BioWare Finally Confirms and Details Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer

[DustyDrB]

I don't care about the multiplayer. And I don't have much of a choice on it either: No more Gold subscription, so no online play. None of my friends are gamers, so no local play.

What I don't like is the idea of this "Galactic readiness meter", which sounds like something that's in the single-player. It sounds cheap and patronizing to give us an indicator that says, "You've now done enough to get the good ending". Let us try to figure out on our own if we've done all we can.

 

[gigastrike]

Mass Effect 3 will have online co-op that will allow you to play as a variety of other races...

Sweet!

...This is also an alternative way to get a perfect ending without having to worry about in-game choices.

...What? You'd better not be able to fix all of your bad decicions by just killing stuff. That takes all the appeal out of trying to make the best choice in the first place! I guess it's still optional, so I can avoid it if I want, but I still don't want to run into some kid who's like:

I beat the game with 100% readiness by playing multiplayer for 50 hours!

 

[subtlefuge]

I'm sorry, but Quad-Wrex balances out all.

 

[LordFisheh]

Playing as soldiers of the different races fighting the Reapers while the main story plays out in singleplayer? That actually sounds rather awesome.

 

[Richardplex]

Yeah, Mass Effect 2 was famously screwed-up. Oh wait, no. The other thing.

It was quite bad actually.

I guess I am one of the few people out there that actually prefer both DA2 and ME2 to the originals then?

There's nothing wrong with liking bad games. I admit I enjoy playing WoW even though it's lacking in quality.

I think you'll find that you are in a tiny minority. ME2 was reviewed incredibly well, winning many GOTY awards. ME1 was found wanting in many ways including bugginess and overall quality. I don't think you can write ME2 off as a bad game for being different to how you would prefer when there is such an overwhelming amount of support for its changes from professional reviewers and gamers alike. It was an amazing, smooth and well-rounded game with 1 or 2 "interesting" design choices detracted from the otherwise perfect experience.

Mass Effect 2 was the better game. Mass Effect 1 was the better interactive story, I feel.

OT: cautiously optimistic would be my view point. Depends on how it affects my single player game I guess.

 

[Omnific One]

Wait, so you could import the worst Shepard ever, play multiplayer for 25-50 hours, and have a perfect ending? What?

I'm really not sure how annoyed I should be about this. I realize it's player choice, but come on, make it only make up for one or two mistakes, not if you completely screwed up.

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

People are probably going to be extreamly pissed when the only character I ever play as is a Hanar...

OT: This sounds cool, just don't take too much away from the main story, bioware. kthanksbye

 

[Prof. Monkeypox]

If this is why EA delayed the release of the game, I will be pissed. There's no reason to have to add multilayer to what has always been a single-player experience.

That said, I guess the idea sounds cool enough... if a bit clusterfuck-y.

 

[Quellist]

Co-op multiplayer? *rage begins to dissipate* I can sorta live with that. Shame the gameplay isnt going back to the ME1 'true rpg' route but this is less awful than i feared

 

[walrusaurus]

Must every game have multiplayer?
Really.... your sure about this Bioware?
Fine while at least your letting me play as a Krogan.

 

[ike42]

Yeah, Mass Effect 2 was famously screwed-up. Oh wait, no. The other thing.

It was quite bad actually.

I guess I am one of the few people out there that actually prefer both DA2 and ME2 to the originals then?

There's nothing wrong with liking bad games. I admit I enjoy playing WoW even though it's lacking in quality.

You mean "I found Mass Effect 2 quite bad actually", factoring sales and views you're objectively wrong. At some point using statistics an opinion can be proved to be a wrong fact : D

No, you are wrong. EA has already been caught with their hand in the cookie jar so to speak with soliciting positive review scores, so there goes that argument. As for your other one, ME2 was a sequel. A large portion of the game sales were due to pre-orders based on such a great first game. You can't point to the sales figures and make any conclusion. I for one bought the second game based on expectations of a great story and a full RPG, but was left with a watered down holding pattern of a story with no customization other than basic skins. I will be playing ME3, just because I'm committed to the ME universe by now, but ME2 was terrible and designed by committee with the focus on most sales rather than best game.

