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. S0me_Guy
    Apr 7, 2014
    10
    GOOD: Great story(obviously, it's BioWare); Awesome and funny characters and the game did a great job of making me care about them; Fixed the terrible ending and 2 things you'll notice after seeing the new ending: first, most of the choices you made in the past games and this game actually matter and second, it shows how BioWare cares about their fans by making a new ending that the fansGOOD: Great story(obviously, it's BioWare); Awesome and funny characters and the game did a great job of making me care about them; Fixed the terrible ending and 2 things you'll notice after seeing the new ending: first, most of the choices you made in the past games and this game actually matter and second, it shows how BioWare cares about their fans by making a new ending that the fans deserved; All of the notable characters in the past games at least make a cameo; improved and faster combat system; No more class restrictions on weapons; New romance options; New and better weapons; New weapon customization; Added new powers to use and all are good; New Gears Of War type of melee animations; New stuff to buy at shops; New and improved leveling system(like a combination of the leveling systems of the first 2 games); Your ship is larger; Reapers have been added to the galaxy map; Throughout the game, you'll gain war assets which will help the final mission; Awesome boss battle with a Reaper on Rannoch; 35-40 hours campaign; Tons of replay ability with multiple classes and being good or bad(just like the past 2 games); Surprisingly fun multiplayer with playing as different races and teamwork is important(level capped at 20); Free multiplayer DLCs with new races, upgrades, weapons, enemies, and maps

    BAD: The original ending got me pissed off(thankfully they changed it); The Prothean was on a day one DLC(bullcrap because that is one of the most important characters of the entire series); There is no final boss battle; No space combat(even though there are cutscenes of your ship in the middle of huge space battles); Can't use the Hammerhead vehicle which was the best in the series; Character customization is still not that good

    FINAL VERDICT: This game is amazing with a ton of improvements, it does have problems but the game itself is great. I was going to give this game a 9/10, but BioWare actually care about their fans to make a new ending which is why it will end up as a 10/10. If you are an action game fan or an RPG fan, you must own this game forever. In my opinion, it is the best game of 2012!    … Expand
  2. HPSPhoenix
    Aug 20, 2014
    10
    The best game in the best franchise that has ever been, and likely will ever be. Although a lot of people seem to dislike the ending(s), with the Extended Cut they're fixed. They weren't as bad as you've been led to believe, anyway. This game has better combat, more great moments, better squadmates, (maybe) better DLC and, most importantly, the best story.
    That's not to say it's without    The best game in the best franchise that has ever been, and likely will ever be. Although a lot of people seem to dislike the ending(s), with the Extended Cut they're fixed. They weren't as bad as you've been led to believe, anyway. This game has better combat, more great moments, better squadmates, (maybe) better DLC and, most importantly, the best story.
    That's not to say it's without its flaws - what isn't? There are a LOT more automated conversations in this game, as in, there are more conversations in which you can't make choices. However, the choices you do make in this game are probably the most morally challenging and best in the entire game. If I were to count down the trilogy's greatest moments, most would be from Mass Effect 3.
    I would advise buying all of the DLC. It may be pricey, but it's completely worth the money. From Ashes is probably the best, though.    … Expand
  3. Togepix
    Jun 3, 2014
    10
    It's sad how people can give this game SUCH negative ratings. I mean, if you truly are a Mass Effect fan you can't do anything but love this game, even though the ending wasn't as expected. It looks great, the story is so tense all the time, but at the same time you can chillout. It still felt like I made strong bonds with characters, like in Mass Effect 2, which is always a plus for me.It's sad how people can give this game SUCH negative ratings. I mean, if you truly are a Mass Effect fan you can't do anything but love this game, even though the ending wasn't as expected. It looks great, the story is so tense all the time, but at the same time you can chillout. It still felt like I made strong bonds with characters, like in Mass Effect 2, which is always a plus for me.

