סקירה של "Mass Effect 3" מאתר ign.com + שאלות ותשובות [תרגום]

סקירה של "Mass Effect 3", כמו גם תשובות לשאלות

קولين מוריארטי, 01.03.2012.

לאף אחד לא סוד שאני מאוד אוהב ומעריך את סדרת "Mass Effect". אני מכיר היטב את שני המשחקים הראשונים (העבד הצייתן שלכם כתב באופן אישי מדריכים גדולים לשניהם עבור IGN) ו"Mass Effect 3" נמצא בראש רשימת המשחקים שאני מצפה להם בשנת 2012. סוף סוף רציתי לראות את סיום המשימה החשובה של קפטן שפרד; עכשיו, בעוד שאני מחזיק ב"Mass Effect 3", אני מרגיש שאני קרוב לפתרון.

כשאני מזין את "Mass Effect 3" ל"PlayStation 3" שלי, תהיתי מה מחכה לי. בניגוד לרוב האנשים שממתינים בקוצר רוח ליציאת החלק השלישי של הטרילוגיה הקוסמית של "BioWare", כינסתי את כוח הרצון שלי כדי להימנע מהמידע. למרות שזה לא היה קל (לבסוף, אני קשור למשחקים בעבודתי), הצלחתי; טריילרים, חוויות משחק והדגמות חלפו על פני. כמובן, לא ידעתי היכן החלק השלישי מתחיל ולאן השחקן משם.

עם זאת, מיד נתקלתי בדילמה. האם לשאת את השמירה מ"Mass Effect 2" או להתחיל מדף ריק? בחרתי באופציה השנייה. בהתחשב בהופעות (לדעתי, הן בהחלט מיותרות) של אלמנטים רשתיים והאפשרות לבחור בתחילת המשחק בין נטיות תפקיד, קרב או עלילה, ברור של"BioWare" ו"EA" היה חשוב להפוך את "Mass Effect 3" לגישה לקהל רחב ככל האפשר. החלטתי להעמיד פנים שאני מתחיל, ולא מעריץ ותיק של הסדרה, ולקבל את החוויות המתאימות. אחרי הכל, לא רק מי שאהב את הסדרה מאז תחילתה יקנה את המשחק.

אני שמח שהמשחק החל על כדור הארץ. זה מוזר שזה מתאפשר רק עכשיו שהשחקן יכול לדרוך על קרקע עריסת האנושות. כשאתה רואה אותה בעיניך (ולא מהמסלול), אתה מבין מיד את כל ממדי המצב. ה"רבנים" האיומים, שנחשבו פעם רק לפנטזיה של פאנאטיים דתיים, התבררו כאיומים אמיתיים. וכמו בכל חמישים אלף שנה, הם מתכוונים לנקות את הגלקסיה מכל מה שזז.

לכדור הארץ אין שום סיכוי לעמוד מול הכוח ההרסני והממדי של ההתקפה של ה"רבנים" (הם דומים לתורייינים בזה). שפרד בקושי נמנע מהמוות, שנוגס במיליוני אנשים; הסצנה הקודרת של הטבח קובעת לזמן רוחבי את הטון האופייני לכל המשחק. ה"רבנים" הם איום קיומי לכל מה שיש ברחבי (ובלא ידוע) גלקסיה. הצלחה או כישלון שלך בשיקום הטכנולוגיות העתיקות של הפרוטיאנים תלויים בגורל כל הגלקסיה. בניגוד לקטעים קודמים, בהם, למשל, הסלאריאנים והקרוגנים היו לא מעט נוגסים זה בזה בעקבות סכסוכים ישנים, כעת השחקן יצטרך לשאוף לשלום בגלקסיה, דבר הכרחי להישרדותם של כל העמים והמין.

הקרב ההתחלתי על כדור הארץ קובע למשחק קצב לא שגרתי. השחקן לא רק לומד (או נזכר) את מערכת הקרב של "Mass Effect", אלא גם נתקל בכמה חידושים קטנים. "Mass Effect 3" משתמש ביותר מימדים מאלה שקדמו לו. למשל, השחקן יצטרך לקפוץ מעל שברים ואפילו לטפס קצת במהלך ההתקדמות שלו תוך ירי על אויבים. בהמשך, אלמנטים כאלה לא ייעלמו.

