Shack PSA: Mass Effect 3 'Extended Cut' available now

The Mass Effect 3 "Extended Cut" DLC is available today on Xbox 360 and PC, and will be coming July 4 to PlayStation 3.

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As promised, the Mass Effect 3 "Extended Cut" downloadable content is available today. It's available for the Xbox 360 and will be coming to PC soon, but the PlayStation 3 version isn't coming until July 4. Spoilers follow.

The Extended Cut adds more context to the endings, but doesn't change the key choice that bothered some fans. BioWare pointed out that people who rejected the concept itself won't be pleased. But fans looking for some more clarity and detail should like it a bit better. Plus, some fans have already noticed a fourth option, in which Shepard simply refuses to make any choice at all.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    June 26, 2012 8:00 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Shack PSA: Mass Effect 3 'Extended Cut' available now.

    The Mass Effect 3 "Extended Cut" DLC is available today on Xbox 360 and PC, and will be coming July 4 to PlayStation 3.

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      June 26, 2012 8:11 AM

      You also get the "Reject" ending automatically if you shoot the star child.

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      June 26, 2012 8:46 AM

      Here's a better video for "Refuse" option, with a changed Stargazer sequence:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO4eh6HVomM

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      June 26, 2012 8:47 AM

      Synthesis Extended: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vewK7UwDTyI

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      June 26, 2012 8:50 AM

      Just saw the refusal ending and destroy ending. It's certainly an improvement.

      I would have liked to see a super high ems branch of the refusal ending that you could only obtain if you made certain choices throughout the trilogy and dlc but that's just wishful fanboy thinking because they would be unobtainable on the PS3 version and upcoming Wii U version.

      Though looking at the new endings, it's super obvious that they're going to make sequels set in the future of this universe.

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        June 26, 2012 8:58 AM

        I love the attitude presented in it.
        Don't like my, CASEY HUDSON, astonishing endings?
        ROCKS FALL EVERYONE DIES

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      June 26, 2012 8:54 AM

      [deleted]

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        June 26, 2012 10:06 AM

        you probably shouldn't be reading this article then

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        June 26, 2012 11:27 AM

        Shepard is eaten by a leopard at the end.

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      June 26, 2012 9:06 AM

      not available yet on origin, in italy

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      June 26, 2012 9:09 AM

      It's certainly better.

      Though I did have other issues, like all the cop-outs of your decisions in the first two games (the Rachni Queen for example)

      But with this ending DLC I might just play it again and start acknowledging the game's existence.

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      June 26, 2012 10:39 AM

      Gotta love the maturity Bioware's showing after all the mistakes they've made.

      "YOU DON'T RESPECT OUR ARTISTIC INTEGRITY! YOU DIE NOW!"

      Basically, it's Casey Hudson and Mac Walters throwing a fit and giving you the finger.

      *That's* how you treat your fans after you abuse them with these turds they call endings.

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        June 26, 2012 10:42 AM

        ..Well the refusal ending was actually something a lot of people were clambering for.
        It doesn't have to be a happy ending full of rainbows and sunshine, matter of fact I wish more games had sad endings.

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          June 26, 2012 10:52 AM

          What people were clamoring for was a real ending, not this Deus Ex Machina BS.

          You like sad endings. Good for you. But guess what? You know what gaming is supposed to be? Escapism. From what, you ask. Reality. Reality has more than enough sad endings for me to stomach. I, and many others, went through this game hoping for a satisfying end to a journey that started five years ago.

          Bioware not only dropped the ball, they threw it through the floor and claimed it was 'art'.

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            June 26, 2012 11:05 AM

            [deleted]

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              June 26, 2012 11:21 AM

              Where did I say that 'sad endings' were bad? I've said that this ending was just Bad! As in, poorly thought out, last minute, pretentious BS that flies in the face of everything you've done since ME1.

              And I'd kindly like it if you didn't put words in my mouth. Nowhere did I say that I never wanted games to be more than just escapism. That's something you came to by yourself.

              And yes, they did ignore that sentiment by refusing to acknowledge that the endings they had were bad and instead behaved let petulant children instead.

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                June 26, 2012 11:27 AM

                [deleted]

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                  June 26, 2012 11:34 AM

                  [deleted]

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                  June 26, 2012 11:36 AM

                  Because maybe sad endings aren't always satisfying and happy endings can be. With the endings as they are, none are either happy or satisfying. it's all just one sad attempt at Hudson and Walters trying, and failing, to be 'deep' and 'profound'.

                  But you know what? That's fine. You can like the endings. That's your prerogative. I won't and if you don't like that, then it's not my problem.

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            June 26, 2012 11:39 AM

            I said it was one of the things people were clambering for, sheesh. Chill out buddy.

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        June 26, 2012 11:03 AM

        Huh? I...don't agree with this at all. I just watched the new synthesis ending, and it's pretty good.

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      June 26, 2012 11:10 AM

      So despite what I said I played the DLC and while it gives me an idea of what BioWares vision actually was the ending still sucked and my squad members who were on the ground with me (who supposedly died?) were in the cutscenes. Anyway really obvious there'll be a game set in the ME universe in the future but I'm not buying it, or for that matter any BioWare games even if they call it Zelda.

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      June 26, 2012 11:27 AM

      That's interesting...an ending about refusing to make a choice. Maybe this ending was designed for those gamers who didn't think that it made sense for their Shepard to trust the catylist. I like the way that there is still a consequence for that "non-choice".

