Mass Effect 3
I bet you thought I was gonna dunk on the ending of Mass Effect 3, but like an artificial intelligence taking the form of a child you saw die at the beginning, surprise, I’m here to drop the bomb on your life. The ending to the Mass Effect trilogy was good, actually. Messy in the execution? Sure. But damn, I still remember bawling in the moment as I headed up to the Crucible to decide the fate of the Reapers and the galaxy at large.
I don’t think certain parts of BioWare’s trilogy conclusion are above criticism, but what I do take onus with is anyone saying the choice you make in the end doesn’t matter or is lacking in consequence. In Commander Shepard’s (possibly) final moments, they’re setting the entire galaxy forward on one of four paths. Destroying synthetic life, controlling the Reapers, or integrating them into society through an unexplainable space magic synthesis of organic and synthetic life, have huge implications on how this universe will move forward. No, we didn’t see this unfold in the original ending, but that was never really the point.
Mass Effect is positioned as a series about choice and consequence, and while not every storyline panned out into some huge permutation, there are significant moments where, by the end, the games made it clear that your presence altered history. The final moments of Mass Effect 3 are the last breath the player lets out as they make a declaration of what they’re willing to sacrifice, and just like Shepard in most of these endings, they don’t get to live and see if it all panned out. The Mass Effect trilogy takes you to all corners of the galaxy and shows you who this society is. The final choice you make is an expression of your fears, your cynicism, but also your hope for this universe. There is no “right” choice. There is no “canon” (or at least there shouldn’t be) decision that Shepard should make to get the best possible outcome. It’s just you and choosing paths forward, even if you might not get to be there to see where it leads. Was it messy? Sure. Did it create one of the most compelling framings of choice and consequence in the franchise? Yeah, actually. Not every video game has to justify why you make decisions to you. Sometimes it’s on you to decide it for yourself.
Ya know, until they release an Extended Cut that tells you that no matter what decision you make everything turns out happy and okay with zero friction. —Kenneth Shepard
