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. levarien
    Mar 12, 2012
    10
    The amount of disinformation in the metacritic user reviews forced me to make an account. Here's the most frequent complains listed on 0/10 reviews, and why they are complete and utter nonsense.

    1) Choices matter. Decisions from ME1 and ME2 will effect the course of the game. An asset lost in one of the previous games can effect your War readiness and alter the fate of shepherd and the    The amount of disinformation in the metacritic user reviews forced me to make an account. Here's the most frequent complains listed on 0/10 reviews, and why they are complete and utter nonsense.

    1) Choices matter. Decisions from ME1 and ME2 will effect the course of the game. An asset lost in one of the previous games can effect your War readiness and alter the fate of shepherd and the galaxy as a whole. In the end, the choices effect the entire game, not just the ending. Imagine how different a mission would be if one of your ME2 characters died on the suicide mission. Play the game. Talk to a friend who played the game, I guarantee you'll have different stories.

    2) The writing is thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, the character to character dialogue is the best of the series. The plot follows the same Organic versus Synthetic motif that has defined the series. Walking around the Citadel and the Normandy, I found myself awed at the level of detail these writers went to to make a vibrant and active world. Along with Skyrim, ME3 provides a level of immersion that is hard to find anywhere else. The romance, intrigue, and conflicts are still there, waiting to be uncovered.

    3) The combat is much better than any point in the series. Powers and other abilities are extremely fun to mix and match, and the weapons are diverse and customizable. The devs did a great job preserving everything that made combat fun in ME2, and added some of the variety that mods and multiple weapons added from ME1. The cover mechanic received some welcome upgrades and the melee attack, while simple, is very satisfying.

    4) Some people are actually complaining that the game betrays the lore and events of the previous game. I can't see how anyone can say this with a straight face. The very existence of the reapers always posed a question that hung over the series and was answered in an extremely well crafted way.

    5) Day 1 DLC. We all know this is the real reason for all the trolling here. The DLC is just like the Zaeed and Kasumi packs from ME3. You don't need it for the ME experience. In fact, I found the added character to be a little bland. The best parts of the DLC were a few cutscenes. This is how the industry works now, either pay the pittance to play the DLC and argue about it if it disappoints, wait for the GOTY version and get it for free, or ignore it. But don't pretend like a wonderful game is ruined because a game publisher asked you to pay some money for some additional content.    … Expand
  2. 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.
  3. 247Consoles
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    Though I am nowhere into this game yet, I am giving this 100% just to help kill off the negativity that the 'sexual orientation crew' and 'ending' crew have put on this game. I am disgusted with you all.

    It's time gamers grew up.
  4. crazydangerous
    Mar 10, 2012
    8
    I thought I was going to hate this game but in all honesty It's a great game, feels pretty much like me2 but with improved combat although the enemies seem less varied, and story wise everything's decent but it seems like party members have a lot less to say. The endings are retarded monkey garbage but hey at least it's closure(still waiting on shenmue 3 sega). I hate EA and I have noI thought I was going to hate this game but in all honesty It's a great game, feels pretty much like me2 but with improved combat although the enemies seem less varied, and story wise everything's decent but it seems like party members have a lot less to say. The endings are retarded monkey garbage but hey at least it's closure(still waiting on shenmue 3 sega). I hate EA and I have no respect for Bioware as it is now but they made a Game that wasn't nightmarishly terrible which I honestly didn't think was possible after playing DA2 and the tortanic beta. Buy it if you feel like you've come to far to stop.… Expand
  5. goblinprince
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    I've been enjoying the game enormously. Will be replaying in the different modes, and seriously tempted to go back to 1 to give the whole trilogy a marathon play-through. Writing is sharp and good as ever, I like the tweaks to combat and the addition of power combos--gives me more options in my play strategy. And enjoying the new enemy types. There is a little added variety in characterI've been enjoying the game enormously. Will be replaying in the different modes, and seriously tempted to go back to 1 to give the whole trilogy a marathon play-through. Writing is sharp and good as ever, I like the tweaks to combat and the addition of power combos--gives me more options in my play strategy. And enjoying the new enemy types. There is a little added variety in character creation, but would have liked to see even more options or have tools for additional customization. Like the increased options for romantic pairings. I play with both fem and male Sheps and like going through the different story lines with different characters. Very pleased that Bioware is willing to add flexibility there and give gamers more choices to explore. Game is beautiful and hope this isn't the end for the Mass Effect universe. So many stories out there!… Expand
  6. Tudor
    Mar 9, 2012
    8
    Before playing Mass Effect 3 , i went through the first two installments once more with a completley new character in order to have the "Mass Effect" expirience fresh in my mind and for better or worse i could judge ME 3 better comparing it to the previous games so here are my 2 cents :
    This game confuses the hell out of me in terms of quality , there where plenty of moments where my jaw    Before playing Mass Effect 3 , i went through the first two installments once more with a completley new character in order to have the "Mass Effect" expirience fresh in my mind and for better or worse i could judge ME 3 better comparing it to the previous games so here are my 2 cents :
    This game confuses the hell out of me in terms of quality , there where plenty of moments where my jaw dropped as the story progressed , and there others that felt out of place , forced upon me (but the bad ones weren't that many in my opinion).While the quality of the story is good , it feels like i've taken more of a backseat in this 3rd game because it is more streamlined (a thing that i do not understand , this was the chance for BW to go all out on decision making since its the last game , and didn't have to worry about the hellish writing that would have entailed into making a 4th installment) .I could go on for some time about the pro's and cons but to make it short : The story is fantastic , the score that accompanies it is marvellous , there are a few plotholes that will annoy fans of the series , don't think will bother those who just want to play this last one.
    The gameplay mechanics are decent , but ME was never supposed to be about the shooting part , they've put in some more rpg elements (not that much really) but its still better then ME2 in that area.
    The graphics are good , definetly not ugly taking into consideration its based on a 7 year old engine.
    The score as i said previously , is fantastic the voice acting is what you would expect from the previous games ( Great) but seems less of it . To be fair , i knew that Bioware had a tough job in front of them in wrapping up this trilogy , they set the bar high with the quality of the previous games and an ever harder job pleasing the fans (myself included) regarding the end of the trilogy . While the game indeed wraps up this fantastic series , and answers many questions it also raised new ones , leaving me longing for more , as such i believe this game should have a place in your collection because it definetly deserves it , but at the same time it does leave you "hanging" .    … Expand
  7. DeadSoul2004
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    Fantastic game and it's pathetic marking low just because of the ending. You are looking at the game as an overall product. Resistance 3 was a great game but the ending sucked and that didn't have the scale and scope of ME3. This is an impressive achievement thank you Bioware
  8. fuzzychode
    Mar 29, 2012
    0
    BEEN UNABLE TO PLAY FOR OVER 2 WEEKS DUE TO KNOW BUG.EA SUPPORT IS NO HELP AT ALL. BIOWARE JUST KEEPS SAYING NOTHING BUT WE WILL HAVE IT FIXED SOON. WASTE OF MONEY. plus little i did get to play was just a horrible rehash for all those stupid people who love the same thing over and over and over....
  9. xMurderotica89
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    Best in the series so far. Ignore all the negative reviews, they complain about small things and are generally dumb reviews. this is some amazing storytelling.
  10. 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
  11. Dexwell
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    Epic is an understatement. I have played through both Mass Effect games and this third and final installment is simply the best out there. The way every choice you've made impacts the storyline, the way the game looks, the perfected combat, the optimized menus, the return of some old characters, even the emotional impact the game makes is phenomenal. Mind that I haven't even mentioned theEpic is an understatement. I have played through both Mass Effect games and this third and final installment is simply the best out there. The way every choice you've made impacts the storyline, the way the game looks, the perfected combat, the optimized menus, the return of some old characters, even the emotional impact the game makes is phenomenal. Mind that I haven't even mentioned the super-fun multiplayer mode yet. When it was announced, I doubted that multiplayer would work in a singleplayer game like Mass Effect, but it is brilliant and addictive. Moreover, it ties into and impacts the storyline of your singleplayer adventure, and it is of the same quality of the singleplayer. Big props to BioWare for pulling this off. The expectations were mile high, and yet they delivered. I'd recommend anyone to buy this game. Every core gamer that takes itself seriously MUST buy this game.… Expand
  12. deviantsinner
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For starters, I have been a fan of the Mass Effect series since the first game released, I became so involved with Shepard and his crew that I would spend hrs on end replaying and getting perfect endings, the major change in the third title was the idea of multiplayer which helps you in singleplayer with military assets, but I did not do that for i felt it made the game easier.

    I like a challenge and Bioware sure as hell gave us one, throughout this game the set pieces of nearly being taken out by huge squads of reapers is at times insane, that final push to the beam to enter the citadel was shockingly brutal, finding out that the illusive man was also right, that was even more shocking, but nothing prepared me for seeing shep sacrifice himself as he remembers joker,anderson and others, yes tears were shed, and i replayed this immense tragic story to it's heartbreaking end again, I wanted so bad to save edi , joker was so happy with her and she died so I felt horrible, and when legion died , i lost it.

