DESCRIPTION-Mass Effect 3 is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.  Officially announced on December 11, 2010, the game was released March 6, 2012 and marks the final chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy of video games, completing the story of Commander Shepard. 

Gameplay in Mass Effect 3 is influenced by decisions from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 and have settings throughout the galaxy, including Earth and Mars.  Combat has been changed and refined; in particular, the cover system has been improved, there are more options for moving around the battlefield, instant melee kills and more conventional grenades are introduced as well as improved artificial intelligence.  A four player multiplayer co-op mode will also be available. 

Mass Effect 3 will follow from the events of the Mass Effect 2 DLC expansion Arrival and follows Commander Shepard's mission to save the galaxy from the Reapers by rallying civilizations of the galaxy together, while also having to deal with Cerberus, who have decided to turn against him/her. 

GAMEPLAY-Players with saved files from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 are given the option of importing them into Mass Effect 3.If a saved file is imported, over 1,000 variables are pulled that will help shape how the final chapter is experienced. If there are no saved files available, there are no origin-story comics for new players to help them make quick decisions like there was in Mass Effect 2.Imported characters' appearance and class are changeable, with more features and hair-styles included in the character creator than in Mass Effect 2.  Commander Shepard will always start the game with some powers. Upon finishing the game, there is a New Game+ option that allows players to continue playing after the main story ends or start again with their finished Shepard and collect items they missed the first time around. The game has 82 minutes of cut-scenes. 

Mass Effect 3 will have three pre-set campaign modes: Action Mode, Story Mode, and RPG Mode. In Action Mode, conversations will have automatic replies and a normal combat difficulty.  In Story Mode, conversations will have manual replies and a minimal combat difficulty.  In RPG Mode, conversations will have manual replies and a normal combat difficulty.  This last mode is reflective of the typical Mass Effect series experience.  Overall, the RPG elements in the game have been improved over those in Mass Effect 2, with a more detailed leveling up system and increased weapon customization. To level up characters, players will have skills that start along a single path and then eventually splinter into two branches where they can select only one upgrade or the other along a sequence of possibilities. Players will also be able to customize their weapons with different scopes, mods, barrels and ammo types. There are 25 weapon mods total — five per weapon type — and each of them will have multiple power levels to collect. The game will include mini-games and Hammerhead and Mako missions. To select dialog options, players can use Kinect to speak their choices instead of selecting them with a controller. 

As of August 23, 2011, BioWare has confirmed the return of previous characters Liara T'Soni, Kaidan Alenko or Ashley Williams, Miranda Lawson, the Illusive Man, Garrus Vakarian, Legion, Samara, Morinth, Tali'Zorah, Urdnot Wrex, Jack, Mordin Solus, David Anderson, Zaeed Massani, Kasumi Goto, Kelly Chambers, Thane Krios, Jacob Taylor and Ambassador Donnell Udina from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.Some characters will not return if they were killed at any point during the previous games.  The number of characters available as permanent squad mates are smaller than in Mass Effect 2 for the purposes of deeper relationships and more interesting interplay, including same-sex relationship options for both male and female Shepards. If players achieved a love interest in both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, then both previous love interests vie for Shepard's attention in Mass Effect 3.This "love triangle" is resolved by the end of the game.  BioWare has also confirmed new characters names James Vega(voiced by Freddy Prinze Jr.) and Diana Allers (voiced by Jessica Chobot). 

The search and analysis mini-game has been changed from Mass Effect 2.  Rather than scan individual planets, a setup described as tedious and boring, the Normandy scans a region of space for salvage or War Assets.  If these are detected on a planet, then scanner system from Mass effect 2 is still used to locate, but planets are no longer scanned individually.  If an area being scanned has been invaded by the Reapers, the Reapers will eventually detect the Normandy's scans and move to intercept it. 

The ongoing war against the Reapers is controlled by War Assets and Military Readiness.  War Assets are collected throughout the game or are provided from previous game accomplishments.  Military Readiness is predominantly affected by the Multiplayer aspects of the game.  As the players Readiness increases, the War Assets become more valuable.  The number of Assets and the players readiness determine the players successfullness in the final war aaginst the Reapers. 

COMBAT-Combat in Mass Effect 3 has been changed and refined from Mass Effect 2, and further emphasis has been put on third-person perspective aspects to make the game more commercially viable. In a preview for IGN, editor Arthur Gies went so far as to say the game "plays like a shooter" and that "combat-wise, Mass Effect 3 is in an entirely different space" from the first two games.  In an article for bitgamer, Joe Martin gave a conflicting impression, noting that with regard to combat, "not a lot has changed". 

