Mass Effect™ 3 N7 Digital Deluxe Edition (2012)

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"Mass Effect 3 N7 Digital Deluxe Edition" is an action RPG where players assume the role of Commander Shepard in a fight to save the galaxy from an alien invasion. This edition includes a variety of bonus digital content such as weapons, armor, and an N7 hoodie for use in multiplayer. The game features a branching storyline with decisions that impact the outcome of the game.

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Play Modes

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,176 reviews

story148 positive mentions

optimization11 negative mentions

The game features an engaging story and character development that ties up the trilogy effectively.
Combat mechanics are improved, offering a more fluid and enjoyable gameplay experience compared to previous entries.
The multiplayer mode is still active and provides a fun cooperative experience, adding to the game's longevity.

The game requires the Origin launcher, which causes performance issues and can make the game unplayable for some users.
The ending has been widely criticized for being unsatisfactory and not living up to the expectations set by the previous games.
There are numerous bugs and technical issues that can disrupt gameplay, including crashes and frame rate drops.

story
410 mentions
36 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of Mass Effect 3 is a culmination of the trilogy, featuring emotional moments and character development that resonate with long-time fans. However, many players criticize the plot for being inconsistent, with significant plot holes and a controversial ending that undermines the choices made throughout the series. While the game excels in gameplay and character interactions, the narrative is often seen as the weakest aspect, leaving some players feeling unsatisfied with the overall conclusion.
- “The story is captivating and the action is engaging!”
- “The scenarios and character/story arcs that develop throughout this game in particular are some of the most thrilling and well-written pieces of media, let alone video games, that I've ever had the privilege to experience.”
- “The story is an emotional rollercoaster and does a great job at giving some closure to the storylines of many beloved characters of the series.”
- “A lot of the plot also ignores decisions made in the previous game and largely throws the concept of the series ever being an RPG out the window.”
- “The plot of this game is so badly written and full of plot holes that it makes the game look like a parody of Mass Effect.”
- “They wanted to end this series so much that they tried so hard to desperately wrap up all the plot threads and it really shows with the crappy endings.”
gameplay
111 mentions
43 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Mass Effect 3 is often praised as the most polished and engaging in the trilogy, featuring smooth mechanics, tactical squad-based combat, and a blend of action shooter elements with RPG features. However, many players note that it can become repetitive, with a focus on combat that overshadows the RPG aspects, leading to a less immersive experience. While the shooting mechanics and overall fluidity are highlighted as strong points, the game suffers from design choices that detract from the depth and variety seen in earlier installments.
- “In my opinion, the first few hours feature some of the best Mass Effect gameplay sequences in the entire series.”
- “The gameplay is a combination of action shooter, blended with classic RPG elements to make a wonderful blend of depth without complicating things.”
- “The gameplay is the best of the entire trilogy and, in my opinion, the whole series.”
- “The gameplay got quite repetitive near the end of the game.”
- “However, it is extremely repetitive (run to cover, shoot, move on is all you'll get) and the controls are sometimes badly thought out: I hope whatever marketing executive came up with 'let's use only one button to run, take cover, jump over the cover, and activate objects' was shot during playtest, because this is hands down the most annoying game mechanic I've ever encountered.”
- “The vast bulk of the game is a rushed mess of dumbed down mechanics, bad writing and forced combat sections occasionally sprinkled with story and character bits that feel somewhat like the old games and all adds up to deliver us a game that's almost a textbook example of missed potential and studio meddling.”
optimization
61 mentions
8 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues linked to the mandatory use of the Origin launcher, which causes stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes. While some users have found workarounds to improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game's optimization is lacking, especially on modern hardware, making it difficult for many to enjoy the experience fully. Despite its strong narrative and voice acting, the technical problems significantly detract from the gameplay.
- “Everything feels really optimized in this game :)”
- “Optimization and launcher issues aside, this game is still part of the amazing Mass Effect trilogy.”
- “I've been lucky enough to not have any performance issues, not saying they won't happen for you though.”
- “Horrible optimization and even worse runs with the EA app!”
- “This game's performance is severely lacking and needs to be fixed stat.”
- “It's one of the worst optimized games I've played.”
graphics
47 mentions