OT: Multiplayer in a ME game is stupid. It's designed for the lowest common denominator of player who cares little for anything other than combat.

 

[Genericjim101]

Yeah, Mass Effect 2 was famously screwed-up. Oh wait, no. The other thing.

It was quite bad actually.

I guess I am one of the few people out there that actually prefer both DA2 and ME2 to the originals then?

There's nothing wrong with liking bad games. I admit I enjoy playing WoW even though it's lacking in quality.

You mean "I found Mass Effect 2 quite bad actually", factoring sales and views you're objectively wrong. At some point using statistics an opinion can be proved to be a wrong fact : D

No, you are wrong. EA has already been caught with their hand in the cookie jar so to speak with soliciting positive review scores, so there goes that argument. As for your other one, ME2 was a sequel. A large portion of the game sales were due to pre-orders based on such a great first game. You can't point to the sales figures and make any conclusion. I for one bought the second game based on expectations of a great story and a full RPG, but was left with a watered down holding pattern of a story with no customization other than basic skins. I will be playing ME3, just because I'm committed to the ME universe by now, but ME2 was terrible and designed by committee with the focus on most sales rather than best game.

OT: Multiplayer in a ME game is stupid. It's designed for the lowest common denominator of player who cares little for anything other than combat.

What of unsolicited review scores ?

 

[DeathWyrmNexus]

So... will I create a mighty Volus Vanguard or a stealthy Elcor Infiltrator?

Decisions, decisions.

I'll admit, I was worried about them screwing up, not to mention the torrent of hate and bile that would have followed.

But this? This I can get behind.

Ya, Daemon will probably buy me the game to ensure that I join his galactic ready room of doom. I will probably enjoy this.

 

[Ham Blitz]

Since you don't have to play it to get the perfect ending, I am fine with it. Even better for me is the fact that I have exactly 3 friends that I know of who are equally excited for ME3. I've got my coop team assembled, granted I probably still might try playing with other random people to see how it goes.

 

[Frostbite3789]

This is stupid, plain and simple. Co-op should have nothing connected with the single-player at all. As for the "possible" statement, that means jack squat. Saying its possible to get the optimum ending for ME 3 is like saying its possible to beat Demon's or Dark Souls on your first playthrough without a single death. It can be done, but it can be a real *****. I ain't saying that will be how hard it is for here, just making an example.

What they should of done, the smart thing, would of been what-if scenarios, or "Monster Mode" ala LotR: 3rd Age. Something fun and interesting, that at most unlocks equipment and items for the single-player game.

It's funny that you mention Demon's Souls while at the same time saying this co-op mode is stupid.

Demon's Souls, a decidedly old school, ball buster action RPG had co-op that 100% directly affected your game. Did you whine about that? Probably not.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Co Op isn't really multiplayer but whatever seems better than that stuff they put in Dead Space 2.

 

[pspman45]

this sounds absolutely amazing to be honest
and I thought multi-player would RUIN Mass Effect
I guess Bioware can't make mistakes

 

[stuhacking]

So, why have it? The point of a good RPG is the story, characters, narrative. putting in multi play takes away from all as well as pacing. Utterly pointless and distractive.

RPGs have traditionally been multiplayer. Story driven? yes. Character Development? yep. Narrative? Absolutely. But none of these things are a replacement for sitting down and co-operating with a group of friends to accomplish a goal. Multiplayer, done right, is the best way to run a role playing game.

Nothing is more disheartening than hearing sentiments to the tune of "Other people will just make the wrong choices." Single player RPGs wherein the player can engineer 'the perfect scenario' are a blight and destroy the role playing experience.

I recommend finding a bunch of friends and sitting down to play a good cooperative board game (e.g. Lord of the Rings, Beowulf, Pandemic*) and enjoy the excitement of working as part of a team.

Time to cancel my pre order. I'll wait till it's second hand if I get it at all. Good bye bioware, it was fun.

You'll be missed.


* I'd even recommend running an introductory D&D dungeon crawl, but the complexity of the rules might be a barrier for an inexperienced DM. Board games tend to offer much simpler mechanics and well defined rule books.