I personally chose Control. For me, the sacrifice seemed like the natural evolution of my Shepard. However, a friend of mine brought up a good point. Control brings the entire galaxy into a totalitarian dictatorship. Shepard has the entire Reaper force at his/her disposal and if anyone steps out of line, Shepard can just send the ENTIRE Reaper fleet to keep them in check. Shepard doesn't like corrupt mercenaries? He/She can just send the fleet to destroy them. It posits an interesting moral dilemma. Was putting all beings in the galaxy into a perpetual dictatorship truly the Paragon choice? It's an interesting thing to consider.

I might have liked the extended cut endings better if they were the endings I had when I first played the game, but I didn't.

The EC endings were tainted by the original endings. The only way to work around that would be to either completely scrap the old endings, or to have not released such horrible endings in the first place.

Scars Unseen:

WoahDan:
Bioware did right by us by at least attempting to fix their mess that was the ending, but they would have done even better by us if they had simply made a good ending in the first place.

For me the extended cut didnt fix any of the real problems I had with it, the problem for me was never that the Starkid wasnt explained or didnt provide closure, it was that the Starkid existed in the first place. I understand that it was their choice to do things that way and I respect that, but that doesn't mean that I don't think that that was the wrong choice to make and their work suffers as a whole from it.

Scars Unseen:

I'm fairly certain that the intended implication was that even the Normandy's bleeding edge stealth system wasn't good enough to fool Reaper technology.

But is the SR2 ever spotted while in stealth mode? I can't remember it being. Plus in ME3 the Reapers only spot you when you use your sensors to scan for stuff, I'm pretty sure that implies that if you hadn't done that they couldn't have detected you.

The SR2 uses the same stealth system as the SR1, or at least there is nothing in the game that explicitly claims an upgrade(while there are several other systems that are listed as having been upgraded). As for the scanning thing, that could be explained by one of two possibilities. It's possible(likely, in fact) that sensors are not as accurate from beyond the range of a single star system, but that active scanning necessarily produces a signal more easily detected. Alternatively, and there is evidence to back this up, Bioware sucks at maintaining consistency from game to game, or even within the same game.

Another possible explanation is that Harbinger just doesn't prioritise Shepard or the Normandy as targets at that time. His main objective is to guard the beam, and while you are evacuating you wounded team you aren't at that moment trying to get to the beam, while there are still several single units that are and thus need to be dealt with first. Just because he's not firing at Shep or the Normandy doesn't mean he's stopped firing altogether.

Scars Unseen:
... That might explain why EDI isn't listed among the people that died at the end(as would typical Bioware carelessness).

Alas, I just watched the destroy ending - EDI is on the memorial list of the dead, in the right-hand column. I noticed because her name is so much shorter than all the others.

Scars Unseen:

anthony87:

Scars Unseen:

The problem with that assumption is that the Reaper-created Collector ship could detect the Normandy just fine, even in stealth mode.

That was the original Normandy though. Not the one from Mass Effect 2/3.

Just checked the Codex entries, and while the Normandy SR2 did receive several upgrades, an improved stealth system(which was already cutting edge) was not one of them.

If you talk to Engineer Adams in ME3, he mentions that the stealth system was improved, notably, the Normandy SR2 can shift out of FTL without any emissions.

cerebus23:

Still me3 is a great game excluding the ending, sitting it out is kind of silly because there is so much great game there only marred by the last 10 15 minutes of it, well if you got the ec i guess it would be 30 to 40 minutes more, then i guess that means u need to play the ec and decide for yourself if it ties things up better or not.

It really really isn't. It's a stodgy mess of terrible writing, nonsensical plot holes and more Deus ex machina than a whole pantheon of gods should be able to handle. If you do try it though I reckon you need to take a whole bunch of anti-depressants for every scene Cerberus appear in and just before as you enter the ship that signals the end of the game, or at least just before you go up the elevator just quit out and watch the refusal ending on youtube. If you really feel like you deserve a happy ending watch destroy but be prepared for another volley of idiotic nonsense.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought the motivation of the Reapers was perfectly explained by the fact that they just got really stupid orders from their really stupid creators.

Zagzag:
If I remember correctly Jennifer Hale said that she didn't do any more voice acting for the extended cut, (implying that none was done at all, since her voice is used for Shepard and the Catalyst.) This would imply that all of this content was produced for the game and then cut. If so, then why?

what i heard was that she mentioned she wasnt contected for voiceacting. but after she made the statement voice actors were called back. although i suspect you may be partially right in that some cut content was added back in.

they fixed it enough for me to ignore the rest of the plotholes.

the only question its raised for me is that if the EC explains what the writers originally intended, how the hell were we meant to guess that from the original ending?

