I’m a huge fan of the Mass Effect franchise. In fact, it was the first game I ever purchased for my Xbox 360 and I fell in love with its vibrant universe instantly. Bioware is one of very few developers that have an extreme attention to detail. They also place a heavy emphasis on creating an engaging story with gripping dialogue. Of course this is to be expected though, they are the creators of Baldur’s Gate and Knights of The Old Republic after all. With Mass Effect 3, Bioware has improved almost every aspect of the Mass Effect franchise and is looking to make the grand finale of the trilogy the greatest title yet.
But after spending some time with the demo, before its general public Tuesday release, I have a few concerns. As a Bioware fan, in some ways the game has changed for better. Here’s a list of 3 things that make me a little apprehensive about Mass Effect 3.
Note: These opinions are based on a demo that could be different from the final retail version.
1. The opening didn’t feel as impactful as Mass Effect 2′s
Don’t get me wrong, it’s really super cool when the Reapers invade earth but it lacks the, “ah-ha!,” moment and surprise that was present in Mass Effect 2′s opening. The argument could be made that since it’s an invasion, the rampant destruction everywhere was appropriate, and that’s what you get in the demo. It’s not you dying and being resurrected or learning about an ancient race of aliens, it’s standard alien invasion at its finest. My next point actually is the reason why the opening didn’t feel that impactful.
2. Not enough dialogue choices
The entire opening had three dialogue wheel segments with two choices. Maybe it’s just the demo, but for me, that simply wasn’t enough. In Mass Effect 2 there were tons of different dialogue options. An invasion might lead to less talk and more action, but I’d still like to see more conversation options in Mass Effect 3.
3. Why is Freddie Prinze Jr. in the game again?
Yeah… That’s all I have to say about that.
I’m still really looking forward to saving the galaxy with my Shephard and I’m hoping these qualms don’t ruin the experience for me. I think it’ll be an amazing game and a great end to a trilogy. But seriously, let’s get rid of Freddie Prinze Jr. He ruined Wing Commander, let’s not let him ruin Mass Effect.
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I to wasn’t impressed with the demo,the visuals were mediocre the game is very linear the graphics of the people are acceptable,but not the city,I wanted to see the character fighting his way street to street gathering allies and helping people along the way,but I guess the type of audience Bioware have targeted this game at the run and gun crowd only care about shooting,so that will also explain the lack of dialogue choices after all this game might make out to be a RPG,it it’s not it’s a shooter,I must admit I didn’t like ME 2 much either,but I have to say it looked better than this,but I wish the developer stuck with the original formula for the other two games,but then the COD and gears of war fans wouldn’t have be happy and Bioware couldn’t have that could they their loyal fans from the beginning don’t matter as they are far too few.
Those are your only gripes? I say that’s pretty minor, the demo itself was only a half hour so I’d like to think there will be many more “ah-ha” moments and obviously more dialogue choices to be made.
Untik i get my hands on the final game i refuse to touch the single player, breaking a massive game into bite sized chuncks takes a lot of the immersion and impact out of the experience.
Can’t help but feel that the Demo is nothing more than a taste. Having seen both the Renegade and Paragon routes in the opening I know for a fact that you can’t change a damn thing that happens there. That said, it’s a 5 to 10 minute segment to get you back into the controls. It’s essentially the Tutorial. I would have liked more but I didn’t really expect more.
That said, I do agree that it could have used a bit more impact but it was achieving a different purpose here than 2′s intro. 2 was the “Dark Second Chapter” as Bioware called it. 3 Is the call to war. And it certainly made me want to keep fighting.
The combat demo was really good. I loved that segment and actually had a lot of success with the Kinect voice commands as well. Which I was probably less sceptical about than most of you, being very interested in how voice commands work in games.
The thing that’s hooked me more than anything however is actually the multiplayer. Which surprised me a LOT. It took some time to get into the flow of it however. It takes a few games to really get a feel and plays so much better with a well co-ordinated team of friends than some randoms over matchmaking.
As to Freddie Prinze Jr? He was fine in this. If not actually competent. :/ As to him ruining Wing Commander, it was a movie based on a game franchise. It was destined to fail no matter who was hired to play a part in it. I’d never put that sort of thing all down on one actor. I think it can safely be said that it was ruined by it’s director who Cast the people and co-wrote the screenplay more than the pawns in his little game.
With your number 1, consider the fact that you watched as a character you spent X amount of hours with die a very tragic and frightful death. You had pretty much become a god, and now that was stripped away from you in an instant.
After saving the crew, you were forced to watch YOUR ship, the ship that led the final charge against Sovereign to protect the universe, be mercilessly destroyed. The Reaper invasion is nowhere near as personal for the player, but perhaps for Shepard’s ego.
The rest of your worries will, as everyone seems to agree, probably be assuaged by the full game. I think the problem is that the heading states “problems” when you state they’re only “qualms” and the title also implies ME3 without specifying the demo. But, if it was structured that way to grab interest, I was interested.
I was disappointed with the choices as well, especially when I made a renegade character, chose the more renegade choice, and the people still said the same thing back to me. But I still love this demo. I have already put a ton of hours into the multiplayer and I can’t wait for the full release.
Also, ‘impact’? Reapers fucking the earth up doesn’t have enough impact?
Mass effect always had these problems… The universe is stunning, and i love that i you delve into the mechanics of the world these things are actually POSSIBLE.
the problem is
mass effect isn’t worth the $$$ its fun, till you beat it, which only takes a day or 2.
