I bought ME3 based on the escapist's recommendation, and I'm disapointed to say the least. I used to rely on the escapist not to tell me a game is great when it isn't. But maybe it's just my opinion, and they haven't started whoring themselves after all, so if you agree with the reviewer that "holy crap, this game is outstanding", please let me know.

I did, completely and totally. The game is a masterpiece. I even like the ending, even if it is a bit on the vague side.

Don't let the outrage dissuade you. Even the more adamant haters will admit that 95% of the game is straight gold.

I'd go as far as to say 98% of the game was straight gold. It's really an excellent game. I have some issues with some of the pacing, and some flat dialogue in parts, and some things I might've done differently, but my expectations were sky high, and a lot of times it actually met them, and that's extraordinary.

I don't HATE the ending. It's not Ultima IX bad. It's not Fallout 3 bad. But given the quality of the game and the series that preceded it, and the emotional connection I, and others, formed with these characters and this world, it's unquestionably the most disappointing ending I've ever experienced. And probably the one I most badly want rectified.

9thRequiem:
Although I would argue that Fallout 3's ending (original) was better than ME3's ending (It fit the overall storyline better, brought in key aspects of the story, and bound the entire thing together [Birth-to-death, dying to bring life to the wasteland mirroring your mother dying in childbirth]. ME3's was none of those things, leaving me feeling cheated.

Thematically it was fine, it was how they did it. One, it made little to no sense, plot wise. Two, the execution was atrocious. Like "bloop" and you're a little pile of dust. Moving!

As bad as ME3's confusing/arbitrary/muddled cinematics were in the last minutes, it was still less slapdash than FO3.

"Even the more adamant haters will admit that 95% of the game is straight gold."
Lol, no..

If ppl like it the resell value will be good atleast, thanks.

Until the last 5 minutes, it was the single greatest gaming experience of my life.

EDIT: Double post.

The best thing anyone can say about ME3 is that if you look past the ending (y'know, the thing this entire franchise has been centered on from day 1) then it's good. It's like saying your strawberry waffles were fantastic except for that rotten sardine lopped on top of it. And then when you asked for the same dish without the sardine the waiter scoffed at you and asked if you wanted dessert.

And let me be clear: this ending is a rotten sardine. It's not "divisive", it's not "controversial" or "memorable" either. It's bad. I don't need to argue that point, the proof is in the pudding. IE: if the majority of your audience's reaction upon completing the game is to stare at you blankly and wait patiently for an explanation whilst trying to make sense of it among themselves- then (pardon my french) you don ****ed up. And if you then choose to try and make the ensuing dialogue about how immature and pathetic said audience is... well then you're going to lose them in a very permanent sense.

I haven't played it yet, but I plan to pick it up when it's 20-30 bucks. I'm sure I'll like it though, I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to videogames.

I... Don't really know what to feel about the ending. I didn't love it to the point of defending it from all the criticism, because I see where they're coming from, even if some of them are being really immature about it. But I'd say that, yes, I liked the ending. It was something that I didn't expect at all, which was good because as I played I couldn't stop myself from predicting what was going to happen next. The ending certainly moved me and made me feel, in a certain way, exhausted and satisfied. After three games (2 for me, since I have a PS3), this was it. This was the end. I got here. At the same time, it made me a little bit sad that it was all over. No more Shepard, no more Garrus, no more Liara, no more Normandy, now we move on. But hey, everything that is good one day comes to an end.

So, to make a long story short, yes, I liked the ending.

Oh, absolutely. It's one of my favorites despite the ending. There were really only three things I didn't like:
-Shepard talks too much on his own
-Some texture issues/models not appearing when they should (I took Garrus with me to Thessia, and he was invisible during all the dialogue).
-The ending

The game was overall deeply satisfying and engaging until the last ten minutes.
It's a fantastic game that I will be replaying endlessly, just like the first two games. The only difference is that I will quit the game right before the ending from now on. I'll just make up something better in my head.

I'm enjoying it immensely so far, while you'll hear the same dead horses being beaten about various aspects of ME3 it's actually a really well done game. Don't let peoples outrage over various little details make you miss what could be one of the better games this year.

