"I'm not sure if your heaven is the same as the Turians', but if things go sideways and we both end up there... meet me at the bar. [...] Before you go, let me give you an order. You know, as a friend to a friend: Go out there, and give them hell, Shepard. You are born to do this."
I'm gonna be honest here. The ME Series music never really caught my attention until ME3. ME3's music got me, coupled with the emotional attachment I developed with my Shepard and his allies. When the Reapers attacked Earth, I watched all of those soldiers die while trying to save civilians, then the score kicked in. As the Reaper descended, I felt even more emotions, I felt angry that I was leaving, that I could've prevented this. That scene brought out my emotions, the music amplified it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, the score in ME3 brought out some of my raw emotions, with its fantastic writing, amazing music, and characters I felt a strong, lasting emotional attachment to. The Mass Effect series is now counted among my Video Game Hall of Fame.
Yeah, ME3 was the first time I really noticed the music of the series (outside the galaxy map theme). I loved it so much that it made me go back and appreciate the music from the previous two games.
@@TheUnknown285 Really? For me it was theme of assault on Collector Base in ME2. That one was awesome to me and it was the first time that i actually had to find a soundtrack on youtube(of any video game i played up until that point and that number was not insignificant).
I think that that last bit between Buzz Aldrin and his granddaughter was beautiful. A fitting way to end our journey, and an inspiration for anyone who wanted to go to the stars. "Alright, one more story..."
Honestly, aside from how terrible the Starchild was, this was one of the most satisfying scenes in the series, especially when you choose to destroy the Reapers. I only wish we could have seen Harbinger's reaction when he realized he was fucked.
Kaidan/Ashley: Let's advance together! Tali: Shepard, I'll come to your support anytime. Liara: I'll always be with you, no matter what. Garrus: Once more into the fire? Heh, there's nowhere I'd rather be. Let's do this. Wrex: The enemy will know the might of our combined force, Shepard. Kasumi: This is shaping up to be one amazing partnership eh, Shepard? Grunt: I'll crush your enemies whoever they are, Shepard. Thane: Kalahira, bless this one for his/her quest is nearly done. Jack: Well shit, let's just kill them all, shall we? Miranda: Let's get right to business, no time to waste after all. Legion: Shepard-Commander, we calculated 99.9% rate of success for this mission. Zaeed: What the goddamn hell are we waiting for? Let's just blast the door down and kill those bastards. Samara: I uphold the code of justice. You, Shepard, are justice. And I'll be right beside you. Morinth: Let's not waste any time with these trash. Mordin: So many experiments to do. Too many research needs to be conducted. But I'll always have time for you, Shepard. Jacob: You lead, I'll follow. Wherever that may be. Javik: Commander, this cycle have hope because of you. Now let's show the enemy what fear is. James: Hell Loco/Lola, I still got one up on you in the kill count. Show me what you got, come on. EDI: Commander, just give the word, the Normandy is always ready. Joker: All systems are green and ready to go, Commander. Anderson: I'm proud of you, always. Hackett: You have done the impossibles time and time again. Truly, you are a shining beacon for us all. Just some fluff I imagine the characters would say with their personalities. ME series is truly a great one.
I was a new comer to Mass effect from a month ago and I got all the single player Story DLC for 2 and 3. I played through the games anticipating the ending that I herd from many gamers wasn't good even with the EC. But when I finally got to the crucible and made my choice to destroy the reapers, with EDI and the geth caught in the crossfire, I watched the extended cinematic that played with this theme and I caught that bittersweet emotion that I knew I would feel when I got to the end. When it was over, I felt satisfied with the entire ME experience, including the ending. While I agree Bioware could have done something different if they weren't rushed by EA, I felt very satisfied with the EC, as far as my ending went.
Runjakovich Man, I cried when I ended the trilogy, and I don't care if the people says that the ending was a shit, it's true that the talking with the kid before your choice of the ending in ME3 was a bit shitty, but I loved the ending so much anyways...
dov2mt Is it really worth punishing every synthetic alive(and some organics)? Look back at Joker's relationship with EDI. What difference is there between their bickering and that of spouses? Joker is alone if you choose destroy. If you helped the geth, you damn them and Tali will never know life without a mask. If you destroy the reapers, history itself is completely destroyed with it, millions of years of cultures annihilated in minutes. And what of the leviathans? They only wanted peace and they built and guided the reapers to do it. You're destroying the one contribution they were able to make for millions of years. For them, it was like their children being killed. The root of the problem was misunderstanding, and killing half the galaxy's population doesn't help. Just my thoughts.
Rayblon And that's the only reason I picked control. To me it more sense to do the heroic sacrifice and become guardian of the galaxy by controlling The Reapers. I couldn't screw over the Geth and by proxy screw over the Quarians, especially after going through the trouble of making them get along. And yeah I really couldn't screw over my buddy Joker by killing EDI, I just couldn't. Also to me, I always thought that if Mass Effect were a movie, Shepard would go with control. If you notice the entire theme of ME3 was "destroy destroy destroy Reapers blah blah blah!" and the only one telling you other wise was your biggest enemy, The Illusive Man, who was all for control. I just imagine at the end of the game, after the Catalyst reveals everything to you, I imagine Shepard having flashbacks of everything he's heard, about the Leviathans explaining the purpose of The Reapers, of the Prothean AI on the Asari homeworld also revealing the faction of Protheans who were for controlling The Reapers, and of the Illusive Man talking about control as well, and then Shepard finally gets it...that the only way to truly break the cycle is that he needs to die, so that he can control The Reapers and break the cycle. Introduce his values and morals as an organic and instill them in every Reaper. Plus it makes for a sadder ending if he knows he's going to die and never see his loved one again (for me it was Liara). Again this is all my opinion and how I saw the ending of Mass Effect. I just wanted to say that that's cool that I finally found someone else who couldn't pick destroy because he didn't want to fuck over the galaxy, lol.
Rayblon They didn't guide the Reapers, they just created an AI who look'd for a solution to solve the synthetic - organic problem, and it turned on them, and corrupted their children, Destroying them is probably giving them final rest and mercy. The geth and EDI I really feel sorry for. Synthesis is bullshit it's like becoming a reaper without noticing it, "Fumbling in ignorance" like Harbinger would say. Control is a sensible choice, IF you are a paragon.
