Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 is the upcoming sequel to Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 developed by BioWare for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It is intended to be the final game in the planned Mass Effect trilogy.

Release
Mass Effect 3 will be released March 6, 2012 in North America, March 8, 2012 in Australia, and March 9, 2012 in Europe. The game was originally slated for a 'Holiday 2011' release but was delayed to "[ensure] that it exceeds everyone's expectations" and "address a far larger market opportunity." Prior to that, Ray Muzyka had stated that the release timing would be based on maximising both "quality" and "commercial success".

During E3 2011, EA Games Label President Frank Gibeau did not discount the possibility of Mass Effect 3 being available for the Nintendo Wii U console, stating that EA will only "announce that when it's ready."

BioWare is releasing a Collector's Edition of Mass Effect 3, the Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector's Edition. This edition has numerous exclusive items, Downloadable Content, a free digital soundtrack, and an exclusive Xbox 360 Normandy Avatar Prop among other things.

All PC versions of Mass Effect 3, physical or digital, will require EA's Origin software, and will not be available through Valve's Steam.

Retail Bonus Items
Depending on where the game is purchased, what edition is purchased and whether or not it was pre-ordered, the customer may be entitled to one or more Retail Bonus Items.

The following table details which items are available based on which version of the game is purchased, and whether or not the game was pre-ordered.

Demo
A demo of Mass Effect 3 was released on February 14, 2012, for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3. The demo contains both single-player and cooperative multiplayer content. While all players were able to play the single-player content, access to the multiplayer portion was initially limited. Those who had purchased a copy of Battlefield 3 were able to gain access to the multiplayer portion of the demo immediately upon the demo's release; access was unlocked by redeeming the Online Pass included with new copies of Battlefield 3. All non-early access players were able to play the multiplayer portion of the demo beginning February 17, 2012.

On Xbox 360, downloading the Mass Effect 3 demo and playing the multiplayer portion of it will not require Xbox Live Gold membership. Microsoft will lift the Gold membership requirement for the demo in the weeks leading up to the release of Mass Effect 3.

The demo features a level on Earth during the beginning of the Reaper invasion, with David Anderson as a temporary squad member. The objective is surviving and making a rendezvous with Normandy. The Demo then switches to a mission on Sur'Kesh where Shepard, with Garrus and Liara, must save a fertile krogan female from a Cerberus attack.

Weather Balloon Early Release
It was announced by EA that it will send two of Mass Effect 3 into space from six different cities around the world. Copies of the game are called space editions and will come with an exclusive prize. They will be attached to Weather Balloons with GPS trackers and will be launched from New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Berlin, London, and Paris. The balloons will be able to be tracked at The Offical Mass Effect website. When the balloons land, the person who finds the game, gets to keep it and play the game a week before everyone else.

System requirements
1 NVIDIA GeForce 9300, 8500, 8400, 8300 and AMD/ATI Radeon HD3200, HD3300, HD4350 are below minimum system requirements.

Fate of the Galaxy
The story is the 'epic conclusion' to the story started in Mass Effect and continued in Mass Effect 2, as well as the conclusion of Commander Shepard's story. The player's choices in the previous games are expected to have a much more significant impact on the plot than the choices in Mass Effect had on Mass Effect 2. As Mass Effect 3 is the end of the planned trilogy, the developers are not constrained by the necessity of allowing the story to diverge, yet also continue into the next chapter. This will result in a story that diverges into wildly different conclusions based on the player's actions in the first two chapters.

Throughout Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard will be bringing the civilisations of the galaxy together as allies to take back Earth and repel the Reaper invasion. The player's choices throughout not only Mass Effect 3, but the entire trilogy, will affect the fate of these civilisations and the endings the player can receive.

Squad Members
As with the previous games in the Mass Effect trilogy, Shepard will be able to recruit companions that can follow Shepard into battle. Currently, these are known to include:
 * Kaidan Alenko 1
 * Tali'Zorah vas Normandy 2
 * Liara T'Soni
 * Garrus Vakarian 2
 * James Vega
 * Ashley Williams 1
 * The Prothean 3

While some squad members will be required, and core to the story, some will be optional and others may only be available for a single mission. Project Director Casey Hudson has also stated that Mass Effect 3 will have fewer squad members than Mass Effect 2 to focus on "deeper relationships and more interesting interplay". 1 One or the other, depending on the outcome of Virmire: Assault in Mass Effect. 2 Depending on the outcome of the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2. 3 From Ashes Downloadable Content.