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      June 26, 2012 11:44 AM

      I loved Virtual Shackles take on it

      http://www.virtualshackles.com/324

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      June 26, 2012 11:47 AM

      So the mass relays no longer explode? That's a pretty huge / significant change. Not just an "extended" look.

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        June 26, 2012 11:55 AM

        I like it. I think that's definitely an improvement

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        June 26, 2012 12:10 PM

        The Citadel is also largely in tact and they rebuild it in the Destroy ending. Although they still kind of ignore the whole it would take a very long time for the other races to get to their home systems without a functional Relay.

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          June 26, 2012 4:48 PM

          In the Destroyed ending the Citadel is a ruin, then shown fully repaired, and the Mass Relays blow up, but can also be repaired. Kind of a shame, I was hoping they'd have the balls to keep things destroyed and get creative with the future direction of Mass Effect tech, but I guess the relays and Citadel are iconic. At least the next time we're at the Citadel it should be fresh and different.

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            June 26, 2012 6:27 PM

            The things are pretty much destroyed (relays blown up the same as before EC, Normandy damaged) if you have low EMS in Destroy ending.

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              June 27, 2012 1:53 AM

              Oh right, that's kinda cool. I don't know why anyone would half-arse their EMS by rushing through though.

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      June 26, 2012 11:50 AM

      Interesting overall. I have to say, if the game had shipped with these endings, I definitely would have been a lot less pissed.

      Not all of the plot issues I had are fixed, but it's definitely a lot more respectful of a send-off for the series. Good on bioware.

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      June 26, 2012 12:12 PM

      Maybe they changed this but didn't The Illusive Man say that the Reapers recalled all of their forces to Earth in preparation for the assault? And if so why were their still Reapers on Palaven, Ilium, and Tuchanka?

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      June 26, 2012 12:20 PM

      Didn't care... watched em on Youtube and found them all lacking. I am annoyed that they left the potential for 1 more game out there.

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        June 26, 2012 12:28 PM

        What'd you expect, though? It's a valuable IP. Of course they're going to want to make more games in the ME universe.

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      June 26, 2012 12:27 PM

      Refusal was kind of what I expecting the first time around. I thought all that was foreshadowed by a cutscene with Liara and Shephard earlier in the game, but they didn't do anything with it, till now.

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      June 26, 2012 1:09 PM

      Hold on. My Galactic Readiness, after grinding the fuck outta multiplayer, the iPad game and even the pointless DataPad app game, is back down to 50%. Do I need to bulk that fucker again or what? My effective military strength is 3249, did I hear right they changed it so that'll get you the best ending still? That'd be a sensible change so people don't have to grind anymore to get the best - I didn't mind the first time, but on future playthroughs? No.

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        June 26, 2012 5:04 PM

        If you stop playing Multiplayer it goes down over time.

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        June 26, 2012 6:29 PM

        3100 EMS is all you need now, but for it to count you probably need to start before the Cerberus base (this is when the EMS level is being measured).

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          June 26, 2012 6:48 PM

          Does that include the shepard breath with the destroy ending that you needed 5k for before?

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            June 27, 2012 1:54 AM

            I just did it with 3200 and got the best Destroyed ending with Shepard "living"

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            June 27, 2012 2:02 AM

            Yep. You needed 4k though, you get 1k bonus if you "save" Anderson.

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      June 26, 2012 4:46 PM

      man everythign about those were a million times better. those are the endings that the game should have shipped with.

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        June 26, 2012 4:56 PM

        They added just enough, I'm satisfied. Makes me want to try a Paragon synthetic-sympathiser playthrough too after my Renegade synthetic-hater! Loved seeing Krogan baby too! Dawwwwwww.

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        June 26, 2012 5:04 PM

        [deleted]

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          June 26, 2012 7:32 PM

          Yeah, I agree. I mean...it's definitely enough, and while not perfect, it's satisfying.

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        June 27, 2012 12:25 AM

        theyre better but still not what the game should have shipped with

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      June 26, 2012 6:41 PM

      Looks like I'll finally pick it up now. I was on the fence due to all the rage until they announced that they were doing this.

      Made it pretty easy to put on the back burner.

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      June 27, 2012 9:20 AM

      Mass Effect 3's Extended Cut DLC fixes series consistency (faux choice):
      - The whole series has been all about: make a choice (paragon/renegade) and watch it (maybe not exactly how you wanted it to) unfold and that is where this ending succeeds. The paragon ending may not be what you wanted but it least there's a 'unique' consequence.

      If Bioware had released Mass Effect 3 like this there would in fact have been no controversy. Simply people that were slightly...mindf*cked at the endings.

      Here's where it fails:
      With all the entitlement of fans demanding a new ending:
      - (immersion) You got to look behind the curtains thus ruining it.
      - (execution) You have to replay a large section of the game.
      - (emotional investment) You were already not invested anymore since it months later.
      and most importantly:
      - You may finally realize that the Mass Effect experience isn't about getting: "your customized completely personal story" (aka; branching paths) but it's about: "nudging the story slightly" (aka; a focused experience, faux choice).

      In hindsight, the ending(s) was always good enough, just badly elaborated and thus too much of a mind*ck.

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        June 27, 2012 8:26 PM

        Good points. I'm actually happier that they did SOMETHING rather than placate to critics like Andrea and Jeff C. The "inmates are running the asylum" was getting to be a cynical snide way of saying "STFU".

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