HOME | DD
haffri — Mass Effect effect
Published: 2012-12-27 09:38:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 1520; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 4
Redirect to original
Description
[ME3 spoilers]"I'm mourning a Geth!" said Tali with disbelief after Legion sacrificed itself. See, Tali, that's perfectly understandable. Me, on the other hand, ohohoho. Almost six months after finishing the last game I'm still mourning a bunch of fictional characters, and feeling insane remorse for making Shepard kill himself for the greater good while leaving Tali behind holding onto any tiny glimmer of hope to see him alive again only to find out she won't.
Dammit, BioWare. I will send you my psychotherapy bill.
Mass Effect (c) BioWare/EA
Related content
Comments: 60
You can only blame yourself.
I have to say though, on my third playthrough I decided from the beginning (while still at ME1) that I am going to completely ignore the ending; that I will get my Shep all the way to the conduit run in ME3, deal with the Illusive Man, talk with Anderson, and then ctrl+alt+del the game before the magic space kid elevator activates, and then pretend none of that happens, instead making up some vague nonspecific ending in my head. It worked. That was my favourite least painful and least torturous playthrough while the story didn't even lose any emotional weight.
I'm just sharing because, you know. We're all in this together. Maybe it will help you too.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
these make me realise how much i miss you anna 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey, sorry it took me so long to reply, these days simple things sometimes get surprisingly difficult, sorry
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
sounds pretty good to me 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Aw, thank you. And it helped me deal with the trauma, too!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Dammit! Another victim of Mass Effect writers. Say hello to Mordin from me.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
It's a great game, but I wish you could just prevent the things that happened from happening by simply changing it, even slightly.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
If you play on PC, you can install this happy ending mod [link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Very good comic! I think most people feel the same way when they watch or play a series of any kind.
(Although not nearly as emotionally tasking as ME does)
If it makes you feel better, the ME team announced they are making a new dlc that has ALL of the writers, including plot, story, and character writers working on it and the man who did the score for ME3.
If ME3's past dlc and hints, facts, and secretes from ME3 tells a majority of people on the ME forums anything; it will be something big that will deal with I.T. and continue the game after destroy.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well, DLC is problematic for me, because I haven't played any of it the first time, and wanted to play it on my next playthrough. It looks like there won't be a second playthrough, though. This game has a really low replayability value, man.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this mew ME-universe game scheduled for 2014 or something like that. The new non-Shepard game, maybe I actually will be able to enjoy that one.
Wait, after destroy? Like, after EDI and the Geth are annihilated? That's not why I killed my Shepard, dammit! He died for them to stay and exist and be happy with their Quarians and Jokers and rebuild the world into new era of peace and tolerance! Hey, what? Fuck you, BioWare!
Dammit, looks like it's another amazing game I won't play. I hope you are wrong or something. (Sorry)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Low replay ability? O.o
That's the fist time I ever heard that about a ME game.
But anyway, you post sounds like your in some ways confused at what I'm getting at about the ME3 destroy ending. Here, let me give you a link to this great topic on the ME forums. It's on its 3rd rendition and has been around sense the release of ME3. It will clear up the confusion, just don't be afraid to ask questions, they'll love to help you understand. Trust me, it will redeem the ending, Mass Effect in general and what's in store for us fans.
[link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh God, not the indoctrination theory. Look, think what you want and enjoy what you want, I'm fine with that, but I don't want to get into details and any big discussion on this subject, please. Just accept I don't want to. Please.
Also, I think I should clear this up- I liked the ending, I actually did. All of them. I liked it before the extended cut, and really, really loved it with it. I'm not saying everyone should, to each their own. I'm not an expert on writing, either, so I don't care if it was an utter hackjob, whether it was or not. I'm just expressing my personal opinion so that you know that's not an argument for me. I liked it and don't need any extra explanation or expansion of it. And I really don't want to discuss this issue further, either. Sorry.
Last but not least, I really don't want it to be set after destroy. I don't want an entire sentient species, non-violent sentient species, whom I felt sorry for since ME1 against all odds, and I don't want one of my favourite characters, and a friend, in love with my another favourite character, and friend, to be wiped out (EDI and Joker, I mean). Don't even try to convince me it can be fun. Just don't. I think you underestimate my ridiculous emotional bond to these characters.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I never said that I didn't like the endings, or accused you of not liking them either.
IMO, the endings before the extended cut where terrible, because there was little to no explanation to them. The EC makes the endings MUCH more tolerable and even likeable. But you proved my point about the destroy ending.In reality, when Harbinger hits you with his laser, everything past that point is a dream. With IT, the ending never happened, it was an attempt by the Reapers to indoctrinate Shepard into siding with their logic (control/synthesis). While the star kid tries his best to paint the destroy option (the very goal you've been working towards in all three games) as the bad choice by trying to guilt you with the possible death of the geth and edi. When you choose destroy, and have a high enough effective military strength, you get to see the breath scene. Which is Shepard waking up in rubble in London, breaking from the indoctrination attempt. No other ending has this but destroy. The geth and edi where never in danger, the star kid was lying. But this this really just the abridged version of what's going on behind the curtain, and the fine people at the IT topic can go into FAR more detain then I ever could.
