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Mass Effect 3 story details announced

Published on 11th April 2011 by Joe Martin

Mass Effect 3 will begin with Shepherd standing trial for his actions in The Arrival DLC.

Bioware has announced several new story details for upcoming space-based RPG, Mass Effect 3 - the biggest reveal of which includes which characters are confirmed to rear their heads in the final act of the trilogy.

While it's no confirm which characters will be recruitable, series alums Liara T'soni, Kaidan Alenko and Ashley Williams are all set to reappear, providing they haven't been killed in the player continuity. Garrus, Wrex, Mordin and Legion are all set to reappear too, as is Colnel Anderson.

A new character, James Sanders, has also been revealed - and is notable for sharing a surname with the protaganist of the Mass Effect novels, Kahlee Sanders.

Story-wise, Mass Effect 3 will open with Shepard on trial for his actions in the new Mass Effect 2 DLC, The Arrival. Half way through the hearing the Reapers will apparently move to invade Earth, giving Shepard an opening to escape and steal the Normandy. Much of the game will then focus on Shepard's efforts to reunite his team and gain an advantage against the Reapers.

Shepard's mission will be complicated by the re-emergence of The Illusive Man, however - who has now tasked Cerebus with assassinating Shepard as soon as possible. Quite why he's turned against his former ally hasn't been explained yet.

Bioware has confirmed that, like previous games in the series, Mass Effect 3 will not feature any multiplayer - though the team is considering a possible Mass Effect MMO for the future.

Check out the Mass Effect 3 trailer below, then let us know your thoughts in the forums.

45 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

DieselPower 11th April 2011, 12:23

Hmm.. Interesting.

Will be keeping an eye on ME3 methinks.

Teh Noob Slayer 11th April 2011, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit-gamer
Shepard's mission will be complicated by the re-emergence of The Illusive Man, however - who has now tasked Cerebus with assassinating Shepard as soon as possible. Quite why he's turned against his former ally hasn't been explained yet.

He probably bedded his daughter, then his maid etc ;)

proxess 11th April 2011, 12:32

The G-Man?

srgtherasta 11th April 2011, 12:33

Want want want.

FelixTech 11th April 2011, 12:36

What's with the auto-playing movies all of a sudden? :O

liratheal 11th April 2011, 12:38

I'm impressed they think the London Eye will survive that far into the future...

Also, I'm far too excited for this, considering it's an "end of the year" game.

CardJoe 11th April 2011, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by FelixTech
What's with the auto-playing movies all of a sudden? :O

I'm looking into making the vids click to play.

Kamikaze-X 11th April 2011, 13:06

CardJoe, i just noticed that when fullscreening it, the video goes bgger than my screen, and cuts a third off the right hand side :/ im running full 1080P too.

Kiytan 11th April 2011, 13:09

Wonder why the hell the Illusive man turns on shepard, as while I don't agree with him a lot of the time, can't imagine he's on the reapers side. Wonder if he sends Kai Leng after you .

Also, yay for wrex, mordin and garrus returning.

Hovis 11th April 2011, 13:35

If Mass Effect 3 is as good as Mass Effect 2 then I can play it and die a happy man. If it is as far superior to Mass Effect 2 as 2 was to the first game then it may just kill me anyway with an overdose of WIN.

WildThing 11th April 2011, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article
Story-wise, Mass Effect 3 will open with Shepard on trial for his actions in the new Mass Effect 2 DLC, The Arrival.

So the DLC is for Mass Effect 2? I'm going to have to re-install and get the DLC aren't I? :(

DragunovHUN 11th April 2011, 13:47

WHAT? ME3 will pick up after ME2 DLC? That's ****ing bullshit.

Fizzban 11th April 2011, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
WHAT? ME3 will pick up after ME2 DLC? That's ****ing bullshit.

Not really. They have been saying for a long time they would add in DLC that would link from ME2 to ME3. That being The Shadow Broker and Arrival DLC. Anyone who hasn't played arrival will find out why Shepard is on trial. They (Bioware) could have simply started the game the same way but not given us the opportunity to actually take part in what he did to get put on trial. I'm glad they did let us play that.

Volund 11th April 2011, 14:28

Sweet, two of my favorite characters confirmed to appear, Garrus and Legion ftw

Not totally happy with having to re-download and buy the DLC.... but I guess I was going to do that anyway :P project for the summer lol

Da_Rude_Baboon 11th April 2011, 14:28

I really enjoyed both Mass Effects but can they not come up with something other than fly around gathering a crew than proceed to big finale?