    This is still a 10 for me, cause everything was still so well done. Cried my eyes out several times. Get real, people.    … Expand
  4. SipauFade
    Jun 27, 2014
    10
    All aspects of the game are improvements from the previous 2 games. Combat is as rewarding as some of the other traditional shooters. The stories strength lies in it's subtlety, which allows the gamer to truly personalize the game. I felt the ending to be inspiring because it was open ended enough to allow me to fill in the blanks and place my own personal motivations and beliefs into theAll aspects of the game are improvements from the previous 2 games. Combat is as rewarding as some of the other traditional shooters. The stories strength lies in it's subtlety, which allows the gamer to truly personalize the game. I felt the ending to be inspiring because it was open ended enough to allow me to fill in the blanks and place my own personal motivations and beliefs into the story. It is sad the game caught such a bad rap for the ending. It actually effected my perception of the game when i initially played it. Now that I've come back to playing it, I appreciate it more for what it is. An amazing achievement in storytelling, game play and taking chances with an audience even if they aren't ready to be challenged.… Expand
  5. tmims44
    Jul 6, 2014
    10
    People complain about this game far too much, since they updated the ending this game has become a full fledged conclusion to the trilogy instead of the retarded third child it once was. the game play from 2 to 3 was much improved and the online multi-player was non-stop fun (provided you will need to have at least 1-2 friends in your life to enjoy it) Best game of the series by far. IfPeople complain about this game far too much, since they updated the ending this game has become a full fledged conclusion to the trilogy instead of the retarded third child it once was. the game play from 2 to 3 was much improved and the online multi-player was non-stop fun (provided you will need to have at least 1-2 friends in your life to enjoy it) Best game of the series by far. If you don't believe go drive in a goddamn Mako for a few hours then return.

    Don't believe the Haters!    … Expand
  6. AliasAndrew
    Jul 11, 2014
    10
    If you haven't played this already stop reading and do so. NOW! Ignore the **** that gave it a 'zero'. The ending may not be what was promised but is generally satisfying and the journey to get there is epic. Do yourself a favor and conclude the best trilogy in video games. NOW!!!!
  7. DragonEffect4
    Jul 17, 2014
    10
    No point of a long review, just play the whole trilogy and you'll love it. The ending isn't as bad as they say it is (watch the indoctrination theory after finishing).
  8. Saqwana
    Jul 23, 2014
    8
    i really like the game though i recognize its faults. my main complaint would the lack of different body types for Sheppard and the hands looking far older then they should with these characters. i also thin the should have been at least 12 companions in the game it would have added more variation. the lack of a solid sentinel can be an issue for some builds. the ending isn't great but ii really like the game though i recognize its faults. my main complaint would the lack of different body types for Sheppard and the hands looking far older then they should with these characters. i also thin the should have been at least 12 companions in the game it would have added more variation. the lack of a solid sentinel can be an issue for some builds. the ending isn't great but i was fine with it before the extended cut. i think the extended cut adds more context to the ending which is nice. so overall it was a good solid game but not a great one.… Expand
  9. crusher351
    Sep 4, 2018
    8
    To start off, I'm going to mention something that has been said a hundred times before; the ending was weak. For all of the effort and time that I (and many others) have put into this trilogy, the ending should and could have been 100% better. However, during my current play through of the game and its DLC's, I realized something; despite having a mediocre ending, this is one of theTo start off, I'm going to mention something that has been said a hundred times before; the ending was weak. For all of the effort and time that I (and many others) have put into this trilogy, the ending should and could have been 100% better. However, during my current play through of the game and its DLC's, I realized something; despite having a mediocre ending, this is one of the greatest experiences in gaming. I have to say that this game had a lot of good improvements over the last two. The ability to have a serious melee attack was nice as was the ability to jump over gaps. The amount of weapons to choose from was also a nice bonus, and the customization of said weapons just added to it. The combat is improved slightly over the last game, and feels smoother and faster. The characters are back and look better than ever. Honestly, this game still holds on a graphics front today. One of the features from the last game that I'm glad they got rid of is the scanning of planets for resources. Yes, you still have to scan, but you don't have to go to each planet one at a time. Instead you scan while flying the Normandy, and if something comes up, then you go to the planet and scan it. This, despite the ending, is one of the greatest stories of all time, and just proves how good Bioware used to be.… Expand
  10. aidanpscott
    Feb 14, 2019
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To this day, I believe that Mass Effect 3 could have been, and SHOULD have been, one of the greatest games of all time. Instead, what we got was, not only a disappointing sequel, but one of the most disappointing games of all time.