Out of all the videos of this song on youtube , this one is my favourite The song with the slideshow of your teammates, your family on the normandy, is just wonderful. Great job
Regardless of the endings, I can never bring myself to do anything but Destroy the Reapers. After every friend died I wanted their head so much more. When I was presented with the other options. I did what I set out to do, and ended the threat. That was the moment Mass Effect joined my Hall of Fame.
I must admit, i chosse to Control the reapers, 2 things i prefer that one: 1: EDI and the Geth still live, they are 2 different forms of life, destroying the reapers destroys them too, and to me that is a victory as hollow as it can be! 2: The reapers now serve Sheppard, his thralls, a vengance on them more horrifying than any form of physical destruction. They would be nothing but mere puppets to what Sheppard has become, restoring and protecting the galaxy, thus stopping their precious cycle once and for all!
TSFCaesar As the reaper ruler, Shepard would'nt have stop the harvest. He would have make this cycle longer than before because he knows these people and he could'nt resolve to kill them. But after many centuries, when the organics would be about to give an end to their kind, he would have done it, to preserve organic life.
The way I see it, in control, the entire galaxy is relying on the good graces of ONE man. How long must they live under his rule? Forever? And in Synthesis, who asked to be fused to every living and mechanical being? Why does Shepard get to decide?
There are only two game series in the world that have made me cry. Walking Dead and Mass Effect. Bioware has a gift when i comes to characters and storytelling, truly a gift. When Mordin died i cried my eyes out because i'd stopped seeing a series of computer generated graphics and a script, i saw a person. I still get a tear when i hear this music or think about Garrus's bar in the sky. I personally chose Destroy because i rejected the god-child's logic and it fit my narrative. But a tiny part of me chose it because i wanted my Femshep to retire to some quiet colony with Liara and live out her days in peace. As thanks for her service.
+Crusading Critic I absolutely agree! I don't even know how to describe it, but Bioware doesn't create characters they - as you said - create persons; beings that feel like real people. I've played a lot of games and none of them gave me that feeling nearly as close as Mass Effect. I also agree about that last part about your Femshep and Liara. I mean, the Destroy ending did seem the far most logical solution to me in order to end the Reaper-crisis, but back in my head, I also knew it was the only way my Femshep had at least a chance to survive and be with Liara. After I'd thought about that point, there was no way I'd choose a different ending.
The Walking Dead by Telltale Games felt more like an interactive episodic animation as opposed to a complete game albeit a very good one. You should checkout The Last Of Us. That game is really something.
I've played Last of Us, it was certainly better in terms of of actual gameplay. And yes i'd agree there isn't much except dialogue in Walking Dead but i felt Walking Dead had a better more engaging story. Just my opinion, i value story telling and good writing over almost anything else. Did have fun with Last of Us though.
I couldn't chose Destroy ending. Yeah, If you had 5000+ Effective Military Stregth, it shows that scene of Shepard waking up and taking breath. Which means that he's alive. But... That would also mean killing EDI and The Geth. Should one man sacrifice his friend, and one entire race who just recently got intelligence and consciousness, who are also alive and can think, who also fought by his side, just for the sake of his own happiness? No... sometimes... Sometimes you just have to sacrifice yourself. Now think about that while listening to this again.
"May our deeds be remembered, may our choices have counted for something. May history remember the sacrifices of the fallen and may there be hope for future generations. In silence we remember, in continuing on-wards with renewed determination do we honour those not here today. Be this an end once and for all, an end to despair and hopelessness" While there are many who rage on and on about the ending and generally about anything and everything for the sake of ranting so that they can hear themselves rant, those of us who enjoyed the series despite it's flaws know that it was truly a series worthy of the word 'Epic'. It was emotional, moving and powerful. It was inspirational in a way and it felt like a labour of love from the developers. From the first second that my female Shepard was created and began her story in the first game to the bitter end when she gave her life at the end of the third game, I was gripped by the story. The series is even more rewarding and powerful when played with all of the DLC expansions and getting a complete story. The ending of Mass Effect 3 made a lot more sense after playing through all of the DLC, I chose Synthesis in my last play-through of the series last year and from the first second I started I knew the ending I was aiming for because it made perfect sense. The future of all life is a combination of the biological and the technological, a merging of spirit that would lead to a greater understanding of existence. Maybe I'll play through the series again, one more time. Maybe. The series is truly deserving of the word 'Epic'. Because it is, it is truly epic. Kudos to the developers for creating such a rich and engaging series. The Mass Effect series is art in game form.
I bet that dislike was from Clint Mansell himself, he couldn't stand the fact that someone managed to make his Masterpiece sound even better. Brilliant Job, thanks for sharing. Round of applauses for you.
"The war is over. The reapers have been defeated. Against all odds, and in the face of the greatest threat this galaxy has ever known, we survived. We suffered many losses. The relays are severely damaged, but we won. This victory belongs to each of us… every man, woman and child. Every civilization… on every world. Now, as we take our first steps toward recovering what we lost, we must remember what it took to win. This wasn't a victory by a single fleet, a single army, or even a single species. If this war has taught us anything it is that we are at our strongest when we work together. And if we can put down our grievances long enough to stop something as powerful as the Reapers, imagine what we can achieve now that they are defeated. It will take time, but we can rebuild everything that was destroyed. Our homes, our worlds, our fleets and defences. All of this and more. Together we can build a future, greater than anyone of us could imagine. A future paid for by the sacrifices of those who fought and died alongside us. A future that many will never see. And while we still have many challenges ahead of us… We can face them together. And we will honour those who died to give us that future."
R.I.P to all those who died and may their heroic actions always be remembered. Especially those of both male and female Commander Shepard. Though in the end of Mass Effect 3 the decisions were extremely hard and they would carry Colossal impact on the game, those who fought with us even till the end, their souls will always be within us and their courage never forgotten. The Mass Effect series aren't a series that can be easily created nor that emotion which was continuous throughout the game.