פתגם שחשוב לציין הוא שבמהלך ההתחלה של המשחק אני נתקלתי בכמה באגים קטנים. הווידאו הפותח יסבל מבעיות בקצב הפריימים, ולמרות שהבעיה הספציפית הזו לא כה ניכרת בווידאו שלאחר מכן, הדבר מאוד הפריע לי. סנכרון תנועות השפתיים עם הדיבור כמעט תמיד היה מזעזע, הדמויות לפעמים קופאות במקומן ואפילו נעלמות במהלך דיאלוגים.

למזלנו, אי האלמנטים הללו לא פוגעים במשחק המוצלח באופן כללי. אם השחקן מצליח להתגבר על אי הנוחות הטכנית, הוא פשוט יטבע בסיפור עמוק וכתוב היטב עם דמויות מעניינות, שחלקן מוכרות ואחרות חדשות. ובכל זאת, גם ה"Mass Effect" הראשונים סבלו מבעיות — זמני טעינה ארוכים, בעיות עם טקסטורות — אבל זה לא עצר את השחקנים מלהנות מהעלילה.

אגב, לגבי העלילה: במשחקים הקודמים של הסדרה הייתי מעביר המון זמן בקריאה של כל הקודקסים הראשיים והמשניים. כבר spent a couple of hours on this and I am still amazed at the detail of the background work of "Mass Effect". It is remarkably deep, and I assure you — there is no more captivating background than in any other series.

The battles in the game are well made and quick; in this regard, "Mass Effect 3" is hardly different from its predecessors. I play a simple soldier; the interface for switching between weapon types and skills has not changed since "Mass Effect 2". It can sometimes be tricky to use cover, especially if one of your partners tries to sit next to you, but on the whole, it is hard to complain about the combat system. I like it and, in my opinion, it surpasses most of its TPS counterparts. A huge achievement for a game where story and roleplaying overshadow the gameplay itself.

I'm also glad to see new opponents right from the start of the ground capture. Not that you won’t run into familiar enemies, but in "Mass Effect 3" you will notice a difference between old and new enemies, which you will begin to grasp almost from the very beginning. After all, you haven't faced off against the mysterious Galactic annihilators, the Reapers, who you have no idea what they are capable of.

As I explored new planets, locations, and ships, I noticed something that should shock fans of the series — experience is awarded noticeably more frequently than in the second part. As a result, characters level up faster. Naturally, if a player imports a character from "Mass Effect 2", they will gain a significant level boost. If the level cap in the second part was thirty, in the third it has risen to sixty. Additionally, although a player can change little about the imported character, they can choose a different class, if they wish.

Skill points determine the character's development path, and the player will have plenty of options for investment. Most of them depend on the innate abilities of the character coming with the class. I always prefer to increase first those characteristics that directly enhance the combat power and health of the character, but in "Mass Effect 3", where choices are made at every turn, players are given the opportunity to develop not only Shepard but also all available squadmates.

I've already spent about twelve hours in the game and I'm overwhelmed with main and side quests. By the way, in "Mass Effect 3" the approach to non-narrative activities is more businesslike. If in "Mass Effect" the player landed on countless planets, and in "Mass Effect 2" scanned them for valuable ores and minerals, in the third part, they have to develop and maintain precious combat resources, while also exploring the Galaxy for available planets and items.

I can say for sure. I can’t wait to see more. More plot, more consequences of my choices. Moreover, I still want to transfer my character from "Mass Effect 2" and see how the decisions made in the second part come to light in the third. But for this review, I decided to look at the game from a newcomer’s perspective (albeit weighed down with significant knowledge); so far, it's all just awesome.