    Let's get the big issue out of the way: the endings. They sucked when they launched and yes, they sucked after the DLC. But everything that can be said about these endings has been said many times over and I don't want to beat a dead horse. Still, if you want to know exactly why, I did a review of the old and new endings in my review of the extended cut DLC on this site as well.

    The reason I don't want to focus on the endings is because, while they are objectively the worst aspect of the game, they are by no means the only bad thing about this game and most people seem to skim over many of the major flaws the game has largely because of how utterly awful the endings were.

    Let's start with the good:

    The multiplayer. While not traditional PvP like most people wanted and were expecting, the wave based multiplayer is a TON of fun and allows you to experiment with different races and class setups you wouldn't get in the campaign. While the single player campaign is severely flawed, there are a ton of really excellent character moments with your squad mates. The Citadel DLC is excellent as well.

    The bad:

    The game was severely rushed (only had 2 years to develop the game) and many of its key staff, including legendary writer Drew Karypshan (lead writer of KotOR) left after Mass Effect 2. Of the 10 writers of Mass Effect 3, only 2 worked on the previous 2 titles and one of them (Mac Walters) is not a particularly good writer. Keep that in mind.

    The single player campaign, while it has some good moments, is filled with plot holes that completely break the world and lore. The dialogue is significantly worse in this game. Not only is most of the dialogue chosen for you without a dialogue wheel, but the neutral option is completely removed from the game and much of the dialogue doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The characters are constantly reference passed events from the previous two games as though you are completely new to the franchise and it is really off-putting.

    Most of the decisions you made in passed games DO NOT MATTER AT ALL and/or are completely thrown out the window as though they do not exist. Some examples: The Rachni Queen decision from Mass Effect 1, you have the chose to either kill her or free her. If you free her, she gets captured by the reapers and is enslaved, forced to give birth to rachni that the reapers turn into husks and force to fight in their armies. Actually, that sounds pretty cool, doesn't it? Well, here's why that's not the case. Let's say you killed her instead, well it doesn't matter because another queen is captured by the reapers to do the same deed. No matter what you did in ME1, the outcome is the same. Your decision did not matter. Other examples include what you did with Maelon's data, what you chose to do with the geth heretics, etc.

    Mass Effect is a game about choice. Aside from the fact that most of your choices did not matter, you are limited in your choices in this game and, in some cases, don't have any choice at all. Mordin, Thane, and Legion all die in this game and while they are good deaths, they are unavoidable. Going back to Mass Effect 2, ME2 is a game where you build a squad and your decisions can either save them or kill them. There is a best-case scenario (everyone lives) and a worse case scenario (everyone, including Shepard, dies). In this game, their is no best case scenario, not truly, and it's a damn shame.

    Cerberus is the villain and, somehow, the Illusive Man is indoctrinated and has been since before Mass Effect 2. This makes no sense as he helped you literally destroy the collector base and ruin the reapers plans. Kai Leng is a deus ex villain with no personality and is only there to provide an artificial challenge for you. Whenever you lose to Kai Leng, bad choices aren't the reason, and good choices don't prevent it. For half the game, you aren't even fighting reapers, you're fighting Cerberus. Why?!

    The game is also tonally inconsistent as it wants to portray the reapers as this invincible, overwhelming doom that can't be defeated by conventional means, but is constantly switching to we can beat the reapers if we work together.

    Many of the games romances are underwhelming or insulting. If you romanced Jacob in ME2, he cheats on you with someone else, which goes against who he is as a character completely (Jacob is honest). Tali's face is revealed as a STOCK PHOTO and not through gameplay. Thane dies, etc.