Everytime I see all the pictures in this video I remembered all the times I spend with them all the years. The battles we won the conversations we had the romance I had (Garrus) All my friends who sacrificed to help saving the galaxy (Mordin, Thane, Legion,...) And everytime I hear this soundtrack the memories are coming back and I beginn to cry. Thank you, BIOWARE, for all those years of fun, action, sadness and many more. You did the greatest job for me and all MEs will be in my heart.
I cried when Mordin died. I cried when I killed Tali (at least it felt like I did. I never expected her to do that...) I cried when Thane died. I cried when Shepard died. Fuck this game is beautiful but it broke my heart in so many ways.
those years of playing all 3 Mass Effect games are priceless. Shepard is more than an avatar of ourselves in that world, he became a part of our lives.
We have fought many battles many wars i lost all of my loved ones i brought corna to earth We have lost many good friends i will always see you one last time
Mass Effect: Even as my days number by, and this body grows old and soul grows weathered, as my interests fade and change and one day I lay down my controller in pursuit of other things, even than shall I never forget Mass Effect, and the lessons of Humanity and life it taught me. We are all delicate dust in the greater schemes of the universe; cosmic revolutionaries amongst destruction and chaos in space. Our very existence is an amazing triumph.
maybe its because I've been playing alot of one dimensional games like shooters, but me3 is one of the few fictional stories period that can make me feel so much for the characters.
Of all those I lost in my journey, Kaidan has struck me the most, the one I couldn't save. He died because of Ash and me. After Virmire, I spent the rest of the game dwelling on Kaidan. As Sovereign fell, I actually muttered "For Kaidan". I had almost gotten over him by ME2, but the Horizon scene, and the return of Ash in ME3, brought it all back. I would give anything to have him by my side, there on Earth one last time.
there are two ways of enjoying a story driven game. the analytical way, where people prefer things that makes sense, and they hate it when it doesn't. and the emotional way, where people prefer things that have emotional impact, even if they don't make much sense. With Extended cut, Bioware was trying to appeal to people that enjoy the game in the emotional level, they managed to do that (for the most part).
I didn't have enough resources so my eternal babe Liara died right before the end. Seeing her face during the ending and then on the wall absolutely destroyed me, somehow more than anything else.
Personally, I think the fact that you had to choose one way or another was to represent that there are always sacrifices in war, there will always be losses, it's just a matter of degrees. Who do you sacrifice? (Destroy) Is the overarching goal worth it? (Control) Can you leap into the unknown? (Synthesis) It's not that nonsensical if you REALLY think about it, in a war, more often than not, the small decisions won't matter.
The thing is, Shepard lives in one of the endings. The other thing is, most people were too mad at how bad the ending was to be emotional about Shepard's death.
Holy crap! Just watching these pictures,I feel like crying. A mixture of sadness, pride, unforgettable memories... They all have walked with me through so much epicness.They feel like people in my mind.Real life should feel like that! Usually, if a game provokes more feelings in you than the real thing, this is a very bad sign. But in this case you just know it is different, because the reason for your feelings isnt your life beeing shit... It is just this series beeing a total masterpiece.
While I can agree with you,one of the major arguments from the people hating the ME3 ending is that Bioware stated the end of ME3 was going to be a compilation of all the decisions you made throughout the series & then ended up to be a decision of the Red,Blue, or Green pill. The Red pill being the very thing you fought for throughout the final game & the series the Destruction of the Reapers,Blue being the very thing that everyone said was the worse ideal possible,& Green being the compromise.
A: Shoot the starchild B: the reapers have been doing this for possibly over a billion years. What is it about this cycle, barring one person, that is different? Shepard can't be everywhere, and whilst he may cost the reapers, he certainly wouldn't be able to beat them.
I never thought of that, but it would be a great scene. Something subtle like the scene you described would be awesome, and would probably induce manly tears, lol.
If it makes you feel any better, that rubble that's on top of you is concrete and the steel bars that hold it together... in my opinion, you're still on earth, the whole last sequence up in the "crucible" was Shepard in his/her own mind after being blasted by harbinger, dealing with self struggle and the will to go on, choosing destroy is the only way to officially say that you still have the drive to defeat them, and not give in. That's just the way I'm looking at it though. :)
I tip my glass to you sir never before have I heard a quote which so thoroughly explains my passion for this game and all games similar to Mass Effect, Si Monumentum Requiris, Circumspice my friend.
I read it sometimes and am just confused as to why such a thing wasn't utilized by the writers because it fits the style of Mass Effect's story telling so much better than the bizarre thing we were given.
God I've lost count how many times I've replayed this Trilogy just to see What would happen in the next game if i let Wrex Died, Killed the Council, Giving David back to Cerberus just to see what paths could've been made. Mass Effect had me make connections with Characters that I can trust at my side during a Shootouts with and a Teammate I can bond with. No matter how many Times I punch a reporter, leave Ash to be Vaporized, watch Jack and Miranda Cat Fight, Die repeatedly from that BS Lazer Beam Fucking Reaper on Rannoch. and Choose to enslave, Give Free Will or Destroy the Reapers Mass Effect will remain the best Game I've ever played.
Cheer up mate if you end it as a Paragon he turns himself in the Catalyst himself, controlling the reapers and helping to reconstruct everything that was destroyed and teaching others to avoid same mistakes. It's a legend forever, best end they could do to a hero in a Triology, save the whole Universe and keep that role for whole eternity.
When you play all 3 games over the years you grow attached to shepard and when he sacrifices himself it feels like you lost a friend this is the only game that has ever made me depressed over a death of a fictional character
From what I understand you see a characters face if they meet one of the three conditions. 1) Plot essential character (Anderson, Joker, Liara if she isn't romances) 2) You Romanced them 3) They died Granted Javik is an exception, but he still has more screen time that Kasumi or Zaeed Unless they planned to so everyone'c pic during the finale I guess the developers felt there was no point in making ones for them since they were the most under used characters in the game.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, I've seen games with much worse endings, I actually enjoyed the ME3 ending myself, it resolved the issue, the extended cut just resolved a few of the plot threads i felt weren't touched.
