Mass Effect 3 (PS3)
Developer: BioWare
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Action \ Third-Person RPG
Platforms: PC, PS3, X360
Price (As On 08-Mar-2012): Rs 2800 (Letsbuy.com)


Mass Effect 3 (ME3) sums up a trilogy that has woven a compelling action RPG experience in a short span of four years. The latest iteration has the burden of delivering not only a perfect conclusion to the trilogy, but also doing justice to the much-anticipated face-off with the Reapers. The last instalment to the franchise looks promising both in style and ingenuity. This time around you transform into one of the most feared soldiers across the Milky Way. At the same time, the sublime RPG elements allow you to carve out your hero's fate with a greater degree of freedom.
 

Cover is for sissies.

An Elaborate Saga
The game kicks off with a prologue that weaves tightly-paced action sequences with elaborate cutscenes bearing subtle emotional hooks. Earth is under invasion from the Reapers, and Anderson (Captain of the starship Normandy) chooses to stay back, changing the game's equation. That means it's not all run and gun this time around, but you'll have to use diplomacy to unite the races across the universe for your cause. ME3 handles the ensuing complexity well enough to give you goosebumps on a perfectly sunny day.

The plot is intricate and gets darker as the truth behind the impending war slowly unravels. Kudos to BioWare for seamlessly tying together events within the ME universe. It's amazing how your decisions from the previous instalments shape the fate of this adventure. This is, of course, if you import your save game files from the previous titles. That's why I recommend going through the games sequentially, if you are new to the franchise.
 

It's a long mission, agreed.

Having said that, this game is just as fun even if you haven't played the previous games. However, since the ME mythos is deeply rooted in the last two games, some of the plot elements and character development will be hard to relate to in that case. If you are the kind that skips cutscenes and wildly clicks through dialogue prompts to get to the meat of the game, it's no big loss to you.


A Right Blend Of Action And RPG
On this journey to unite a variety of races across the galaxy before the final showdown, you come across the Salarians, Asaris, Krogans, Turians, Geths, and several other races with even more exotic names. Some of them have India-Pakistan levels of camaraderie going on, so it's a cast-iron bitch to make them see eye-to-eye. Mind you; any move to unite two rivals could also sour your relationship with a third party. Decision-making is rather tricky this time around.
 

This is where you run!

Whether you like its RPG roots or just the combat, the game doesn't force either upon you. Combat is simpler if you choose the RPG route. If you prefer going along with the flow, simply turn off the decision-making option. However, some crucial parts of the storyline will invariably force you to make hard choices; thereby adding to the replay value.

ME has been a true RPG in the way it lets you shape the protagonist Shepard. This iteration takes it a step further by letting you delve deeper into Shepard's subconscious and the fears therein. Picture this: you are left alone in a strange area, chasing a little boy you saw dying in the first few minutes of the game. As you lend a helping hand, the kid disappears amidst blazing flames without a trace. Creepy sequence: check; Random kid: check; Psychological horror: check. Well, it seems BioWare seems to have roped in some Jap horror writers for sure.


A Fight To The Finish
Combat is still much about gunplay and cover. Upgrading weapons and customising them adds gameplay depth. Furthermore, the title still puts you in control of two other characters during every battle. Melee combat packs a wallop, but there's little scope to use it on a wider scale. It's not just the weapons you possess but the intelligence of the AI opponents that makes action so thrilling. Be it the Banshees or Ravagers, every rival calls for proper planning.
 

Character diversity puts Mass Effect way ahead of other games in the genre.

Other elements that add more excitement are Paragon and Renegade points, which is your staple karma system. Although some may complain that this system takes away the fun of being in a moral grey area, it's nonetheless an excuse to replay the game with a diametrically opposite karmic alignment. Although the single player campaign is intriguing and engrossing as hell, the side quests barely evoke similar enthusiasm. They can be disappointing, especially when they have no real bearing on the ultimate result.


Eye Candy
ME3, as expected, includes cutting-edge graphics and fluid animation. Mars has never looked as beautiful as it does in this game. The Citadel is quite the eye candy with its ultra-modern appeal. Unfortunately, the loading screens seem to reflect a quick-and-dirty patchwork job. A few technical glitches, such as the game's inability to sustain smooth frame rates as well as some graphical anomalies, detract from the immersion. However, the gameplay is so addictive that these problems aren't really a big concern.

The title has its share of long cutscenes, some of which are more interactive and engrossing than others. Nevertheless, they are integrated too well to be an issue. Furthermore, the audio is top-notch. It's not just the background music that will leave you amazed, but the voice acting for every character has been rendered with great skill.
 

This is how we gun you down.

Something about the Mass Effect games make them stand out like no other in more than a decade. As I wandered through the wide galactic expanse in the third iteration, BioWare's brilliance in infusing a human touch to its characters and storyline amidst intense action sequences shone through. Getting into the skin of a character defending humanity as usual has never felt better. Mass Effect 3 is just short of being that perfect game you've wanted all along. Nevertheless, some of its mistakes can be forgiven for the sheer amount of fun it delivers. More so, because it takes your RPG experience to a new high altogether.


Gameplay And Design: 4.5/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Mojo: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

TAGS: Gaming, PlayStation, Sanali