Hello everyone
For those of you who don't know (probably all of you) I am an aspiring video game writer (a greatly vaunted position, I know). To this extent I analyze the plots of different videogames, seeing what the developers did right or wrong and learning from their mistakes. Normally this would seem like cake (this is video game writing we're talking about) until I played Mass Effect 3. I won't go into detail about my negative experience with that game (enough has been said on that), suffice to say I was left wanting. In an effort to get more out of what was almost my favourite video game series (it couldn't topple Final Fantasy) I came up with two additional endings that I wanted to share with you.
NOW NOBODY TURN THIS THREAD INTO A RANT AGAINST THE CURRENT ENDINGS OR RETAKE MASS EFFECT! All I want is your opinion on what I came up with and maybe a logical breakdown of what I have written, pointing out any logical fallacies / out of character behaviour that exists within in it.
Please note that these exist alongside the originally offered ending and are alternate choices for the player. They do not replace Mac Walters' and Casey Hudson's vision of the ending.
Paragon Ending: Conviction
This ending is only unlocked if Shepard saved both the Quarians and Geth, completed both Legion and Tali's loyalty missions and completed the Luna AI side quest in Mass Effect 1.
When offered the three choices by the Catalyst, Shepard takes a paragon persuasion option. They reference the resolution of the Geth/Quarian conflict and how the Hannibal AI is now not only actively assisting organics, but is also romantically involved with one. They offer this as proof that the Catalyst's reasoning is flawed and that the Reapers are unnecessary.
The Catalyst refutes this by pointing out that every set of data has outliers and that the organic/synthetic alliance will dissolve the moment the Reapers are gone. It then reiterates the three Crucible options and demands Shepard choose.
If Shepard had a full Paragon reputation in all three games then they are given one final Paragon persuasion choice: They tell that Catalyst that the cycles have changed the nature of evolution and caused synthetics and organics to unite against their true enemy: the cybernetic Reapers. They assert that the Catalyst's ultimate goal of preventing organic/sythetic conflict has been achieved as neither form of life will attack the other so long as the Reapers exist.
The Catalyst, satisfied that it's directive has been completed, withdraws the Reapers and leaves the Galaxy, though it promises to return if synthetics every attempt to wipe out all organic life. Shepard survives and the fleets recover the survivors from the Citadel.
The epilogue shows Shepard living with their love interest and mourning the ones that died for their victory. An intragalactic Parliament consisting of every species (organic and synthetic) is created to replace the Council. They run the unified galaxy as a democracy and stockpile their weapons technology in anticipation of the Reapers return. If necessary this can be used as a jumping off point for future games. The epilogue finally ends with the star gazer scene.
Renegade Ending: Defiance (aka Fuck You!)
Assuming Shepard completed all of the requirements for Conviction and full EMS but either did not have full paragon or did not choose the final paragon option, then this choice becomes available.
After the Catalyst outlines the Crucible options a second time, Shepard proceeds to say something along the lines of "Fuck this, fuck you and everything you fucking stand for. One way or another these cycles end today!" They then proceed to radio Admiral Hackett, telling him that the Crucible was just a trap set by the Reaper hive mind, located at their position at the base of the Citadel. Shepard orders Hackett to focus the fleet's fire there.
The star child dissolves as explosions tear through the presidium, screaming "SHEPARD!" in it's scary Harbinger voice at the protagonist as the explosions engulf them both. This triggers an series of cutscenes similar to what appear in the actual endings. The exceptions being that the explosion is gold (Harbinger's colour)and the relay's aren't destroyed. As the gold light washes over the Reapers, the destroyed Catalyst's control over them is broken. The Reapers and husks then begin to both violently attack each other and mount a disorganized retreat while the fleets and armies pelt them with fire. Similar circumstances happen on planets around the galaxy. The few surviving Reapers either commit suicide by flying into stars/black holes or they leave the galaxy.
Shepard and most of the survivors on the Citadel die in this ending and the epilogue shows the Normand crew as well as the entire galaxy giving them a giant funeral. One of the characters suggests that the Reapers' final actions were a result of gaining independence from the Catalyst and deciding to fight against the beings that enslaved/destroyed them, namely their fellow Reapers. Those that committed committed suicide were horrified by both their actions and what they had become.
The united races establish an intragalactic Parliament consisting of members from every species, organic and synthetic, that rules the galaxy as a democracy. Outside of their meeting room is a giant statue of Shepard, the human who united them all and gave the ultimate sacrifice so that they could live. The game finally ends with the star gazer scene.(The surviving Reapers can be used as a jumping off point for a future sequel, such as them discovering an even more monstrous threat in another galaxy)
So what do you guys think? I know the suggested dialogue is cheezy (I'm still learning) and Hackett taking orders from Shepard might seem out of place (though Shepard did lead the fleet into battle) but I think I managed to keep it fairly consistent with the ME universe and didn't destroy any characters to do it.
So... Feedback anyone?
