Mass Effect 3's ending wasn't that bad...

[8a88leph1sh]

I literally just finished the game like 10 seconds ago and I've been avoiding all of the threads about the end. Why exactly does everyone hate it? The guy telling the story to that damn kid (I really hate that kid) was annoying but otherwise I liked it. (chose synthesis)

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

God being taking form of a little kid that died at the beginning it can't be aware of? BS!

... um... I assumed that the kid's image was plucked from Shepard's mind.

Disregarding player choices during the three games by always delivering the choice between 3 endings unrelated to the way the player may have set up his Shepards personality? MEGA BS!

I believe I addressed that in my previous post. But another said it better than me. I will now paraphrase:

"The entire game is the ending. You spend the whole game feeling the effects of the previous two. The decisions you made before determine how you get to that ending - and what your decision means. If you sided with the Quarians against the Geth, then destroying all synthetic life is a far easier choice than if you let the Geth destroy the Quarians. The end of the end - the final decision - is affected by how your previous decisions have affected YOU the player."

That is my best attempt to remember how it was said in another thread. Very good point, I thought. I liked the idea that ME3 spent 98% of the game showing me the results of my previous actions, and then gave me one final choice based on that information. And the thing with the Geth particularly got to me - if you kill the Quarians to help the Geth, and then kill all synthetic life, then you pretty much sacrificed the Quarians for nothing.

 

[SajuukKhar]

"The entire game is the ending. You spend the whole game feeling the effects of the previous two. The decisions you made before determine how you get to that ending - and what your decision means. If you sided with the Quarians against the Geth, then destroying all synthetic life is a far easier choice than if you let the Geth destroy the Quarians. The end of the end - the final decision - is affected by how your previous decisions have affected YOU the player."

That is my best attempt to remember how it was said in another thread. Very good point, I thought. I liked the idea that ME3 spent 98% of the game showing me the results of my previous actions, and then gave me one final choice based on that information. And the thing with the Geth particularly got to me - if you kill the Quarians to help the Geth, and then kill all synthetic life, then you pretty much sacrificed the Quarians for nothing.

This right there, what you just said, is what people need to realize.

The consequences of your decisions are not always solely at the end of a game, they are interwoven throughout the entire ending

 

[SatisfyingProvolone]

Personally, it wasn't the ending that was bad for me. I like to guess Bioware considers the whole conversation with the Illusive Man part of the ending. The Catalyst bit and everything that led up to it was alright with me, but Bioware's decision to recycle the final cut scene using different filters doesn't stick with me. Everything else, I can I say I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

[Sparrow]

This has most likely been said, but I'll say it again: the problem with the ending wasn't the whole deus ex machina, to me the problem was the last of closure it provided. For a series which revolves around making choices and seeing those choices making an impact, the ending is a giant middle finger to anyone who cared about what happened regarding your choices.

The turians and krogan becoming friends again? Meh, fuck that shit.

Tali and Garrus getting together? Clearly nobody gives a shit about that.

What your romance option would do without you? Nope, even though I spent three games getting cosy with my romance option the fucks I give about their future life are clearly equal to zero.

By the way, that was sarcasm.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Did thou havest an argument? oh-migty-lord-of-neigh-arguments?

I wasn't trying to argue anything. I was stating an opinion and invited others to do the same.

So what? You have no reasons AT ALL for why you liked the ending? You just needed a controversial topic title, or what?

Wait, you think "Mass Effect 3's ending wasn't that bad..." is a controversial statement?

Ha. Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!! Maybe if you switched out "Mass Effect 3's ending" with "The Holocaust", THEN it would be controversial. As it is, he's just saying that his opinion SLIGHTLY differs from yours. Hell, he's not even saying it's the best ending ever. He's just saying it's not the soul-sucking abomination of the creative process that people like you have been making it out to be for the past 2 weeks. That is NOT controversial. You clearly don't even know what that word means.

Christ, grow a little perspective.

 

[Locke_Cole]

Did thou havest an argument? oh-migty-lord-of-neigh-arguments?

I wasn't trying to argue anything. I was stating an opinion and invited others to do the same.

