Mass Effect 3

Jekkie

First details

The latest issue of Game Informer contains a ton of details about Mass Effect 3. The first round of information is beginning to trickle in, which you can read about below. We've also included a blurry scan/magazine phone from the issue.

Game begins with Shepard on Earth

Shepard is on trial in regard to the events of Arrival

Reapers invade while the trial is happening

Prologue: Shepard's escape to the Normandy, off to start finding allies, fighting Reaper troops

Squadmates include Liara, Ashley/Kaiden, Garrus, James Sanders

Screenshot shown of Ashley with her hair down

Confirmed appearances (may not be squadmates): Wrex, Mordin, Legion, and Anderson

Game will show a "previously on Mass Effect" comic to make decisions if you're starting from scartch

The Illusive Man plays a big role

Cerberus is out to kill Shepard

Enhanced RPG elements

More freedom with character skills

Larger skill trees

Powers will evolve several times, not just once

Weapons are like the ones in Mass Effect 2, have a set list

Mods returning, swap out different parts such as barrels, scopes (effect both the weapon's combat performance and its appearance)

Numerous endings

Who you have in your squad and which allies you recruit greatly impact the endings that are available

No multiplayer

Can't wait to see a trailer of some kind.

Toshiya

Wait Liara is a squadmate? But isn't she the Shadow Broker now? And Tali isn't even there as starting member? Tali better be there so as Wrex as a crew member.

SympathyX

@Toshiya:

Wait Liara is a squadmate? But isn't she the Shadow Broker now? And Tali isn't even there as starting member? Tali better be there so as Wrex as a crew member.

Isn't much use for the shadow broker when the universe is ending

Megadoomer

Wait, if the prologue is based around the aftermath of your actions in the Arrival DLC, what would happen for the people who didn't download Arrival? And why would Cerberus be trying to kill you if

! you choose the Renegade ending and give them the Collector's base?

Zyordius

@Toshiya:

And Tali isn't even there as starting member? Tali better be there so as Wrex as a crew member.

I'm hoping that even if they don't start you off with them we'll have Tali and Wrex as teammates at some point. Glad to see Garrus's name there but they better have Legion in your squad too, he was one of my top favorite new characters. I won't really mind if Mordin isn't in the team, he was a very interesting character to talk to and had a great side story but I almost never used him in combat.

@Megadoomer:

Wait, if the prologue is based around the aftermath of your actions in the Arrival DLC, what would happen for the people who didn't download Arrival? And why would Cerberus be trying to kill you if

! you choose the Renegade ending and give them the Collector's base?

I think the mentioned comic will let you pick what action was done in Arrival. I'm really happy they decided to put the comic, they dropped the ball on that for 360 users when it came out for PS3.
As for why Cerberus wants you dead

! Even though you gave Cerberus the base in the Renegade ending, Shepard seemed to imply that he was severing ties with Cerberus
All the mentioned concepts seem promising except the start with the trial, I feel that's a little weak. I mainly want to see the what impact your decisions about the Geth and the Rachni have.
I'm still worried about how fast it's coming out but it's nice to see some good ideas.

Gekko135

Cerberus wanting Sheppard dead. Saw that commin'

No multiplayer…. wonderful choice Bioware, wonderful!

Focus on what's important now please.

SympathyX

So pissed off that Ashleys back. Fucking hated that bitch so much. Especially in the second one.

I want that badass motherfucker Thane back. Samara too.

Zyordius

I always felt Ashely was the weakest character in ME 1 & 2, which is why I'm glad I killed her in the first one(paragon) and dumped her by hooking up with another in ME 2(Renegade). The dialogue for both Ashley and Kaiden in ME 2 made them out to be assholes and didn't seem like they wanted to help Shepard out again regardless of your chosen path.
I also would like to see the return of Thane and Samara/Morinth, both were interesting characters and did well in combat but I wonder if Thane's condition will be a factor in his return.

