Suggestions for Mass Effect 3

[bluebrino]

I know that this may seem like a trivial idea, but I think that it would be cool if Bioware actually use the first name we gave our Shepard, as in having characters use it in dialog. But only have characters that are close to Shepard use it to save on voice acting, like romance options or they could bring back that loyalty system but make it so it actually furthers the relationship between them and Shepard. When it comes to choosing the names, Bioware should go through the obvious list of names and then ask the fans what names they should use, if they have not already thought of it. But the fans have to provide something that lets Bioware know how to pronounce the names, like a voice recording of them saying the name or just doing it like they do in the dictionary.

 

[private]

Experience Points - Making the combat more rewarding
Removing Xp from mob kills was obviously a conscious decision on the developer's part to streamline the RPG mechanics but why remove the one thing that other genres are adopting ? My suggestion would be to bring it back - make it minimal if you want to control progression through quest lines but make it meaningful in some way. The two games from 2009 that did this perfectly were Batman and inFAMOUS - in both those games you get special bonus xp for killing anyone with style. The achievements for things like headshots or killing people will biotic/tech powers shows that they're already being tracked. Now just give the players in-game bonuses for doing these things and encourage them to try out different fighting techniques. The existing mechanics already allow a great flourish in combat, just make the process more rewarding.

I actually liked the idea of throwing out the experience point concept. I think it improved the role playing aspect of the game. Now, experience points are awarded for killing enemines, I think this is a little restrictive because you are awarded with experience only if you kill an enemy. Doesn't it also make sense to be awarded if you avoid confontations all together by sneaking past enemies? The xp system that me2 had made it seem like it didn't matter HOW you achieved your goal, so long as you achieved it, which makes sense given the whole paragon/renegade spectrum of spectres.

Level design - Not this corridor again
Mass Effect 2's cover based mechanic is right up there with Gears of War but it still lacks the varied level design that makes Gears a better shooter. The combat in ME2 is fun thanks to all the biotic and tech powers. However I couldn't help but notice that a lot of the set pieces were essentially the same level with a different decor. Maybe that's a problem with the genre in general but I think this is the easiest and probably the first thing they should look into. Shepard is visiting so many planets with vastly different geographies but s/he is invariably staring down the same corridor when the guns start firing. I think the premise in itself provides BioWare the inspiration they need here and give us just a little bit more variety.

I couldn't agree more with this. One thing I would like to add: BLIND FIRE!!
The omission of this really does make an otherwise excellent shooter feel every stilted, and restrictive. For something like biotics, I can understand having to stand up fully, but why can't Shepard stick one arm over a wall and blast away with a pistol or fire off some tech abilities?

 

[VivaciousDeimos]

I know I might be a lone voice on the escapist with this, but I know I'm not that lone voice elsewhere when I say, get rid of Jacob and bring back Kaiden, I miss him.
If you play as a female, Kaiden is a charming character, the right level of experience and maturity held up by strong views. People saying he is boring aren't really looking at him because

Spoiler

they are looking at him as someone to sacrifice so they can keep Ashley but his reaction to Shepard working with Cerberus is spot on the way he would be, he expects more of her he feels let down and hurt and it all comes across beautifully

Don't worry, I liked Kaiden too. In what I consider to be my canon Sheppard, she stays loyal to him. Hoping that pays off in 3. What I want from ME3 is the integration of your old party into the new. Let Ashley/Kaiden and Liara be recruitable and possibly expand on their characterization. Wrex would also be awesome, but that might be a little trickier since he is ruling now.

I loved that a good portion of ME2 was spent developing your team and helping them with their issues, so now I want that for my former crew as well. I think Liara's would be fairly straight forward: help her deal with the Shadow Broker.

OP: I noticed the level design as well and wanted a little bit more variety. As for the Two Towers point, I think that's something that's pretty common among trilogies is for the second installment to fell a little...not off, exactly, but not quite right. It just has to do with being the middle child in a series.

 

[Vrex360]

For me personally just a few things I'd like to see in Mass Effect 3.

First of all I want Ashley to return (alternativley Kaidan). I don't really care how she returns, maybe Shepard bumps into her on an uncharted planet or she saves his life in a warzone or even speaks in his defence at some kind of hearing. The point is, I want her to return because she was (in my own opinion) the best romance subplot out of them all and I deliberatley avoided any romantic contact in Mass Effect 2 just to see how it would play out.
The same similar role is to be said for Liara. But moreso for Ashley because she and Shepard have some past issues that need good resolution without too much cheese.

Next up, Wrex.... I really liked this guy and I would hope for some kind of recuitment mission or something or maybe even just a mission where you help him completely gain the loyalty of the Krogan (particularly clan Urdnot) and in turn have Clan Urdnot assist you in the final battle against the Reapers... Grunt should be there as well.