So what? You have no reasons AT ALL for why you liked the ending? You just needed a controversial topic title, or what?

Wait, you think "Mass Effect 3's ending wasn't that bad..." is a controversial statement?

Ha. Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!! Maybe if you switched out "Mass Effect 3's ending" with "The Holocaust", THEN it would be controversial. As it is, he's just saying that his opinion SLIGHTLY differs from yours. Hell, he's not even saying it's the best ending ever. He's just saying it's not the soul-sucking abomination of the creative process that people like you have been making it out to be for the past 2 weeks. That is NOT controversial. You clearly don't even know what that word means.

Christ, grow a little perspective.

Controversy: a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.

So seeing as how there is a debate over the ending, it is controversial.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Did thou havest an argument? oh-migty-lord-of-neigh-arguments?

I wasn't trying to argue anything. I was stating an opinion and invited others to do the same.

So what? You have no reasons AT ALL for why you liked the ending? You just needed a controversial topic title, or what?

Wait, you think "Mass Effect 3's ending wasn't that bad..." is a controversial statement?

Ha. Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!! Maybe if you switched out "Mass Effect 3's ending" with "The Holocaust", THEN it would be controversial. As it is, he's just saying that his opinion SLIGHTLY differs from yours. Hell, he's not even saying it's the best ending ever. He's just saying it's not the soul-sucking abomination of the creative process that people like you have been making it out to be for the past 2 weeks. That is NOT controversial. You clearly don't even know what that word means.

Christ, grow a little perspective.

Controversy: a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.

So seeing as how there is a debate over the ending, it is controversial.

The ending MIGHT fit the definition of "controversial" but...well, you just proved my point. If the ending is controversial(i.e., creating contention or dispute), then by definition there has to be differing opinions on the matter. So the OP's statement can't possibly be controversial.

 

[Locke_Cole]

Did thou havest an argument? oh-migty-lord-of-neigh-arguments?

I wasn't trying to argue anything. I was stating an opinion and invited others to do the same.

So what? You have no reasons AT ALL for why you liked the ending? You just needed a controversial topic title, or what?

Wait, you think "Mass Effect 3's ending wasn't that bad..." is a controversial statement?

Ha. Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!! Maybe if you switched out "Mass Effect 3's ending" with "The Holocaust", THEN it would be controversial. As it is, he's just saying that his opinion SLIGHTLY differs from yours. Hell, he's not even saying it's the best ending ever. He's just saying it's not the soul-sucking abomination of the creative process that people like you have been making it out to be for the past 2 weeks. That is NOT controversial. You clearly don't even know what that word means.

Christ, grow a little perspective.

Controversy: a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.

So seeing as how there is a debate over the ending, it is controversial.

The ending MIGHT fit the definition of "controversial" but...well, you just proved my point. If the ending is controversial(i.e., creating contention or dispute), then by definition there has to be differing opinions on the matter. So the OP's statement can't possibly be controversial.

According to the definition the reason for the opinions don't matter, just that there are differing opinions. The endings suck and the endings are okay are two different opinions that are in contention so there is a controversy in regards to the endings.

 

[DJ_DEnM]

Ooh, ohh!!! I'll be able to post this pic!

http://www.myfacewhen.net/uploads/239-oh-look-its-this-thread-again.jpg

Haha! I've finally been able to post it ^^.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Did thou havest an argument? oh-migty-lord-of-neigh-arguments?

I wasn't trying to argue anything. I was stating an opinion and invited others to do the same.

So what? You have no reasons AT ALL for why you liked the ending? You just needed a controversial topic title, or what?

Wait, you think "Mass Effect 3's ending wasn't that bad..." is a controversial statement?

Ha. Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!! Maybe if you switched out "Mass Effect 3's ending" with "The Holocaust", THEN it would be controversial. As it is, he's just saying that his opinion SLIGHTLY differs from yours. Hell, he's not even saying it's the best ending ever. He's just saying it's not the soul-sucking abomination of the creative process that people like you have been making it out to be for the past 2 weeks. That is NOT controversial. You clearly don't even know what that word means.

Christ, grow a little perspective.

