Mass Effect 3 multiplayer: the worst-kept and most unwanted secret in journalism

Surprise! Mass Effect 3 has multiplayer. It's also completely pointless.

[illegalyouth]

What a disappointment. Seems that BioWare isn't doing anything innovative with their multiplayer for Mass Effect while other developers are innovating ways to incorporate multiplayer into decidedly single-player experiences (i.e., From Software with Demon's Souls and Dark Souls).

[Philoctetes]

Yep. The multiplayer implementation in Demon's/Dark Souls is awesome, creative, and fits with the game's vision perfectly. Wish more developers did things like this instead of catering the lowest common denominator.

[Larry L]

Disclaimer: I'm not a fan of Mass Effect, so I couldn't care less if it has multi-player co-op or not. Just expressing my own view on the subject of single player games getting multi-player "tacked on".

I know some games are perfectly fine single player experiences. But personally I am NEVER against multi-player being added to a game. Now I'm not a ME fan, but I am a HUGE fan of another BioWare single player game: Dragon Age. More so of Origins than DA2, but still liked DA2 as well.

DAO was a FANTASTIC game. For me it's a perfect 10/10. My favorite RPG ever really. At least in recent memory. But I WISHED that game had online co-op. I think it would have been the greatest thing ever if instead of having 3 programmed party members, it was 3 other online players' main characters. And you could all go through the story together. As for dialogue, host has final say but other players have icons that pop up next to what they want to say.

Same with Oblivion and now Skyrim. Now in a game like this, for online co-op you disable the main quest (unless it's written for co-op as well), but all the side quests and DLC are fair game for 2 or 3 online players to do together. Gold goes to everyone and loot is divied out according to class and you can trade freely.

And that's basically all Mass Effect 3 is. Co-Op. I don't understand how anyone could be against that, especially in a game that you have a party anyway. Even single player purists shouldn't be against it because the co-op isn't taking anything away from the single player content if you want to play solo.

Another example is FF12. I HATED 12 as a FF game. BUT, it could have been my favorite FF of all time if your party member could have been controlled by online friends

I do agree that often multi-player in games can be tacked on just for the hell of it seemingly. Like Bio-Shock 2. But MANY times, like the games I mentioned above.....I think games that would have been perfect and maybe even improved with online, don't have online, and I think that's a shame.

[Philoctetes]

"I don't understand how anyone could be against that, especially in a game that you have a party anyway. "

Managing my squadmates is a lot of what made ME2 fun, especially on Insanity. Coop essentially ruins that aspect of the game by turning it over to other players.

[Larry L]

I understand that Phil. And I love programming my party members in Dragon Age Origins and being able to get through Nightmare difficulty. But as I said.....nothing's stopping you from still enjoying that because there is no rule that says you HAVE to play co-op. You can still play with your own programmed squad. But for people like me who want to see other people's main characters in my party, and interact with those real people in Dragon Age or for other people: Mass Effect, we should be able to do that and there's absolutely no reason for you to be upset about it because you can still do your own thing, and you're not losing out on anything.

[Vaud-Villian]

This isn't forced, it isn't even campaign co op. it is additional co op skirmishes a la horde mode in the Mass Effect universe. I find this to be exciting, refreshing and gladly optional.

[gamingdroid]

It amazes me that people complain about the developer giving you something extra that is optional!

Never imagine that is how people's reaction is.

Oh my GOD! What are Bioware thinking giving us extra game modes? Why are they thinking of trying something new and potentially innovative? /s

Then gamers turn around and complain about CoD stagnation. Catch my drift?

Damned if you do and damned if you don't!

I would rather Bioware do!!!

[outwar6010]

dont get me started with demons souls and dark souls getting friends to play with you was a nightmare and whenever i got to bosses in demon souls my help would disappear!

[illegalyouth]

Multiplayer is supposed to be anonymous in Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. It's a design decision that supports the games from a thematic perspective. The lead designer described it as "a connection of mutual assistance between transient people."

[Tolkoto]

Bioshock 2. Metroid Prime 2. Mass Effect 3.

[Vaud-Villian]

Assassins Creed: Bloodlines, Metal Gear Solid 4, Resident Evil 5

[Caligula]

Unless that RPG has MMO at the beginning, I don't think multiplayer is necessary.

[DanSolo]

There's nothing wrong with adding some multiplayer in (as long as it's not at the expense of the singleplayer of course), but for a game like Mass Effect they should try something different.... I mean it's highly unlikely a generic multiplayer mode will compete with other multiplayer games!

[NagaSotuva]

Kinect integration AND multiplayer? EA sure knows what gamers want....

[THR1LLHOUSE]

Yeah, my excitement for ME3 multiplayer is about on-par with my excitement for ME3 Kinect-integration.

I guess I'm just a cranky old man.

[gamingdroid]

To each their own, but I'm looking forward to not having to pause my game to control my squad, so voice control with Kinect for my squad is a welcome addition.

Both are optional, so no harm no foul.

