Meet Me at the Bar
by efleck
“Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut Coming Next Week.”
Announced back in April in response to the controversy over the ending of Mass Effect 3, BioWare has announced that the Mass Effect 3 Exteneded Cut will be available as a free download for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 as well as PC on June 26th in North America, and July 4th for PlayStation 3 in Europe.
According to a post on the game’s official site, the extended cut “will expand upon the events at the end of Mass Effect 3 through additional cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes” and will “include deeper insight to Commander Shepard’s journey based on player choices during the war against the Reapers.”
The download will be 1.9GB and as for specific content, BioWare notes it will include “additional scenes and epilogue sequences. It provides more of the answers and closure that players have been asking for. It gives a sense of what the future holds as a result of the decisions made throughout the series. And it shows greater detail in the successes or failures based on how players achieved their endings.”
The post on the game’s official site also recommends loading a saved game from before the final Cerberus mission of the game. Endings will differ based on choices made throughout the Mass Effect series.
It’s finally here! I hope it satisfies the fans a bit more so that we can put this whole thing behind us. It’s 1.9 gigs of cutscenes and explanation, so is it going to be the least interactive DLC ever? Hopefully there will be more space fight or travel cinematics, BioWare does a phenomenal job at those.
Here is the latest article I wrote for Official Xbox Magazine. It’s all about the recently released Rebellion Pack for Mass Effect 3. If you haven’t gotten it yet, you should! It’s free and amazing! Read the full article for all my thoughts!
Check Out This Awesome Fan-Made Mass Effect 3 Launch Trailer
This beautiful alternate launch trailer for Mass Effect 3 was created with elements from the first and third Mass Effect games. Created by Luke Ritson.
(via: Obvious Winner)
Even though I liked all the trailers that preluded the release of Mass Effect 3, this one is still amazing. The scenes are spliced together so well and include tons of the awesome space battle cinematics that I love from the campaign. Definitely check it out if you got 3 minutes, which you do.
This conflict in Mass Effect 3 was so good. I felt the Quarians started the fight between them and the geth with their desire to wipe out their “mistakes”. I was pissed, though, because I was trying to unite everyone in the galaxy against the Reapers and when I dealt with this issue the Quarians ended up dying. What made me mad was that both Talia and Legion were loyal to me in Mass Effect 2 and I was super Paragon through out, but I never got the option for a cease fire between the two races that my brother said he got. Oh well, it was still a fantastic and deep conflict like so many others in this fantastic game.
Here is a solid opinion column one of my colleagues, Ryan McCaffrey, wrote about the recent internet storm over Mass Effect 3’s ending.
I think he makes a lot of good points and gives worthwhile advice to the developers. The recommendation of Ryan’s that I found most important was for BioWare to stick to their guns. It is good for the creators of a well-loved franchise to listen to their loyal fans, but to a degree. You can’t make everyone happy all the time, that’s just life. Half of those die-hard fans have never even tried to design a game before and therefore their rants and criticisms should be taken with a grain of salt.
I also find it shocking at the amount of backlash the developers are receiving. I understand the disappointment people are having from being underwhelmed by the ending to a such a rich story and universe, especially putting in the hours any loving fan would (I put 33 hours into Mass Effect 2). However, I see this as a “don’t bite the hand that feeds you” scenario. I also agree with Ryan that, in the end, this is a seller-consumer relationship and BioWare needs to remember that. If people don’t like your product, then screw them. Enough others will enjoy your work to make the unsatisfied few a very small minority.
The way I see it, the developers at BioWare sacrificed countless hours to bring you this game, working through long, stressful nights. That’s a lot of time and energy to put into something just to have it thrown back in your face. The developers aren’t our indentured game-making slaves. They make games for us because they enjoy the creative processes and problems associated with development. Our pleasure from their games does matter, but I see it as more of an added bonus to the job. So in the future, if an event like this happens again (I hope it doesn’t), inciters take a step back and think about your place in this relationship, before causing an illustrious developer to make reprehensible decisions that could affect the industry as a whole.
My one critique of BioWare is maybe this all could have been avoided if you had planned a little better. As revealed in this article, BioWare says they made up the story as they went along. While this may have worked initially, this whole debacle makes me think they wrote themselves into a corner they may not have wanted to be in.
Plus, as Ryan mentioned, BioWare is only hearing about the bad things about this game. There are so many good things about Mass Effect 3! People need to stop focusing on the negatives and enjoy the other parts of the game, like the addictive and ridiculously fun multiplayer. I haven’t stopped playing multiplayer since I got the game. The main story has barely progressed because I have been way too addicted to powering up my level 16 Engineer. I do plan on finishing the story, and my delay has nothing to do with this topic, I just can’t stop. Also, I bet I will like the ending, and if I don’t then oh well. I’ve played my share of games that were super fun right up to the ending. Its disappointing when a game hiccups at the finish line, but it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment I had playing the game up to that point.
