u/arcadences

A few months ago I started playing the Mass Effect trilogy for the very first time (technically re-trying ME1) because of the praises I've heard in this community over the years. Made posts about my experience with ME1 and ME2. I just finished ME3, and with it the entire trilogy!

You gals. You galsssss. I've been loving the journey, but having gotten to the end, oh my gods, I get it now. Been crashing out (mostly in a good way) about what I experienced. They'd need to start inventing new adjectives if I were to convey my thoughts in full.

Short (ish) version; ME3 is undoubtedly my favourite in terms of character interactions. (and that's not including the Citadel DLC, which was so so incredible on its own) I love how alive and dynamic the crew feels. The main and side missions were enjoyable for the most part, the storytelling remains solid as usual.

Extra shoutout to the voice acting. Holy hell this cast is stacked. Shohreh Aghdashloo, Carrie-Ann Moss, Freddie Prinze Jr. Samara is voiced by Billie Eilish's mom. That was a fun one to learn. And so many others that I recognise from things I've seen over the years. So cool.

I basically did the penultimate and ultimate missions back-to-back because I was very immersed and locked-in at that point. One of the best 'grand finale' missions I've experienced in a game personally. The stakes and hopelessness felt real, the atmosphere and scale was everything.

As for the final choice. >!After finishing Thessia, I figured the final choices would be to control aka perpetuate the cycle aka HARD NO, or destroy like the original plan. Needless to say I was firmly on Team Destroy.!<

>!Didn't anticipate a third option. I picked Synthesis first because that seemed like something extra I had unlocked by being a completionist. Simply put, it fucking bummed me out. Made no impact whatsoever. And it made zero sense.!<

>!So I replayed and picked Destroy like I'd originally intended. Did it. Had a breakdown (in a good way this time). Bon appetit. I do have my critiques of course, but that's the only one that sits right with me.!<

So yeah. Think I'm going to let this series rest for now. It's been a damn good ride (wink). Consider me a fan.

A few questions:

- What ending did y'all go with? Also what play-style do y'all prefer, looking for recommendations because idk what to try in future. (I was Vanguard this time, enjoyed it)

- I saw that I had something called the 'Extended Cut'. If someone has or can link a good rundown of what changed I'd be grateful. Wasn't able to find a clear answer. Also, no Genesis Comic? I thought the ME2 version was okay and its absence didn't bother me, but asking regardless.

- What was up with the whole Galaxy at War thing? Mine sat at 50% for all regions the whole way through, no clue what why it didn't change or what it could have affected.

- Is it worth picking up ME Andromeda and/or the Legendary Edition? [if you are a blue monogender alien enjoyer cover your ears] If they toned down >!their obsession with the Asari and/or Liara preferential treatment/defaultism and/or the male-gazey camera shots!< then instant yes from me lol.

Alright, short (ish) version over, now for assorted opinions:

- Had the best experience returning to Vanguard, felt like a total badass. I feel like they keep trying to nerf the class because first they took away throw (sad) and singularity (eh), now shockwave got nerfed too. I don't know if Vanguard is the only one with such changes. But they can't keep a bad bitch like Shepard down, we adapt.

- I feel like the Palaven mission was the biggest miss, I was really excited to see all the home planets and being on a moon felt like a cop-out. The rest were great though. Tuchanka was easily my favourite. (Can we have a thresher maw gun though? Can we pretty please?)

- Squadmate thoughts:

• Joker and Tali (lowkey shipped them a bit since ME2) remain awesome. Tali's arc made me emotional. Loved when Joker said 'it's joking time' and joked all over the place LMAO. Their friendships with Shep are 10/10. Too bad I can't romance them.
• James had his highs and lows for me. I wondered what his romance route was, I wish I hadn't.
• Barring questionable design choices, I love EDI so so much (distant sobs).
• Kaidan returns, woohoo! Certified cutie. Love that he comes full circle and becomes a teacher. Makes sense for him. I waited to get him back to go to Eden Prime, didn't expect a squadmate waiting for me there. Oops.
• Javik was certainly something. Couldn't get me an exemplar of puns or kindness or something? (That was a joke) But Javik's characterisation makes sense and gives some nuance to the Protheans.
• I guess if we got a nicer Prothean then they'd have to make Liara slip back into her ME1 ways lol. Funny that she's part Krogan, wish she'd headbutted someone. Maybe on the right mission?
• Really like Cortez (so sweet) and Traynor (so cute) too.
• Garrus (AAAAHHHH) calibration jokes are 10/10. If I talk about him more I will explode. So yeah lol.
• Easily the best addition is Sophie the KEI-9. Goodest girl. I named the husk head from the Leviathan DLC...Mimir (listen it was right there, also Alastair Duncan is in these games I had to do it)

- Speaking of character designs, I did not vibe with the outfits for female squadmates and some NPCs at all. So disappointing, the guys get to wear battle armor and the girls get latex suits and ugly holes in their dresses. It's wild to me that they managed to make a clothed Jack more sexualised than a near-nude Jack in ME2. And I especially despise the ugly party dress for Shep. HATE it with a passion. When I got forced to wear it I noped out and learned how to mod in this game so I could wear the heist dress from Kasumi instead.

- The Asari glazing got a little annoying tbh. The games are like, so weird and not normal about them it gets grating fast. Working overtime to remind us how beautiful and perfect they are and how everyone is and should be in love in them, meanwhile I'm here looking respectfully at the Quarians and their Mandalorian appeal, and everything about the Turians (Nyreen my beloved) like 'What?'. Try a little less there devs, you'll be better for it I promise. 🫠

- Thane was done so dirty. Badass way to go but damn. I was hoping we could help him somehow. Feels unfair to those that want to romance him. When Mordin started singing in the end my heart just sank. Loved his and Eve's friendship. And Legion :((((((((

- This is random but I was wondering if the Protheans and Asari had some connection, what about the Drell and Protheans? The memory recall ability seems familiar...I missed the Drell.

- Kinda funny to speedrun every generational conflict in the Galaxy in matter of in-world days. I do wish they'd split it better between games though. To the devs' credit, they're aware of it.

- Side mission wise, Grunt's was my favourite. Scared me when I thought he was gone. Do not take my weird adopted situation son from me, devs. Other standouts for me were Miranda (go space divas!) and Jack. Please enjoy this screenshot.

\"Living my best life\" \"Shepard is dying\" \"This ain't about her\" ass image

- Alright 'fess up, whose 'Y/N joins the squad' ao3 fanfic did they pull Brooks out of? Down to being a morally grey double agent trope, but without the redemption lol. I called that she was going to be a villain, her incompetency was too over-the-top, could hear her sunny facade slip during the heist.

- The Citadel DLC was incredible of course. I'm a sucker for neon aesthetics. Felt guilty for getting addicted to the arena right before the end. But it's just so fun! A fantastic goodbye.

I guess that's that. Thanks for reading! I should go.