@Gekko135:

No multiplayer…. wonderful choice Bioware, wonderful!

I'm happy about that too, I think I saw something about the ME games after this may have multi-player/co-op.

Megadoomer

@Zyordius:

I also would like to see the return of Thane and Samara/Morinth, both were interesting characters and did well in combat but I wonder if Thane's condition will be a factor in his return.

Well, Mordin's quite old by Salarian standards (Salarians over 40 are supposed to be rare, and he's somewhere in his thirties during Mass Effect 2) yet he's returning. Plus, if I recall correctly, Thane's dossier from Lair of the Shadow Broker implied that there was some sort of cure or at least a treatment that would help to keep him alive for longer. (then again, I haven't played that in a while, so I might be wrong in that regard)

Pochipochi

I'm betting that James Sanders is the brother of Kahlee Sanders. For some reason.

Zack

@Holy:

I'm betting that James Sanders is the brother of Kahlee Sanders. For some reason.

I'd bet money on this. He's definitely related to her in some way anyway.

Toshiya

Don't see how they drop the ball with the comic if the comic served for the ps3 users as ME1 since it wasn't release on that console.

I am hoping for Tali to come back later.

Right now I'm replaying 1 and trying to 100% it before going on to 2 and 100% before 3 is out.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

Don't see how they drop the ball with the comic if the comic served for the ps3 users as ME1 since it wasn't release on that console.

I am hoping for Tali to come back later.

Right now I'm replaying 1 and trying to 100% it before going on to 2 and 100% before 3 is out.

Green_vs_Red

@Zyordius:

I always felt Ashely was the weakest character in ME 1 & 2, which is why I'm glad I killed her in the first one(paragon) and dumped her by hooking up with another in ME 2(Renegade). The dialogue for both Ashley and Kaiden in ME 2 made them out to be assholes and didn't seem like they wanted to help Shepard out again regardless of your chosen path.

Well when you remember the fact that Cerberus went around doing bad things to the military you can't blame either of them for being dicks to Shepard for working with Cerberus even Anderson wasn't to fond of the idea of Shepard working with them.

Mods returning, swap out different parts such as barrels, scopes (effect both the weapon's combat performance and its appearance)

Hope this doesn't mean they're bringing back infinite ammo.

Zyordius

@Toshiya:

Don't see how they drop the ball with the comic if the comic served for the ps3 users as ME1 since it wasn't release on that console.

Dropped the ball as in they should have had a comic for 360 users since not everyone played the first or wanted to buy and play through ME1 for all the choices.
I have two characters in ME2 and would like to start a third one for some different story choices in 3 but I really don't want to re-play all through 1 again, a comic for quick choices would have been a nice option.
@Green_vs_Red:

Well when you remember the fact that Cerberus went around doing bad things to the military you can't blame either of them for being dicks to Shepard for working with Cerberus even Anderson wasn't to fond of the idea of Shepard working with them.

I agree to an extent, it's just that I still felt that they should have had a little more trust in Shepard(depending on his path) with all they went through together.Almost no one in Shepard's crew from ME2 like Cerberus but they still follow Shepard(Tali,Garrus) because they respect him even if they don't respect Cerberus.
I will say that when ME2 came out I was very surprised at Cerberus being shown in a positive light considering all the super screwed up shit they did in ME1.
Thresher Maw blood in the veins…

Green_vs_Red

@Zyordius:

Thresher Maw blood in the veins…

Why did they do that again?

Zyordius

You know, I do not remember the point, something to do with research about Thresher Maws and experimenting on the soldiers.
Maybe trying to find ways to combat them better:unsure:

It'd be nice to see more of them in ME3 or some other large creatures. The first time you went driving to see some spot on a planet and one popped out, good times.

Toshiya

@Zyordius:

Dropped the ball as in they should have had a comic for 360 users since not everyone played the first or wanted to buy and play through ME1 for all the choices.
I have two characters in ME2 and would like to start a third one for some different story choices in 3 but I really don't want to re-play all through 1 again, a comic for quick choices would have been a nice option.

