Straight Dope Message Board

[Mr. Kobayashi]

I started a thread on ME3 over a year ago, when all we had was a teaser trailer. Now, we have a heck of a lot more. Specifically, a demo (out for Xbox 360 and PC, coming soon to PS3) - anyone checked it out yet?

The release date is a few short weeks away - 6th March in America, 9th in Europe.

I'll be picking it up for Xbox 360, since my saves are on that medium, creating a direct chain back to the character and decisions I made in 2007 (my Earthborn Adept Sole Survivor, generally paragon but with a bit of a rough edge), which is absolutely insane and unique in video game history as far as I can tell. It's also unique in that your squadmates from previous games can be killed - if they are, they won't return for the third game. My only worries are that I'll be unable to pick out the exact save I want to import and remembering my BioWare account details for future DLC and stuff.

The only bad news is that on the PC it looks like you need EA's Origins, which can generously be described as a Steam knock-off. I'm watching a let's play of the demo since I can't be bothered with that nonsense, looks to continue the tradition of the trilogy improving with each instalment.



Moderator's Note:
This thread gets pretty full of endgame spoilers very quickly. If you're still playing through the game, I sincerely recommend starting a new thread if you want an unspoiled discussion of the game. Read on at your own peril.

- Gukumatz,
Game Room Moderator
1

[Headrush042]

I'm really conflicted. I want to continue to support Bioware, and I love the ME series. At the same time, I really don't want to reward EA for being draconian idiots. 2

[Miller]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kobayashi

I'll be picking it up for Xbox 360, since my saves are on that medium, creating a direct chain back to the character and decisions I made in 2007 (my Earthborn Adept Sole Survivor, generally paragon but with a bit of a rough edge), which is absolutely insane and unique in video game history as far as I can tell.

Not really. It used to be a pretty common feature in computer RPGs. The SSI gold box Dungeons and Dragons games allowed you to port from one game to the next. Bard's Tale did the same, as did Might and Magic and, IIRC, Wizardry. 3

[Mr. Kobayashi]

Originally Posted by Miller

Not really. It used to be a pretty common feature in computer RPGs. The SSI gold box Dungeons and Dragons games allowed you to port from one game to the next. Bard's Tale did the same, as did Might and Magic and, IIRC, Wizardry.

They import decisions from one game to another? Importing a superficial character I imagine is one thing, but the continuity and work that goes it into making the world in one game react to your decision in another quite another. The lead designer has said that ME3 was comparatively easy story-wise since they didn't need to leave any dangling threads to be picked up.

Watching the demo -

SPOILER:

Captain Kirrahe's back! Hold. The. Line.

Seems that they're also going for different gameplay styles; Action where the story is automatic, Role-Playing which is apparently like traditional ME and Story where the combat takes a back seat. 4

[Miller]

Well, no, those old RPGs were pretty story-light, so there generally weren't any plot decisions that needed to be imported: each game could only end in one way. Mass Effect is certainly taking the concept to a new level, but it's not a unique or unprecedented idea.

On the other hand, the Gold Box games, at least, actually imported your entire character: items and experience points were retained between games, without forcing a reset or depowering on your characters. If you were a sixth level fighter with a +2 longsword at the end of the first game, you'd be a sixth level fighter with a +2 longsword at the start of the second. Which was also pretty cool. 5

[Tom Scud]

Originally Posted by Miller

Well, no, those old RPGs were pretty story-light, so there generally weren't any plot decisions that needed to be imported: each game could only end in one way. Mass Effect is certainly taking the concept to a new level, but it's not a unique or unprecedented idea.

Haven't played the games, but judging from the wikipedia summary it sounds like the later Wizardry games had plot points that were carried over from game to game. (Also like their plot was totally crazy, but anyway). 6

[Ike Witt]

How do you crouch? 7

[Terminus Est]

In Baldur's Gate, if you kept the Golden Pantaloons when you imported your character into Shadows of Amn, and then managed to acquire the Silver Pantaloons in the latter game, and then found the Bronze Pantalettes in the Throne of Bhaal expansion, you'd be able to craft something very special. The Baldur's Gate series was, of course, developed by Bioware who also developed Mass Effect.

