Mass Effect 3 - It's all Kicking off!

After playing the simply amazing demo complete with its stirring opening attack on Earth, I thought I could not get more excited for March 9th. Then EA released the Take Earth Back teaser trailer, showing a young girl playing in a Sunflower field only to witness a Reaper ship landing in said field. Fade to black and announce the full trailer reveal on Sunday.


Sunday came and I watched  the destruction of the Reapers initial attack and loved the "Hell Yeah!" moment where Shepard and the Alliance come out of the destruction to Take Earth Back!


Then today the Cinematic version of the same Take Earth Back trailer came out with an extra minute of content to the already awesome trailer from Sunday. Featuring more footage from some of the earlier trailers cut nicely into the full trailer, it certainly makes Mass Effect 3 look like it is going to be very very special.


It all feels very... Halo though. Could EA be in danger of hype overload?

I very much doubt it!

Mass Effect 3 - Early Demo Access

Last night I was lucky enough to win a code to access the Mass Effect 3 demo early ( Facebook app here). The demo features both single player and multi-player, although the multi-player servers do not go live until Tuesday 14th.

So what you are left with is the single player experience. You can craft and create your character before jumping into the action or choosing to role play and get the full narrative and action experience. The single player opens with what will probably be the opening sequence of the final game. Mass Effect 2 had an explosive opening with Normandy under attack and Shepard apparently dying in order to save his crew. The opening of Mass Effect 3 makes that opening look as exciting as a afternoon of Bingo with your Nan.

Shepard and Admiral Anderson are forced to fight their way through a full on Reaper invasion of Earth to rendezvous with the Normandy. These opening 20 minutes are some of the most action packed and cinematic sequences yet to be seem in the series yet. This is it... this is what we have been waiting for.

The graphics have been overhauled again and look spectacular. The characters are brilliant and wonderfully animated. Once again this serves to just drag you more into the game world and to start evoking emotion in the player. Particularly in one section which sees you try to rescue a child trapped in the chaos. Your efforts end up  in vain and it really strikes a chord with you.




Bioware's trump card in all of this is the use of Kinect. They have focused on the voice recognition side of Kinect's many talents and have stumbled onto something quite special. Now shouting out commands to team mates isn't a new thing. In Mass Effect 3 though you can speak your dialogue actions. This also immerses you more in the world and the characters. Saying your decisions out loud seems to bear more weight.

The second part of the demo, focuses on a mission later in the game and sees Shepard reunited with Wrex, Garrus and Liara in a daring raid to secure the last female Krogan from a Salarian laboratory. Cerberus does not want this and have sent in heavy shock troops to stop you. This section gives you a chance to test out the combat and things have improved again from the previous games. Not that it needed much improvement.

The one thing a demo is meant to do is get people interested in purchasing the full game. From the single player side alone this demo is going to grab people by the neck and force them into buying the game at gunpoint. It is incredible and in its limited form as a demo it is clear that we are looking at Game of the Year 2012.

And the multi-player has not even gone live yet.

Mass Effect 3 - 5 New Trailers

As mentioned only a few days ago the EA/Bioware hype train is gaining momentum and its next stop is Mass Effect 3. Today sees the release of not one , but five new trailer detailing certain parts of the conclusion to Commander Shepard's epic tale.


interactive storytelling


Co-Op trailer


Weapon Customisation

Enemies and AI


Action Gameplay

Shaping up once again to be Game of the Year material, just like its predecessor. I can see myself spending time with the Normandy and her crew for a large part of this year.

Mass Effect 3 - Its coming!

As if Bioware didn't have enough to do, with the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic. The eagerly awaited conclusion to their Space Opera, Mass Effect is due out next month. I have already started my personal hype for this by starting a new Shepard and intend to somehow find the time to play through both Mass Effect 1 and 2 before the 9th March.

EA's hype train is well and truly rolling. They know that this a important event. There are pre-order incentives as with the previous game.

Anybody who pre-orders the game will get a M55 Argus Assault Rifle - a quick-burst ranged weapon.

Game pre-orders also get the Game-exclusive N7 Warfare pack. This includes an N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle (two rounds per shot) and N7 Defender Armour (improves shields, health, ammo capacity, weapon damage).

PC gamers get an exclusive weapon, but only if they pre-order from EA's online shop Origin. This will get you an AT-12 Raider Shotgun - a large pellet-spread, rapid fire shotgun.

Then there is the Collector's Edition which features so much goodness that it is easier to just show you.



Then there is the Day One DLC announced today. The From Dust DLC is being touted in the US retailers for $10. Also, Bioware has confirmed that the extra Squad member and mission included with the collectors edition will be available as DLC on launch day as well.

Finally, with the inclusion of multi-player as a first for the series. Bioware and EA are releasing the Mass Effect 3  - Multiplayer demo next week on February 14th. That's right, just try and sneak away from your loved one to play that!

Expect more on Mass Effect 3 in the weeks to come, as we prepare to finish the journey we started almost four years ago.

Battlefield 3 open beta starts today

Don't forget that the Battlefield 3 Beta starts today on PC/PS3 & Xbox 360. Finally a chance for me compare the console version with the PC and also to see if my creaking PC can handle the Frostbite 2.0 goodness. To celebrate, enjoy the cool new JAY-Z battlefield trailer.



Got to love the the tagline "Above and Beyond the Call". This marketing war between EA and Activisions brands is shaping up to be more entertaining than the games the are fighting over.