How Mass Effect 3 will be easier on series newcomers

By Robert Purchese Published 24 January, 2012

"Story so far" narrative, altered AI responses.

Mass Effect 3 will be the third and final part of Shepard's story, but don't worry if you've never played the series before - BioWare has come up with a couple of ideas to ease you in.

"In all honesty, we didn't do a really good job of new player orientation [in Mass Effect 2]," Mass Effect 3 producer Nick Clifford told IGN. "If you didn't play the first game then two was pretty jarring for the first half hour."

Mass Effect 2 begins with Shepard being pieced back together after his ship, The Normandy, was blasted to pieces. There are references to the events of Mass Effect 1, and characters interact with you with an appropriate level of regard for your previous-game adventures.

Not that you'd know any of that if you hadn't played Mass Effect 1.

"If I'm a new player and some guy walks up to me and is like, 'Oh Shepard! Remember that one time?' I would be like, 'No, I don't remember that one time,'" Clifford said.

"So we wanted to make sure that there aren't those moments that the player is like, 'Who is this? What's going on? What are they talking about?'"

Clifford said Mass Effect 3 will alter character's behaviour toward Shepard depending on whether you import a saved game from Mass Effect 2, or start an adventure from fresh.

BioWare will also integrate a "story so far narrative" to fill in the blanks. But Clifford wouldn't offer any more information on it.

Mass Effect 2 on PS3 came with an interactive comic-book charting the storyline and main choices of Mass Effect 1.

Mass Effect 1 isn't available on PS3.

Mass Effect 3 supports Kinect.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (59) Latest comment 4 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Monkey_Puncher #1 4 months ago

    I hope this isn't there way of saying that your choices in previous games will have even less impact than they did in Mass Effect 2...

  • Lunatic4ever #2 4 months ago

    I understand that it sucked for ps3 owners who probably had a hard time figuring out wtf was going on. Especially because Mass Effect 1 wasn't released on PS3. So that's a really fair move. Respect.

  • Glück #3 4 months ago

    The important thing is if it will be easier too on series veterans, like ME2 (meh 2).

  • j-bo #4 4 months ago

    Clifford said Mass Effect 3 will alter character's behaviour toward Shepard depending on whether you import a saved game from Mass Effect 3, or start an adventure from fresh.

    2 surely?

  • Duke100 #5 4 months ago

    I quite enjoyed the comic solution in ME2, having only a ps3 I hadn't played ME1. I didn't find things too hard to follow. Also found it easier to ditch Liara, who came across a bit mental if you just met her, for Miranda.

  • anomagnus #6 4 months ago

    In before the wails of 'bioware are dumbing down ME3'....

    @monkey puncher

    On the contrary, from what i read here, the exact opposite is true. The game will look for your saved games. If it cannot find anything, it will alter the NPC AI. If it does find a saved game, it seems there will be different options.

    It seems quite clever. I suspect the haters will still criticise it, and demand that if you havent played ME1 and 2, you shouldnt play three. And also that Bioware should burst into flames.

  • darkmorgado #7 4 months ago

    @Monkey_Puncher

    That's certainly how I read it.

    If I go and see a sequel in the cinema without seeing the first, I expect there to be some bits that don't make sense to me because they reference the first film. Games are no different.

    I wish all of this dumbing-down, lowest-common-demoninator rubbish to appeal to everyone would stop. Everything is just slipping into patronising mediocrity.

  • natec87 #8 4 months ago

    I would highly recommend playing 1 and 2 if you have the chance, you'd be silly to go into ME3 cold. If you're in any way interested in 3 then there's a very good chance you'll enjoy the previous two games.

  • anomagnus #9 4 months ago

    @darkmorgado

    Where in under god, do you read choices wont matter from this:-

    Clifford said Mass Effect 3 will alter character's behaviour toward Shepard depending on whether you import a saved game from Mass Effect 2, or start an adventure from fresh.

    Seriosuly, lay out the logic for it?