If they do release another Mass Effect, it won't be a four. They do say that this is the last game in which you play as Shepard. The only way there could be another would be for them to have a new character or prequels due to the fact that Shepard dies in every ending except destroy. Im gonna miss these games, thankfully i can replay them whenever to my liking..... Long Live Shepard, Long Live Mass Effect, and every teammate too.
"Here's why you can't exterminate us, aruetii. We're not huddled in one place-we span the galaxy. We need no lords or leaders-so you can't destroy our command. We can live without technology-so we can fight with our bare hands. We have no species or bloodline-so we can rebuild our ranks with others who want to join us. We're more than just a people or an army, aruetii. We're a culture. We're an idea. And you can't kill ideas-but we can certainly kill you."
Yep. I just think ME3 was rushed, or maybe BioWare got lazy. I've gone over how that scene with Liara could play out multiple times since you mentioned it. Btw, your videos/songs are great.
I love and hate the ending(s) as much as anyone would. Mass Effect 3 to me, was a fantastic game, despite the "flaws", I still enjoyed it. To me, it was a journey, spanning 3 games, it was an adventure. I love it and I will still remember all of the characters, interactions, jokes, laughs, suspense, and loving moments. Am I satisfied with it? Not really, but as someone that wants to see more out of it, yes, I do very much. I still want my blue babies with Liara. But this, this made me cry.
В своё последнее прохождение я убил их всех.... Союзников и сопартийцев своих. И когда я смотрел на то, как луч Горна сжигает и жнецов и людей, я испытывал большое облегчение. Эту грёбаную галактику не стоило спасать. Никогда.
Am I the only one who only got angrier every time someone died, instead of sad? Because I don't get sad, I get angry, and I wanted the Reapers dead for everyone they killed. But I couldn't kill EDI or the geth. And if I had killed the Reapers, the peace wouldn't last. Everyone would have ended up dead because of subsequent wars. In the end, I chose Synthesis. Control wasn't how my Shepard was. Destruction never really occurred to me except when Kaiden died.
EDI in Synthesis- to reach a level of existence I cannot even imagine Sovereign - There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own you cannot even imagine Catalyst- Organics will be Perfected...Synthesis is the Final Evolution of life Harbinger- We are the Harbinger of your Perfection Sovereign- We are the Pinnacle of Evolution and existence
Kenneth Donnelly So you wanted to destroy the Reapers, and think that there was peace? Conventional organic minds cannot handle peace. Organic minds want war, so after the Reaper War, organics fought and died against each other. If you chose control, it was equally short-sighted as if you chose destruction. Synthesis was the only option.
Michal Weidinger How the fuck do you think that someone can ask billions if not trillions of people permission to end a war? Wrong? Only in your head. You still have faith in organics? Well, prepare to be sorely disappointed. Organics are forgetful. They will eventually forget about the Reapers. Also, how do you sleep when you know you were the sole person responsible for EDI's death?
None of the choices are ideal, and that's kinda the point. In a game series so morally charged as Mass Effect, you have to realise that there is no storybook 'happy ending', there is just what you (the player) believes is the right thing to do.
![Mass Effect 3 EC OST - We Fought As A United Galaxy [Extended Version]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SQbcot_3ZB0/mqdefault.jpg)
"Daddy are you a hero?"
"I am not son, but I served beside some."
Joey King Even two years later this hits me...
It was a privilege to be Shepard.
Makes me almost sad for james vega he saw shepard as his hero and mentor after the game almost like a father figure.
"I'm not sure if your heaven is the same as the Turians', but if things go sideways and we both end up there... meet me at the bar. [...] Before you go, let me give you an order. You know, as a friend to a friend: Go out there, and give them hell, Shepard. You are born to do this."
Dam, right in the feels. Two best friends right there
And you make me cry. Fuck you! (Love you!
I'm gonna be honest here. The ME Series music never really caught my attention until ME3. ME3's music got me, coupled with the emotional attachment I developed with my Shepard and his allies. When the Reapers attacked Earth, I watched all of those soldiers die while trying to save civilians, then the score kicked in. As the Reaper descended, I felt even more emotions, I felt angry that I was leaving, that I could've prevented this. That scene brought out my emotions, the music amplified it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, the score in ME3 brought out some of my raw emotions, with its fantastic writing, amazing music, and characters I felt a strong, lasting emotional attachment to. The Mass Effect series is now counted among my Video Game Hall of Fame.
Yeah, ME3 was the first time I really noticed the music of the series (outside the galaxy map theme). I loved it so much that it made me go back and appreciate the music from the previous two games.
@@TheUnknown285 Really? For me it was theme of assault on Collector Base in ME2. That one was awesome to me and it was the first time that i actually had to find a soundtrack on youtube(of any video game i played up until that point and that number was not insignificant).
I think that that last bit between Buzz Aldrin and his granddaughter was beautiful. A fitting way to end our journey, and an inspiration for anyone who wanted to go to the stars.
"Alright, one more story..."
Honestly, aside from how terrible the Starchild was, this was one of the most satisfying scenes in the series, especially when you choose to destroy the Reapers. I only wish we could have seen Harbinger's reaction when he realized he was fucked.
Kaidan/Ashley: Let's advance together!
Tali: Shepard, I'll come to your support anytime.
Liara: I'll always be with you, no matter what.
Garrus: Once more into the fire? Heh, there's nowhere I'd rather be. Let's do this.
Wrex: The enemy will know the might of our combined force, Shepard.
Kasumi: This is shaping up to be one amazing partnership eh, Shepard?
Grunt: I'll crush your enemies whoever they are, Shepard.
Thane: Kalahira, bless this one for his/her quest is nearly done.
Jack: Well shit, let's just kill them all, shall we?
Miranda: Let's get right to business, no time to waste after all.
Legion: Shepard-Commander, we calculated 99.9% rate of success for this mission.
Zaeed: What the goddamn hell are we waiting for? Let's just blast the door down and kill those bastards.
Samara: I uphold the code of justice. You, Shepard, are justice. And I'll be right beside you.
Morinth: Let's not waste any time with these trash.
