Mass Effect 3 - Page 91

After playing through the ending sequence multiple times and replaying the game, I have come to the conclusion that the ending isn't really an ending at all, it is a farce. Just the fact that a game made me sit and actually think about everything I was seeing, questioning if it was real or illusion, and actively challenging me to look further into the series as a whole and the themes behind it. To me, it is pretty obvious what we see in the ending is not the finale of the series, it is a cliffhanger. You get shot by a laser beam, have a 20 minute long hazy dream-like state full of confusing and unexplained events, then you wake up in a pile of rubble in London. That isn't an ending at all, which is why I can understand the anger from people who wanted total closure. Instead, it is a crafted segue designed to challenge your perception and critical thinking. Everything from the small oddities that make it seem like a dream to how the 3 choices are actually presented really scream that something is not right. It is suspenseful to think about. What is really going on? Why am I still alive in a pile of rubble? What actually happened to me? What actually happened to the reapers? I just finished playing an amazing game and it already has me excited for what is to come! All these questions that will be answered, I can't wait.

But the thing i loved most about the ending was that I almost thought that combining biological life and synthetic life as one was the best course of action. I almost believed that what I was hearing from the catalyst and what I was seeing through Sheppard's eyes was true. I was so close, I fought about it with myself for so long. It said if I destroyed the reapers, I would also be destroying all synthetic life. I could also die because of my implants. It told me history would repeat itself. The reapers would be gone for now but a new 'reaper' would emerge given time. But wait, for the other two options, it was asking me to sacrifice myself and trust that it was telling the truth. It told me that controlling the reapers would save the galaxy and prevent anything horrible from ever happening again. What have I been fighting for this entire series? What did I decide from day one on Eden Prime? These motherfuckers are out to destroy all life at any cost. They destroy civilizations from the inside out, then harvest them for material. I didn't spend 5 fucking years of my life fighting reapers just so I could control them. I didn't spend countless hours supporting my crew and being an outstanding commander just so I can make man and machine one. I did all that to fucking destroy those godless reapers who want nothing more than to destroy me. So I did. I blew them up. What would happen when I did that? I don't know. The relays were reaper tech, would they get destroyed? How about the citadel? What would happen to my ship? My crew? The one I love? What would people think of me and the decisions I made? And then I woke up in a pile of rubble in the streets of London. Holy fuck. This isn't over yet. But now I know where I stand. I can't settle for less than saving the galaxy by destroying the reapers. No fear, no quitting, no compromise.

Ultimately, people can tell me I am crazy to believe that Bioware crafted an ending like this. That it is all just shoddy hack-job writing and EA was just pushing for a deadline. I don't care. What I saw playing this game and what I felt being Sheppard is one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had with any form of media. For me, I needed this ending to really solidify where I stood. There are so many decision in this game, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Do I unite the Geth with the Quarians or destroy them? Do I cure the genophage and tell the Krogan of the Salarian plan to trick them, or do I appease the Salarians and stop any hope of the Krogan ever redeeming themselves as a species. These were pretty fucking heavy decisions and there were a number of them. The thing is, that final decision, do I destroy the reapers whatever it takes, or do I compromise, is the most important one. This is why I needed the game to pseudo-end on this note. I needed time to make this decision. I needed to realize it was the most important one.

I know this isn't the very end of Sheppards story, it is close but there is a little bit more to tell. And holy shit I cannot wait.

If the reapers took control of the citadel when you were attacking the main cerberus station, and moved it to earth, why didn't they just deactivate all mass relays like they were planning to in ME1? I know the protheans apparently disabled the keepers' ability to receive remote signals from the reapers, but couldn't they just deactivate it manually now it was in their hands? I guess the writers just forgot there were other games in the series.