My Pre/Post-Ending thoughts on Mass Effect

I’m writing this as my cursor on the galaxy map lies on Local Cluster, with the mission “Order Fleets to Earth” as my objective. I know I’m about to reach the end of mass effect 3, and wants to talk about my experience so far. I started Kevin Shepard on Christmas Day, 2007, about a month after Mass Effect came out. I loved the game, and played the crap out of it between different characters and such. Mass Effect 2 came out on my birthday in 2010, and holy shit, it was amazing. The combat was so fun, the storyline intense as ever. I loved it, and as of now, it is my favorite game of all time. I got the collector’s edition of Mass Effect 3 two days after release, due to a shipping error. I was so fucking excited. I loaded it in, and even though I had played through the demo a few times, the reapers attack on Earth was so fun. I was having a blast. Now, 28 hours in, I’m almost done. I have loved Mass Effect 3. My galactic readiness is about 6000, with my effective readiness or whatever about 500 points lower. I’m at 92% in Galaxy at War. The multiplayer in this game is so fun, and I hate multiplayer typically. I have loved this game so much, but I am genuinely scared to what is about to happen. So many people have cried against the ending, and I am about to see why. Hopefully, I am among the few that won’t be disappointed by it. After 5 years invested in this series, I am (hopefully) about to have a conclusion. Kevin Shepard and I have gone through so much together; I’ve fucked Ashley (twice) and Miranda, saved my entire crew on the suicide mission, and lost some close friends (RIP Mordin and Thane). He’s a paragon through and through, a Vanguard, charging his way to victory, over and over and over. I hope this character is not ruined for me forever. I am about to take Earth back. Wish me luck.

Just beat it, the credits are rolling as I type. I choose synthesis. This choice was the most obvious for me, due to it seemed to be a win/win for all. Joker flying the Normandy away from the mass relay detonation really hit me hard. I was sure the Normandy and Joker would be destroyed. Seeing them crashed on the planet, emerging as synthetic/ organic hybrids, was a very odd feeling. As the catalyst had said, this is the next step in evolution. Joker and EDI as the Adam and Eve of the new universe was a great way to end the series. HOWEVER, I can understand people’s outcry for closure. The fate of my squad, Earth, and the Allied Forces, was not shown at all. I’m sure this ambiguity may be disconcerting for some, but I appreciate it. Ending a trilogy must be difficult, and I’m sure Casey Hudson did the best job he could. I’m sure some may not agree with me; I may even be alone in my thoughts. But Bioware has concluded an epic that has occupied my life for 5 years, and I salute them. Even with Day-1 DLC, the overall hatred of EA, and the whole Red/Green/Blue decision, it’s over, and I loved every minute of it.

TL;DR Thank you Commander Shepard.