Scars Unseen:

NinjaDeathSlap:

Scars Unseen:

The SR2 uses the same stealth system as the SR1, or at least there is nothing in the game that explicitly claims an upgrade(while there are several other systems that are listed as having been upgraded). As for the scanning thing, that could be explained by one of two possibilities. It's possible(likely, in fact) that sensors are not as accurate from beyond the range of a single star system, but that active scanning necessarily produces a signal more easily detected. Alternatively, and there is evidence to back this up, Bioware sucks at maintaining consistency from game to game, or even within the same game.

Another possible explanation is that Harbinger just doesn't prioritise Shepard or the Normandy as targets at that time. His main objective is to guard the beam, and while you are evacuating you wounded team you aren't at that moment trying to get to the beam, while there are still several single units that are and thus need to be dealt with first. Just because he's not firing at Shep or the Normandy doesn't mean he's stopped firing altogether.

That's a pretty weak explanation(and therefore perfectly within reason for an BiowarEA game). Normandy has weaponry and targeting systems that are sufficient to at least distract Harbinger enough for someone to slip by, which is why the Reaper forces had been destroying or crippling every other vehicle that came close. Aside from that, if there was a single ship that should be prioritized by the Reapers, it would be the Normandy. That ship houses the only people to enjoy repeated success against the Reapers both before the war and throughout it. The ship is grounded and boarding personnel; the shields are down. There would be no easier time to take out Shepard and crew than right then.

If, however, that would allow just one other soldier to get to the beam under Harbinger's nose, then that would be a failure in his eyes. He may well have a personal vendetta against Shepard and the crew of the Normandy, but he's still a Reaper. His purpose is to enact and preserve the cycle no matter what, which makes anyone actively trying to get to the Citadel to activate the Crucible, no matter how small or insignificant they might have been to him before, priority targets over even the Normandy.

Although yes, the meta explanation is basically plot armour. However it's not like there's absolutely no way it can be explained within the context of the game.

Tiamat666:
I still haven't touched ME3 because I'm still waiting for the smoke to clear.

And because I'm afraid I will be very disappointed from all I've heard about the suckish ending. Maybe it's better to relish the memories of ME1 and 2 and pretend Sheperd died from a ruptured hemorrhoid on a particularly explosive toilet break.

As much as people will say to the contrary, the ending does not invalidate the previous how-ever-many hours of fun you had previously. I'd say now is the time to play it, since you'll get to experience the EC without having to go through the original ending first like many others did.

I personally am just glad Garrus didn't die.

The best ending is still alt f4ing at the end of the conversation with Anderson. Most everything beyond that point is still terribad, 'cept Zaeed being boss as always.

The destroy ending would likely be the canon one if/when they continue the franchise.

Something I noticed, and I wonder if I might be over-analyzing here or not, is that in the destroy ending, they never address EDI, and the geth at all. You'd think the complete destruction of an entire species would be worth a mention by Admiral Hackett. You'd think that if EDI were killed, not only would the Normandy become more difficult to fly, but there'd at least be some hint at Joker mourning.

Considering that Shepard survived with all of of that cyber-stuff hooked into her, and that there's no mention of the geth or EDI being destroyed... I think it's very likely that the Catalyst was full of shit, and that it was only saying those things to try and save itself from complete destruction.

Either way, it would be nice for the geth to survive the destroy ending :) They still need to help the Quarians get out of those suits and such.

I would have preferred Karpyshyn's ending to be honest, it just sounds so much better than what we have now.

The Dark Energy was a force that was going to consume everything. According to Karpyshyn, "The Reapers as a whole were 'nations' of people who had fused together in the most horrific way possible to help find a way to stop the spread of the Dark Energy. The real reason for the Human Reaper was supposed to be the Reapers saving throw because they had run out of time. Humanity in Mass Effect is supposedly unique because of its genetic diversity and represented the universe's best chance at stopping Dark Energy's spread."

The original choice was between killing the Reapers and trying to find a way to stop the Dark Energy threat with what little time was left before it consumed the galaxy, or, "Sacrifice humanity, allowing them to be horrifically processed in hopes that the end result will justify the means."

Atlas13:
I would have preferred Karpyshyn's ending to be honest, it just sounds so much better than what we have now.

The Dark Energy was a force that was going to consume everything. According to Karpyshyn, "The Reapers as a whole were 'nations' of people who had fused together in the most horrific way possible to help find a way to stop the spread of the Dark Energy. The real reason for the Human Reaper was supposed to be the Reapers saving throw because they had run out of time. Humanity in Mass Effect is supposedly unique because of its genetic diversity and represented the universe's best chance at stopping Dark Energy's spread."

The original choice was between killing the Reapers and trying to find a way to stop the Dark Energy threat with what little time was left before it consumed the galaxy, or, "Sacrifice humanity, allowing them to be horrifically processed in hopes that the end result will justify the means."