[MasterD919]

If you don't like it- you won't end up playing it anyways....whats the big deal? This game has been getting nothing but flak from people since it was announced and this multiplayer issue has people really riled up for nothing.

I for one can't wait to play it. The multiplayer is just there regardless. GTA had a multiplayer and it was pointless too- did it take away from the campaign? No.

[THR1LLHOUSE]

There's always the concern that devs are spending time on multiplayer when they could be doing something more productive...Like further polishing single player, or visiting their families.

[gamingdroid]

That argument is rather stupid though. If you think about it, you want the developer to be creative and try different things. A lot of them won't work, but every now and then you will get this gem.

If you never try you would never know, but instead would end up with sequelitis with no change.

What would you prefer?

Personally, I don't mind either. I just play good games and if there is content I don't like, I simply won't play it!

[THR1LLHOUSE]

@gamingdroid But is adding a multiplayer mode like this really creative or new? I'm sorta playing Devil's advocate here, but this doesn't sound like say, Assassin's Creed multiplayer or Splinter Cell multiplayer. Those are both pretty unique takes, this doesn't sound all that new or special.

[etownthree]

Exactly... The multiplayer in GTA was fun to play with friends a couple of times. Had some good laughs and moved on.

[SageHonor]

Exactly, people just want to complain. The way i see it. You dont like a game or something it has to offer. Dont play it..

[etownthree]

I don't see how this is a bad thing.

I'll try the multiplayer, doubt I'll like it, but as long as the single player is as epic as 1 & 2, then I'll be more then happy with my purchase.

A good example is Bioshock 2.... Really enjoyed the campaign... Tried the multiplayer a couple of times and moved on.

[bronxsta]

I thought that ME3's multplayer was co-op missions, not regular old deathmatch

Which actually makes sense, since I believe you always have squadmates with you. Now players can work as a team online.

But I might be wrong

[Vaud-Villian]

It's basically Mass Effect Horde mode, there is no versus and yes that is a point 99% of the commenters overlook.

I'm stoked to be able to enjoy the game beyond the standard campaign. It's going to be a content filled last hoorah for Sheppard's story.

[BabyTownFrolics]

why dont devs contact me personally and run all their decisions about their games by me first?

_ucking _ssholes

[Gamer-Z]

Not all games require multiplayer to be successful, for instance The Elder Scrolls series is great and doesn't need an MP. Mass Effect was also one of those games that didn't need an MP to be enjoyable. This is just EA trying to milk the Mass Effect series for all its worth.

[SybaRat]

Sadness.

I don't intrinsically mind the addition of multiplayer to a game, but it needs to be done intelligently, so it plays as an extension of the game itself. Dead Space 2's MP, for example, completely broke what Dead Space is (i.e. they turned it into a spray-n-pray shooter) in order to go with something easy and familiar. I was hoping ME3 would avoid this trap.

[Kahvipannu]

There is so many games that play great online these days, that I don't know if people will really spend much time with this. Hard to say without trying tought.

Tought it's nice idea that you can immerse yourself in ME-universe with other character than Shepard, and most importantly, make a new character of other race.

I'm just happy that ME-singleplayer is the main focus, and mp isn't needed to finish my journey with everybodys favoutite Spectre. Can't wait this to come out!

[Grandclover]

I like multiplayer and Coop. I'm going to love going on missions with my best buddie by my side as we ravage whatever world was unlucky enough to recieve two specters bent on mayhem!!! Also if you don't like multi don't play it, seems like a pretty easy fix.

[FrightfulActions]

I'm really starting to get more than a little annoyed with the apparent fad some article columnist are having recently with the whole "it just doesn't fit" for Mass Effect... How does multiplayer NOT fit. It's a full on galactic war. Uncharted 2, now there's something seemed like it really didn't make sense for multiplayer (yet was a blast to play). It was a puzzling, platforming adventure game. Having multiplayer in that didn't sound like it belong. Didn't stop the game from being great, or the multiplayer from being really fun.

Mass Effect 3, as they've said so so many times, is the start of this great epic battle. You have pretty much all the races united fighting against this force trying to wipe out humanity. If anything, the only multiplayer that does not make sense here, is having competitive. "In a time like this, these mercenaries are fighting over who gets the most credits?" Though I could see that working as well, since greed makes fools of many.

Point being, this is co-op multiplayer. I for one am thrilled that I will be able to enjoy the fantastic universe Mass Effect has created with my friends who are also huge fans of this great series. After I'm satisfied playing all the endings I can get out of Mass Effect singleplayer, its nice I can still enjoy the universe with the co-op play.

Honestly, the only thing that concerns me with the released details, is the enemies. Im hoping indoctrination Cerberus troops aren't all my team and I need to survive again. Heretic Geth, husks, maybe a few collectors (has to be SOME left right?) and whatever other badass enemies Mass Effect wants to throw at us. I'm hoping for impossible odds and an relentless barrage of enemies that just want us dead. Make us really feel like there's a cut-throat fight for survival in this war.

Regardless, can't wait to play some Mass Effect 3.