Mass Effect 3 ending SPOILERS!

[Blachman201_v1legacy]

I would like to direct everyones attention to this poll about the endings:

http://social.bioware.com/633606/polls/28989/


Only about about 200 people are satisfied with them, and good for them, I say.

But the facts remains that over 6500 are unsatisfied and about 1000 are somewhat unsatisfied with the endings. Basically, that's a whole lot of disappointed people. If the numbers are any inaction, and with almost 8000 votes on the poll I would say so, BioWare has alienated a huge chunk of their fanbase. I really don't see how all this will go over well for them.

 

[Matt King]

I have an interesting interpretation for this ending:

When Hackett gets on the radio and says that the Crucible isn't doing anything, I believe that Shepard lost consciousness. As a result, everything from that point onwards is simply Shepard's hallucinations as he slowly bled out. That would explain why the Guardian looks like the kid from Shepard's dreams and why Joker fled the Sol system in the thick of battle, an action which doesn't reflect his character as we know it at all.

Shepard was dreaming of a galaxy free from the Reapers as he slowly died from his wounds. That's how the ending should be interpreted.

Still, crappy, crappy, ending though.

i can see them pulling that for the dlc and i wouldn't mind that if we got a better ending

 

[Matt King]

so wait did it actually matter how many troops you brought for the final attack? or how ready the galaxy was? did it make one fucking bit of differece?

 

[Sp3ratus]

I would like to direct everyones attention to this poll about the endings:

http://social.bioware.com/633606/polls/28989/


Only about about 200 people are satisfied with them, and good for them, I say.

But the facts remains that over 6500 are unsatisfied and about 1000 are somewhat unsatisfied with the endings. Basically, that's a whole lot of disappointed people. If the numbers are any inaction, and with almost 8000 votes on the poll I would say so, BioWare has alienated a huge chunk of their fanbase. I really don't see how all this will go over well for them.

Well, what you have to keep in mind, is that BSN is the place where the most vocal fans post their opinions. Out of the 3.5 million copies that have been sold so far, 8000 is a very low percentage and since the majority of people who bought the game won't post on forums or something similar, there's no way for sure of knowing whether Bioware has alienated "a huge chunk of their fanbase"

I personally hope Bioware stick to their guns and don't cave to the majority on BSN. First of all, it would cheapen the entire trilogy and secondly, they would get another shitstorm going, this time from the anti-DLC people.

so wait did it actually matter how many troops you brought for the final attack? or how ready the galaxy was? did it make one fucking bit of differece?

They do make a difference as you'll in this guide. Depending on much you gather and what you did in ME2, you'll get a different ending.

 

[Matt King]

[quote="Blachman201" post="9.353503.14039909"

I personally hope Bioware stick to their guns and don't cave to the majority on BSN. First of all, it would cheapen the entire trilogy and secondly, they would get another shitstorm going, this time from the anti-DLC people.

NO, JUST NO i don't care if i have to buy a whole nother game, a want a better fucking ending

 

[Simeon Ivanov]

NO, JUST NO i don't care if i have to buy a whole nother game, a want a better fucking ending

I'm with ya. I would pay 60$ (Or whatever the price was in the US) just to see a 30 minute video of my desired paragon ending where I live with Tali on Rannoch and Garrus lives in the garage or something.

 

[Acton Hank]

ME3 ending. Sloppy. Poorly written.

The rest of ME3 was astounding. I have cried reading a book. I have cried watching films. Until I played ME3 I had never cried because of a video game (if you're wondering it was Mordin's singing death). It makes me proud of how far gaming has come.

But the ending is pants. I guess with ME3 I will have to console myself with "Sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination."

The journey matters if the destination doesn't invalidate the whole journey.

 

[Acton Hank]

I would like to direct everyones attention to this poll about the endings:

http://social.bioware.com/633606/polls/28989/


Only about about 200 people are satisfied with them, and good for them, I say.