As for Mass Effect 3, I'm conflicted about the whole Origins mess. I had the EA Downloader (pre-Origin) for some reason or another. I tried updating it to Origins, but the installer crashed. I'm taking that as a sign. 8

[Jragon]

Valve did this whole fiasco years ago with tying Half-Life 2 to their Steam software, even if you bought the disc. EA isn't exactly treading new ground. I mean, Origin sucks balls, but you can't fault them for doing something that Valve did years ago (back when Steam was similarly shitty). 9

[Smapti]

Personally, my only beef with Origin is that EA has no right to be using the name of Lord British's old company after the way they killed the Ultima franchise, burned the corpse, and pissed on the ashes.

That being said, i'm presently replaying through Mass Effect 1 and 2 in preparation for the thrid, because I want a save file that's fresh in my mind. My Shepard is female, a Ruthless Colonist who romanced Liara, let the Council die, made Anderson head of the all-human Council, and allowed Cerberus to take control of the Collector base. 10

[Headrush042]

Originally Posted by Jragon

Valve did this whole fiasco years ago with tying Half-Life 2 to their Steam software, even if you bought the disc. EA isn't exactly treading new ground. I mean, Origin sucks balls, but you can't fault them for doing something that Valve did years ago (back when Steam was similarly shitty).

Yes, I can. If EA wants to compete with Steam, that's fine. However, competition implies that they have a product of similar quality and they'll drive each other to make improvements. So far, Origins has been buggier, raised more privacy red flags, and has a fucked up EULA. They're not only treading ground that Steam managed to improve years ago, they've actually taken a step backwards from that. 11

[Crowbar of Irony +3]

I am downloading the demo now. I will probably be able to get a gameplay report in an hour or so. 12

[Crowbar of Irony +3]

Just played the demo. It's more or less the same Mass Effect, with some changes to the control. The normal movement speed is very slow, so you have to dash more often. However dashing makes it hard to control your direction. I guess that will make the game harder.

The demo has three presets - action, role-playing and story. That affects dialogue and the difficulty of combat. Not sure if that's going to end up inside the final game.

The action feels somewhat different. I find myself using the right mouse button to aim more often, and you are required to flank more. The melee kill move is nice.

You can customize your ability more now, usually choosing between more AoE or more damage or less recharge. Biotics have longer cooldown now, so you can't just spam them. 13

[FinnAgain]

Already preordered the collector's edition. Transferred my old save games to my new xbox. Hope I nabbed the right ones, or I may need to re-transfer. In any case, mega excited. 14

[Kiros]

I'm actually pretty miffed about the whole Origins thing, but I'm sure I'll be there the day it comes out either way.

I'd love to play through the first two again, or at least the second one, before then, but there's just no way I'll have time. I will have to check and make sure all of my saves are in order, though, since I've upgraded my PC since the last time I played 2. 15

[wolf in second hand clothing]

I played through the demo on xbox 360 a couple of times. Sadly, they did not include a sniper rifle for my infiltrator to play with, but I quite enjoyed using the tatical cloak with the new heavy melee omni blade attacks. I like the system of having ability cool downs tied to equipment weight, so you can run around with just a pistol and spam biotic powers, or stomp in with a full arsenal and rely more on your guns and armor. 16

[Kinthalis]

Guys, remember that masseffectsaves.com exists!

You can download almost any type of save from there if you need to.

Also you can use your PC saves on console and your console saves on PC with some free converting software.

I played the single player demo and tried the multi-briefly. Going to try it again tonight hopefully.

I was dissapointed in a couple of ways:

First, again no support for gamepads on PC. For shame Bioware. Then we are still getting the low rez console textures. Never mind that tiny Eastern European game devs can manage WAY better textures, Bioware can't be assed.

Also the story choices seemed quite limited. Like they were missing options, and some places that should allow you choice instead just played out like cutscenes.

It's been confirmed by Bio, however, that indeed some of the story/dialogue options had been cut for the demo. So I'm hopeful that part of the experience will be just as good or even better than ME2.


