Mass Effect 3

[Thoth]

They keep saying that you need to load a save from before the mission where you

Spoiler

Storm Cerberus HQ

. Does that mean if I load my save from right before the very end, I don't get this? We'll see.

 

[Mik]

Free Extended Cut and Dawnguard both dropping on Tuesday - awww yeah.

Need to put some work in w/ Batarians, Krogans, or Vorcha this weekend to get another N7 weapon and then we'll be all set.

 

[Edwin]

They keep saying that you need to load a save from before the mission where you

Spoiler

Storm Cerberus HQ

. Does that mean if I load my save from right before the very end, I don't get this? We'll see.

I think that's correct. My guess is that there are some changes in the final mission/lead-up to it as well, necessitating an earlier start to make everything "click." The only downside I could see to the 1.9 gigs is that they had to actually reproduce some of the cutscenes with new extra dialogue/etc., meaning that 90% of that 1.9 gigs is just a replication of what's already on the disc.

 

[KingPK]

When you finish the game that's where they dump you back into the world, so it makes sense. I'm guessing there's very little (if any) new voicework unless it's just Shepard narrating everything. I just hope they don't go overboard trying to explain every single thing that it just gets bogged down.

 

[Edwin]

I know that a lot of VAs--including Ashley, Kaidan, Hackett, Garrus, and both Shepards--were brought back in for new work. I guess this is what I'm doing when I get home from work today.

 

[Mik]

I finished it. I'll section and spoiler... did destruction ending.

Cerberus base:
Didn't notice anything different. At all.

Charge to the beam:

Spoiler

Added a scene where during the charge a tank flips... just missed Shephard. Squadmates dive to each side, both almost die. Both badly hurt. Shephard calls in Normandy to evac them. I had Garrus and Tali. Shephard: I've just got to make sure you're safe. Garrus: You've just got to be kidding me. They get away safely. Probably explains how they wind up in Jungleland.

Just after entering beam:

Spoiler

Hackett gets a report that Shepherd made it. He announces to the fleet to hold the reapers back to give Shephard more time. RIP Indoctrination theory.

Anderson, Shephard, Illusive Man scene:
Didn't notice anything different here, though there may have well been.

Starchild:

Spoiler

More explanation on why repears exist, who he is...etc. More in depth explanations of the three choices. You can ask some questions specific to each choice. Shows some small examples. Relevant to the destroy option, he tells you that society will quickly rebuild anything destroyed and the destruction is only temporary. Meaning, the mass relays aren't gone forever. Team not stranded on jungle island.

Stargazer Post Credits:
Didn't notice any change.

Additional stuff:

Spoiler

See some post reaper dying celebrations on Thessia and Tuchanka. Hackett gives a full narrated epilogue. Explains the sacrifice, rebuilding efforts, how everyone is getting started. There are still background shots after, including Wrex and his baby and other baby Krogan and other minor stuff.

The main additional thing was the team emotionally gathered in the hull of the Normandy with Shephard's name plaque for the memorial wall. Anderson's was already up. Everyone else was still alive (except in my case Edi and Legion as I chose to destroy all synthetics). They put up Shephard's plaque... then they had the shot still of him taking a breath back on earth.

Citadel rebuilt.

Also, the ship left Jungleland showing they aren't all trapped there forever.

I was pretty pleased with the additional stuff they added. They also made sure to eliminate some other theories. It ended fully with a thank you note from Bioware for allowing them and Shephard time to grow and learn, etc.

 

[vivisectvi]

Honestly, I don't give a shit about this extended cut. I thought the original endings were fine. I also don't have a save from before that mission (and to expect people to have one is kinda dumb, imo) so fuck it, I'll just watch them on Youtube.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Honestly, I don't give a shit about this extended cut. I thought the original endings were fine. I also don't have a save from before that mission (and to expect people to have one is kinda dumb, imo) so fuck it, I'll just watch them on Youtube.

It kicks you out before that mission after you beat the game for DLC and autosaves, so you should have one unless you deleted it.

I was fine with the original endings too, but I'll still get this.

 

[vivisectvi]

It honestly feels like it's just too late to be adding this kind of thing. I'm not even interested in hearing any more of this story. They should just keep concentrating on expanding the MP experience as that seems to still have legs (which is surprising since there is no competitive mode to it).

 

[Edwin]

The extended cut started development just one month after release. Also, Bioware has separate teams for MP and SP. The only thing this may have held up is whatever paid SP DLC they were planning to release this summer.

 

[vivisectvi]

Well the money used to develop stuff like this still comes from the same coffers and I would've preferred it had been directed elsewhere. Honestly, they should've just told people to STFU and moved on.