But the facts remains that over 6500 are unsatisfied and about 1000 are somewhat unsatisfied with the endings. Basically, that's a whole lot of disappointed people. If the numbers are any inaction, and with almost 8000 votes on the poll I would say so, BioWare has alienated a huge chunk of their fanbase. I really don't see how all this will go over well for them.

Well, what you have to keep in mind, is that BSN is the place where the most vocal fans post their opinions. Out of the 3.5 million copies that have been sold so far, 8000 is a very low percentage and since the majority of people who bought the game won't post on forums or something similar, there's no way for sure of knowing whether Bioware has alienated "a huge chunk of their fanbase"

I personally hope Bioware stick to their guns and don't cave to the majority on BSN. First of all, it would cheapen the entire trilogy and secondly, they would get another shitstorm going, this time from the anti-DLC people.

so wait did it actually matter how many troops you brought for the final attack? or how ready the galaxy was? did it make one fucking bit of differece?

They do make a difference as you'll in this guide. Depending on much you gather and what you did in ME2, you'll get a different ending.

Take into consideration that most people don't finish a 30+hour game in just a few days.
In that respect 6500 people saying the ending sucks is crushing, and I expect Bioware to issue some sort of statement either defending or apologising for their choice in the conclusions.

 

[sonofliber]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o_C18ytst0

from the looks of it shep is on earth, and from the start up to 11 sec you can hear what its probably a reaper (turn up the sound since its in the background) and the fact that he is on earth, would mean that shep never got inside the citadel and the endings werent such (since that happens after the detroy ending, it could show that shepard will to destroy them, doesnt let him die until he finally achives it), could this be bioware cop out for a dcl if people didnt like the ending?

i do think its a reaper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKxXqAuPe3E

0:34 i think its the same one

 

[Blachman201_v1legacy]

Well, what you have to keep in mind, is that BSN is the place where the most vocal fans post their opinions. Out of the 3.5 million copies that have been sold so far, 8000 is a very low percentage and since the majority of people who bought the game won't post on forums or something similar, there's no way for sure of knowing whether Bioware has alienated "a huge chunk of their fanbase"

I personally hope Bioware stick to their guns and don't cave to the majority on BSN. First of all, it would cheapen the entire trilogy and secondly, they would get another shitstorm going, this time from the anti-DLC people.

Well, you have to face the fact that not everyone are great übermenschen with the vastly superior intellect that is required to truly understand and appreciate the real meaning of the ending like you, SajuukKhar, and synobal.

I have read hundreds of posts everywhere from people who are disappointed with endings, and paraphrased most of them boils down to: "I liked everything about the game except for the last 15 minutes. I feel betrayed by the ending, it was as if control was taken away from me, and that my choices were invalidated at the last minute. I don't feel like touching Mass Effect 1 or 2 ever again, because what is the point, if my choices doesn't matter in the end?"

And so far these kinds of posts vastly outnumbers the ones who defends the endings. I don't know which one is worse; the fact that BioWare, a company who have said that they truly care about their fans, won't at least throw these disappointed people some kind of bone, or that people like you, who, by all indications, belongs to a minority, think that they shouldn't.

 

[Sp3ratus]

Well, what you have to keep in mind, is that BSN is the place where the most vocal fans post their opinions. Out of the 3.5 million copies that have been sold so far, 8000 is a very low percentage and since the majority of people who bought the game won't post on forums or something similar, there's no way for sure of knowing whether Bioware has alienated "a huge chunk of their fanbase"

I personally hope Bioware stick to their guns and don't cave to the majority on BSN. First of all, it would cheapen the entire trilogy and secondly, they would get another shitstorm going, this time from the anti-DLC people.

Well, you have to face the fact that not everyone are great übermenschen with the vastly superior intellect that is required to truly understand and appreciate the real meaning of the ending like you, SajuukKhar, and synobal.