Origin? Meh, who cares. I'm at the point where that platform isn't going to stop me from enjoying a game I've been looking forward to. I'm already signed up, I already own BF3, so I just need to hit the download button and then hit play.

I would prefer if it were on Steam, but it's hardly a big deal at all.

My last small nitpick are the animations. Specially running. They seem... off. Stiff, unnatural?

I liked the way the combat felt. I was playing at insane level, which felt a lot like playing a fairly difficult shooter. A couple fo hits and you're down, so cover, and tactics play an important role. more so than in the past, IMHO. You need to flank and use your team mates for cover fire.

I like the system of cover in ME3. The arrow indicating where you will go helps a lot. Jumping over obstacles by double tapping cover is intuitive and smooth.

I also like the new options in thee skill trees. Allows for greater customization.

All in all, I'm happy with what the demo promises for the full retail release.

'course I'm going to be traveling in Germany the week of release so I'll miss out for a bit. Hopefully you guys cna pop in and talk about it some more so I can read about your experiences! 17

[Kinthalis]

The multi-player right now is co-op only where it's a squad of 4 (I think, I haven't seen more than that) vs waves of dastardly cerberus operatives.


It's fun. You gotta work together, specially in later waves. But unless there's some competitive play and better maps, and more players, I don't me doing this for long. 18

[Kinthalis]

Ahh, no, I hadn't noticed Mr Kobayashi. Keen eye, sir.

Interesting. I guess humanity really is starting to to rise to prominence.

If anyone wants to try multi-player with me, hit me up. I'm Kinthalis on Origin as well. 19

[Unauthorized Cinnamon]

It looks to me like the first prefab alternative FemShep is very similar, if not identical to the default FemShep from 2.

Let me take a moment to bitch about how much I hate the new default FemShep. "Oh, saving the galaxy can wait while I dye my hair and apply more eyeliner!" Eh, at least I can import my gal from 2, or make a decent looking space marine on my own.

So anyway, Phoenix and I are now playing multiplayer: UCinnamon and Dark3Phoenix on Origin (*spits*). It sucked at first, but I can see multiplayer getting extremely addictive as you gain access to more cool stuff!

I've been dragging my feet on actually ordering the game, but I know I'll buy it. ME2 rocked so hard, I can't resist. If they can speed up the walk speed and make the camera behave when you run, I'll be satisfied. I'm already LOLing at the Princeface Kaiden gave me when we met in the hall, so I'm pretty sure the character interactions will be fun, and the enemy AI is really impressive compared to the previous game. Surely worth $60, right? 20

[Grumman]

Having watched a video of the first ten minutes of the demo, I'm happy with just sticking with the first game. In the first game, people being unconvinced about the Reaper threat made perfect sense. I could respect that. Then everything went to hell.

SPOILER:

Ignoring the superweapon that attacked the Citadel, giving Shepard shit about being reliant on the criminals that revivified her corpse and continually rubbing it in her face? And then confiscating Shepard's ship which isn't even Alliance property, and relieving her of duty and still not doing anything about the superweapon? Fuck off.

21

[Jragon]

Originally Posted by Miller

Do people actually play with the pre-fabbed characters?

I do, I usually play with the character creation tools, but everyone I make in ME looks so ugly it hurts, the pre-fabs look better to me (though I do pick my own class, background etc).

Originally Posted by Grumman

Having watched a video of the first ten minutes of the demo, I'm happy with just sticking with the first game. In the first game, people being unconvinced about the Reaper threat made perfect sense. I could respect that. Then everything went to hell.

SPOILER:

Ignoring the superweapon that attacked the Citadel, giving Shepard shit about being reliant on the criminals that revivified her corpse and continually rubbing it in her face? And then confiscating Shepard's ship which isn't even Alliance property, and relieving her of duty and still not doing anything about the superweapon? Fuck off.

I joke I (and everyone else) keep making is:

Council: "Help! Shepard! The Reapers are attacking the Citadel!"
Shepard: "Ah, yes, 'Reapers' *hang up on them*" 22

[Johnny Angel]

Look, you have to look at it from the Council's perspective. Shephard's got to be wrong about something sooner or later.

