The rage over Mass Effect 3s ending represents a significant accomplishment in gaming.

[feeqmatic]

In the past week i forced myself through a 2nd playthrough of ME3 in order to at least see some of my choices from prior ME1/ME2 playthroughs pan out. I was very impressed with a lot of the ways my decisions came to fruition. This led me to hit youtube to see other scenarios with playthrough situations that I didnt have set up on my own saves. As i watched them it occured to me that the reason why ME3's ending is so despised, is because the series as a whole was able to tell a story on a level far beyond what most games have been able to do. So much in fact that we are actually complaining about the games story and not the gameplay on any real level.

Let that sink in for a second!

Even in Fallout 3 where there was a new ending DLC, the main point of it was to allow the player to keep playing, not to allow the player a more satisfying conclusion for the story. Combine this with the serious media coverage (both in and out of the gaming world) of the whole situation and you might have the most significant gaming event in recent history.

Although i still hate the endings and hope to God something happens to rectify this, I really think that everyone should sit back for a second and recognize that at least on this level, bioware has truly accomplished a significant feat. They have made a game that transcends our button presses and goes beyond being fun to "play," and regardless of my annoyances and my feelings, for that i commend them.

 

[Jodah]

In the past week i forced myself through a 2nd playthrough of ME3 in order to at least see some of my choices from prior ME1/ME2 playthroughs pan out. I was very impressed with a lot of the ways my decisions came to fruition. This led me to hit youtube to see other scenarios with playthrough situations that I didnt have set up on my own saves. As i watched them it occured to me that the reason why ME3's ending is so despised, is because the series as a whole was able to tell a story on a level far beyond what most games have been able to do. So much in fact that we are actually complaining about the games story and not the gameplay on any real level.

Let that sink in for a second!

Even in Fallout 3 where there was a new ending DLC, the main point of it was to allow the player to keep playing, not to allow the player a more satisfying conclusion for the story. Combine this with the serious media coverage (both in and out of the gaming world) of the whole situation and you might have the most significant gaming event in recent history.

Although i still hate the endings and hope to God something happens to rectify this, I really think that everyone should sit back for a second and recognize that at least on this level, bioware has truly accomplished a significant feat. They have made a game that transcends our button presses and goes beyond being fun to "play," and regardless of my annoyances and my feelings, for that i commend them.

I disagree somewhat. It's not that the gameplay is flawless. It is that the ending is so bad people are willing to overlook the other problems with the game. There are many graphical and gameplay problems in the game. They are just minor compared to the ending. If anything the rage represents a publisher pushing their consumer too far. Many people have reached the breaking point in what they will tolerate.

 

[SajuukKhar]

Many people have reached the breaking point in what they will tolerate.

Which apparently entails anything that doesn't result in the immediate transformation of RPGs into a overly romanticized view of how they were back in 1998.

 

[feeqmatic]

In the past week i forced myself through a 2nd playthrough of ME3 in order to at least see some of my choices from prior ME1/ME2 playthroughs pan out. I was very impressed with a lot of the ways my decisions came to fruition. This led me to hit youtube to see other scenarios with playthrough situations that I didnt have set up on my own saves. As i watched them it occured to me that the reason why ME3's ending is so despised, is because the series as a whole was able to tell a story on a level far beyond what most games have been able to do. So much in fact that we are actually complaining about the games story and not the gameplay on any real level.

Let that sink in for a second!

Even in Fallout 3 where there was a new ending DLC, the main point of it was to allow the player to keep playing, not to allow the player a more satisfying conclusion for the story. Combine this with the serious media coverage (both in and out of the gaming world) of the whole situation and you might have the most significant gaming event in recent history.

Although i still hate the endings and hope to God something happens to rectify this, I really think that everyone should sit back for a second and recognize that at least on this level, bioware has truly accomplished a significant feat. They have made a game that transcends our button presses and goes beyond being fun to "play," and regardless of my annoyances and my feelings, for that i commend them.

I disagree somewhat. It's not that the gameplay is flawless. It is that the ending is so bad people are willing to overlook the other problems with the game. There are many graphical and gameplay problems in the game. They are just minor compared to the ending. If anything the rage represents a publisher pushing their consumer too far. Many people have reached the breaking point in what they will tolerate.

