Mass Effect 3 was developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on March 6th 2012, and retails for $59.99 MSP.
Mass Effect 3 is the final chapter in Commander Shepard’s story. The culmination of two amazing stories in the previous games has brought players to the most polished version they’ll play. Combat and graphics have been greatly improved, and they’re definitely two features that players will enjoy. Fans of the trilogy will see how their choices have affected their journey and new players can come in without being left in the dark. The codecs and cutscenes provide plenty of backstory and information on the game’s history.
The combat has been improved by adding a more dynamic cover system and seamless movement to traverse a battlefield. This is the final war when Reapers are invading while destroying entire races, so there is definitely no shortage of enemies and firefights. The excavation for minerals has been done away with, but not the exploration of different systems in the galaxy. Side missions will still take you from place to place in order to secure goods while the Reapers chase you for an added challenge.
What we liked:
Story – Commander Shepard is now on his/her final mission and BioWare has made that apparent. Players who have taken their character from the first game to this last iteration will see differences in side missions and the plot. Even subtle passing dialogue will reflect past choices – even ones from the original Mass Effect. The pacing of the story shows the true prowess of the writers; with Shepard going between combat, sentimental moments, and fixing the mistakes of others – all while the Reapers destroy all he knows.
Combat – The revamped cover system and combination of powers for explosive results makes players yearn for more encounters. The developers have answered this call by adding multiplayer, which isn’t just a tacked-on feature, but actually has an effect on the single player campaign. The movement and cover system gives players more mobility when they need it and sufficient cover when they need to stay put. Combining powers gives players the opportunity to explore and experiment using different team members for every mission.
Kinect Integration – Using the Kinect during cutscenes will pull players closer to their Shepard by actually voicing their dialogue choices. You could essentially even put down the controller during these sequences, but don’t forget about the Paragon/Renegade quick-time events with your left and right triggers. The true driving force behind using the Kinect is during combat. Commanding your team instead of stopping to bring up the power wheel will make the combat fluid and satisfying. “Liara, singularity; Warp”, is all it takes turn a group of enemies inside out.
What we didn’t like:
Kinect accuracy – Even though the team at BioWare have put many hours into recording American, UK, and Australian accents there are still a few hiccups with the voice commands. Speaking the commands clearly during combat is definitely important, or you’ll be met with a little red microphone in the top left corner. It can be an important part of your game in the middle of combat as well as making the right dialogue choice that you want.
Combat cover – Even though the cover system has been upgraded, it has proven to be a double-edged sword. Since there is such a dynamic battlefield movement system there is no shortage of cover. This results in Shepard taking a dive into a wall when you don’t mean to or if there is a slightly wrong angle while you sprint toward the enemy.
Mass Effect veterans will see the final chapter of the series settled even though there is much controversy surrounding the ending. Another disputed facet of the game is its day one DLC, which had many fans up in arms. Regardless of the negative light surrounding the game, it is still something that must be experienced. The wisdom and knowledge that the developers at BioWare have gained shows in the refinement and polish of Mass Effect 3. From its sleeper hit beginnings to becoming one of the most famous sci-fi stories, Mass Effect 3’s pacing will have you constantly on the edge of your seat.
Score: Buy It
