Potential Endings for Mass Effect 3

[Shock and Awe]

Shepard and the gang will find out where the Reapers are going to show up and set up some kind of epic trap which will wipe out just enough of the reapers to make an epic battle between them and the combined fleets of all the species of the galaxy. Shepard will probably be given command of a newly constructed class of Dreadnought called SSV Olympus which has all the newest innovations in ship building. Though Shepard will be with a strike team taking the fight into the interior of the largest reaper generally fucking with everything inside. While in there Shepard does something that causes all the other Reapers to stall(for lack of a better word) and allows the remaining galactic fleet to annihilate the rest of the reapers.

 

[Kryzantine]

Well, I imagine the third game will be all about the decisions you make between particular sides in smaller conflicts that will decide who helps you in the larger conflict; basically, the idea behind Dragon Age. So this includes:

-Wrex vs Aria, it's heavily insinuated that they have a past and they will be going at each other's throats again. The winner of this conflict (as chosen by you, of course) goes on to take control of the Omega station and use it as a heavy military base.
-Geth vs Quarians, this is a given, and the winner of this conflict decides who gets control of the Quarian home planet and consequently, which side will support you. A Tali-Legion standoff is inevitable.
-Liara vs Shadow Broker. Insinuated that the latter is the former's papa, this would be an interesting choice between the Broker's richer connections and the loyalty to Liara you have. It's a classic Bioware dilemma in the making.
-Alliance vs Cerberus. This would be pretty fun, especially if you kept the Collector base intact, and would be an interesting way to solve a lot of problems. Either the Alliance defeats Cerberus and takes over their advanced technology, or Cerberus overthrows the Alliance and establishes control over a large army (and in the process, being paid back for reviving Shepard). And depending on how this plays out, there could be an awesome scene wherein Shepard executes Kaiden/Ashley, or even more fun, converts them to Cerberus operatives.

I'm thinking that the game will revolve around these choices (and really, there's a few more that can be thrown out there), and in the end, you will have multiple forces that can be used to defeat a Reaper invasion. This is the "Return of the Jedi" entry into the series, so that gives a lot of hints. Shepard overcomes indoctrination, kills off the main reaper, either deactivates other ships or waits while gigantic army annihilates Reaper remains, and relaxes with a vodka martini after everything.

Just FYI, Bioware has said that this is the last ME game in the original trilogy, and it will be the last to feature Shepard, but it will not be the end of the universe associated with the game. I doubt a "Reapers are successful" ending would be appropriate because I'm sure Bioware doesn't want to replace every race. It'd be fun to see Shepard blow his brains out, though. After all, the only thing that can stop him at this point is himself.

 

[Theron Julius]

Well first of all, I want to see Shepard and Ashley reconcile. I made the effort to stay loyal because I wanted to see how it turned out and I'm hoping that we see actual reconciliation as they rebuild their feelings for each other, not just a case of 'okay let's get back together again' but rather actual human emotions and even dare I say it, love. Perhaps she starts off as loyal to the Council but her feelings for Shepard overpower her and she runs to his side again, or maybe Shepard returns to the Alliance and makes the effort to show his desire to be with her again. Not really fussed, just as long as it's well characterised.*

... Okay, got the sissy part of it out of me, now let's get to the awesome bits. Just note, I'm only going to do the Paragon one as I am a good boy and have never gone renegade.

I saved Wrex so I expect him to be present, leading the Krogan to assist me and my army to do battle with the Reapers and hopefully the entire combination of teams A and B from the first two Mass Effects can stand by Shepard for the final epic push. I expect it'll be another really big 'explosive' ending.
Perhaps with the Alliance, the Council and Shepard's army of Krogan, Geth, Quarians and Rachni all going together for one final battle in huge epic confrontation.
There for it would be like the ending for Mass Effect 1 with the Reapers being destroyed by some kind of Deus Ex Machina. Probably found at some point earlier in the game that perhaps could only be activated if Shepard sacrifices his life to do it and that perhaps he and his whole team die in a sort of final 'blaze of glory' and Shepard's actions result in the galaxy being forever greatful and him earning a sort of messiah figure.
Or maybe Shepard can survive the encounter and when Anderson approaches him afterwards to ask him what comes next, Shepard can stare at the massive pile of scrap metal that was the Reaper fleet, then back at Ash and Garrus and everyone else and then say simply:
"Retirement."