Designer Chris Myles is at it again and this time he brings the Omni-Tool from Mass Effect to life. It’s complete with a flip out Omni-Blade!
“Made from trans-orange 2.5mm sheet acrylic (laser cut, heated and hand bent) with a few 4-40 screws /nuts and straps. Heated in an oven at 325~350 for 15 min (with a little spot help from heat gun) and then bent by be-gloved hands into its final shape.”
Related Rampages: Nerd Culture Rings / Jewelry (More)
Mass Effect - Omni Blade Prop by Chris Myles (Store) (Flickr)
This trailer got me even more stoked for Mass Effect 3. Having just finished 2, I am still madly in love with the universe and had a lot of difficulty moving onto something else. I just started Warp, I know I lied. I said I would play I Am Alive, but I couldn’t justify spending the money on it. Having received an unexpected windfall, though, I am now able to get Mass Effect 3 earlier than planned, but I’m going to order it so I have time to finish Warp.
I love that the multiplayer is just horde mode. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good battle of wits and accuracy mano-a-mano online. But more often than not I enjoy a good horde mode with a buddy over potentially bad anonymous teammates. Blasting away intelligent AI with creative, visceral guns in a rich universe is so satisfying to me. This is one of the major reasons I love Halo: Reach and Gears of War 3 so much. And Mass Effect has just joined the ranks of my top favorite games.
Another reason I love horde mode over matchmaking is that you can do and use certain things that you wouldn’t be able to in matchmaking due to balance issues. Occasionally, powers or weapons you loved from the campaign don’t carry over to multiplayer. Most of the time that’s ok, but sometimes its really unfortunate. Having a horde mode lets you do literally everything from the campaign, because fairness isn’t as much of an issue when killing AI. Just make sure the AI are tough and have realistic behaviors, and not obviously stupid, but with ridiculous health bars, that would detract from the empowerment you receive while playing. I know that is a tall order, but a lot of games get it right like: Halo: Reach, Gears of War 3, and Left 4 Dead 2. This trailer gives me hope that Mass Effect 3 accomplished that goal as well.
I can already tell my favorite classes are going to be the soldier, sentinel, and vanguard. I love running and gunning as a soldier, having all the tools for the job as a sentinel, and the powers that let you get in and out easily as a vanguard. That zoom power with the ground pound is amazing. I also love the Krogan head butt and charge attack, it totally brings that species to life. Being able to play as all the different alien races is also an awesome feature.
I’m ordering Mass Effect 3 right now, and I can’t wait to take back Earth.
Mass Effect 2 DLC Reviews
I know I am way late to playing/reviewing these DLC nuggets, but I just finished Mass Effect 2 in its entirety. I was a fool to put off playing that game until now. I absolutely loved it and am now reluctant to move on to other game worlds. I know I could dive right into 3, but I am going to delay my gratification by playing I Am Alive first and then play Mass Effect 3 as a reward for my good grades.
For extra writing practice, I took up Dan Amrich’s challenge and wrote all 4 of these reviews in 50 words or less. I think it turned out pretty well, but you tell me! I now await Amrich’s promised 100 XP and cookie for completing this trial.
Firewalker Pack
When it comes to gameplay, the Firewalker pack wasn’t the longest or most diverse. The Hammerhead tank handled extremely well, though, and thanks to the superb level designs, I found plenty of enjoyment when platforming with the vehicle. The rate of fire and item-collection sound were also very satisfying.
Overlord
In a Cain and Abel-esque storyline, one brother turns the other into a homicidal virtual intelligence bent on wreaking geth havoc. While somewhat of a sleeper hit, this DLC add-on was engaging to the end. The Overlord screeching through the communication systems was always jarring and helped maintain the tension.
Lair of the Shadow Broker
The Shadow Broker goes too far when he kidnaps Liara’s current squeeze. A harrowing rescue mission ensues, involving the infiltration of a secret ship and the death of an ancient information-hoarding alien. Lair of the Shadow Broker doesn’t disappoint with its intrigue and action, brilliantly adding to the vibrant universe.
Arrival
The Reapers are coming to destroy all life in the galaxy and some nutjob wants to help them. Shepard is tasked with a rescue mission that turns into reconnaissance, where some dire choices must be made. Arrival is packed with thrilling set pieces, exhilarating shoot-outs, and a driving narrative.