Maybe it would help if you explained what exactly you DIDN'T like about it? Because honestly, the answers you're going to get are things like "I loved it til the end" or "99% of the game is great" or "it's fantastic til the last 5 minutes". I loved the game and am still playing it.

I absolutely loved it... up untill, well you know.

The game is absolutely amazing, pure gold. The only real bigger (not that big a flaw really, but still) beside the edning (which is kinda bad, really. If it had ended a little sooner, it would've been a great ending) is the dialogue Shepard has between those s/he romanced. I mean, I get it, you liked eachother, you screwed, but for fucks sake drop the shitty "true and eternal love" bullshit we'd have to suffer through. Why can't they just fuck, and then going "Hey, that was kinda nice. Got your back Shepard." People screw eachother all the time, they don't fucking act like those romanced people.

Another thing, I didn't feel the squad was as good as in ME2, actually. It's far beyond ME1 of course, but still. Vega was kinda funny sometimes, being the stupid but friendly marine, (better than Kaidan and Jacob, I might add) but I don't know, I really didn't rush down the elevator to talk to him. Liara is going on my fucking nerves, she's not bad, but I just feel that there isn't a tight grip on her character made from Bioware. Take when you're hanging out with Garrus (think shooting bottles) if you don't understand who he is from that, then, I'm sorry, you're dumb. That was also a really fun scene to watch. Liara doesn't really have the same, I dont know. I also had Ashley with me, and while she did have some intresting growth in the start, she became non-existant the moment she joined me. I don't know, not that fun. Tali and Garrus however, are at their best, and they were the ones I almost always brought with me, just to hear them talk.

Whatever my complaints are, get the fucking game. Seriously, do it. The combat is best, the story is best, the dialogue is the best (this is all counting from the three Mass Effect games, of course). If someone say you shouldn't get it because of the last ten minutes of a 25+ hour game, then don't listen to them.

I FUCKING LOVE THIS GAME.

Hell, they say the ending's gonna be bad but I will say that the multiplayer makes up for it. Usually, a mainly single player game doesn't need a multiplayer but in this case, it has really enhanced it. The steamlined rpg-ish leveling system works really well in ME3's case. Also, seeing all the old characters returning was kinda heartfelt in a way :3

*Looks around for Zeel* I'm sure his ME3 sense is tingly. I did love ME3. Yes the ending wasn't as good as I had hoped but I feel like many people are making a mountain out of a hill (yes I know it is supposed to be molehill but it is not a totally trivial matter to fans). Sure there were some things that would be nice to have cleared up, like an epilogue, but we already knew that the catalyst was built by the reapers, at least we did when we found out what the catalyst was, and sure their logic is a bit twisted but its not like it is something we have never heard before. Also Jessica Chobot did a fine job for the small part she had.

On a side note did anyone not headbutt that reporter on the Citadel?

Honestly, I think the first two Mass Effects are probably among the greatest games in this generation of consoles. And I don't think Mass Effect 3 stands up to those two at all. It's in the little things, such as planet scanning (which feels like they just stripped down the scanning in ME2) or the side quests (picking most of them up by overhearing others talking) or the weird running away from Reapers mini-game.

It feels like it has more jank than should be present in such a beloved (and well-funded) franchise. And that's not taking into account the ending, which left a lot of players just scratching their heads. Don't get me wrong, it's a good game, but I feel like this franchise should have ended on a better note. But it was never a question of whether or not I would get it. I was so heavily invested in the first two games that of course I wanted to see it through.

What basically everyone up there is saying, the game was absolutely fantastic, up until a certain elevator arrived. Before that, I laughed, I cried, I felt like a badass saving the galaxy. This game exceeded my expectations, but as Yahtzee has said before, the ending is what everyone remembers about a game. And that ending was shit

Emiscary:

And let me be clear: this ending is a rotten sardine. It's not "divisive", it's not "controversial" or "memorable" either. It's bad. I don't need to argue that point, the proof is in the pudding.

Oh come now, it is very memorable, in -exactly- the same way a rotten sardine would be. Bioware seems to think that never forgetting the taste of a rotten Sardine is a good thing.