The series' cover system has been improved so players no longer need to slide into cover and then hop over objects.  Players will have more options for moving around the battlefield, including a refined sprint capability, combat rolling, and the use of climbable ladders.  Players can also blindfire their weapons from covered positions, and have opportunities to shoot selected armor pieces and limbs off enemies. Verbal orders can be issued to move squad mates and use their powers with the use of Kinect. Moving and shooting, a "suicidal maneuver" in Mass Effect 2, will be a viable option because of a revised melee system. Players are able to execute formidable punches and attacks, and instant melee kills are introduced specific to each class; for example, by holding down the melee button, a soldier Shepard will deliver a killing blow with a tech-blade in his/her wrist armor.  Actual, round, conventional grenades will also be available. 

Mass Effect 3 plans to be the most difficult in the series, with increased artificial intelligence to challenge players and increase the sense of reward. Enemies no longer act as individuals as they did in the previous games, instead fighting and supporting each other in units.  Enemies include 15-foot tall Cerberus mechs, assault troopers, and ninja-style shock troops, as well as Reaperized husks of all races and Reaper ships ranging from 500m to 2 km long. Some changes are made to already-existing class types; for example, Engineers are able to build turrets. 

MULTIPLAYER-Mass Effect 3 will offer a multiplayer co-op mode called "Galaxy at War". In the mode, players are able to play alongside up to three other players in unique missions that can impact the outcome of the single player campaign. Each mission was designed specifically for multiplayer, and will involve taking over enemy strongholds.  By completing these missions, players will give themselves a better chance of attaining a perfect ending in the single player campaign; although, they are not necessary to do so.  The mode has been compared to Gears of War's horde mode. 

No characters from the single player campaign are featured in the multiplayer mode.  Players will create brand new characters for themselves and be able to play as members of non-human species, including asari, drell, krogans, salarians, and turians. Every race will have unique powers – such as a "Krogan Charge" for krogans and different movement options out of cover between drell and humans -and all classes are playable. The maximum level that created characters are able to reach is 20, and just like in the single player mode, leveling up will include skill branches. 

The majority of missions are wave attacks in various locations against different enemy factions.  The selections during configuring the game can affect experience gained and the overall difficulty of the mission.  During the missions, random tasks will be assigned, allowing for the collection of credits to purchsae equipment between missions.  After a certain number of waves, the players retreat to an extraction point which they must hold until extracted. 

Equipment and characters are acquired by the purchase of kits which contain random weapons, characters, and mods.  The ktis are purchased with multiplayer in-game credits or Microsoft Points. 

Gameplay in the multiplayer mode will only allow for players to carry two guns at a time in their inventory, and there is no ring menu to change weapons; instead, weapons are changed by holding down a button. Only three powers per class are also available as opposed to those available during the single player game. 

SYNOPSIS-

BACKGROUNDThe Mass Effect series of videogames details the adventures of Systems Alliance Commander Shepard as he/she tries to defeat a race of machines called the Reapers.  In the Mass Effect 2 DLC Arrival, Shepard is contacted by Admiral Steven Hackett, who requests Shepard go into batarian space to rescue a deep cover agent named Dr. Amanda Kenson.  After rescuing Kenson, Shepard learns that the Reapers are close to returning and delays them by destroying a mass relay.  Consequently, 300,000 batarian colonists are killed and Shepard is ordered to appear on Earth for a trial regarding his/her decision. 

SETTINGLocations in Mass Effect 3 will include the salarian homeworld Sur'Kesh, the asari homeworld Thessia, the turian homeworld Palaven, the quarian homeworld Rannoch, a human mining base in a Martian crater, and a giant city on Earth representing the combination of Vancouver and Seattle.  Players will also return to Tuchanka — the krogan homeworld — and Illium, as well as the Citadel. 

PLOTMass Effect 3 begins on Earth, with Commander Shepard on trial for the consequences of his/her actions in the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack Arrival.  During the trial, Earth is attacked by Reapers.  Faced with insurmountable odds, Shepard is forced to flee the planet in order to gather support from alien civilizations and mount a counter-attack while also having to deal with Cerberus, who have decided to turn against him/her.  It is possible for Shepard to lose to the Reapers. 

In an interview with PSM3 Magazine, Casey Hudson said of the plot, "Mass Effect 3, in simple terms, is a little more like the first game.  You're collecting pieces of a story, but the more you investigate and explore these themes, the more the game will unlock and you'll see the bigger picture.  In a way, it's more of a traditional story where you're learning about things and the plot changes as you find things out. "All the decisions and choices made in the first two games will have a large impact on the shape of the third game's storyline.  The game will also complete the story of Commander Shepard and will mark Shepard's final appearance in the series.