It would of been nice but I actually didn't mind re-playing ME1 and it was well worth it really. Kinda get the nice feel of the ME universe other than just a Comic and really don't get the characters honestly.

Kinda hope they add more mission from ME like the Moon mission and exploring different worlds with the Mako lol

Zyordius

You're right about getting a better feel and I know some of the minor choices can't be picked in the comic, I replayed ME1 before the release of part 2 but when I was finished with ME2 and thought of another guy, I didn't have the will to go back through ME1 for the custom choices, I just wanted the lazy option.
I was thinking about the Moon mission the other day and would love to see some of that in ME3. I didn't enjoy the vehicle stuff in ME2 so I hope they will bring back exploration.

ChesCa

Welp, better crack open my revived 360 and bring my Karrie and Program Shephard into the third game. And when I'm done, my IRL friend should share his downloads with me (if he can.)

Suicu

Some news and information gathered by fans in detail:

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/103/index/5422342/1

….Fuck Dragon Age 2, I'm totally hyped for this game.

Satsuki

"All classes can use all weapons." Awwww yeah, my Vanguard can finally use a fucking sniper rifle!!!

And no multiplayer? Thank you, Bioware. Save your memory for more story, not fucking multiplayer.

Bad Dreamer

I just finished my 1st play through in ME2 2 days back. and set my mind on getting ME1 & plying the whole series with one character, seems the right thing to do, otherwise the story wouldn't be complete for me (for ex. I had no idea why I killed Wrex in ME1 or why would I choose Udina over Anderson, etc…).

& I'm sad to see there is not much anticipation around here for Jack & Grunt. Among all the group those two are the one's I'm looking forward to see in ME3 the most (along w/ Legion).

Green_vs_Red

Kaiden & Ashley in Mass Effect 3

!

Zack

Mass Effect 3 will not end like a traditional war story (Kick enemy's ass, proceed to celebrations) [PS3M]
This hopefully makes me think we're not going to get that 'virus killing off everything' or 'killing them all at once' way of defeating them anyway.

@Green_vs_Red:

Kaiden & Ashley in Mass Effect 3

! [qimg]http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljk16fL92P1qe0a8jo1_500.jpg[/qimg]

Uh….wow. They look really different. I can still kinda recognize Kaidan, but Ashley looks completely different.

Toshiya

Ashley always had her hair tied so now she has it down and looks way better IMO.

Really hope they bring back Tali and keep the relationship going :x

MagiciteKefka

This is what sucks about the first ME not being on PS3. I don't really know who Kaidan and Ashley are. The only thing i know about them is from the interactive comic book and the one scene in ME2 where you meet Kaiden/Ashley. That leads to me not having an emotional bond to any one of them.

Satsuki

It called youtube, dude. Go watch some let's plays.

@Toshiya:

Ashley always had her hair tied so now she has it down and looks way better IMO.

Really hope they bring back Tali and keep the relationship going :x

I would be shocked if they don't bring Tali back as a companion. She's a huge fan favorite.

Zack

Especially since Garrus is back as well, and they've always kind of seemed like a case of 'If he's there, then Tali's there as well'. Chances are you probably get her in your group permanently after taking care of the problem between the geth and the quarians.

MagiciteKefka

@Satsuki:

It called youtube, dude. Go watch some let's plays.

True, but i wouldn't get that emotional bond with them if i haven't actually played the game where they appear. Before ME3 comes out i'll definately look up exactly who they are, but still.

I might just be nitpicking though.

Green_vs_Red

@MagiciteKefka:

True, but i wouldn't get that emotional bond with them if i haven't actually played the game where they appear. Before ME3 comes out i'll definately look up exactly who they are, but still.

I might just be nitpicking though.

Well either buy an Xbox and the first game or pirate the PC version (if your PC can even handle it).