    yes the masses say this title is bad, but they have never put enough time into this series like the true fans have, we love this series. This was the only way to end the series in my eyes, if they release a new one I would play it but I never would feel as much as I did with shep, and yes I think the child was sheps son or possibly him, I will remember this game series as the best I ever played and hope that the ones bashing it will realize they were wrong.
    mass effect 3 is goty    … Expand
  13. thelotmb
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    People are honestly being ridiculous with this game, it's bizarre. Each of the Mass Effect games differ from one another in little ways, and this one just happens to be more intense and action oriented. HOWEVER I found that the RPG elements are more effective here than they were in Mass Effect 2. Leveling up is more apparent, and XP gains are clear. So I don't get those complaints. Also,People are honestly being ridiculous with this game, it's bizarre. Each of the Mass Effect games differ from one another in little ways, and this one just happens to be more intense and action oriented. HOWEVER I found that the RPG elements are more effective here than they were in Mass Effect 2. Leveling up is more apparent, and XP gains are clear. So I don't get those complaints. Also, the writing is just fine. Sure, this installment is more action oriented, but there are emotional beats at the right moments, and the dialog is smart and logical for the situation, with some humor put in there too. Voice acting is top notch, as usual. Graphics are more fluid than the past games, and the whole weapon deal is much more varied and fun than before. Amazing set pieces as well. The visuals are pretty stunning at times, just in the composition of everything. Fighting geth husks on Menae as we see the Reapers destroying Garrus' home planet was quite a spectacle. Multiplayer is actually fun and fast paced, surprisingly. As for the romance options, well, I'm pretty sure you have to ask for a gay relationship in some way, so the homophobes have nothing to worry about there, unless they choose the right responses that would trigger it, which would seem interesting to me. Overall, if you've enjoyed the other ME games, then buy this without hesitation, just to experience this compelling universe again. I am disappointed in Metacritic gamers, both with the fake, desperately negative reviews, and with the immature, insatiable gamers who can't accept anything different than slower-paced RPG's. This game may not be perfect, but it's pretty darn great.… Expand
  14. Matteo217
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    Its astonishing how many trolls and whiny little kids there are on this website crying about stuff that is minor at best. This game is nothing less than the end to the most Epic Space Trilogy of all time. The campaign kept me hooked from the moment the game took off and the story was spectacular. Now I know the nerds and trolls are going to bash the crap out of me for whatever I'm going toIts astonishing how many trolls and whiny little kids there are on this website crying about stuff that is minor at best. This game is nothing less than the end to the most Epic Space Trilogy of all time. The campaign kept me hooked from the moment the game took off and the story was spectacular. Now I know the nerds and trolls are going to bash the crap out of me for whatever I'm going to say or think, but I'm going to tell you the God's honest truth and break down the hate for this game. Firstly The Ending: I personally believe that the ending was fantastic and really left me feeling overwhelmed by my accomplishments and I felt sad for the characters that I grew so fond of in ME2 that died. The game left you with a real sense of drama and fulfillment. Now to address the hate, the most common thing I see written is that the 3 endings are too similar and do not show enough variation. The problem I have with this is these people that say this, I know 100% have either replayed only the last mission 3 times or have data mined the game on PC and watched the cut-scenes. Why do you people not understand that when you spoil the endings like that for yourself you are setting yourself up for supreme disappointment. If you legitimately played through the entire game and didn't skip conversations and really built upon the amazing character backgrounds then you would have loved the ending and really appreciated the way things left off. â… Expand
  15. daaaaaan
    Mar 9, 2012
    7
    In Mass Effect 3, I was loving feeling like I was in control of the fate of the galaxy. I was pumped that due to my decisions, I solved conflicts between warring races, acquiring assets that would help in the ultimate resolution of the game. With every new race that I got on board, I could not wait to see how they would aid in the end. I brought the geth and quarians back together. IIn Mass Effect 3, I was loving feeling like I was in control of the fate of the galaxy. I was pumped that due to my decisions, I solved conflicts between warring races, acquiring assets that would help in the ultimate resolution of the game. With every new race that I got on board, I could not wait to see how they would aid in the end. I brought the geth and quarians back together. I helped the Krogan and Turians fight together. I kept thinking that I could not wait to see all this pay off in the end. But it doesn't. It doesn't matter what you do in the end.… Expand
  16. lioblanco
    Jan 25, 2018
    8
    No es el mejor juego de la saga, lo veo como un Mass effect 2/b pero aun así cerraron la trilogía como yo lo hubiera terminado.. no estoy de acuerdo con que los 3 finales sean iguales no tiene sentido... pero no puedo dejar escapar lo épico que fue jugarlo. Vale la pena jugarlo y Re jugarlo!!!! Sigo Esperando Mas DLC's.
  17. scalan15
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    Please ignore all of the trolls faking bad reviews, this game is EPIC, I have 120,000 achievement points on the Xbox 360, and this is the BEST game I've ever played, don't miss out.
  18. Deidelus
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    To be perfectly honest, this review board is filled with trolls... Which is really a sad thing, considering this is probably one of the greatest games to come out this generation. Is it perfect? No, but it damn sure is close. Just about every issue that presented with Mass Effect 2 has been addressed:

    1. Scanning for Minerals - it has been replaced by a much more entertaining mini-game of    To be perfectly honest, this review board is filled with trolls... Which is really a sad thing, considering this is probably one of the greatest games to come out this generation. Is it perfect? No, but it damn sure is close. Just about every issue that presented with Mass Effect 2 has been addressed:

    1. Scanning for Minerals - it has been replaced by a much more entertaining mini-game of sorts (I wont go into specifics since it could be considered spoiler material.)

    2. Lack of choices in skill trees - The skill trees now offer way more depth; with 21 choices you can make for each character.

    3. Some maneuvering issues - all I have to say is f*#! yeah rolling

    4. The lack of involvement of previous characters - This time around the whole gang is back, and it is a nice d=touch for fans of the series

    5. Audio discrepancies - I may be the only person noticing this, but weapons finally have a weight to them, and the audio sells them in a incredibly natural way (was just one of those things that bothered me in the previous games)

    There are actually a few more, but I feel after the list presented I can make my point: The user reviews of ME2 are sitting around 8.9... and ME3 is such an atrocity that it evidently has a 5.0? Even though all it did was take steps forward. To be perfectly honest, I doubt half of the people who reviewed this game even played it through all of the way (or even played the actual game for that matter). But, I have played it to completion, and it was one of the most memorable gaming experiences I've had. So, ultimately I am giving this game a 10. Does it deserve it? Not quite, but it sure as hell doesn't deserve a 5.    … Expand
  19. niconline
    Nov 5, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 is the perfect ending to a masterful trilogy that's gone from strength-to-strength with each title. It's the conclusion you're hoping for, with each decision demanding that you think twice before pulling the trigger. Thanks for the memories, BioWare... It's been emotional.
  20. Jobadkins
    Apr 28, 2012
    10
    What can you say about a game so perfect and amazing that it makes all other RPG and action games look bad.Except for Skyrim,there is nothing made to date that even compares to this game.Look,the war scenes sound better than any war game ever made,more real, more authentic and that's just the sound part of the game.If you go into this game without ever playing past Mass Effect games thenWhat can you say about a game so perfect and amazing that it makes all other RPG and action games look bad.Except for Skyrim,there is nothing made to date that even compares to this game.Look,the war scenes sound better than any war game ever made,more real, more authentic and that's just the sound part of the game.If you go into this game without ever playing past Mass Effect games then you come away from your gaming session,blown away beyond belief running to the store to get Mass Effect 1 and 2 on the 360 just to play,go into circles with your choices,let downs,saves,changes,ect..Then you start over,make different decisions and see another game.Now,if your involved and your ready for the next episode then your going to be in disbelief not expecting what's in store for you.I can't praise this game enough.They are very different kinda games but if you had me choose between this game and Skyrim,I wouldn't bat an eye to tell you to get that other shxx out of my face and give me my mass effect trilogy.I guarantee everyone that there will never be a trilogy EVER like this one in the rest of gaming's future.Mass effect 3 is nothing less than PURE GENIUS!10...10...10...10… Expand
  21. tech953
    Aug 2, 2013
    10
    I can't believe how stupid 90% of the reviewers on this game are being. This game, no this series, is the pinnacle of video games inception into mature, well thought out story telling and emotionally jarring character building. The tension and the moral choices, combined with the stellar voice cast and excellent writing, help center the finale of this game series with a bang, creatingI can't believe how stupid 90% of the reviewers on this game are being. This game, no this series, is the pinnacle of video games inception into mature, well thought out story telling and emotionally jarring character building. The tension and the moral choices, combined with the stellar voice cast and excellent writing, help center the finale of this game series with a bang, creating some of the hardest decisions that I have ever made in any video game. I literally cried when both Garrus and Tali, who I had gotten very attached to, died in that final rush, an result to the well put together characters, and the bonds that you gain with them. The ending, while similar either way, ties the series up beautifully, and on top of that, possibly TOPS the last two. When I say that, I am mostly referring to the lack of customization that you are all complaining about in the ending from the vast amount of choices you made. To be totally honest, you never really saw the results of your choices in the previous games, until you played the next one. In the first game, you didn't see the results of saving the council really take effect until you met them in the next game. So stop complaining, and enjoy the end to one of the best RPGs that I have ever had the pleasure of playing.… Expand
  22. ste88883
    May 7, 2012
    7
    The cinematic experience of this game is one of the best and most absorbing in any game I have played. The technical accomplishment of this game is limited compared to the sequels and the production was clearly a sequel rather than a progression. The ending was powerful though I can understand how many conisder it a cop-out. This excellent series deserved more because of the high standardThe cinematic experience of this game is one of the best and most absorbing in any game I have played. The technical accomplishment of this game is limited compared to the sequels and the production was clearly a sequel rather than a progression. The ending was powerful though I can understand how many conisder it a cop-out. This excellent series deserved more because of the high standard it set itself.… Expand
  23. Zlatan
    Apr 18, 2015
    9
    Great game and experience. Some glitches here and there but nothing to ruin the game. It's fun to play and great story and game play nothing more to say. Just play it.
  24. LordKinoda
    May 7, 2012
    7
    Mass Effect 3 is still a great game, however, it falls short in the end. There are some great additions, and just a little too many subtractions. I love the way the guns sound and 'hit' in this game, that was a great little mod. They got rid of 'heavy' weapons except in certain plot points, also nice. You can actually carry all weapons, and not just a select few according to your class,Mass Effect 3 is still a great game, however, it falls short in the end. There are some great additions, and just a little too many subtractions. I love the way the guns sound and 'hit' in this game, that was a great little mod. They got rid of 'heavy' weapons except in certain plot points, also nice. You can actually carry all weapons, and not just a select few according to your class, nice. Biotic powers are great as well, love the new sounds and moves. Sprinting is essentially unlimited, which is more realistic, especially for a cybernetically altered soldier like Shepard. They slimmed down the 'scanning for resources' minigame, definitely better. Did away with the silly hacking minigames and just showing the omni-tool animation, this is cool too. So all said and done the gameplay is improved on almost all levels. Love that they brought Ashley/Kaiden back. Sucked not to have a romance option in Mass Effect 2. However their interactions with Shepard could of been a little more. More is always better when it comes to character development, especially when it comes to romances in a world where you're all set to be the savior of the galaxy. Shepard needs something 'real' to fight for. They do have Shepard say this, just wanted more interaction is all.