So, I played the demo. I'm a PC user generally, but I'm picking up the game for the 360 because somebody gave me one and because everybody available to play multiplayer with me will be on the 360. The first thing I noticed about the 360 version was that the controls were retarded and nobody could possibly actually play this stupid game. Later, somehow the controls got less stupid. It would still be better to have mouse and keyboard.

I'd like a little more background. How did Shepard come to no longer be with Cerberus? And back with the Alliance, but apparently forcibly retired? And what exactly happened when Cerberus decided to re-flip the bitch switch and dedicate themselves again to full-time evil? And how is this affected by your decision in the last game to either let them have the Collector base or not?

On this multiplayer system, I notice that there's a 'store' where you purchase upgrades for your avatar with 'credits'. Is 'credits' something you buy from EA with money? Because I have a sinking feeling that this is a huge scam. 23

[FinnAgain]

Originally Posted by Johnny Angel

How did Shepard come to no longer be with Cerberus?

Most likely answer:

SPOILER:

Didn't steal the Collector base, did steal the Normandy II.

Originally Posted by Johnny Angel

And back with the Alliance, but apparently forcibly retired?

SPOILER:

Stopped a first wave of the Reaper invasion but had to destroy a Batarian colony in order to do so.

24

[Unauthorized Cinnamon]

Originally Posted by Johnny Angel

On this multiplayer system, I notice that there's a 'store' where you purchase upgrades for your avatar with 'credits'. Is 'credits' something you buy from EA with money? Because I have a sinking feeling that this is a huge scam.

While I bet EA will gladly trade you credits for cash as well, you do earn credits simply by playing. I've got a level 16 Engineer, and in the course of leveling up to that point, I've been able to buy at least 4 "Veteran" packs, and probably a dozen "Recruit" packs. So earning credits by playing is perfectly viable.

It does suck majorly when you're level 1 or 2, and you can't even heal yourself because you haven't bought any medi-gel yet! But I've found I'm well supplied with extra ammo, health and shield boosts, and even a nifty rocket launcher now that I'm up and running.

OH! And BTW I gave the wrong Origin ID for Phoenix - it's dark2phoenix. Woops! 25

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Johnny Angel

And what exactly happened when Cerberus decided to re-flip the bitch switch and dedicate themselves again to full-time evil?

I'm pretty sure this was confirmed by various promotional articles for the game:

SPOILER:

In ME2, you encounter a few missions where you learn that prolonged exposure to Reaper tech makes you crazy, and eventually can brainwash you into helping the Reapers. One memorable recording featured a scientist who'd been studying a dead Reaper - with him and his crew stationed inside that "ship" - raving about how dead gods aren't sleeping, or something to that effect. Cerberus wanted the dead Reaper at the end of ME2, so my guess is: give them the ship and they go wacko and get absorbed, don't give it to them and they find some other Reaper tech with the same result. Either way they only want you dead or alive, to add to their system as a weapon.

26

[Tixenfleaz]

After my last computer went boom, I was able to salvage my last saved game from ME2. Anyone know if I'll be able to plug it into ME3? I really don't want to start with a new Shep. 27

[Ike Witt]

Originally Posted by Tixenfleaz

After my last computer went boom, I was able to salvage my last saved game from ME2. Anyone know if I'll be able to plug it into ME3? I really don't want to start with a new Shep.

You should be able to. You could plug in a half finished ME1 character into ME2 and go. It even allowed you to check items that you may have missed, IIRC. 28

[Kinthalis]

Originally Posted by Tixenfleaz

After my last computer went boom, I was able to salvage my last saved game from ME2. Anyone know if I'll be able to plug it into ME3? I really don't want to start with a new Shep.

Yeah it should work.

If it doesn't for some reason, you can always head on over to masseffectsaves.com



Also peoples, the first piece of DLC has been outed.

Called "From Ashes", it features a:

SPOILER:

Prothean squad member!

29

[Mr. Kobayashi]

Originally Posted by Kinthalis

Also peoples, the first piece of DLC has been outed.

Called "From Ashes", it features a:

SPOILER:

Prothean squad member!