That is my point. The gameplay is not flawless. But we are much more concerned with the story. That is a good sign

 

[Jodah]

In the past week i forced myself through a 2nd playthrough of ME3 in order to at least see some of my choices from prior ME1/ME2 playthroughs pan out. I was very impressed with a lot of the ways my decisions came to fruition. This led me to hit youtube to see other scenarios with playthrough situations that I didnt have set up on my own saves. As i watched them it occured to me that the reason why ME3's ending is so despised, is because the series as a whole was able to tell a story on a level far beyond what most games have been able to do. So much in fact that we are actually complaining about the games story and not the gameplay on any real level.

Let that sink in for a second!

Even in Fallout 3 where there was a new ending DLC, the main point of it was to allow the player to keep playing, not to allow the player a more satisfying conclusion for the story. Combine this with the serious media coverage (both in and out of the gaming world) of the whole situation and you might have the most significant gaming event in recent history.

Although i still hate the endings and hope to God something happens to rectify this, I really think that everyone should sit back for a second and recognize that at least on this level, bioware has truly accomplished a significant feat. They have made a game that transcends our button presses and goes beyond being fun to "play," and regardless of my annoyances and my feelings, for that i commend them.

I disagree somewhat. It's not that the gameplay is flawless. It is that the ending is so bad people are willing to overlook the other problems with the game. There are many graphical and gameplay problems in the game. They are just minor compared to the ending. If anything the rage represents a publisher pushing their consumer too far. Many people have reached the breaking point in what they will tolerate.

That is my point. The gameplay is not flawless. But we are much more concerned with the story. That is a good sign

I dunno, it just seems to me that it isn't a matter of the gameplay being good and more of the ending being bad. I just think of the ending didn't suck the gameplay would be a point of debate. But this may just be a difference in perspective. Glass half empty vs half full kind of thing.

 

[Kahunaburger]

IMO the conversation around this stems from Bioware having occasional moments of both brilliance and incompetence in how they tell stories. People play the segments that actually feature good storytelling and ask themselves "why can't the whole game be like this?"

 

[Aircross]

That is my point. The gameplay is not flawless. But we are much more concerned with the story. That is a good sign

I wholeheartedly agree, especially since the Mass Effect series is so BIG in the story department.

IMO the conversation around this stems from Bioware having occasional moments of both brilliance and incompetence in how they tell stories. People play the segments that actually feature good storytelling and ask themselves "why can't the whole game be like this?"

As Yahtzee said in his FF:XIII review, "Consistency would be nice!"

This whole thing wouldn't be so bad if Bioware didn't bite off more than they could chew with all their pre-launch public relations activities.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Many people have reached the breaking point in what they will tolerate.

Which apparently entails anything that doesn't result in the immediate transformation of RPGs into a overly romanticized view of how they were back in 1998.

If you enjoy blanket statements regarding everyone who disagrees with you, then yes.

 

[Kahunaburger]

If you enjoy blanket statements regarding everyone who disagrees with you, then yes.

Crazy theory: what if SajuukKhar and Zeel are the same person, messing with us? Tweeest!

 

[Soviet Heavy]

If you enjoy blanket statements regarding everyone who disagrees with you, then yes.

Crazy theory: what if SajuukKhar and Zeel are the same person, messing with us? Tweeest!

If that was the case, why do I find one more entertaining than the other?

Anyways. I honestly don't care at this point. Bioware dropped the ball on a game I haven't even played, so it shouldn't affect me anyways.

 

[Zhukov]

IMO the conversation around this stems from Bioware having occasional moments of both brilliance and incompetence in how they tell stories. People play the segments that actually feature good storytelling and ask themselves "why can't the whole game be like this?"

Nail. Head. Hit.

Bioware have always had this odd way of fluctuating between emotional brilliance and cringe-inducing corniness.

But this, this was more than a fluctuation, this was a nosedive right off the damn scale and it was magnified by the fact that it took place not only at the end of the game, but the conclusion to the whole damn trilogy.

The saddest part is that for the majority of the game the needle was firmly in the brilliant zone (except for that business with the Geth). But now every word of praise for ME3 will have to be followed by a sad little footnote: "However, the ending sucked donkeys on every level."

*sigh*