    Now for the bad. It feels like a lot of the dialog choices were taken away. Way too many instances where there is only 'good' and 'evil' selections. That 'neutral' option is needed sometimes because it just fits better. Rarely any 'paragon' or 'renegade' choices (the blue and red text ones) to use in the dialog as well. The graphics still suck in a lot of places though. Don't know why they couldn't of fixed this somehow. The textures are blurry and lackluster for almost all 'clothing' in the game. The armors are mostly great, but anybody who isn't wearing any has a skewed look to them.

    Day 1 DLC, honestly I could care less. I bought the collector's edition so it came with the game. I paid more money yes, but so what ? I like this game and didn't mind shelling out for it. The story is still great, though like many others I'm not in love with the ending either. I won't sit here and say they should come out with DLC to 'fix' it. It's not so terrible that it ruins the entire game. However I will say that the game would of received a rating of 9 from me had it ended somewhere closer to what I would of liked to see happen. Sorry.

    All in all, still a great game, but arguably so.    … Expand
  25. Phenom557
    Mar 16, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have been a fan of the M.E. universe since the beginning, and this game it the jewel on the crown!! I cant believe all the negative reviews!! #1 WHO CARES if the game doesn't recall every little decision youve ever made in ME 1 &2!! Honestly! it concludes the story that matters DEFEATING THE DAMN REAPERS which is the main focus throughout all of the series! #2 this story picks up shortly after the 2nd one ends...maybe if a few more people actually played through and payed attention to all of the cinematic and cut-scenes they would realize that. #3 The graphics engine and overall game-play are extremely well polished! The game does an amazing job of making you feel the weight and pressure of your choices and the task at hand....if you fail...everyone in the galaxy dies.... I think if people stopped criticizing the fact that "ME3 didn't remember the fact that I banged Miranda last game" and actually let themselves fall into the depth of the story, they would realize that it actually makes you feel like your making a difference or failing the galaxy.... I thoroughly enjoyed the game and still a loyal fan..I cant wait to see what the future of the ME universe holds. Long live Bioware!… Expand
  26. DarthPreamp
    Mar 28, 2012
    10
    This is a great game. The ending is fantastic; brilliant actually. This game is a continuation and culmination of the story of Mass Effect 1 and 2, which has remained consistent and well told from the very first moments of ME1. All the ending requires of the player is that you as a player engage a little bit of your own depth and intellectual curiosity. If you are unable to engage thoseThis is a great game. The ending is fantastic; brilliant actually. This game is a continuation and culmination of the story of Mass Effect 1 and 2, which has remained consistent and well told from the very first moments of ME1. All the ending requires of the player is that you as a player engage a little bit of your own depth and intellectual curiosity. If you are unable to engage those qualities, than you have bigger problems than being dissatisfied with the ending of the greatest space saga of the last 30 years. There are some minor flaws in my mind; forcing the player into "multiplayer", you really have to. And also some of the 'enhanced' cover mechanics are buggy, and don't work as they should. BUT it is still a great game and without a doubt will be looked at by future generations as a seminal work of fiction in the early 21st century.… Expand
  27. TheOutlawXanadu
    Mar 25, 2012
    8
    First thing's first: Mass Effect 3's ending is truly awful. I won't go into detail as to why because a simple Google search will yield about a million articles on the subject; just know it's pretty bad. Unfortunately, some people have gone so far as to claim the ending makes the game worthless, and I disagree with that. For the most part, the game is amazing. It has by far and away theFirst thing's first: Mass Effect 3's ending is truly awful. I won't go into detail as to why because a simple Google search will yield about a million articles on the subject; just know it's pretty bad. Unfortunately, some people have gone so far as to claim the ending makes the game worthless, and I disagree with that. For the most part, the game is amazing. It has by far and away the most personal moments of the series and ties up some sub-plots wonderfully (Mordin's comes to mind). The combat is also really fun, although sometimes the level design is a little clunky. Really, the only criticism I have of the game besides the ending is the overwhelming amount of automatic dialog. It should also be noted that because of this, playing as a true Renegade might be impossible. Overall, Mass Effect 3 is a terrific game with one gargantuan flaw. I admit the ending is so bad I once considered never playing the series again, but after bringing myself back down to Earth a little, I have realized that reaction was ridiculous. It's still the same great trilogy it always was; you just gotta forget about the last 10 minutes.… Expand
  28. bikeman
    Jun 3, 2012
    10
    I know that they are those that were disappointed by the ending they got. There were in fact 7 different endings and the options you had for the ending was based on your military readiness when you went into battle, as well as choices you made in the game. Yes, all the endings did leave unanswered questions, and it was not the classic storybook ending we seem to expect in games, books,I know that they are those that were disappointed by the ending they got. There were in fact 7 different endings and the options you had for the ending was based on your military readiness when you went into battle, as well as choices you made in the game. Yes, all the endings did leave unanswered questions, and it was not the classic storybook ending we seem to expect in games, books, and movies today. You know, the heroes hugging and high-fiving each other and walking into the victoriously into sunset. However, I credit Bioware for doing something outside of the standard â… Expand
  29. Haon
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    First off, find this guy's review. orctowngrot ------ I don't have to write everything I would like, but he does a nice job at saying what I feel. Okay, I haven't reached the end, so I can't comment on that. But what I can say is that even if I didn't make it to the end, I could stop now and walk away smiling. Mass Effect 3 is a great GAME. It's not the best piece of literature outFirst off, find this guy's review. orctowngrot ------ I don't have to write everything I would like, but he does a nice job at saying what I feel. Okay, I haven't reached the end, so I can't comment on that. But what I can say is that even if I didn't make it to the end, I could stop now and walk away smiling. Mass Effect 3 is a great GAME. It's not the best piece of literature out there, it's not the perfect game by any means, and I'm fully expecting the ending to be a little lame. Because you know what? Compared to the meat of each of the first two, their endings weren't exactly spectacular. Mass Effect 3 in no way deserves a 0, or a 1, or even a 5. The gameplay is great, the emotion is great, the storytelling is great, the... You get the idea. If you liked the first two, play this game. If the ending winds up being off, who cares? You'll still have a great 50+ hours of fun before then. (Note: I actually wouldn't recommend this to someone who hasn't played the first two. There is a lot of backplot that wouldn't be nearly fullfilling [read: not at all] if you are coming in cold turkey.) 9 b/c I can't give is 9.5, and there are definite flaws and bugs. P.S. I don't know what people are on when they are saying their previous choices don't matter. Even if they "don't" matter, there is certainly a great illusion that they do. I'll take the awesome smoke and mirrors that you very much.… Expand
  30. coopers41
    Jun 4, 2012
    8
    while not the perfect game, mass effect 3 is an amazing game. the right amount of rpg and action and cinematics that put some hollywood movies to shame. great control, smooth visuals, its hard to pick many faults but the positives outweigh the negatives. if you liked mass effect 2 you will like the third and final chapter of this space opera.
  31. 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
  32. cmchris2
    Mar 11, 2012
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I went into this game with a concentrated effort not to read any reviews or spoilers. Consequently, I was unaware of any controversy until I finished the game and fired up my laptop. I was not surprised to see most of the reviews agreeing with my opinion. The game ended and I literally froze and whispered, "What? No!" I simply could not believe that all the hype, all the buildup, all the emotional investment ended with such a cheap, chintzy ending. None of my in-game choices or my careful maintenance of my paragon rating mattered at all! What is the point of marketing your game as player-driven when none of our choices make any difference?… Expand
  33. Nikola8
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    I was a fan of the first game, I fell in love with the second game, and was hoping not to be let down in the third game. Not only wasn't I let down, I found one of the most satisfactory concluding acts to a video game trilogy that I've ever seen. I have played through the first two games (full playthroughs) about a dozen times. I have read every bit of lore (all the books and all theI was a fan of the first game, I fell in love with the second game, and was hoping not to be let down in the third game. Not only wasn't I let down, I found one of the most satisfactory concluding acts to a video game trilogy that I've ever seen. I have played through the first two games (full playthroughs) about a dozen times. I have read every bit of lore (all the books and all the comic books). Bioware has said that, if you take a ME1/ME2 character import file, you are literally importing over a thousand choice variables into the game. Therefore, from the very beginning, you have a unique experience that is tailored to you. The graphics and gameplay are the best of the series. There is a little bit of choppy-ness in some of the cut scenes, but this is forgivable due to the excellent presentation otherwise. The game's story does seem to rely a lot on prior knowledge- Bioware has said that those who start playing ME3 without an import file will have those "prior knowledge" references removed, but I haven't completed a playthrough without an imported character, so I can't personally verify that. There is a lot of controversy with the ending. I will not have spoilers of what happens, but I will say that the ending is left wide open; the game instead ties up a lot of the game's loose ends throughout rather than right at the finale. I personally found the ending to be quite satisfactory- you basically take what you want from it, everything isn't happily spelled out for you. Overall, this game shines on so many levels. It took me about 30 hrs to finish a very completionist playthrough of the game. Therefore, whatever your feelings of the final 10 minutes are, they don't overshadow the other 29 hours and 50 minutes of undisputed brilliance. If you play this game with an open mind and take the time to engage yourself with the characters throughout, you will find that the ending is quite satisfactory. The ending doesn't lend closure, but there is plenty of time throughout the game to get that closure before the ending.… Expand
  34. LadyDumrotten
    Mar 21, 2012
    8
    Mass Effect 3 is an epic masterpiece of storytelling in a video game that is crippled by anti-consumer policies and some sloppy corner-cutting in terms of playability. As someone who has been completely invested in this universe, I couldn't be more satisfied with the game's storyline and character development. It is an incredible work of popular fiction, on par with great TV series likeMass Effect 3 is an epic masterpiece of storytelling in a video game that is crippled by anti-consumer policies and some sloppy corner-cutting in terms of playability. As someone who has been completely invested in this universe, I couldn't be more satisfied with the game's storyline and character development. It is an incredible work of popular fiction, on par with great TV series like LOST or Battlestar Galactica and there's absolutely nothing else like it in video games. It's unfortunate then, that anti-consumer policies bog down what is otherwise an exceptional experience. First of all, some of the game's best and most essential single-player content has been put into a 10 dollar day 1 dlc to curb used sales. On top of that, an online pass is required to access the game's micro-transaction based multiplayer... which you need to play in order to get the best endings in the single-player game. You see what I mean by anti-consumer? I feel like this is especially insiduous and unacceptable. The developers have claimed that you don't NEED to play the multiplayer to get the best ending, but I just don't see how it's possible. I wasted hours of my life playing all the horrible fetch quests and running from reapers on the galaxy map just so I could scan a stupid planet (seriously, whoever designed this side-content... ugh) and get a good rating, but by the end it still wasn't enough. To top it off, it is clear that very little time was spent on the game's UI. That said, I still love this game and think it is an absolute must play. Bioware is clearly still an extremely talented developer and the problems in this game are nowhere near as serious as they were in Dragon Age II. I just hope they learn from the negative feedback and stop nickel-and-diming us to death. I doubt it'll happen though.… Expand
  35. 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
  36. 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
  37. 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
  38. freckleface
    Jun 5, 2012
    10
    This game is incredible. The ending is very controversial (as you can see by the huge amount of negative reviews), and is the only reason I wouldn't give this a 10. But they're making a DLC to improve the end, and that's good enough for me. The combat is perfectly polished, fun and responsive. The story is as good as you would expect from a Bioware game. The characters are incredible. ThisThis game is incredible. The ending is very controversial (as you can see by the huge amount of negative reviews), and is the only reason I wouldn't give this a 10. But they're making a DLC to improve the end, and that's good enough for me. The combat is perfectly polished, fun and responsive. The story is as good as you would expect from a Bioware game. The characters are incredible. This is a great end to an AWESOME series. Highly recommended!… Expand
  39. ZenBiker
    Mar 29, 2012
    2
    ME3 is the sad end of a great series. And I don't mean the now-infamous ending of the final Mass Effect game. I mean a series of games from Baldur's Gate, to KotOR, to the first two installments of the Mass Effect trilogy.. I mean the end of BioWare's run as the pre-eminent storyteller in electronic gaming. Many Metacritic users have written fantastic ME3 negative reviews, so I'm notME3 is the sad end of a great series. And I don't mean the now-infamous ending of the final Mass Effect game. I mean a series of games from Baldur's Gate, to KotOR, to the first two installments of the Mass Effect trilogy.. I mean the end of BioWare's run as the pre-eminent storyteller in electronic gaming. Many Metacritic users have written fantastic ME3 negative reviews, so I'm not going to elaborate on those. I recommend traveler's review dated March 29, 2012; it's one of the best examples I've seen. My bottom line: ME3 was destroyed by a Reaper--not Harbinger, but Whoremonger. Whoremonger, who has no passion for story or character. I mean Whoremonger the Money Whore.… Expand
  40. Gamer44
    Apr 27, 2012
    10
    This game is of the hook the story is so perfect the gameplay is smooth the graphics is fantastic and once again Mass Effect 3 is very addictive having played mass effect 1 and 2 and having all 3 games I must say the mass effect franchise was amazing and very addictive I have given my review on the fist two games and will still not give a review on the first two but will give both massThis game is of the hook the story is so perfect the gameplay is smooth the graphics is fantastic and once again Mass Effect 3 is very addictive having played mass effect 1 and 2 and having all 3 games I must say the mass effect franchise was amazing and very addictive I have given my review on the fist two games and will still not give a review on the first two but will give both mass effect 1 and 2 a solid 10 out of 10 and Mass Effect 3 deserve's the same rating as the first 2 games.This game is a masterpiece the entire franchise is a masterpiece.… Expand
  41. Evis03
    Mar 17, 2012
    7
    An excellent game all around, polishing and refinig the mechnanics of ME2 and reintroducing elements people enjoyed from ME1. For the most part it is a well structured game, atmospheric and intense with a cast of well written characters and high stakes narrative.

