, was some BRILLIANT scifi writing. (re the salarians: "they used to eat flies." --- OMG!) Then I got to the end. After I finally stopped CRYING because Shepard had almost just died like that I got to the ending sequence. I knew I hated that little kid from the beginning. I like to think I understand the ending ... and how it got there. I HATE the fact that he (presumably) had to die. HATE IT. I didn't necessarily like the ending to "Schindler's List" either, but that's how it was meant to be seen. Everything in life doesn't come with closure or wrap itself up in a tidy little ending to make you feel better. Some things just are what they are and leave us to figure it out ... or not. If you really think about it, the ending could have been A LOT worse. But this game intrigued me so much that I RAN to get ME2 and ME. Which brings me REALLY to why I'm writing this. The technical advancement from ME to ME3 is reason enough to gush about the game. I was a little thrown off by the "godzilla"-like lip movements, but my God people ... in just 10 years the technological advancements that were made with this series is something that should be rewarded (like by an Academy Award or something). (sorry for the upcoming pun) The mass effect (told you) that this game had on me will always stay with me. And keep me gaming into my 80s (probably).

    Someone on this page made a comment about ME3 being "sodomic and heterophobic"... first, dude, those aren't words. Second, the majority of the world is straight. Statistically gay is only 10% of the population. By giving the male Shep a possible 2 out of 7 love interests that pretty much keeps in line with global statistics. Unless you think the entire world is hetero-phobic .... ??

    I think ME3 ROCKED. (and thanks for letting me rant like this! : )    … Expand
  39. ME_Paruk
    Apr 10, 2012
    9
    Excellent Game, comparable to ME2
    Good- Long, like new gameplay(Climbing smarter enemies), story interesting
    Bad - Audio sync is terrible, ok ending, multiplayer with decrease in galactic rating 1% per day
  40. Kaisar_Villhelm
    Mar 21, 2012
    9
    I have to say that this is probably my favorite game in the series, as it causes the playing character to actually reflect on what his/her choices actually amount to after all three segments of the epic are finished. I understand that many people are very disappointed with the ending presented, and without spoiling anything, I want to state that I understand many of the complaints aboutI have to say that this is probably my favorite game in the series, as it causes the playing character to actually reflect on what his/her choices actually amount to after all three segments of the epic are finished. I understand that many people are very disappointed with the ending presented, and without spoiling anything, I want to state that I understand many of the complaints about the ending--personally I like a game to break its boundaries and have a tangible effect on how I feel as a gamer. The game play in this segment of the series is excellent, a true amalgam of the first and second games. The multiplayer aspect of the game also keeps the game fresh after the two (or more) mandatory playthroughs to see the effects of the paragon/renegade choices. With that said, however, I will say that I was disappointed with how many graphical glitches I encountered through my playthroughs. I saw many occurrences of invisible or skewed models in cutscenes and during gameplay.

    All in all, though, the game was a fantastic emotional experience, the ending included. Minus a few graphical issues here and there, I would honestly say that this game is worthy addition to the fantastic Mass Effect series.    … Expand
  41. WiteFalcon
    May 17, 2012
    9
    My favourite gaming franchise, I loved Mass Effects 1-3 so much, that I have 5 characters and have completed minimum of 4 playthroughs through ME1 & 2. Mass Effect 3 is an AWESOME game, no doubt about it. It's setting the standard for story based games and RPGs, now and for the future. Although I didn't mind the ending, I found it cool actually, it could of been WAY more awesome, byMy favourite gaming franchise, I loved Mass Effects 1-3 so much, that I have 5 characters and have completed minimum of 4 playthroughs through ME1 & 2. Mass Effect 3 is an AWESOME game, no doubt about it. It's setting the standard for story based games and RPGs, now and for the future. Although I didn't mind the ending, I found it cool actually, it could of been WAY more awesome, by including prior decisions into the outcome of the ending and leaves things out.

    Pros: - Hooks you in with all elements (Even if your new to the series)
    - Great refined gameplay! (This game is pretty much Gears of War except more sci-fi and with RPG gameplay and story shaping)
    - Shape the story to how you want (This includes a lot of prior decisions made, unlike most games your previous saves matter!)
    - Great sense of characterisation for who you play as! (You really feel as if you are Shepard)