I have read hundreds of posts everywhere from people who are disappointed with endings, and paraphrased most of them boils down to: "I liked everything about the game except for the last 15 minutes. I feel betrayed by the ending, it was as if control was taken away from me, and that my choices where invalidated at the last minute. I don't feel touching Mass Effect 1 or 2 ever again, because what is the point, if my choices doesn't matter in the end?"

And so far these kinds of posts vastly outnumbers the ones who defends the endings. I don't know which one is worse; the fact that BioWare, a company who have said that they truly care about their fans, won't at least throw these disappointed people some kind of bone, or that people like you, who, by all indications, belongs to a minority, think that they shouldn't.

Insulting people for their opinions now? What a greay way to argue and get your point across. When did I ever state I was of superior intellect or say that I'm smarter than you or the other people who dislike the ending? Go ahead, find a quote where I say anything vaguely similar to that.

I defend the ending because I thought the ending was amazing and fit the game and overall series perfectly. Me, SajuukKhar and synobal are posting how we see the ending and what the ending is to us and that's somehow wrong? Why is your opinion any more valid than mine? Or why is my opinion any less valid than yours?

Alright, I'll give you that a majority might not like the ending, but why does that make it the correct opinion? The majority isn't necessarily right. It's not necessarily wrong either, but it's just that, an opinion that a lot of people hold, not "the only opinion that can ever be".

 

[Mr Dizazta]

I have a serious problem with the ending. There seems to be large anti-synthetics overtone, which I know makes a lot of sense in this installment. However, I hate the fact that the only ending Shepard survives is the destroy all synthetics option. That means everything from the Reapers, to the Geth, to even EDI. Not to mention, in my playthrough at least, I brokered peace between the Quarians and Geth. Hell my favorite character from Mass Effect 2 gave up his life so that the Geth can gain individuality. I am in tears remembering the part where Tali tells Legion that he has a soul. I just hate that ending.

 

[WanderingFool]

From what I heard of the endings... sounds like that marks the end of the Mass Effect series. You cant honestly make any more games with endings like that. I was kinda hoping after ME3, there will be one or two spin-off games. Shit...

 

[Blachman201_v1legacy]

Insulting people for their opinions now? What a greay way to argue and get your point across. When did I ever state I was of superior intellect or say that I'm smarter than you or the other people who dislike the ending? Go ahead, find a quote where I say anything vaguely similar to that.

Okay, I do apologize for lumping you into that group of people. I have just seen many of those who defends the ending, being incredibly smug about how they "get it" and how everyone complaining must be "self-entitled children."

However, we have SajuukKhar saying things like:

The only "mistake" was releasing a game with good endings to a bunch of over-entitled and whiny gamers who complain over anything that isn't some overly drawn out ending dialog about everything your companions did, including what lunch they ate, for the next 36 years.

Which comes across as being quite arrogant and condescending against those who asks for closure.

I defend the ending because I thought the ending was amazing and fit the game and overall series perfectly. Me, SajuukKhar and synobal are posting how we see the ending and what the ending is to us and that's somehow wrong? Why is your opinion any more valid than mine? Or why is my opinion and less valid than yours?

I know I can't change the fact that you like the ending, and as I said ealier: "Good for you." But why is that you people are against any changes to the endings at all?

Most people are merely asking for another option, which is why a fully optional DLC that changes the ending would be perfect for that task. If someone, like you, likes the in the ending in its present form, they don't have to buy and install it. Why would it in any way hurt you if such a solution where made available?

 

[synobal]

Well, what you have to keep in mind, is that BSN is the place where the most vocal fans post their opinions. Out of the 3.5 million copies that have been sold so far, 8000 is a very low percentage and since the majority of people who bought the game won't post on forums or something similar, there's no way for sure of knowing whether Bioware has alienated "a huge chunk of their fanbase"

I personally hope Bioware stick to their guns and don't cave to the majority on BSN. First of all, it would cheapen the entire trilogy and secondly, they would get another shitstorm going, this time from the anti-DLC people.

