daydreamdrooler

Crafting a story is hard, Crafting a living breathing world is harder but harder still is to craft a universe. Bioware has not only crafted a living breathing universe but a story open to player choice, it’s more than beautiful or amazing. The final entry to the Mass Effect universe is a master piece of epic proportion, from choices to RPG elements, it gets it right at every turn.

No longer are you a sluggish tank with slight RPG elements and forced shooting. Each gun has its own feel, each gun has its own weight which will determine weather you’re a power wielding biotic or gun tooting commando. Each have their pros and cons, each have their own mods and perks. The combat is fast and furious, filled with strategy you’ll never take out each enemy the same way. Guardians will have you throwing grenades or pulling the shield straight out of his hand.

The blend of action/third person shooter and RPG is perfect, your abilities are leveled up according to you and your play style, even your weapons are modded to your play style. The addition of weight allows you to bring in any weapon you want as any class you want, creating the perfect way to customize your favorite class into a powerhouse. Add in plenty of enemies and ways to kill them and it’s an all out ball.

My love for Mass Effect extends far beyond its gameplay. The story, races and characters inhabiting this universe are some of the best ever written. The story is epic and to see all the choices and things you’ve done come back in a big way is the most rewarding feeling I’ve ever had playing a video game (and I played and platinumed both Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls). Seeing what happens with the choices you make has me wanted to start up another file on Mass Effect 2 just so I can see every possible branch within the story (and I already have 3 files on Mass Effect 2).

I honestly hate hearing people, Bioware included, saying this is a great time to jump into the universe. It’s not, don’t be fooled, go pick up the first two games (unless you have a PS3 which the comic will do, sure it’s not nearly as great as the first game but its worth it). If you jump into 3 without knowing anything about this universe than you wont have a clue as to what is happening.

The story is the best part of this game, your jaw will be nailed to the floor as your sucked into the universe. I honestly felt like I was Shepard, like I was making these choices and impacting all these lives. To know what’s at stake and who is depending on you, it puts a fear within each choice. You simply don’t say “well I’ll go this way.” You think to yourself, what would I do and is it the right action to take. How will it affect everyone, will it save lives?

Story, gameplay and writing are as close to perfect as you will get. The story will have you wanting to play this every waking moment of every day, even after you beat it. The gameplay is fast and fluid, fun and exciting... it doesn't get better than that. The writing is Bioware's best, its funny, dramatic, serious and heart breaking with each moment you get to see all your choices impact every step Shepard takes. Its hard not to laugh at some very funny moments than think about what's going on in the universe and feel sad, moments later you'll be on a mission making a difference in the universe and feeling good again. Its the best kind of roller coaster ride. I don't like rating games because I don't believe in it but I would easily give this a 5 out of 5, masterpiece.

For the trolls out there, the ending is a perfect way to bring the series to a close. It’s a perfect ending, especially considering you craft the ending you want. I don’t get how anyone can have the nerve to call it a bad ending and demand Bioware change. Anyone who says such a thing, I only have one question for you, can you do better?

I disagree, the game is meant to be played how you want it to, after all it's an RPG. Bioware takes it one step further by let you, the player, craft his own story within the story they crafted. so if you don't like your outcome you can easily go back and make some changes to get the story you wanted to see, if you wanted everyone to live than that's fine. Just look at MGS4's ending, everyone lived through that, even snake which was BS. you don't get to craft that story and I felt it was only fitting that snake pull the trigger to end his own suffering, they dragged it on and built it up and let everyone down when they saw he just couldn't pull the trigger. the same goes for ME3's ending, you get to craft your ending so if your not happy with it, than its your own fault and if your not happy with any of the endings that doesn't make them bad, you just didn't like them.

@upwarDBound: I wouldn't say I'm basing my prediction on rumors but simply what I've been seeing but either way. and it is my prediction so I'm going to have conviction when stating.

and yea it has been a really hard year for game companies, they've taken such hard hits and alot of the companies produce great games. hopefully the industry makes some kind of fix on the money end because it doesn't look very good. the games are great but the money its costing both gamers and companies is hurting the industry as a whole

@upwarDBound: read the blog dude, I said plenty of times this is what I see happening so yes I'm presenting it as fact cause that's what I see happening. but as I said its "what I see happening" I also said its pure speculation at the very end of the blog

lots of replies, lol.

Dagbiker: as I said, Uncharted 3 is worth $60 to me but compare a five hour game to some like Skyrim, which one can get lost in for well over 200 hours, which is worth the full $60. like I said Uncharted 3 is my all time favorite game, I've dumped more than 200 hours into the single player alone but that doesn't make it worth a full $60. thanks for the comment