Controversy: a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.

So seeing as how there is a debate over the ending, it is controversial.

The ending MIGHT fit the definition of "controversial" but...well, you just proved my point. If the ending is controversial(i.e., creating contention or dispute), then by definition there has to be differing opinions on the matter. So the OP's statement can't possibly be controversial.

According to the definition the reason for the opinions don't matter, just that there are differing opinions. The endings suck and the endings are okay are two different opinions that are in contention so there is a controversy in regards to the endings.

Uh. Yes. That's almost exactly what I just said. That makes the ending controversial, but not the OP's statement. I'm not sure why we're still talking about this.

 

[Cali-ManU]

I can see people point of views for why this ending didn't live up to the expectations of the fan base, but for what it is worth, here is my 2 cents on he matter.
This is a Hero's ending as to what we all knew what was going to happen throughout the entire mass effect 3 story line. We all knew it was coming and wee all knew it was going to happen; He sacraficed himself like he was going to if the option came up in ME1 and ME2. The problem with the ending that sticks with me is the fact that lots of people die and however you end picking to control or destory the reapers, the galaxy is screwed either way with the mass effect relays blowing up. On top of that, you got attached to you crew and wanted to see them live. I'm guessing, like myself, that you went back and replayed ME1 and Me2 to make sure you did things right and save your crew so that you could have them in ME3 but their lives are wasted anyways. I was pissed to see the Normandy with everyone on it crash on a remote world with no hope of survival. I would have been fine with an ending where He sacraficed himself for the greater good of humanity and the universe which he was saving if my crew was back on earth. The giant gaping plot hole at the end of the story where you are supposed infer as to what the galaxy has become is ridicilous. This is a game of choice and consequences but this is a story to, and storys have an ending where they bring it all together, atleast good ones. This does not bring it all together where you know why it ends, If your ending a trilogy, end it.

However bad the ending way, I will miss the Mass Effect Series. It provided great gaming time and a great story.

 

[Monster_user]

This is a Hero's ending as to what we all knew what was going to happen

I wouldn't call it a hero's ending.

Shepard walked up to the leader of the enemy that was winning, and their leader said "screw it", and told Shepard that he won by walking into the throne room, half-dead already. I guess the villian was so distraught from having blood dripped on the floor of his throne room, that he surrendered unconditionally. Wait, not just surrendered, but handed the dying hero the keys to the big red button that would defeat them!

Oh, but if you remember your lore, that big red button is actually the self destruct for the entire galaxy. The bad guy is winning, and one dying soldier makes it into the base. Instead of killing the soldier, or waiting til he/she bled to death, the bad guy says "there is the self destruct sequence", press it.

Yeah, that is some ending.

 

[cynicthnkr]

spoilers

In your ending you assumed many things but didn't notice that Mass relays are destroyed so none of them are possible. Only way ending was acceptable was if you used alt+f4 after anderson's death.

The Mass Effect relays have not been destroyed.

Look at the Mass Effect 2 ending, if your squad is not loyal, then they do not perform well, and they usually die.

In Mass Effect 3's real ending, if your squad is not loyal, then they are indoctrinated. You get to kill them.

Look at Mass Effect 2's ending, if there are not enough loyal squadmates, you die. In ME3's real ending, if you don't have enough loyal squad mates, you can't overcome indoctrination.

Remember what Bioware said about the ending, "We don't want to give you a lousy ending that everyone gets, we want to answer all of your questions."

BIOWARE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR QUESTIONS ARE.

Here goes the indoctrination theory which makes me feel bad for playing mass effect 3.Like I am primary school student and trying to make sense of quantum physics.(My own fault I guess!)

EDIT:
BTW I never got the option to kill my squad-mate maybe I got the virtual (not real) ending.
I always wanted to kill James Vega for calling shepherd loco.

Moreover people don't seem to be in consensus some say it started after beam hit.
Some say it started after elevator.
Some say it stared after jumping in the white light.
Some say it was from the beginning when that kid was playing with toy.