That is absolutely mental, although for the last in the trilogy I can expect them throwing in everything. I expect we'll see Tali's face too. The downside is that you'll have endless people bitching that they didn't like the results and that it should have remained a mystery.

SPOILER:

Since the Prothean pretty much has to be from some sort of stasis, anyone think it will be Ksad Ishan, the head of the Ilos facility (who Vigil's personality was based off)? Calling it now.

Only problem is I have to have that, which means faffing about with Xbox Live and BioWare accounts or whatever they have. Wish there was a retail or bundled version. 30

[Josh Winepuck]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kobayashi

Only problem is I have to have that, which means faffing about with Xbox Live and BioWare accounts or whatever they have. Wish there was a retail or bundled version.

Heard it will be part of the Collector's Edition. 31

[FinnAgain]

There is a promise of an extra char on the collector's edition but no confirmation that I've seen yet that it's Prothean. 32

[Grumman]

Originally Posted by FinnAgain

There is a promise of an extra char on the collector's edition but no confirmation that I've seen yet that it's Prothean.

It's a Prothean. They accidentally put the DLC on that X-Box thing (X-Box Live?), and it said in no uncertain terms that it was a Prothean.

...with a Jamaican accent. 33

[FinnAgain]

Ah cool, thanks. Glad now that I preordered through Amazon half a year ago, since now they're sold out of collector's edition preorders. Not such how I feel about Jar Jar the Prothean, though... 34

[Mr. Kobayashi]

Originally Posted by FinnAgain

Ah cool, thanks. Glad now that I preordered through Amazon half a year ago, since now they're sold out of collector's edition preorders. Not such how I feel about Jar Jar the Prothean, though...

He sounds like this, which blows my mind. I thought he'd sound more like Vigil, more light and airy (maybe a bit more down - he's the last of his kind fighting those who committed genocide against his people after all) and less like this. 35

[Mr. Kobayashi]

Originally Posted by FinnAgain

Eh... after 50,000 years it's perfectly possible that there was a bottleneck somewhere and mutants became the new normal.

Also it's perfectly plausible that the Collectors had more than one single outpost.

Eh, both true but still disappointing. The Collectors especially; the Collector General was toasted and since he maintained a direct link to all Collectors for Harbingerification you'd have thought his death would mean the end of the Collectors.

Maybe Prothy is from the Styx Theta colony EDI mentioned when talking about how Protheans were morphed into the Collectors. Still, he looks way too much like a Collector for my liking - their DNA was supposed to have been completely rewritten and yet Prothy just looks like a Collector with a smaller head and no wings.

Also, if you're in the mood for spoiling squadmates;

SPOILER:

EDI in a mechanical body. She kinda looks like the robots from the Will Smith film iRobot.

36

[FinnAgain]

SPOILER:

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Sexbot Six is not a bot!

Grr. 37

[Jragon]

SPOILER:

Does anyone know, to romance Liara does one have to had remained faithful to her in ME2? I romanced Tali before the Shadow Broker DLC even was a thing.

38

[Mr. Kobayashi]

SPOILER:

BioWare! STOP! YOU VIOLATED THE LORE! Pay the court a fine or serve your sentence. Your concept art is now forfeit.

That's not a Prothean, it's a domesticated Collector! That's a Prothean. That's a (huskified) Prothean. That's a Prothean. This guy? Not a Prothean! Where'd all his tentacles go? Also; why the piss are Collectors back when I blew their base into tiny little pieces in ME2?!

39

[FinnAgain]

Eh... after 50,000 years it's perfectly possible that there was a bottleneck somewhere and mutants became the new normal.

Also it's perfectly plausible that the Collectors had more than one single outpost. 40

[FinnAgain]

I preordered in August. I have two day shipping. It's still not going to get to me, according to Amazon, until the 9th. Goddamn. Well... at least I have a week of vacation starting at the end of work in the 9th. 41

[Ferret Herder]

UPS's tracking for my Origin order still just says that a shipping label was printed on the 2nd, and that it's going via 2nd Day Air. It's said that since their E-mail from Friday. (Oh, I notice their unhelpful E-mail also mentions that I did pre-order on July 23rd. You thought to mention that but not tell me what carrier you're shipping via, or even confirm the exact game I bought. Gosh, EA is just firing on all cylinders.) So I guess there's still a chance of timely shipping.