    Sadly, the ending is a complete waste of time. It is the Epiosde One of videogames. It is a badly written, nonsensical mess    An excellent game all around, polishing and refinig the mechnanics of ME2 and reintroducing elements people enjoyed from ME1. For the most part it is a well structured game, atmospheric and intense with a cast of well written characters and high stakes narrative.

    Sadly, the ending is a complete waste of time. It is the Epiosde One of videogames. It is a badly written, nonsensical mess that aims to be bittersweet, but is just infuriaritng in its slackness and rushes nature. The ending is so bad that it drags down the entire perception of the game, and to a lesser exteent the rest of the series too.

    I give this game 7/10 on the basis that while 95% of the title was exceptional, the remaining 5% was so terrible, such an utter betrayal of not only the series but even basic storytelling, that is taints the reast of the game.    … Expand
  42. pyrocloud7
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    I was perfectly impressed by this game. There is a distinct lack of certain character development options, but that is fitting for the theme of the game. I played through the entire trilogy and love ME3. Full blog at http://tinyurl.com/8a6lnzk
  43. 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
  44. 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
  45. Regal4point1
    Jul 31, 2012
    6
    A very big disappointment. You can tell bioware (EA especially) went to large lengths to make this game mainstream. As a result, we get an actioner that has few bright moments that gave us a peek of what the game could have been with diligence in development, instead of rushed release dates. Few ambitions are achieved in Mass Effect 3, despite its core being pretty solid in its own right.A very big disappointment. You can tell bioware (EA especially) went to large lengths to make this game mainstream. As a result, we get an actioner that has few bright moments that gave us a peek of what the game could have been with diligence in development, instead of rushed release dates. Few ambitions are achieved in Mass Effect 3, despite its core being pretty solid in its own right. Perhaps we expected too much. But I have a feeling they could have delivered.… Expand
  46. Jenny33
    Mar 23, 2012
    8
    I loved this game, its really epic and well done except for a few things: I loved how the romances were done, they had been deepened, I romanced Kaidan as a fem shep and it was fantastic, what bothered me though was the fact that liara got more attention and story as always, its like bioware wants her to be the main romance and I am no lesbian so I wont romance her, even though she is notI loved this game, its really epic and well done except for a few things: I loved how the romances were done, they had been deepened, I romanced Kaidan as a fem shep and it was fantastic, what bothered me though was the fact that liara got more attention and story as always, its like bioware wants her to be the main romance and I am no lesbian so I wont romance her, even though she is not supposed to have a gender she does look very much as a woman. Also it didn't matter if you cheated on your li or not as bioware has said which was disappointing as well. And the ending... I am not going to go into it but it was very badly done and none of the choices made through the games mattered. Play the game except the last 10 minutes and you will love it.… Expand
  47. kadashy
    Mar 16, 2012
    10
    is the star wars of our generation is an incredible game and immerses you in its history, you warm up to his characters, you stop to look at the scenarios, is a great game and highly recommended
  48. DukeJon
    Jan 27, 2013
    10
    I don't understand all the bad reviews of this game. Ending aside, it's up to the high standard of the previous two games, though not quite scaling the heights of ME2 it's still easily one of the best video games ever made. There is simply so much to do with all the character classes, upgrades, customisation, side missions, etc. Despite it's flaw this is the kind of game most gameI don't understand all the bad reviews of this game. Ending aside, it's up to the high standard of the previous two games, though not quite scaling the heights of ME2 it's still easily one of the best video games ever made. There is simply so much to do with all the character classes, upgrades, customisation, side missions, etc. Despite it's flaw this is the kind of game most game developers can only dream of making.… Expand
  49. ShadowEXP
    Mar 11, 2012
    7
    I really do love ME1, with its flaws it was still an awesome game, for me the best one in the series.
    Then came ME2 i still really liked it, but there was something about it that made it not as good. It might of been that it was more action heavy.
    Then came ME3 oh dear. About 80% is shooting. I was on normal difficulty but ended up changing it to narrative. I just could not be bothered. I    I really do love ME1, with its flaws it was still an awesome game, for me the best one in the series.
    Then came ME2 i still really liked it, but there was something about it that made it not as good. It might of been that it was more action heavy.
    Then came ME3 oh dear. About 80% is shooting. I was on normal difficulty but ended up changing it to narrative. I just could not be bothered. I just wanted to get it done to finish the series. Also sometimes the talking can be a bit choppy when it takes about 2 seconds for someone to talk. Any way. THE ENDING. OMG WHY?
    I expected to do what i was doing from beginning. Destroy the reapers, Save the galaxy and settle down with ma babe Ashley. BUT NOOOOOOO. We get s**t. This is not gonna get out of my head for about a month. I'll start thinking of alternatives and dream about it, what could of happened. It makes me annoyed that they couldn't just have you save the galaxy and have a happy ending. I don't care what it takes. Bioware has to do something. Make a alternative DLC ending or something of god. I think if they spent there time a little wiser the game could of been great. I would like to go back to ME1 and have a perfect game all the way through to ME3 to satisfy me but its over now no going back.
    Might as well talk about MP now. Its pretty fun did have all my items get deleted tho which was pretty annoying. Other than that it is quite entertaining. Overall they could of done better instead of taking a week to make 1 ending and copy and pasting it about 16 times. And one more thing. Why wasn't the history of the galaxy told at the end like what happened to the galaxy after the events?    … Expand
  50. Scottface
    Mar 13, 2012
    8
    Okay, there are lots of malicious user-reviews on here, and although I do NOT condone them, I totally understand where they're coming from. After 3 games of making difficult choices, the end reveals that it was all for nothing. Nothing you did really makes any difference to the final outcome, and a lot is left unexplained. However, I've read user-reviews on here that have said they lovedOkay, there are lots of malicious user-reviews on here, and although I do NOT condone them, I totally understand where they're coming from. After 3 games of making difficult choices, the end reveals that it was all for nothing. Nothing you did really makes any difference to the final outcome, and a lot is left unexplained. However, I've read user-reviews on here that have said they loved the game up until the final few minutes and rated it a 1/10. This is the most peevish example of score-trolling I've seen since the last CoD. The truth is, aside from the story's shortcomings, this is still an excellent game. The shooting mechanics are better than ever and the gameplay excells because of it. The dialogue is excellent and the voice acting is, for the most part, nop-notch. It has its gameplay flaws, too, but they're few and far-between. Having the A button (or X button on PS3) responsible for dash, roll AND a context-sensetive action button is very problematic. It's always been a problem when games like Gears and Uncharted use the same button for dash and roll, but having it as an action-button as well is just too much. Often Shepherd does the wrong thing. Also there are some stupid design choices. Example: towards the end of the game, you have to fight your way out of a hangar. Once you've defeated all enemies, you're prompted to "escape the hangar." Usually in the game, clicking the right analogue stick will display a waypoint showing you where to go. But in this instance, clicking the stick simply reveals the prompt again, "escape the hangar." Now, the hangar is 2 floors, with doors and controll panels on both floors, so you're left to check every single door and console in the entire hangar to try and escape. There's also a sense of urgency at this point in the story, which is severely undermined while you run around the hangar trying to figure out where you're supposed to go. These are fairly minor frustrations and as I said before, they're quite rare. But they do occur, and they make the game feel sloppy when they do. It's also a problem when the rest of the game feels so polished and looks so good, then you run into a stupid design decision like this and it feels 10 times worse in contrast. For most games these would feel like minor flaws but for a game with the budget of Mass Effect, they just feel a little lazy.