    Its fucking ironic that i see you tear people apart over SW:TOR for making ill informed statements, yet you'll do the same for ME3

  • seeafish #10 4 months ago

    Got ME2 on PS3. The comic was a nice way to sum up ME1 and let me make some choices along the way. Although I did spend around 30 minutes in the Codex pages just listening to background on different races and why shit went down in the past. The comic was a TAD too quick: "we are humans, aliens came and shot arrows yo, I had sex, then one my friends died". So the Codex helped in making me understand everything.
    Edited by seeafish at 24/01/12 @ 09:56

  • Sodding_Gamer #11 4 months ago

    Off topic: I LOVE Mass effect. But I really wish they invested in some better facial animation tech. Especially given its genre and how conversations and emotions portray in the game. I recently completed ME2 for a second time to have all my team alive and the ending speech was just cringe with his plain old face :(

    It's what Deus Ex Human revolution and Mass effect 1 and 2 have in common. having both run with better facial/animation tech would make them both 10 times better than they already are.
    Edited by Sodding_Gamer at 24/01/12 @ 10:26

  • telboy007 #12 4 months ago

    @anomagnus No one wants to believe you by the looks of it, the haters have their knives out. Even though what you're saying makes perfect sense.

  • anomagnus #13 4 months ago

    @telboy007

    In fairness, whe it comes to bioware, they won't beleive anything i say. Sometimes i'm less than polite in my defence.

  • The_HEAD_85 #14 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 11:13:35 24-01-2012

  • KevvyMetal79 #15 4 months ago

    The should start doing this with TV series, something like The Wire.
    Prompted at the start - "Have you watched the Wire before? Y/N"
    If they select No, half the content of the episode is entirely cut out.
    I think this idea could catch on!

  • Machetazo #16 4 months ago

    ""So we wanted to make sure that there aren't those moments that the player is like, 'Who is this? What's going on? What are they talking about?'"

    I had one of those moments in 2. This character ran up excitedly to me and I didn't immediately recognise him, and there was a degree of me playing catch-up during the conversation - which was GREAT! It added to immersion a huge amount. It caused me to remember what I played before, the decisions I made - and, if I hadn't played, were the narrative/direction strong enough I could imagine and picture those situations, EVEN if I'd not taken actual part in them, myself.

    It reinforced the time that had passed, and the events that transpired since our last meeting. If you meet someone again after an extended time apart, it's likely that you irl would not have perfect recollection. For them to back away from the tenet of continuity in this way is not a good thing.

  • thatdudeinthecotton #17 4 months ago

    @Machetazo You'll still have moments like that its just people who haven't played won't cause they NEVER MET the person before that point and for them it would just be confusing

  • byakuya83 #18 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 10:03:41 30-03-2012

  • Gimpy_Wonderland #19 4 months ago

    It seems every time I hear something new about ME3, I'm less inclined to buy it. Every news story is about how they're making it easier for newcomers, or streamlining gameplay, or Kinect functionality; it's just turning into a casual, mindless shooter as far as I can tell.

  • StooMonster #20 4 months ago

    @Gimpy_Wonderland I agree, all the recent news of ME3 has gone so far as to actually put me off.

  • Street89 #21 4 months ago

    All that commotion must be why Big Ben is leaning 18 inches. Bloody Aliens.

  • eviroboy #22 4 months ago

    This is good, personally I found ME1 boring as hell, ME2 was a little better for immersion so I have high hopes I may actually get to the finish of this one without taking a gun to my head. I'll also this time around play as a female, based purely on the fact she's a blatant rip of Samus Aran.

  • lucky_jim #23 4 months ago

    Anyone who is a "newcomer" to the series at this stage really needs to do themselves a favour and get hold of the first two games before ME3 comes out. Hell, I'd say the series was worth buying a 360 for if you've got no other way to play the first game (although it's quite old now, so there's a pretty decent chance your PC can run it).

  • Machetazo #24 4 months ago

    @thatdudeinthecotton Although, Mass Effect 2 also assumed that you might not have played the first one.
    When I played it was the 360 version, so I didn't have the comic book, but the woman did ask whether I remembered the crux of what happened before, and a few questions later the narrative was established...