I don't know why Amazon would be shipping late - apparently ME3 "went gold" early or exactly on time, so you'd think they'd have the games promptly. 42

[Ferret Herder]

Crap. I just realized, unless UPS just didn't update their website, I'm not getting it tomorrow with "2nd Day" shipping as an option. Bastards. 43

[TBG]

I hope you're not too attached to how your custom Commander Shepard face looks, because the import function seems to not be able to handle bringing in the faces on ANY of my completed saves from ME2. Oh, they import the decisions and such (like who you boinked, did you save the rachni, give the base to the IM or blow it up, etc) but then throw up some crap about how they couldn't bring in the face and bam, there's the default face looking sappily up at me. You can then go ahead and remake your custom face (or try anyway) just like if you were making a new character, but damnit, this is quite inexcusable after ME2 had no problem at all importing these same exact faces from ME1 saves. 44

[Mr. Kobayashi]

Originally Posted by TBG

I hope you're not too attached to how your custom Commander Shepard face looks, because the import function seems to not be able to handle bringing in the faces on ANY of my completed saves from ME2. Oh, they import the decisions and such (like who you boinked, did you save the rachni, give the base to the IM or blow it up, etc) but then throw up some crap about how they couldn't bring in the face and bam, there's the default face looking sappily up at me. You can then go ahead and remake your custom face (or try anyway) just like if you were making a new character, but damnit, this is quite inexcusable after ME2 had no problem at all importing these same exact faces from ME1 saves.

Argh! Does it use the same face codes so you can just put those in (although you'd think it would be able to do that itself)? 45

[Mr. Kobayashi]

Apparently the problem is that imported ME1 faces don't generate a code, so you're screwed if you want to import a ME1 face in to ME3. Fortunately there's a convoluted way to get a face code from an ME1 import into ME2 for input into ME3, although even then it's not perfect. Jesus. H. Superchrist, I want my squinty-eyed stubbly Shepard back dammit! I'll have to dig out a USB drive... 46

[Quimby]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kobayashi

Apparently the problem is that imported ME1 faces don't generate a code, so you're screwed if you want to import a ME1 face in to ME3. Fortunately there's a convoluted way to get a face code from an ME1 import into ME2 for input into ME3, although even then it's not perfect. Jesus. H. Superchrist, I want my squinty-eyed stubbly Shepard back dammit! I'll have to dig out a USB drive...

So a face that started in ME1 and went to ME2 is no good? Oh well...I bet I could make her prettier. I was not very good at it back in ME1 days.

I asked this up thread but since the game is out now I will ask again: do you have to import saves from both ME1 and ME2 or does your ME2 save contain your ME1 choices also? 47

[Crowbar of Irony +3]

Your ME2 save files reflect your old ME1 saves. I have problem getting some saves over - it looks like if you played with DLCs, you have to install them, along with ME2, for those saves to show up. Gah.

Got the game 6 hours earlier through Origins. Is it just me but are the facial animations not as good as before? James look so stiff. And I am so not used to the angsty Shephard. 48

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Crowbar of Irony +3

And I am so not used to the angsty Shephard.

I'll be OK with that, I think. Shepard's been through an awful lot, and some change from the usual superhuman is to be expected.

My copy of the collector's edition showed up in Chicago after midnight and was put on a truck to probably go to the local distribution center an hour ago, according to UPS. If this plays like shit on my computer, I am going to be so disappointed. 49

[Quimby]

Originally Posted by Crowbar of Irony +3

Your ME2 save files reflect your old ME1 saves. I have problem getting some saves over - it looks like if you played with DLCs, you have to install them, along with ME2, for those saves to show up. Gah.

Got the game 6 hours earlier through Origins. Is it just me but are the facial animations not as good as before? James look so stiff. And I am so not used to the angsty Shephard.

Thank you for the confirmation. I didn't want to have to dig up my old ME1 save folder. 50