\a week later**

For the last two days, I have been glued to "Mass Effect 3", which has confidently drawn me into the depths of its plot. After spending the weekend interacting with real people and gathering my thoughts, I locked myself back in my apartment and dove into the game. And I was thrilled. Only by a titanic effort of will did I manage to tear myself away from it before the ending, to save the sensations from a complete playthrough for the review, rather than spilling them here in a preview.

Many "Mass Effect" fans often ask about the connection between the second and third parts. I wasn't sure about the answer while playing through the first half of the game. "Mass Effect 2" is largely the essence of a video game deserving to be on the list of the best of the best. In many ways, "Mass Effect 3" seemed inferior to the second part, which had set the bar too high. Now I don't think so anymore.

I only noticed this about fifteen to twenty hours in when it became clear how elegantly all the parts of "Mass Effect" intertwine with each other. I was constantly astonished by how everything comes together in a cohesive whole, referencing not only the second part but the first as well. Even though I’m playing a "new" character, my extensive knowledge of the game world allowed me to appreciate all the large and small references to characters, events, and dialogues from previous games. How "BioWare" managed to do this, I personally do not understand.

Around that time, I clearly realized that only those who have played the entire series can fully appreciate "Mass Effect 3". This may seem obvious, but in this case, it is worth repeating. Being only loosely familiar with the events of the previous games, a player will enjoy the third part but will not understand a hundredth of the multitude of references and nuances, especially in the second half of the game. It does not matter on which platform you played before that, as long as the character is not particularly valuable to you. What matters is that you were there, you saw those characters and those events.

Naturally, carrying over your individual version of Shepard will be a cornerstone for many veterans of the series. They should play the game on "Xbox 360" or PC, where you can fully import your character. On "PlayStation 3", there is of course an "interactive comic" that allows you to make key decisions from the first part, and you can also easily transfer a character from the second game there. But, to be honest, it's best to go through "Mass Effect" and "Mass Effect 2" before installing "Mass Effect 3" if you want to feel the full, mm, effect.

I don’t know what else to write; the editing team is happily moving towards writing the review. "Mass Effect 3" has problems — rare frame rate hitches, texture loading issues, and other bugs — but nothing can prevent it from ascending to the throne. It is the pinnacle of the greatest, most exciting, and most brilliant series in the history of video games. I can't wait to announce its score next week. But more importantly, I can't wait for your feedback to understand who will be able to grasp the entire trilogy.

So, let’s move on to the questions:

Question: Can you tell us more about the reputation system? Is it made up of Hero and Renegade points?

Answer: We here at IGN are all trying to figure out how it works. Given that there is no guide and none is expected, this is not the simplest task.

If you select Shepard on the squad screen, the reputation bar will be on the left, along with the Hero and Renegade bars. One might assume that it’s the same thing — reputation is made up of Hero and Renegade points. In practice, it turns out that you can earn Hero or Renegade points PLUS reputation points. Or earn both separately. Their quantities may vary; you may earn a lot of one and a little of the other.

This led us to conclude that reputation affects the level of Hero or Renegade, but itself affects the character's recognition. In any case, a high reputation affects dialogue options, just like the Hero/Renegade level.

Question: Is the weapon system implemented like in the first part, where the player had dozens, say, of assault rifles to choose from, or like in the second, where each class had one or two types of weapons?

Answer: In "Mass Effect 3", there is a decent system based on weapon types and upgrades. On the battlefield, you can often find various weapon types (so search locations carefully), but using found or purchased upgrades, you can enhance them.

In my opinion, you are most interested in the "dozens" — in your case, assault rifles. I haven't seen dozens, but I currently have half a dozen and about the same number of available upgrades.

In other words, in "Mass Effect 3", a balance has been struck between too large a selection and too small. The upgrade system and switching between weapon types for different combat situations are quite interesting and engaging, especially considering that you can work with weapons right in the location if you find a weapons bench. Moreover, if a player finds a new weapon, they can immediately give it to their character without waiting to return to "Normandy".

Question: I'm interested in the weapon upgrade system. Do upgrades change weapon characteristics?