Bauul 11th April 2011, 14:29

Do you think ME3 will reward me for hooking up with Liara in ME1 and staying true to her all the way through ME2?

I'm going to feel like a proper plonker if not!

DragunovHUN 11th April 2011, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizzban
Anyone who hasn't played arrival will find out why Shepard is on trial

In that case it's sort of fine, still, being left out of the details kind of sucks.
Because even if i wanted to, i couldn't get ME2 DLC. Not even the free ones i'm entitled to via the cerberus code.

Fizzban 11th April 2011, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
In that case it's sort of fine, still, being left out of the details kind of sucks.
Because even if i wanted to, i couldn't get ME2 DLC. Not even the free ones i'm entitled to via the cerberus code.

Why is that?

DragunovHUN 11th April 2011, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizzban
Why is that?

Because my ME1 save was on Xbox, i also bought ME2 on the same platform. But before that, XBL was fully launched in Hungary so i migrated to it, only to find out that 90% of the content isn't available here even a good while after the service launched.

Baz 11th April 2011, 15:17

Kaiden? I hope you waited for me...I waited for you!

Xir 11th April 2011, 15:21

Quote:

Much of the game will then focus on Shepard's efforts to reunite his team and gain an advantage against the Reapers.

That's pretty much summs up what happened in the first two parts...each

Fizzban 11th April 2011, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
Because my ME1 save was on Xbox, i also bought ME2 on the same platform. But before that, XBL was fully launched in Hungary so i migrated to it, only to find out that 90% of the content isn't available here even a good while after the service launched.

Is there a reason you haven't got it on PC? If you make an account here and register your game you can buy and download the content. No stupid XBL getting in your way then.

DragunovHUN 11th April 2011, 15:52

Like i said, i was pretty much stuck with the Xbox because of my me1 save. Next time the series comes up in a Steam sale i might grab them and replay the lot.

Microsoft is such a mixed bag...

Fizzban 11th April 2011, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
Like i said, i was pretty much stuck with the Xbox because of my me1 save. Next time the series comes up in a Steam sale i might grab them and replay the lot.

Microsoft is such a mixed bag...

If you were to get ME2 on PC you can actually download other peoples ME1 saves. You can look through them to see what choices they made and what class they took ect. You can also mod the look of your character. This site is just brilliant. Handy if you don't have the 1st game on PC.

Anyways there is a point to all this. If you really want ME2 on the PC I may be able to help you get a free legit copy. *cue the crys of the ignorant* I actually have a copy I don't need. In fact everyone who bought and registered Dragon Age 2 can get a free copy of ME2 this month.

DragunovHUN 11th April 2011, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizzban

Anyways there is a point to all this. If you really want ME2 on the PC I may be able to help you get a free legit copy. *cue the crys of the ignorant* I actually have a copy I don't need. In fact everyone who bought and registered Dragon Age 2 can get a free copy of ME2 this month.

Oh wow, that would be amazing of you. If you really would give away your spare copy i'd very happily accept it.

tristanperry 11th April 2011, 16:10

WANT.

I'm not a fan about the decision that ME3's storyline follows on from DLC (even if they'll probably explain things at the start of ME2), but I can understand it.

Good to see some of the announced returning characters. Would quite like to see Miranda return since - whilst I know she's a bit of a disliked character by some - I thought she was an interesting character nonetheless.

Is interesting that Cerberus have now turned against Shepherd in ME3. I think they done it for development reasons though (to simplify things). The choice at the end of ME2 can either make Cerberus hate you or love you. And naturally that could make things very tricky storyline-wise in ME3.

So personally I think they'll ignore (to some extents) the choice you made at the end of ME2 and go with Cerberus hating you regardless.

Anywhoo, W.A.N.T.

Skyrim, BF3, ME3:Q4 of 2011 is shaping up to be pretty awesome :)

Showerhead 11th April 2011, 16:11

Or better than that get the save editor from same site. It allows you too change the plot outcomes as if you had completed the games.

Fizzban 11th April 2011, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
Oh wow, that would be amazing of you. If you really would give away your spare copy i'd very happily accept it.

PM'ed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Showerhead
Or better than that get the save editor from same site. It allows you too change the plot outcomes as if you had completed the games.

Yep you can do that also. :D

DragunovHUN 11th April 2011, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizzban
PM'ed.

+rep for being awesome. Such a nice community, this one.

Fizzban 11th April 2011, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
+rep for being awesome. Such a nice community, this one.

Happy to help. No point in me having the game twice on the PC. And it would have been a shame to waste it. Happy gaming!

