The Shepard

Lately Bioware has made a lot of updates about the backlash of Mass Effect 3's ending. This most recent says to me that they aren't going to change the terrible ending: Their Blog. I got over the ending...for the most part. I realized a week after beating it that if they were to change the ending it would probably be a feckless thing in the end. The toothpaste is already out of the tube.

Basically that.

Now that I have settled down about one of the most anti-climatic video game endings in history, I have had time to think. Generally, when I speak to fans, they have the same belief about the ending: it did not make sense and it did match the sum of all the work put into it; it felt rushed. Most everyone I have talked to hated the ending and will probably never forget it... It's embedded.

But what if this... What if...that was BioWare's point from the very start? What if BioWare wanted us all to be brought together under one common banner, a banner to hate the ending to the series? That would mean that Shepard really did do his job, but not in game, in our lives. Think about it... If the majority of people are united in the decision that the ending sucked, then that would also mean that everyone was brought together. If this was BioWare's true intention, it was brilliant. I doubt that was the case, but what if...?

The Shepard brought the flock of Mass Effect fans together under one shelter.

His name was Marauder Shields.

Warning: DO NOT watch the video below if you don't want certain things spoiled for Mass Effect 3

His name was Marauder Shields. Take a moment to remember his attempt to prevent you from reaching the terrible and disappointing ending.

So what color was your ending?

Pay Off

So I just finished Mass Effect 3 and to any gamer, this series is a must play, solid. I did a few playthroughs of the first two games and got a lot of enjoyment out nearly ever aspect: the game play, the story, the characters, the music, the visuals, the lore...it goes on.

I have loved nearly every game BioWare has put on the shelf and even the games that weren't so awesome, were still good. They know how to do RPGs.

With all that said, though, my endorsement aside... I will join the majority of people I have talked to so far by saying this about the ending of Mass Effect 3: Are you kidding me?

Now, to avoid spoiling it the game for any potential readers, I am sure all two of you have played it, I will dodge revealing content.

There was a whole lot of build up for this series, a whole lot. You end up overcoming insane odds with a rag tag crew of aliens, humans, and synthetics in countless nearly unwinnable scenarios. Each Mass Effect leaves you thirsty for more...except this one. I could rant about this all day or the pretentious philosophical bullshit tacked on, which as a writer I could feel being telegraphed about halfway through. I could rant about the post credit DLC advertisement. I could rant about the post credit cut scene that feels like a band aid on a bullet wound. It was almost as bad as the Knights of the Old Republic II ending, which was actually not done by BioWare, but Obsidian who were not really at fault; Lucas Arts made them rush it... I digress. I'm not going to rant about one game's ending.

However, I would like to point out a trend of Epic Fails in storytelling. Not every ending has to be a Hollywood ending, look at anything directed by the Coen brothers; great work, not always happy. Closure, a pay off...

I'll keep this short by listing potentially great stories that ultimately fall short because of their last act:

The Dark Tower - I have distanced myself from Stephen King books because of his saturation of dramirony (Dramatic Irony) in stories, but this was last straw
Heroes Season 1 - Started off decent, jumped the shark near the end and yet I was hopeful enough to comeback for season 2...which was awful
Mass Effect - Explained above
Knights of the Old Republic - That second game was rushed because Lucas Arts wanted it out by the holidays
Dead Island - Fast forward to final encounter where you first encounter and defeat the villain
Borderlands - This one I will be forgiving on, but also at the same time be annoyed because they fixed the abrupt ending with DLC, that you had to pay for, but was worth every dollar
Most Anime - I think the majority of writers in Japan either hate their viewers or are killed off near the end of their series and replaced
Most Movies - This is an entry for another time...

I could go on, but I feel it is time for some audience participation. Add your own story that falls shorts, but please don't give away the story if the story itself is worth it despite the finale...