Answer: As I mentioned, in "Mass Effect 3", upgrades play quite a significant role. Depending on the installed mods, the characteristics of the weapon can change quite a lot, and these upgrades can be removed and placed on another weapon of the same class.

For example, if you've upgraded a pistol with two mods, increasing bullet penetration and increasing the magazine size, you can remove these mods on "Normandy" or at a weapons bench and install them on another pistol without any restrictions. However, the upgrades are strictly tied to weapon classes, so you can't put an assault rifle upgrade on a sniper rifle.

It is also worth noting that on "Normandy", you can permanently upgrade weapons for money. These upgrades increase the base stats and are not removed after purchase. At the same time, the weapon's name changes, marking the purchase upgrade, and reverting it to its original state will no longer be possible.

Question: "BioWare" claimed that there would be fewer characters in the squad, allowing for more focus on their development. Has this development stepped forward?

Answer: The story in the third part is presented somewhat differently. Because the events of the game take place during a severe crisis, characters develop under the threat of the existence of all life in the Galaxy. "Mass Effect" has always emphasized story, but in the third part, the narratives of new and familiar characters feel different, especially since the decisions you make and relationships with other characters can strongly influence the flow of the game.

But did this development step forward? Yes and no. I don’t want to spoil, but let's just say, old characters will reveal themselves in a new light, and the new ones will quickly show themselves, especially if you take the effort to engage with them. Remember: wander around the Citadel or "Normandy" and talk to everyone you meet — that’s the best way to immerse yourself in the story.

Question: I would be very interested to know which characters are available for homosexual relationships.

Answer: I won’t go into details to avoid spoilers, but this is quite a common question. In "Mass Effect 3", you can enter into homosexual relationships regardless of your character's gender. Of course, finding characters available for them is interesting in itself, so I won’t deprive you of that enjoyment.

Question: I have played the first two parts so many times that I can’t remember what decisions I made in which saves. When transferring, does the player get a list of important decisions made earlier?

Answer: Of course, the game will inform you about the important decisions you made. However, they are not presented with pictures or scenes, but rather as a simple list indicating who you saved, who you slept with, and other details that come up in the third part.

In other words, those of you who have a mountain of saves need not worry that they can’t remember what they did where.

Question: I haven’t seen or read much, but I know that the entire Universe is on the brink with the Reapers. Therefore, I would like to know how side quests are implemented. Are they focused on the threat of the Reapers or are they not related to the main plot?

Answer: Yes, the events of the game unfold during a severe crisis. The Reapers are not a fiction — they plan to destroy all living things in the Galaxy, just as they do every fifty thousand years.

One of the biggest flaws in "Mass Effect 3" is that the side quests are weakly linked to the Reapers and resemble more "fetch quests". Some of them, for example, the N7 missions, are still connected to the main plot, but most are so disconnected from it that they resemble farce.

In the first two parts, the non-narrative missions were calculated, but here they have seriously failed. Why is Shepard playing the errand boy? If the Reapers win, it’s all over, and the game would feel much more realistic and coherent if it focused on the Reapers.

I also didn’t like something else about the side quests, such as their数量在，的Citadel例子。而，在早期的游戏中，旁支任务通过偷听某人的对话来获取，但在第三部分，这变得荒谬。Myself in any case, I got a side quest from an overheard conversation every minute while running through a new part of the Citadel that I totally "overheard" accidentally, not even knowing it. The tasks in the Codex are also poorly articulated. In the dry residue, we have something crooked and inconvenient.

Another flaw to note is the time constraint. I failed several side quests due to not adhering to a specific timeframe, but at the same time, no one initially indicated the time limitations to me or even informed me of their existence! Learn from my bitter experience and do side quests immediately upon receiving them, otherwise you may irretrievably fail them.

Question: Do actions of a Hero and Renegade remain in the game?

Answer: Yes. During some conversations, you can make decisions on the fly, depending on your character's inclination towards "good" or "evil". And, as in "Mass Effect 2", decisions have to be made quickly, so don’t count crows and be ready!