    It's telling that where people will talk about making bolder narratives, more compelling stories, and for the makers of games to have that facility, when actually for one of what should be a tentpole game release, ME3, Bioware are not taking full advantage of that when it's available to be able to deal with a situation that should, arguably, have been foreseen and long planned for.

    That it didn't become an almost 11th hour announcement that they were changing the game interaction like this. I take the point of people who haven't played previous editions, but I believe that there are superior ways, more fitting ways, that are evident of a maturing of the process and media to do it, where you offer everybody the same, full story. But, people are able to take from it at their pace, and level of engagement.
    It's not the why that I dislike, so much as the how.

  • jetsetwillie #25 4 months ago

    im going to jump to all kinds of conclusions from this and get angry

  • dsmx #26 4 months ago

    So now we've got to the point that you wave your hand and you win every battle if your new to the series?
    Edited by dsmx at 24/01/12 @ 11:29

  • jetsetwillie #27 4 months ago

    @gotyourmoney are you one of those everything is either WOOOO!!!!!AMZING or FUCKINGTERRIBLE!!!IHATEIT!!! people

  • Sodding_Gamer #28 4 months ago

    @Gimpy_Wonderland

    Couldn't agree more. And I am a huge fan of the franchise yet I'm really not looking forward to it. Its out in 2 months and all I've seen so far is a small demo and multiplayer. Mass effect 2 hype was huge. Plus all this news about making it easier for people to join in. And lets be honest, you have to be pretty stupid to go and buy mass effect 3 when you haven't played any of them. Tiny tiny percentage of people would do that.

  • anomagnus #29 4 months ago

    @jetsetwillie

    When its something he likes, i assume its all 'wooo, fucking amazing'. When its something he doesn't like it 'i fucking hate it' comes into play.


    No in between. Its all about him. Fuck new fans of ME3, how dare they come into a new franchise. Fuck em if they don't know the characters, that'll teach em. As long as he's happy. And fuck bioware for making a game that appeals to lots of people. Bring back my 950k unit shifting RPG that makes me happy.

    Typical forumite. Me.Me.Me.

  • Mr.Spo #30 4 months ago

    I'm looking forward to Mass Effect 3. The established fan-base buy it for the story and the choices you can make, but the wider audience EA are trying to address won't buy it for those reasons. That's why all these interviews and footage emphasise action, accessibility and make it seem like a straight-forward shooting experience. And to be honest, if the combat becomes even better, with smarter enemies, better mechanics and more shit blowing up, while retaining the lore and depth of story experience from the first two Mass Effect games, I don't see why that shouldn't happen.

  • WadiumArcadium #31 4 months ago

    Really hope they don't mess it up. I loved both games, despite their differences, let's hope they choices from the first two still actually carry over.

  • thatdudeinthecotton #32 4 months ago

    @Machetazo
    "It's not the why that I dislike, so much as the how."
    That pretty much sums up what I think as well. Though I didn't mention it in my first comment, I personally preferred the comic book idea for the ps3 version to this system (I got ME2 on xbox, but not ME1) I liked the freedom it gave to alter the story on the ps3, whereas on the xbox you got this predefined story.
    All I was argueing earlier was that while the hints that come from previous games (eg: Someone you don't know recognises you) can be cool sometimes they can be REALLY CONFUSING.
    For example: "You killed urdnot-rex, thus dooming our planet" ...Wait, WHAT!?
    Just saying that while these things help keep you immersed in the game they can also do the exact opposite.

  • thatdudeinthecotton #33 4 months ago

    @thatdudeinthecotton Wow, no paragraphs really makes me look smart :)

  • redcrayon #34 4 months ago

    @eviroboy

    Not sure how the official art for female Shepherd is a rip-off of Aran, apart from being a female space marine with a short haircut.