Zack

@MagiciteKefka:

True, but i wouldn't get that emotional bond with them if i haven't actually played the game where they appear. Before ME3 comes out i'll definately look up exactly who they are, but still.

I might just be nitpicking though.

Nah. I know how you feel. There's no good feeling like doing it yourself, and you can't get as personal a connection unless you experience it. Plus, I don't think the PS3 users get all of the little things in Mass Effect 2 like messages from people you helped out in sidequests, Giana Parasini, and other cameoes.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

Also, to add some discussion...

Who thinks this game can top Mass Effect 2 as far as the last level goes? You can say whatever you want about the rest of the game, but the suicide mission in Mass Effect 2 was easily one of the most satisfying last levels and endings to a middle chapter I've seen.

Toshiya

Has anyone played Arrival and or the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC?

I honestly love the Dialog in LotSB. Makes Shepard a more likable character since he sounds more alive than bland from ME and ME2.

Zack

@Toshiya:

Has anyone played Arrival and or the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC?

I honestly love the Dialog in LotSB. Makes Shepard a more likable character since he sounds more alive than bland from ME and ME2.

I haven't played Arrival yet. I have played LotSB though. I hope a lot of Mass Effect 3 is like that cinematics and dialogue wise.

Zyordius

Arrival is okay but left a lot to be desired. I enjoyed the fact that you were solo for the whole mission and it had some good action but the story wasn't that good and for this to have such an effect on 3 they really messed up by taking the decision part away from you. Also, meeting Admiral Hackett was a little underwhelming.
LotSB was really fun though a few story parts seemed lacking. The final area was more fun with my Vanguard using Slam,when enemies get lifted they are carried off by the winds and struck by lightning.

Zack

@Zyordius:

Arrival is okay but left a lot to be desired. I enjoyed the fact that you were solo for the whole mission and it had some good action but the story wasn't that good and for this to have such an effect on 3 they really messed up by taking the decision part away from you. Also, meeting Admiral Hackett was a little underwhelming.
LotSB was really fun though a few story parts seemed lacking. The final area was more fun with my Vanguard using Slam,when enemies get lifted they are carried off by the winds and struck by lightning.

Wait! You get to see Admiral Hackett!? ….Must decide whether to play through again like I planned or look for pics....

Zyordius

Yea, I guess I had a really different idea of what he was going to look like, fond memories of doing those bad-ass missions for him in ME1 shaped his appearance in my mind , I was expecting him to more gritty or unique. His awesome attitude is still intact at least.

Neaeran

Whoa i want that game soooo bad!
I just finished ME1 again and now i'm playing a vanguard for the first time in ME2.

There are just too many squad members that i would want to return. Thane, Tali, Liara, Garrus, Grunt, Samara, Mordin, Legion … although i would already be happy if i just can get that romance with Liara to a happy ending.
Mirana and Jack can kill each other for all i care.

Good to hear that it will be more RPGish again. ME2 was great and dynamic, but the the lack of customisation disappointed me.

SympathyX

@Toshiya:

Has anyone played Arrival and or the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC?

I honestly love the Dialog in LotSB. Makes Shepard a more likable character since he sounds more alive than bland from ME and ME2.

Shadow Broker was brilliant. Arrival… not so much. I cant imagine playing Arrival mid-game though. Just seems odd.

I reckon Overlord was the best of the ME2 DLC's though. Loved the story and creepy atmosphere. The payoff for the final battle makes it more than worth the money.

The only DLC I've missed was Pinnacle Station but I've been told it's not too worth it anyway.

Proper pissed off that Ashley's back though. Especially as a main.

Buuhan1

ME3 has been delayed to the "first 3 months of 2012." Fine by me as I still haven't gotten very far in ME2 on the PS3 and refuse to play more until Bioware gets their shit together. Each and every patch they release on the PS3 fixes one or two things, but royally fucks 4 or 5 other things in the process. What is so hard about putting a game on another console? Bioware is making it seem like rocket science… and they're not rocket scientists.

