Mass Effect Editor's Review
Mass Effect 3 is a sci-fi action-RPG released on PC, PS3 and
Xbox 360; marking the final entry in one of the most
critically-acclaimed and best-selling video game series of the last
decade. The title has already been generating a lot of positive buzz in
the gaming community, but the release of a demo has given players their
first hands-on experience outside the leaked beta last year.
The demo itself consists of two levels that give you a good
sense of both the new and improved gameplay, as well as the sheer scope
and emotional drama of the story. The first level begins on Earth in the
middle of a reaper attack and ends with Shepard being handed his
mission: enlist other species in the fight against the Reaper threat.
Mass Effect has always excelled in its level design, and the visuals are
predictably stunning as Shepard fights his way across a living and
breathing futuristic city being ripped to shreds by Reaper attacks.
There’s not been a drastic step-up from Mass Effect 2, but the graphics
definitely look much more polished and slick.
In the second level Mass Effect 3 really gets a chance to
show off its third-person shooter chops. Rife with gunplay, this
“defend a Krogan” mission gives you a good sense of what changes Bioware
have made to Mass Effect 3’s combat. The controls feel a bit tighter
and more intuitive than in Mass Effect 2, and the addition of a basic
dodge roll feels so essential that you won’t believe that previous
entries missed something so simple. One small gripe would be that the
cover system seems a little “sticky”, meaning you’ll find yourself
ducking down for shelter when you’re really trying to run past
something. Still, it’s a small issue. And with new editions like the
omni-blade melee attacks giving combat a rougher, more visceral edge,
the overall impression is positive.
If you really want to get a sense of Mass Effect 3’s combat
though, you’ll need to head over to the multiplayer mode. This is a new
addition to the series and Bioware have stated that achievements in
multiplayer will positively affect your single player campaign. When you
start multiplayer you’ll choose a class and a race, and then partner
with up to 3 other players to fight off increasingly difficult waves of
enemies. Each kill earns you XP to upgrade your character, while
completing objectives earns you credits to buy items and new character
classes.
It’s in multiplayer that the improved AI of Mass Effect 3 becomes
noticeable; enemies might arrive in waves, but they’ll dodge, flank and
use cover intelligently to avoid fire. Really excelling at multiplayer
requires a surprising depth of teamwork and tactics, and with loads of
new classes and items to unlock there’s a decent amount of lifespan once
your single-player campaign is finished. Overall, both multiplayer and
the single player campaign look to have impressive replay value.
Reassuringly, early reviews from the American release are showing
Mass Effect 3 to be the most critically acclaimed entry in the trilogy,
as well as a leading contender for game of the year 2012. And with
Bioware hinting at future releases set in the Mass Effect universe,
hopefully this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of the Alliance, even if
Commander Shepard takes some well-earned retirement from the leading
role. But for now, make sure you’ve got your Mass Effect 3 demo
downloaded and your copy of the main game on pre-order. Mass Effect 3 is
panning out to be this console generation’s essential action-RPG.