Grimloon 11th April 2011, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Article
Shepard's mission will be complicated by the re-emergence of The Illusive Man, however - who has now tasked Cerebus with assassinating Shepard as soon as possible.

That's a little harsh isn't it? Siccing a psychotic aardvark on someone just isn't cricket!

Mehtinks you may have meant to say Cerberus there? :p

somidiot 11th April 2011, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Quote:
Originally Posted by FelixTech
What's with the auto-playing movies all of a sudden? :O

I'm looking into making the vids click to play.

I'd appreciate that since my work has bandwidth restrictions.

somidiot 11th April 2011, 17:33

I still need to play the first two games in the series. It's been on the shelf to do because I need to get me a new rig that will play it nicely ..... saving up money to get something that'll play top quality for the next couple of years.

true_gamer 11th April 2011, 18:54

I hope this will be as good as ME2....It's been a long time since I got hooked into a game that kept me interested to continue to the end.
So many hours of my life got lost by ME2...which is a good thing!

thehippoz 11th April 2011, 19:06

so let me guess.. shepard will have options for the buttsecks- and that's supposed to be cutting edge

I don't know of a formal survey done, but back in age of empires we ran gay clan tryouts as a joke- and couldn't believe the number of people (some elite at the game) who came in to try out

I was in a relationship with ashley in the first one.. then she was portrayed as don't ask and I'll tell in the second one.. hope the third one is more like the first (but I already know)

please no buttsecks bioware- dragon age had me wearing steel pants like when I go to buy something off craigslist and the guy is sitting in his front yard with his shirt off wearing nipple rings

Ficky Pucker 11th April 2011, 19:11

can't freaking wait, hopefully they won't dumb it down even further.

Tangster 11th April 2011, 22:14

I only really care about getting Garrus, Tali, Legion and the option to "air-quote" and "dismiss" the council. Also, why has Shep gone back to the old ME1 N7 shoulder armour?

Mentai 11th April 2011, 22:31

I'm a little miffed at the recruitment gameplay after it was the entire focus of the 2nd game and the need for DLC. Wish they'd put the DLC on sale like steam does. I bet this will end up like Dragon Age for me where rebuying the game in the ultimate pack on steam cost me less than getting all the DLC separately, let alone the expansion. I don't like to be punished as an early adopter like this. But it's ME3, so I know I will be buying it day 1.

Volund 11th April 2011, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by tristanperry

Good to see some of the announced returning characters. Would quite like to see Miranda return since - whilst I know she's a bit of a disliked character by some - I thought she was an interesting character nonetheless.

So would I, I *loved* Miranda

Tangster 12th April 2011, 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volund
So would I, I *loved* Miranda

I'm sure you "loved" her best when you went for the required tour of the engine room as well. :)

Ljs 12th April 2011, 00:31

Kaiden was my my right hand man in ME1 so I was a little bit annoyed when he didn't join up with me in ME2. Hopefully he'll change his mind for the next one.

Didn't really care about the other characters if I'm honest. I thought some were annoying and the others were 'ok' but didn't actually care which one was with me as long as I had the mix of skills I needed.

logan'srun 12th April 2011, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehippoz
so let me guess.. shepard will have options for the buttsecks- and that's supposed to be cutting edge

I don't know of a formal survey done, but back in age of empires we ran gay clan tryouts as a joke- and couldn't believe the number of people (some elite at the game) who came in to try out

I was in a relationship with ashley in the first one.. then she was portrayed as don't ask and I'll tell in the second one.. hope the third one is more like the first (but I already know)

please no buttsecks bioware- dragon age had me wearing steel pants like when I go to buy something off craigslist and the guy is sitting in his front yard with his shirt off wearing nipple rings

homophobic much?

Xir 12th April 2011, 09:31

Meh, started each game out fresh.
Probably missed some of the DLC though.

Had to go through several conversations multiple times to see waht happends After sex....nothing good mostly so I reverted to an earlier savepoint.

chrisdj 13th April 2011, 12:59

Heh,

No one noticed that the voice over on the clip was antipodean! The reapers attack London and all we get is some aussie bloke representing... maybe Sheperds Bush is worth it after all...

Bring on the Commonwealth!!!

Hrodwulf666 13th April 2011, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdj
Heh,
Sheperds Bush is worth it after all...

LOL Can you imagine that making an appearance, right after he opens up Tali's suit with a can opener.

Glad Garrus is back, its all about Garrus. Kind of wished I hadnt read this, could have done without knowing about Cerberus as was looking forward to fining that out in the game. Thats not so much info on the story as much a spoiler.