Mass Effect 3

Did You Know?

• EA launched early copies of Mass Effect 3 into space using weather balloons equipped with GPS devices for fans to track and recover.
• The game's multiplayer mode helped popularize loot boxes, which PC Gamer called 'the worst monetization gimmick of the 2010s'.
• A standalone sequel, Mass Effect: Andromeda, was released in March 2017 and takes place in the Andromeda galaxy during the 29th century.

Gameplay

Mass Effect 3 is an action role-playing game played from a third-person perspective. The player controls Commander Shepard, whose gender, appearance, military background, combat training, and first name are chosen before starting. A 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 biotic classes have psychokinetic powers. Experience points earned from assignments and quests allow Shepard to level up and unlock or upgrade 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+, which lets the player restart with bonuses such as further weapon upgrades.

Synopsis

The Mass Effect trilogy is set in the Milky Way galaxy during the 22nd century, where interstellar travel relies on mass relays built by the extinct Protheans. The Citadel Council governs much of the galaxy, with member 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. The galactic community fears invasion by the Reapers, a machine race of synthetic-organic starships that eradicate organic civilization every 50,000 years. The krogan face extinction from the genophage; 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 confined on Earth, awaiting court-martial by the Systems Alliance.

Development

Mass Effect 3 was developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. Casey Hudson, who created the franchise with BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka, directed the game. It was the first in the series without Microsoft Game Studios as publisher. Development began before Mass Effect 2 was released. Because the target consoles were nearing the end of their lifespans, BioWare focused on optimizing gameplay and storytelling rather than pushing technology. The team used critical feedback from fans; for example, they added back more character customization options after complaints that Mass Effect 2 oversimplified role-playing systems. Making the game more user-friendly for new players was a major strategy. Hudson aimed to improve combat, hoping to make Mass Effect 3 one of the best shooters on the market. Enemy animations and diversity were enhanced, with specialized enemies requiring different tactics based on character class. Unexpected events and redirects, such as floors giving out, made battles less predictable. 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 cast in one location. BioWare developed technology like the Intensity Volume Matrix to help maintain proper intonation and volume across the extensive dialog.

Reception

According to Metacritic, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Mass Effect 3 received universal acclaim 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 the definitive close to the saga. Andrew Reiner of Game Informer called it one of the most intricately crafted stories in video gaming. Tom Francis of PC Gamer found the finale 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 that prior context made the game more meaningful. Edge felt the game relied too heavily on events from prior titles. The combat system and multiplayer mode received praise. Colin Moriarty of IGN noted minor but evident changes from prior installments and anticipated added replay value from multiplayer. Game Informer found combat more intense and interesting than in Mass Effect 2 due to greater variety in environments and enemy types. Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot recounted glitches such as party members climbing onto crates and enemies getting stuck on walls. Machinima noted numerous bugs but cited strong characters as compensation.