Mass Effect 3

[Tyrath]

Oh me too. They aren't saying that thats what it is anyways. At this point a better DLC ending isn't even rumors, just people being hopeful. I'll take a DLC ending over this pile of shit. Which, I guess could be there master plan lol.

[WahiGuard]

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The endings do have some beautiful qualities to them and this is one of them. I do think this part of the problem of ending Mass Effect is to explain very complex ideas like this that have been set up from the beginning. The Reapers had a purpose that organics couldn't comprehend. You could argue that the counter to their solution was also going to be incomprehensible. Its fascinating really to think about.

The problem here that i can't stray away from is that the Reapers were still the main force that prevented organics from continuing to evolve. Destroying the mass relays doesn't accomplish anything because allowing species to interact with each other isn't the problem.

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No, the Reapers were tools of the Catalyst to impose its singular perspective. I have to save organic life by destroying it and giving it my purpose to save myself. which is why I see the Catalyst almost as an enemy.
The Mass relays destruction is symbolic I think. All technology after FTL space flight is based on using the technology of the Mass relays. It`s destruction breaks the cycle. And allows all forms of life choose and make their own progress and failures free from the Catalyst singular view.

[Tyrath]

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No, the Reapers were tools of the Catalyst to impose its singular perspective. I have to save organic life by destroying it and giving it my purpose to save myself. which is why I see the Catalyst almost as an enemy.
The Mass relays destruction is symbolic I think. All technology after FTL space flight is based on using the technology of the Mass relays. It`s destruction breaks the cycle. And allows all forms of life choose and make their own progress and failures free from the Catalyst singular view.

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How do you explain the paragon ending though? If you are taking control of the Reapers, where does the mass relays and all technology being destroyed fit in?

[Arelian]

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No, the Reapers were tools of the Catalyst to impose its singular perspective. I have to save organic life by destroying it and giving it my purpose to save myself. which is why I see the Catalyst almost as an enemy.
The Mass relays destruction is symbolic I think. All technology after FTL space flight is based on using the technology of the Mass relays. It`s destruction breaks the cycle. And allows all forms of life choose and make their own progress and failures free from the Catalyst singular view.

Spoiler: show

Yes, all tech was seemingly based off on the technology of the mass relays, but it all seemed incredibly different. Just look at the Prothean beacons. They weren't really like anything during the current cycle. Really... the only big piece of tech that rolled over from every cycle was the Citadel.

[Anoat]

A DLC based ending is pretty goddamned shitty, especially for people without internet access on their consoles. And if said DLC isn't free, its a pretty big insult to your paying customers.

[Arelian]

I should mention that I've successfully brainwashed myself into thinking the end of the game was 10 minutes earlier.

[Tyrath]

I should mention that I've successfully brainwashed myself into thinking the end of the game was 10 minutes earlier.

I went a different route.

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I decided that after meeting Catalyst Shepard said fuck it and destroyed the universe. The end.

[vrumpt]

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No, the Reapers were tools of the Catalyst to impose its singular perspective. I have to save organic life by destroying it and giving it my purpose to save myself. which is why I see the Catalyst almost as an enemy.
The Mass relays destruction is symbolic I think. All technology after FTL space flight is based on using the technology of the Mass relays. It`s destruction breaks the cycle. And allows all forms of life choose and make their own progress and failures free from the Catalyst singular view.

Spoiler: show

Good point. There is definitely restrictive nature there. I'm liking the endings more and more as I think about it, and I kind of admire Bioware for going this route. I don't really want any changes to the endings at all at this point; it would just be an insult to the series and to media in general. Maybe some additional dialogue that could have been present at the end to explain some of this stuff would have been better.

And i still think so much of this outrage stems from carbon copy sunshine and rainbow endings that everybody is used to and expects from our age of movies and media. Nobody can criticize somebody for writing differently, but they certainly are entitled to their right not to like it.

As for me I try to ignore the different choices since they don't really mean much; overall its Shepard dying, the Reaper threat ending and the Mass Relays getting destroyed allowing for uninfluenced evolution.

[BaneTheBrawler]

I kinda like the endings, however, I'm still dissatisfied with them.

