Xbox 360 Thread

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Prowler

some people can't handle the fact that an open ended game was actually resolved.

There is no closure. There is no denouement. It just feels like something you put 75+ hours of your life into over the course of 3 games just ends suddenly and confusingly.

I mean, think about it:

Everyone at earth is completely ******. All the conflicts you resolved feel like they're for naught. With the relays gone, the other races at earth for the battle can't get home.

Imagine if Star Wars ended when the 2nd death star was destroyed and the movie ended immediately upon it exploding. They show nothing else. You don't even get to know if Luke makes it off or anything. It blows up, credits roll.

That's what it feels like.

And what the hell is the deal with the Normandy? They crash land on some planet and.....??? There's not enough people on there to support a viable population plus the aliens are just ******.

And they show your last two party members stepping off alive. How did they survive the reaper attack as they charged the beam? Did they just fall back and leave Shepard there to die? That seems to go completely against the actions any of your party member would ever take. It's stupid.

Also, don't get me wrong, I have no issue with Shepard dying. It adds to the dramatic appeal of the work and shows how desperate things are when the hero of the story lays down his life.

My issue is with the fact we get no closure. The citadel and relays are destroyed....and that's it. Story over. I was looking forward to something like the end of DA:O where they tell you what all happens after the game's story ends.

I'll work on what I would have preferred to see a little later. Frankly the ending just seems dumber and dumber and pisses me off more with each passing day I have to think about it.

[njx9]

it can't have possibly been worse than the last two fable's. he says hopefully

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by njx9

it can't have possibly been worse than the last two fable's. he says hopefully

I only played 2. Considering how awesome the first two ME games and the first 98% of this one were, it is quite the let down.

Just get there and judge for yourself. It's hard to describe without having experienced it.

[Prowler]

I think the design of which ending people get is what leads to the shortcomings for some people.

massive spoilers below, including spoiler within a spoiler for multiple endings

I don't know if you checked out the IGN ending guide's spoilers or not. if you wish to know the best outcome then click below

warning this shows potential endings

Shepard can live, Anderson can live, and Earth can live

I find that my problem would be that Bioware/EA didn't do a good enough job of explaining the repercussions of my actions. I knew that I needed a big fleet, but at the same time how can they expect me to go off and blow up a Cerberus Hanger when Earth is burning and I'm already on my way to take out the Illusive Man?

All that they had was "very poor, poor", etc and although everyone should expect multiple endings, it would have been nice to know how much military strength would actually be enough. No matter what, Shepard wasn't going to be stopped. I liked the ridiculously hard battles on Earth and the grittiness of limping into the teleport beam. The ending did seem to have a little bit of deus ex machima at the end and I would have preferred to have it explained that the Citadel was the Reaper leader or something(it wasn't). I don't know why sticking your hands into a couple of cables would have given you control over anything without that being the case. It seemed dumb, so I just stuck to my characters mission and blew everything up.

Having a game series where you decide everything come down to whether or not some arbitrary number that has no impact on your final boss world fight outside of cutscenes decide the ending is stupid. I accept my ending because I came to Earth to die. I understand Earth dying to preserve the lives of the rest of the galaxy. I just wish that I knew exactly what it took (without reading a spoiler guide) to get the ending that I wanted.

[BeerBaron]

See, I don't care for ANY of the endings. Not a damn one.

Shepard and Anderson can die. Fine. I damn near maxed out my "effective military strength" based on what can be done in single player.

Think about the repercussions outside of just what the endings show. Absolutely everyone in that final battle is stuck on earth. The Mass Relays are gone and, even at FTL speeds, it would take years to get to any other system. That was the whole point of destroying the Alpha Relay in Arrival.

And that's assuming you have the fuel to keep up sustained FTL which, if the Normandy is any indication, you can barely hold enough to get you between two systems in the same cluster.

So the Quarians and Turians are just ******. They're based on an entirely different amino acid structure and can't even eat the food earth would grow. They're basically dead.

