Your Emotional Investments in ME3

For me, this has rung very true. You play all three installments and you become very much attached to the characters as well as the campaign. Then you get to the final ten minutes of the game and its as if somewhere during the gameplay, you magically switched your console to secret disc number 3!

I'm on my second-ish PT of ME3, having done some different things in ME2, like romance Garrus. This PT for me is basically my sort of "what-if" Shep. I just visited Kaidan at the hospital and he hits me with, "Was there something between you and Garrus?" My jaw literally dropped. I actually felt bad, like I cheated on him. (But hey, he treated me poorly on Horizon, so... sorry, I'm moving on.) And it hit me, even when I replay the games, knowing what I know about the ending, I still feel that attachment to what is going on. (Too bad the ending blew it to pieces. Seeing Garrus AND Kaidan-- my LI the whole way through the franchise -- walk off the Normandy when they were just with me on the ground with the Harbinger beam.... <facepalm>)

So my question to anyone out there interested in responding is this: What were your emotional investments in the game, nay, the franchise? Were there any moments that truly hit you in ME3 based on what you'd done prior? Were there moments where you really did have to pause before making any crucial decisions as to what to say or do?

Feel free to comment! Can't wait to hear (er, read) your thoughts!

I still feel that way about the first 2, I'm on my third time through the first ME since beating 3. The moment that really hit me was at the end of Mars when Eva attacked Ashley, I romanced her the first time I played Mass Effect and she's been one of my favorite characters through all 3 games, that was the moment I realized how much this story had affected me. It wasn't a game at that point it was like I was there seeing it happen to someone a cared about, no other story has ever made me feel like that and that's why I want to see Mass Effect get the ending it deserves.

Yup, felt the same way. I was completely in shock. Didn't realize that I would be so affected -- and so I was frustrated as well with the ending. And while I was annoyed that I could only have Kaidan/Ash on my team temporarily, I loved the side story of them getting back into good health and the Spectre debacle. They did good work of making all that meld.

The only part of the VS story I didn't like was the standoff at the end of the coup, it felt like it was recycled from Virmire.

I think I cried a total of, er, eight times when I first played ME3. That's a little embarrassing to admit. And that's not counting the times I got a little choked up, that's actual, all out, crying. God I'm a wuss. I cried when the boy gets offed in the transport. (yes, I know many didn't like the inclusion of the kid in the prologue and my own attachment to him has turned sour since finishing the game, but on my first run, when my ME heart was still pure, I bawled. I'm a mother of two sons: Bioware hit the mark with me when they wanted to twist hearts.) I cried when Mordin sacrifices himself. Like hiccupy, snuffling, weeping. I started crying when I thought Grunt sacrificed himself. More tears when I realized what happened to Gunny/Hilary, Joker's sister. MORE tears when I found Charr's body and then heard the note he left for Ereba. STILL more tears when on Rannoch and I realized the engineer you find near death is leaving a message for his son Jona - the same Jona you find a farewell recording for in Tali's ME2 loyalty mission. (God, Jona, WHY?!?!) Aaaaaand again when Legion sacrificed himself. And during Priority: Earth I had to physically walk away from the game for a few after my Sheps farewell convo with Garrus.

Understandably, I had tissues at hand for the end of the game, fully expecting to become a bloody wreck. Instead I just felt hollow and then angry and cheated. :/ I'd trade back for the high, well-done emotions of the rest of the game if I could.

I felt alot of different emotions in ME3, when Mordin sacrificed himself I was so proud of him, and I can honestly say that's the first time I've ever been proud of a computer character, but I was so invested in the characters that much like Shygravel, I shed alot of sad and happy tears during that game, in mostly the same places as before mentioned, but also when I got the email on the Normandy saying that Kal'Reegar had sacrificed himself.

I also felt ridiculously guilty when I used a playthrough that had romanced Kaidan in ME1 and Garrus in ME2 and tried to go back to Kaidan in ME3, I had to give up with that one and use a different character to romance Kaidan, and so far that's the only one I've managed to complete with. I don't want to see Garrus abandon me at the end of the game

It's weird seeing people talk about crying during the game, don't get me wrong there were scenes that had me in tears like the last moments with Thane, but I've shed a lot more tears talking about how the game made me feel then when I was actually playing it.

I've realized I'm more emotionally invested in Legion and Mordin than I ever thought.
In one of my PTs, Tali had been exiled so I was forced to murder Legion. That moment still haunts me.
And Mordin, well, once I found a loophole in his dying, I readily took the steps to save him. Oddly I didn't feel guilty about the krogan in general but poor Eve...although I haven't tried killing Wrex and keeping the data...maybe she would live then, but most likely it would also mean she would give up her campaign of peace against Wreave because we screwed them over. But hey our past decisions barely matter anyway right?

Oh my god, I left out when Thane died! Yeah... cried then, too. Nine times. FML. >.<

That really got me, the fact that these are his final moments and he's thinking about Shepard. I felt anger and rage when Eva attacked Ashley and at the ending but Thane had me in tears.

Yeah, when Kolyat clarifies that the prayer they spoke together was for Shepard, not Thane.... GAH. Killed me! I'm sad for people who romanced Thane (I have a Thane LI ME2 PT, but it isn't one of my priority sheps) what with there being no way to save him and a sad lack of scenes and other characters commenting on the death. But for all that, Thane did go out like a boss ("That assassin should be embarrassed. A terminally ill drell managed to stop him from reaching his target.") and his death scene is among some of the most poignant.