Mordin: So many experiments to do. Too many research needs to be conducted. But I'll always have time for you, Shepard.
Jacob: You lead, I'll follow. Wherever that may be.
Javik: Commander, this cycle have hope because of you. Now let's show the enemy what fear is.
James: Hell Loco/Lola, I still got one up on you in the kill count. Show me what you got, come on.
EDI: Commander, just give the word, the Normandy is always ready.
Joker: All systems are green and ready to go, Commander.
Anderson: I'm proud of you, always.
Hackett: You have done the impossibles time and time again. Truly, you are a shining beacon for us all.
Just some fluff I imagine the characters would say with their personalities. ME series is truly a great one.
I heard their voices reading this
Accurate
Here's to us - Whose like us? Damn few... and they're all dead
I was a new comer to Mass effect from a month ago and I got all the single player Story DLC for 2 and 3. I played through the games anticipating the ending that I herd from many gamers wasn't good even with the EC.
But when I finally got to the crucible and made my choice to destroy the reapers, with EDI and the geth caught in the crossfire, I watched the extended cinematic that played with this theme and I caught that bittersweet emotion that I knew I would feel when I got to the end. When it was over, I felt satisfied with the entire ME experience, including the ending.
While I agree Bioware could have done something different if they weren't rushed by EA, I felt very satisfied with the EC, as far as my ending went.
Agreed. Finished the trilogy recently, going in having heard complaints, but *thoroughly* enjoyed *everything*.
I swear, I didn't cry..I didn't cry
liar!
It's ok. Most of us did.
let it out son, we all did!
So I'm not the only one? I started to think I was a sissy for crying over a game character dying.
Runjakovich
Man, I cried when I ended the trilogy, and I don't care if the people says that the ending was a shit, it's true that the talking with the kid before your choice of the ending in ME3 was a bit shitty, but I loved the ending so much anyways...
This song made me cry countless times... :( R.I.P. Shepard, P.S. Hope Tali will build her new house on Rannoch :)
Thats why i always pick the destroyer ending... just because shepard is alive.. :D
dov2mt
True and i hope someday i can again play Shepard with Liara .
dov2mt Is it really worth punishing every synthetic alive(and some organics)? Look back at Joker's relationship with EDI. What difference is there between their bickering and that of spouses? Joker is alone if you choose destroy. If you helped the geth, you damn them and Tali will never know life without a mask. If you destroy the reapers, history itself is completely destroyed with it, millions of years of cultures annihilated in minutes.
And what of the leviathans? They only wanted peace and they built and guided the reapers to do it. You're destroying the one contribution they were able to make for millions of years. For them, it was like their children being killed. The root of the problem was misunderstanding, and killing half the galaxy's population doesn't help.
Just my thoughts.
Rayblon And that's the only reason I picked control. To me it more sense to do the heroic sacrifice and become guardian of the galaxy by controlling The Reapers. I couldn't screw over the Geth and by proxy screw over the Quarians, especially after going through the trouble of making them get along. And yeah I really couldn't screw over my buddy Joker by killing EDI, I just couldn't. Also to me, I always thought that if Mass Effect were a movie, Shepard would go with control. If you notice the entire theme of ME3 was "destroy destroy destroy Reapers blah blah blah!" and the only one telling you other wise was your biggest enemy, The Illusive Man, who was all for control. I just imagine at the end of the game, after the Catalyst reveals everything to you, I imagine Shepard having flashbacks of everything he's heard, about the Leviathans explaining the purpose of The Reapers, of the Prothean AI on the Asari homeworld also revealing the faction of Protheans who were for controlling The Reapers, and of the Illusive Man talking about control as well, and then Shepard finally gets it...that the only way to truly break the cycle is that he needs to die, so that he can control The Reapers and break the cycle. Introduce his values and morals as an organic and instill them in every Reaper. Plus it makes for a sadder ending if he knows he's going to die and never see his loved one again (for me it was Liara).
Again this is all my opinion and how I saw the ending of Mass Effect. I just wanted to say that that's cool that I finally found someone else who couldn't pick destroy because he didn't want to fuck over the galaxy, lol.
Rayblon They didn't guide the Reapers, they just created an AI who look'd for a solution to solve the synthetic - organic problem, and it turned on them, and corrupted their children, Destroying them is probably giving them final rest and mercy. The geth and EDI I really feel sorry for. Synthesis is bullshit it's like becoming a reaper without noticing it, "Fumbling in ignorance" like Harbinger would say. Control is a sensible choice, IF you are a paragon.
Out of all the videos of this song on youtube , this one is my favourite
The song with the slideshow of your teammates, your family on the normandy, is just wonderful.
Great job
Regardless of the endings, I can never bring myself to do anything but Destroy the Reapers. After every friend died I wanted their head so much more. When I was presented with the other options. I did what I set out to do, and ended the threat. That was the moment Mass Effect joined my Hall of Fame.
I must admit, i chosse to Control the reapers, 2 things i prefer that one:
1: EDI and the Geth still live, they are 2 different forms of life, destroying the reapers destroys them too, and to me that is a victory as hollow as it can be!
2: The reapers now serve Sheppard, his thralls, a vengance on them more horrifying than any form of physical destruction. They would be nothing but mere puppets to what Sheppard has become, restoring and protecting the galaxy, thus stopping their precious cycle once and for all!
I would support that, if it didn't directly interfere with my obsession with explosive overkill kabooms.
TSFCaesar As the reaper ruler, Shepard would'nt have stop the harvest. He would have make this cycle longer than before because he knows these people and he could'nt resolve to kill them. But after many centuries, when the organics would be about to give an end to their kind, he would have done it, to preserve organic life.
Vodacrius VI Agreed. Anyone who picks control is an idiot. I can see the arguments in favor of Synthesis, but Destroy is the only way to be sure.
The way I see it, in control, the entire galaxy is relying on the good graces of ONE man. How long must they live under his rule? Forever?
And in Synthesis, who asked to be fused to every living and mechanical being? Why does Shepard get to decide?
There are only two game series in the world that have made me cry. Walking Dead and Mass Effect.