And plus, earth is a trainwreck. It likely doesn't have the resources to outfit all of the ships with fuel and stasis pods and whatever else is needed to send them on a looong trip back home.And by the time they get there, everything could be changed.

For example, Wrex was on Earth for that final battle. So was the Turian Primarch. Lets say they do have the means to go into stasis and it takes 10 years at FTL speeds to make it all the way back to their home planets. Those who remained there will have long since moved on.

Plus, the whole Normandy crashing thing....where did they crash? Was that back on earth? Was that a new planet? Like I said previous, I doubt there were enough humans on board to sustain a viable population on a new planet...and the aliens on board are just ******.

Plus, also like I said before, why did your squadmates abandon Shepard as they charged the beam? I had Garrus and Javik with me for that final assault, and both of them were there in that final cut scene stepping off the Normandy.

And that after credits scene with the granddad and kid...am I to presume that we don't make it back to the stars for at least two generations? That would just confirm that all of the aliens are on earth are just completely ******.

I just hate every part of it. I was absolutely fine with everything up until

you charge the beam and Shepard gets KOed.

It was worse than the choppy KOTOR II ending, which at least had the excuse of being rushed. Here, it seems like they tried to make a point, ended right after the climax with no unwinding denouement, and it had a very deus ex machina feel.

You give me 5 minutes and a notebook and I could come up with a better ending. No joke.

[BeerBaron]

Alright, so here is what I would have done differently in order to have a more fulfilling, less awful ending:

We'll keep the entire game the same right up until you're charging the beam that leads up to the Citadel. I greatly enjoyed the game right up to that point, including the hellishly difficult battles on earth.

So you charge the beam with your squad and Anderson's. You have to do some fighting right around the beam, and once the area has been cleared, Anderson says that he and his team will stay to make sure no one follows us up.

So your squad enters the Citadel and finds it basically in the same shape. You make your way up and get to the control panel where you're met by the Illusive Man who attempts to indoctrinate you with his reaper powers.

If you have a high enough paragon or renegade score, you can convince him that he's indoctrinated and he will kill himself, like Saren in the first game. (Nice call back to that...everyone likes a good call back to a previous game or movie in a series.) Otherwise, your squadmates talk you through it and you shoot him. Whatever. He's now dead.

So you get to the panel and discover that the Citadel actually houses an ancient AI created by a species mllions of years ago and is long since forgotten. This AI overthrew that civilization and has been in charge ever since. This AI can even talk to you or whatever, but it's not some stupid child apparition...

This AI created the reapers and they harvest all of the advanced life, putting it into reaper form so that the advanced life can never create it's own AI, which is the only thing that the Citadel AI fears. (Much like Sovereign and other reapers you talk to, it doesn't respect organic life much at all.)

Before being fully indoctrinated, the Illusive Man was able to set up a means to control the AI and the reapers, but didn't get to use it. This same means can also destroy the reapers now that the Catalyst is in place.

You're also told that no matter which you choose, the Catalyst, and hence the Citadel, will be destroyed when you use it. Anyone on the station will be killed. So someone has to stay there and make the choice.

So you'll make the choice of which you want to do. Paragon choice would be to destroy the reapers. All of them would simply blow up and be destroyed. Or, you can use the Illusive Man's tech and take control of them. They'd recognize whatever you input as being from their leader AI. Your order would be for them to either become the Citadel's new fleet, serving in defense of all the council races (a sort of neutral option,) or to report to the humans only, the extreme renegade option.

Also, both of your squadmates would volunteer to stay and be the one who is destroyed. They'd make arguments about how Shepard is more important and he would be needed to clean up the mess afterward, and how they love and respect Shepard so much that they'd gladly sacrifice themselves.

Someone like Javik for instance might say:
"I am the last of my people...allow me to stay and be the one who puts an end to the reapers. It is my destiny."

This would also be a similar call back to the first game, where you had to choose between Kaiden and Ashley.

Or you could order them out, leaving Shepard to do it and be destroyed. (The renegade option of turning the reapers over to the humans is possibly only by leaving Shepard or another human squadmate.)