Zack

@Buuhan1:

ME3 has been delayed to the "first 3 months of 2012." Fine by me as I still haven't gotten very far in ME2 on the PS3 and refuse to play more until Bioware gets their shit together. Each and every patch they release on the PS3 fixes one or two things, but royally fucks 4 or 5 other things in the process. What is so hard about putting a game on another console? Bioware is making it seem like rocket science… and they're not rocket scientists.

Funny, but I'm actually kind of happy they decided that since it at least means they don't plan on rushing it otherwise they would have just tried to get it out before Christmas.

SympathyX

@Buuhan1:

ME3 has been delayed to the "first 3 months of 2012." Fine by me as I still haven't gotten very far in ME2 on the PS3 and refuse to play more until Bioware gets their shit together.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Buuhan1

Laugh all you want, it's true. They completely botched the PS3 release and 5 months later they still haven't properly fixed it. Don't think of them as a gaming god who's incapable of wrong.

Green_vs_Red

@Buuhan1:

Laugh all you want, it's true. They completely botched the PS3 release and 5 months later they still haven't properly fixed it. Don't think of them as a gaming god who's incapable of wrong.

The fact that Bioware's games are notoriously buggy particularly when it comes to their DLC pretty much ensures that they'll be fallible in most people's eyes that and the almost universally negative opinions people have had on Dragon Age 2. Also I said before one of the major releases of the year was going to be fucked over with an early 2012 release never would've imagined it would be ME3.

stephen

Everywhere I've looked, the majority opinion has been: GOOD.

I think the failure of DA2 has really opened people's eyes to the dangers of a development cycle that is too short. And being the final entry to the trilogy, they need to make ME3 as good as possible.

Satsuki

And here's hoping they give DA3 a proper development cycle too.

Although I don't think of DA2 as a failure, I just don't think it's as good as Origins.

SympathyX

@Buuhan1:

Laugh all you want, it's true. They completely botched the PS3 release and 5 months later they still haven't properly fixed it. Don't think of them as a gaming god who's incapable of wrong.

Hey? To be honest, they've gotten more wrong than right these last few years. I'm not a huge fan.

I was more laughing at the fact that you might be waiting a fair bit longer for them to "get their shit together" than you may like. Like forever.

Mr. Luffy

@stephen:

Everywhere I've looked, the majority opinion has been: GOOD.

I think the failure of DA2 has really opened people's eyes to the dangers of a development cycle that is too short. And being the final entry to the trilogy, they need to make ME3 as good as possible.

Yeah, short development cycles usually end in either many cut corners in gameplay (DA2) or a nearly impenetrable wall of glitches (Fallout: NV).

I'll echo the response of the delay: GOOD

Though, with the recent Bioware track record of glitches, I'll wait for the first patch or two to be released before I purchase–there's always at least one gamebreaker at launch.

@SympathyX:

I was more laughing at the fact that you might be waiting a fair bit longer for them to "get their shit together" than you may like. Like forever.

Not hard to imagine. Awakening still has a few gamebreakers despite the patch 6 months later, and that was for PC–the Bioware PS3 titles tend to always have problems.

Buuhan1

Oh great… that's lovely to hear. But yeah for those who don't know, when ME2 launched on the PS3 it had a major glitch. If you had a lot of scene translations (the loading screens when you change areas, including inside the Normandy) in one gaming session the game would crash and your save files (not just the last one you used, ALL of them) would be corrupted. They told people a week later, after many had lost many hours, that they'd have to reset the game every couple hours till a patch came out.

Well, a patch came out and that problem was fixed. But now all the audio in the cutscenes are out of sync for many people among other glitches.

Satsuki

Really? I had very little trouble with ME2 on the PS3. The only big glitch I can think of that I ran into was during Kasumi's mission where she suddenly turned into this frozen doll that just bounced around. But I reloaded and everything was fine afterwards.

Buuhan1

That sounds like an awesome glitch.