Bioware has a gift when i comes to characters and storytelling, truly a gift. When Mordin died i cried my eyes out because i'd stopped seeing a series of computer generated graphics and a script, i saw a person.
I still get a tear when i hear this music or think about Garrus's bar in the sky.
I personally chose Destroy because i rejected the god-child's logic and it fit my narrative. But a tiny part of me chose it because i wanted my Femshep to retire to some quiet colony with Liara and live out her days in peace. As thanks for her service.
+Crusading Critic I absolutely agree! I don't even know how to describe it, but Bioware doesn't create characters they - as you said - create persons; beings that feel like real people. I've played a lot of games and none of them gave me that feeling nearly as close as Mass Effect.
I also agree about that last part about your Femshep and Liara. I mean, the Destroy ending did seem the far most logical solution to me in order to end the Reaper-crisis, but back in my head, I also knew it was the only way my Femshep had at least a chance to survive and be with Liara. After I'd thought about that point, there was no way I'd choose a different ending.
The Walking Dead by Telltale Games felt more like an interactive episodic animation as opposed to a complete game albeit a very good one. You should checkout The Last Of Us. That game is really something.
I've played Last of Us, it was certainly better in terms of of actual gameplay. And yes i'd agree there isn't much except dialogue in Walking Dead but i felt Walking Dead had a better more engaging story. Just my opinion, i value story telling and good writing over almost anything else. Did have fun with Last of Us though.
+Crusading Critic Too emo man, too emo
I couldn't chose Destroy ending. Yeah, If you had 5000+ Effective Military Stregth, it shows that scene of Shepard waking up and taking breath. Which means that he's alive. But... That would also mean killing EDI and The Geth. Should one man sacrifice his friend, and one entire race who just recently got intelligence and consciousness, who are also alive and can think, who also fought by his side, just for the sake of his own happiness? No... sometimes... Sometimes you just have to sacrifice yourself. Now think about that while listening to this again.
RIP all the heroes who gave their lives to save the Galaxy in the war against the Reapers.
Still crying likr a baby with this in 2014
To this day, still sobbing! 😢
At the end of mass effect 3 I cried because it's so sad : (
"May our deeds be remembered, may our choices have counted for something. May history remember the sacrifices of the fallen and may there be hope for future generations. In silence we remember, in continuing on-wards with renewed determination do we honour those not here today. Be this an end once and for all, an end to despair and hopelessness"
While there are many who rage on and on about the ending and generally about anything and everything for the sake of ranting so that they can hear themselves rant, those of us who enjoyed the series despite it's flaws know that it was truly a series worthy of the word 'Epic'.
It was emotional, moving and powerful. It was inspirational in a way and it felt like a labour of love from the developers. From the first second that my female Shepard was created and began her story in the first game to the bitter end when she gave her life at the end of the third game, I was gripped by the story.
The series is even more rewarding and powerful when played with all of the DLC expansions and getting a complete story. The ending of Mass Effect 3 made a lot more sense after playing through all of the DLC, I chose Synthesis in my last play-through of the series last year and from the first second I started I knew the ending I was aiming for because it made perfect sense. The future of all life is a combination of the biological and the technological, a merging of spirit that would lead to a greater understanding of existence.
Maybe I'll play through the series again, one more time. Maybe.
The series is truly deserving of the word 'Epic'. Because it is, it is truly epic. Kudos to the developers for creating such a rich and engaging series. The Mass Effect series is art in game form.
Amen and shall the wait for ''mass effect 4'' build hype for the continuation of the series.
May I ask where that first paragraph came from? It's a beautiful passage.
It came to my thoughts as I was listening to the music, happens from time to time. Aspect of my writing skill
Reina Watt
Well, it's awesome :)
Just something basic that came to my mind, as I said it happens often.
I bet that dislike was from Clint Mansell himself, he couldn't stand the fact that someone managed to make his Masterpiece sound even better. Brilliant Job, thanks for sharing.
Round of applauses for you.
"The war is over. The reapers have been defeated. Against all odds, and in the face of the greatest threat this galaxy has ever known, we survived. We suffered many losses. The relays are severely damaged, but we won. This victory belongs to each of us… every man, woman and child. Every civilization… on every world. Now, as we take our first steps toward recovering what we lost, we must remember what it took to win. This wasn't a victory by a single fleet, a single army, or even a single species. If this war has taught us anything it is that we are at our strongest when we work together. And if we can put down our grievances long enough to stop something as powerful as the Reapers, imagine what we can achieve now that they are defeated. It will take time, but we can rebuild everything that was destroyed. Our homes, our worlds, our fleets and defences. All of this and more. Together we can build a future, greater than anyone of us could imagine. A future paid for by the sacrifices of those who fought and died alongside us. A future that many will never see. And while we still have many challenges ahead of us… We can face them together. And we will honour those who died to give us that future."
R.I.P to all those who died and may their heroic actions always be remembered. Especially those of both male and female Commander Shepard. Though in the end of Mass Effect 3 the decisions were extremely hard and they would carry Colossal impact on the game, those who fought with us even till the end, their souls will always be within us and their courage never forgotten. The Mass Effect series aren't a series that can be easily created nor that emotion which was continuous throughout the game.
No problem. Glad to share it with you all!
I always wished my parents or, at least, my brother played this. Incredible story/series.
Everytime I see all the pictures in this video I remembered all the times I spend with them all the years. The battles we won the conversations we had the romance I had (Garrus) All my friends who sacrificed to help saving the galaxy (Mordin, Thane, Legion,...)
And everytime I hear this soundtrack the memories are coming back and I beginn to cry.
Thank you, BIOWARE, for all those years of fun, action, sadness and many more.
You did the greatest job for me and all MEs will be in my heart.
Amen. The ending is so much better than people make it out to be.
Love this song, makes me look at the past and tries to make me become a better person and it's really dramatic because of the situtation I'm in.
I cried when Mordin died. I cried when I killed Tali (at least it felt like I did. I never expected her to do that...) I cried when Thane died. I cried when Shepard died. Fuck this game is beautiful but it broke my heart in so many ways.
Too emo man, too emo
Mordin: I always wanted to test on seashells .