Now, here is how I'd keep the military strength relevant. If it was weak, the group defending the beam on earth would be overwhelmed and the beam would be cut off, meaning you and both squadmates would be destroyed on the Citadel. If it was in the middle, you or one of your squadmates would stay to input the order and be destroyed, while the two survivors would escape back down the beam, which would be reversed by the person staying. Finally, if you had really high military strength, reinforcements would arrive to the beam site on earth, allowing Anderson to come up and he would volunteer to make the sacrifice, saving you and your squad.

You'd choose who gets left behind out of Shepard, your squadmates or Anderson, give the order on what to do with the reapers, and then the survivors would flee.

Whoever stayed would input the command, destroying the Citadel and either destroying or reprogramming the reapers.

Zoom back to earth where everyone celebrates with the repears either being destroyed or bowing before Shepard/the other survivors.

The game would then cut into what happens to all of the survivors and ties up all the loose ends, just like the end of Dragon Age: Origins. For example:

(all are assuming Shepard destroys the reapers, the Paragon/"canon" ending)

"Commander Shepard heroically sacrificed himself to defeat the reaper threat, and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest heroes of every sentient race. "Shepard Station" was built where the old Citadel once was to house the representatives from every race, forming a new council, and act as the capital of the the galactic government." (Replace with Anderson if he sacrifices himself instead.)

(If Shepard lives either by Anderson's sacrifice or another squadmates)

"Commander Shepard defeated the reaper threat and returned to earth where he was heralded as the greatest champion of all sentient life in the galaxy. Shepard would marry (love interest) and would serve as humanity's first representative on the newly rebuilt council, as well as the council chairperson. His word was basically treated as the word of god by the other members of council until his death many years later. "

(and then funny stuff that could be thrown in)

"By no coincidence, 'Shepard' became the most popular name for children of all races in the decades following the defeat of the reapers."

(and then it would go through what each of your past and present squad members went on to do if they survived)

"Garrus would be treated as one of the greatest heroes in Turian history, eventually serving as their representative to the council as well as Primarch of the Turian peoples. He and Shepard (assuming Shepard lived) would eventually get that drink at the bar after it was all over..."

"Urdnot Wrex kept his word that the Krogan would not seek revenge for the genophage following the war with the reapers, and even welcomed the aid of the Salarians when it came to rebuilding Tuchanka. He instituted strict breeding policies in order to keep the Krogan population under control and would usher in an era of peace never before seen by the Krogan. Though his decisions were not always popular with the conservative minded Krogan, there is no doubt the Krogan were better off as a people thanks to his leadership."

"Grunt earned great renown during the battle on earth by single handedly holding a key point in the front line of the battle until reinforcements could arrive. He was named by Wrex as the first ever Krogan councilor on the rebuilt council, and eventually returned to Tuchanka to take up leadership of the people there upon Wrex's death many years later."

(and so on for the other survivors)

(also, general galactic politics would be talked about)

"The Quarians returned to Rannoch where they were greatly aided by the Geth to settle back in. With the aid of the Geth, the Quarians were able to boost their immune systems so that they would no longer need to live in their enviro-suits. Once the Quarians were reestablished, they returned the favor by aiding the Geth to build their long-sought Dyson sphere around a nearby star where their programs could live in peace."

(etc. etc.)

I like it. Tell me that wouldn't have been 1000x better.

[A Perfect Score]

Stop making me want to play ME3. I have too much schoolwork for that ****.

[Jvig43]

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

Stop making me want to play ME3. I have too much schoolwork for that ****.

My roommate just offered the game to me today, i declined until next week. I want to get to this ending just so I can get in on the conversation. Ign had this ass hat post some video saying that fans have no right to complain about the ending, and having not even played it know what a stupid fuckign argument it was. If you havent seen it yet and are pissed about the ending I recommend checking it out for the lulz.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

Stop making me want to play ME3. I have too much schoolwork for that ****.