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There are so many questions unanswered. Who created the Catalyst? He didn't just spring into existence. Why is the Catalyst so convinced organics and synthetics can't co-exist (and that organics will always lose)? I got the Geth and Quarians to make nice. Surely Shepard can't be the only one in millions of years to say "Guys, guys, stop shooting or we're all dead." Did the Catalyst build the Citadel and the Mass Relays, or were they left there by the civilization that created him, and he merely used them as part of his solution? How many times has the cycle repeated? What kinds of races have been absorbed? Why do they all look like cuttlefish, even though we know for at least two cycles humanoids (or even just bipeds) have been the prevalent form? What the hell is Joker doing flying away from Earth? How did my squad get aboard the Normandy so fast? What happens to them? What happens to the huge ass fleet of every single race I just dropped into the Sol system? What happens to the galaxy as a whole; do people make new Mass Relays, or otherwise re-establish galactic civilization?

I think there needs to be another Mass Effect game. Not Shepard, obviously, but maybe an MMO or open-world Skyrim type game or something. Just as long as EA and Bioware don't shit it up too much.

Edit: yknow what, I changed my mind. I don't like the endings.

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As someone said, the whole point has been to prove that we can decide our own fate, and then Shepard just knuckles under and picks bad bad or bad? Fuck that. Talk to the little fucker, get him to call off the Reapers, and work something out that isn't bad. Edit2: And as for the Catalyst's solution... why not just periodically hack the AIs and take them into darkspace? And, the whole series spends all this time showing you how awesome galactic civilization is, and then you're forced to destroy it all.

[BadKarma]

More ending thoughts:

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The form the Catalyst took should have been whoever you killed on Virmire

[Kerberoz]

More ending thoughts:

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The form the Catalyst took should have been whoever you killed on Virmire

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That wouldn't be very effective if, like me, you gleefully jammed the "die bitch!" button on Virmire. Still better than the kid, though.

What bothers me most about the kid, besides his voice and presence triggering PTSD from the Phantom Menace, is the fact that Shep has seen countless innocents die, some as a direct result of his actions, and some probably screaming in agony, yet this little wanker getting blown up is what sticks with him? Huh?? Even worse if you chose the Colonist backstory...

[vrumpt]

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That wouldn't be very effective if, like me, you gleefully jammed the "die bitch!" button on Virmire. Still better than the kid, though.

What bothers me most about the kid, besides his voice and presence triggering PTSD from the Phantom Menace, is the fact that Shep has seen countless innocents die, some as a direct result of his actions, and some probably screaming in agony, yet this little wanker getting blown up is what sticks with him? Huh?? Even worse if you chose the Colonist backstory...

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Taken straight from the Mass Effect 3 art book that came with the Collector's Edition

One child would be the face of the people on Earth whom Shepard could not save

I thought the symbolism was portrayed pretty well throughout the game. Knew exactly what Shepard was having nightmares about. Why the Catalyst took this form though I have no idea. Perhaps it was to symbolize the sacrifice that Shepard would have to make before the people of the galaxy could be free of Reaper influence for good.

[Buffy]

What does the war map do? I'm like 8-10 hours into my first run through and none of the zones have moved off 50%. Should I do something about this? My war assets have increased.

[Meresgi]

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Is there any way to save Mordin on Tuchunka? Or do does he end up dying no matter what?

[Insanecyclone]

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Is there any way to save Mordin on Tuchunka? Or do does he end up dying no matter what?

There is no way.

[Kerberoz]

There's symbolism and then there's

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also Mordin

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was nearly at the end of his expected lifespan anyway

[Tyrath]

What does the war map do? I'm like 8-10 hours into my first run through and none of the zones have moved off 50%. Should I do something about this? My war assets have increased.

The 50% is how much of your military strength translates into Effective military strength. It can only be raised through multiplayer.

[Buffy]

The 50% is how much of your military strength translates into Effective military strength. It can only be raised through multiplayer.

It can only be raised through multiplayer.

.... That's dumb.

I understand better now some of the comments earlier in the thread.

[Meresgi]

There is no way.

Ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffuckers!

It can only be raised through multiplayer.

What? seriously?... *shakes head*

[BaneTheBrawler]

Yeah, but supposedly you can still get any ending without raising it.