Importing saved files from previous
versions is a really nice touch.
Instant melee kills specific to each
class have been introduced.
mass effect 3
latest INFO Bio Ware’s sci-fi opus faces its own Normandy landing
Chances are that you already have a strong sense of who your Commander Shepard is and what he or she has been through. If
not, well, what are you waiting for? You’ve
still got a few months to develop your
own strong opinion about the nature of
Shepard’s chromosomes.
According to executive producer
Casey Hudson, Mass Effect 3’s Shepard
is a combination of the person you’ve
made and the underlying themes that
have been there since the opening
moments of the first game. “There is a
common experience among all versions
of Commander Shepard. In particular,
Shepard is really just an average human,
swept up in exceptional circumstances.
We’re trying some new methods to get
people inside Shepard’s
head, making them feel
more of the internal
struggle that Shepard has
been facing throughout
the series.”
At the heart of that
README
PublishER
EA
DEvElOPER
BioWare
link
masseffect.com
struggle are the Reapers, the malevolent
machine-gods that have finally arrived on
the scene after two whole games of setup.
As you progress, you’ll assemble a force
of capital ships, special forces squads, and
vast armies, each of which constitutes a
war asset.
“As Commander Shepard you fight to
build an enormous alliance and secure
war assets across the galaxy,” Hudson
explains. “But how effective all of that
is in the final fight is dependent on how
well the overall war effort is going. If your
allies are getting killed in battles all over
the galaxy, they won’t be ready to join you
in the final battle. But if they are well in
control, they’ll be ready to bring their full
potential to the fight.”
Group fun
That’s where the cooperative multiplayer
comes in. Separately from Shepard’s story,
you and your friends can take charge
of teams of operatives fighting battles
around the galaxy. Your performance here
improves that readiness factor, making
www.pcgamer.com
your war assets count for more in the
single-player. You can even view how this
is playing out on a galactic map accessible
on the web or your mobile phone.
These high-level mechanics are
supported by a retooled combat and
upgrade system that offers more depth to
both how you build your squad and how
you outfit its members. Weapon mods
that give you the freedom to customize
guns are a major focus, and Hudson has
his favorites. “I enjoy the mods that allow
you to increase the capacity and rate of
fire on sniper rifles, so you can target an
enemy at great range and still fire off a
bunch of quick shots before reloading.
Alternately, using a scope on a pistol is a
fun way to extend the effectiveness of an
other wise basic weapon.”
We know the broad shape of Shepard’s
final outing, but not what it contains.
Which is OK with us: Mass Effect’s use of
transferred saved games makes it one of
the longest coherent game narratives, and
it’ll be good to come to its final chapter
unspoiled. Chris Thursten
Release Ma
ww
er.com
www.pcgamer.com
FEBRUARY 2012