Exile: I didn't mean to say it would be over priced but higher than both a PS3 and 360 now-a-days and I'm sure the PS4 will be around the same price. now add in a $60 to $75 price tag on online for a year and the possible rejection of used games, that will really hurt Microsoft. thanks for the comment

kgb: lol

TOJTB: sorry for not spelling out the name but its long, lol. yea Sony could use some love considering all the crap they've taken this last gen. thanks for the comment

eugenesaxe: you make a good point but as I said, I'm confident Sony will learn from its mistakes which was coming out last with a super high price point. they will come out along side Microsoft with a price point either as good or better. I wouldn't bet too much money on Nintendo, the Wii U is more like the Wii 1.5 and I think alot of people see that and aren't falling for it, I honestly see them failing harder than Sony this coming gen but I could be wrong. as for Sony VS Microsoft, I see and very even battle... right now atleast. thanks for the comment

replies

Jay: I agree, consoles are becoming more and more of computers. the only thing different is you get a controller, I'm hopefully Microsoft will see the backlash to rejecting used games. I like companies are fighting it but this is also something they must accept, keep the online pass and let the customer decided new or used. thanks for the comment

kgb: I didn't say over but coming to a close, with the next gen around the corner (I'm not looking at the Wii U as the next gen but PS4 and 720 which should be between 2014 and 2016) we still have time but when I say golden age I'm simply saying we're at the height of gaming. I mean what's next? better graphics, a bit better A.I. or maybe more refined gameplay. whatever it is, is not gonna be by leaps and bounds. personally I believe Microsoft is leaking the specs and what the console will do to see how people will react to it, so even if they wanted to fight used gaming in this way, after seeing how people reacted to it they will nix the idea. like you said, it will alienate people and that's the last thing Microsoft would do, they are very smart when it comes to getting a product out and making sure people like it but buy it. thanks for the comment

@Enigma_2099: I'm pretty sad to see this cause I know Sony will continue the series but it won't be the same, I honestly didn't think Insomniac was done with the series. I mean that ending was not a ending saying "yep, its all over" it was more of a "things are finally starting to look up" type of ending.

The golden age of gaming is upon us and honestly coming to a close, so what’s next? This has been on my mind for sometime, gaming had its start which led into the bronze age than silver and now gold. We’ve hit the peek with what games can do, sure things will always improve-we hope-but not by leaps and bounds. I have a few predictions that keep getting more and more light shed on them as the future approaches.

PS3 to win the next console war, now hear me out cause this is not some bias fanboy talking here. 360 killed it this gen with good reason-despite having all but one good game this year-Microsoft brought online gaming its peak. Microsoft knows what people want, knows how to advertise and knows how to price to suck every last penny out of you without leaving you feeling like you just got ripped off. Sony couldn’t do this to save its life, Sony is about providing a great gaming experience no matter the cost and boy did it cost them.

Despite all of Sony’s mistakes this gen they do learn and I'm confident they will do right this coming gen. Sony will come out with a great price point as well as tooting better online capabilities still for free, a new tag system with better avatars and ways to view trophies. Cross game voice chat will happen for sure and I'm confident they won’t be looking to piss off the hackers again. Microsoft is already looking to set up its down fall, specs for their latest console have been steadily leaking to the press. With what I'm hearing so far all I can see is its going to be a more expensive 360 and let’s not forget the console will be spitting out used games. That’s their real down fall, as much as I hate what used games do to the industry they are still a big part in everyone getting to play the games they love. College kids gravitated towards the 360 because it was cheap and had the online system in place so they could play games with their childhood friend who is across the map now. Cheap is what used games are, by forcing kids to pay for a more expensive console, online support and new games is like slapping its customers in the face. Everyone who bought a 360 for the reasons stated above will look at this 720 to be a slap in the face, especially when the PS4 will be promoting a price point either the same or lower than the 720. PS4 will also have free online support which will gain more users as well as still supporting used games, online passes will still be here but when it comes down to it $10 bucks to play online for a few months isn’t a big deal.

The fight against used games continues. Both Sony and Microsoft will continue their effort to end the used game market, Nintendo might even jump in with the online supported Wii U. We’ve all heard the stories of how used games hurt the developers, I for one am all for buying my games new. I love the online pass for one reason, it’s the perfect way to get more people to buy new games but it will not end used games. Ending used games would be a very bad idea, some people don’t want to spend a full $60 on a game that will only last them five hours. Some might rent which I'm fine with, some might even borrow from a friend. Pay $20 for a used game with a five hour story and maybe sink a good fifty to sixty hours online for an extra $10, a total of $30 which is half of what the game cost, worth it. Not worth it, spending $60 on a five hour game and sinking twenty to thirty hours online-that is if the game has online.

Where is the balance, my last little rant. With used games hurting developers and games costing so much to make now-a-days where is the balance in it all. The industry needs to realize what's worth a $60 price tag and what's worth a $40 or $20 price tag. My favorite game of all time is Uncharted 3 but honestly it’s not worth $60 unless you love it as much as me or play it online for more than fifty hours. I’d say Uncharted 3 is worth $40 well something like Skyrim would be worth a full $60. At the same time the price tag isn’t about how long the game last but how much money was sank into making it, somehow we came to the $60 price tag and never looked back even as gamers complained.

From my standing, Vita might be doing it right which saddens me because it’s not selling well. Just to pull some prices, Uncharted: Golden Abyss= $50, Little Big Planet= $40, Little Deviants= $30. Most Vita games are popping up with a $40 price tag but there are still those that know their place at $30 and $20. We need to find that balance before the game industry falls into a pit and never recovers, but that’s not to say it will happen tomorrow. This pit could take till three generations down the road to dig but with the way things are going I can see it pretty clearly, but then again I truly don’t know what tomorrow will bring so this is merely speculation.

Take this all with a grain of salt and let me know your thoughts on the future of gaming, do you agree or maybe see somethings a bit differently? Or maybe you see things all together in a different light.