For those of you who don't know (probably all of you) I am an aspiring video game writer (a greatly vaunted position, I know). To this extent I analyze the plots of different videogames, seeing what the developers did right or wrong and learning from their mistakes. Normally this would seem like cake (this is video game writing we're talking about) until I played Mass Effect 3. I won't go into detail about my negative experience with that game (enough has been said on that), suffice to say I was left wanting. In an effort to get more out of what was almost my favourite video game series (it couldn't topple Final Fantasy) I came up with two additional endings that I wanted to share with you.
NOW NOBODY TURN THIS THREAD INTO A RANT AGAINST THE CURRENT ENDINGS OR RETAKE MASS EFFECT! All I want is your opinion on what I came up with and maybe a logical breakdown of what I have written, pointing out any logical fallacies / out of character behaviour that exists within in it.
Please note that these exist alongside the originally offered ending and are alternate choices for the player. They do not replace Mac Walters' and Casey Hudson's vision of the ending.
Paragon Ending: Conviction
This ending is only unlocked if Shepard saved both the Quarians and Geth, completed both Legion and Tali's loyalty missions and completed the Luna AI side quest in Mass Effect 1.
When offered the three choices by the Catalyst, Shepard takes a paragon persuasion option. They reference the resolution of the Geth/Quarian conflict and how the Hannibal AI is now not only actively assisting organics, but is also romantically involved with one. They offer this as proof that the Catalyst's reasoning is flawed and that the Reapers are unnecessary.
The Catalyst refutes this by pointing out that every set of data has outliers and that the organic/synthetic alliance will dissolve the moment the Reapers are gone. It then reiterates the three Crucible options and demands Shepard choose.
If Shepard had a full Paragon reputation in all three games then they are given one final Paragon persuasion choice: They tell that Catalyst that the cycles have changed the nature of evolution and caused synthetics and organics to unite against their true enemy: the cybernetic Reapers. They assert that the Catalyst's ultimate goal of preventing organic/sythetic conflict has been achieved as neither form of life will attack the other so long as the Reapers exist.
The Catalyst, satisfied that it's directive has been completed, withdraws the Reapers and leaves the Galaxy, though it promises to return if synthetics every attempt to wipe out all organic life. Shepard survives and the fleets recover the survivors from the Citadel.
The epilogue shows Shepard living with their love interest and mourning the ones that died for their victory. An intragalactic Parliament consisting of every species (organic and synthetic) is created to replace the Council. They run the unified galaxy as a democracy and stockpile their weapons technology in anticipation of the Reapers return. If necessary this can be used as a jumping off point for future games. The epilogue finally ends with the star gazer scene.
Renegade Ending: Defiance (aka Fuck You!)
Assuming Shepard completed all of the requirements for Conviction and full EMS but either did not have full paragon or did not choose the final paragon option, then this choice becomes available.
After the Catalyst outlines the Crucible options a second time, Shepard proceeds to say something along the lines of "Fuck this, fuck you and everything you fucking stand for. One way or another these cycles end today!" They then proceed to radio Admiral Hackett, telling him that the Crucible was just a trap set by the Reaper hive mind, located at their position at the base of the Citadel. Shepard orders Hackett to focus the fleet's fire there.
The star child dissolves as explosions tear through the presidium, screaming "SHEPARD!" in it's scary Harbinger voice at the protagonist as the explosions engulf them both. This triggers an series of cutscenes similar to what appear in the actual endings. The exceptions being that the explosion is gold (Harbinger's colour)and the relay's aren't destroyed. As the gold light washes over the Reapers, the destroyed Catalyst's control over them is broken. The Reapers and husks then begin to both violently attack each other and mount a disorganized retreat while the fleets and armies pelt them with fire. Similar circumstances happen on planets around the galaxy. The few surviving Reapers either commit suicide by flying into stars/black holes or they leave the galaxy.
Shepard and most of the survivors on the Citadel die in this ending and the epilogue shows the Normand crew as well as the entire galaxy giving them a giant funeral. One of the characters suggests that the Reapers' final actions were a result of gaining independence from the Catalyst and deciding to fight against the beings that enslaved/destroyed them, namely their fellow Reapers. Those that committed committed suicide were horrified by both their actions and what they had become.
The united races establish an intragalactic Parliament consisting of members from every species, organic and synthetic, that rules the galaxy as a democracy. Outside of their meeting room is a giant statue of Shepard, the human who united them all and gave the ultimate sacrifice so that they could live. The game finally ends with the star gazer scene.(The surviving Reapers can be used as a jumping off point for a future sequel, such as them discovering an even more monstrous threat in another galaxy)
So what do you guys think? I know the suggested dialogue is cheezy (I'm still learning) and Hackett taking orders from Shepard might seem out of place (though Shepard did lead the fleet into battle) but I think I managed to keep it fairly consistent with the ME universe and didn't destroy any characters to do it.
So... Feedback anyone?