Play the first 98% and then just read what I wrote above. You'll be happier that way. It's best not to see the real ending.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Jvig43

My roommate just offered the game to me today, i declined until next week. I want to get to this ending just so I can get in on the conversation. Ign had this ass hat post some video saying that fans have no right to complain about the ending, and having not even played it know what a stupid fuckign argument it was. If you havent seen it yet and are pissed about the ending I recommend checking it out for the lulz.

For the same reason I never read the "comment section" (read: verbal diarrhea section)of articles, I never view fan videos.

I must remember which page my write up is on because by the time more people get to the ending and want to discuss it, it will probably be lost.

[Jvig43]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

For the same reason I never read the "comment section" (read: verbal diarrhea section)of articles, I never view fan videos.

I must remember which page my write up is on because by the time more people get to the ending and want to discuss it, it will probably be lost.

It was actually from one of the editors which is why I thought it was so sad. But I have a feeling its because ign has become so butt hurt over people bashing their own articles and ratings that they are just being pissy at video game fans being video game fans. If you don't want fans leaving negative comments, why leave a comment section? He also said they shouldnt be leaving messages on biowares twitter about fixing the ending because that isn't an appropriate way of dealing with it. Like same thing, if they don't want to get negative feedback don't put up a twitter account.

[BeerBaron]

I work as the tier 2 and 3 and de facto supervisor of a call center and I can tell you that 99.9% of feedback is negative.

Some of our apps have millions of downloads, and we'll never hear from the people who like the app because they have no reason to contact us. But the 20 or so having major issues have no fear writing in to bash the hell out of us and leave negative ratings on all the marketplaces.

When you provide outlets for fans, guess what, the feedback you get is going to be extremely critical. Always.

And in this case, with a legitimately ****** ending to a 3 game series that people spend tons of time and money on, they have the right to complain.

Plus, isn't IGN the one that fired a writer for giving a negative review of a game they were being sponsored by? If so, then doubly **** them.

[Jvig43]

Yeah I have been having huge issues with their ratings and editorials (they gave the new ghost rider movie 4 1/2 out of 5 stars, the same rating they gave to Xmen first class which was their movie of the year last year). They do a great job of getting stories out in a quick manner but everything else has become trash over there which is too bad because I used to love ign. But yeah I am with you on the feedback thing, its to be expected.

[BeerBaron]

"Nicholas Cage Needs Money 2" got positive reviews? Tha ****?

Triply **** IGN then.

[Bert Macklin]

Just beat ME3 and feel I got bukakked.

[njx9]

ugh. totally right, BB. i was pretty fine with everything until the

worthless kid thing shows up,

and even could've dealt with that if

there'd been any kind of closure.

and the scene after the credits? ******* gouge my eyes/ears out.

such an epic lead up.

off to watch the other endings on youtube, i guess, in case any of them sucked less.

[Bert Macklin]

Originally Posted by njx9

ugh. totally right, BB. i was pretty fine with everything until the

worthless kid thing shows up,

and even could've dealt with that if

there'd been any kind of closure.

and the scene after the credits? ******* gouge my eyes/ears out.

such an epic lead up.

off to watch the other endings on youtube, i guess, in case any of them sucked less.

First off this is what they did.

AI-"We will destroy you because if we don't a race of sentient machines will destroy you."

Shep-"You're a race of sentient machines trying to destroy us."

AI-"..."

Shep-"Also, some of my best friends are AIs".

AI-"I..."

Shep-"And a race of sentient machines called the Geth are fighting with us against you RIGHT NOW, and are helping an organic race rebuild their homeworld."

AI-"Yes but..."

Shep-"Plus if ANOTHER race of sentient machines tried to destroy us, couldn't you guys defend us, instead of going all genocidial on our asses?"

Shep-"..." -"What's that piece of paper you keep shaking on my face, anyways?"

AI-"The script. It says you're fricked."

AI-"Hey, what can you expect? I'm a frickin' six year old."

Second, this is what pisses me off.

what kind of grandpa tells an in depth story like that to an 8 year old? I don't care if the old man was indeed Buzz Aldren I mean ****! It's like the writers just said **** you to everyone.

