Game review: Mass Effect 3

Ever since the first game was released back in 2007, the world of Mass Effect had been a very fascinating one with its own slew of alien races and extraterrestrial worlds. With this final part of the Shepard trilogy, EA and Bioware were anticipating acclaim for Mass Effect 3. They did get more than what they bargained for, in ways both good and bad.

 

As Bioware seeks to please more groups of people with their games, you can now choose between three gameplay modes — Action, Role-playing, and Story. Action mode lets you skip most dialogue choices and get straight to combat sequences, while story mode is like an interactive movie where you can sit back more and get engaged in the plot. Role-playing mode is the balance between the two, being the classic Mass Effect gameplay that fans have loved for years.  

 

As Commander Shepard, you are thrust back into a sci-fi universe that's facing a peril that can literally destroy it. For a final confrontation against the Reapers, you must bring together forces from all corners of the galaxy in order to fight this threat that has rendered previous civilizations extinct. Characters from previous games, as well as new ones, will join you in this fight after you help them get what they need beforehand. You'll get to see characters like Ashley Williams and Jack sporting new looks, which is a good change. On the other hand, new ones like James Vega offer new perspectives into the story.

 

It's worth going through the first two games with the same save file in order to enjoy Mass Effect 3 to the fullest. With 15-20 hours in main quests and many more in side quests and other activities, you can explore every bit of this in-game world with your own Commander Shepard; male or female, paragon or renegade. As far as the entire package is concerned, it's a good blend of gameplay, visuals, and narrative. This balance is something seldom seen in most games released in recent years.

 

A lot of gameplay elements that were present in the previous games were taken out and replaced by new ones, some of which are quite interesting on their own. Though perhaps it's this lack of consistency in Mass Effect's gameplay system throughout these three games that make the franchise fall short in the long run. For example, bypassing locked doors and hacking terminals through various mini puzzle games are no longer present in Mass Effect 3.

 

Another notable omission is mineral harvesting, which was necessary for upgrades in the first two games. Now, you have scanning for random pickups in star systems, which would then attract Reapers in hostile parts of the galaxy. When Reapers are alerted to your presence, they'll chase the Normandy down like a space version of Pac-Man. If you get caught here, it's game over for you, so you'll have to get your war assets and get out or reach your destination quickly before they get to you.

 

Even with the improvements in the combat system like the better melee attacks and such, the flaw of the cover system still persists. It's not really fun to die in the middle of the fight after struggling with the cover system while being shot at. But at least this time, you can spend your last moments trying to nail a heavy melee attack at the nearest enemy before you either go down or regenerate your shields. While the enemy AI is still shoddy, there are still moments when they could get you. Other than that, combat is better than before with the adjustments.

 

The combat system, despite its few improvements, still feature the same flaws in its cover system. Dying after struggling with the auto cover can be downright frustrating. A good thing though is the new heavy melee, which can be used against enemies in close range to deliver big damage. At least with that, you won't be caught flatfooted while cursing the cover system. The AI is still mostly cannon fodder, but the new features do make combat pretty fun.

 

There are also improvements in the weapons, enabling you to use mods that you can buy from stores and find lying around during missions. A similar system was available in the first game, but was removed from the second in an effort to simplify gameplay for console players. The lack of a comprehensive inventory system does make veteran RPG players froth in the mouth, so perhaps Bioware is seeking to strike a balance between these two schools of thought in this third game.

 

The biggest improvement though is cooperative multiplayer, where you and three other players can combine biotics and battle tactics in a variety of maps against hordes of enemies. It has been something that looked good on paper, and Bioware has finally delivered. This gameplay mode is an exercise in teamwork, with different strengths coming as one to bring the best out of each other. You can't carry over your Shepard from the singleplayer here though, but you get to choose between different races and character classes to suit your preferences and  playing style. It's a nice change after having gone through the campaign.

 

But what makes this game worthy of attention though, along with the rest of the series, is the way it looks. The visual design breathes life to science fiction, making Mass Effect 3 attractive to both hardcore sci-fi fans and casual gamers. It brings new fans over to sci-fi, as well as keep long-time adherents to the genre entertained by what this game brings to the table. If someone does complain about it being too easy, all he has to do is to play it in the highest difficulty setting and revel in masochism.

 

Perhaps the biggest complaints are directed towards the story itself. There are certain elements of the story that leave much to be desired. Perhaps this is how it should be since it is the conclusion of a long story arc that deals with an intergalactic war against an evil alien race. With such a scale of death and destruction, perhaps there was no other way but for Mass Effect 3 to not have a fairytale ending. Some still find it so mortifying that they have petitioned Bioware and EA to provide a different ending. Of course, the creators don't have to yield to the consumers in changing an already finished product.

 

With this game garnering a mix of cheers and jeers, it's still pretty much a success.In essence, Mass Effect 3 seems like another step in Bioware's quest for that golden formula to improve the RPG genre for the future. In this particular attempt, it wasn't without a number of missteps. But with how the game looks and feels, Bioware did nail the air of desperation in fighting a war for the whole galaxy against a seemingly unstoppable threat. In that regard, Mass Effect 3 has succeeded well enough. — TJD, GMA News

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All games reviewed on the site are provided courtesy of Datablitz.com.ph