PixlBit

So far, Mass Effect 3 is my favorite game this year. Despite all of the controversy, Mass Effect 3 provided me with a great gameplay experience, coupled with a narrative unlike any other. The characters and story were some of the most engrossing that I've ever expereinced. Never before have I played a game where characters came alive the way they did. Garrus, Tali, Ashley, Joker and EDI, i could go on for a while about how great the characters are but thats besides the point. Anyway, the reason why we are here is because of the one thing that makes ME3 questionable in the eyes of the public...Its Ending.

Some found Mass Effect 3's ending to be fine. Others thought it was terrible. I, along with other gamers found the ending to simply make no sense what so ever. In the moment, I was engrossed and tied up into it just like I was with the rest of the game, but upon completion, something was just...off. Upon further investigation with a friend of mine, we found numerous plot holes, inconsistancies and flat out odd things about the ending. Not to mention the lack of closure that it gave. All in all, we debated for days, and ultimately came to peace with the ending. None of us were satisfied with the ending in particular, but it was obvious that Mass Effect 3 and the rest of the Mass Effect series were in a tier of its own. These games are some of the best created for a multitude of reasons and that overcame the sour note that the endings left us...

Weeks later, we stumbled upon theories about the true meaning behind the ending and ultimately we were led to a documentary which talked about a theory known as "The Indoctrination Theory". This theory is completely fan made, and exists only to try and make sense of the ending that made none what-so-ever. In this theory, its implied that Harbinger, after shooting his death beam at Shepard, is trying to indoctrinate him one last time. The theory states that even before that final battle, the Reapers have been attempting to indoctrinate him the whole time. The dream sequences, the boy at the beginning and even some events in the Arrival DLC for ME2 all share some evidence leading up to the final moments of ME3. 

Everything that didn't make sense about the ending, like Anderson's sudden appearence, infinite ammo, strange and ambient (not to mention reaper like) sounds and the mysterious wounds that Shepard had were all addressed in the theory, bringing some light to the situation. I'm not going to run through each detail, but the clear and well thought argument won me over and I personally adopted the theory for myself. That way, at least in my mind, everything makes sense. Heck, the way I see it, If Bioware really was playing mind games with us and the Indoctrination Theory is true then they successfully pulled the biggest mindfuck in video game history. Thats something that is comforting to think about and makes the ending about 100000000x more bareable. 

Despite this, fans were still in an uproar and eventually after enough complaining, Bioware decides to release this Extended Cut DLC to answer the questions that we have about the unclear ending. At first I figured that this is where Bioware says "HA, we goccha!!!" and reveals that the Indoctrination Theory is indeed true and everyone bows at their feet. After logic kicked in however, I began to second guess myself. Something is telling me that Bioware, rather than addressing the real issue of inconsistancy and lore errors, will try and justify the ending that they made which could potentially lead to more issues with the cannon. 

In the interview avaliable on the Mass Effect Website and the Bioware Youtube channel, Casey Hudson and Mac Walters say that the Extended Cut DLC serves to elaborate on the endings in the best way possible, and add closure. The way they talked about it though disturbed me. They seemed to ignore the problems that I personally have with the endings, like the plot holes, the errors and the things that just plain make no sense with the ending. Instead, they assure us that there will be closure and we will know what happens with our squadmates. While that doesnt exactly negate the possibility of the Indoctrination Theory being true, it could also mean they are adding flame to a fire. 

For example, lets take the scene where Joker is, for some odd reason, warping away from battle using a Mass Relay right before they are destroyed by the Crusible. Generally that scene, while epic, makes no sense. Why was Joker flying away? And where to? Joker and Shepard have been through a whole lot together, and for Joker to just leave Shepard on Earth with no good explaination just doesn't make any sense. One would think that after all that, Joker would go and rescue Shepard. To make matters worse, all of the crewmates are on the ship with him, including the few that were supposed to be running down the hill with Shepard at the end. 

While Indoctrination Theory clears this up, something tells me that Bioware instead will use the power of Deus Ex Machina (pretty much the unexplained happens) and make something up that they want us to just take at face value. So in Joker's case, now they add a cutscene where they tell him to leave and to pick up the crew before he does as Shepard goes up the beam of light to the Citadel. Does that make sense to me? No. Could it be Bioware's explination? Yes. Who knows honestly. But I'm trying my best not to get my hopes up because this could easily be a pretty disappointing addition.

The only reason I rambled as much as I have is because I care about the ME series so much. As I already stated, this game has it all. Deep, and interesting characters. An interesting plot supported by outstanding lore. Fun, and effective gameplay that can even support a surprisingly addictive multiplayer. Its what most games should aspire to be like. 

No matter what happens with this DLC, Mass Effect 3 is still a major contender for my personal game of the year. That said, I want to at least be satisfied with the ending, and know why it orignally made no sense at all. I know that I don't exactly have the right to ask, but I think that we as fans deserve a little big more credit. We did after all invest hundreds of hours into this series. But i digress...

So the Extended Cut arrives later today (2:06 AM currently...) and I'm Nervous. I don't want to be disappointed, but at the same time, the idea of the theories that I have being right makes me giddy. If anything, its been a fun ride, but lets see what the writing staff at Bioware came up with. Might surprise me.

For my impressions on the DLC, be sure to check out my live Playbit sometime later today, as well as a feature summing up my opinions on it. Till then...I should go...