I like the Dark Energy plot as well, but the big issue is that it doesn't end Shepard's story - you'd really need a Mass Effect 4 now to see how the dark energy stuff gets sorted out, and they wanted to end Shepard's story with ME3. It's not a good ending for a trilogy, but at the same time doesn't seem to leave enough left for a very good ME4.

Spoilers follow.
For me, the extended cut fixed very little, unfortunately.

The way that Shepard calls down the Normandy to collect ONE injured squadmade from right in front of the beam was stomach turning. Think about it. Never mind the fact that the beam is being defended by Harbinger and a second reaper because it's THAT important, and the Normandy just strolls right up... the real problem is that Commander Shepard appears to use the privilege of being Shepard to call the Normandy down from a battle in space (which takes less than 10 seconds), to collect ONE of the tens of thousands of people being wounded in the fight against the reapers right then and there.

What. The. Fuck? All this did was prove that absolutely no thought was given to the problem before it was pointed out by people who were dissatisfied with the ending. I think I liked the question more than the answer in this case, and I hated the question. But at least it wasn't blatantly character breaking.

And the big kicker for me all along; the Star Child (ugh, that name) is the Reaper God-AI. It is the citadel. I'm supposed to believe that it can't open the arms of the citadel itself? Funny, there are no reapers connected to it as Sovereign sought to be when it SHUTS the arms prior to the final battle. And I'm supposed to believe it couldn't monitor the life using it as the centers of their civilisations either?

No, sorry, the Star Child still totally wipes out the premise of the first game. Sovereign was just unnecessary.

You don't deal a deathblow to a significant portion of your own lore and retain your artistic integrity, but I guess I appreciate the effort. That's the most I can say for the DLC.

Tiamat666:
I still haven't touched ME3 because I'm still waiting for the smoke to clear.

It's been 3 months and people are still complaining. So if you wait for the smoke to clear, you'll probably have a chance to play it hummm....when the next COD comes out or next year...

Tiamat666:
I still haven't touched ME3 because I'm still waiting for the smoke to clear.

And because I'm afraid I will be very disappointed from all I've heard about the suckish ending. Maybe it's better to relish the memories of ME1 and 2 and pretend Sheperd died from a ruptured hemorrhoid on a particularly explosive toilet break.

Or you could mentally rewrite the last 10 minutes of the game. :3

Irridium:

Scars Unseen:

Irridium:

It's possible that the Normandy didn't have its stealth systems up when the Collector's attacked. That's the only reason I can think of, at least.

Presley specifically says that they had stealth systems engaged.

Oh. Well I don't know, then.

Maybe the Collector ship had heat sensors.

anthony87:
All I want to know is why the hell they couldn't have done all that in the first place? IF the content of the EC had been in the game originally then there wouldn't have been the fuss that there was.

i agree.

i don't see why they could not have done what they did with the EC first

fanboys would still bitch of course, you'll never stop that, but it wouldn't have been the month long embarrassment it was

The EC did improve the game a lot. It's still a crappy ending, but at least it's not story-breaking anymore. I can play through the last ten minutes without a constant urge to smash my controller into the screen. There are still some issues - like the Crucible being nothing more than a giant power plant, for instance, which only makes less sense than before - but it's a marked improvement overall.

Still, the PR debacle beforehand, the fact that the ending is still shitty overall, and everything else that's gone on means that I'm not buying any more BioWare games right off the shelf for quite a while.

Still has a stupid author avatar that pulls major BS out of its ass in the end?
Check.
Still have ending A/B/C where you choices dont matter?
Check.
Still is a giant smelly turd that spits on its own lore, ignores everything you did and ends with a rip off of Deus Ex?
Check.
Still shits on the universe so Hack Walters, and Clueless Hudson get to write their amazing fanfiction?
Check.
Still has Starbrat and his "logic" being shove in your face?
Check.

Sorry, its to little, to late, and it changed squat.
In the end since there wont be any post ending DLC, there wont be anymore of my money, and qute a few of my friends dollars heading to Bioware.

Why invest money into something that is shit?

Diana Kingston-Gabai:
I disagree with the notion that the EC works in absolutes (ie: fixes everything/fixes nothing) - what it does is allow emotional satisfaction (by way of the character-centric epilogues) at the expense of intellectual satisfaction (because allowing the Catalyst to elaborate doesn't change how utterly dumb that entire segment is). It's still a net gain overall, though, because it makes the latter tolerable - I still hate the Starchild and everything it represents, but that's not all there is to the ending anymore.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Well said. Yay, my crew live happily ever after, it's just too bad the Mass Effect universe is that much dumber for the Star Child's existence.

Somehow though I was even more upset and angry after the EC than before. I guess now it feels like the Reapers win no matter what you do since Refusing to compromise with them = Game Over. Irritated me, I suppose.