    In conclusion, this really is a good game bar a few minor flaws, and one major flaw. The major flaw is, of course, the end of the story. A huge majority of the series' fans feel letdown by this abysmal ending, myself included. Usually I wouldn't let a weak story tarnish my opinion of a game too much. But Mass Effect is, and always has been, a story-driven series. The stories in the first 2 games were captivating, here it feels pretty average. Then the ending comes and is far below average. If it weren't for this ending, I'd have given the game at least a 9. If it had a truly great, satisfying ending, I'd probably even have given it a 10, despite its few gameplay flaws. As it stands though, I've had to lower my opinion of this game to an 8. Disapointing.    … Expand
  51. 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
  52. FellFerreira
    Apr 25, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect pra mim eh o simbolo maior da geracao atual, sempre fui fa desde o primeiro e comprei minha edicao de colecionador por tamanho respeito e carinho que tenho pela saga. O que falar entao de Mass Effect sem parecer um fanboy? Historia irada, personagens incriveis, tecnica perfeita, mecanica anos luz a frente do primeiro e jah sensacional Mass Effect original. Eh Mass Effect 3 ehMass Effect pra mim eh o simbolo maior da geracao atual, sempre fui fa desde o primeiro e comprei minha edicao de colecionador por tamanho respeito e carinho que tenho pela saga. O que falar entao de Mass Effect sem parecer um fanboy? Historia irada, personagens incriveis, tecnica perfeita, mecanica anos luz a frente do primeiro e jah sensacional Mass Effect original. Eh Mass Effect 3 eh muito melhor do que eu imaginava, o unico jogo longo que estava torcendo pra nao acabar, nao por causa do final polemico (ate pq achei sensacional) mas porque eu sei que ao fechar seria o fim, e eu realmente nao queria o fim. Sheppard, Garrus, Thane, Jack, eu realmente vou sentir falta deles, sao personagens que me envolvi e o mais sensacional evoluiram ao longo da historia. Tenho uma coisa a dizer, Bioware muito obrigado pela experiencia, pelos momentos de indecisao de ficar por minutos pensando nas consequencias de minhas acoes, muito obrigado pela estadia na Normandy. Mass Effect 3 tem ainda um bom adendo o multiplayer, nao eh algo sensacional mas devido ao incrivel background torna a experiencia bacana, Quero muito DLCs muito mesmo, e as vezes fico imaginando plots indivduais para cada personagem. Seria maneiro o fim no ponto de vista de cada personagem, e uma mecanica diferenciada pra cada. Mas está de bom tamanho, na verdade estou satisfeito. 10 com louvor se pudesse dava 11. "Sheppard out"… Expand
  53. rykeith
    Mar 27, 2012
    6
    After I finished the first Mass Effect in 2007, I couldn't wait to play the two scheduled sequels. I was a little disappointed in Mass Effect 2, as there were less RPG elements in the game. It felt more commercialized. Mass Effect 3 feels even more commercialized than the second game. The addition of multiplayer was not something I was looking forward to at all, and it was just as terribleAfter I finished the first Mass Effect in 2007, I couldn't wait to play the two scheduled sequels. I was a little disappointed in Mass Effect 2, as there were less RPG elements in the game. It felt more commercialized. Mass Effect 3 feels even more commercialized than the second game. The addition of multiplayer was not something I was looking forward to at all, and it was just as terrible as I imagined. Having to suffer through disconnections, annoying people online (think any popular FPS online chatter- that kind of annoying), and the exact same gameplay over and over (the only game mode is where waves of enemies spawn, you kill them, repeat) validated my concerns about the multiplayer. I firmly believe it was put in there solely to appease a wider audience and thereby increase game sales ($$$). The single player game was amazing up until the last 10 minutes. The ending was one of the worst I have ever experienced in my 23 years of playing video games. Also, if they are planning to release a different ending via DLC, that only further proves the point that it seems to be more about the money than it does the game, Mass Effect canon, gameplay, or the fans. In summary, much of the game is amazing, but I am overall very disappointed. Wish I would have stopped playing after the original Mass Effect.… Expand
  54. KletassVanDam
    Dec 27, 2012
    8
    I'm giving this an 8 even though I agree with a lot of the negative reviews about the ending and lack of consequences of choice. It is very fun to play, and the action/combat is tight and enjoyable (love the sniper rifle). I wish there were some large variance to the results, inviting multiple playthrus. ME2, to me, is better than ME3, but ME3 is worth at least one complete playthru, andI'm giving this an 8 even though I agree with a lot of the negative reviews about the ending and lack of consequences of choice. It is very fun to play, and the action/combat is tight and enjoyable (love the sniper rifle). I wish there were some large variance to the results, inviting multiple playthrus. ME2, to me, is better than ME3, but ME3 is worth at least one complete playthru, and if you liked ME or ME2, you'll have fun playing ME3, even if you will be left flat or confused with the end. Bring on a new ME series, and have parts of the game locked out based on a choice you make which take you down a certain path. Have character's relationships change irrevocably and have them join or not based on how they feel about you or other characters.… Expand
  55. 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
  56. 1011ad
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    This game is amazing. One of my favorite games of all time. Haters gonna hate. The DLC is worth the price and it took me 60 hours to complete the entire game. Totally worth the $70 price tag.
  57. InfamousJedi
    May 7, 2012
    10
    (possible spoilers)
    Hate that is directed towards this game is only due to fans getting an ending they were not expecting. The ending does not and should not take away the fact that Mass Effect 3 is a fun and engaging game that has lovable characters and a deep, rich world. Would I have liked the ME series to end a bit different? absolutely, but the fact is how the game ends leaves    (possible spoilers)
    Hate that is directed towards this game is only due to fans getting an ending they were not expecting. The ending does not and should not take away the fact that Mass Effect 3 is a fun and engaging game that has lovable characters and a deep, rich world. Would I have liked the ME series to end a bit different? absolutely, but the fact is how the game ends leaves plenty of room for interpretation(which is a trend that we gamers are the cause of). Hopefully the coming extended cut DLC will bring more closure to fans that wanted to see the effects that their Shepard had on the Galaxy. Fans should note this was Shep's story if he were to die that should be it for the story.    … Expand
  58. 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
  59. 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
  60. 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
  61. Neely
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    You'll be thinking about your choices days after completion; a feat not many games in the industry can replicate. With this being said, the combat is better, and the multiplayer only adds more to an already robust package. And the story? The Mass Effect series will go down as one of the best written stories in all of video gaming history.
  62. 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
  63. Blidly
    Jun 9, 2012
    7
    I wanted to like this game I swear. I loved the first two games and was prepared for more but I just couldnt love it like the others.
    The game plays very similary to Mass Effect 2 , though I have been spoilt by playing other amazing 3rd person shooters and this felt quite weightless and cover mechanic I didnt like. The enemies are quite generic and all follow similar patterns, meaning it    I wanted to like this game I swear. I loved the first two games and was prepared for more but I just couldnt love it like the others.
    The game plays very similary to Mass Effect 2 , though I have been spoilt by playing other amazing 3rd person shooters and this felt quite weightless and cover mechanic I didnt like. The enemies are quite generic and all follow similar patterns, meaning it felt repetitive.
    The game has been updated graphically to make it look fantastic , though with this high polygon count this means shepard always has to have his gun out like a sociopath. The story is awesome and I really enjoyed it, though "cameo-ing" all the characters from the previous game felt very cheesy , though was nice to see what happened to them.
    In the end the story was what pulled me through the boring action, if you've never played Mass Effect , play ME2 and then decide to continue. If you played the others, play through this just to finish your story.    … Expand
  64. Xenugears
    Mar 28, 2012
    6
    This game is simultaneously overrated and underrated. Overrated because critics and fanboys blindly gave the game a pass without addressing its glaring, near deal-breaking faults such as a curious lack of choice, wonky dialogue, a cumbersome cover system, vague journal entries, Jessica Chobot, James Vega, an inexcusable glitch not allowing me to import my Shepard from ME1 and 2 (really,This game is simultaneously overrated and underrated. Overrated because critics and fanboys blindly gave the game a pass without addressing its glaring, near deal-breaking faults such as a curious lack of choice, wonky dialogue, a cumbersome cover system, vague journal entries, Jessica Chobot, James Vega, an inexcusable glitch not allowing me to import my Shepard from ME1 and 2 (really, Bioware?) and the now infamous ending. However, I would argue that ME3 is also slightly underrated because, well, the game STILL has solid combat, fun weapons (I love the Scorpion, a heavy pistol that shoots out sticky proximity mines), great music and a some genuinely rich emotional moments that strike a chord. The game's horrible conclusion and inability (or unwillingness) to weave "my Shepard's" actions from ME1 and 2 may not enough to "ruin" the game/series entirely and, for that matter, retroactively (a la Matrix Revolutions) but it's certainly enough to elicit a sense of regret over what could have been the best science fiction story of this current console generation (Portal 2 is safe!). Bottom line: an ominous shadow has been cast over this nearly spotless series.… Expand
  65. iloveFFC
    Sep 3, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Yes the endings were dissapointing, but they came out with a DLC for it. The Reapers are extremely intimidating and cool. Their sheer power makes you realize just how much the galaxy depends on every choice you make. Its the best game in the series, dont let a lackluster ending discorage you. Alot of people expected more for an ending to such an epic series like this, but no game is perfect, just because the ending was bad doesn't mean the whole game is horrible. Anyway, the graphics are great, but the facial motions are very off at times. It has much more humor thanks to EDI and Joker cooperating and joking among eachother and everyone else. To enjoy the game to it's fullest, play the first 2 then play this one, an imported save will greatly increase your enjoment of this wonderful game. The characters are still amazing and we even get some new characters to bond with. This game is just, wow! Just dont play it on Soldier mode, its horrid.… Expand
  66. abHYPE88
    Mar 15, 2012
    10
    I can't believe what people are saying about this game. It's an amazing end to an epic trilogy. Sure not everyone got a specifically tailored experience they were expecting but I mean come on! I still don't think we're at the stage in gaming and technology where developers are able to COMPLETELY make sure everyone gets something different, plus it's a trilogy. I can understand if it's oneI can't believe what people are saying about this game. It's an amazing end to an epic trilogy. Sure not everyone got a specifically tailored experience they were expecting but I mean come on! I still don't think we're at the stage in gaming and technology where developers are able to COMPLETELY make sure everyone gets something different, plus it's a trilogy. I can understand if it's one game, but making 3 games that would take into accounts hundreds of actions to create a unique story for millions of gamers, I think, is still out of our reach. Sure the ending wasn't as spectacular as I would've liked but it closed the game and brought an ending to the amazing story known as Mass Effect. There were still some plotholes but forgivable considering how much I enjoyed the game and the beauty and inspiring moments presented. Apparently hundreds of gamers need to get their heads out of their asses and realize that even though gaming is far more advanced than it was not even a decade ago, developers still have a lot of limitations. Mass Effect 3 is a game well worth buying and playing through. When I get my hands on the first Mass Effect, I will play through all 3 games again (this time as a badass female Shepard) because the trilogy is just that awesome to play through.… Expand
  67. The_Redback
    Mar 15, 2012
    10
    Amazing game. Great way to finish off the trilogy. Graphics and game play were excellent while managing to keep the flow of the story intact and build character in which you feel an emotional attachment to. People have voted the game down for the ending but its a case that they just don't 'get it'. They don't understand it. Overall, wouldn't change a thing. Get out there and play it.
  68. MikeE50
    May 8, 2012
    10
    I must be strange because I enjoyed all 3 Mass Effect games nearly equally. If you like 1 and 2 you should like 3 as well. What's good about it? The writing, the characters, the universe, the graphics, the music & sound, the action, etc. It's not perfect, but no game is perfect.

