Is this Bioware’s last chance? Well, no, probably not, despite what some extremely vocal forumers might claim.
A couple of sub-par releases – Mass Effect 3 (ME3), Dragon Age 2 – are not enough to completely undo a sterling reputation built over a number of years and a vast library of quality titles, but then, it’s equally impossible to ignore the damage that’s been done to that reputation in recent years. The outcry over ME3’s ending is perhaps the most vociferous negative reaction we’ve ever seen from the gaming community, and while the free Edited Cut DLC Bioware generously offered some time later went a long way to healing those wounds, work still needs to be done.
The initial ME3 DLC offering “Leviathan” was competent and enjoyable, if somewhat confusing, but the recent bug-ridden, overpriced “Omega” seemed to enrage detractors of the series still further. The new ‘Citadel DLC’ (slated for a March 5th release in North America on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC) is confirmed as the final single-player DLC offering for the trilogy, and the biggest ever released (it’s actually being split into two parts due to memory space restrictions on downloads).
Now, Bioware are asking for a whopping $14.99 for the download, which is around a quarter of the price of a full game. With that in mind, there’s lots Bioware could and should do to mend fences with the gaming community, so let’s take a look at some of the things we’re all hoping to see next month in the conclusion to what is likely the greatest gaming trilogy ever created.
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16 Comments
You’ve hit the nail on the head here. I have friends who claim there is no point in this DLC because the ending will be the same regardless; but isn’t the journey more important than the destination?
I do hope Zaeed returns; given that his voice actor (Robin Sachs) died recently, the DLC will also serve as a poignant send-off for him.
No the journey is not as important as the destination. If you could be on the Titanic and still knowing how it ended would you have gotten on the ship? Probably not. The Journey is crap and pointless if it isn’t wrapped up well, Talk about an excuse to keep ending things badly.
That’s just a silly comparison.
“That’s just a silly comparison.”
So is excusing the unmet basic requirements of a final installment of a narrative-based roleplaying game with an awful cliche you use when your summer vacation turns to crap. Journey more imporatnt than the destination? Really? Groan.
“That’s just a silly comparison.”
So is excusing the unmet basic requirements of a final installment of a narrative-based roleplaying game with an awful cliche you use when your summer vacation turns to crap. Journey more important than the destination? Really? Groan.
I agree all things would be nice to have i’d love to have mroe with Liara my LI and a Big boss battle, explore more, oh Mike Gamble if i read his Tweet right Zaeed gets a final Sendoff it was the Las thing Robin Sachs did
I normally enjoy articles on this site but this author is ignorant. First of I loved ME3. That game wouldn’t ruin biowares rep. If anything ME2 would with it not being anything like the whole series trying to some shooter. But the main reason why I say your ignorant is because you. Complaining that bioware didn’t give any backstory when there IS A WHOLE BOOK ABOUT HIM AND HIS BACKSTORY. Seriously if your a fan of this trilogy at least read the books or do a little research. Seriously man I agree with some of your points but get your facts right. This is your job so do it right
@Thomas Hunter: You want to know who’s ignorant? You. True there’s a back story for Kai Leng, the author just pragmatically suggests he’s a relative unknown to all aside from the most hardcore of fans. Second, I personally loved ME3, although had some gripes with the ending; many, many others (thank you HoldTheLine Nation) didn’t like it, for whatever reason. It received positive critical reception, and average user reviews. Seriously, if you’re a fan of this trilogy, do a little research.
On a side note, it’s made my night having confirmation of Citadel, but sad to find out Robin Sachs has died. Great actor all round, best wishes to his family.
thomas hunter, Alex: Not everyone reads the books and when it comes to character development within any work of fiction it is standard procedure to make sure that the narrative can stand on its own. Such as, Diablo and Warhammer 40k, where the narrative is fully flushed in the games and books so that the reader/player never gets confused over the content that they are experiencing and the stories are isolated and fully developed to stand on their own. The author may be incorrect on his statement that Kai Ling was never developed, but the way in which he was developed contradicts this basic writing technique entirely. So… 50-50, both sides are wrong, but sort of right.