    Seems fairly sensible when wearing power-armoured, vacuum-sealed helmets and generally kitting out for combat, far more so than the usual stereotypes (and the older Samus artwork) who fight with four feet of grabbable, trappable, generally unpractical pony-tail behind them for the sake of sex appeal.

    Besides, Shepherd seems to have an endless line in sarcasm, whereas Samus does most of her talking with a plasma cannon and mini-nukes!

    Or at least she used to :-(
    Edited by redcrayon at 24/01/12 @ 12:41

  • intpleeus #35 4 months ago

    So instead of just newcomers going 'Who is this? What's going on? What are they talking about?', everyone will be doing that. Great work, Bioware.

    Really, they should just put a sticker on the box: 'This is the third part of an epic science fiction trilogy. Play the other games first, idiot.'

  • jetsetwillie #36 4 months ago

    @gotyourmoney wow... it looks like your growing. congratulations. soon you be able to use indifference when ever you like.

  • Machetazo #37 4 months ago

    The most immersion-breaking thing that could happen in ME3 for me is that the Krogan from the second is part of the crew. He's not dead! No. I purposely left him as a cryo-frozen bargaining chip in the Normandy's hold, because Krogans aren't my favourite characters to that point, and I wanted to see how 3 would handle a deliberate cessation like that.

    Things like this inspire me to play 3 (even though I'll need to "recreate" the continuation of 2 best-as-can, because I changed platforms) while the pre-launch coverage, so far, doesn't - and the lack of any sign of *epic*/ramping up/progression (really) to conclude the trilogy furthers my apathy towards what they are showing, and talking about.
    Edited by Machetazo at 24/01/12 @ 12:47

  • Baihu1983 #38 4 months ago

    Screw that just tell them to buy the other games.

  • Fruit-Salad #39 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 01:35:51 08-02-2012

  • jetsetwillie #40 4 months ago

    @gotyourmoney i fuckin hate apathy it sucks!!!!

  • v.profane #41 4 months ago

    Are they going to release a statement telling us how it's going to be an appropriate and rewarding experience for the people carrying over a Shepard from ME1? Or do they just figure we're going to buy the game whatever and it's only newbies they have to please?

  • jetsetwillie #42 4 months ago

    @v.profane don't forget EA hates you and your children. so what ever your worst thoughts might be thats what EA is going to do.just to annoy you

  • Zerobob #43 4 months ago

    I'm a bit annoyed about fucking up my ending in ME2.

    I wanted to explore the rest of the planetary systems before embarking on the final mission, as I was wrongly told you cannot go back to complete side missions after completing the main mission.

    Unfortunately time was a factor, and while completing all the side missions people were dying. Needless to say, the final mission didn't pan out too well.

    I'm not sure if I'll be importing my character after that travesty and may start ME3 from scratch, but it's just occured to me, I'm taking the exact same approach to Skyrim by putting off the final story quests! Maybe I should get them done in case key NPCs die of old age or something.

  • stryker1121 #44 4 months ago

    I want a BioWare employee to come to my house and cover me in bubble wrap, then sand all the sharp corners off of every piece of furniture in the house. I want to be safe and comfortable as possible as I'm eased into ME3.

  • Machetazo #45 4 months ago

    @Zerobob By enjoying and exploring the game, I actually managed to get a worse outcome. That one did annoy me at the time. I'm fairly sure I remember the game even telling you to make sure all the other things to be done were done, before you head to "the final mission".

    It seemed as if with the way I played, I never had a chance to at least attempt to end up with more of an outcome I would have preferred - however, it can also be thought that there's little point to alternatives that scarce few people would choose, so fair play, and appreciation to Bioware: The way they did it does make for a personalised finale.

