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Let me start off by saying that until now, I have never played any of the Mass Effect games, so this is a whole new experience for me. That being said, since I'm so behind the curve when it comes to this game, I won't be reviewing the games themselves (cause let's face it, there are hundreds of reviews already available for the individual games), however I will be taking the time to answer a few quick questions one might have about this Mass Effect Trilogy release for the Playstation 3.
Q. Does Mass Effect have trophies?
A. Yes! This is the first time that Mass Effect (the first title) will be available to play on the Playstation 3 and needless to say, it does include trophy support! So if you were on the fence about purchasing this because you're a trophy hunter and were unsure about this, fear not! There are a total of 47 trophies for the first title to be unlocked (including a platinum). Mass Effect 2 and 3 have the same trophies in this Trilogy set as their individual releases.
Q. Are these titles available to download on the PSN Store?
A. Yes! In fact, if you check the store now (it was just updated) you will see that they just added a 7 GB download of Mass Effect (the original) for $14.99! The rest of the titles (for PS3 that is) can also be found on the PSN Store but you'll easily find them cheaper here on Amazon (with the exception of the first game since that didn't have an individual disc-release for PS3). However, if you'd rather not purchase the Mass Effect Trilogy in disc-based form, then you can purchase the digital version on the PSN Store for $59.99 (at the time of this review) and it will take about 33.4 GB of space (pretty hefty size if you have limited space on your hardrive).
Q. Does the trilogy come on one disc or multiple discs for the PS3 system?
A. Ah, the wonders of Blu-Ray! Since the PS3 can store more data on a Blu-Ray disc, these three games will be split into a total of 3 discs (1 for each game). This is very convenient as on the XBox 360 this is not the case (or at least so I am told). Could they have put it all on one? Possibly, yet what can ya do, ya know? Either way, it's all packaged nicely in a beautiful case, and I personally feel they did a good job with this.
Q. If I already own Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 for PS3, should I purchase this?
A. No. Why? Well as I said above, they just added Mass Effect (the first title) to the PSN Store for $14.99. If you already own the other two titles, it would benefit you to just download that off of the store. It's a 7 GB file, so if you go this route you should make room on your hardrive as needed.
Q. Does the PS3 version come with some DLC?
A. Yes (with the keyword being "some")! The original Mass Effect (as far as the PS3 version is concerned) comes with the "Bring Down the Sky" DLC. Also, Mass Effect 2 (on the PS3 version of this trilogy) will have "Cerberus Network," "Overlord," "Lair of the Shadow Broker," and "Kasumi." However I must be honest in that I'm still not absolutely sure about everything that is included here because I haven't gotten to Mass Effect 2 yet and as I said in the beginning, this is my first time playing these titles. Mass Effect 3 however (as it appears on this Trilogy version) does not come with any DLC included.
Q. Do all the DLCs come on the discs or do you still have to download them all on PSN?
A. At the time that I put up this review, I'm still not that far into Mass Effect (the first game), yet out-of-the-box the Trilogy comes with a slip that has some codes on it. To my understanding, these codes are for the online pass for Mass Effect 3 & the Cerberus Network pass for Mass Effect 2. Lair of the Shadow Broker, Project Overlord, & Kasumi's Stolen Memories are on the Mass Effect 2 disc and as stated, Mass Effect 3 has no DLC included.
Q. Is this collection "complete?"
A. For the most part, yes! You do get all three games included on this disc at a total price (at the time of this review) of $59.99. However you don't get every bit of DLC (as stated above), especially when dealing with Mass Effect 3 (which has no DLC included in this Trilogy version). So if you already have some DLC but have been holding in anticipation of this release, it's probably to your advantage to just buy the original Mass Effect separately on the PSN Store and the remaining DLC.
Q. Do all three games have subtitles in languages other than English?
A. The only game in this set that supports subtitles in other languages is Mass Effect 3. The other two titles only come with English subtitles.
Q. Should I purchase this?
A. Ah, this is the question of all questions. If you're like me and haven't played any of the Mass Effect games before, then absolutely, yes! If you've played some of the titles (or all of them) already, then it might be better to just buy what you already don't have off the PSN Store (whether it be DLC or the original Mass Effect). Otherwise, if you're looking for an "ultimate collection," you may want to wait a while and see if they release a more complete version with all the DLC for each game included (which is entirely possible since developers are notorious these days for doing such things).
Again, there really isn't a need for me to go over the graphics, sound, or my thoughts on the story of any of these games, because there are already countless published opinions out there. My goal here is to hopefully answer any questions you may have about this purchase! Hopefully I have helped you in some way, and if you have any questions, feel free to comment! As I progress in my playing, I will update this review (if needed)! Enjoy! :)
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If you like creating your own universe and seeing how your choices affect it, then this trilogy is for you.Mass Effect is probably one of the best series in the gaming world today.
GAMEPLAY:
The games are third-person shooter. The mechanics get better through each game as the creators took feedback into mind. For the most part, you fight in a team of three (Commander Shepard plus two crew members of your choosing) and use all the weapons, biotics, and tech skills of the group to defeat enemies.
There are also small mini-game sections like memory for breaking locks, mini-rover driving for traveling on planet surfaces, and mineral mining for needed materials for ship upgrades (ME 2).
CUSTOMIZATION is at its best here. From the beginning you can customize your Shepard from male or female to the color of their eyes, the length of their nose, or their haircut. You also get to choose from 6 fighting class specialties. High-risk, in-their-face brawler? Vanguard. Sneaky sniper? Infiltrator. etc. Each class has its own unique powers and available weapons to carry. In addition to character looks and fighting style, you also have "skill tree branches" of evolution that enable you to further choose how you want your Shepard to fight. Value health over Biotic Slash? Charisma/Influence over armor? If that weren't enough, YOUR CHOICES DETERMINE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE GAME AND CARRY THROUGH THE ENTIRE SERIES!