    Cons:
    - New players forced for a few elements of the game to occur (Which they have no choice over as they don't have a previous save file for the game to recognise) (Such as Wrex's death)
    - Crew development was a lot better in Mass Effect 2 (Its less about other people and more about Shepard)
    - Ending is confusing (Many people would agree, but it doesn't ruin the ending, just leaves blanks for you to imagine to fill in)
    - The game doesn't take into account EVERYTHING you've done in previous games, and areas are left unturned, and the ending doesn't take into account prior choices. All in all, an incredible experience that has changed the world of gaming forever and succeeds highly, but could of strived for complete perfection. Hence the 9 instead of perfect 10.    … Expand
  42. UnSkilledCheck
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    having completed this game in about 5 days i found it was a great way to end the trilogy and send it out with a bang. people complain about the three endings but its really a good idea for each sort of possibility is suited for each different types of players. having one ending that is decided for you would be a bad idea as you could play through it 5 times and each time get the samehaving completed this game in about 5 days i found it was a great way to end the trilogy and send it out with a bang. people complain about the three endings but its really a good idea for each sort of possibility is suited for each different types of players. having one ending that is decided for you would be a bad idea as you could play through it 5 times and each time get the same ending because you did the sames things every time.
    it brings back old characters and doesn't kill them off like the second game, it shows all of us what the galaxy has come to on the brink of a galactic war. the day one dlc is a good edition to the overall game and if you don't download it you don't miss much as its only one mission. the multiplayer is a welcome edition but some people might not play it until they have finished the story and seeing as it can give you a better ending this might make people angry, but its still fun to play with some friends and beat on the reapers, geth and cerberus overall this game is a 9 for me and seeing as have played all three of them now believe this is a gaming trilogy for the ages    … Expand
  43. el_rico12t7
    Apr 17, 2012
    9
    Good game. The single player campaign wasn't as good as the first two but the multi player is a very nice addition. Unlike Mass effect 1 and 2 that I traded in after finishing the single player campaign this one i will be keeping for a while.
  44. MercilessAlmond
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    This game is almost perfect the story line the choices the friendships the relationships the cultures all of it is more than I could every hope for this game would be a perfect 10/10 if it weren't for one thing...The ending.
    My advice to anyone who is still playing the game when the citadel open turn off your console because this ending is a cancer to a perfect thing just turn it off and    This game is almost perfect the story line the choices the friendships the relationships the cultures all of it is more than I could every hope for this game would be a perfect 10/10 if it weren't for one thing...The ending.
    My advice to anyone who is still playing the game when the citadel open turn off your console because this ending is a cancer to a perfect thing just turn it off and come up with your own ending because chances are it will be better than this steaming pile of #$@&.    … Expand
  45. Oroll
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    Believe the critics not the people. I don't know why all of these people are upset, because this is a great game, feels like a better version of ME2. i played it today for the whole day and it was a blast. People complain because they only remember the good things about ME1, and not the long walks back to your ship after each mission. A great ending to the series.
  46. kotwr424
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is a great game everything about it has been executed to near perfection. The story gets tied together very nicely old and new character's make their appearances once again. The graphics are more smooth than ME2 but just barely noticeable. The only issue I had with the models is the hair color for Dark Brown looked more like dark chocolate and was barely different from blackMass Effect 3 is a great game everything about it has been executed to near perfection. The story gets tied together very nicely old and new character's make their appearances once again. The graphics are more smooth than ME2 but just barely noticeable. The only issue I had with the models is the hair color for Dark Brown looked more like dark chocolate and was barely different from black (only flaw and its minor). The game had my emotions torn at times with me thinking carefully about my decisions. The Pro's are far more than the Con's but however the only thing keeping me from giving this game the 10 it should have gotten are the Con's and they're HUGE in my book. First off, there seems to be no point in space exploration and it has slowly been taken out of the game after each installment, no more random scanning a planet and getting a mission or so i've seen now its all for my EMS. Second Day one DLC, does this bother me a lot no not at all but after reading the rumors and seeing the "Proof" it kinda pokes at me a little atleast the cerberus network gave us zaeed's mission free. Third It felt like there was truly no need to play ME1 or ME2 at all I can just upload a MP char and get a similar outcome, speaking of which. Fourth The outcome of the game aka the ending........Although I understand the ending's, I got closure (for one character), I'm vastly disappointed in BioWare and the writing staff that gave us the Previous two games. There was no suicide mission type choices, no epic ending, in a sense we got Matrixed, Inceptioned, ripped off? This is my opinion I enjoyed the 35 hours I played of Mass Effect 3 more than any game since Mass Effect 2. The endings however have left a very tainted view of BioWare saying one thing and giving us another, this will sadly be the last BioWare game I buy, I no longer have an active ToR account since I feel no desire to play it anymore after ME3 ruined the ME franchise for me and any other game they've made. I'll also not be re-playing this game at all since i see little to no value in it. I may be among the few that have voiced there disappointment/rage/anger etc or the many I'm not sure but BioWare has lost a consumer that I'm sure they'll replace with another in me.… Expand
  47. codeman224
    Mar 15, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An amazing end to the Commander Shepard story. Solid gameplay and epic cinematic moments make it a solid game. Great story too. All the people who say that this game ruins the entire series for them obviously aren't really fans of the series or are just trolls trying to get a rise out of people. The ending was great in my opinion, the one i picked (synthesis) is great, the other 2 are just good. And if nobody saw Commander Shepards sacrifice coming and were hoping for the bulls*** happy "oh he retires and lives a happy life." than they dont get the heroes journey.… Expand
  48. YipManSays
    Mar 26, 2012
    9
    I thoroughly enjoyed Mass Effect 3. The mechanics have been improved again and combat is still the fast paced and fluid combat it was in the second entry in the franchise. The story obviously takes a more serious tone because the galaxy is being annihilated by the Reapers in this entry. But the journey is fantastic and it is cool to see how decisions you made from back in the first orI thoroughly enjoyed Mass Effect 3. The mechanics have been improved again and combat is still the fast paced and fluid combat it was in the second entry in the franchise. The story obviously takes a more serious tone because the galaxy is being annihilated by the Reapers in this entry. But the journey is fantastic and it is cool to see how decisions you made from back in the first or second game come back to change outcomes in the third. Multiplayer is also a nice addition and again Bioware integrates it with the single player outcome so that you are motivated to participate in it. As far as the ending goes it does leave a little more to be desired but I commend Bioware for trying something different. For me personally the ending wasn't a big deal because I enjoyed the journey along the way and characters I met. Overall a great title and worth your time!… Expand
  49. ShadowRamen
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    Why is everyone giving this game terrible scores based on the ending alone? these people really don't deserve to use Metacritic if they're just going to abuse it like children. I honestly thought the game was fantastic throughout, and although i wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, i thought it was a very interesting and unique way to end the series. If that's what they were stillWhy is everyone giving this game terrible scores based on the ending alone? these people really don't deserve to use Metacritic if they're just going to abuse it like children. I honestly thought the game was fantastic throughout, and although i wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, i thought it was a very interesting and unique way to end the series. If that's what they were still planning on doing with this game. that being said, im still not sure which one i like the most out of the series. while the last game was great, this one has so much more life to it. the characters, your squadmates, they feel real to interact with. i remember in the last game, each one would simply stay in their designated areas, not moving, and only talking to you when you engaged in a conversation. now they all do there own thing. they interact with the other characters and there environment even while your not around. they even leave the ship with you when you go to the citidel to explore it for themselves. this also carrys over into combat as well, infact combat is so much more improved than the last game, it makes the last two feel sad in comparison. you can now perform many new maneuvers, and the cover system is greatly improved. the enemies are also much smarter and will now even work out ways to flank you and split your squad up. probably my favorite part about mass effect 3, is the story, obviously. everything is written so well, and is so believable, it makes me wonder how they got the game finnished, even by the date it was released. i mean yes, there are a lot of bugs, but when the game is such a large scale, you come to expect them. although i still wish they would have checked the game more thoroughly. i also keep hearing people complain about the romance options almost as much as the ending which is strange because it really isnt that different from the last 2 titles in the series. but im really not very sure of how its changed, because i didnt actually romance anyone in my first playthrough. it was an accident, somehow.… Expand