 

[Monster_user]

Moreover people don't seem to be in consensus

That's because the sequence seems to have been designed to allow for retconning with DLC at a later date. As if they had not decided how they wanted the series to end, and wanted to leave options.

some say it started after beam hit.

Most logical spot, given the scenes shown for the highest level of completion.

Some say it started after elevator.

Perhaps a better place, as it leaves the confrontation with TIM intact. As big a stretch as that sequence is, they might still be able to retcon it from this point. Most gamers would not want to rehash it in reality, and TIM's character was exactly what we had expected. He is much more arrogant that Saren, but just as misguided.

Unfortunately, it doesn't fit in with the 100% ending. Perhaps your level of completion determines which sequence was real, because maybe TIM has more confidence in Shepard, if he gained the 100% completion... ???

Some say it stared after jumping in the white light.

Now that is just dumb.

Some say it was from the beginning when that kid was playing with toy.

This is called projection. They want to have dreamed the game from that point, and not gotten the 100% ending.

 

[cynicthnkr]

Moreover people don't seem to be in consensus

That's because the sequence seems to have been designed to allow for retconning with DLC at a later date. As if they had not decided how they wanted the series to end, and wanted to leave options.

That! my friend, is the right answer.

Some say it started after elevator.

Unfortunately, it doesn't fit in with the 100% ending. Perhaps your level of completion determines which sequence was real, because maybe TIM has more confidence in Shepard, if he gained the 100% completion... ???

They can get away with it as they didn't actually show his face in last scene of supposedly 100% completion.

 

[Lurchibald]

I 100% agree and from all the bitching I saw in this forum, I expected Shepard to wake up after being in a coma for years because he touched the beacon thingy in Mass Effect 1.

I loved the ending...there, I said it...I.fucking.loved.the.ending.

A big point of the series has been destiny and fulfilling ones destiny. All of my actions were a journey to get up to that destiny. But the point of a destiny is that no matter how you get there, the end is going to be the same.

Now granted, each "ending" may have been different. I chose the merger ending, which is exactly what I think my Shepard would have done. Maybe the other two are giant turd sandwiches but the ending I saw was great.

EDIT: I literally just finished it seconds ago. Maybe if I think about these "plot holes" that people keep rallying on about will do something but I doubt it. The "race above the reapers" has always been hinted at during the game, I didn't think it came out of nowhere at all.

The merger ending is what your Shepard would have wanted? really? Most Shepard's didn't seem too keen on it in ME1... Captcha: make a bee-line

 

[tippy2k2]

snip

The merger ending is what your Shepard would have wanted? really? Most Shepard's didn't seem too keen on it in ME1...

sniped video

I'm not sure why you'd pop in three days after the thread has died but whatev, I'll roll with it.
EDIT: Scratch that, I suppose I should just be happy that someone else wants to discuss my opinion : )

Yes, it is what my Shepard would have wanted. In that clip, Saren was being controlled; it was not a merger with equal footing, it was slavery (2:40 into your clip). He may have volunteered for the implant but he was ultimately the puppet. The merger ending has no puppets or puppeteers; just everyone equal (Cue MLK Dream Speech).

Along with that, most Shepard's in ME1 wouldn't have hesitated to shoot a geth. Experience changes a person (or a digital person) in ways that you can't imagine before you have that experience.

 

[Lurchibald]

snip

The merger ending is what your Shepard would have wanted? really? Most Shepard's didn't seem too keen on it in ME1...

sniped video

I'm not sure why you'd pop in three days after the thread has died but whatev, I'll roll with it.
EDIT: Scratch that, I suppose I should just be happy that someone else wants to discuss my opinion : )

Yes, it is what MY Shepard would have wanted. In that clip, Saren was being controlled; it was not a merger with equal footing, it was slavery (2:40 into your clip). He may have volunteered for the implant but he was ultimately the puppet. The merger ending has no puppets or puppeteers; just everyone equal (Cue MLK Dream Speech).

Along with that, most Shepard's in ME1 wouldn't have hesitated to shoot a geth. Experience changes a person (or a digital person) in ways that you can't imagine before you have that experience.

And what makes you so sure that Shepard isn't playing the part of a puppet for the Catalyst?