Mass Effect 3 is the concluding part of the Mass Effect trilogy from BioWare and Electronic Arts, released in March 2012.
Players take on the role of Commander Shepard once again to save the galaxy from the threat of the Reapers. The game begins on Earth, where Shepard is on trial. Just at that moment, the Reapers suddenly attack Earth, and the captain manages to escape the planet, marking the beginning of his new battle. Together with his team, Shepard must travel across the galaxy and unite the fragmented races against the Reapers.
Among the worlds that Shepard will visit, notable planets include: Earth, Tuchanka (the krogan homeworld), Sur'Kesh (the salarian homeworld), Thessia (the asari planet), Palaven (the turian homeworld), and Rannoch (the quarian homeworld). Old comrades such as Garrus, Liara T'Soni, Tali, and the Spectre Ashley/Kaidan (depending on who survived on Virmire) can be found. There are also new companions in Commander Shepard's team, one of whom is a soldier named James Vega. Many characters from previous games in the series appear in the new installment but not as companions. The romantic storylines from previous installments do not end in the sequel, but players can choose to start a new romantic story (including homosexual relationships, which has sparked considerable debate among players).
The developers have refined the combat system, making it even closer to a shooter than in Mass Effect 2. Shots from all types of weapons now deal more damage, and the recoil feels more pronounced. Grenades have returned to the game–albeit, unlike those in the first game, they are now classic ones that travel in an arc. Players can now use a stationary mounted gun and the "Atlas" combat suit. Weapons can now be upgraded using special workbenches (similar to those found in the Knights of the Old Republic series). Additionally, developers added melee weapons, improved cover mechanics, and made it possible to use any weapon regardless of the character's class.
Enemies in the new installment include not only the Reapers and geth but also operatives from the Cerberus corporation who have sided with the Reapers. There are completely new types of opponents–for instance, "cannibals," assembled by the Reapers from various races of the Galaxy who restore health by devouring corpses. The enemy AI has also been improved. The ability to transfer saves from the previous installment has returned in full, and the choices made by players in key moments of the previous games affect the details of the third part's story. Saves can only not be transferred if Shepard died in the second part.
The game's soundtrack was composed by Clint Mansell, known for the music of the films "The Fountain" and "Requiem for a Dream." The Xbox 360 version of the game supports Kinect, allowing players to give voice commands to companions and select dialogue options.