Mass Effect 3 and the Curse of the Threequel
It’s the epic conclusion to a series of games which previously had me glued to my TV screen.....So why am I finding Mass Effect 3 such a chore to play ?
Its often said that the third part of a film trilogy is the weakest. Francis Ford Coppola sullied The Godfather with Part III, Sam Raimi brought tears to the eyes of Venom fanboys with Spider-Man 3 and even Arnie disgraced himself by donning comedy Elton John specs in Terminator 3. Time will soon tell if one of the most respected filmmakers of modern times, Christopher Nolan, can break free from the dreaded curse of the threequel with the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises. With games however, its often a completely different story. Building on their previous successes as well as evolving gameplay, many of gamings threequels rank as some of the best games ever made. From the immersive stealth of Metal Gear Solid 3 to the perfection of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and the groundbreaking freedom of GTA III. Video Games often improve with each entry, taking the best aspects of the franchise and reaching a point of perfection the third time around. That is at least, until more recently. As games have become more like movies, many have also adopted the dreaded curse of the threequel. For me personally, 2011 was dictated by being bitterly disappointed by anything with three in the title. Battlefield 3 continued to reign supreme as the best online shooter around, but its po-faced tone and emphasis on stodgy realism stunted my desire to put the same hours in as I did with Bad Company 2. Then there was the cringeworthy overkill of Saints Row 3, which threw a mishmash of ideas into a cat costume and then bludgeoned them to death with a big purple dildo. 
Sadly, my personal affliction continues into 2012, with decidedly mixed feeling towards the long awaited Mass Effect 3. Very few games have left an impact on me in the way that the original Mass Effect did back in 2007. I became utterly absorbed by the gripping storyline, the expansive universe and astonishing non-linear gameplay. Its one of the few games of which Ive played through several times, and excitedly relish the alternate ways in which the story can unfold. So why is it then that Im now finding myself struggling to actually finish Mass Effect 3 ? Lets get several things out of the way first. Its not because I suck at the game, nor is it because I dont have enough time to sink into playing it. My concerns also have nothing to do with the controversial ending of the game, or the fact that Bioware fluffed up the character importation options forcing me to painstakingly rebuild my Shepard. Id also like to reiterate that Ive religiously played through the first two games and continually sing their praises. Its because - and it absolutely pains me to say this - Mass Effect 3 is a repetitive and strangely uninvolving experience. Continuing the devolution of the franchise from weighty RPG to Gears Of War style cover-shooter, Mass Effect 3 is by far the most formulaic and simplistic of the whole trilogy. Its still driven by the trademark character drama and interactive cut-scenes, but very little of the game has you doing anything but mowing down endless waves of enemies. Nonetheless, Mass Effect 3 has drawn unanimous critical acclaim from respected gaming outlets across the world. However, the reaction from fans has been far more divisive - reflected by its user score of 4.9 at Metacritc - with many let down by the ending and the simplicity of the gameplay. 
Despite my uneasy feelings towards Mass Effect 3, I still consider the first two games to be masterpieces. Nothing that I had ever played before had offered so much freedom to shape the storyline, and then face the consequences. Being tasked with the decision to choose a team member to face inevitable death, or to choose whether or not an entire species was to be eliminated at the touch of a button, were unforgettable gaming moments. To this day they both remain some of the finest pieces of entertainment - gaming or otherwise - that I have ever had the pleasure to experience. Mass Effect 3 on the other hand, simply hasnt managed to engage me in a similar way to the first two games. By taking the gameplay of Mass Effect 2 and skimming it down even further, it lacks a distinctive personality of its own. Theres been little added in the way of new gameplay mechanics, making it also lack the rejuvenation that Mass Effect 2 brought to the series. The addition of multiplayer simply doesnt cut it for me, as this isnt a series that ever needed it, nor do I need to play any more combat than whats on offer in the campaign. You could argue that Mass Effect 3 simply perfects the streamlined action experience that Mass Effect 2 began to introduce. However, the crucial difference is that Mass Effect 2 still had much of Mass Effects freedom, as well as the constant feeling that the galaxy was yours to explore. While you could no longer float around the surface of planets in your Mako Buggy, numerous hub homeworlds like Illium and Tuchanka were in their place, offering engaging side quests and interesting characters. Equally important, the suicide mission storyline and the attempts to round up a team of fearless space renegades was nothing less than epic. 
In Mass Effect 3, exploration has been narrowed down to a few uninteresting levels of the Citadel and a smattering of dull fetch quests. Equally saddening, galaxy exploration has been relegated to simply scanning for quest items while you play cat and mouse with the Reapers. Where are the hacking mini-games that helped break up the shooting of Mass Effect 2 ? Why is the storyline so baggy compared to the focused narratives we're used to ? Is there any reason the mission log doesnt expand to prevent confusion over what youve already done in a quest ? As many of you might well suggest, the strength of Mass Effect 3 is the conclusion of the epic storyline which has been steadily building towards this point. Sadly, while still engaging, the storyline also flounders compared to the earlier games. The reaper invasion never feels urgent enough, while the writing this time around feels just that little bit cheesier. Shepard earning the nickname Loco during a homoerotic encounter with James Vega, or delivering flowers to a hospital bedside, arent moments of epic sci-fi, theyre scenes from a daytime soap. Regarding the emphasis on combat, its certainly more refined and polished than its ever been, while the new weapon modification system is excellent. The problem is, theres simply way too much of it. While Mass Effect 1 and 2 had the aforementioned exploration and hacking mini-games, theres nothing to break up Mass Effect 3s endless shooting galleries. You prey for anything to stop you from having to once again defend another team member against waves of enemies as they hack a console. 
Rather than evolving the series, BioWare have taken a step backwards and removed any complexities the series once had. Itd be wrong to call Mass Effect 3 a bad game as it most certainly isnt - it's just a disappointment. As with nearly all of BioWares output, its incredibly well crafted and oozes with a sophistication that few other games can muster. Its also hard to deny the thrill of once again controlling YOUR Shepard and witnessing the new ways in which you can alter the storyline. I also cant fault Clint Mansells sublime music, which has sent many a shiver down my spine during some of the more memorable moments of the game. I'll continue to try and find the enthusiasm to see Mass Effect 3 through to one of its many controversial endings, but Id like to know what the lovely readers of WhatCulture think of the game. Are you also finding it a repetitive experience which fails to live up the quality of the first two games ? Or do you actually think its the most gripping and accomplished of the series ? Perhaps, youre one of the many fans who was utterly in love with the game right until those last few closing moments. Let us know your own feelings on BioWares conclusion to the Mass Effect trilogy. ______________ Did Mass Effect 3 live up to your expectations or did you also expect more from the game ?Click here to win a copy of Mass Effect 3