    For the uninformed reader, the reason there are so many highly negative user reviews is because many people    I must be strange because I enjoyed all 3 Mass Effect games nearly equally. If you like 1 and 2 you should like 3 as well. What's good about it? The writing, the characters, the universe, the graphics, the music & sound, the action, etc. It's not perfect, but no game is perfect.

    For the uninformed reader, the reason there are so many highly negative user reviews is because many people do not like the ending (no spoilers in my review). I enjoyed the ending spoiler-free and then read why people were upset and I can see their point. I can imagine other possible endings that would be equally good, but I like the official ending too. Taken as a whole, the game, if the Action-RPG genre and sci-fi setting interests you, is a 10/10.    … Expand
  69. FineapplePucker
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    Do not listen to the people who gave this game a low score. They are bashing it because of 1. the Day one dlc, which is only ONE mission, a squadmate, and extra squad outfits; 2. Because they do not understand the ending; or 3. haven't played the game and are acting like they have because they just hate the series. This is easily a top contender for this years GOTY and it is only March.Do not listen to the people who gave this game a low score. They are bashing it because of 1. the Day one dlc, which is only ONE mission, a squadmate, and extra squad outfits; 2. Because they do not understand the ending; or 3. haven't played the game and are acting like they have because they just hate the series. This is easily a top contender for this years GOTY and it is only March. The game is excellent in every aspect. The gameplay, story, everything! The gameplay is so smooth and the multiplayer is a giant step in the right direction and will increase the replay value so much. The story is extremely well written and to all those who don't understand the ending, Look it up or something. The graphics have improved too. The game also goes back to more RPG-like roots which make it even better. ME2 was great, ME3 is excellent. The game does have a few glitches like character imports or cutscenes, but are easily overlooked and nowhere near as bad as certain RPGs that came out last year cough*cough*Sky cough*cough*rim cough*cough* The glitches are so minuscule that they won't even make me lower the game a score. This game is so close to perfection, it is ridiculous. If you are a fan of the series, this is a must buy, if not, now's the time to start. And to those who are just saying this game sucked because you, "have to pay for dlc, waaaah," or "I hate the ending" or "Mass effect sucks even though I haven't played it," Grow up. I do admit the dlc is a little dumb but it is only one mission. To those who didn't like the ending really need to look it up or something because the ending is absolute GENIUS just like the rest of the game. If you compare the Critics to the users, there is obviously many biased opinions in the user reviews.… Expand
  70. Darklink
    Jul 22, 2013
    10
    First of all I've never actually played the game. BUT! Since its release I've had so much fun reading the reviews I honestly believes it DESERVES a 10/10 score. Every time I feel down or bored I come on Metacritic and feel alive again! I think Bioware never realised it but they invented the Mass Comedy genre in a night. Some of the reviews here are pure gold. Seek for the "fistula" one,First of all I've never actually played the game. BUT! Since its release I've had so much fun reading the reviews I honestly believes it DESERVES a 10/10 score. Every time I feel down or bored I come on Metacritic and feel alive again! I think Bioware never realised it but they invented the Mass Comedy genre in a night. Some of the reviews here are pure gold. Seek for the "fistula" one, it's left-hemospheric exo-plasmatic. To all the reviewers here, a HUGE thank you! You made this game awesome! :D… Expand
  71. bgreen
    Mar 24, 2012
    7
    Rented at Redbox first to try it out. It was good enough to buy so I purchased. Not the best of the series but fun anyway. I have not got to the end yet so I cannot say how disappointed I will be by that; but overall gameplay is good, graphics solid. Guess I was hoping for a little more.
  72. 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
  73. LukeDukem
    Mar 26, 2012
    3
    Well, game is not that good like ME1 and ME2 was (even worst as a ''RPG'' game), and that... ending, haha BioWare is gettin' even better after DA2 ;-)

    Just rent it :-/
  74. Robkilerrabit
    Mar 17, 2012
    10
    Great Game, except the ending. The ending wasn't that horrible, it has definitely been exaggerated in how bad it was, but I feel like they could have done better. Still worth the money though.
  75. scorpolion
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    Let me speak from my heart,
    Thi is a beautifull game with a beautifull scenary, i like all parts of this game. This is the model of sci-fi grand opera
    Thanks, with respect.
  76. andvaree
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    ME3 took 36 hours of my life to complete, but it was well worth it. One of the best, most heart wrenching, sci-fi storytelling experiences of my life - video game, movie, book or otherwise. ...and - for me - the best video game ever!
  77. victortoyos
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    Awesome, just what I though it would be!I`m simply loving this game :) Played 1 and 2 again so i could get back in the story. Awsome :D Nothing less then perfection. I managed to get a copy a few days early and I never thought the story and game could top what the last two games have delivered, but this keeps getting better and better! You really do feel the weight of those decisions youAwesome, just what I though it would be!I`m simply loving this game :) Played 1 and 2 again so i could get back in the story. Awsome :D Nothing less then perfection. I managed to get a copy a few days early and I never thought the story and game could top what the last two games have delivered, but this keeps getting better and better! You really do feel the weight of those decisions you made. Its great to finally see the outcome of these shaping after waiting for 5 years in curiosity as to what would happen.… Expand
  78. 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.
  79. MarkJones
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    I'll start with the bad. Problems include familiar lip syncing issues, an improved but still troublesome cover system, what I assume to be a problematic introduction to gamers new to Mass Effect, and the underwhelming and increasingly controversial ending - which I'll return to later.

    Everything right with the game overcomes all of negative. The story was more engrossing than ever. The    I'll start with the bad. Problems include familiar lip syncing issues, an improved but still troublesome cover system, what I assume to be a problematic introduction to gamers new to Mass Effect, and the underwhelming and increasingly controversial ending - which I'll return to later.