Ashley Bailey: I disagree. The destination matters greatly when the journey was meant as a means to an end, and this was a case where it was a means to an end. If I am wrong and the journey was a means unto itself then why did the Dark Energy plot get replaced with the Deus Ex Machinima Plot because correct me if I am wrong, but in a story where the journey matters more than the destination then isn’t the journey suppose to maintain consistent plot devices in order to place emphasis on the Journey over the destination. If the opposite is true and consistent plot devices do not drive stories where the Journey is important then why is: Luffy still looking for One Piece, Vincent Law still trying to recover his memories, and Mario trying to save the princess. Using the last example if I am wrong, THEN PLOT TWIST, Browser rises to his feet and stabs the princess in her chest with his last breath. Mario then holds the princess as she is all covered in blood… and then she dies (Buy Mario DLC to get the real ending). :P
The list seems spot on. Yet, the one thing that I only -really- want from Bioware is to see what happened to Shepard after the Destroy ending. Was the tiny breath that they gave us just a green light that she/he is ok and we are clear for head-cannon? I would like more than head-cannon. Destroy is the only ending that seems acceptable and therefore is the only one I play, so I would like some form of closure. Maybe even game play afterwards? I hardly see that happening because of the other endings, but it would still be nice.
Hey guys, and thanks for all the feedback: positive and negative. I am aware of the books and actually feel Kai Lang is relatively interesting within them, but as others have rightly noted, any work of fiction should be taken on its own merits, rather than assume that players have read the books. With this in mind, I stand by what I wrote over Kai Lang’s character development within ME3. For the record, I’m not suggesting that ME3 should be classed a failure – it had huge commercial success and many positive critical reviews. However, there was also a large and vocal negative reaction which hasn’t been present with other such releases. That’s what I’m referring to.
I’d like to express my sorrow at the passing of Robin Sachs. I loved him in Mass Effect and Buffy, it’s a real loss. :/
I hope to see Shepard and his romanze Person to found a family. I took every time in the 2 and 3 Tali. This would be awesome to see tali, Shepard and their childrens on Rannoch.
@alex I’m ignorant for stating that he was incorrect that kai leng did have a full flesh backstory? And he didn’t say unknown besides to hardcore fans he said unknown period. Also I stated that I loved ME3 but not ME2 mate. Seriously learn how to read kid. And if it came across like I was being offensive to the author I apologize to you but don’t like it when people bash on bioware about something without knowing the facts. Just simply thought that you would have put a honarable mention saying that while there was a whole book on kai leng there was nothing in the game. That’s all because then it would clarify biowares absense of backstory in game. And as I said I genrerally love your articles just had to fix the situation
I’ll just be happy if they fill in the plot hole of Shepard living after the destroy option. If that at least have some form of reunion, I’ll be okay. If not, I’m done with Bioware for ever. I don’t think I’m asking for that much. We’ll see. Hope for the best, expect the worst.
I totally agrre with Paige,i really dont understand why Bioware made 4 endings.Throughout the whole series its been all about destroy the reapers and their minions.So why all of a sudden Bioware want to control or synthesis.Why give people sliver of hope by having shepard take a breath.There are other ways to have an end and not take shepard any further. I do see some peoples thinking about the dlc being a waste of time as it will bring nothing to the ending just a few more war assets.
I have no idea what this so called Mass Effect 4 is going to be about but certainly would like to see a post sequel.If Bioware is so objective about shepard being there,it could be set say 500 years ahead. Im sure he would be dead by then.How ever some of the charecters would be still alive like Wrex and Liara.I wouldnt mind doing a FPS with Liara or maybe with her daughter ? lol.
Why was my comments takken off ???