Needs a thread...so I made one...

This just released today...was worried that all we were going to get was CG trailers, but they did a proper launch trailer with in game footage...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG2mdZ23eP8

Glad to hear them using another "Two Steps from Hell" track...was always a fan of this one.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

That trailer looks really good. This is the last installment in the series, right? I can't wait to see how it all ends.

I was listening to the IGN review and something interesting was said... it suggested it was a very good 3rd person shooter, games such as Gears of War or Vanquish. "far outshine it". I'm not sure how many of you played Vanquish, but it was a great game. Gameplay was off the charts, but the story was kinda abysmal. You should check it out if you ever get a chance.

Nice to see that Vanquish isn't forgotten and gettin' some props.

I'll probably wait awhile to pick up a copy.

Glad to see the Citadel is more fleshed out again...really thought it sucked in 2...

Minor spoilers (nothing serious...more hilarious):

EDI took a robotic form and now she's trying to get in Joker's pants.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

This Reaper boss battle is fucking serious bullshit and I'm about ready to put this shit down.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Oh please don't say that's true .... if you're having trouble I may as well hang myself now.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Got past it...just frustrating bullshit...

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Just finished my first playthough...

Not really a spoiler but a though I'll keep to myself unless you really want to see it:

Oh...so that's why everyone was bitching about the ending...

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Cool...

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Awesome...

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Rad...

...gameplay still very much like 2...storytelling is a bit more streamlined like it was in 1...

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

I stayed pretty focused on the first playthrough and still got almost 20 hours of time logged on my save, so take that for what it's worth.

The majority of the missions make it feel like you are progressing towards the goal, whereas ME2 had a couple of these, with the vast majority being recruit/loyalty missions, some of which needed to be done but never had a real impact on progressing the main story of the Collectors (a point I've read you make numerous times, so I'm guessing you'd like this one better).

Also, based on my first playthrough, there are multiple instances where major characters are going to die and there is nothing you can do about it...some based on a choice you make, others just because that's the way it goes down. I know some people don't like that, but I find it refreshing that there are losses along the way.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

I'm guessing that will be the case as well.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Hitler is not pleased with the game's ending(s).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b33tJx8iy0A&feature=related

Spoilers, obviously.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Going back through the first two games to get my pure paragon playthrough complete...and I just heard one of my favorite lines from the second game:

"Hey Rupert, you done something different with this? Tastes like you put in a lot more food and a lot less ass"

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

She really did just want to just play chess .... story of my life .....

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I have really been enjoying the multiplayer. Fun stuff!

I multiplayer is decent...different enough that it might last but I can't see myself getting caught up in it like other titles...

...I just really, really, really wish it didn't have a bearing on the outcome of the single player.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

The extent to which it impacts is debatable, but playing multiplayer increases your "Galactic Readiness" which supposedly has an impact on the ending.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

Lipid... lemme know if you want to play some multiplayer. Believe it or not, I haven't even begun the single-player beyond the first cutscene.

The manual does say not playing the multiplayer doesn't disqualify the possibility of any of the endings.

How much of the multiplayer would one have to play anyway to get a satisfactory amount of readiness? How does it manifest itself in the game? Is it a war faction or something?

Other important questions ....

- where the hell do I get whatever artifacts that merchant wants in the commons so I can tell the General everything is okay?

- if I really like the N7 armor health boost, why would I want to wear any other armor?

- if I buy that eel, will it eat all my fish?

- I let Garrus win the shootout ... was that a good idea?

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Try to answer all these:

Doesn't disqualify, but it certainly makes it easier to get from what I can gather...playing multiplayer inscreases the percentage of "Galactic Readiness" which impacts how well your forces will fight in the final battle...so you either spend the time in multiplayer, or get more assets in the single player...your choice.

You get artifacts by scanning uncharted planets.

I like the health boosts too. It's really just person choice.

Dunno about the eel.

I let Garrus win too...figured I'd make the ugly fucker feel good about himself for a change.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

whoops! Didn't mean to bother you two!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Pu7pzK28A

I did play some multiplayer today (yesterday ... whatever) ... is there a fourth amongst us that has the game?

Am I stuck with my shitty soldier, or can I bring in my character from the solo game? Prob'ly not I guees ... would negate the whole credits buy boxes of various shit I guess.

Anyway, multiplayer is okay by me if you lads want to. I don't have a good headset and I'm only okay (I used to be great back in the days of Quake II, but that's forever ago).

I don't really know why I'm still typing; less sure why you're still reading.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I'm not lipid ... let's make that clear. What I mean to say is I don't envision myself as Mr. Mass Effect (well, maybe after 2 or 3 chilli cheese dogs). Anyway, on to the post.

That ending was really .... I want to find a word that actually takes thought and people aren't using .... well I need two words, both co-equal: confusing and milquetoast.

There are any number of links showing "all" the endings, basically the same shit in different colors or red, blue, or green. There's all sorts of 'conspiracy' posts about what it may or may not mean, let alone the usual rabble that wouldn't say they were happy if they were getting tickled in the ass with a feather for money. Separating myself form those people, I still say that I felt unfulfilled ... I'm not beset by post-consumer regret, just wish it had been more, and frankly I don't think it's unfair to expect as such. I've seen a few rumblings about where (in April?) there will be some DLC that might be more reflective of the "true" ending. Some people think that will make people feel better; maybe I'm missing something, but I find that as high on the list of dick moves as anything I can think of.

On the other hand, I personally kinda liked the multiplayer - though I really didn't want to spend time making money so I did buy a few spectre packs with points when I felt exceptionally impatient. I will say that I haven't any idea how someone can finish silver or gold levels ... I'll just conveniently blame old age and move on.

Anyway, I wouldn't tell you not to buy it, but I also won't say bust your ass and get one asap. I'll end up rating it w/ 4 stars on xbox but I'd just as soon give it 3.5 stars. It's definitely no 'Bioshock' or 'Fallout 3' ... then again, few things are.

This last part is not a collection of my words, just some excerpts from a post by a fella I think gets things quite similarly to me and phrases it in, possibly, a more incisive way.

For what it's worth, I was disappointed by the ending. Not that it wasn't a 100% happy Ewok yub-nub song thing, or even really about what happened, but at how utterly cursory and minimum-effort it felt.

On the whole I'm in the 'quietly disappointed' camp. I loved almost every minute of ME3, and of the series as a whole, and the ending hasn't really done anything to spoil that. It's just bizarre and jarring that a game that lavishes focus and screen-time on favorite returning characters and big events would seem so desperate to get the ending over and done with in the most compressed, information-poor, almost dismissive manner possible.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

DT summed up many of my thoughts pretty well...will have more at another time, but while I didn't care for the execution of the ending, the entire story arc was pretty damn good and I certainly would recommend the series as a whole.

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

I'm only halfway through (and I'm enjoying it), but I guess my expectations are thoroughly managed!

I lol'd

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"There is a high statistical probability of death by gunshot. A punch to the face is also likely."

^^^^^

If anyone cares, I asked the lads at Gamestop what the trade-in value was, and it's only $25. I would've expected at least $10 more, but I'm an idiot and nobody asked me anyway.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George