Question: You wrote that you had frame rate problems in the initial videos. Could you elaborate a bit on the graphics as a whole and whether the issues with lip sync and frame rates improved later or if you just got used to them?

Answer: The game as a whole, comprised of sound, script, characters, and story overall, is magnificent. I can hardly recall any game that engaged a player in an intriguing world full of interesting characters and significant decisions that tug at the strings of the heart like "Mass Effect".

Coming down to earth, however, you discover small technical problems. The longer I played on "PlayStation 3", the less I noticed them, and I think it’s not because I just got used to them. It seems they truly disappeared. It’s unclear why, though.

Question: How's the "Normandy"? Can it still be upgraded?

Answer: "Normandy" still belongs to Shepard, but now it can’t be upgraded like in "Mass Effect 2". In the previous game, upgrades were needed to increase the ship's chances of surviving the trip through the Mass Relay in the "Omega-4". Now the situation has changed.

Instead of ship upgrades, there are "combat resources". You obtain them throughout the game by making decisions, helping certain characters, and hindering others. They determine your readiness for the game finale and, in fact, the ending itself. "Combat resources" are not exactly the same as ship upgrades, but they are the closest equivalent in "Mass Effect 3".

Question: Could you elaborate on the economy and acquiring ship equipment and upgrades? I don’t quite understand how the concept of money fits into a dying Galaxy.

Answer: As I mentioned, while answering the question about side missions, "Mass Effect 3" weirdly emphasizes something that would not matter in the proposed situation. It’s sad because the series has always prided itself on its relative realism, but in "Mass Effect 3", that sense of reality seems absent.

This also applies to money. They are still chased after. Some believe that the Reapers won’t destroy everyone; others do not take their attack seriously until the last moment. In any case, money plays an important role in "Mass Effect 3", so do not expect a barter system or a lack of necessity to buy something. Though this would certainly add to the game’s realism.

Question: The most significant scenes in the first two games were slow and conversational. Take Mordin's personal quest in the second part, for instance. I will never forget the discussions regarding the use of the genophage and his regrets. Therefore, I would like to ask: when the fate of the Galaxy is at stake, is there still room for such small personal scenes?

Answer: In "Mass Effect 3", character stories are revealed spectacularly. At this point, I have already seen the most touching scenes in the series, and I think there will be many more. The world of the game is in shambles. Very much in shambles. Therefore, characters reveal themselves more easily and actively.

So there's no need to worry. There are tons and tons of such small personal scenes in "Mass Effect 3". The dialogues are excellently written, relationships with characters are realistic, and there are very many scenes that will stick in players’ memories for a long time.

Question: Even though you play as a "default" character, how closely does the story adjust to your Shepard's biography? How much does your team know about your service to "Cerberus"? Does anyone dispute your leadership? Does the team split between those who are for you and those who are against?

Answer: To avoid spoilers, let me just note that Shepard's relationship with "Cerberus" plays a huge role in "Mass Effect 3". The game does well in presenting the plot and essence of "Cerberus" to the player, even if they did not transfer a character; even complete newcomers will understand that Shepard's actions in "Mass Effect 2" and their employer can have significant implications for the surrounding characters.

Of course, if you start from scratch, the game will take some things for granted. If you transfer a character, then the story will adjust to your save. But be sure that not everyone considers Shepard a friend or a loyal companion… including those who once knew him and worked with him.

Question: Is the game’s soundtrack good? I think "Mass Effect" had the best music in the whole series. Don’t you think?

Answer: I must admit that I am one of those who was not enchanted or captivated by the "Mass Effect" soundtrack. That’s because music tends to fade into the background for me, rarely taking the forefront or giving depth to the emotions. Of course, there were exceptions in all three parts.

For me personally, music is the least important aspect of "Mass Effect". Far more crucial is the quality of voice acting; which is mostly top-notch.

Question: I want to only ask if there is planet exploration in the game.