  50. jthiel09
    Mar 28, 2012
    9
    Although not perfect, it is far from the 1-4's that people are giving it. This game is a fantastic end to the trilogy in almost every aspect. Sure the story doesn't seem as in depth as the other two games, the decisions don't feel as though they mean as much but this is the last ride for Shepard. The decisions you make in this game must effect the game instantly as you are building up theAlthough not perfect, it is far from the 1-4's that people are giving it. This game is a fantastic end to the trilogy in almost every aspect. Sure the story doesn't seem as in depth as the other two games, the decisions don't feel as though they mean as much but this is the last ride for Shepard. The decisions you make in this game must effect the game instantly as you are building up the forces to defeat the Reapers, not be sure to effect your character 3 games from now. Overall the music, pacing, graphics (little buggy) and game play are great. Add in the ability to mod your weapons again and this game has some great value to it. It may not be the end all to video games, but it is far from the lowest of the low scores some have given it. If you love the series and have are not childish in your demands for the perfect game you'll love this game. I am a huge fan of the series and am happy to have invested all of the hours past into the trilogy. It's hard to look at this game and complain when the blockbuster mentality is there in spades in every battle leading up to the ultimate decision at the end, bravo BioWare.… Expand
  51. 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
  52. Swimming_MANGO
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    I literally just finished the game a few minutes ago, and I have to say, this is one of the best games I have ever played. Bioware did a fantastic job of neatly wrapping up the Mass Effect universe, plain and simple. Anyone that thinks otherwise, while entitled to their opinion entirely, isn't taking into account the scale of the actions in the game. I won't spoil anything, but almostI literally just finished the game a few minutes ago, and I have to say, this is one of the best games I have ever played. Bioware did a fantastic job of neatly wrapping up the Mass Effect universe, plain and simple. Anyone that thinks otherwise, while entitled to their opinion entirely, isn't taking into account the scale of the actions in the game. I won't spoil anything, but almost every major story mission has huge consequences that already alter the game world tremendously, and the ending is simply more extreme. The ending now brings me to my next point. Unlike popular belief that the choices you made in the earlier games do not have any impact, contrary to a statement by Bioware, they really do. There are subtle occurrences that can and will alter the game's multiple endings drastically.
    Now that the controversy around that has been dealt with let me get on with the game. The game is spectacular! The gameplay is nearly identical to Mass Effect 2, but nothings wrong with that, because it works. The combat is fluid, with a slightly tactical edge to it, and even on Normal difficulty, will force you to think, and solve through each combat situation because it is quite challenging compared to most games' normal difficulty. There are several more weapons added into the game, improving on that part of the second game, and even adds simplistic modifications to them to allow for increased stats as you see fit. Outside of the combat, Mass Effect still is heavy story based game, and the story is fantastic, epic, impacting, and fills the player with a sense of desperation, and dread (a rare accomplishment in most games). The multiplayer is some of the best I've seen in a long time, being far more enjoyable, and fun then anything else in a long time, and I mean who hasn't wanted to play in the Mass Effect universe as Turian, or Salarian, or Quarian, or Krogan?
    There are really only a few things that can be said to harm the games rating. At times, the frame rate will get a bit choppy, but thankfully never have I experienced frame rate issues while in combat, and on one occasion the animation for jumping through a Mass Relay played when it should have loaded the next cluster of planets in a system. Aside from these minor issues, there is also downloadable content that can be bought on launch day that contains an overpowered character, and an overpowered weapon. To truly experience the full game, this content is necessary, and its unfortunate to see Bioware forced to do this because of their publisher, EA.
    The game, even with these flaws accounted for, is still nearly perfect. It's clear that Bioware was aiming to make a perfect 10/10 game, but unfortunately due to EA, and the minor graphical issues, the game looks perfect, sounds perfect, plays perfect, and feels perfect. I wish I could give the game a perfect rating of 10/10 but because of its flaws I have to give it the one less regardless of how minor they feel. Bioware has done an outstanding job with Mass Effect 3. I'm proud to call myself a citizen of Edmonton, Bioware's headquarters in Alberta, Canada. A fantastic way to conclude the trilogy.    … Expand
  53. FictionalOrange
    Jun 7, 2012
    9
    This game is thus far the best of the year- and perhaps could have been one of the best games of all time, save for lackluster ending. The journey to get to that ending, however, is what counts. People who say the ending ruined the whole series are idiots- the game is gorgeous from start to finish. The story is brilliant, the characters are well developed, and the gameplay is tight andThis game is thus far the best of the year- and perhaps could have been one of the best games of all time, save for lackluster ending. The journey to get to that ending, however, is what counts. People who say the ending ruined the whole series are idiots- the game is gorgeous from start to finish. The story is brilliant, the characters are well developed, and the gameplay is tight and satisfying. Player choice shapes the path to the conclusion, allowing each player to make their own story, although the ending itself is perhaps not as user-driven as many fans would like. Fans of the first two installments will not be disappointed with the game itself, although those seeking closure and every answer to every question posed in the mass effect universe should be wary that the conclusion provides neither. It is the ending of the game, which feels so disjointed from the rest of the game and unrelated to anything else in the entire series, that ultimately holds the game back from being one of the greatest of all time. That said, when taken as a whole, the game ties up many loose ends from the previous two installments and immerses new and old players alike in the series' rich lore. The graphics are gorgeous minus a few flaws here and there and the soundtrack is beautiful and haunting- the series' best. This game was beautifully executed (excluding the questionable ending) and dwarfs every other game I've played recently. It will stick with me for a while. Highly recommended.… Expand
  54. 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
  55. peanutguy
    Mar 16, 2012
    9
    This game has my vote for game of the year. Great story, characters, and gameplay. The only thing i regret is that this amazing series is over, but I'm glad i came along for the ride
  56. xGAMERxx
    May 20, 2012
    9
    Bioware has outdone themselves, this is an amazing game. But of course nothing is perfect. Like most other people, I too was disappointed with the terrible ending. But aside from the last 15 minutes or so, this game was truly amazing. Mass effect 3 starts where 2 left off. The reapers are coming at full force and it's up to Shepard to save the entire galaxy. If you haven't already, IBioware has outdone themselves, this is an amazing game. But of course nothing is perfect. Like most other people, I too was disappointed with the terrible ending. But aside from the last 15 minutes or so, this game was truly amazing. Mass effect 3 starts where 2 left off. The reapers are coming at full force and it's up to Shepard to save the entire galaxy. If you haven't already, I suggest that you pick up mass effect 1 and 2 and play them in order so everything falls into place, just so you won't end up confused (and you will get to meet some awesome characters along the way.) The thing I love most about mass effect is the characters. You actually start caring for the characters, each character has their own individual personality, you feel sad for the character, happy, and hey you might even be attracted to them. You could continue relationships from Mass effect 1-2 and it is really satisfying to see your character, and others develop. As i've said before the story is great aside from the last 15 mins. It really pulls you in and you just can't wait to see what happens next. The gameplay is a lot more fast paced compared to its predecessors but it works. All in all Mass effect 3 is a great game. it's a lot of fun, from seeing all of the awesome characters develop, to choosing to be a hero or a jerk, to the combat. This game receives a 9 from me. I took a point off for the unsatisfying ending.… Expand
  57. jZero
    May 10, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is a GREAT game with just a few problems.
    THE GOOD: The fighting and action in this game are to me definitely the best in the series. The enemies are harder, smarter and especially near the end of the game overwhelming (in a good way.) I feel the RPG elements are done pretty well with the decisions of the past games actually effect what you can/ can't do in this game.    Mass Effect 3 is a GREAT game with just a few problems.
    THE GOOD: The fighting and action in this game are to me definitely the best in the series. The enemies are harder, smarter and especially near the end of the game overwhelming (in a good way.) I feel the RPG elements are done pretty well with the decisions of the past games actually effect what you can/ can't do in this game. Graphics are great and the sound is very well done.