Mass effect 1 still has the best story.
mass effect 2 the gist of it was you come back to life? i mean really come on now.
i was hoping mass effect 3 would be HUGE, something like you get a while to prepare for the invasion. then you have to try and defend, then you get to fight back… looks like we are only getting the 3rd part though.
I estimate with side quest 40 hours tops therefore not worth buying, i’l wait until it is $20 or so.
Are you kidding me right now? 40 hours + worth of content and not worth buying?? I guess youd be more satasfied playing 4 hour call of duties then? And Mass Effect 2′s opening didnt have that much dialogue eitheir. Anyway, gonna be a superb game!
So, 40 hours of gameplay [which you're calculating off of who knows what] isn’t worthy of a purchase? Tough crowd.
Probably one of these best demos I’ve ever played. I’m actually still addicted to the multiplayer as it is right now, as well.
Didn’t feel neutered to me at all.
There is no gamepad support for PC. That is game breaking for me. Small indie developers have support but not this multi-million dollor company.
Maybe grow a pair and learn to effectively use a key board and mouse. I forced myself to, and it was certainly hard at first, but it has become my preferred gaming control method because it is so precise and accurate.
Do you seriously think that making the game “action-oriented” was solely EA’s idea? Did you watch any of Bioware’s interviews? Mass Effect 2,3 were designed to be more action-oriented do to the context, nature and more importantly the story of the game. If it involves a “galactic war” than naturally the combat and the conflict must feel a lot better, because let’s be completely honest while Mass Effect 1 had a great selection of weapons and customizations it’s combat was one of weakest parts. In addition, I would have agreed with you when you wrote “Multiplayer is unnecessary” and in fact I was also skeptical about having MP in ME, but I had all of my worries wiped out when I played it because MP in ME3 is actually pretty solid and if EA doesn’t decide to make it have some type of micropayment’s than ME3′s MP is going to very good indeed. I suppose your views on the demo are “fanatic” as it would seem and you expect too much as with any other fan of a particular game and that’s not necessarily bad it just clouds your judgement when it comes to evaluating this demo. I’m sorry but this just rubes me the wrong way, you stated that “ME3 has 3 problems” when in reality it doesn’t dialog choices will be expanded, presentation will certainly be improved and just because you have some beef with a guy doesn’t make the game have any problems and how can EA’s influence be a valid concern when you loved the first two game’s? If EA had ruined the game than there’s something to rant about, yes. But theres nothing to rant about if you “loved” this franchise from the beginning.
Not solely, I think they had some influence though. But at the end of the day, this is based on a demo and maybe I expect a lot of this francise because I get a lot out of this franchise. It wasn’t 3 problems moreso 3 worries which isn’t ranting moreso just apprehensive about the final product which isn’t saying it’s bad. and the dialogue stuff was taken out of the beginning to reflect spoilers. Knowing that, that makes a lot of sense so I’ll admit that but again, because it was a demo, as a fan, I expected more of the full experience than a neutered demo. I’m sure I’m gonna love it but I just wanted to make sure that I know I’m gonna love it.
Great, another article by someone with no information about the game. First off this is a DEMO and should be treated as such, second, Bioware implicitly said “We took out the majority of choices and characters to prevent major spoilers”. And the third point I’m going to make is that people expect too much from a DEMO ( I will emphasize this until you understand). Bitching about a DEMO is completely absurd and saying that “ME3 has 3 problems” on a freakin’ DEMO is just ridiculous and bear in mind people who made this game is the same guys that made the other two Mass Effect’s so one would assume that they know how to make a Mass Effect game. I would understand Perry Jackson’s rant if this was the first installment in the series, but it isn’t. The first two games were excellent and didn’t have these “3 problems” you speak of and do you know why? Well if your smart enough Mr. Jackson than I’ll let you figure that one out for your self.
That’s why I said it’s based on a demo and my opinion will change on the full release, you should read that before you say it’s based on a demo when I already stated it. Redundancies get you nowhere. Secondly, clearly they didn’t have those 3 problems because the beginning of the series didn’t have EA’s hand up their ass to make it more action-oriented and to included multiplayer co-op that is completely unnecessary. Lastly, I know the series quite well and have loved it ever since the first installment, of course I have faith in Bioware but I also am worried EA’s influence has gotten worse which is a valid concern. Also based on a demo which I said first but you had to re-iterate it in the comment which again, is redundant and I’m being redundant bringing it up again, so let’s not do that.
OOHH so we should treat a demo like a demo? As in we should treat it like a demonstration of what the game will be like?
Wow, thanks you ass, you just refuted your own argument
Bioware jumped the shark after Dragon Age 2
They’re more concerned about getting Cawadooty and World of Warcrafts fanbase to care about what made them get to where they are in the first place.
Only difference with Mass Effect 3 is now they’re aiming for Gears of Wars audience
Hawk, were you born an asshat or did you take lessons? I only ask because of your your self righteous and demeaning tone. I think ME3, will be great, but that doesnt invalidate any concerns one may have from the demo – demo meaning “demonstration.”. More than anything though, why not make your points civily instead of talking down to others? Hence my opening question.
That’s why I didn’t play the single player demo. I don’t want anything about this game spoiled for me. I took one brief look at the multiplayer, then shut it off. I’m not worried about the quality of this game, I know I will love it, just as I loved ME1 and ME2. However, I’d be lying if I said the inclusion of Freddie Prinze and Jessica Chobot didn’t concern me. But in the end, I think once you lay hands on the full ME3 experience, those little concerns will melt away and you will once again enjoy immersing yourself in the Mass Effect Galaxy, just as you did in versions 1 and 2.