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"As the lone human tasked with saving Earth from an army of terrifying aliens, the player\u2019s role in Mass Effect 3 as Commander Shepard comes to a climactic and satisfying end in BioWare\u2019s final installment. It\u2019s no surprise that the game feels like it is constantly tying up years of loose ends, but the engaging storyline, challenging battles and specially tailored gameplay also makes it incredibly accessible for newcomers.\nThe main difference between this game and its predecessors comes down to a single word: politics. While the first two followed a fairly structured story arc \u2014 putting together a crack team of alien and human operatives to take out the galaxy\u2019s most threatening species \u2014 Mass Effect 3 hinges on Shepard\u2019s ability to navigate the murky waters of human/alien politics and rustle up enough aid to take out the threat. With Earth under devastating attack from minute one, it is up to the player to make pleas for alien aid and build an entire rag-tag army from units across the galaxy. It\u2019s a tall order to say the least, but the depth of the storyline sucks the player into a rich sci-fi world.\nFor both longtime fans and first-time players, Mass Effect 3\u2019s nuanced characters and challenging gameplay make it a great cap to a memorable series. We had a chance to get our hands dirty with the Xbox 360 version.\nPresentation\nThe opening scenes of  Mass Effect 3 will grab you with the sheer visual scale. While Commander Shepard is running for his (or her, as the character design makes it possible to control a female Shepard) life to evacuate Earth under Reaper attack, the glimpses of the environment can make even the most finicky viewer gasp. BioWare\u2019s fully realized playing environments beg the gamer to stop and look around. From far-reaching plains to the devastating destruction by the Reapers, there\u2019s always plenty to gawk at.\nThe cutscenes are action-packed and the graphics are compelling, and each character is nuanced. If there\u2019s one thing that Mass Effect 3 does well, much like the similarly-hyped threequel Uncharted 3: Drake\u2019s Deception, is it\u2019s cinematic techniques. The movie-like scenes and gameplay make it just fun to watch.\nThe sound compliments the visuals nicely. The battle scenes give BioWare a chance to show off layered sound techniques that accompany all the action. From the loud sound close gunfire to the ominous noises of the Reapers destroying in the distance, the audio helps solidify a well-crafted world.\nHowever, the heavy-duty graphics and sound can occasionally reveal game glitches, at least in the Xbox 360 version we reviewed. Audio sync issues and graphic skips are common throughout, but not enough to detract from the tone of the game. Action sequences run relatively smoothly and there are easy transitions in and out of cutscenes. Overall, the game\u2019s richness outweighs any of the presentation issues.\n\n\nMass Effect 3 Gets XBox Kinect Function and Demo Date\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMass Effect 3 Screenshot\nClose combat will play a large role in the new game.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMass Effect 3 Screenshot\nYou character can wield a variety of guns simply using voice commands.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMass Effect 3 Screenshot\nCombat from the game.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMass Effect 3 Screenshot\nFirst-person shooting remains core to the gameplay.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMass Effect 3 Screenshot\nYou team will change throughout the game.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMass Effect 3 Screenshot\nThe game features some returning faces.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGameplay\nThe gameplay of Mass Effect 3 is split into two distinct phases: war and politics. At the character creation screen, every gamer can choose the sort of \u201Cplay style\u201D they want, tailoring the war and politics phases to favor what the player wants most.  With this option, BioWare reaches both shooter and RPG fans without alienating either. For those who have played the previous installments, Shepard profiles can be imported from Mass Effect 2 \u2014 altering Mass Effect 3\u2019s storyline in major ways. \tThe war segments encompass all the third-person shooting action, as Commander Shepard leads his signature squadron of two teammates into everything from special ops missions to massive encampment battles. The politics punctuate the downtime between battles \u2014 where the real decisions are made. It\u2019s Commander Shepard\u2019s duty to finagle bitter alien rivalries and muster enough military power to fight back on Earth. Based on these decisions, gamers can make Shepard a loyal hero or an intimidating badass. \nThe series has made major strides in battle scenes, specifically in the difficulty of the enemies. Every foe in the game, from aliens to the human terrorist organization Cerberus, has a specific set of minions that come with unique skills. Whether it\u2019s navigating through smoke screens or dodging incoming bombs, the enemies in this game have tools that make it more challenging than the previous episodes. The levels offer different vantage points and ways to engage the enemy, meaning that you can find a way to make it through a level regardless of Shepard\u2019s fighting class. However, some levels are definitely more challenging than others, and the enemies are much more aggressive. In any case, the battle sequences are tight, action-packed, tough, and full of fun.\nThe politics are fun and engaging, but not without tedium. The storyline shines as Shepard negotiates treaties and deals with the various alien races in the Mass Effect Universe. This game presents some of Shepard\u2019s weightiest decisions of the entire series: will you favor the warrior clans of the Krogan? Or make a deal with their sworn enemies, the science-oriented Salarians? Each of these treaties build \u201CWar Assets,\u201D the amount of firepower Shepard has at his disposal to take down the Reapers. However, you can\u2019t gather War Assets just by speaking; some political missions require gathering artifacts or solve intel missions on the Citadel. The intel missions are very tedious because they expose the constraints of the mapping and objective system. There\u2019s no way to isolate the objectives of a particular mission, and the map only relies on general reference points to segment city areas. You may find yourself wandering for a while looking for something inconspicuous, such as an intel terminal, only to find that the objectives have finally kicked in and signal to a corner at the edge of the map area. These missions come few and far between though, keeping frustrations to a minimum.\nConclusion\nWith its action-packed gaming and deep storylines, Mass Effect 3 puts a great cap on an incredibly engaging sci-fi series. This game does its best to bridge the gap between longtime fans and newcomers, and it succeeds. Whether this is the first time playing a Mass Effect game, or you\u2019re ready to load the third with two different Shepard campaigns, there\u2019s really something for everybody. Those who come to Mass Effect 3\u2019s final climactic end will undoubtedly feel a sense of closure \u2014 but will be ready to replay with a different Shepard to make different decisions. If you love space, you will love this game.\nHave you scooped up Mass Effect 3 yet? Are you enjoying it? Let us know in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/03/06/mass-effect-3-review/>