Returning Characters
The following characters will appear in some capacity in Mass Effect 3, provided they survived the events of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.


 * David Anderson 1
 * Armando-Owen Bailey
 * Doctor Chakwas
 * Kelly Chambers
 * EDI
 * Kasumi Goto
 * Admiral Hackett
 * Jack
 * Captain Kirrahe
 * Thane Krios
 * Miranda Lawson


 * Legion
 * The Illusive Man
 * Zaeed Massani
 * Jeff "Joker" Moreau
 * Samara
 * Mordin Solus
 * Jacob Taylor
 * Aria T'Loak
 * Donnel Udina
 * Conrad Verner
 * Urdnot Wrex

1 Temporary squadmate.

The following characters make their first game appearance after appearing in other Mass Effect media:
 * Kai Leng, from Mass Effect: Retribution and Mass Effect: Deception.

Locations
Commander Shepard and the team will visit a wide variety of new locations in Mass Effect 3, including:
 * Earth
 * Mars
 * Rannoch, the quarian homeworld, now occupied by the geth.
 * Sur'Kesh, the salarian homeworld.
 * Palaven, the turian homeworld.
 * Thessia, the asari homeworld.

In addition, the player will return to the following locations featured in past games:
 * Illium
 * Tuchanka
 * The Citadel
 * Noveria
 * Eden Prime 1

1 From Ashes Downloadable Content

Normandy
The Normandy SR-2 will return in Mass Effect 3, and it has been claimed by the Systems Alliance, who has taken the ship apart, studied it, and then rebuilt it with new technologies and new areas.

Gameplay Changes
In a presentation by Lead Gameplay Designer Christina Norman, at the Game Developer's Conference in March 2010, titled ''Where Did My Inventory Go? Refining Gameplay in Mass Effect 2'', Norman outlined her goals for Mass Effect 3. These included richer RPG features, more combat options and more complex enemies.

According to Project Director Casey Hudson, Mass Effect 3 will continue, with adjustments, the approach of Mass Effect 2 by focusing on "an awesome sense of exploration, intense combat, a deep and non-linear story that's affected by your actions, and rich customisation of your armour, weapons and appearance" instead of an approach where the player "(equips the) hero by sifting through an inventory of hundreds of miscellaneous items and spend hours fiddling with numerical statistics" noting the "overwhelmingly positive" response Mass Effect 2 received for its approach.

Combat
Mass Effect 3's changes to Mass Effect 2's core combat mechanics are not as drastic as the changes Mass Effect 2 made to the original Mass Effect, however improvements have been made and new capabilities introduced. These include:
 * Difficulty will be increased, with Casey Hudson describing Normal as "the new Veteran".
 * An increase in overall combat speed of 10-15%.
 * Shepard is now more agile in combat. Changes to movement in combat include the ability to roll, leap over ledges or gaps without taking cover first, optimised maneuvering and firing from cover and the removal of fatigue while running.
 * Melee plays a larger role, all classes receive improved melee with each one receiving a unique heavy melee attack.
 * Enemy AI has been improved. Enemies now perform specific functions on the battlefield and coordinate with other enemies. For example, 'cover buster' enemies, such as Husks, are often paired with a 'suppressor' enemy type, which will try to keep Shepard in cover while the Husks get in close.

Weapons
Mass Effect 3 makes several changes to the way weapons worked in Mass Effect 2, these include:
 * The ability for all classes to wield any type of weapon. However, classes will be limited by the number of weapons they can carry at any one time, with the Soldier being the only class that can wield every weapon class at once.
 * The return of weapon modifications. Players will be able to modify their weapons with different parts, such as barrels, scopes and materials, that will affect the weapon's combat performance and appearance.
 * All weapons that the player acquired in Mass Effect 2 will be available, including downloadable firearms, such as the M-96 Mattock.
 * Grenades will return as a usable weapon. The new grenades have a different appearance and mechanics than those in Mass Effect. Mass Effect 3's grenades are "round, [and] conventional", they are thrown at enemies and detonate after a short time.