49 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the Mass Effect franchise are generally praised for their impressive visuals and artistic design, with many players noting that they hold up well for their release period. However, some reviews highlight inconsistencies, such as pixelated textures and a shift towards a more generic aesthetic in later installments. Players often recommend using mods to enhance the graphics and address issues, particularly for older titles in the series.
- “The visuals are a feast for the eyes.”
- “The graphics and the environments have improved too.”
- “The graphics of all 3 games hold up very well.”
- “The gritty lived-in style of ME2 and the Syd Mead inspired aesthetics of ME1 are all thrown in the bin and replaced with a generic shiny sci-fi look with an ugly plastic sheen on everything.”
- “The game is from 2012, and unless you really would like to relive that time in terms of graphics and videos, I would strongly recommend using at least a few mods to make the game feel and play a lot better.”
- “The game hardly supports graphic settings (I have to mod my game to allow a higher FOV), it's misleading that the MP DLC is tied into the DE edition and I had to launch Origin separately to even install the DLC.”
emotional
31 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players describing it as a powerful and immersive experience that evokes a range of feelings, from joy to sadness. The narrative is filled with impactful moments and tough choices that deepen players' connections to the characters, leading to a rollercoaster of emotions, including tears at the conclusion. Despite some criticism of the ending, the overall storytelling and character development are considered exceptional, making it a memorable and emotionally resonant finale to the trilogy.
- “Mass Effect 3 stands as Bioware's final masterpiece, delivering an epic and emotional conclusion to the trilogy.”
- “One of the highest praises I can give for any game is 'you will cry.' This game makes you so emotionally invested in all the supporting characters, which gives you an incredible amount of immersion.”
- “I've been playing games for nearly 35 years now, and I still tear up at portions of this game because of how strong the emotional impact of the story is, and how much history I've built up with these characters over the past two games.”
music
27 mentions
63 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players highlighting the emotional impact of the soundtrack, particularly in Mass Effect 3, which is considered the strongest in the trilogy. Reviewers appreciate the high-quality audio mixing and the ability of the music to enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling. While some noted that music levels could be too low by default, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.
- “As I have said in many of my reviews, the soundtrack is a large part of what makes a video game for me, whether it is immersing me in the moment or just a bop to listen to, and Mass Effect 3's soundtrack out of all the games in the trilogy hit me the hardest and actually made me emotional at the end of the journey.”
- “Best sci-fi universe in my opinion - amazing music, wonderful atmospheres and diversity throughout the entire game!”
- “I'm not sure why the vibes felt better in ME2; maybe it's the music, but this game is alright.”
- “Music levels by default are set too low, but you risk it occasionally overtaking dialogue if you play with SFX/dialogue/music levels.”
- “The soundtrack—although done by Clint Mansell this time around instead of the typical Jack Wall effort—is phenomenal and does a lot to help shape the atmosphere.”
stability
23 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and bugs, particularly when attempting to access multiplayer features or install mods. Many players have experienced significant troubleshooting challenges, with some unable to launch the game at all, while others note that even minor glitches can disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game's technical issues detract from the experience, leading to frustration among players.
- “Game immediately freezes when I try to load the multiplayer, which is the only reason I bought this.”
- “Fails to launch, not worth the troubleshooting; EA/Origin have no solution.”
- “I've spent over an hour troubleshooting and it simply won't open; something is broken between Origin and Steam, I think.”
grinding
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the removal of tedious resource mining and automated hacking, others find the need to grind for randomized loot boxes and war assets to be frustrating and time-consuming. The multiplayer aspect remains engaging, providing a fun outlet for grinding, but the overall sentiment suggests that certain elements of grinding can detract from the enjoyment of the story and gameplay.
- “RNG boxes that require grinding currency for items.”
- “The boxes are randomized, so it may take a lot of grinding before you are able to get your favorite weapon or mod.”
- “Those war assets and collecting them are so tedious, terrible, and in the end, I had to scramble for a mod online because I saw I was somehow 300 short despite having followed an entire guide to get everything throughout the whole game.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive storytelling, refined presentation, and impactful audio design, creating a rich sci-fi universe filled with diversity. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions through its wartime setting and exceptional soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience. Many consider it a standout in the series, showcasing the strengths of its predecessors while expanding on them significantly.