I'm sorry I've dragged this out, and I'm not trying to force this on you. I only wish to tell you that Bioware has pulled the same stunt in some of there older games, and that there are many hidden messages in-game by bioware hinting at this the whole time, and that you should not lose hope of that happily ever after with Tali.
The last single player DLC will be massive, thanks to bioware's tweets saying they've got all the writers and voice actors coming together on this.
Thanks again for the awesome comic, I fav'ed it. And thanks for hearing me out; just keep an eye on Bioware for there future DLC.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh. Right, okay, I got a few things mixed up on my part, namely what I think happened/what IT says happened, but, well, I do know the basics of IT; however, that doesn't change much for me.
And I'm sorry that I was a bit, um, harsh, or aggressive maybe, I don't know how that looked from the other side. My excuse is that I didn't want to get into something that could possibly break into a semi-religious debate on a surprisingly touchy subject to some people (that would be me, probably), because I did in the past, and I always get so angry. Sorry. Thanks for being nice and understanding.
I still don't buy into IT, but I appreciate what you did and said and how you did it. Thanks.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Yeah, letting our characters die horrible deaths and leaving the galaxy in ruins no matter what you choose....THAT will convince our fans to play our trilogy all over again!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Haha. And yet I want to do it. MAGIC.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
yet it still makes you depressed?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes. Come on, that's the whole fun!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Not to me. I get really emotional WAY too easily. And this game did not help.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I was joking, actually, or being auto-sarcastic or something like that. I do not like having my heart broken and then wringed and then chewed up like Mass Effect did, by no means, but I absolutely loved the characters and enjoyed the story, and the music! (just opening the ME1 and hearing the menu music makes me tear up), and the overall atmosphere of the game was so amazing that I am forever trapped in an internal conflict on this subject.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Sorry, can't tell sarcasm on comments.
And for the record, I have nothing against sad endings, I just hate it when story tellers stick one in there when it's not needed. That's what Mass Effect 3 is to me at this point, an awesome story that did not get the ending it deserved, including one ending that fills me with nothing but irrational rage.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
But... but synthesis was great! The truest paragon choice! Shepard basically becomes the Messiah and savior of the galaxy and all is well for everyone ever thanks to his selfless sacrifice, no more interspecies wars, no more racism, no more intolerance, and no more Reaper invasions; and nobody gets hurt, they don't lose memories or cultural heritage or their personality, they stay in the same emotional relationships and mourn their dead friends. I originally chose destroy, but that's only because BioWare is more interested in cinematic dialogue than explaining everything properly, and I thought "synthesis? huh, what? Isn't that what reapers do, grind people into a pulp and stuff them into another reaper? THAT kind of synthesis? fuck no" but then I watched the ending on youtube, felt really silly with myself (not to mention mourning EDI and geth) and re-chose the synthesis instead and now I'm perfectly happy with my choice.
Especially after the extended cut, aw man.
I do think, however, it wouldn't hurt to keep Shepard alive. I mean, all emotionalities aside (as in, omg don't kill him because TALI ARGH), I just think this "survivor against all odds" thing he did all the time was a part of who he was, and a part of what his story was about. It would be very appropriate if after all is done and reapers stopped one way or another, he emerges, barely scratched, somewhere, to everybody's amazement. Because, you know, that's his thing, emerging unharmed out of the reaper-blasted, thresher maw- digested, slaver-raided ruins with barely a scratch.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I don't know, in my eyes, synthesis seemed way too sacred of a happy ending in my eyes. I mean, Husks and everyone working together in perfect harmony thanks to altering DNA, that just sounds like a LOAD of bullsh*t to me. Also, it sounds more like a lot more direct method indoctrination than anything else. Since...this is what they have now become. Connected to the Reaper hivemind, links to all the Reaper's knowledge, including their victims. Who's to say that the Reapers won't simply turn off the minds of everybody in the galaxy when they least expect it?
Hell, for all we know EDI's speech could have been a side effect of that level of brainwashing. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well, I just took what BioWare told me at face value and I know that I liked it, haha. The thing is, this is no longer a discussion of something from the game, but a matter of subjective opinions and individual preferences, so I don't think there is much to discuss here, really. I liked it, you didn't. Your loss
I don't think I should argue about Geth/EDI thing, either, because when someone finds a way for ME to feel any less painful, you should admire them for it, not oppose that's the spirit! Haha.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well thanks for not arguing with me then. Because in all honesty...I'm TERRIBLE at debates.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
haha, see, me too, and I always get very, very angry for any reason, and feel like an idiot later; and that's the main reason I wanted to back away peacefully when there was still time
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
THIS. I will soon replay the whole trilogy again and I'm afraid I'll keep thinking about what's to come, all the friggin' time.
Btw, remember last year, when you did a comic about how hard was to get into this universe? Look at you now, LOOK AT YOU! xD
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah... this time I got as far as reporting back to the Asari Consort, because that was a matter of honor, and then I was like "fuck this shit" with a table flip. Suck it, galaxy.