    THE BAD: There were some polish issues in this game: a broken turret (wouldn't die) made me replay a level, there was a galaxy that blinked even though there was nothing to do, and other similar issues. I felt that some of the characters were just kind of thrown in just because they were in the previous games with no real story or purpose. The ending.. while not as bad as people make it to be, could've been much better. My biggest problem with the ending is that for a game with so much choice and different paths/ results the endings were all the same, literally they just changed the color of the explosion. And you are left hanging as to the aftermath for the Normandy, other galaxies, etc.

    That said this game is MUCH BETTER than people give it credit, people are way too harsh. I really enjoyed it and thought it was close to perfect. The ending wasn't terrible and hopefully the DLC flushes out the aftermath.    … Expand
  58. Tessem7
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    First of all, just because you don't like EA doesn't give you the right to give this game a 0. Same goes with the DLC. Just don't buy the DLC, it's not hard. Now for my short first impression review:

    I'm about 3 hours into the game and so far I am very impressed. The combat feels smooth and has some extra features (hit markers, better cover system, new weapons system, etc.). Compared    First of all, just because you don't like EA doesn't give you the right to give this game a 0. Same goes with the DLC. Just don't buy the DLC, it's not hard. Now for my short first impression review:

    I'm about 3 hours into the game and so far I am very impressed. The combat feels smooth and has some extra features (hit markers, better cover system, new weapons system, etc.). Compared to Mass Effect 2, I think the combat feels WAY smoother and way more natural. So far, I like the story. Everyone is raging and saying "all you do is save the galaxy again." So what? That doesn't make it a bad story. I'm really enjoying it. I like to meet new companions as well as old ones. I've noticed a few bugs with the game, but nothing worth docking score. The lighting in the game looks really good and it helps bring life to the graphical engine. The sound is pretty good too. Overall, I really like it so far. This isn't an actual review, but I will post one at the end of the week when I beat it.    … Expand
  59. RedScream
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Great game. A fitting end to the trilogy. Commenting on mechanics and writing for now, as I haven't yet beaten the game (don't believe the preteens who say they have, it's only been like 2 hours since the game dropped). Story-telling is as good as the other two, and Bioware has brought back many of the customization options left out of ME2, making this game resemble ME1 more than itsGreat game. A fitting end to the trilogy. Commenting on mechanics and writing for now, as I haven't yet beaten the game (don't believe the preteens who say they have, it's only been like 2 hours since the game dropped). Story-telling is as good as the other two, and Bioware has brought back many of the customization options left out of ME2, making this game resemble ME1 more than its protige.

    Over-all a phenomenal game, and something that fans of the first two games will enjoy. I recommend playing ME1 and 2 before purchasing this game, as a lack of knowledge bout the story-line is going to make you unappreciative of the effort given.    … Expand
  60. Botswanna
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    This website needs a real review....

    I'm giving this game a 9. After playing it through once, I have to say that in terms of gameplay and experiences, it is easily the best in the series. Unfortunately the game does have a rather ridiculous and depressing ending. Your choices throughout the game do little to affect the outcome. But the rest of the game is absolutely amazing. Quality    This website needs a real review....

    I'm giving this game a 9. After playing it through once, I have to say that in terms of gameplay and experiences, it is easily the best in the series. Unfortunately the game does have a rather ridiculous and depressing ending. Your choices throughout the game do little to affect the outcome. But the rest of the game is absolutely amazing. Quality writing, wonderful characters, beautiful environments and a greatly revamped inventory system make it the best in the series, save for the finale. I would give everything until the ending a 10. The end itself I give a 2.    … Expand
  61. 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?
  62. NoNeedToBail
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Played it for 6 hours straight last night, and the time flew by. An immensely enjoyable experience. Everything that made Mass Effect 2 great, but without the annoyances and immensely smoothed and polished up in many areas. Unfortunate that EA released day 1 DLC, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is one of the best games of the year so far. A fitting end to the trilogy.
  63. 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
  64. micsab
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    I have not finished the game and am only roughly 5 hours or so into the campaign, but I feel like I need to say something to counteract the buttjelly nerds that now have an irrational hate for everything Bioware does.

    So far this game is great. Mass Effect 2's story was essentially all about getting getting characters and making sure they stayed loyal to you. There really wasn't much of    I have not finished the game and am only roughly 5 hours or so into the campaign, but I feel like I need to say something to counteract the buttjelly nerds that now have an irrational hate for everything Bioware does.

    So far this game is great. Mass Effect 2's story was essentially all about getting getting characters and making sure they stayed loyal to you. There really wasn't much of an grand narrative to the game. You got people, made you they were loyal, then went to fight the collectors. Already, the story in ME3 feels much interesting and fleshed out. Every quest that I've done so far, regardless of whether or not it's the main quest or not, deals with the reaper invasion.

    The combat as well, from what I've played, also seems just as good as before, if not better.

    The graphics are also sexy as **** and are definitely an improvement over me2 (although that might also be because i'm playing on PC this time around).