Answer: Yes, if you mean the ability to fly through systems, exploring planets. However, (sadly) the famous scanning from the second part has been completely cut out. You will no longer have to mine for minerals and ores. Instead, in each system, you will look for something worthy of exploration. Upon finding such an object, you can launch probes, find fuel, an item needed for a side quest, or the side quest itself.

The problem is that this scanning attracts the attention (and wrath) of the Reapers. The Reapers have awakened throughout the Galaxy, and they are not hard to find on its map. But even where they are currently absent, they can easily detect you and attempt to destroy you. In such a case, you'll have to rush to the nearest mass relay before your ship is captured and destroyed by the Reaper forces.

Question: I'm curious why, even before starting to play from a blank slate, you didn't choose "Xbox" or even PC as your platform?

Answer: Just so you know, I fully completed "Mass Effect" and "Mass Effect 2" on "Xbox 360". But I thought it would be more honest to play without transferring a character, as not everyone will want or be able to transfer it. I chose "PS3", but I could just as easily play without transferring on "Xbox 360" (and will when writing the review for that version).

Of course, character transfer will affect the gameplay. How exactly is a spoiler, so it's not mentioned in the review. However, we will supplement the review with discussions on character transfers, video guides, and clarification of the entire process.

Question: I'm planning to transfer Shepard for the first playthrough and then create a new one for subsequent runs to see all the story variations. If I don't transfer the character, how can I select key decisions for the new Shepard from the first two games?

Answer: If you start "Mass Effect 3" from scratch, the game offers you certain decisions, including baseline ones, such as birthplace, and story-related ones — who survived and who perished. The questions are posed directly, but players won’t be able to make all the decisions they would have had to make while playing through the first two parts. "Mass Effect 3" mainly adheres to a "canonical" storyline unless the player transferred their character.

So you will have some influence on the story, but only to a limited extent. However, if you know little about the world, these decisions will still be fairly meaningless to you.

Question: Do you get experience for killing enemies? I think it was stupid to remove that from the second part.

Answer: You don’t get experience for killing a specific opponent; experience awarding is linked to events like waves of enemies. For example, if you are completing a side quest with three stages, you will gain experience for each wave of enemies plus for completing a specific quest or missions.

In principle, since the second part, the system has hardly changed...but experience is awarded more frequently and not just at the end of a mission, so the player feels they are gaining it for something more interesting than simply completing an assignment.

Question: Please answer the question from someone who knows nothing about "Mass Effect". I have never liked RPGs. I don’t like spending time traveling between locations, talking to NPCs, and sifting through inventory and developing characters. I don’t like long pauses between fights. Will I enjoy this game?

Answer: That’s a tricky question. "Mass Effect 3" undoubtedly belongs to the action-RPG genre, although the series has strayed pretty far from the RPG roots of the first part. Many, including myself, enjoyed those, but the second part led the series into new territory and made it more accessible.

In "Mass Effect 3", there aren't mountains of fights, but there are hills for sure. How you maneuver through them depends on your decisions. If you want to fully experience the story, accomplish all side quests in all corners of the Galaxy, and essentially spend lots of time, "Mass Effect 3" offers more than just an action-RPG. You could certainly play just for the fights, but honestly, there are plenty of better TPS options on the market. If you are mainly looking for combat, play something like "Vanquish" or "Gears of War". If you seek brilliant storytelling and you are patient enough, "Mass Effect 3" will pay off immensely.

Question: I would like to know how the N7 missions are structured.

Answer: The N7 missions are a whole series of key side quests. Besides them, there are a lot of side quests (most of which are not hard to complete), but the N7 missions, though not mandatory, contain much story information that fans would not want to miss.

It’s worth noting that the N7 missions are tied to the multiplayer maps of "Mass Effect 3", so they will serve as an excellent reason to switch to multiplayer mode after finishing the campaign. However, revealing the essence of the N7 missions and what and who you’ll encounter among them would mean serious spoilers, so I'll keep silent.

Question: Is there anything in the game that players who do not wish to enter multiplayer mode will not see?

