Mass Effect 3 Review

Rarely does a series come along in this day and age that completely revolutionizes the industry. For many, the final entry in the Mass Effect Trilogy is not simply the ending to a beloved game line-up, but also the finale to one of the most well written and engrossing stories that has ever been seen in games. But, with all this fanfare comes expectations. The question is, does Mass Effect fit the bill?

With Mass Effect 3, players are tasked with taking the role of Commander Shepherd, a soldier in the Alliance Military in the year 2185 (Think Star Trek meets Star Wars). Without spoiling too much, the basic premise is that earth is being attacked by a vicious menace, and the only hope that it has is that Shepherd can appeal to other members of the galactic community to lend their assistance. As he progresses though, he realizes that it is rarely that simple. Mass Effect deals with difficult issues that always seem to plague society, such as population control or racism. It is through dealing with these issues that Shepherd will ultimately decide the fate of Earth, and ultimately the galaxy itself. 

With the number of games that are present in genres like RPG’s and Shooters, it is somewhat refreshing to have a game that succeeds in combining the two together. Mass Effect was one of the first series out there to really tie in the excitement of building up your own created character to unstoppable status along with the frantic and heart-pumping engagement that comes with the shooter mechanics. In terms of the series, Mass Effect 3’s gameplay is the best. The gunplay is frantic, difficult, and above all, fun. Fighting enemy forces feels like a challenge, as it should. When you’re fighting for the fates of billions of people, it won’t be a cakewalk. The combination of the stellar gunplay along with the tactical effectiveness of the “biotic” techniques(think the force, but with science) really adds a variety to the game. There are multiple ways to take down enemies, and it is up to you to decide how you want to use them. 

Although gameplay is a key component in any game, the real meat of the Mass effect series lies not it gunshots or powers, but conversations. Mass Effect has always had some of the most engrossing cutscenes in video games, placing the relative “voice” of Commander Shepherd in the hands of the players. Through these conversations players can unearth more of the incredible universe behind Mass Effect. I can’t recall a series that has had more backstory than this one. The variety of the alien races and the unique stories behind each character combine to immerse you into the experience. You want to fight for the galaxy because you find yourself caring for the people inhabiting it. As a veteran of the series from the very first entry, the death of principle characters left me grieving. You gradually allow these characters to affect you on a personal level, and it’s hard to imagine any game out there that can do this so profoundly. 

As well as all of this ties in though, it must be said that the story feels a little lacking. Although excellently written, it seems much more linear than the other entries in the series. Although this is understandable, the Mass Effect series is one that prides itself on player choice, allowing the the player to make decisions on everything down to the tone of how their Shepherd responds to other characters. This feeling of straight-forwardness does take away from the experience a little, but not enough to ruin it. 

In the end, I cannot say more about this game except that it is a masterpiece. Rarely have games been regarded as thematic engines, but Mass Effect deserves this distinction. It is one of the best looking games out there, boasting breathtakingly beautiful locales, incredibly believable aliens, and emotionally relatable humans. The amazing writing and engrossing story leaves you on the edge of your seat the entire time, and the gameplay always keeps the game lively. In the end, it more than surpasses expectations: it shatters them.