3 Reasons why Mass Effect 3 is the best and worst Mass Effect game
This is a follow up article to one posted earlier on this site: Mass Effect 2
Disclaimer: The article was written/planned before the extended cut was introduced to the world and so this article does not take it into account.
(Mass Effect 3, PS3, Xbox 360)
I like ME2 quite a lot actually, it's tempting to say more then ME1 but I might be banned form the internet so let's move swiftly on.
I always look at LOTR as a well planned trilogy. The first book set the scene and began to explore the world and its characters/factions. The second book built on the world constantly but also added more 'action' you could say (a result of the stakes being raised). The third book tied everything nicely together and ended it.
Of course the difference between the LOTR trilogy and the ME is that ME was clearly not planned as a trilogy but made up as it went along. Therefore Bioware could never really get the story quite right because they hadn't planned from the beginning.
ME1's story trumps the others, but ME3 is the more polished of the 3. I hated what they did with the gameplay in ME2 and they partially fixed it with ME3, but they also made tech and Biotics take a backseat to gunglay.
What improved...
The controls are wonderful this time around and Shepard no longer does that goofy "trot" while wondering about the Citadel.
The guns feel like guns this time and not ray guns.
The mp is fun and more challenging than Insanity
That's about it.
What got worse...
Still no inventory to speak of.
Shops are still one way, so you can't sell off what you don't need.
Grenades are power abilities and limited to few classes.
Biotics and tech take a backseat to gunplay.
Shared cooldowns for unrelated abilities ex: Unity a.k.a health packs share cooldowns with everything...and that's stupid.
The story...not just the ending...is terrible, or poorly executed.
too few new crew members
Diana "Chobot" Allers...a pointless addition to the crew.
Pay for new characters
The ending, the new endings, and the ultimate super ending..
For me Mass Effect 1 was the overall best in the series. I do like the improvements made in the second and third installments. The Mass Effect series as a whole is pretty impressive. Combining so many plots points, twists, and allowing save data to carry over in all 3. Most developers have trouble with just one story in their games, let alone multiple endings and multiple save files. Mass Effect had multiple endings, hours of dialog, its a very innovative franchise. In the end Bioware pulled off an impressive feat.
Mass Effect 3 had the best gameplay. The mod system and armor customization was all very nice. Loved how cool-down was based off how much weight you carry.
Preferred ME2. It was more fun and exciting, entertaining. ME3 is depressing. Yeah some call that 'gritty and real' but I don't really feel psyched to ever replay it. It's depressing to see all my choices account for nothing and all these characters I grew attached to in the second game just either abandon me or die. ME2 sure was a blast to replay multiple times, though.
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Ad 
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1 - talking
2 - action
3 - bit of both
I think ME3 falls into that category.
@Hovis:
And what should have happened was:
Act I : Discovery
Act II : Exposition
Act III: Resolution
I always look at LOTR as a well planned trilogy. The first book set the scene and began to explore the world and its characters/factions. The second book built on the world constantly but also added more 'action' you could say (a result of the stakes being raised). The third book tied everything nicely together and ended it.
Of course the difference between the LOTR trilogy and the ME is that ME was clearly not planned as a trilogy but made up as it went along. Therefore Bioware could never really get the story quite right because they hadn't planned from the beginning.
That's my thoughts anyway
ME1
ME2
ME3
part one is my overall favorite because it was more rpgish than the other two.
ME1's story trumps the others, but ME3 is the more polished of the 3. I hated what they did with the gameplay in ME2 and they partially fixed it with ME3, but they also made tech and Biotics take a backseat to gunglay.
What improved...
The controls are wonderful this time around and Shepard no longer does that goofy "trot" while wondering about the Citadel.
The guns feel like guns this time and not ray guns.
The mp is fun and more challenging than Insanity
That's about it.
What got worse...
Still no inventory to speak of.
Shops are still one way, so you can't sell off what you don't need.
Grenades are power abilities and limited to few classes.
Biotics and tech take a backseat to gunplay.
Shared cooldowns for unrelated abilities ex: Unity a.k.a health packs share cooldowns with everything...and that's stupid.
The story...not just the ending...is terrible, or poorly executed.
too few new crew members
Diana "Chobot" Allers...a pointless addition to the crew.
Pay for new characters
The ending, the new endings, and the ultimate super ending..
ME3 was just a cashin..
IMO:
ME2 had better immersion and RPG gameplay.
ME3 had better story and gunplay.
Preferred ME2. It was more fun and exciting, entertaining. ME3 is depressing. Yeah some call that 'gritty and real' but I don't really feel psyched to ever replay it. It's depressing to see all my choices account for nothing and all these characters I grew attached to in the second game just either abandon me or die. ME2 sure was a blast to replay multiple times, though.