That's the other thing, while I think it would be kind of cool to have a mission structure where you go around recuiting entire species armies to begin a war against the Reapers I would still like some core missions about finding a final way to kill the Reapers once and for all.

Also, no new teams unless the patricular Shepard team is particularly devastated. I would much prefer to see no new ship, no new crew and no new LI given that this is the END and therefore all the characters from prior games (i.e entire ME1 crew and entire ME2 crew) return to the fray.
It wouldn't kill me if you ended up with yet another new team but it would still annoy me a little.

Naturally, as always, it should properly register the decisions made in the first two games and reflect them positivley.

Finally, it should retain the epicness and awesomeness of the first two games and hit a home run with the third.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I guess I'd say characters, plot and environments/immersion.

Speaking of that, I had a character idea, anyone know how I would go about getting someone at Bioware to take a look at it?

Might end up with some writer from ME2 telling me how I went wrong, help me improve, etcetera.

 

[Anthropaphagi]

LESBIAN ALIEN SEX! (I'm only sort of joking)

I do like that your actions influence the game/loyalty but I do agree with others that it is often very 'black and white'. It needs to be more realistic, especially when you have history with characters like Tali and Garrus.

And was it just me or was Miranda throwing a perpetual hissy fit? Every time I had to make a decision she didn't care for, I had to endure intergalactic pouting.

 

[Jenova65]

I know I might be a lone voice on the escapist with this, but I know I'm not that lone voice elsewhere when I say, get rid of Jacob and bring back Kaiden, I miss him.
If you play as a female, Kaiden is a charming character, the right level of experience and maturity held up by strong views. People saying he is boring aren't really looking at him because

Spoiler

they are looking at him as someone to sacrifice so they can keep Ashley but his reaction to Shepard working with Cerberus is spot on the way he would be, he expects more of her he feels let down and hurt and it all comes across beautifully

Don't worry, I liked Kaiden too. In what I consider to be my canon Sheppard, she stays loyal to him. Hoping that pays off in 3. What I want from ME3 is the integration of your old party into the new. Let Ashley/Kaiden and Liara be recruitable and possibly expand on their characterization. Wrex would also be awesome, but that might be a little trickier since he is ruling now.

I loved that a good portion of ME2 was spent developing your team and helping them with their issues, so now I want that for my former crew as well. I think Liara's would be fairly straight forward: help her deal with the Shadow Broker.

OP: I noticed the level design as well and wanted a little bit more variety. As for the Two Towers point, I think that's something that's pretty common among trilogies is for the second installment to fell a little...not off, exactly, but not quite right. It just has to do with being the middle child in a series.

Casey Hudson is on record stating that Kaidan/Ash and Liara weren't recruitable for 2 because they had to be sure the player didn't manage to kill them off, they needed to keep them safe for 3 (which indicates at the very least a pivotal role to the story) Also that there would be consequences for Shepard's who 'cheat', on their ME LI!

 

[VivaciousDeimos]

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Casey Hudson is on record stating that Kaidan/Ash and Liara weren't recruitable for 2 because they had to be sure the player didn't manage to kill them off, they needed to keep them safe for 3 (which indicates at the very least a pivotal role to the story) Also that there would be consequences for Shepard's who 'cheat', on their ME LI!

That is both hilarious and practical on the part of the developers, given the nature of the final mission. I had heard about the "cheaters consequences", which part of me appreciates them rewarding being loyal to your original partner, but also hopes isn't too severe for players who wanted to explore other options. With my male Sheppard I can definitely say if Tali had been available during the first go around I wouldn't have put him with Ashley.

 

[Jenova65]

snip

Snip

Casey Hudson is on record stating that Kaidan/Ash and Liara weren't recruitable for 2 because they had to be sure the player didn't manage to kill them off, they needed to keep them safe for 3 (which indicates at the very least a pivotal role to the story) Also that there would be consequences for Shepard's who 'cheat', on their ME LI!

That is both hilarious and practical on the part of the developers, given the nature of the final mission. I had heard about the "cheaters consequences", which part of me appreciates them rewarding being loyal to your original partner, but also hopes isn't too severe for players who wanted to explore other options. With my male Sheppard I can definitely say if Tali had been available during the first go around I wouldn't have put him with Ashley.

I expect it will be a 'no going back', scenario tbh, if you have a new relationship then the ME LI's won't be romance-able in 3 which makes sense, you can't have your cake and eat it!

 

[Morose_Cabage]

I want it to take a more RPG based turn than ME2. Don't get me wrong I freaking love ME2, But I miss tinkering around with equiptment, which brings me to another issue more variations in weapons. What about having a band together of all characters from ME1, 2, and some new ones in 3.