That would be pretty sweet too.

*As is always the case, please don't flame me for saying this.

Similar, except replace the "getting back together with Ashley" part with further development of Shepard's relationship with Tali.

 

[BrailleOperatic]

A friend of mine once pitched the idea to me that, depending on who you did and did not piss off in the previous games, Mass Effect 3 would feature full out galactic war with those you helped helping you, and those you fucked with fucking with you. Like, if you had played as a Full Paragon, then the Migrant Fleet would come to your aid while Cerberus would prove a consistent thorn in your side.If you had converted the Heretic Geth per Legions wishes, the you would find the unlikely aid of the Geth, while if you had let them be then you could well be fighting the entirety of the Geth forces as the Heretics grew. There may even be some variation in exactly how inclined the Alliance and the Council are to directly help you based on how big an ass you've been.
Personally, I think it would be a really interesting concept, allowing for some quite wide variation between two different games. As for what becomes of the good Commander, it'll be either death or clean up.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

I'm calling it:

Everyone dies. Everyone.

If that is done and is well executed, it will be EPIC.

There's one big difference between doing this in a movie and doing this in a game. You're not just along for the ride in a video game, you're driving. When the car crashes if you're not driving, it was just a car that crashed. As horrible as it was to be in a crash, if you weren't injured severly you didn't really lose anything. If you were driving chances are pretty big that you owned the car. You can drive a car without owning it, you can play without actually being attached to your character, but it was still a lot of work that went into building up your character (at least in RPGs, which Mass Effect is ). They would make a lot of people feel like they had wasted a lot of time battling the Reapers since they lost anyway.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't be happy to see something break the trend every now and then, but I wouldn't want it to make me build up my character through three games before s/he just died off

Which is exactly why I said it had to be well executed. I'd be pissed if it wasn't, because then it would be a waste of my time. However, if it was well written etc I wouldn't care. Like most gamers, I'm along for the ride, and if that ride takes me to my character's death, so be it. When I played Silent Hill 2 I got the suicide ending. Did I hate the game? No, I've adored it since...

 

[SmugFrog]

The crew of the Normandy is killed off and replaced by velociraptors for some reason. They then proceed to have lightsaber duels to Safety Dance until the Reapers back down in awe to Commander Rapty.

It's ridiculous and full of plot-holes, but just try to say it wouldn't raise a smile...

Someone needs to make a flash animation of this happening.

 

[Miumaru]

It turns out it was all a dream some random Star Wars character had.

 

[Jenova65]

Sounds good, but you forgot how amazing it will be when the Rachni turn up like the cavalry to back Shepard up and they will 'sing', the many colours of battle and it will make us cry.....


Just me then, for that? ;-)

I forgot about the Rachni. Good for you remembering sir

But yes, I have a distinct feeling that at least one of the above will be saving Shepard's ass at some point in some epic fashion.

Hopefully! Small point..... nothing minor ;-) I'm not a 'sir'! S'why my Shepard is a femshep...

 

[magicmonkeybars]

The final reaper is a giant space penguin reaper and it eats the citadel

 

[The Forces of Chaos]

Any chance of Shepard becomeing a Reaper you think if you chose to save the collector base?

