Finally finished the game. The boy changed my mind about destroying Reapers. I wanted to save everyone, I didn't want to destroy the Geth, and I fully expected Shepard to die so it was an easy choice. Plus transcending into a god-like entity is not such a bad deal. And then I found out about Indoctrination Theory.

Comment:

I was kinda worried there about the ending. What with all the ruckus and all. Was not quite as bad as I expected, though I can see why it doesn't appeal to many people (see - 'it'). I'm fine with the ending plot, but I think the execution is poorly done. It just doesn't have that epic feeling of an ending worthy of such a long game. Suffice to say, mind not blown. Decent, but nowhere near the level of Red Dead, MGS4 or even KOTOR II and I expected better. If the Indoctrination Theory is true, then this is the biggest twist ever in games I've played. Bloody hell, I'd put it in the same club with the twist of film Memento, Inception, Usual Suspects, The Prestige and Fight Club.


BTW is this posted here yet? I can't find it within the last 10 pages. Worth a read if you haven't.

Mass Effect 3 writer allegedly slams controversial ending




Which explains the wacky final scene.

This post has been edited by Fhaarkas: Apr 2 2012, 07:18 AM

more off-topic - I wouldn't put too much hope for Usual Suspects to mindfucuk you. The film was damn good for its time, but the status nowadays is more like a Scream for thrillers. It's more in the level of Se7en instead of Memento or Inception. I'd watch it for the reputation alone though . BTW are we talking about the same Memento here? I can't seem to recall any kind of master plan...

(I'm just gonna go ahead and assume that you were trying to quote me because your quote there doesn't make sense )
How so? Anyway I don't really care anymore what the official story is.

IT makes perfecto senso to me -

• All that weird 'something's not quite right' feeling during the final sequence is answered. Seriously the whole Citadel: The Return act screams "this is weird!"
  
• The Imaginary Kid scene looks too shallow to be taken at face value.
  
• The fact that the ending polarizes the community as such (and spawns a discussion spanning 1000+ pages) speaks volume. The last films I remember for inciting such reaction are Inception and NCFOM.
  
• To craft such an ending for a game is not that inconceivable. There's plenty of such films already (especially Nolan's) so the idea is not new.
  

Just a friendly tip - you're going to need 200% concentration!

err no. but there's a lot of mental note.

dem i got indoctrinated again.

btw where's the discussion here? bored already?

Exactly my thought. People are treating ME like it's some kind of hardcore RPG. News - it's not. FFS the game was made for X360 in the first place. Plus the series been going downhill (RPG-wise) ever since ME2.

My theory - IT is not bullshit. First of all you have to read this to get things into perspective -

Mass Effect 3 writer allegedly slams controversial ending

Assuming this is the case, it explains why the final Citadel sequence seems out of place and incoherent with the rest of the game. It also explains why it's so poorly executed. So that's out of the way.

What were they trying to do actually?

• Ever since Eden Prime, The Reapers have been trying to indoctrinate Shepard but his will is strong.
  
  
• After Thessia, he started to lose his plot.
  
  
• The weakened Will of Shepard finally succumb during the final push. He passed out.
  
  
• But the Reapers are impressed with Shepard. Never before has there been any organic that so strongly and successfully manages to resist them. He single-handedly united the galaxy. He killed every comers. That has never been done before. This guy is a fukking beast. He must be The One or something.
  
  
• They decided to give him some tests. Hence the final sequence.
  
  
• The encounter with TIM and Anderson is the first test. The Reapers try to turn him one more time. They fail.
  
  
• The encounter with The Catalyst is the final test. They need to see his resolve. The Catalyst tried to talk Shepard out of his plan to destroy the Reapers and entice him to choose either control or synthesis. Both of which are the goals of TIM and Saren respectively.
  
  
• After this point, the game turns to YOU. The Catalyst presents YOU with three options - Blue (usually Paragon/good), Green (dunno. probably Neutral) and Red (usually Renegade/bad). This is the final test of YOUR resolve. Are you strong enough to look past all the lies and tricks? Have you been paying attention to all the details?
  
  
• Should you choose the blue or green option, you fail and forever stay in lala land. Game ends.
  
  
• Should you choose the red option, you win and you wake up (The Breath scene).
  
  
• What happens after (mother of all speculation)?
  
  
  
  
  • The Reapers is all about logic. They thought, "So this is the guy who passed all of our tests, resisted all attempts to turn him, united the whole galaxy and even came back from the dead once. Maybe we'll give them another chance. Plus if Shepard fails later, we can always come back." They leave.
    
    
  • TIM is nowhere to be found (DLC?).
    
    
  
  

Far-fetched?

This post has been edited by Fhaarkas: Apr 3 2012, 10:05 AM

you wouldn't be as confused if there're only two colours now, would you? that's too easy.


it's probably what Casey Hudson and Marc Walters wanted. but as we can see a lot of people fail to do not appreciate it.

oh, in my theory the Geth are not destroyed. The Catalyst was trying to put you off, remember?

I think if you hate The Matrix Revolutions, you're gonna hate this.

In fact, it stinks of Matrix - create a cool game everyone likes, give them a mindfucuk ending. Those that don't get can't take it rage.

Me on the other hand think The Matrix trilogy are one the most mind-blowing films ever made (surpassed by Inception now) so when I found out about IT you can imagine me having that enlightenment moment. This is the most f***ing mind-blowing game ever made.

My only gripe is I never paid enough attention to details.

Hey thanks for the link Hahli ^^
Hmm. I think the fan base is now split into a couple of groups -

• Fans who take the ending at face value and absolutely abhor it
  
• Fans who take the ending at face value and are actually happy with it
  
• Indoctrination Theory subscribers
  
• others
  

I am a firm believer of Indoctrination Theory, so yeah.



[WARNING: The Prestige references ensue]
Ahah. But we haven't seen "The Prestige" yet. We have seen "The Pledge" (Mass Effect - your everyday ordinary RPG game), "The Turn" (Indoctrination Theory - take the ordinary something and make it do something extraordinary) but not "The Prestige" (that is why everyone's still baffled).

Quoted for reference -


PAX Friday April 6th?




Or maybe I'm just over-thinking things. Perhaps BioWare is not that awesome?

My crazy thought is Hudson intentionally cut out the Destroy ending (hence leaving players in the dark) just to incite all these reactions. They are uncharacteristically calm and that's quite suspicious.

I doubt they (BioWare) would charge for it. That would be prepostorous. Now EA on the other hand...

Come and join us!

For me they're not even the endings actually .

As long as they release it later (for free). I'll keep my rage until then.

maybe they're trying a new thing?

you don't believe in IT. i do not heed you.

i somehow think something will happen this friday.

just in case you haven't noticed, the ending is just one CG cutscene away. we don't need any dlc for it.

edit: should've added some smileys. there you go.

This post has been edited by Fhaarkas: Apr 3 2012, 04:38 PM

Relax, old friend. If they defy the Indoctrination Theory, all of galaxy goes to war. Pray they're that stupid. Pray we're that lucky.