    I would say more, but this review is limited to 5000 characters only. I'll finish with this: Is Mass Effect 3 an enjoyable game? Yes, absolutely. There's fun to be had. Is Mass Effect 3 a good game? Not even close. Is Mass Effect 3 a bad game? Close enough.    … Expand
  11. Mediawatcher
    Jan 26, 2015
    10
    Mass effect 3 is a masterpiece and it is one of my all time favorites. It has a fantasticly written story and amazing new characters as well as giving the old ones some depth. It is an achievement all on its own and it gets a 10 out of 10 from me. Even with its **** ending and extremely confusing plot holes(which was fixed a year later), it still amazed me on every aspect.
  12. Tomn8er
    Mar 18, 2015
    10
    People who give this game a low score must be impossible to please because this is one of the best games ever made. The story, the characters, the gameplay, the graphics, the soundtrack, the replayability, this game has it all. If you liked ME2 you should love this game. It takes everything that was good about that and builds on it. The story really raises the stakes. Instead of assemblingPeople who give this game a low score must be impossible to please because this is one of the best games ever made. The story, the characters, the gameplay, the graphics, the soundtrack, the replayability, this game has it all. If you liked ME2 you should love this game. It takes everything that was good about that and builds on it. The story really raises the stakes. Instead of assembling a small crew to take out a Collector base, you're assembling entire species to take on the Reapers at large. The combat has been improved and is easily the best in the series. Gone are the tedious planet scanning from ME2 and Mako-roving from ME1. The presentation, which was already stellar in ME2, is even more impressive here, with incredible cutscenes and artistic environmental backdrops that will make you say just stare and say wow as you take in the scenery. It even adds multiplayer in the form of one of the best cooperative horde modes I've ever played. Amazingly, it even stacks up well against designated FPS games like Halo Reach's firefight mode.