Well it's the only game to date to make me tear up, and it did it twice.
When mordin goes up the tower and the cutscene after and then when thane dies. Didn't tear up when Legion sacrificed himself though but I was sad, very sad.
So yeah it's good.
Love the banter between crew members and seeing tali drunk and other stuff like that. Disappointed by the lack of conversation you get to have with the crew though compared to 1 and 2.
Combat is great, plant scanning is better but it still sucks ass. (honestly I prefer the damn mako).
So yeah, play the game.

My only real gripe with the game is the AWESOME BUTTON WHICH DOES FUCKING EVERYTHING. SERIOUSLY WHY CAN'T I MAKE MY OWN SEPARATE FUCKING BINDS FOR SPRINTING, TAKING COVER AND USING SHIT. The amount of times I've rolled when I want to take cover, taken cover when I want to use and rolled when I want to fucking sprint is ridiculous. It's not exactly game breaking, but it's infuriating. I'd rather have the old planet scanning, except you do it from the ground in a mako then this 1 button shit.

YuheJi:
On a side note did anyone not headbutt that reporter on the Citadel?

I absolutely did not! Head butting a civilian? My Shepard is a professional, not some mindless vorcha.

Oh, and you can bet your ass I headbutted Khalisa (sp?). She's a figurehead for everything wrong with mass media. Personally I was hoping she'd show up in ME3 wearing a neckbrace after the second time I cleaned her clock following my cybernetic augmentations.

Youma:
I bought ME3 based on the escapist's recommendation, and I'm disapointed to say the least. I used to rely on the escapist not to tell me a game is great when it isn't. But maybe it's just my opinion, and they haven't started whoring themselves after all, so if you agree with the reviewer that "holy crap, this game is outstanding", please let me know.

As I'd imagine a number of other responders have pointed out: the game itself is absolutely amazing, at least that's what the general consensus is around the forum. It's the ending, though, that has most people saying ruined the rest of the games and the series in general.

The game itself is a solid improvement on the ME series as a whole. Better combat, a perfected weapon system (unique weapons with a large selection but not so large that most of the guns become obsolete and worthless), and a powerful and well put together story. Buuuuut then there's the ending which flubbs up the game and has become quite well known for inducing bouts of nerd-rage.

I absolutely loved Mass Effect 3. It's the best of the series in gameplay and story. Hell I even loved the endings even though they leave you with a few unanswered questions.

The first 99.99% of the game is pure awesome. Too bad about that last 0.01% though...

But seriously, the bulk of the game is exactly the epic fight for the galaxy's survival that the first two games were building up to.

The game is great and it exceeded my expectations. They've done a great job with the game. The combat has improved a lot and there are many really good scenes in the game, scenes which made me feel emotions that I haven't felt in a while with games. There are also many little things which I like, like the interactions between the characters themselves.
And those are just a few things which i liked about the game. I'm not sure what to think about the ending but the last 15min won't change a great 40+hour experience.

Best game I ever played. Or at least my all time favourite. Loved everything, including the ending. Got emotional plenty of times throughout, and the combat, dialogue and general story are pretty much perfected.

In time, when a lot of people have calmed down about the ending, I think this game is going to become one of those all time classics.

Anyway, I did not really like the ending, although the alternate theory significantly improves it. The rest of the game was pure golden though.
So yes, the lackluster ending does not nullify the absolute joy I had playing the game and it fully met my expectations and more. It has some of the most heartbreaking and heartwarming moments I've ever seen and it vastly improved on a lot of things that the prequel was missing.

Overall an excellent and, even though it doesn't mean anything, a definite GOTY contender.

SurfinTaxt:

Allevil:
Until the last 5 minutes, it was the single greatest gaming experience of my life.

great, what will be the second game youve played in your life?

It's stupid comments like these that make me wonder where we went wrong with this site.

I absolutely loved the game, up until the end.

Then it became pure shit.

I wouldn't as far as "love", I would go with "Its alright, maybe even good" but then I'm not that far into it judging by the trophies I haven't got.

Something that has bugged me is the way that they keep "killing" characters, only for them to be ok.

*SPOILERS* (beause I don't know how to do spoiler tags)

For example, "oh no, they've killed Kaiden...no, no he's going to be ok. Oh no, Kasume's been blown up...no, no she was just faking it. Oh no, Grunt has just sacraficed himself...oh for fuck sake."

*END OF SPOILERS*