Anyway, listen, anyway, THANK YOU SO MUCH! By the time you posted that comment about how I shouldn't give up on ME just yet because it's great, I have already uninstalled it because I was so tired with the whole thing, and because of what you said I installed it again even though it took long time, the damn thing. I OWE YOU SO MUCH. You are my hero, thank you.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh, wow, I'm very glad to read that. Thanks for taking my suggestion seriously, you see it was worth it
But I guess now it's time to encourage you again to play it. So what if you know what happens. It's like watching a movie you love just for the sake of enjoying the good parts again. And you can do things differently, take different decisions, play with FemShep, etc.
Oh, man, now I wanna play it again as well... *installs ME1*
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The problem is not whether I want to play or not, because I know that I do, and it's not about knowing what will happen as in "meh, seen it all before", it's the question of avoiding terrible, traumatic experiences which I know will happen if I play.
And the thing with making different decisions is that I don't EVER make different decisions when replaying RPGs. I replayed VtM: Bloodlines some 10 times, and from that 10 times only once I played as an utter douche, and I gave up halfway through the story, because I didn't enjoy it. So when I start playing ME again, I know I will experience the exact same moral traumas I already did because the important moral decisions will be identical.
I still want to play it, though. I think I might be dumb, or maybe masochist or something.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, I replayed the trilogy on Renegade once, and I didn't enjoy it as much as the first time with Paragon. I don't think it's as much as "traumatic" for me even though some moments are pretty intense.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well... what I hate the most about Renegade path is the Khalisa al Jilani thing. You can traditionally punch her in the face in every game, what fun- but if you stick to Paragon, the first two times you just talk her out of ruining your reputation, sort of, and in ME3, she breaks and you find out her family is in the middle of the war and she is devastated and it's so sad and touching. I guess it's kind of absurd, but that one thing made me hate the Renegade almost entirely and forever.
I still chose a few renegade options, when paragon ones were just beyond even the paragon standard of ridiculous, but still. Insensitive jerk.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ahahaha! my paragon Shepard would never punch her, but I gotta admit, when I did so in Renegade it was hilarious, especially on ME3 when she had done some training for the moment lol
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
See, that's the problem. I, as a player, already know she is in fact heartbroken and devastated and emotionally fragile and suffering and scared, regardless of my choices, so punching her with that in mind would be for me like, I don't know, choking a puppy*. I would hate myself beyond belief after doing that. I could have tried it on my first playthrough, being completely oblivious, but now that option is forever lost for me. Sigh. I think I just love taking away all the fun from myself. It looks like the player is the only character in the game who I could make suffer without remorse, hah.
*or, even better, harvesting a little sister, haha. Bioshock joke. It's funny because I'd rather cut off my arm than kill any of them, silly old me.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
So you played ME3 before ME1, then? I played ME3 and ME2 before ME1, so I know how you feel.....
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
What? No, I played from 1 to 3, but recently I wanted to replay it all again. I failed miserably.
But what you must have experienced, that... well, my sympathies, friend.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I know how you feel. I got ME1 on my PS3 on Christmas, though It finished downloading yesterday (it's over 7000 MB). I'm starting to realize how much Ashley and Kaiden REALLY suck.....
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well, I actually liked Ashley in ME1 (shame that they turn her into such a useless angsty barbie doll in ME3, though) but Kaidan was such a whiny baby, with a hint of creepy.
My Shepard eventually had sex with Ashley, due to some unbelievably clever manipulations on her part that defy comprehension. I don't even know how it happened and I didn't want to romance her at all, but I just ended up with the following dialogue options at some point: "hey, we can have sex later, if you don't want to do it now" and "we must have sex NOW".
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Personally, Im only romancing Tali as ManShep and Garrus as Femshep.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I KNOW! Tali is so sexy. I romanced her in ME2 and continued in ME3 and I would in ME1 as well if it was possible.
I haven't played as femShep yet, though. Maybe that would be a good cure for my trauma, to start from a slightly different viewpoint.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Good idea. Do that!
P.S. TALI IS SO CUTE AND SEXY!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I KNOOOOOWW OMG I'm all lesbian for Tali.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
I play as Femshep and aaaall her suitors are nonces.
I'm hoping there's at least a way to make her girly BFFs with Tali
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I actually managed to replay most of the trilogy as femshep, but I made it a principle to not romance anyone ever in that game again so that I don't have to leave them to mourn me when I have to sacrifice myself, and thus avoid at least SOME of the guilt and despair. Shame about Tali's adorable, adorable romance dialogues, though. Oh well. At least she will be happy with Garrus. She deserves to be happy with Garrus.
About Tali and FemShep as BFFs: playing again as FemShep, in ME2 I installed the Shadow Broker DLC, and after completing the mission you can read his dossiers on all your crew members and Tali's says something about doing research on humans shortly after you meet her first in ME1, so, well, she's interested in your culture? That's nice, right? And in ME3, before you recruit her, you find a recording of her saying "I wish my friends could be here. I wish Shepard was here" whether you are male or female. Anyway, she cares. She is so cool and likes you no matter the sex. And loyal, and sexy, and smart, and aghskfd I love Tali.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
| Next =>