    The one thing people seem to gripe about endlessly is the ending. Having come late to the party and hearing about the general backlash, I was bracing myself for the worst... and it never came. The ending might leave you scratching your head a bit and wanting more, but it's hardly the series-ruining catastrophe many people make it out to be. The worst I can say about it is that it does feel a little rushed, it lacks some closure and perhaps there weren't enough choices. So while it is slightly unsatisfying, it hardly ruins an otherwise near-perfect game. Even the DLC in this game is well worth the money IMO. If I was to rate all the Mass Effect games overall I'd give the first an 8, the second a 9 and this one a 10. I would place the Mass Effect firmly in the top series of the past console generation along with the Elder Scrolls, Halo, and Arkham games. This is must-buy material for any fan of SF, shooters, or RPGs.    … Expand
  13. conker1
    Mar 4, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It may not be better than Mass Effect 2 but the third is just as good. Except for the STAR CHILD comes out of nowhere and just tells you that he created the reapers and gives you three choices or three endings. If you happen to be Renegade then the control ending and the synthesis ending sucks your blood. Very awful endings but at least the DESTROY ENDING but it doesn't explain what happen to the other races. Until they finally released the EXTENDED CUT that makes the destroy ending better. But I don't see all the consequences I made in the original Mass Effect since I am a renegade. Is bad but at least if you are paragon, you can see that Shepard is alive but almost dead and it gives me hope for Mass Effect 4 without THE SHEPARD.… Expand
  14. Termin8ter
    Jul 3, 2017
    8
    While Mass Effect 3 is a mostly well done game, and completes the long running trilogy in a mostly satisfying fashion, the nagging fact is that the absolutely terrible ending completely ruins the entire Mass Effect Trilogy in it's entirety, which is very sad, because this franchise deserves to be remembered, but this absolutely horrendous ending nearly, just nearly altered that. Aside fromWhile Mass Effect 3 is a mostly well done game, and completes the long running trilogy in a mostly satisfying fashion, the nagging fact is that the absolutely terrible ending completely ruins the entire Mass Effect Trilogy in it's entirety, which is very sad, because this franchise deserves to be remembered, but this absolutely horrendous ending nearly, just nearly altered that. Aside from that though, ME3 is a good enough game worth a playthrough.… Expand
  15. Epik_Ninnja
    May 22, 2015
    9
    The culmination of the incredible sci-fi epic, Mass Effect 3 takes place a year or so after the second game. The Reapers have arrived and it’s your job to unite the military forces of the galaxy to fight them (and to help save Earth). The fate of entire species depend upon the decisions you make. Combat has been refined again to include heavy melees, combat rolls, etc. and the powerThe culmination of the incredible sci-fi epic, Mass Effect 3 takes place a year or so after the second game. The Reapers have arrived and it’s your job to unite the military forces of the galaxy to fight them (and to help save Earth). The fate of entire species depend upon the decisions you make. Combat has been refined again to include heavy melees, combat rolls, etc. and the power upgrading system is better than ever. This is also the first Mass Effect to include any multiplayer mode. Sure, the ending was a letdown but that doesn’t ruin the whole game by any means. You can appreciate this game for its customization options and combat without playing 1 and 2, but in the scheme of the trilogy, as the epic finale to this large-scale interactive story that shows you how important characters throughout the series end up, which can vary drastically depending on your actions, it becomes something truly great. I'll admit the ending was pretty lackluster, the multiplayer pales in comparison to the single player, and there are less decisions in the dialogue this time around. These flaws do not warrant all of the low-scoring reviews. I honeslty enjoyed this game more than the second game (but just barely). I'd say it's a 9.3 (whereas 2 would be a 9.2, in my opinion). Upon playing it in 2013, it was my favorite game and still might be.… Expand
  16. DarkStarFactory
    May 23, 2015
    9
    Intricate honourable and epic experiences awaits you in the most fluid and aggressive gameplay-design of the series to date. Inhumanly emotional and immersive. The third title stands unrivaled in design as well as popularity in the Action RPG genre.
  17. SGOrion
    Mar 23, 2018
    9
    I just finished playing all of the Mass Effect games. The first time, I let the council die, destroyed the collector base, romanced Tali, miss all of ME3 DLC, and chose the synthesis ending. This time I saved the council, kept the collector base, romanced Ashley, and chose the destroy ending. I actually don't dislike the ending as much as a lot of these reviews do. I understand why peopleI just finished playing all of the Mass Effect games. The first time, I let the council die, destroyed the collector base, romanced Tali, miss all of ME3 DLC, and chose the synthesis ending. This time I saved the council, kept the collector base, romanced Ashley, and chose the destroy ending. I actually don't dislike the ending as much as a lot of these reviews do. I understand why people did not like the way it ended with three choices, but it actually makes more sense than they think. One thing life has taught us, is that you can make all the right choices, and still not have control of a certain situation. The reviews here make the mistake of assuming humanity should have 100% control over their fate because they made the right choices. While the choices they made did have consequences, such as being able to save both the geth and quarians, cure the genophage, etc, we must realize that we were never in complete control over the fate galaxy. Meeting the construct, TIM, it is he that has complete control. He is the catalyst, he has made sure the cycle has continued for millions of years, and only through his decision can it be broken. A threat that is as powerful and ever lasting as this one, is not going to be ended without some hard choices. I thought it was extremely fitting that the cycle was ended through the one who started it. The choices we made allowed us to get this far, and we must choose between the three ways that TIM believes will end the cycle. I found the emotional pieces very moving, and I thought they did a great job of wrapping up the personal endings for each character. The only thing I wish, is that after you get the ending that Shepard is alive, that there is more than just him breathing within the rubble. Mass Effect still remains my favorite games series of all time up to this point.… Expand
  18. Twigball
    Jul 1, 2018
    10
    Like most people I thought this game was just brilliant apart from the terrible ending from which we deserved better after playing all 3 games. But It still deserves a 10 because of the sheer scale and the amount of enjoyable hours I've sunk playing it.
  19. RafaelBarrera
    Nov 19, 2018
    8
    Mass Effect 3 is a villyfied game just because of one thing: its ending. I think it is a bit unfair to the game, the ending can't destroy the whole game experience even tho it was the close up to the whole saga ( which is why it is so hatred ). If we don't take into account the ending, this game is an improvement of what we saw in Mass Effect 2: combat system, space mining, graphics,Mass Effect 3 is a villyfied game just because of one thing: its ending. I think it is a bit unfair to the game, the ending can't destroy the whole game experience even tho it was the close up to the whole saga ( which is why it is so hatred ). If we don't take into account the ending, this game is an improvement of what we saw in Mass Effect 2: combat system, space mining, graphics, variety in weapons, etc... The game could perfectly be a 10/10 , but as I said: the ending is horrible. It's just so mad but at the same time appreciable because of the risk the developers took ( it went wrong, obviously ), maybe it was an original idea, maybe they didn't know how to finish the saga, anyway, it's a really good game with non deserved ending.
    It still is a ''must game'' for me.    … Expand
  20. Filmanwalt
    Oct 27, 2021
    10
    The commander's journey ends. Shepard has accompanied me for a long time and again and again. With part 3, the trilogy comes to a worthy end for me!

    story The reaper threat has arrived, after you could still prevent entry in the Arrival DLC in Mass Effect 2, the galaxy-wide threat has now arrived. And this feeling of doom runs through the entire game, it puts you in a position to    The commander's journey ends. Shepard has accompanied me for a long time and again and again. With part 3, the trilogy comes to a worthy end for me!

    story

    The reaper threat has arrived, after you could still prevent entry in the Arrival DLC in Mass Effect 2, the galaxy-wide threat has now arrived. And this feeling of doom runs through the entire game, it puts you in a position to make every possible effort to take down the Reaper.

