Mass Effect 3

Did You Know?

• EA launched early copies of Mass Effect 3 into space using weather balloons equipped with GPS devices, which fans could track and recover.
• The game's multiplayer component was officially announced on October 10, 2011, confirming fan rumors dating back to 2010.
• Mass Effect 3 was remastered as part of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition in May 2021.

Gameplay

Mass Effect 3 is an action role-playing game viewed from a third-person perspective, with the player controlling Commander Shepard. Before starting, the player determines Shepard's gender, appearance, military background, combat training, and first name. A completed saved game from Mass Effect 2 can be imported, carrying over prior decisions that affect the plot. Six character classes are available, each with unique skills; for instance, the Infiltrator class specializes in stealth and sniping, while biotics-inclined classes use psychokinetic powers. Experience points earned from completing assignments and quests allow Shepard to level up, unlocking or upgrading skills along a tree. Three pre-set campaign modes exist: Action, Story, and RPG, differing in conversation handling and combat difficulty. Weapons can be augmented with ammo types, barrels, modifications, and scopes. Kinect support enables verbal customization choices. Beating the game unlocks New Game+, allowing a restart with bonuses such as further weapon upgrades.

Synopsis

The Mass Effect trilogy takes place in the Milky Way galaxy during the 22nd century, where interstellar travel relies on mass relays built by the extinct Protheans. The Citadel Council, a governing body, maintains order among races including humans, asari, salarians, and turians; other races include the krogan, quarians, and the geth. Mass Effect 3 begins in 2186, six months after Mass Effect 2, with the galactic community fearing a Reaper invasion. The krogan face extinction from the genophage, a bioweapon; the quarians prepare to retake their homeworld from the geth; and the human supremacist organization Cerberus regroups after a temporary alliance with Shepard. Shepard has been relieved of duty and is confined on Earth, awaiting court-martial by the Systems Alliance.

Development

Mass Effect 3 was developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, directed by Casey Hudson, who co-created the franchise with BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka. It was the first game in the series without involvement from Microsoft Game Studios. Development began before Mass Effect 2 was released. Because the game targeted consoles nearing the end of their lifespans, BioWare focused on optimizing gameplay and storytelling rather than advancing technology. The company used critical feedback to guide creative decisions, such as adding back character customization options after complaints that Mass Effect 2 oversimplified role-playing systems. Another goal was to make the game more user-friendly for new players. Hudson aimed to improve combat, hoping to make Mass Effect 3 one of the best shooters on the market, by improving enemy animations and diversity and introducing unexpected battlefield events like collapsing floors. The game required over 40,000 lines of dialog, compared to 20,000 in the original Mass Effect and 25,000 in Mass Effect 2. Voiceover director Caroline Livingstone coordinated remote recording sessions from Edmonton, as it was logistically impossible to gather the entire voice cast in one location. BioWare developed technology like the Intensity Volume Matrix to help maintain proper intonation and volume across lines.

Reception

Upon release, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Mass Effect 3 received universal acclaim on Metacritic, with scores of 93 out of 100, making it the highest-rated game of 2012 on both systems; the Windows and Wii U versions received generally favorable reviews. Critics considered it a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Dan Whitehead of Eurogamer praised its definitive close, while Andrew Reiner of Game Informer called it one of the most intricately crafted stories in gaming. Tom Francis of PC Gamer noted the finale was a mixed bag but praised its scale and emotional impact. Reviewers highlighted the experience of playing with an imported saved game; Arthur Gies of Polygon and Gus Mastrapa of The A.V. Club noted it was more meaningful for players who had played previous titles, though Edge felt the game relied too heavily on prior events. The combat system and multiplayer mode received praise. Colin Moriarty of IGN observed minor but evident changes from prior installments, while Game Informer found enemy encounters more intense and varied than in Mass Effect 2. Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot recounted glitches such as party members climbing into danger and enemies stuck on walls, and Machinima noted bugs but cited strong characters as compensation.