Mass Effect 3
Important: Game may not include original DLC, bonus-content, online-pass, season-pass, or other digital redemption codes. Any included codes may have already been redeemed or expired.
Preorder and launch bonuses, promotional or bonus inserts, and bundled bonus-game downloads are not guaranteed. Content supplied on the game disc or cartridge is unaffected.
About the Game
As a result of Commander Shepard's affiliation with the Cerberus organisation in the past, he or she is removed from active service by the Alliance military upon returning to Earth. It is at this point that the alien machine race known as the Reapers launch an all-out assault on the planet. The Defense Committee asks Shepard for assistance, and Captain Anderson re-installs him as a member of the Alliance and Commander aboard his old ship, the Normandy. While Anderson stays on Earth, trying to hold its defenses against the overwhelming power of the Reapers, Shepard is sent to the Citadel to convince the galactic council to provide military aid for the struggling planet, and unite the alien races in a battle against the common enemy.
Gameplay & Core Systems
As with previous games in the series, gameplay combines tactical, squad- and cover-based third-person combat with role-playing, in the form of different classes, customizable upgrades and dialogue choices. In addition to combat difficulty selection, players are offered a choice of three modes before starting the game. The "action" mode bypasses conversation choices, displaying them as non-interactive cutscenes; the "story" mode keeps choices intact, but lowers combat difficulty. The "role-playing" mode reflects most closely the gameplay of the two previous games, containing both choices and more challenging combat. Most of combat-related and character development features have been carried out from the preceding installment.
Standout Features
- As with the second part of the trilogy, save files from the previous games can be imported with decisions being made in the first two games having an effect on the new situations.
- Weapons can be modified with two enhancements each, gaining more firepower, large magazines, increased accuracy, etc.
- Like before, abilities and powers can be upgraded when leveling up; each of them now offer two upgrade choices per level, and selecting one of them will lock the other enhancement permanently.
- Dialogue is handled through the conversation wheel system, which presents paraphrased responses arranged by tone and intent.
- Entirely new to the series is a multiplayer option in the form of the co-op game mode Galaxy at War .
- Galaxy: Players can take part in Galaxy at War as any race in the game's universe.
- Melee combat plays a somewhat larger role: certain classes possess the ability to execute powerful charged close-combat moves.
- It involves up to four players cooperatively taking over enemy strongholds.
Modes & Ways to Play
Player support includes Co-Op.
Presentation & Atmosphere
Display support includes Progressive Scan (480p) and HDTV 720p. Audio support includes Dolby Digital and DTS.