I am sure you can test on the seashells wherever you are now, Mordin.
Rest in Piece
Thank you for posting this!
Who didn't cry on this music ? WHO ?
Just the once who haven't heard it 😭
God damnit. It's been one fucking year and this video still makes me cry.
2018 here....still here....still crying...
Just stumbled across this and fell into deep melancholia...
those years of playing all 3 Mass Effect games are priceless. Shepard is more than an avatar of ourselves in that world, he became a part of our lives.
i always see liara, joker and anderson ;D
Thanks for upload! i love this theme!
We have fought many battles many wars i lost all of my loved ones i brought corna to earth
We have lost many good friends i will always see you one last time
Mass Effect: Even as my days number by, and this body grows old and soul grows weathered, as my interests fade and change and one day I lay down my controller in pursuit of other things, even than shall I never forget Mass Effect, and the lessons of Humanity and life it taught me. We are all delicate dust in the greater schemes of the universe; cosmic revolutionaries amongst destruction and chaos in space. Our very existence is an amazing triumph.
SUCH a better ending than the original version of the song. Thank you!
Heros always die. You are not a true hero until you're not dead.
maybe its because I've been playing alot of one dimensional games like shooters, but me3 is one of the few fictional stories period that can make me feel so much for the characters.
and so the legend of "the shepard" began
The Extended version of a song for a Extended version of a game. Pretty cool.
Looks down at arm, goosebumps everywhere. Feels checks get wet with tears, and body will not stop shaking. Thank you.
it was in an article when they were talking about leviathan being shown before actually being released
i feel exaxactly the same its even worse when you make him or her do the choices you would do so that shepard mirrors you
Of all those I lost in my journey, Kaidan has struck me the most, the one I couldn't save. He died because of Ash and me. After Virmire, I spent the rest of the game dwelling on Kaidan. As Sovereign fell, I actually muttered "For Kaidan". I had almost gotten over him by ME2, but the Horizon scene, and the return of Ash in ME3, brought it all back. I would give anything to have him by my side, there on Earth one last time.
Anyone noticed how all of the pictures are quite sombre in mood with the exception of Garrus, whose on top of the Citadel with his Sniper Rifle.
No problem man glad you enjoy them.
there are two ways of enjoying a story driven game.
the analytical way, where people prefer things that makes sense, and they hate it when it doesn't.
and the emotional way, where people prefer things that have emotional impact, even if they don't make much sense.
With Extended cut, Bioware was trying to appeal to people that enjoy the game in the emotional level, they managed to do that (for the most part).
Shepard never dies!!! Never!!
He's dead but he is alive in our memories and hearts RIP Shepard
Mass Effect My Shep lived... :3
But damn, too many didn't make it ;_;
Onit Miths Es
Mass Effect extended ending showed him alive though
you only see the armor not more
I didn't have enough resources so my eternal babe Liara died right before the end. Seeing her face during the ending and then on the wall absolutely destroyed me, somehow more than anything else.
Personally, I think the fact that you had to choose one way or another was to represent that there are always sacrifices in war, there will always be losses, it's just a matter of degrees. Who do you sacrifice? (Destroy) Is the overarching goal worth it? (Control) Can you leap into the unknown? (Synthesis)
It's not that nonsensical if you REALLY think about it, in a war, more often than not, the small decisions won't matter.
Yesssss! why? The extended cut is already good just missing the "Blue Children"
The thing is, Shepard lives in one of the endings.
The other thing is, most people were too mad at how bad the ending was to be emotional about Shepard's death.
Major Coats: "Inspire them, they think you're a hero"
Shepard: "I'm just a soldier, just like them"
Just a soldier?? Damn, he's a real legend
The whole mass effect soundtrack is just beautiful. Vielen dank for the upload ;)
Holy crap! Just watching these pictures,I feel like crying. A mixture of sadness, pride, unforgettable memories... They all have walked with me through so much epicness.They feel like people in my mind.Real life should feel like that! Usually, if a game provokes more feelings in you than the real thing, this is a very bad sign. But in this case you just know it is different, because the reason for your feelings isnt your life beeing shit... It is just this series beeing a total masterpiece.
In one of the ending slides it can show Mordin working on a cure, as there are some Krogan in some medical tanks.
I love the whole song but especially 4:45 and beyond, the part I call "Victory."
Она воодушевляет имменно с этого момента
I might have died, my friends might have died, but we gave our lives to save you.
While I can agree with you,one of the major arguments from the people hating the ME3 ending is that Bioware stated the end of ME3 was going to be a compilation of all the decisions you made throughout the series & then ended up to be a decision of the Red,Blue, or Green pill. The Red pill being the very thing you fought for throughout the final game & the series the Destruction of the Reapers,Blue being the very thing that everyone said was the worse ideal possible,& Green being the compromise.
A: Shoot the starchild
B: the reapers have been doing this for possibly over a billion years. What is it about this cycle, barring one person, that is different? Shepard can't be everywhere, and whilst he may cost the reapers, he certainly wouldn't be able to beat them.
I never thought of that, but it would be a great scene. Something subtle like the scene you described would be awesome, and would probably induce manly tears, lol.
If it makes you feel any better, that rubble that's on top of you is concrete and the steel bars that hold it together... in my opinion, you're still on earth, the whole last sequence up in the "crucible" was Shepard in his/her own mind after being blasted by harbinger, dealing with self struggle and the will to go on, choosing destroy is the only way to officially say that you still have the drive to defeat them, and not give in. That's just the way I'm looking at it though. :)
Mass Effect 2007-2012. The 5 years journey you will never forget.
Bringing the tone up actually made it less sad and more of a hopeful feeling for the galaxy. Don't you think?
ive always enjoyed your videos. especially your mass effect 3 videos. you are a great person
Try listening to this song with RainyMood in the background. Makes a sad song sound even sadder
You did good, son. You did good. I'm... proud of you...
I tip my glass to you sir never before have I heard a quote which so thoroughly explains my passion for this game and all games similar to Mass Effect, Si Monumentum Requiris, Circumspice my friend.
THE FEELS!