 

[Mik]

They made a big improvement without fundamentally changing anything, IMO.

 

[bps21]

Lets complain about it anyway

 

[Sabre]

Im scared to go to the bioware forums based on what i saw via youtube.

Yes the endings are still the same, and yes i STILL have a few complaints, but at least everything now makes sense.

 

[vivisectvi]

Lets complain about it anyway

I'm not complaining about it. I'm just saying I have no real interest in playing through them as I felt they were unnecessary to begin with. More money for the MP dev projects, IMO, would've been better.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

The extended cut started development just one month after release. Also, Bioware has separate teams for MP and SP. The only thing this may have held up is whatever paid SP DLC they were planning to release this summer.

That is my main concern. I loved the SP DLC from the last game, especially Lair of the Shadow Broker. I'm hoping this doesn't affect Bioware's plans much.

 

[Mik]

On the forums today they said they aren't done releasing SP DLC. They just said that the endings are now complete and it will be other things. Probably transitioning to the next lead character.

 

[vivisectvi]

Please don't be James Vega..

 

[Conspiracy_Victim]

Please don't be James Vega..

What, you don't like Freddie Prinze Jr., Intergalactic Steroid Freak Tough Guy?

 

[Angle-plex]

That wasn't very good, but I'm long past the point of caring about this game. LOL at "you don't know them and there is no time to explain". Why even put that in the game haha?

 

[LPM]

That wasn't very good, but I'm long past the point of caring about this game. LOL at "you don't know them and there is no time to explain". Why even put that in the game haha?

Haha I loved that too. Way to answer the tough questions Bioware.

I didn't notice that much of a difference. I don't see how this would make anyone who hated the original ending any happier.

 

[Mik]

I think it was different enough. I played through 3 of the 4 myself and feel like they provided proper closure.

Also, the rejection ending is hilarious. Both in how he just wiped everyone out and Liara is all like "wulp, I'm a hologram and we failed so don't fuck up like we did" and how it's like a direct message to fans about how you have to choose one.

So instead of blue/red/green space magic, there was CLEAR differences between each.

 

[Mik]

Here's your probable next DLC.

http://kotaku.com/5921694/new-mass-effect-3-dlc-could-revolve-around-rogue-reaper

 

[Angle-plex]

The "reject" ending may have been then best one if they had fleshed it of a little more.

 

[vivisectvi]

Here's your probable next DLC.

http://kotaku.com/5921694/new-mass-effect-3-dlc-could-revolve-around-rogue-reaper

I wonder if this will be post-endgame or pre? Pre-endgame DLC kinda bugs me - especially with a game like Mass Effect where the ending is pretty definitive.. going back and having to play a mission that takes place in the middle seems to take me out of the experience/immersion (though I really did like the Shadow Broker stuff from ME2). Now, if this game had "no ending" like Skyrim, then it'd be cool.

 

[Sabre]

So i asume Bioware have pretty much decided that "synthesis" is the everyone wins galaxy is awesome paragon ending?

 

[vivisectvi]

Yay, more *FREE* MP DLC next week!

Via Joystiq: Mass Effect 3's 'Earth' multiplayer DLC launches on Xbox 360 next Tuesday, July 17, at a cost of zero space bucks. The content is multiplayer-focused, and that's about all we know - we're taking a wild guess that the locales it'll offer are based on Terra Firma regions. That said, if rumors from back in June pan out, the DLC will head to Rio, Vancouver, and London, and several new human classes will be added. BioWare has yet to confirm any new details about the content, but we expect to hear more in the near future.

EDIT: Oops, I see "on xbox" but no mention of PS3? Is this a 30-day exclusive thing?

 

[vivisectvi]

Oh, and Leviathan is mid-game DLC......................

Joystiq: Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC most definitely exists, voice actor Anthony Skordi tells Eurogamer. Leviathan was first spotted in June in the Extended Cut DLC code by the BioWare Social Network. Skordi says he will play the Reaper named Leviathan, a traitor who killed one of his own kind and has been exiled for 10 years. Leviathan controls an indoctrinated Batarian colony, where Shepard meets him and can have him join the fight against the Reapers. BioWare is scheduled to officially announce new Mass Effect 3 DLC at San Diego Comic-Con, during its Saturday panel.

 

[Edwin]

The mid-game DLC is weird, but makes sense. Pretty psyched about the new multiplayer stuff as well; a new pack every 4-6 weeks may actually keep this game rolling.

 

[vivisectvi]

EARTH MP DLC on PS3 July 18th!