Well, you have to face the fact that not everyone are great übermenschen with the vastly superior intellect that is required to truly understand and appreciate the real meaning of the ending like you, SajuukKhar, and synobal.

I have read hundreds of posts everywhere from people who are disappointed with endings, and paraphrased most of them boils down to: "I liked everything about the game except for the last 15 minutes. I feel betrayed by the ending, it was as if control was taken away from me, and that my choices where invalidated at the last minute. I don't feel touching Mass Effect 1 or 2 ever again, because what is the point, if my choices doesn't matter in the end?"

And so far these kinds of posts vastly outnumbers the ones who defends the endings. I don't know which one is worse; the fact that BioWare, a company who have said that they truly care about their fans, won't at least throw these disappointed people some kind of bone, or that people like you, who, by all indications, belongs to a minority, think that they shouldn't.

Insulting people for their opinions now? What a greay way to argue and get your point across. When did I ever state I was of superior intellect or say that I'm smarter than you or the other people who dislike the ending? Go ahead, find a quote where I say anything vaguely similar to that.

I defend the ending because I thought the ending was amazing and fit the game and overall series perfectly. Me, SajuukKhar and synobal are posting how we see the ending and what the ending is to us and that's somehow wrong? Why is your opinion any more valid than mine? Or why is my opinion any less valid than yours?

Alright, I'll give you that a majority might not like the ending, but why does that make it the correct opinion? The majority isn't necessarily right. It's not necessarily wrong either, but it's just that, an opinion that a lot of people hold, not "the only opinion that can ever be".

It's okay Sp3ratus it isn't the first time I've been attacked for holding different opinions from the group. Besides what can name calling on the internet do to me anyways?

I do find the argument that 'everyone hates the endings' so they must be terrible some what amusing though.

Everyone seems to think a good ending must make the player happy, but that isn't necessarily the sign of a good ending, a good ending evokes an emotional response from the players, and I know that the fight for earth was INTENSE for me (I had it on insanity) then the whole laser beam of death that I didn't really expect. I was like 'meh all these lasers are scripted to miss me...' then zap! Then there was the whole scene with the illusive man and Anderson. Then Shepherds final choice which floored me I tried for minutes to make a decision before finally choosing synthesis.

Then the final cut scene with Joker and EDI obviously suppose to represent Adam and Eve and the whole dawn of a new Era thing full of possibilities and hope now that organic and synthetic life were ultimately free of the reapers and what my shepherd believed would be the inevitable conflict between the two.

The whole thing was emotionally intense for me,a bit draining even and at the end I had to sit there during the credits and consider the ending. Plus all it's implications.

Yet so many people are simply dismissing the endings because they were not what what they wanted. I don't get it, the ending was impactful emotional and ultimately let your character shape the future of the entire galaxy. Yet people seem to be screaming for a power point show that says 'Grunt went back to to Tuchanka and had lots of babies' Garrus became Primarch and was later impeached after a tape of him wrestling with a 'Quarian' ambassador was leaked to the public' etc etc

If it had done that for me I would of been disappointed, they did it for Dragon Age Origins and it kind of worked to some degree but I really doubt that it would of worked for a story that spanned three games, and dealt with a threat that literally destroyed most of galactic civilization.

 

[Blachman201_v1legacy]

This to me seems a futile exercise in diversion. Most, or at least a lot, of posts here are criticizing poor storytelling rather than its tone or content, and this simple fact flies straight over most of the defenders' heads.

Yeah, I must stress that besides the lack of closure and catharsis, the deus ex machina, the total clash with the previous established themes and tone, the needless repeat of the already solved Organics vs. Synthetics question (the real resolution to that came in the Quarian vs. Geth war), the complete out of character moment for Joker, the teleporting squad mates, and the crash on planet Contrivance, really was what left with me a incredibility bitter taste in my mouth.

