Mass Effect 3 Review

The wait from Mass Effect 2 to Mass Effect 3 wasn't a very long one, and it shows in the last installment of the series. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Mass Effect 2 was my favorite game of 2010 and I wouldn't be surprised if 3 ends up being my favorite game of 2012.

Visually, this game is absolutely stunning. At first glance the game looks very much like its predecessor, but once you dive deeper and deeper in, you will begin to notice the subtle intricacies. What immediately stood out to me were the background visuals during action sequences in the game. It came to the point where I was paying more attention to the action going on in the background rather than the action in which I was participating. Cut-scenes are also beautifully animated and masterfully framed, which isn't surprising at all seeing that incredible cut-scenes have become a staple in the series. I ran into a few rendering issues while playing, but it didn't take away from the experience. Though you'd think that BioWare would have fixed this since it's been a problem since the first game, it really isn't a huge deal.

Gameplay has been improved on as well, especially with the addition of voice commands. With a Kinect on Xbox 360, you will be able to command your companions with your voice. Instead of opening up the command wheel and choosing an option, you can simply say "Garrus, use concussive shot," and he will fire one off without hesitation. Being very unimpressed by Kinect thus far, I was extremely impressed with how responsive it was to my voice and how it actually made action sequences more enjoyable. The Kinect  can also be used to voice dialogue options instead of using the controller to select them. Other than that, action is pretty much the same. You have two crew members supporting you on excursions and you must use cover and command your crew in order to be successful in battle. Sometimes the cover system can be unresponsive or sloppy, but it doesn't lead to too much frustration. The omni-blade tool is a weapon now and can be used to strike down enemies at close range, making close range combat less clunky and awkward.  There is also a great variety in enemy types, and new enemy types are bigger and tougher, making it all the more satisfying to take them down.

The main strength in this series is the voice acting, dialogue, and story. Mass Effect 3 keeps up the tradition by continuing the great story, making this installment significantly darker than the first two. As more and more people get cut down by the reapers, your cause feels more hopeless. Especially when Shepard speaks in certain sequences, and his humanity is put on display. Shepard shows more compassion and pessimism and it shows especially in conversations with military leaders where feelings of certain defeat are expressed. Character development is still a huge part in the narrative and you will feel yourself come even closer with  characters from the past installments, especially at the end of the game when most questions are answered.

The multiplayer does what it is intended to do and adds extra depth to a game that is already extremely deep. The multiplayer won't sell the game to anyone, but it gives you a little more bang for your buck and gives you an opportunity to play a very well made game with your friends. There are two game modes; a four player co-op mode where you and your friends can tackle on missions, and a Gears of War like horde mode where you and your friends team up and take on waves of enemies. Both are fun and worth playing, but the multiplayer does not outshine the campaign, nor would I ever want or expect it to.



Mass Effect 3 is the best game I have played so far this year and I'm hoping other games can follow suit. What makes this game great for me is the fact that you can take the character you played from the first installment and bring them through the next two. It really helped me connect with Shepard and actually care about him, because I had gotten to know him so well. The same goes for the supporting characters, I have gotten to know them so well and actually found myself caring for them too as if they were real beings. This is a series that I'll find myself playing through again in a few years, because it will be too damn hard to leave the world of Mass Effect behind me.