 

[WorldCritic]

I'm hoping for an epic final battle between the alliance and the reaper fleet. Shepard goes on to the damaged Harbinger and makes it to the core only for Harbinger to create a human sized avatar of himself who challenges Shepard to a one on one final battle to determine the fate of the galaxy. Once Shepard destroys the avatar Habinger is destroyed as well and Shepard and the others make an epic escape and they begin to celebrate, but then they realize that they left Ashley behind on the dying reaper. But then everyone starts celebrating even more.

Yeah I know it will never happen but I can hope.

 

[jultub]

I'm calling it:

Everyone dies. Everyone.

If that is done and is well executed, it will be EPIC.

There's one big difference between doing this in a movie and doing this in a game. You're not just along for the ride in a video game, you're driving. When the car crashes if you're not driving, it was just a car that crashed. As horrible as it was to be in a crash, if you weren't injured severly you didn't really lose anything. If you were driving chances are pretty big that you owned the car. You can drive a car without owning it, you can play without actually being attached to your character, but it was still a lot of work that went into building up your character (at least in RPGs, which Mass Effect is ). They would make a lot of people feel like they had wasted a lot of time battling the Reapers since they lost anyway.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't be happy to see something break the trend every now and then, but I wouldn't want it to make me build up my character through three games before s/he just died off

Which is exactly why I said it had to be well executed. I'd be pissed if it wasn't, because then it would be a waste of my time. However, if it was well written etc I wouldn't care. Like most gamers, I'm along for the ride, and if that ride takes me to my character's death, so be it. When I played Silent Hill 2 I got the suicide ending. Did I hate the game? No, I've adored it since...

I'd just get a feeling of unfullfillment knowing that no matter what I did or how hard I fought, I just died. I would feel as though I had lost, except that I had no choice that could make me win. Like I said, I could handle it, but I'd feel like I wasted the money and time that I spent on playing through three games. Bioware would get loads of respect from me (if I got anything more to give them that is), but I don't think I'd ever replay the games, since I'll know it's a futile fight.

 

[Clockwerk133]

The Turian Councilor disbeliefs the Reapers out of existence, that is how Mass Effect 3 ends.

 

[Jenova65]

The Turian Councilor disbeliefs the Reapers out of existence, that is how Mass Effect 3 ends.

''It's a million to one chance, but it just might work''! ;-)

 

[Meemaimoh]

I'm calling it:

Everyone dies. Everyone.

If that is done and is well executed, it will be EPIC.

And if it's poorly executed, it'll end up like Neverwinter Nights 2. I'm not hoping for that one.

I definitely see the plot being akin to Dragon Age: Origins, but as for the ending? I just hope there's LOTS of them.

 

[Sindre1]

To get the superhappy everyone lives ending you need to get every. Single. Choice. Correct. In all the games.
To win you just need to get some in ME3 and possibly the ending of ME2. But that way Sheppard dies.
Also, if you saved the big guy at the end of ME2 you get to control it. Like normal gameplay, only giant.
But that is not the good ending as even dormant Reepers can indoctornate people...

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I doubt a "Reapers are successful" ending would be appropriate because I'm sure Bioware doesn't want to replace every race. It'd be fun to see Shepard blow his brains out, though. After all, the only thing that can stop him at this point is himself.

Yeah but imagine: not all Protheans were wiped out by the Reapers, but unlike the Protheans, we KNOW about the Reapers. Imagine, a post Reaper apocalyptic space opera. Bands of rogues, the survivors of their races, battling to survive in the barrens of space as they try to rebuild and defeat the Reapers.

Hell, I smell MMORPG.

You know, this does have the basis for them to continue the Mass Effect series beyond Shepard's story. Multiple endings opens the realm to numerous spin offs, be they more of the same (maybe with Garrus!) or a completely new experience (MMORPG). Definitely something I would be on board with, especially were it to keep Bioware as far aware from multiplayer in ME3 as possible.

 

[Darth IB]

The Rachni return with some kind of organic Reapers. They destroy the real reapers and then consumes all other life in the galaxy like their less poetic cousins, the Tyranids, would have.