Answer: This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions. Ultimately, "Mass Effect 3" is the first in the series that steps into the realm of multiplayer games. Honestly, "EA" has yet to provide IGN access to the servers so we can assess the multiplayer mode. I hope we will be able to do that in the coming days, and of course, we will not give "Mass Effect 3" a score without fully understanding the multiplayer component.

But from my experience, "Mass Effect 3" can be fully completed solo. This is already noticeable in the achievements, which indicate conditions of “either/or” for obtaining. For example, the N7 missions serve as a transition to multiplayer maps, and corresponding achievements can be obtained both in solo mode and in multiplayer. It seems that "BioWare" really tried not to shortchange the single-player experience with the arrival of its multiplayer counterpart. Do not worry about it.

Question: "BioWare" promised the return of all surviving squadmates. Is this return forced or not? Is it one-time or can you visit old friends?

Answer: Considering that I played without a transfer, the game itself decided who survived at the end of "Mass Effect 2" and who did not. In the course of the game, you will meet old squadmates in various circumstances. If I avoid spoilers, I can only say that the familiar faces from the second part will appear in the third, but in varying capacities. Some will join your squad, others will be linked to side quests, while some will play minor roles.

Which characters belong to which category, of course, you will have to figure out.

Question: Can you drive the "Mako" in "Mass Effect 3"?

Answer: No. The "Mako" does not appear in the game, and in my opinion, "BioWare" has completely moved away from the idea of giving the player control of transportation. I did not have to do that, except for a couple of times when I had to shoot from turrets or a flying shuttle.

Question: Do combat or movement depend somehow on the gravity of the planet?

Answer: Great question. I immediately remember the Elcor, slow beings, on their home planet, which has a monstrous gravity. People there would have to crawl in space suits like snails if they survived at all.

But unfortunately, the answer is no. You will of course never land on a gas giant where the pressure would smear any living being. Landings only happen on rocky planets with reasonable gravity. Furthermore, most of the time, you have to deal with life-sustainable planets. It would certainly be cool if gravity affected gameplay, but in "Mass Effect 3" it does not.

Question: I would like to know more about the "combat resources" and "galactic readiness". Could you tell us more about them?

Answer: Of course. Throughout the game, players gather "combat resources" by completing main and side quests. For example, if you help the Salarian military, you will receive part of their combat resources. And if you complete a task for a Turian scientist, you will receive combat resources associated with Turian technology. All these combat resources, as they accumulate, increase the level of galactic readiness, which heavily influences the ending. This system resembles the loyalty system in "Mass Effect 2", but is much more complicated and branching.

It is more complicated because acquiring some combat resources deprives you of access to others. Even in this critical time for the Galaxy, old conflicts barely die down. Helping the Salarians will not please the Krogan. Some Turians still hold a grudge against humans dating back to the First Contact War. This needs to be taken into account when gathering combat resources and increasing the level of galactic readiness since you simply won't be able to please all sides, no matter how hard you try. Naturally, this only adds to "Mass Effect 3"'s replayability.

Question: Will players return to familiar locations?

Answer: If I am to avoid spoilers, yes. You will see many familiar places again. And I am not just talking about the Citadel. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to play the first two parts before playing the third. Otherwise, you may not understand that Shepard has already been to certain places or that events at certain locations are tied to their history.

Question: When the Reapers find Shepard and begin their attack, you need to run away, right? So, I would like to know what happens if you let them capture you without trying to escape?

Answer: When you scan a system for hidden valuables, such as objects on its surface or ancient ships from which to siphon fuel, there’s a chance that your scanners will attract the attention of Reaper scouts. When the Reapers learn your approximate location, further scanning will inevitably lead them to you, at which point the chase will begin.

To escape, you need to fly out of the system, either using a mass relay or entering interstellar space on your way to the next system at the same relay. If you don’t escape, the Reapers will capture "Normandy", and you will be greeted with the message "Game Over". Not anything interesting. I must admit, I was disappointed by the banality of the approach.

Original.

This translation is original.

Thanks for the provided material — Aliel.

Thanks for the proofreading — Aliel and Kavem.

Thank you for your support — Sinmara.