- “The most refined gameplay, the best presentation and atmosphere by a golden mile, and the best beat-to-beat story, just winning out over me.”
- “Best sci-fi universe in my opinion - amazing music, wonderful atmospheres and diversity throughout the entire game!”
- “If you compare this game to its predecessors, this game's atmosphere and world takes the cake.”
- “This game exhibits all the strengths in atmosphere that the prior games do.”
- “The soundtrack—although done by Clint Mansell this time around instead of the typical Jack Wall effort—is phenomenal and does a lot to help shape the atmosphere.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game offers significant replayability, particularly through its engaging DLCs, multiplayer mode, and the impact of player choices on character setups. Players appreciate the variety of interactions and combat options, which contribute to a lasting enjoyment and justify the game's price point. Overall, the combination of a lighthearted story, diverse gameplay modes, and character customization enhances the game's replay value.
- “God damn it, these are the most replayable games.”
- “That DLC is Citadel, and it has everything that a final game in a trilogy like this should have: a lighthearted story focused on comedy to give us some change, an amazing party with all alive crew members that you prepare and throw, with plenty of interactions (the best part) and even an arena for more replayability with end game combat, if that's your thing, with more squad mates joining you for those battles.”
- “Mass Effect 3 is the last game in one of the best trilogies I have ever played. I'm very glad to finally see this on Steam. The best part about Mass Effect 3 is the replayability; this game has so many amazing DLCs that don't cease to entertain me, not to mention the multiplayer which I love to grind on.”
- “A remarkably mediocre ending, yet satisfying enough to justify closing out a series, and replayable enough to hold its price point.”
- “Replayability is high in this series because of character setup and choices during the game.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a unique blend of dry wit and dark themes, particularly highlighted in the Citadel DLC, which offers a mix of cheesy fan service and amusing interactions among crew members. Players appreciate the variety of funny conversations and moments, making the experience both entertaining and emotionally engaging, despite some critiques of the ending. Overall, the humor adds significant value to the game's narrative and player experience.
- “It's a unique combination of dry humor and death; there's lots of it, especially if you played the entire trilogy on renegade like I did.”
- “Citadel DLC is the epitome of fan service; it's cheesy and corny in all the right ways. It adds a little humor to ME3's rather dark tone and is the main reason why buying the DLC pack is so damn worth it.”
- “Also, the Citadel DLC is probably the most fun I have had in the entirety of the Mass Effect franchise—so good, amusing, and outright funny.”
monetization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, which have been a longstanding issue since 2012. While players can earn credits relatively easily, the random nature of unlocks and the overall perception of it being a cash grab detract from the experience. Additionally, the implementation of these systems has led to performance issues, further frustrating users.
- “Still, it’s a nice addition, although it already included microtransactions, even back in 2012.”
- “There are microtransactions, but credits are fairly easy to earn each match, making unlocks fairly easy to obtain. Just be aware that unlocks are based on random chances.”
- “It's important to note the history of monetization in this game, especially with the years-long debacle regarding 'bioware points', which reflects the challenges of managing an internal economy.”
- “It's ridden with microtransactions, though, so there's that.”
- “This is a lame cash grab.”
- “There are microtransactions; credits in my mind are fairly easy to earn each match, making unlocks fairly easy to obtain. Be aware that unlocks are based on random chances.”
character development
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its strong storytelling and world-building, though some feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor. While the character arcs are engaging and complex, particularly in the context of the broader sci-fi universe, the multiplayer aspect can dilute the depth of individual character growth. Overall, it remains a significant achievement in narrative and character development.
- “They build you up with great storytelling, great character development, world-building, and action and beyond.”
- “The character development of this game is not as good as 2's, but still great.”
- “Mass Effect is an incredible achievement of story and character development and probably the most complex and well-realized sci-fi universe out there.”
- “Years of plot and character development get boiled down to different explosion colors depending on how much you played the multiplayer.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional, lacking any real growth or depth throughout the game.”
- “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character arcs are predictable and fail to engage the player.”