Mass Effect 3 video game reviews
Written by Michael Siebenaler | | news@toledofreepress.comVideo game reviews on Mass Effect 3 (Electronic Arts)
Xbox 360 review by Tim Mackley
My recent gaming obsession has been Mass Effect 3, the amazing finale to the Bioware/EA game trilogy. Having played the previous two Mass Effect games, I was already into the storyline setup and ready to go out and take back Earth from the menace of the Reapers.
As with Mass Effect 2, you can import your character saves from the previous game, allowing your Mass Effect 3 experience to proceed from where you left off in Mass Effect 2, with all the choices from the previous game having an impact on Mass Effect 3, or you can configure a new character and just start the story. If characters have been lost during game play of Mass Effect 1 or 2, they will not be seen here. Mass Effect 3 is essentially an interactive movie in which Earth is finally invaded by the Reapers that you, as Commander Shepherd, have been warning Command about for the two previous games.
Gameplay is improved with the (optional) Kinect voice command interface. It is nice to speak commands and have the characters do what you tell them, or to speak out a dialogue choice and have the character implement it. The new multiplayer co-op mode lets you and three other players’ team up in some mission-based game play in order to boost your overall effectiveness in the single player part of the game.
Many folks have complained that the initial outcomes in the single player storyline part of the game were disappointing, because they were not able to achieve the “better endings” through single-only game play. I found that a more balanced approach to both single and multiplayer game play led to a better overall gaming experience and better finale options.
Gameplay graphics are very good. Multiplayer mode is pretty fun, especially if you can get with a good co-op crew. The epic storyline contains compelling cinematic sequences. I highly recommend (***1/2) this one and am actually looking forward to going back and restarting the whole trilogy to see how it may affect other aspects of the overall game and story.
PlayStation 3 review by Michael Siebenaler
Set in the 22nd century, this latest and final installment of the game series trilogy has great sci-fi action and an outstanding multiplayer mode (including online) complete with a unique ending that might test what some fans’ visions. Elements from the 2007 Mass Effect beginning installment and the 2010 sequel Mass Effect 2 work well in this third installment that continues character journeys while offering an engaging and easily adaptable experience for novice players. Over 700 different plotlines make a customized storyline for each player. Players can even change the main character, Commander Shepard, into a male or female character.
The strong story gets great support from a very intuitive level design and great real time strategy, especially when designating weapons to teammates. Teammates sometimes get in the way when grabbing essential items as players battle against an Earth invasion while finding adventures in related space missions. Player choices also factor into the events in noticeable ways while quick saves prevent any lost progress (***1/2, rated M for blood, partial nudity (the banshee creatures mostly), sexual content, strong language, and violence; also available on PC and Xbox 360, which includes voice-control ability via Xbox Kinect).
Tags: Electronic Arts, Mass Effect 3, Mike Siebenaler, Tim Mackley, Video games