    Everything right with the game overcomes all of negative. The story was more engrossing than ever. The voice acting; inspired. The sound and music was perfect. The loose integration of a genuinely fun, cooperative mutliplayer mode into the campaign was a stroke of genius. Buy now if you have played and completed Mass Effect and ME2, do not rent. If you haven't played the previous games: do so. Before you buy, arm yourself with good excuses for your significant other or boss as to why you've mysteriously disappeared. As for the end. The end may not be what some may have idealized during their struggle through the series. During the play-through, gamers will reflect on what they want for Shepard, what they define as victory. But the dialectic between agency and determinism can only be resolved by resolution. Everything which Shepard struggled for is preserved. Everything which Shepard struggled for is destroyed. Bitter sweet and beautiful.    … Expand
  80. InfiniteSheldon
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    Those who have rated this game below a seven simply do not know how to review games. Straight simple. I'm seeing a lot of ones and zeroes that don't make any sense; not really sure what people are crying about. 1) Graphics: Improved
    2) Sound/Music: Improved 3) Multiplayer: Functional and Enjoyable
    4) Combat Gameplay: Improved--Melee does stuff now, cooldowns make more sense, less ammo    Those who have rated this game below a seven simply do not know how to review games. Straight simple. I'm seeing a lot of ones and zeroes that don't make any sense; not really sure what people are crying about. 1) Graphics: Improved
    2) Sound/Music: Improved 3) Multiplayer: Functional and Enjoyable
    4) Combat Gameplay: Improved--Melee does stuff now, cooldowns make more sense, less ammo starvation, certain biotics more balanced than previous two games.
    5) Inventory/Weapon Management: Improved--you can now mod your equipment with a greater variety of equipment depending on your style of play, and there's a wider variety of armor with different buffs.
    6) Skillset/Powers: Improved--definitely more skills/powers than ME2, trimmed the fat from ME1, and gave a whole number of different options for branching out abilities that simply were not present before.
    7) DLC: Incomplete as of yet, but From Ashes is better than Zaeed's DLC
    8) Day 1 DLC: An unfortunate reality of gaming these days. This isn't the first and won't be the last. It may even become the norm. It is however unnecessary for the story, free with the Collector's Edition, and given the delay from the initial forecast for the game's release--right on time. 9) Same-sex romance options. Didn't hear any complaining about girl-on-girl. The male homosexual fanbase now has something more to relate to. Kaiden's advances on Shepard are a little surprising, but no so much now that I remember that he turned down a threesome with FemShep and Liara in the first game when he told me to choose between him and her. These sorts of things make RPGs great; the choices and the consequences that come with them. I can see why homophobes would drop their review score because of this. Because they're bigots.
    10) The story. Here's where people are weeping the most. Apparently some things don't make sense or allegedly retcon what was learned in the first two games. Having played through both of them eight times apiece making different decisions each time, I know that's not the case. Some say that there's no story to the game, but there's more of a story than ME2. And as for choices affecting the final outcome and endgame scenario for ME3, it's no less complete than the influence of ME1 on ME2. If you liked ME2 you should like ME3 if a story is what you're looking for. The game delivered. Everything that people were crying about was addressed. More outfits/armor than ME2. More romance options. Improved Reputation system. New exploration system (and from how much bawling there was about the Mako missions of ME1 and planet scanning of ME2, this is a welcome alternative, but I was one of those people who loved the Mako). It was exciting, gave us more information, more character development, wrapped up a bunch of plotlines seamlessly and had its share of epic battles. One thing that I did miss however was Aria's reclamation of Afterlife. Maybe that's going to be DLC. I want to see that. And maybe we'll get some ME2 characters recruited in DLC as well. So given all the improvements and the adequate story progression based of the progression from ME1 to ME2, I do not see how this could rate any lower than a 7 even if you hate what the story actually is. Personally, I love it. But even if I didn't, I know how to rate the game fairly. I think a lot of people are pissed about what they didn't get instead of enjoying what they did--and they got a fantastic game epic in scope and delivery. Replayability 10/10: Multiplayer and Paragon/Renegade plotlines stemming from the previous games Graphics 9/10:Beautiful cutscenes, breathtaking environments, but people still kind of look molded from clay for some reason. Sound 9/10: Includes music, sound effects and dialogue. Dialogue is great, everyone has their own unique voice (vs. Skyrim where five voices occupy 9 population centers). Sound effects are well done, music isn't my favorite but done well for drama. Where it falters is volume. I know it's hard to hear conversations in a nightclub, but It's a little annoying having to manually adjust volume levels to hear cutscenes in Purgatory. Also, depending on camera angle or POV, people near your character are quiet. Perhaps this is an issue due to my lack of surround sound. Story 8/10: I had hoped for a more meaningful impact on my story when it came to my decisions about the Rachni and the Geth in the previous two games, and recruiting the ME2 characters would have been nice but perhaps overkill. Fun: 10/10: Intense, high-stakes battles. Multiplayer component works great and promises to provide for the long haul. New romance options worth exploring. Great replayability encouraging playing through the previous two games. Wonderful cutscenes. Hilarious and sometimes touching dialogue. Thane will be remembered fondly. Overall 10    … Expand
  81. 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
  82. professorofreed
    Mar 12, 2012
    10
    This flame war is silly. Mass Effect is a stellar game! Look at the critic reviews and don't waste time with the people who are trying to knock the score down for malicious and hateful purposes. ME3 is just as good, if not better than the first two. Although, I really loved #2!
  83. KCross
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    This has been some ride, since Mass Effect first grabbed my attention. I have played through every bit of the first two games, and loved every minute. Now the final comes, and I feel equal parts excited and sad. Sad that it will have to end, but thrilled to get a chance to play it. And it does not disappoint. The emotion - always the strong point of Mass Effect - is brought to anotherThis has been some ride, since Mass Effect first grabbed my attention. I have played through every bit of the first two games, and loved every minute. Now the final comes, and I feel equal parts excited and sad. Sad that it will have to end, but thrilled to get a chance to play it. And it does not disappoint. The emotion - always the strong point of Mass Effect - is brought to another level. The characters that I have come to care so much about are even more fleshed out. And the goosebumps at certain points of the game...well, I won't spoil. Just get it.… Expand
  84. 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
  85. ASD4-4
    Mar 13, 2012
    7
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  86. 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
  87. TyDrag65
    Mar 13, 2012
    8
    I think this game is being unfairly judged by gamers simply because of the content in certain areas, specifically the romance. Gamers need a reminder, that its all CHOICE, and not fact. On that note I have to say the latest BioWare game Mass Effect 3 is one hell of a game. The graphics, sound and story is very fitting for the franchise. My ownly gripe i have with is the the ending butI think this game is being unfairly judged by gamers simply because of the content in certain areas, specifically the romance. Gamers need a reminder, that its all CHOICE, and not fact. On that note I have to say the latest BioWare game Mass Effect 3 is one hell of a game. The graphics, sound and story is very fitting for the franchise. My ownly gripe i have with is the the ending but not because of what others have listed. I simply feel that if you chose to be paragon then the ending should have been strictly the paragone way, and the reneage way was for renagades. Having to chose the final option without including all my other actions felt off to me. Otherwise the game was a good final game. I disliked the ending only because it meant the series really is at an end and I adore this series.… Expand
  88. Havok1496
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 3 is an amazing game if you were interested in the first or the second games or even if you have never played mass effect it is definitely worth buying this game. As for the people who say your choices don't matter they do, bioware has merely made the choices harder, and the consequences as well. Where as in the first two games deaths were minor, based on yours actionsMass Effect 3 is an amazing game if you were interested in the first or the second games or even if you have never played mass effect it is definitely worth buying this game. As for the people who say your choices don't matter they do, bioware has merely made the choices harder, and the consequences as well. Where as in the first two games deaths were minor, based on yours actions companions may die however, i feel that while it is at times shocking after you let it settle in it is something to be appreciated. As for those who say the graphics are terrible that is a lie, the game looks amazing probably better than most games that are out on the xbox360, the gameplay is solid i would say that the shooting mechanics have improved, and that from the occasional cover problem combat is very easy to get into but if you play the game on the harder difficulties such as insane the game is a challenge. For those who complain about the dlc or the ending judge the entire game not just one part, if you feel bioware has wronged you. Now some of you may disagree with my rating but i will say this there is no way mass effect 3 deserves anything less than a 8. In all i recommend mass effect 3 for anybody, it is a great game, the endings for some may be not what they expected but it is an amazing game full of incredible moments that should not be missed.… Expand
  89. vanash84
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    Of all the games I have played, individual or continual, Mass Effect tops them all. And though know there is plenty of criticism with Mass Effect 3, I found none to speak of myself. Although the previous lead writer departed, the story (to me) remained in tact. It may have left most wondering in the end what happened. But I was content. BioWare gave me exactly what I wanted. An endOf all the games I have played, individual or continual, Mass Effect tops them all. And though know there is plenty of criticism with Mass Effect 3, I found none to speak of myself. Although the previous lead writer departed, the story (to me) remained in tact. It may have left most wondering in the end what happened. But I was content. BioWare gave me exactly what I wanted. An end to an amazing trilogy. I started 2 years after the release of Mass Effect [1]. But I continued my journey throughout. Laughed, fought, sat on the edge of my seat in wonder. Mass Effect 2, I saw my decisions (most of them, anyway) carry over. Felt like I was part of something big. Then, Mass Effect 3. The laughter and joy continued. As did the hurt, the worry. Even the sadness appeared. Can honestly say I have never cried during anything. Movies, TV. Nothing. The Mass Effect Trilogy became personal to me in the sense that these are all my decisions spanning 3 whole games. And to see it come to an end, felt good. I hope BioWare keeps the franchise as a whole going into the next-gen consoles. There's so much more that can be done.… Expand
  90. raven191
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game right now is one of my favorite games behind Half-Life 2. Those two games are the only ones to ever evoke an emotional response from me. I'll admit it, manly tears were shed but it really takes a lot to get that kind of emotion out of me from a video game. There is a lot of grief over the ending, but it was actually my favorite part of the series because of the closure that it brought with it.

