Five Ways to Destroy Mass Effect 3
What do gamers fear? That the game won't meet their expectations. This is the primary fear of all players caught in the web of a game series. Bioware has already pleased us with two games from the [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect) trilogy, and now the release of the final, concluding part is just around the corner. Naturally, it’s expected to deliver much more than its predecessors. And the more expectations there are, the more fears arise. One gamer took the bold step of laying them out on paper on the internet.
If there’s any game that makes all gamers shake with anticipation and anxiety at the same time, it’s [Mass Effect 3](/games?search=Mass Effect 3). This game has the potential, for each of us in our own way, to become a defining moment in our gaming lives. The finale is so epic and full of weight, considering the results of all our previous decisions and mistakes, that it could truly become our game.
On the other hand, here’s something we agree on: if it fails… Ray Music will become our common enemy number one.
Winston Churchill once said (no doubt while puffing on a cigar and sipping brandy): “Well, you can take the most skilled sailor, the bravest pilot, or the boldest soldier, put them all together at one table – and what do you get? The sum of their fears.”
The same is true for us, and here’s the sum of our fears regarding [Mass Effect 3](/games?search=Mass Effect 3):
1. Too many battles
Shoot or chat? That is the question.
Exterminating geth and other ne'er-do-wells has always been part of the atmosphere of [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect), but the recent changes being made by BioWare to the game have us a bit concerned. At one time it was mostly a role-playing game with shooter elements, but then BioWare decided to play with words and labeled ME3 as an “RPS,” meaning “Roleplaying Shooter.”
Okay, but since much of the gameplay footage shown is centered on action and shooting mechanics (which has led some to view the game as akin to [Gears of War](/games?search=Gears of War)), it’s not hard to conclude that BioWare may have gone too far in this direction.
Don’t get me wrong – I love a good shooter. But I primarily want to see a storyline and characters in [Mass Effect 3](/games?search=Mass Effect 3), not stealth assassinations.
2. Focus on multiplayer
I don’t know about others, but I don’t know anyone who, after completing [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect), said, “You know what this game needs? More jokes, griefing, and companions whining about too cool weapons.” In other words – multiplayer. Sure, ME3 brings in nothing less than co-op, but is that really what the game needs? Yes, the way it will be integrated into the game looks interesting...
However, while I do enjoy cooperative shooters, what about those who loved [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect) for how it was always focused on quality single-player experience? Those guys are a bit nervous about the fact that you’ll be able to influence the campaign’s outcome through co-op achievements, and we don’t have much confidence about it.
Ah, but we did lose most of our crew during the Reaper attack in ME2, and anything that allows us to avoid such carnage won’t hurt. Right?
An organized crowd...
3. No one talks about role-playing
This point slightly overlaps with the first, but John points out that no one is talking about cool role-playing opportunities. Well, since he pointed it out... yeah, he’s right. We’ve seen a little dialogue and a bit of interesting decision-making at E3, but it was clear from the start that it was very brief. Everything else has been hidden behind closed doors, and since then we haven’t seen anything similar.
[Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect) is essentially about these moments – about deciding who lives and who dies, about loyalty to all sentient races or putting humanity first. Tough decisions with dreadful consequences and finding a way through them. It’s all about the drama. When some marketer tells us that ME3 will be the best place to start playing as someone you’ve never played before... it’s concerning.
4. EA Origin
Quite a few fans of [Battlefield 3](/games?search=Battlefield 3) were unhappy with EA’s decision to distribute the digital version of the game only through their Origin service, and now PC owners are starting to fear that Mass Effect 3 will be similarly tightly integrated. The collectible digital edition is only available through the Origin service, and it’s currently unclear if it will be a common requirement for launching any version of the game. Considering the current outrage across the network and even on EA’s own forums regarding the rather intriguing user agreement in Origin (especially concerning user file management), many people simply do not want anything to do with either this program or EA.
Beard? That wasn't in my contract!
Another concern is whether an active Origin client will be required to play the game, and if so, what that means for game saves (please, don’t go the Ubisoft route!) and the stability of this platform. If I'm only playing the single-player campaign, I don’t want to rely on services that may be down during my prime gaming hour. (Battle Log, ahem).
5. Dragon Age 2
Though I really enjoyed [Dragon Age 2](/games?search=Dragon Age 2) (I even have the scars to prove it!), many fans felt it had too much repetition and simplification. It’s no surprise they are now worried about a similar gameplay model invading [Mass Effect 3](/games?search=Mass Effect 3).
“If I see a similar setup, occupied by twenty different bastards,” both John and Nick Hailey stated, “I will be damn upset!” I can understand where this is all coming from. A lot of people found it questionable to wipe the structure of the classic adventure quest in [Dragon Age](/games?search=Dragon Age) in favor of a more sedentary story in [Dragon Age 2](/games?search=Dragon Age 2).
Again, I liked it, but I understand that if [Mass Effect 3](/games?search=Mass Effect 3) follows the same scheme, it will be... very... bad.
Did you see the trailer?
Just understanding that these are all empty worries, but I can't overstate how much we’ve invested in the career and story of our Shepards. Nevertheless, whenever I get a little anxious or my faith wavers, I think back to the debut trailer.
It touches on everything I want from the game. Dark, emotional, hinting that this shit is getting real... surely, the guys who made it can’t screw everything up. Right? Right?!!
Thanks - Soth
So that’s the deal... I can’t say none of this crossed my mind. Of course, everyone has their own fears, but I still hope for the best. Bioware knows that if they screw up with Mass Effect, fans simply won’t forgive them. So we wait, we wait.