    This very action-packed and warlike scenario is staged by breathtakingly good missions. It's about the solution of ancient conflicts, the alliance of the individual species ... the creation of a common armed force to prevent the destruction by the Reaper. Bioware has told a very exciting story, which in the end leads to a door 1, 2 or 3 decision, but personally I am compliant with the selectable outcomes. Only the representation, albeit understandable, of the last part of the anti-reaper weapon takes a lot of getting used to (catalyst).

    Once again, very strong dialogues are created that really take your breath away (Tali and Legion, Liara, Javik DLC, etc.). The bond with the characters is only strengthened and you just have the feeling of fighting for something together.

    Gameplay

    The best gameplay in the trilogy. Very strong combo game play, many different skills and occasional skill options. A lot of weapons, mods and upgrades as well as some armor are fun for every tinkerer. It could have been deeper, but that was enough for me. The shooting around of biotic abilities combined with the very well-functioning squad game play is always new fun.

    There are also a lot of missions, although unfortunately a few of the side missions are limited to pure scanning. Here I would have liked more staging. The constant growth of the war assets makes it clear again in which position the galaxy is and must be in order to exist.

    graphic

    Atmospherically, musically, and staged simply breathtakingly. The many cut scenes in the last mission alone still give you massive goosebumps.

    Conclusion

    It is very important to play DLC again. The Citadel DLC in particular is one of the best DLC that has ever existed. But Leviathan is also very instructive. One can only thank Bioware for this trip! 10/10 crew members.    … Expand
  21. Capulingo
    Apr 3, 2020
    0
    absolutely **** game had to reload hours of progress for a mission I don't want to
  22. StonePwnReviews
    Nov 18, 2021
    9
    A well done game up until the final hour of the main story. ME3 had me believing I was playing one of the most dynamic RPG's I've ever touched until none of my actions mattered in the end.
  23. Kostas_Spirou
    Dec 29, 2021
    8
    I honestly think this game is actually great, the gameplay mechanics are exceptional, the different types of ammunition and weapons make the gameplay feel fresh and rewarding, without ruining the pacing.

    Story-wise it does have some flaws but for most of the time it's pretty interesting, and it has some fantastic moments. Most characters are likeable and charming. Even though the game    I honestly think this game is actually great, the gameplay mechanics are exceptional, the different types of ammunition and weapons make the gameplay feel fresh and rewarding, without ruining the pacing.

    Story-wise it does have some flaws but for most of the time it's pretty interesting, and it has some fantastic moments.

    Most characters are likeable and charming. Even though the game lacks some RPG elements, like every other Mass Effect game the characters are the highlight of the game.

    And about the infamous ending, it's indeed quite rushed, but it didn't ruin my experience, everything else in this game is very good and that's all that matters.