    The tear jerker for me was near the end you and Liara share that special moment where time stands still. That part made me bawl like a baby.    … Expand
  91. Xhala
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    This franchise has been the most rewarding series of games that I have ever played, and this game was no different. The game is visually beautiful, brilliantly voice acted, has exciting combat and a stellar musical score that incorporates elements of the previous two games. I can't help but feel that all of the negative reviews posted here are nothing but a gross overreaction toThis franchise has been the most rewarding series of games that I have ever played, and this game was no different. The game is visually beautiful, brilliantly voice acted, has exciting combat and a stellar musical score that incorporates elements of the previous two games. I can't help but feel that all of the negative reviews posted here are nothing but a gross overreaction to dissatisfaction with the ending. How you feel about the very end of the game is up to you, but all of the people giving this game a review score of 0 or 1 either are simply venting their frustration with the final moments of the game. To do so is to ignore the previous 40+ hours of brilliance.… Expand
  92. Sharkey87
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. SPOILER WARNING - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNING

    This is partly a review and partly a rant on what I see as fans strong-arming the creative process. First off what did I think of Mass Effect 3? Well considering I booked a week off work to play it and did nothing but play it for that week, that should tell you I bloody loved every minute of it, EVEN THE ENDING and I'll get onto why later. As an ending to a trilogy that I have been completely invested in since 2008 when I got to play the first game properly on my first Xbox 360 (I did play it on my mates console when if first came out, that is when he wasn't playing it and that wasn't much of the time!) I thought it was excellent. The story was backed up by superbly written and acted characters (although Jessica Chobot was a little distracting) and I got the feeling that everything I had done up to this point had an impact. An example; during my first playthrough of Mass Effect 2, I managed to accomplish the suicide mission without any of my team dieing. Seeing them again in Mass Effect 3 felt like seeing old friends and when they kicked the bucket, I genuinely felt emotion. All the main characters in the Mass Effect trilogy have a real character arc, especially those from Mass Effect 1. I wouldn't have thought during my first encounter with Urdnot Wrex that over the course of the trilogy he would be where he was by the third game. Thats the level of character depth Bioware have achieved, whilst excellent story and characters are a staple of Bioware games the culmination of the Mass Effect trilogy is the apex of their long history of creating virtual worlds. Gameplay and grapics wise its on par with Mass Effect 2, which is no bad thing as that game played well also. Now on to the rant about the community feedback regarding the ending, all I can say to all the internet trolls and 'dissapointed' fans out there is grow up!! Look we are all entitled to our opinion, but to say you hated a game because you hated the ending is immature. I'd hate to be a developer at Bioware, having achieved this incredible milestone in the medium of interactive storytelling and to have wake up to this unessecary vitriol over the ending of a game. My opinion on the ending; I honestly preferred it to a happy ever after everyone lives forgettable ending that we've seen time and again. Good Science Fiction creates fantastical worlds and concepts, great science fiction does these things but also challenges us to think. The ending of Mass Effect 3 in my playthrough had me thinking about the futility and insignifcance of our existence, the cyclical nature of history and other challenging concepts. Mass Effect 1 introduced us to this incredible vision of the future, Mass Effect 2 fleshed out that universe and Mass Effect 3 relates it to reality. Just because Mass Effect 3 doesn't end with the fist pumping bravado that characterizes a game like Call of Duty doesn't make it a bad game. I've heard of a campaign to force Bioware to change the ending of Mass Effect 3, entitled 'take back Mass Effect'. This attempt to strong arm the developer saddens me. It shows a community wholely ungrateful and immature to the point where they consider the intellectual property theirs. Mass Effect was Bioware's creation so what obligation do they have to satisfy a groups notions of what a 'good ending' is. With this response to the games ending, all I have to say is I can only see a bunch of children throwing the toys out of the pram. Right thats my two cents, now I'm going to play through all three games back to back. I'll close this article by saying thank you Bioware, thank you.    … Expand
  93. Slva911
    Mar 22, 2012
    10
    Nothing less then perfection. I managed to get a copy a few days early and I never thought the story and game could top what the last two games have delivered, but this keeps getting better and better! You really do feel the weight of those decisions you made. Its great to finally see the outcome of these shaping after waiting for 5 years in curiosity as to what would happen.
  94. AparoDedaro
    Mar 14, 2012
    10
    I am SICK of all the hate! Duke Nukem forever IS NOT a better game, its user score is currently 5.8!?! That's terrible! ME3 is a great game, don't pay attention to all the b*tching. There are minor flaws in the game, it isn't perfect no game is. It deserves no less than an 8 for everything that Bioware put into it. The story is great, the gameplay is a rush, and the characters stickI am SICK of all the hate! Duke Nukem forever IS NOT a better game, its user score is currently 5.8!?! That's terrible! ME3 is a great game, don't pay attention to all the b*tching. There are minor flaws in the game, it isn't perfect no game is. It deserves no less than an 8 for everything that Bioware put into it. The story is great, the gameplay is a rush, and the characters stick out more then ever. I've gone through to the end and from start to finish the game was amazing. It makes me sick all of these people giving it a negative review. So overly critical of the game. Don't hate so much unless you're in the video game making industry yourself and you can do better.… 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. EngineExe
    Mar 15, 2012
    7
    Seriously, I know a lot of you are trying to prove a point on how disappointed you were with the ending, but 1's and 0's? Do you have any idea of how bad and broken a game would have to be to rightfully deserve a 1 or 0 score? You're just being childish. The game play mechanics are exactly what you would expect after 1 and 2, which is fine. The playtime length is just as long if not a bitSeriously, I know a lot of you are trying to prove a point on how disappointed you were with the ending, but 1's and 0's? Do you have any idea of how bad and broken a game would have to be to rightfully deserve a 1 or 0 score? You're just being childish. The game play mechanics are exactly what you would expect after 1 and 2, which is fine. The playtime length is just as long if not a bit longer than 2. Voice acting was great (at least with the main characters) and the overall story was superb excluding the ending. Graphics were alright other than some texture pop ups, but that's do to the 360 hardware being outdated. My year old laptop has way better specs than the 360. The multiplayer is enjoyable, nothing truly groundbreaking other than that your progress reflects in the singleplayer. I don't think I've seen a game do that before so that's pretty cool. So that's most of the good, on to the bad. I played 1 and 2 on pc so couldn't import my game. I thought by picking Kaidan and not choosing "Numerous" in the Deaths option I'd be fine. But no, even when I chose just Kaidan most of my team was dead already. Wrex, Jack, Grunt, Thane, Samara, Legion, and Zaeed... all dead presumably, or at least nowhere to be seen in the default none import campaign. A few bugs here and there in conversations, also finished a couple sidemissions that didn't register complete so I had to do them a second time. Now to the ending, what all these 0 scoring trolls are whining about. A big problem for me is there wasn't a final boss battle. In the last mission you kinda just fight your way through hordes of normal enemies 'til you get to the final area and cut scenes. For it being the last mission of the game, finishing it didn't really feel like much of an accomplishment. Then you get to the end and the whole Reaper situation is explained to you. I actually thought that part was pretty great. The problem though is after that you get to make one of 3 decisions and no matter which one you choose they are the same ending cinematic with slight tweaks depending on what you chose to do. Don't believe me, check youtube for the endings. Shepard does 1 of 3 actions and then it's all the same cutscene after that unless you picked destroy, then you get a few extra seconds which are not really exciting. The lack of drastic differences in the endings just makes it seem like BioWare got lazy or ran out of ideas. In either case it makes the game feel like none of the decisions I made really had any impact on the outcome of the story, which is defiantly a letdown. That being said it was the last 3 minutes of a game that I had previously spent around 26-27 hours enjoying. Disappointing but not game breaking. Then there was the part after the credits. I don't even know why this was included. Maybe it was meant to be a twist, but it came across as cheesy and kind of stupid. Anyways, it was a good game. The ending was pretty lacking but I still enjoyed playing it. Worth a zero? I think not. Grow up and get over yourself.… Expand
  97. Conor1320
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    Pay no attention to the negative user reviews. Fans are never pleased. The negative reviews only criticize one to two flaws in the game and render it a 0-2 rating... Just pathetic, how could you call yourselves fans? Why are you mad at Bioware? Is it because of the ending? First of all the ending is the work of the writer, the final 10 minutes is where the poor writing starts, and I admitPay no attention to the negative user reviews. Fans are never pleased. The negative reviews only criticize one to two flaws in the game and render it a 0-2 rating... Just pathetic, how could you call yourselves fans? Why are you mad at Bioware? Is it because of the ending? First of all the ending is the work of the writer, the final 10 minutes is where the poor writing starts, and I admit the ending was a letdown, but I still love BioWare and I still love ME3, so if you should criticize anyone then attack the writer regarding the final 10 minutes. Bioware has forged this magnificent story and lore for us all to enjoy and yet many of you attack them for minor details, I am ashamed to even think they are a part of the fanbase. Many loyal fans and I included still appreciate ME3 and all the story + lore shared by BioWare and I am not going to let some silly ending bring me down, give the scores the game deserves.… Expand
  98. 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
  99. FrostAiden
    Apr 17, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Like many others, I was not "satisfied" with the ending, I felt that the ending was rushed and it did leave a bitter taste in my mouth, and making me not want to play the game anymore. But although it is a "RPG" about "YOUR" Shepard, I remember that there still is a plot and that some way of conclusion needed to be made and although it did end with thousands of loopholes and contradictions, I felt that the ending reminds me that choices cannot always have a "nice" outcome. And I almost forgot the amazing game experience the rest of the game had to offer, the emotion that drives you to choose what makes your character you. Also the amazing subplots are truly satisfying and felt that your choices really can make a difference. The romance in this game has also significantly improved over previous games, the characters act more "flirtatious" try to comfort each other, and show real intimacy in the actions they do. (I am a bit "iffy" about Tali's picture, but really she looks amazing, whether it's a copy or not, and I am glad to have romanced her). And to be honest the ending was not the best, yes... But to curse a game that gave so much more amazing and wonderful game play and experiences because of an ending where Bioware felt it ended the series.… Expand
  100. jusenkyo7
    Mar 17, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think a lot of people miss the very fact that the amount of typeface that has been spilled on the ending simply proves what an amazing experience ME3 was. Even set against its two unbelievably immersive previous installments, the game is heartwrenching. It's not supposed to be easy: unlike the previous two installments, no matter how "well" you play, beloved companions will die: Mordin, Legion, Thane at the very least. The Ashley/Kaidan choice in ME1 doesn't compare, as you had not built nearly the same kind of relationships with either character at that point, never mind that the two are easily the least compelling ME characters in general.

    Which brings us to the ending: I am not just upset by the ending, I am heartbroken. I desperately want to know what happens next. Will Shepard get up from the rubble? Will she ever see Liara, or Garrus, or Tali, or __ ever again? What about the non-squadmates? I desperately hope the indoctrination hypothesis is correct, and I didn't really wipe out the Geth and Edi in order to end the Reaper threat. And thus, I sincerely hope there will be DLC (and soon!) to help me sleep a little better at night.

    But all this only proves what ME, and ME3 in particular, achieved. I can't think of another game or series where I could care so deeply about what happened to its characters.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 74 Critic Reviews

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