    This is the first game I've ever reviewed here on metacritic and while I feel bad about giving it a score without having played even close to half of it, I feel a strong need to counterbalance against the angry users who are simply zeroing based off weird preconceived notions that they have because of day 1 dlc and dragon age 2's repeating dungeons.

    I can't just give this game a 10 without having played it all because then I'm just as bad as everyone giving it a 0. But I'm fairly confident that when I'm done playing I'm really going to wish I did. Bioware worked their asses off to make this game great and it's deserve's better than what it's getting on this site.    … Expand
  65. ShippouX411X
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    You are a anally frustrated man-child if you honestly give this game a 0/10

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

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

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

    So yeah, don't listen to the cry babies giving it a 0/10, everything has a redeeming quality, sorry this isn't "Super Waifu Desu Simulator Uguu 2012", but it is a very nice space opera and a fitting close to a nice story.    … Expand
  66. 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.
  67. LeoWarrior14
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    A great game. This is the same Mass Effect we know and love. The narrative is great and the combat is better than ever. Granted the fact that so many commands were mapped to one button is annoying, as you will experience some graphical hiccups, though at the end of the day, its worth it to play one of the best RPGs AND Shooters of this generation.
  68. LoneSabor
    Mar 8, 2012
    9
    A remarkable game in every way...... except for the endings, every single one is bad, and your choices end up not mattering. Truly a disappointment of a monumental scale. BUT I still give a 9 because everything up until the last 10 min was the single greatest game i have ever played.
  69. TJZ5
    Mar 28, 2012
    9
    The only true thing that should ever be fixed about Mass Effect 3 is not just the end but the last mission. The whole last hour of the game seems rushed and unfinished whereas the rest of the game is well done. Adding a new ending wont change the fact they released the game with this ending and people wont forget they can forgive but not forget.
  70. bizarrospeak
    Mar 9, 2012
    9
    I started an account just to let you know the the 500+ negative reviews for this game are about 95% fraudulent. They were written by angry basement dwellers who are so mad about the fact that BioWare has the nerve to charge them $10 for DLC on release date. DLC they would have happily shelled out whatever Bioware and EA are asking, if it had been released 3 months after the game it's self.I started an account just to let you know the the 500+ negative reviews for this game are about 95% fraudulent. They were written by angry basement dwellers who are so mad about the fact that BioWare has the nerve to charge them $10 for DLC on release date. DLC they would have happily shelled out whatever Bioware and EA are asking, if it had been released 3 months after the game it's self. People who are saying the dialogue is bad or the controls are sub par or the witting is awful have obviously not played this game AT ALL! I know everyone is entitled to their opinion but Mass Effect 3 is better written than 90% of movies released in the last 5 years. I'm willing to bet most of these people haven't even played the game. They're so worked up about their meaningless, 1st world problems (you don't HAVE to buy it. You can wait till it goes on sale in 2-3 months) that they don't realize the only people they're cheating is themselves. Shame.… Expand
  71. blinkCA
    Mar 9, 2012
    9
    An utterly incredible game with a few minor issues and a controversial segment that (understandably) ruffled a few feathers. Gameplay feels tight and well paced, an excellent upgrade from Mass Effect 2. The amount of detail Bioware put into this game for the fans is staggering: no character, no moment, no decision from the previous games was left untouched.

    Issues mainly stemmed from the    An utterly incredible game with a few minor issues and a controversial segment that (understandably) ruffled a few feathers. Gameplay feels tight and well paced, an excellent upgrade from Mass Effect 2. The amount of detail Bioware put into this game for the fans is staggering: no character, no moment, no decision from the previous games was left untouched.

    Issues mainly stemmed from the occasional buggy cutscene and from the almost non-existent mission tracking. The latter made side quests frustrating all too often.

    What must be remembered when playing this game is that Bioware never set out to create a game in which you make your own story. This is their story of Mass Effect and Shepard. What you get to decide is not what that story is and how it will ultimately end, but how that story is told. I couldn't be more grateful for that.    … Expand
  72. jackaaustin
    Mar 10, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mass Effect 3 is truly an awesome game. I've read several reviews here, and this is my own take as well as a response to those reviews. Bioware has said all along that this is the end of Shepard's story. We all knew the Reapers were coming, and from the battles in 1 and 2--especially 1--that a mass force of Reapers were going to be near impossible to defend against. There are many complaints that 'your' Shepard is no longer running the show, but think of what's going on: Shepard is one man. He cannot coordinate a galaxy wide war effort. He is back in the Alliance military, playing his part in that machine. He is not on his own personal quest against the Reapers anymore, he is now a cog in a much bigger machine. There are people wishing for some happy ending--I was hoping for one, secretly, but how could there be? There could be 'better' endings, but I can't see any of them being 'happy'. The game really conveys the sense of desperation and near hopelessness of fighting the Reapers. The mood of the game is solemn, serious, moody. There are some spots that will make you grin, maybe even a chuckle, but Armageddon has arrived. Earth has fallen. The Batarians before that. The other major races to follow. Think back to Mass Effect 1: Sovereign took the entire Acturus Fleet (5th and 3rd Fleets I think) to take down, and that wasn't even a quick battle. They sustained fairly major casualties taking down a single Reaper. How well will the Alliance and other races fair against 100s of them? Maybe 1000s! The game makes a point of even a single reaper being a nearly insurmountable foe. Gameplay: The new 'mobility' they talked about is...well, I don't like it. I would have been happy with the same as in ME2, with the addition of unlimited sprinting and the context jumping and ladder climbing. They definitely took cues from COD and other such games, but it pays off: there is a major war on. Major wars have air strikes, explosions, confusing combat situations, and death all around. That is what war is about. The change in your weapon loadouts I love, it allows the player to decide what kind of weapons to bring along on a mission, allowing the player to decide what kind of weapons vs. powers trade off to make rather than being locked into a rigid weapon set determined by your chosen class. I never did like that in ME1 and 2, Shepard is N7, and he can't use an assault rifle (or whatever) just because he isn't a soldier (or whatever) class? Multiplayer: Hate that it impacts the single player game. I've played the multiplayer and I think it is well done, but if I was interested in MP I'd go buy a game that is more oriented around MP gameplay. The single player is nearly penalized for NOT playing multiplayer, but the single player game can still be 'won' without playing multiplayer, you just might have to go on more side missions to get it done (which isn't a big problem in my book, I'd be doing the side missions anyway). Graphics: I found the graphics just as good as ME2, but darker, grittier. It fits the dark, moody tone of the game. Roleplay: decisions in the previous games do have impact on this one, some more notable than others. I was disappointed in some, surprisingly pleased in others. No game is perfect. Ending: A bitter victory is the result of a bitter war. There isn't a 'feel good' ending that I have found. The ending, like much of the game, is dark and emotionally exhausting, and at times, jaw dropping. Overall: 9/10 mostly because of the multiplayer element impacting the single player game.… Expand
  73. CaptnShepard
    Mar 10, 2012
    9
    I haven't even bought this game or even played it yet, but I'm gonna go ahead and throw out a 10 for this game. I'm doing that because a lot of people seem to think its ok to just give it a 0 because they just wanna. So fair game. Maybe I'll make 20 more new accounts just to help it out. Good day all =)
  74. dbpaul25
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is a very worthy final conclusion to a game franchise that has captivated audiences for years. the improved combat mechanics combined with melee attacks create a smooth fast past system that is challenging yet fun. the story was fair and it allowed for ll loose ends to be tied and relationships concluded, and while the ending was a little unsatisfying it didn't take away fromMass Effect 3 is a very worthy final conclusion to a game franchise that has captivated audiences for years. the improved combat mechanics combined with melee attacks create a smooth fast past system that is challenging yet fun. the story was fair and it allowed for ll loose ends to be tied and relationships concluded, and while the ending was a little unsatisfying it didn't take away from the overall experience. the introduction of multyplayer was a refresher for a Bioware game and though not necessary, was a very good addition to be made. Overall Mass Effect 3 was one of the best games i have played in a long time and a worth while buy. after playing through the game i felt a sense of accomplishment and a bitter sweet sensation knowing that a franchise that i personally have loved has finally come to a conclusion.… Expand
  75. Khan
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 takes the relationships and choices you've made through the series and wraps them up in an emotional and awesome experience. I wanted to hate this game, just like most of the people here, but it just did such a fantastic job of making me feel real emotions for the choices I made and the characters I've grown to love since the series birth. The story arcs within the game areMass Effect 3 takes the relationships and choices you've made through the series and wraps them up in an emotional and awesome experience. I wanted to hate this game, just like most of the people here, but it just did such a fantastic job of making me feel real emotions for the choices I made and the characters I've grown to love since the series birth. The story arcs within the game are fantastic on their own.