I don't think good endings has to necessarily be super happy. I actually liked End of Evangelion for Pete's sake! Sure, it didn't provide much closure to the series, but it was at least a thematically appropriate conclusion, and it had a little sliver of hope at the end. I wish I could say as much for Mass Effect 3.

 

[synobal]

This to me seems a futile exercise in diversion. Most, or at least a lot, of posts here are criticizing poor storytelling rather than its tone or content, and this simple fact flies straight over most of the defenders' heads.

Yeah, I must stress that besides the lack of closure and catharsis, the deus ex machina, the total clash with the previous established themes and tone, the needless repeat of the already solved Organics vs. Synthetics question (the real resolution to that came in the Quarian vs. Geth war), the complete out of character moment for Joker, the teleporting squad mates, and the crash on planet Contrivance, really was what left with me a incredibility bitter taste in my mouth.

I don't think good endings has to necessarily be super happy. I actually liked End of Evangelion for Pete's sake! Sure, it didn't provide much closure to the series, but it was at least a thematically appropriate conclusion, and it had a little sliver of hope at the end. I wish I could say as much for Mass Effect 3.

I can't really address your lack of closure.

I can say that it wasn't Deus Ex Machina, the crucible wasn't something that just happened. It was something that you worked for the entire game to make happen. Everyone repeatedly said 'we don't know what it does' except that it is a weapon designed to stop the reapers. They even said they don't know what a catalyst is. Hell even at the end they don't know until shepherd shows up there to speak to it. The choices at the end were a bit of a plot twist but that is all.

Organics VS Synthetics was an overarching theme for the entire game. In the first game you had the Geth, rogue VIs and even a deranged AI. Plus Saren who represented the dangers of transhumanism (though I guess technically he was a transturian).

In the second game EDI was a huge plot point, from the moment you boarded the SR2, and unshackling her was a big deal. Then there was the collectors who were enslaved by technology and made into a parody of the mighty race they once were. Legion was there to give a voice to the Geth and tell you their side of things.

In the third game you had EDI trying to come to terms with humanity and her freedom from her shackles, the Geth and the Quarian conflict come to a head, and then there is cerberus and the illusive man who once again represent the dangers of transhumanism. Plus if you have the DLC the prothean says that in his cycle there were issues with synthetics trying to destroy organic life, and it is even said by the reapers that in every cycle this has been the same.

Then finally we have the Reapers who are in every game are trying to destroy advanced organic life. The only difference is this time we have the reapers come out and say why they are doing it and try to explain some of their backwards logic.

 

[WarCrazedBob]

I will still say that the series has been one of the best in gaming history.
Having said that, I understand that people could be pissed about the ending. I was first like, "What just happened?". But then I replayed the ending, and thought about the developers saying that this was the end to Shepard's story, not the Mass Effect story. And plus, the Catalyst said that the cycle will end no matter what. So this could be the new cycle.

I have mixed feelings about the ending, but it wasn't a deal breaker. I probably wouldn't buy a DLC saying this is the appropriate ending. I can also sense that the endings is a way to leave questions so that we would be tempted to buy DLC, which I think that's bullcrap.

Bioware took a big risk with making these endings. Any person with sense could tell these endings provided little closure.

After all this, I still enjoyed Mass Effect with much love. I probably don't support Bioware as I used to, but still love the story of Mass Effect. The characters, the interactions, the cinematic feel. Maybe I'll feel different if I play all three simultaneously. If only the ending could've been worked on a little more, I would be shouting how Mass Effect is the best gaming series of all time. Reminds me of how I was disappointed with Halo 3 and it's ending (not to mention the lack of quality in the story and campaign). Hope Bioware doesn't go down the same path as Bungie did, then the story will really suffer.

But if anyone asked if they should play Mass Effect the series, I would still say yes.