I love that even though we knew coming in that short of a miracle he was going to die he still finds a way to go out a hero, I hated that after he dies nat a word is said about it.

I think most of the LIs, Thane included, suffer from the same problem. The time we do have with them is so good it feels like there are parts missing, I know that's how it felt with Ashley.

First of all, loving all your thoughts on this! Secondly, yup I got emotional a-plenty. Cried? Yup.

First Cried: When Thane died. That was such a well done moment. So hard to see him go, but when it came to given a character complete closure, that was probably the golden standard and best example. You feel like he's so integral to the game, even if you didn't interact with him all that much in ME2. There was a real camaraderie there, even if he wasn't loyal to you. Gets me every time. I had to take a ten minute break after that.

Totally agreed, ShyGravel! He went out like a boss and completely owned. Again, golden standard. Though I too wish that more people commented on his death. It was as if it never happened.

Right on, EagleScout. For me, the romance wasn't enough in ME2. I missed those scenes of you and your LI getting closer. While I actually enjoyed the cuddling and such, it left me wanting more. Like, okay what's next? Personally, I think something during the downtime would've nice, as opposed to just waiting for the night before the suicide mission. But as you said, Eagle, we just enjoy that time with LIs so much that we feel something is missing. Well said.

Oh Celia, I don't envy you for that. I was very sad to see Mordin go, but for me he had to for the good of the Krogan. Also I was committed to Eve and Wrex and couldn't let them down. Definitely a sad moment. And I've seen Legion's death... utterly heartbreaking. I had such a crisis of conscience even at the end of the game (despite how I was angered by the "available choices") that I actually had to seriously think about what to do, with respect to the Geth and synthetic life. Again the choices sucked, cause they threw all that we did aside... but the feelings experienced on behalf of the player are so real and all the more heightened given our experiences in ME 1 and 2.

Yeah, I'm going to feel a little guilty on this PT, despite already never having cheated on Kaidan in my first PT. Ha, the only justification that I felt going with Garrus this time around was based on the way Kaidan treated me in ME2. Again, I keep the same name and its basically my personal version of an alternate ME universe where my Shepard is concerned. (Though a three-flavored ice cream cone ending *still* would never happen in anything that I ever imagined. *cough cough*) I have a strong attachment to both Kaidan and Garrus, but for different reasons. I'm sure you totally get that, Celia. And most folks here would.

Thinking of all that happened just makes me want to shoot more rEApers.... er, Cerberus... yeah....

For me one of the top experiences was Wrex of all people. He was great for comic relief and stories in one, in ME 2 he was the only one happy to see me and that sealed the deal. Having the option to betray the big lug....there's no way I could even consider doing it. My first thought at the option was "This is my buddy and I don't care what the fallout is going to be from this choice".

A secret of mine is that I actually had to reload the mission when Ashley shot Wrex. I had my charm maxed out in ME1, but didn't think it was necessary to use it. I was so mad when she shot him, I actually shouted, "NO!" at my TV screen.

Yes. I shout at my games.

Actually I do! But I think you were talking to Kim. Truthfully my first playthrough in ME2 was with my first Shep who was with Kaidan...and I abandoned him for Garrus because I was so excited he was an option! (then Thane came along and OH the conflict of choosing between him and Garrus..such a hard choice) Then I heard that there would be ramifications for cheating, so I replayed and remained loyal for all the good that did me./sarcasm
(Addict for dramatics I am, I was hoping for a guy fight or something...should've known better.)

Eve was precious, if she had been around in 2 I would've had a far harder time choosing who lived. But knowing that I can save Mordin, I have to have a Shep or two that chooses that...besides can't trust Wreave not to wage galactic war. I never bonded with Wrex the way everyone else has. In my first playthrough, I shot him without a second thought. He's grown on me since then, but I'd still rather have krogan babies with Grunt.

Anyway to stay on topic, my second PT was with my Thane romanced Shep, and was I ever disappointed. Yes he was dying and yes he died nobly, but out of all LIs, we Thane girls got the short end of the stick. (I think Jack's a close second though..or maybe Jacob) I was hoping for a scene in the Life Support room with Shepard reading that heart-crunching message, I even went there in the hopes it would activate. Damn it all.

Oh, whoops! Kim yup. But I am so happy you get it too! LOL

Yes, I felt way sorry for the Thane girls and in some ways, a little guilty for having never pursued a relationship with him. Stepmom Shepard ftw. I just wish that the other LIs got some more attention too. Yup, Jack got the short end too.

All things related to Tali from start of ME1 to end of ME3 were very important to me [insert disappointment at lazy photoshop here] but I did like the look they chose for her. Then choosing not to cure the genophage forces you to kill Mordin and Wrex....very powerful moments but I could only make one choice I can live with.....and it involves securing salarian alliance.

Talk about making the tough calls. And I'm so very sorry to all the Tali-mancers and general admirers for her "face". (How about fixing *that* in the EC DLC?) There was this constant theme for sure of, "What are you willing to do to accomplish your mission? How far will you go?" Our limits as Shepard were tested for sure.