    As someone who hates the second game, I can say without hesitation that Mass Effect 3 makes a great close to the series, even if only for the emotional reunions and choices. If your a fan of the series, and have grown to care for its cast of characters at all, this game will invoke emotions that few others can.    … Expand
  76. Re-Age-NT
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    One of the best games ever made. Masterpiece. Even that the ending is not as good as the whole game, it's still 10 of 10 without any doubts.These seires have the best sci-fi atmosphere in games while possessing good plot and actually really nice actors.
  77. Zjarcher878
    Mar 16, 2012
    9
    I loved the Mass Effect Series. I wouldn't call myself a completely hardcore gamer but I have stepped my amount of gaming through the years and I owe that to Mass Effect. It was refreshing to see a game with a great story and good characters. Mass Effect 3 is no exception. The writing and dialogue is top notch. The voice acting is fantastic. The game story starts with a bang theI loved the Mass Effect Series. I wouldn't call myself a completely hardcore gamer but I have stepped my amount of gaming through the years and I owe that to Mass Effect. It was refreshing to see a game with a great story and good characters. Mass Effect 3 is no exception. The writing and dialogue is top notch. The voice acting is fantastic. The game story starts with a bang the simmers for a bit. But once you hit the 15-20 hour mark it really takes off. I felt like the quantity of scripted dialogue was greater than I'd like but once the story gets good you forget about it. I personally think the combat it much better. Enemies are smarter and the mechanics, while still slightly unforgiving, are much smoother than in previous iterations. The level design is top notch, with Mass Effect benefiting greatly from becoming a vertical game. The customization for your powers and weapons is brilliant. Mass Effect 3 is really a perfect blend of the first two games. What prevents this game from being a perfect 10 is the ending. The last mission is great but the aftermath of your decision is full of plot holes and doesn't make sense. When I first saw an uproar over the ending I thought it was fanboys not getting the ending they wanted and whining about it. Well I was wrong and they were right. It's not that the end was completely terrible, it is just that there is little variation between the three endings and I part that is consistent through all three (provided you have a high enough galactic readiness) comes out of nowhere and doesn't make sense. I do hope Bioware releases a DLC with an alternate ending of some sort. I was very disappointed. However, don't let the ending scare you away from what is really and awesome game and worth playing. Oh and while its stupid to have a $10 DLC, From Ashes is really worth it. Though to be fair it should of been added to the game to begin with.… Expand
  78. alivealie
    Mar 11, 2012
    9
    There is something very wrong with the number of negative scores for this game. Having just completed my first play through, and having been a long-time fan of the series, I can assure those of you on the fence about this game that it is spectacular and worth the price of admission. I will not say that those who have (obviously) united against this game (or more likely, against EA andThere is something very wrong with the number of negative scores for this game. Having just completed my first play through, and having been a long-time fan of the series, I can assure those of you on the fence about this game that it is spectacular and worth the price of admission. I will not say that those who have (obviously) united against this game (or more likely, against EA and Bioware) do not have good reason to complain. The fact that Mass Effect 3 was released with day 1 DLC is a disappointment, a nickle and diming tactic, and the game is not without its own small flaws. But when those flaws are placed against a strong gaming world with great action and set-pieces as well as a remarkable emotional payoff, I can only urge the skeptics out there to ignore all the anger and cannon fodder against this game, say to hell with the DLC, and pick this one up.… Expand
  79. 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
  80. SneerValiant
    Jul 14, 2012
    9
    I previously reviewed this game before the EC was released and gave it a 0, the ending is much more satisfying and would have been a 10/10 if I had been able to have that experience on the first play through.
  81. MetaZain
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    Ignore the negative user reviews (the exaggeratedly negative). The game is incredible and should be recognized as such, the ending may be regrettable, but judging the game solely by ts last 5 minutes is unfair. If you have liked any of the mass effect series you will thoroughly enjoy the final chapter of Commander Shepard's journey. If you are new to the series GO PICK UP THE FIRST TWOIgnore the negative user reviews (the exaggeratedly negative). The game is incredible and should be recognized as such, the ending may be regrettable, but judging the game solely by ts last 5 minutes is unfair. If you have liked any of the mass effect series you will thoroughly enjoy the final chapter of Commander Shepard's journey. If you are new to the series GO PICK UP THE FIRST TWO although the game does a well enough job for accommodating for those who have not. The multiplayer is also fantastic, especially considering it is not the focus. I only ask those that are bombing this sight with negative reviews too stop, we still don't know what Bioware has in store.… Expand
  82. 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.
  83. 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
  84. jgzilk
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    This is a masterpiece of a video game. All of you people who are freaking about this game, are the same ones who freaked about Elder Scrolls and such... These are amazing games, that take you on amazing journeys. I don't know what you want from games? If you can't enjoy Mass Effect 3, then you seriously need to analyze if you are just too jaded to be playing video games at all. This gameThis is a masterpiece of a video game. All of you people who are freaking about this game, are the same ones who freaked about Elder Scrolls and such... These are amazing games, that take you on amazing journeys. I don't know what you want from games? If you can't enjoy Mass Effect 3, then you seriously need to analyze if you are just too jaded to be playing video games at all. This game does not deserve a 1 or a zero and for anyone to give it such a designation just shows they nothing about games. You gamers are giving us all bad names, and it must stop. Is the game perfect? No. Is it the best game ever? Probably not. Is it a very good game? Yes, as someone who has been playing games since pong, yes, it is a good game, and it is like nothing else on the market.… Expand
  85. Darkshivers