    Final Rating: "Great" ~ 8/10.    … Expand
  24. VengeanceUK
    May 19, 2012
    7
    Both good and bad. Plenty of settings to keep noobs and experts happy. The problem with this game though is that at points you can run round aimlessly and the pace is so slow it's really annoying, but then the game steps up everal gears and the pace becomes frenetic. The biggest gripe however are the endings, despite having 3 on offer, no matter which you chose, 90% of the ending isBoth good and bad. Plenty of settings to keep noobs and experts happy. The problem with this game though is that at points you can run round aimlessly and the pace is so slow it's really annoying, but then the game steps up everal gears and the pace becomes frenetic. The biggest gripe however are the endings, despite having 3 on offer, no matter which you chose, 90% of the ending is EXACTLY THE SAME.… Expand
  25. Jerik02
    Jul 26, 2013
    0
    Casey Hudson ruined Mass Effect. The ending is terrible, but the combat mechanics are simply awful. Tapping a button to get into and out of cover is buggy and more often than not doesn't do what you need it to. The third person camera does a terrible job of maintaining a clear view and often clips into the wall. Mass effect 3 is a perfect example of how EA ruins games. It is no wonder theCasey Hudson ruined Mass Effect. The ending is terrible, but the combat mechanics are simply awful. Tapping a button to get into and out of cover is buggy and more often than not doesn't do what you need it to. The third person camera does a terrible job of maintaining a clear view and often clips into the wall. Mass effect 3 is a perfect example of how EA ruins games. It is no wonder the founders of BioWare quit during the resulting Mass Effect 3 outrage from the players. It is silly really a game marketed as allowing you to tell your own story was ruined because an egotistical (seriously, go look at his web page), childish Casey Hudson wanted to end the story his way denying players what they loved about the game. Like a petulant child, Casey Hudson locked out the other writers to make his own ending and as an EA employee put it, "it shows". Couldn't agree more. Way to alienate a core fan base, tarnish what was a successful IP, and further prove to players why EA cannot be trusted. Even the extended DLC content doesn't fix the plot holes in the ending. It is simply a few more lame slides, that don't really improve anything.… Expand
  26. M3ta
    Aug 31, 2012
    6
    The gameplay (i.e. combat) is good. The graphics are amazing. The presentation and story is bad. Sidequests involve either flying somewhere and shooting Cerberus people in a combat zone, or using the Galaxy map to scan planets. That's it - scan planets. You don't actually VISIT the planets, you just scan them, which allows to to magically recover artifacts, and rescue entire races. ByThe gameplay (i.e. combat) is good. The graphics are amazing. The presentation and story is bad. Sidequests involve either flying somewhere and shooting Cerberus people in a combat zone, or using the Galaxy map to scan planets. That's it - scan planets. You don't actually VISIT the planets, you just scan them, which allows to to magically recover artifacts, and rescue entire races. By pressing the scan button. These sidequests are picked up by eavesdropping on people's conversations in the Citadel (which, by the way, is the ONLY hub in the entire game... funny how everyone wants to meet you on the Citadel - there's nowhere else to go). "Hey dude, heard you talking on the phone to your buddy, saying you needed an antidote to a Reaper poison... I just happened to travel to a planet, and bring you back the antidote... here ya go." "Orly? Thats... awfully convenient... thanks?" You do get to meet your allies from Mass Effect 2, but it's more like "Oh hey Grunt/ Samara/ Jacob, how're things? What's that, you'd like me to kill some stuff for you? Sure. OK, we've killed all the stuff... guess I'll catch you later." It is nice to see how small decisions from ME1/2 played out, but you only really get to see it in small ways, like extranet messages. And finally, the ending seems to have been written by someone with no grasp of concepts like "logic", and is probably the most unsatisfying experience I've ever had with a franchise I used to love. Oh, and the DLC? With ME2, DLC like Shadow Broker was great since it added to the game and expanded on the universe and the characters - this Leviathan DLC is basically pointless for people who have finished the game. In short, the game looks great, but really disappoints - the polar oppoosite to the game that started it off, the first Mass Effect.… Expand
  27. miramax123
    Aug 17, 2013
    7
    At first, I gave this game a 9 for the fact that the music wasn't as rushed as ME2 majority of sounndtracks, for their aesthetically-compensating atmosphere, the moderate depth in characters' feelings about the Reaper War and the improved gameplay movement, flow, speed and resolution, although the power recharge system is still there which was kind of a bummer since ME2 you can'tAt first, I gave this game a 9 for the fact that the music wasn't as rushed as ME2 majority of sounndtracks, for their aesthetically-compensating atmosphere, the moderate depth in characters' feelings about the Reaper War and the improved gameplay movement, flow, speed and resolution, although the power recharge system is still there which was kind of a bummer since ME2 you can't constantly use powers without having them all charging just to use one power. And the soundtracks were absoulute emotional originality! However, despite thinking and thinking more about how MUCH potential this game seriously had, I realized that the EA gaining full control of the franchise after ME2 was just middle finger to veteran fans and a cynical step TOO FAR! The flaws are established; The villains weren't at their most authentic evil, like Kai Leng, who I thought was a superficial rather than a dangerous assassins, Harbinger not getting enough establishment at all, Sovereign was by far the most terrifying verbally and villanous character in the trilogy from ME1, no planetary exploration and instead like ME2, you get an even worse and less captivating side missions just to prolong the original game time, storyline was the main crap that was a bloody punch to the face by Bioware to all of us ME fans, the vaguely rushed, inexplicable and confusing endings were just a mockery to the entire trilogy!! Bioware needs to get their magic back that once manifested in ME and ME... ME3 just had NO diversity in missions, not enough ndifferent enemies, and the most ridiculous of them all, is on the Insanity mode, you instantly get cheap deaths by three randomly stupid husks and a ridiculously annoying Marauder shooting at you while your Shepard is annoyingly shaking from the targetting system, preventing you to kill that last idiot! Bioware just shoved their heads down with EA, not enough impact from decision making from the previous ME and ME2 decisions, although the Javik and Citadel party DLC's were fun, this was just overall bullcrap to me. Satisfactory for gameplay, but replay value for story and real gameplay is no worth whatsoever. BIOWARE MAKE MASS EFFECT 4 COUNT whatever you tend to call the next game!… Expand
  28. Deleran
    Oct 10, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've had a long time to ruminate on this one, having beat the game shortly after it came out. Firstly: the ending stinks, badly. It felt completely jarring and totally unearned and incongruent, especially on my play-through. Also the entire starchild plot is terrible. His presence in the tutorial, the dream sequences, all of it: crap. That being said, everything else about this game is excellent. I've been playing the Multiplayer quite a bit, and I think that alone is worth the price of admission. The shooting mechanics are hands down the best in the series, and when paired with the mostly thoughtful class and enemy design, creates an excellent experience in both single and multiplayer. The story, excepting the parts mentioned above, is excellent, allowing for all sorts of different payoffs from the previous games in the series. If you're willing to grit your teeth and bear a crap ending, or if you're just interested in the unique and innovative shooting mechanics that make the multiplayer so fun, its definitely worth your time and money.… Expand
  29. drlowdon
    Mar 25, 2020
    8
    Continuing from the events of the previous game Mass Effect 3 opens with the Reapers attacking Earth and, having narrowly escaped with his life, Commander Shepard yet again finds himself as humanity's last hope for survival.