FYI I would have been happy with the game ending like this.

just have the game end with Anderson and Shep looking over earth. Roll credits

There’s rumors going around the BioWare is planning an “alternative” ending DLC that they will sell to fans, and that the “real” endings included with the main game were actually Shepard’s hallucination.

Seriously **** EA/Bioware if they do that.

[Me Likey Rookies]

Still cant connect to my wifi! I set my router to WPA2-PSK (AES), the xbox should connect to that. It sees the network, but wont connect. The next step according to xbox.com was to see if mac filtering was turned on. I wasnt able to find this in settings, but if mac filtering was turned on, would my laptop and every other device be able to connect? I would have to individually input those mac addresses right?

Anyone have any ideas what else i can try?

and its a xfinity router.

[Me Likey Rookies]

delete plzzzz

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by njx9

ugh. totally right, BB. i was pretty fine with everything until the

worthless kid thing shows up,

and even could've dealt with that if

there'd been any kind of closure.

and the scene after the credits? ******* gouge my eyes/ears out.

such an epic lead up.

off to watch the other endings on youtube, i guess, in case any of them sucked less.

Did that....no dice. They're all pretty much the same, just a different color of beam. Seriously.

Originally Posted by Bert Macklin

First off this is what they did.

Second, this is what pisses me off.

what kind of grandpa tells an in depth story like that to an 8 year old? I don't care if the old man was indeed Buzz Aldren I mean ****! It's like the writers just said **** you to everyone.

FYI I would have been happy with the game ending like this.

just have the game end with Anderson and Shep looking over earth. Roll credits

Seriously **** EA/Bioware if they do that.

Yeah but...I would probably get it if there was a shot of a less ******** ending. I was basically hoping the whole time that someone would wake Shepard up and it would just be a hallucination.

[BeerBaron]

I'm glad to see people are freaking out about the right thing. I was worried all of the backlash was just from

Shepard dieing in the ending. But I'm glad to see that I share the main point of contention:

"No matter which ending you get, you lose something. And the Mass Relay network is destroyed in ALL endings, effectively collapsing interstellar civilization. It might be a victory, but it sure doesn't feel like one."

That is the true problem, for me definitely. Throw in the lack of closure after the climax, it just feels like everything you did over the course of 3 games was for naught.

It's very slightly better than having the reapers kill everyone, but not by much.

[Bulldogs]

I'm about half way through the game. It's got to be my favorite of the three so far. Extremely fun. I'll let you guys know my end game thoughts later.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Bulldogs

I'm about half way through the game. It's got to be my favorite of the three so far. Extremely fun. I'll let you guys know my end game thoughts later.

98% of the game is amazing. You'll enjoy all of that, I have no doubt.

[njx9]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

That is the true problem, for me definitely. Throw in the lack of closure after the climax, it just feels like everything you did over the course of 3 games was for naught.

this was my main problem. i could deal with everything else, if it'd been finished properly.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by njx9

this was my main problem. i could deal with everything else, if it'd been finished properly.

My first thoughts were of KOTOR:II minus the "rushed" excuse. Choppy, sudden ending with no closure.

At least most of the game was awesome. Better than say, DA:2 which just sucked the entire time.

Some of my favorite parts were when your former squadmates got moments of awesome.

Thane going toe to toe with Kai Leng for a while was extremely badass. And then when his son tells you that the prayer wasn't for him, it was for you...I was like...aww.

Mordin singing his "scientist Salarian" song as he was about to die. That was a nice little throw back.

Grunt surviving a wave of ravagers. I was PISSED when he was about to sacrifice himself after I let the Rachni queen die to save his company. I didn't actually care about the company, I wanted him to make it. When I thought I lost him AND the queen...**** that noise. But he emerged covered in blood...good thing.

Also the thresher maw taking out a reaper. About time they proved useful for something other than just damaging the Mako...

You and Garrus shooting things on the Citadel was a nice bit. I also liked his "you were born for this" speech and talking about meeting for a drink in heaven. Garrus....