Mass Effect 3 Special Edition

Genre: Third-Person Shooter / RPG

Players: 1

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Review:

Mass Effect 3, like its predecessors, is a game that combines Third-Person Shooter and RPG elements in a futuristic setting where the Earth has joined an interstellar community of worlds and must contend with threats on an intergalactic scale. This game was originally released on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2012, with a Nintendo Switch “Special Edition” released later that same year. In the years since this original release, in 2021 this game was also included in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which includes remastered versions of the first three games in the series.

Mass Effect 3’s release on the Wii U was a momentous occasion because it was the first time a game in the Mass Effect franchise saw release on a Nintendo platform. Its release was also somewhat puzzling… because it was the first time a game in the Mass Effect franchise saw release on a Nintendo platform. The first three games in the Mass Effect franchise, unlike some other major RPG franchises such as Final Fantasy, is a highly-serialized story – each one leads into the events of the next, with events of prior installments heavily affecting each new entry in the franchise. This was especially true for Mass Effect, which on other platforms not only allowed players to transfer their save information from one game to the next, but also carried storyline choices from one game to the next as well. Major characters and even entire races in Mass Effect 3 may be dead or alive based on your choices in earlier games.

Mass Effect 3 Special Edition tries to account for this by giving players the option of starting the game with the Mass Effect: Genesis 2 digital comic, which not only goes over the events of the first two games, but also gives players the ability to set the course of some of those game’s biggest choices. It’s an imperfect solution, and I can’t help but think that the ideal way to approach this issue would have been to simply port the entire trilogy over, but instead, players who primarily game within Nintendo’s platforms will be starting the third installment of a trilogy with what amounts to Cliff’s notes of the prior two games.

That’s not the only content differences in the Wii U version of the game. This release also includes the From Ashes, Extended Cut, and Firefight Pack DLC standard with the game, which is nice… but unfortunately all other DLC is unobtainable in the Wii U version. This version of the game originally included online multiplayer play, but this mode has long since been taken offline. Finally, as you often find in ports to the Wii U, this version uses the Wii U gamepad to allow players to quickly check their map without pausing, and they can also use combat abilities from custom assignments to touchscreen buttons.

These additions are indeed nice, but… well, it seems a lot like a consolation prize in place of what this version of the game is missing.

At the very least, the game itself is still superb, with solid 3D visuals (though the character models have aged somewhat), and a fittingly epic cinematic-style soundtrack. This game also features an all-star voice cast bringing their A-game, including name voice actors like Jennifer Hale, Troy Baker, and Steve Blum alongside Hollywood celebrities like Martin Sheen, Keith David, Seth Green, and Carrie-Ann Moss.

The story this time around picks up with series protagonist and player-created character Shepherd recalled to Earth after the events of the prior game, only to find the planet soon coming under assault. Shepherd is given the mission to seek help from the intergalactic seat of government, The Citadel, but is shortly afterwards sidetracked to investigate a curious attack on a research station on Mars. What they discover when they arrive kicks off a race, not only to build a weapon capable of fending off the malevolent Reapers, but also to fend off attempts from the scherming Cerberus organization to seize power. It’s an epic plot with a well-told story, although naturally it’s a story that will mean more to players who had the prior two games to get to know this world and the characters that live in it.

The gameplay here features a similar excellent mix of Third-Person Shooter and RPG elements that was in the prior games, as well as some decent open-ended exploration (albeit with a fairly linear story progression). Mass Effect 3 makes more of an effort than prior games to push players to do more than hide behind cover and take easy pot shots at enemies, with enemies now flanking you and making greater attempts to flush you from any entrenched position you might have.

Overall, there’s no question that Mass Effect 3 is a great game with an epic story and solid visuals, and the version of it released on Wii U is solid port given the circumstances. Unfortunately, those circumstances still mean that you’re better off going with any other version of the game, and in fact Mass Effect Legendary Edition makes it even more questionable what value this version of the game will provide. In the end, if Nintendo platforms are your only gaming platform, Mass Effect 3: Special Edition on Wii U is absolutely a must-have game. But only if you don’t have any other modern gaming platforms so you can experience the entire trilogy.

tl;dr – Mass Effect 3 Special Edition is a solid port of a truly great Third-Person Shooter and RPG. Unfortunately, being the third game in a highly serialized trilogy on a platform without the prior two games really hobbles this version. If Nintendo platforms are your only choice, consider this a must-have. However, if you have another platform (particularly one with Mass Effect Legendary Edition), go for that instead so you can experience the entire saga.

Grade: A-

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