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    The justification of these low scores are terrible and wrong. Bioware clearly put a lot of heart and effort into a game which takes over 30 hours to complete. The voice acting is brilliant, the ending isn't the best but it was well designed and impacted you well. The day 1 DLC was wrong, yes. It wasn't anything game changing other than a few spoilt gamers expecting it even though it'sThe justification of these low scores are terrible and wrong. Bioware clearly put a lot of heart and effort into a game which takes over 30 hours to complete. The voice acting is brilliant, the ending isn't the best but it was well designed and impacted you well. The day 1 DLC was wrong, yes. It wasn't anything game changing other than a few spoilt gamers expecting it even though it's neither game changing content or something you need. Mass effect is a brilliant game the quality, graphics of it are brilliant. The controls are generally glitchy but never complete broke the game. Some of the scenes saddened me and made you feel bad for the sacrifices shepherd had to endure. Anybody who reviews this game at 0 is clearly lying to them selves with no effort in actually playing the game completely before bombing it on meta critic. Mass effect 3 is hardly the best game that will come out this year but is one of the best story based games ever released.… Expand
  86. Frug0
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    The game is just brilliant. I've played 1&2 as well and although 3 seems a bit easier, I still love it. I am only disappointed that there are so many pathetic people, who scores that game so badly, only because of ending. DO NOT BE STEREOTYPICAL. Not every ending has to be happy. C'mon! I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND MASS EFFECT 3!
  87. seagol
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    This was by far the best mass effect experience until the final mission, during the whole playthrought it really was awesome but the end was a big let down, anyways, still a great game!
  88. 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
  89. Felian
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    Really a great game. Quite some highlights in the story, the game-play ist good, the graphic looks fine. Just the ending is quite disappointing. Bad that doesn't make a game bad. So i can't understand all the low scores.
  90. StevenmusPrime
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    Hate fest is pretty adolescent and absurd. I didn't care for the ending either, but the journey to the end was incredible. I'm not going to try to discredit an entire and incredible series because I didn't like the last 15 minutes. The real issue should be the game as a whole. The whole game is great. If you are considering buying don't let all of the whiny self entitled people sway yourHate fest is pretty adolescent and absurd. I didn't care for the ending either, but the journey to the end was incredible. I'm not going to try to discredit an entire and incredible series because I didn't like the last 15 minutes. The real issue should be the game as a whole. The whole game is great. If you are considering buying don't let all of the whiny self entitled people sway your opinion, Mass Effect 3 is a beautiful game with great game play and an excellent narrative. I will agree that the wrap up felt like a bit of a cop out, maybe it way maybe it wasn't. But if you are a Mass Effect fan please still play the game if you let the whiners get to you you will miss out on a great experience.… Expand
  91. 4yvak
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The only problem for me was that I expected that all the things ive done in the previous games of the franchise would count in the end and bring me a greater choice of endings. Although the conclusion itself seems to be logical and relatively adequate to the universe of Mass Effect, still it is not what most have expected. The problem is that Bioware have sky rocketed the expectations of everyone, almost taunting community with "more than 100 variables will have an impact" (and to the be fair - these "1000 variables" can be actually seen as you progress through the game) but not realizing that their view of how should the trilogy end differs from players views. We wanted and most expected a spectacular ending, with either a straight forward happy end or everyone-in-the-galaxy-die end, but were granted relatively philosophical and rather sophisticated conclusion, leaving us with a few important and unanswered questions. At the end of the day the dramatic ending to such an epic game is not what you usually see ot expect and this is probably why so many shepards are upset about it.
    So the expectations and promises were not quite met. Still, ME3 deserves its credit because of all the effort that was put into it. I would give it 9 out of 10.    … Expand
  92. Defender_of-ME
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    Hey People, stop making accounts solely for the purpose of bringing down this game. Its childish and stupid. This is an amazing game that I have played since ME 1. Just because there is an ending you don't like doesn't mean you have to give it zero scores. This is the most ridiculous and childish thing I have ever seen, I hope all you "grown adults" out there feel happy for being soHey People, stop making accounts solely for the purpose of bringing down this game. Its childish and stupid. This is an amazing game that I have played since ME 1. Just because there is an ending you don't like doesn't mean you have to give it zero scores. This is the most ridiculous and childish thing I have ever seen, I hope all you "grown adults" out there feel happy for being so childish. Listen to the positive reviewers out there people, if you are thinking about getting this game, just because people don't like a game for its ending doesn't mean the whole game is junk. Overall it is a well built and fun game, so please don't listen to all these childish haters out here who need to put on their big boy pants and grow up.… Expand
  93. WinterShrinkage
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    As a fan of the series, this game has exceeded expectations for a final series. This space opera has finally come to the conclusion that I saw it deserved. Though there are some problems with the game, they are minor and shouldn't impede upon game play at all. From a reviewing standpoint, this game is near the pinnacle of success. Graphics - This game is gorgeous. The scale of the game,As a fan of the series, this game has exceeded expectations for a final series. This space opera has finally come to the conclusion that I saw it deserved. Though there are some problems with the game, they are minor and shouldn't impede upon game play at all. From a reviewing standpoint, this game is near the pinnacle of success. Graphics - This game is gorgeous. The scale of the game, the shading, the expansive backdrops of the environments; all of it is beautiful. The only problem I saw during my 30 or so hour first play through was that some of the lip syncing and looking close enough at some areas, the geometry seems to show. Gameplay - The third person shooter and the role playing have finally meet and had their love child. I will not understand some of my friends saying that the "rpgness" of the game is actually lacking when it has always been there. It is a role playing game in which you