Powers
Mass Effect 3 features larger skill trees that offer a greater degree of freedom when it comes to choosing skills. Whereas Mass Effect 2 offered a choice of two evolved versions of a power upon reaching Rank 4, Mass Effect 3 grants the ability to evolve powers multiple times.

In addition to Powers returning from Mass Effect 2, there are several new additions to the lineup. These include:
 * Carnage
 * Cluster Grenade
 * Decoy
 * Fitness
 * Frag Grenade
 * Lift Grenade
 * Marksman
 * Nova
 * Proximity Mine
 * Sabotage (replaces AI Hacking)
 * Sentry Turret
 * Sticky Grenade

Advancement
The level cap in Mass Effect 3 is 60. If a character file is imported from Mass Effect 2, that character's level and abilities are retained.

Exploration
Vehicle-based exploration will be closer to Mass Effect 2, where it didn't form part of the critical path. Casey Hudson had previously indicated that the vehicle exploration segment of the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack Overlord was an attempt at addressing issues players had with the exploration segments in the original Mass Effect, and lessons learned from its implementation could be used to implement similar segments in Mass Effect 3.

While Cristina Norman has noted that "nobody liked" the mining mechanic in Mass Effect 2 and Casey Hudson has stated that the mining part of the game will be changed, nevertheless the notion of exploring the galaxy in a non-linear fashion will be preserved.

Kinect Functionality
Mass Effect 3 for the Xbox 360 will include optional Kinect functionality. The Kinect will allow the player to choose dialogue options by reading the paraphrase aloud and give tactical orders to the squad, such as changing positions or using powers, with voice commands. The Kinect features will not serve as an alternative control system, but will "augment" in-game conversations.

An official list of Kinect voice commands can be found here.

Different Play Styles
Mass Effect 3 will feature different play styles for people who prefer a different presentation. The three different styles are Roleplaying, Action, and Story. Roleplaying is the same Mass Effect game style as in previous entries. Action mode will streamline the cut scenes with pre-selected dialogue options, throwing in a mix of Paragon and Renegade choices. The Story style will make combat very easy for players who are invested in the story, but struggle at playing the game.

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War
Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War is a "bonus" to the Mass Effect 3 single-player. In Galaxy at War, the player can manage and experience the galactic war on multiple fronts. The system monitors the "Galactic Readiness" level, which is measured by Commander Shepard's ability to utilize assets, such as people, weapons, resources, armies, and fleets, to confront the Reapers. Galactic Readiness is influenced in several ways, including co-op multiplayer. Other platforms and interfaces will be announced later.

Using Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War is optional. Although the system can affect the single-player of Mass Effect 3, it can be ignored and the same results achieved by playing only the single-player. Access to Galaxy at War and its components will require an Online Pass, which will be included with new copies of Mass Effect 3.

Co-op Multiplayer
Mass Effect 3 will feature an online four-player co-op multiplayer mission mode separate from the single-player story. In this mode, the player will create a new custom character to fight on different fronts of the galactic war. Players can choose between turian, krogan, asari, and other races to create their character, each with their own unique abilities. There will also be character progression, weapon upgrading, and leveling up.

Playing the co-op multiplayer mode is optional. Although successfully completing missions in this mode can affect the single-player of Mass Effect 3 through the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, co-op can be ignored and the same results can be achieved by playing only the single-player.

Soundtrack
Composer Clint Mansell, known for scoring films such as Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain, will be composing the score for Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 composer Jack Wall will not be involved. ; however, Sam Hulick will return, as well as Christopher Lennertz, Cris Velasco, and Sascha Dikiciyan, who composed the soundtracks for the DLC for Mass Effect 2.

Save File Transfer
As with Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3 will allow the player to import their save file from the previous game, carrying over their decisions from both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, totaling over 1000 variables. As Mass Effect 3 will import decisions not just from Mass Effect 2, but the original Mass Effect as well, some of the player's decisions from Mass Effect that did not have impact in Mass Effect 2 could potentially have an impact in Mass Effect 3.

If Commander Shepard died in the player's Mass Effect 2 playthrough, the player will be unable to import their save game. Mass Effect 3's story is a continuation of Shepard's story and if Shepard died in Mass Effect 2 that death is considered final. Similarly, any squadmates who did not survive the suicide mission at the end of Mass Effect 2 will not return in Mass Effect 3.

A player importing a save from Mass Effect 2 will be able to change both their appearance and their class at the beginning of Mass Effect 3.