So, let me get this straight:
A single person will always be able to voice its likes and dislikes clearly. Applying that same logic to a fanbase numbering in the millions is another story. So BioWare goes "What do?" and takes the safest route - appealing to the lowest common denominator. Seems pretty decent to me so far, I'd even go so far as to call it a wise business strategy.
Throwing a monkey wrench in this factor, though, is the fact that Mass Effect started as an RPG with shooter elements. Catering to the Call of Duty crowd certainly will bring in a sizable demographic, but it'll alienate the core fanbase - the ones that stuck along for the story or characters, typical BioWare strong points. This looks like a hefty risk, but one that was obviously considered. Again, revenues are the core reason behind this.
Then there's the Jersey Shore-ification of the cast. Or, rather, this is how it's being called after the reveal of only two of the actors involved in the project out of... how many? One of the two isn't even an actress to begin with, and she plays a bit part? Excuse me, where's the freaking problem? Can't I ignore Jess Chobot if I want to? Can I reasonably assume I can stick Freddie Prinze Jr. in the cargo hold and leave him to stew there for the duration of my playthrough? Yes?
So where's the problem?
Aaaaand, multiplayer. Something that's completely optional, unless you're an achievement hunter who absolutely needs an -nth variation on a Kill Streak Gamerscore reward. It's optional, so who cares?
Insofar, all I'm seeing is the usual, normal case of a publisher assessing a product's worth, taking some risks and shying away from others; the sort of streamlining that happens when you have several millions worth of invested capital to recoup. You have to play it safe, or you're setting yourself up for a financial re-enactment of the Hindenberg disaster. It absolutely sucks as far as innovation goes, but what could you honestly do?
Considering all of the above, some people felt it necessary for them to go ahead and bomb Metacritic? That's honestly like some of my peers at the uni going "WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS FOR FREE! STRIKE, MOTHERFUCKERS! QUEBEC'S A FASCIST STATE! BOO!"
In that, you know, it's not what I'd exactly call a mature or informed reaction. The best kind of reaction would have been a boycott of the game or simply personally abstaining to buy it. As is, I'm sure we'll see most of the raging, spiteful idiots who bombed ME3 shoot themselves in the foot with a closer inspection of their Xbox/PS3 tags and their activity...
The above example also applies literally when you consider the Day One DLC. All the rage being brewed about this is fairly annoying, largely because you just know a sizable chunk of the folks riding the Whaaaambulance is going to head straight for its favorite Torrent tracker to get that piece of software just hours after raging against it.