are immersed as the Commander Sheperd. The gunplay is still spot on. The unnecessary amount of weapons in the first one and the lack of weapons in the 2nd one have finally mixed into a rich amount of weapons that can change the way you play to your liking. Story - The prologue of the game, for me at least, seemed to drag on a bit longer than it should have. The game goes for around two hours before we are allowed to explore the expansive galaxy. The story picks up in Act 2 which is where the majority of game play is. Now the Mass Effect series has been able to have always an engaging Act 3 but this one truly is spectacular. It feels as if you are fighting a losing and desperate struggle between the Reapers and the rest of the galaxy. I shall say it here, I enjoyed this game thoroughly for all the cameos of characters and such from my paragon play through. Im hoping the Renegade playthrough plays completely differently because of my decisions from mass effect 2, mainly the ending...hint hint. This game delivers what was expected. From a game developing standpoint, it has very few glitches and problems and is very cleanly "cut." My only concern with this game is that it doesnt feel like a third game in the Mass Effect series. It feels like a sequel to the 2nd game. This would be fine because it feels as if it is a design that the developers had thought out. The max level in the first one was 60 if I recall correctly and the max level in the 2nd one was 30; if you import your character from Mass Effect 2, you can potentially start at level 30/60. This seems like reasonable progression but it feels as if the game could potentially have been a Mass Effect 2.5; withholding the story. My final verdict for this game is that as a solo effort it is very well done, but as a ending to a trilogy, it feels incomplete. Though what I say is contradictory, I can't see a better final game to the trilogy, I'm "bummed" it didn't end better for the series. I can't believe this series is over though. Must be nice... 8.75/10… Expand
  94. Pops64
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    Don't listen to all the bad user reviews that are about this game. Yes there are few bad things that prevent it from being 10 out of 10. But it was still an EPIC game. Only bad thing was it was to much FPS and not enough RPG but that's what happens when you try to appeal the masses. A few other thoughts:
    The mulitplayer is completely optional. I played all the way through on single player    Don't listen to all the bad user reviews that are about this game. Yes there are few bad things that prevent it from being 10 out of 10. But it was still an EPIC game. Only bad thing was it was to much FPS and not enough RPG but that's what happens when you try to appeal the masses. A few other thoughts:
    The mulitplayer is completely optional. I played all the way through on single player including side quest and never noticed any side effect of never going online. Be careful when you are doing the main story line. There is one quest that gets ride of a couple non important side quest and one kinda of important side quest with out telling you that this will happen.    … Expand
  95. lotharz0r
    Mar 22, 2012
    9
    This game is brilliant. The changes made to the combat and overall feel of the game from Mass Effect 2 makes the game almost perfect. The story is great, and I also didn't mind the ending, like many others do. I didn't give it 10, because it seems like the dialogue towards the end does not really fit everywhere. Something is just not right. Other than this though, the game is brilliant!
  96. Druidan
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    Mass Effect 3 is an amazing game with excellent characterization, story and gameplay. There are occasional bugs, and the endings are deeply flawed, but there is no question that this is a journey worth taking. For more details on my perspective, visit my review at: http://edwardcheeverreviews.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/mass-effect-3-review/
  97. 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
  98. Belyar
    Mar 16, 2012
    9
    Most of the negative criticism about this game is comming either from homofobs or the ones who didn't like the ending. Although the storyline and the atmosphere could have been better, the overall impression is great.
  99. Thorgunna
    Mar 16, 2012
    9
    I want so desperately to be able to give this game a 10 because I have been a huge fan of the series since ME1. I had never played any similar games before but after watching my husband play the first half hour of the first game I knew I needed to play it. Many years later and many playthroughs of each game later I had never been more excited for a game. This was the first game I'd everI want so desperately to be able to give this game a 10 because I have been a huge fan of the series since ME1. I had never played any similar games before but after watching my husband play the first half hour of the first game I knew I needed to play it. Many years later and many playthroughs of each game later I had never been more excited for a game. This was the first game I'd ever gone to a midnight release for. I actually took off two vacation days from work so I could play it to my heart's content without that pesky work obligation getting in the way. Then the ending hit me. I played through as a renegade first so I thought it might've just been because I made some terrible decisions, but then I played as a paragon and still the same disappointing endings. Even though the endings suck (and I still hope even though I know I shouldn't get my hopes up that it will be improved with DLC) the rest of the game was fantastic. I teared up and outright cried at some moments. Some had me giggling and texting my husband so he could have a laugh (he doesn't mind spoilers and I was also partially rubbing it in that I had finished two playthroughs before he finished his first). Spending all this time with my crew, I got attached. Again, even though the ending of ME3 leaves a lot to be desired I think it's a big compliment for Bioware that they were able to create characters that we feel deserve to have a proper ending. We want to know how their lives turned out. We care about them. So congrats to Bioware for creating such a wonderful universe. In the meantime I am making myself feel better about the endings by hanging out in the BSN forums and donating to Child's Play at http://retakemasseffect.chipin.com/retake-mass-effect-childs-play. The charity drive is open until April 11th 2012. If you're really upset about the ending of the game, don't spam negative ratings or spend your time trolling or flaming. Give some money to the children and I promise you'll feel better. I did.… Expand
  100. Dispersedbat
    Mar 16, 2012
    9
    Probably the best game I've ever played! I played ME2 eleven times and ME1 four times so I'm a huge mass effect fan and this game is undoubtedly brilliant! It is definitely worth buying, I bought the collectors edition for â
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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.
    Read full review
  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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