Reviews// Mass Effect 3

The opening to Mass Effect 3 surprised me greatly. Within the first 30 minutes I had been reminded of events and decisions that I'd made in the previous games, met some old friends, met some new ones, fought for my life and made the first of many moral decisions that I would later regret.

It's one of the best openings to a video game I've ever experienced. It's also one of the most emotional. There aren't many other games that could pull this off, but due to its long running plot and a universe full of characters that I was familiar with, Mass Effect 3 manages it.


Combat
The first couple of hours are spent being guided through some linear missions. It leaves you on tenterhooks, waiting to be let off of your leash. But it is essential. It sets the tone of the game to come and instils a sense of urgency in your gameplay.

By the time you're left to travel the universe by yourself you'll be completely used to the new combat system, and you'll realise how fantastic it is. Mass Effect 2 felt like a stripped-down third person shooter at times. Most of my time in that game was spent using just one weapon and one biotic. Here though I am forced to constantly manage my squad and swap weapons.

The variety of enemies in Mass Effect 3 makes you consider everything you do in combat. It even makes you consider your tactics pre-combat. Depending on who you're fighting, you'll want to bring squad mates that counter their attack. You'll also need to not only consider what weapons to bring along, but how many. The more you bring, the heavier your load-out, which will in turn slow down your special power recovery.

The combat in Mass Effect 3 feels unique. It feels as though the game was made from the ground up as a shooter, but without relying on stealing ideas from other successful third person shooters. It's a great leap forward and I've found that fighting the enemy has always been an enjoyable experience, one that I still haven't gotten tired of.

Combat areas are also improved with plenty of different angles you can take to flank, control or surprise you enemy. The enemy AI is fantastic and only adds to your considered approach to each battle. They will hurl grenades, hide around corners and use shields to force you out of your cover, so it's not a case of hiding behind a crate and popping out to shoot every so often, you have to be on your toes.

Visuals

Although the game's environments and character models are all superbly put together, I found that some of the best visuals in the game can be found during combat. With neon bullets flying over your head as your squad mates attack in their unique ways, it can be breathtaking. All in front of some beautiful backdrops, it -most importantly- feels real.

No longer does it just feel like you're just hopping from spaceport to spaceport. There are more outdoor areas to see, more of each planet to explore and – on a few planets – multiple locations to visit. These places, here more than ever, feel more like they exist.

In fact there's not much ugly in this game at all. A few characters have had a face lift, there's been a lot of work on assets and architecture and some of the skyline vistas will knock you for six. There's still the character animation problem that has been in the series from the start where a character will flick into a new position when starting a new sentence. It can be extremely noticeable at times, but nothing that will ruin your gaming experience.

Sound
There were some worries about the soundtrack in Mass Effect 3 when it was leaked that composer Clint Mansell was to take over the reins. I can't express to you enough about how much of a good job he has done in this game.

The music syncs with the action while complementing plot twists and turns wonderfully. Drips of the previous game's soundtrack trickle into the new compositions, enhancing moments of nostalgia and fear. It's a little more dramatic and theatrical than it has been in the past, but then again so is the game.

The rest of the audio is up to the same standard. Weapons have a new sound to them, making them feel meaty. Each bullet spits out of the barrel and an be heard independently, while the base of a dance track can be felt rumbling down hallways outside of a night club.

There's also a distinct sound that the Reapers let off. I don't think I'll be alone when I say that the droning electrical cry of these enemies will haunt my nightmares for a long time. It's a distinct sound that curls the hairs on the back of your neck and sends shivers down each arm. Truly terrifying stuff.

Missions
I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't getting bored towards the end of Mass Effect 2. With its squad building and loyalty missions it all seemed a little too formulaic. Missions weren't varied enough and although each was full of enough action to see you through, many seemed like they were just holding you up between plot points.

This has been completely rectified in Mass Effect 3. Stories develop slowly throughout missions and decision-making is not always left for you to make right at the end. It's more scattered, making each interesting discovery or plot twist just a short firefight away.

Each mission has a sense of purpose too, and that includes the small side missions. It seems that whatever you do in it's to help your ultimate goal of saving Earth, which is a good thing really as I wouldn't have wanted to spend my time convincing an Asari to shag a Krogan while my home planet is being destroyed.