TRY THE MULTIPLAYER in ME 3. I was a HUGE skeptic of it when it was first announced, but have since invested approximately 270 solely on it. I love it; upgrading your characters and weapons is very addicting. In multiplayer you work COOPERATIVELY with three other online players in order to defeat 10 waves of enemies and survive extraction from the level. Each match includes 3 objective waves where you and your squad may have to destroy key enemies, deliver goods, hold down an area for 3-4 minutes, or hack in 4 different locations.
STORY:
This is an intergalatic, heroic epic that focuses on your in-game ego: Commander Shepard and his/her crew and their battle to save the galaxy from an omnipotent alien threat known as the Reapers. Along the way, Shepard uncovers new secrets about the universe's rich history and himself/herself, has the opportunity to fall in love (or just chase some tail), and ultimately save or destroy all sentient life.
The writing and dialogue is top notch here. Character development is unbelievable. You see every character grow and development through the series, and these characters are fully-fleshed out three-dimensional ones with organic heart and flaws. Your choices to befriend or kill a character carries weight through all three games. In addition, your choice to be a paragon (diplomatic, good guy) or renegade (kick-ass, douche bag) affects the world around you and can eventually lead to the deaths of characters (both options have pros and cons).
BE WARNED: the trilogy's ending kinda sucks (this coming from a HUGE Mass Effect fanatic and Bioware game supporter), but the journey is worth it alone. If you buy the final ME 3 DLC (Citadel) and the extended endings, it helps make up for it.
SUGGESTED DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT:
Extended Cut Ending (ME 3), Lair of the Shadow Broker (ME 2), Citadel (ME 3), and all free multiplayer expansion packs.
Also, if you want three additional characters in your party (and possibly at the party in the Citadel DLC, ME 3) pick up these: Stolen Memory (Kasumi, ME 2), Cerberus Network code (Zaeed Masani, ME 2), and From Ashes (Javik, ME 3).
GAME LENGTH:
~60 hours. for the first play-thrus. I had to find and do everything and hear every branch of dialogue.
~30 for 2nd and third play-thrus with other my other Shepards (male and female)
0 --> ∞ for multiplayer (ME 3).
Though the game time may seem long to some, but every minute is worth it. This ride is bliss.
CONCLUSION:
I can't praise this game enough despite the ending.
MUST OWN (or at least play). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TRILOGY TO EVERYONE.When Mass Effect first came out, I didn't have an X-Box. So I just licked my wounds and figured this would be one more game out of a million that I'd never play. Even when Mass Effect 2 came out for PS3, I still passed because, really, from everything I've heard, there just wasn't much point playing the second without playing the first. Ditto Mass Effect 3.
But finally the entire trilogy came out for PS3. And all three games are in a package for the same price as any other single game you would get for the PS3. If you've ever been the least bit curious about Mass Effect, don't hesitate to buy this. You get three games for the price of one and each individual game is worth the price itself.
There's a little bit of button mapping changes between games. Mass Effect 1 in particular has quite a bit of Early Installment Weirdness to it. But give yourself half a chance to get used to the different control schemes between games, you'll be set in no time.
I've played a lot of RPG's and shooters. I've watched and read a lot of sci-fi. But I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this. This is an amazing thrill ride that keeps upping the ante, and the ante was pretty high in the first game. Barring spoilers, there are so many ‘wham' moments that will leave you speechless. After getting to know and care about all of the characters over the series, I don't think any game ending has left me so utterly shell shocked as I was at the end of Mass Effect 3. It truly took me a while before I could form a coherent sentence. And I've played a ton of emotionally riveting games in my life.
Of course if you know anything about Mass Effect, you know about the choice mechanic. But I was surprised at just how deep this ran. A seemingly inconsequential side quest that's done or not done in ME1 can have some consequences in ME2. If you're not careful in the choices of how you treat your crewmembers throughout the series, you never know, it could cost them their lives.
Now it has been said that the ending to Mass Effect 3 was disappointing because after three games where your choices had drastic consequences, the ending really went in a way that made it so your choices meant nothing. Fair enough. You're choices still have a drastic effect on which of your squad members live or die. But past that, unless you really mess things up, things are going to end based on your choice between 3 outcomes…which all three still have pretty much the same cinematic, just with different coloring.
So I do see the argument about the ending being disappointing. BUT…I personally didn't mind the ending. If I hadn't known (via the complaining on the internet) about how the ending made your choices not matter so much, I never would have known. It's still a complete narrative with all loose ends tied up.
Even more importantly than that, whatever you think of the ending, the journey itself is fantastic. As I stated before, I've played a lot of emotionally involving games before. But I don't recall ever having been on quite the roller coaster that this game is.
Of all the games I've played, I have never started playing one again the moment I've finished it. I usually have to have a breather afterwards. But this was so enthralling, the moment I was done with Mass Effect 3, I went right back to starting a new game with Mass Effect 1. It was that good.
And to get all three games for the price of one, you better believe it's worth your wile to get this now.
Read Best Reviews of Mass Effect Trilogy Here
My son asked for several video games for Christmas and I chose 2. I got this one because I knew that he would be home for a LONNNNG time and he would need something to keep him occupied. So far, so good, and yes he is STILL here! : )Want Mass Effect Trilogy Discount?
After so many years I'm so happy that Mass effect has made it's way to the PS3. Now I can relive the story from the start as my creation
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