    Series veterans will be instantly familiar with the games concept in which a series of core and side missions can be accessed from the Normandy's galaxy map. This    Continuing from the events of the previous game Mass Effect 3 opens with the Reapers attacking Earth and, having narrowly escaped with his life, Commander Shepard yet again finds himself as humanity's last hope for survival.

    Series veterans will be instantly familiar with the games concept in which a series of core and side missions can be accessed from the Normandy's galaxy map. This time around however it is not just a case of recruiting allies to your cause. Depending on how each mission is handled vital resources, such as fleets of warships, can be gained to aid in the final battle against the Reapers. As has always been the case many of these missions allows for a great deal of freedom with a number of, sometimes very difficult, choices being afforded to the player. The series strong combat remains virtually unchanged from the series second entry and still plays like a simplified version of Gears of War. Responding to audience criticisms a number of features have been tweaked however. While the popular Mako may not make a return the weapon and armour customisation has returned and the dull planet scanning all but removed. For the first time in the Mass Effect series multiplayer has also been included. To be honest it offers only a minor diversion from the main campaign with only one mode (imagine Horde mode from Gears of War or Halo) and six small maps to play in co-op with up to three other players. Since the playing multiplayer aids in preparing for the Reaper assault in the main game however it is worth investing some time in.

    And so to the much criticised ending to the game. In my personal opinion some of this criticism is justified as it certainly leaves several plot holes and very much jars with the philosophy of Mass Effect. A few fans have certainly gone overboard however as when you consider the huge influence you are able to wield throughout the game the disappointing final ten minutes in no way spoils the 20+ hours that come before or the epic series as a whole.    … Expand
  30. Legotwin
    Mar 26, 2013
    6
    I absolutely LOVED this game, but the only problem I have, and this was a HUGE problem, is the ending. The ending was just SO terrible it's not even funny. I was so disappointed.
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 74 Critic Reviews

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