Yesterday, Bioware released an extended cut of the endings from Mass Effect 3, endings and epilogues which gave players more information and exposition on what their end game decision actually meant. It was a measure that was created to appease at least most of the fans, but did it work?
(Spoilers ahead)
So what did that free 2 gig download get us? Well, besides more information on the current three endings, we also received a fourth option, in which Shepard refuses the three options before him, and dooms all advanced life in the galaxy to fight a losing battle against the Reapers, with the cycle continuing, and Liara T’Soni leaving a final message for all future races to uncover, when the Reapers return once more.
You’ve got a few in-game cut-scenes as well, that flesh out why Joker was flying the Normandy through a broken Mass Relay gate, or how the hell one of your teammates could emerge unscathed from the final battle, even though they had been fighting by your side the whole time in London.
Do these endings answer some burning questions in the process? Yes, yes they do. But were they necessary? No, not at all. I’m probably one of the few gamers out there with this opinion, but I was satisfied with the ending to Mass Effect 3.
Was it perfect? No, absolutely not. But was it a solid, final entry that was at least good enough? Yes, yes it was.
It was satisfying, wrapping up enough threads, while leaving that teeny weeny gap open for some form of a sequel, although knowing how the game industry works, the next Mass Effect game will no doubt be a prequel.
But here’s the rub. While the endings may have enough information regarding your decisions, it’s the other mysteries surrounding the game, that still remain an enigma, something that will no doubt upset hardcore fans.
Who are the Reapers really? Who made them? Is Shepard indoctrinated? You’ll have to read some fan-fiction to appease that curiosity, as the Reaper intelligence flippantly sidesteps around those issues.
See, the is one aspect of Mass Effect that I preferred, was an ending in which the major plot points were left open for interpretation, while smaller ones were addressed.We don’t need a perfect ending, and even though the epilogues fill in a few of those plot holes, their major failing is that they still don’t deliver on the promises that Bioware made to gamers, creating even more plot holes in the process.
The expanded solutions feel clumsy, and while I get that Bioware wanted to appease the fans, it just doesn’t work. But had they worked it into the upcoming anime film, I’d have loved it. In that medium, the endings would have shined.
You can’t please all the fans, all the time. That’s impossible. I’ll give Bioware credit for actually going through and making the extended cut, but in the process, they’ve lost a testicle or two along the way. This is one of those occasions where a game developer needs to stand up, and stand strong next to their product.
Ignore the rage, hand out some chill pills and remind gamers that no one forced them to buy the game. It’s fine to be dissatisfied with the ending, but the rest of the time, those dozens of hours spent saving the galaxy and engaging in the most addictive online horde mode this side of the Horsehead Nebula?
That justified the game for me. And that’s something that a bad ending or directors cut cannot take away. So how about you, did the extended cut satisfy you, or were you left wanting more?
Last Updated: June 27, 2012
shinoob
July 16, 2014 at 21:00
For me the game was good, but compared to the others, mass effect 3 was the one with more lazy work put into it, no more close in when you talk with your crew(only for missions or especial ocasions, can’t even question then), they took the random scanning and landing on planets(for a sistem “throw a probe, done, you rescued then…), the ending was lets say, completely unreal, how are you going to fix a rellay getting resources from a planet that was basically sucked dry, and it would take years to fix(because they didn’t make the rellays so they don’t have schematics and such), by the way, while they are starving and fixing the relay, the shepperd crew is living of fruits or starving in an unknown planet, while the asari home world is in the same situation as earth but with less people, as does the turian home world, not to mention the secluded settlements that survived of delivery of other sistems, want more…
Great, let’s just fuc* it all up with lazy work, and no matter how good or bed you play the outcome is the same no matter the fairy tale they tell you in the extended cut, hope they don’t make partnership with that money sucking industry again, otherwise, not even playing mass effect 4(or whatever the name is gonna be).
Lazy work was the mistake of mass effect 3, with or without extended cut. By the way, tali picture? plz, that says everything, why show a static face of a hot babe photoshoped if you could show her face while romancing sheppard in the 3th game.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 16, 2014 at 21:57
Hey man, just checking if you know, this thread is 2 years old…
🙂