    That said, I can't say the final mission was a disaster KIA: Jacket-lizard, doctor, Normandy bridge girl. If I can recreate that in 3, then I surely will.
    Edited by Machetazo at 24/01/12 @ 13:55

  • stegabba #46 4 months ago

    i played the first 2 my character looks like a proper tough sob lol

  • tuGs #47 4 months ago

    I don't care if ME3 will be friendlier for players who don't know the first 2 games... All I want is that Bioware does not neglect us who have played the predecessors and offer an acceptable level of depth and difficulty as well.
    PLS Bioware, don't mess up the final!
    Edited by tuGs at 24/01/12 @ 14:02

  • Miths #48 4 months ago

    I've just started playing the PS3 version of ME2 (originally played 1 and 2 on PC) and I'm actually fairly impressed by the comic. I also wasn't really expecting it to run for around fifteen minutes with full voice over from Shepard.
    Actually I'm not really sure what I had expected :), but even if I pretended I had never played ME1 I felt it did a decent job at providing the basic background story.

  • geeza2020 #49 4 months ago

    When are Bioware going to announce something for Mass Effect 3 that isnt just about them dumbing it the fuck down? Howsabout something that might convince people like me who have played the previous two games to death that the third entry in the series is worth my time? Because at the moment every story I hear about it just seems to be pandering to the CoD crowd.

  • The-Bodybuilder #50 4 months ago

    @seeafish "We are humans, aliens came and shot arows yo". For some reason, I read that 3 times and still kept laughing.

    As for the previous ME1 games. I know PS3 owners have no choice, but honestly playing ME1 (without know th back story) was one of my greatest gaming moments ever. It was shenmue-like to me. Thye Soverign reveal was huge.

    I don't know if it would have the same impact now, but I really do suggest you start at ME1.

  • Syrette #51 4 months ago

    I am very interested to see what effect the choice I made at the end of ME2 has on events in ME3.

    Luckily I made sure to have a save right before I made said choice so if I really want to change my choice, I can.

  • marblepuke #52 4 months ago

    The most important question remains though: Can you squeeze tits with the help of kinect while trying to establish a succesful romance? Just kidding of course..

  • Centrifugal #53 4 months ago

    This reminds me of when I read Return of the King before the first two books. Oh wait, I didn't, because to start on the last installment on a trilogy is mental.

  • TazerFan #54 4 months ago

    Cheers to them for going to the effort here. Just hope it's not at the expense of, like, making the game good for series veterans. Fair to say?

  • TazerFan #55 4 months ago

    PREVIOUSLY, ON MASS EFFECT.

  • TrevHead #56 4 months ago

    ME is a episodic series its a given that player wont have a clue about the story if the ME3 is their first game.

    To me this article screams of dumbing down to draw in a wider audience

  • geeza2020 #57 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 14:53:22 25-01-2012

  • geeza2020 #58 4 months ago

    Poor attempt at trolling cheesechipsanddogshit or whatever your name is. Dark Souls wasnt too hard, I just didnt find it fun. Now do, please, go and develop cancer and do the humane race a favour, theres a nice chap.

  • Morte-360 #59 4 months ago

    Fair enough I can understand the intent ME is probaly the one series where you are much better of playing ME 1 & 2. On the other hand when someone picks up something with 3 at the end they probaly know and accept that their going to be behind in the story people are not idiots Bioware. At least they give enough of a crap this late in the series to put in extra (apparently expensive) dialogue.

    Why not use the comic book solution I played ME1 my brother hasn't, yet knows more about the storyline than me? it seems to do the job. Plus the codex can be utilised for background.

    Edit: Also to those that our worried their dumbing down cutting all dialogue (Guilty), I watched a leaked Beta (From November) on youtube and from what I saw it is almost exacly like ME2 gameplay wise with improved animation.

    The mission I watched also had more dialougue than your typical ME 1 & 2 Missions their was also a few characters from the previous game, and the squadmates interacted more combine this with the fact we know their already expanding the power tree and the weapon upgrade system and I think ME3 may well be exactly what we asked of them (More dialougue,RPG elements,previous Choices Matter etc), Fingers crossed but I am all for giving them a chance from what I saw.

    Oh also saw the multiplayer it's pretty meh frankly think Space Marines Exterminatus no problem with it but does not look that interesting.
    Edited by Morte-360 at 26/01/12 @ 05:49