I'll be waiting at the bar.
I read it sometimes and am just confused as to why such a thing wasn't utilized by the writers because it fits the style of Mass Effect's story telling so much better than the bizarre thing we were given.
I can imagine him doing that, hope everything works out for your Mordin. Mine died at the Shroud.
God I've lost count how many times I've replayed this Trilogy just to see What would happen in the next game if i let Wrex Died, Killed the Council, Giving David back to Cerberus just to see what paths could've been made. Mass Effect had me make connections with Characters that I can trust at my side during a Shootouts with and a Teammate I can bond with. No matter how many Times I punch a reporter, leave Ash to be Vaporized, watch Jack and Miranda Cat Fight, Die repeatedly from that BS Lazer Beam Fucking Reaper on Rannoch. and Choose to enslave, Give Free Will or Destroy the Reapers Mass Effect will remain the best Game I've ever played.
Cheer up mate if you end it as a Paragon he turns himself in the Catalyst himself, controlling the reapers and helping to reconstruct everything that was destroyed and teaching others to avoid same mistakes. It's a legend forever, best end they could do to a hero in a Triology, save the whole Universe and keep that role for whole eternity.
When you play all 3 games over the years you grow attached to shepard and when he sacrifices himself it feels like you lost a friend this is the only game that has ever made me depressed over a death of a fictional character
Most times, in real life, I check facebook and for a fragment of time I think.... what did we loose for this?
They could even add subtle hints like Liara touching her stomach while looking at Shepards name on the memorial wall.
From what I understand you see a characters face if they meet one of the three conditions.
1) Plot essential character (Anderson, Joker, Liara if she isn't romances)
2) You Romanced them
3) They died
Granted Javik is an exception, but he still has more screen time that Kasumi or Zaeed
Unless they planned to so everyone'c pic during the finale I guess the developers felt there was no point in making ones for them since they were the most under used characters in the game.
I hardly ever feel anything when I watch videos like this.. but damn this one got me bad.. :'(
I want things to make sense, and have emotional impact.
So many faces cant forget.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, I've seen games with much worse endings, I actually enjoyed the ME3 ending myself, it resolved the issue, the extended cut just resolved a few of the plot threads i felt weren't touched.
If they do release another Mass Effect, it won't be a four. They do say that this is the last game in which you play as Shepard.
The only way there could be another would be for them to have a new character or prequels due to the fact that Shepard dies in every ending except destroy.
Im gonna miss these games, thankfully i can replay them whenever to my liking.....
Long Live Shepard, Long Live Mass Effect, and every teammate too.
"Here's why you can't exterminate us, aruetii. We're not huddled in one place-we span the galaxy. We need no lords or leaders-so you can't destroy our command. We can live without technology-so we can fight with our bare hands. We have no species or bloodline-so we can rebuild our ranks with others who want to join us. We're more than just a people or an army, aruetii. We're a culture. We're an idea. And you can't kill ideas-but we can certainly kill you."
Oya manda.
If the extended ending was the original ending, no one would complain
Watch MrBtongue's videos on the ME3 ending (I think theres three), then you will understand why people hate the endings.
for all species who gave their lives to defeat the reapers I say
Thanks and I will never forget shepard, or thane krioos my favorite characters
only the true ME players know what it stands for when they type ME choose the middle ending much feels such human bots wow very happy yet sad
best game and and awesome soundtrack , dem feels many manly tears was shed after game ending and after listen of this great music
the feels
Yep. I just think ME3 was rushed, or maybe BioWare got lazy.
I've gone over how that scene with Liara could play out multiple times since you mentioned it.
Btw, your videos/songs are great.
im with u on that man
I love and hate the ending(s) as much as anyone would. Mass Effect 3 to me, was a fantastic game, despite the "flaws", I still enjoyed it. To me, it was a journey, spanning 3 games, it was an adventure. I love it and I will still remember all of the characters, interactions, jokes, laughs, suspense, and loving moments. Am I satisfied with it? Not really, but as someone that wants to see more out of it, yes, I do very much.
I still want my blue babies with Liara.
But this, this made me cry.
I Fricken love this thank you!!!!
Не счесть то количество слёз,что я пролил над этим произведением.
И не ты один
В своё последнее прохождение я убил их всех.... Союзников и сопартийцев своих. И когда я смотрел на то, как луч Горна сжигает и жнецов и людей, я испытывал большое облегчение. Эту грёбаную галактику не стоило спасать. Никогда.
your word remind me of captain anderson
my eyes are tearful as i miss the game already
GODDAMN REAPERS
man that would be great, we should tell them
Am I the only one who only got angrier every time someone died, instead of sad? Because I don't get sad, I get angry, and I wanted the Reapers dead for everyone they killed. But I couldn't kill EDI or the geth. And if I had killed the Reapers, the peace wouldn't last. Everyone would have ended up dead because of subsequent wars. In the end, I chose Synthesis. Control wasn't how my Shepard was. Destruction never really occurred to me except when Kaiden died.
EDI in Synthesis- to reach a level of existence I cannot even imagine
Sovereign - There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own you cannot even imagine
Catalyst- Organics will be Perfected...Synthesis is the Final Evolution of life
Harbinger- We are the Harbinger of your Perfection
Sovereign- We are the Pinnacle of Evolution and existence
Kenneth Donnelly So...In Synthesis they are reapers?
Kenneth Donnelly
So you wanted to destroy the Reapers, and think that there was peace? Conventional organic minds cannot handle peace. Organic minds want war, so after the Reaper War, organics fought and died against each other. If you chose control, it was equally short-sighted as if you chose destruction. Synthesis was the only option.
Michal Weidinger
How the fuck do you think that someone can ask billions if not trillions of people permission to end a war? Wrong? Only in your head. You still have faith in organics? Well, prepare to be sorely disappointed. Organics are forgetful. They will eventually forget about the Reapers. Also, how do you sleep when you know you were the sole person responsible for EDI's death?
None of the choices are ideal, and that's kinda the point. In a game series so morally charged as Mass Effect, you have to realise that there is no storybook 'happy ending', there is just what you (the player) believes is the right thing to do.