Saaaaaame, it's the only time you ever really hear Hackett swear. And it's on a line to all of the fleets lol. Definitely brings the human out of the Admiral
Thank you for the most wonderful journey through the Mass Effort universe. It’s been such a touching and emotional experience , which never really goes away no matter how many times you play through it. The final chapter’s quality or lack of it, is redeemed by that incredibly moving scene between Anderson and FemShep, and the ultimate choice we have to make at the end, each one leaving a heart ache which can last quite a while. BioWare seems to be making subtle changes in the Legendary edition to allow for a ME 4, which I also noticed were incorporated into the 360 edition of ME3. Thank you again for such a thoughtful and emotional play through. Peace, love and gratitude from Ireland.
I remember playing these missions and skipping sleep entirely. I felt like I would have given up on humanity if I'd come back to it later. I completed the game when the sun was coming up. That was a great moment.
I know what that's like. My longest gaming session ever was the end of ME2 and the start of ME3. 36 hours, stopping only for food and ..... This game trilogy is Nuts good.
People often rag on the game for the Normandy picking up people and then leaving without Harbinger just destroying it, but like, because of EDI and the IFF, Harbinger thinks the Normandy is "reaper friend." basically. Also, the old dude talking to the child in the end? He's voiced by Buzz FUCKING Aldrin. One of the first men to WALK ON THE MOON. What a legendary game and I'm so glad we got to see you experience it for the first time.
True. People always look for something to rag about. Of course some things are a bit "wtf?" like the Normandy-Evac scene. But BioWare did the best they could to repair the damage the botched original ending did. Thats why I can "forgive" something like that easily. Over the years I came to terms with the ending. None is perfect and 100% what I wanted. But I can enjoy them enough. Favourite is control-ending. But everyone likes different ending for different reasons - and that is just as it should be :)
The problem with the Normandy being invisble there even with the IFF, is why not air drop a couple people from tye Normandy as well to improve their chances? I know they tried to fix it but thats probably something they couldve left alone or done differently instead of during the rush into the beam.
Ema... I rarely ever see someone pick the Synthesis path. And you marched towards it with a purpose. I never see someone just know what is the right path and commit. This has been my favorite playthrough of mass effect I've ever seen. I'm proud of you. Thank you
Yeah but there's an ending where shep lives. I always have to see that, gives me hope for the future. For future mass effect games where I might be able to shepard again
Because synthesis makes no sense in-game and as a concept thought out by Bioware. The autonomy of every induvidual in the galaxy is just erased - just so EDI and the geth can "live". Every organism from bacteria to giant mammals have had their DNA changed. If synthesis is the final step in evolution then that presupposes that nothing in the galaxy can ever have an environmental change on *ANY* planet again. Do animals still need oxygen? Will plants still create oxygen through photosynthesis? Will leaves die to feed the worms? Will worms have something to eat to enrichen the soil? WHO CARES! EDI LIVES! Take a look at 44:40 and answer me if that Husk is going to live happily ever after. Now extend that to every Husk, Cannibal and Maurader. It's the most stupid ending of the three that the player can choose but also the most stupid one Bioware made. Anyone choosing Synthesis should go back to Mass Effect 1 and say "Hey Saren, you were right. Let's team up with Sovereign."
@Battouga Hi. I kind of think your opinion seems a bit unfair to impose on a gamer making highly stressful choices in the moment. I'm not invalidating your points, I think you made solid points, but yours comes with having more time to process it all. Try making these choices while playing the game for the first time and doing so while streaming it live 😉 There is not a better blind playthrough of this Trilogy out there, that I know of, in the English language. It may not have been a canon ending but she stated in another video that her Shep being possibly alive is the ending her playthrough will be ✌️ Great game though hey? It brings the passion out so excuse me if I came across any other way then calm and peaceful. Perhaps I should have stated that like the Elcor right upfront of my reply 😅
It's interesting to point out that these ending weren't the ones originally planned. The originals were hinted back in ME2, referring to how dark energy was causing stars to die, and that the Reaper's original purpose was to prevent the death of the universe.
@@aidenrafferty7825 no, it was supposed to lead into the original endings that Drew Karpyshyn had planned, but casey hudson didnt like it and drew left before most of 3's story was written.
From what I read in an interview with the writer of ME 1 and 2, the dark energy idea was still a barebones concept he was kicking around, he had never really moved to flesh it out further, hence it got dropped when Bioware brought in another writer to do ME 3.
@@paradox_4094 fake news, ur spinning the truth. quiet is right, drew was never set on the dark energy ending. They didnt even have a solid conclusion foe any of them. In fact, the writing team had a handful of different endings they had in mind. It was never casey declaring he didnt like the original draft, thats just complete misinformation. You also left out how the original "drafted" ending had everything to do with the mass effect, and all technologies that use mass effect. Mass effect technology was tearing the foundations of the universe apart. And thats why the reapers came. But why? Why is the mass effect so destructive? What is the reapers plan in this ending? Any explanation would likely be half baked. even if we got that ending, how would they make it work? Arguably that woulda been a worse ending becus how would they explain the reapers solution? Theyre just constantly wiping out civilization without an actual solution to the problem? Thats why they didnt go with it, cos theres no way to form a concise motivation. Otherwise, it probably woulda been a "just because" conclusion.
@@m33tballa In the dark energy draft, the idea was that the reapers were actually iterating on developping a perfect specie which could solve the issue, so basically the galaxy was their petridish that they "cleaned" every 50 millenias in order to start over if no civilization corresponded... I don't remember what was the criteria they were searching to develop, maybe biotics.
Well done Emalynde, this is my favourite playthrough of Mass Effect on RUclips. Thank you for all of your videos and a huge congratulations on finishing the Mass Effect trilogy! Watching you play Mass Effect for the first time reminded me of playing it for the first time and it was such a joy to see and relate to. Thank you for all of your videos! I'm eager to support any more gaming videos you upload in the future. Nice work and I'm excited to see what you upload next, cheers GabesGames.
So just to put my own two cents in. All ending IMO to me are cannon in their own way. You know, because it's a choose your own path kind of game. No real right answer to which is the 'Right' choice. Because everyone who plays is gonna have their own bias on what the again 'Right' ending choice is. To say what is the ONLY 'Right' choice in a multiple choice game. No matter what is said otherwise, kind of defeats the purpose of a pick your own choice game like Mass Effect. Again IMO. P.S: Synthesis for me, Destroy just seems evil to me since I didn't want to off the synthetic, even if it means I guess live at the end. Control I don't mind, but it was the most 'Eh' ending for me. Synthesis was the choice that sounded the most impact filled for me. Since Snythetics get true sentience finally, while humans finally get what they want in the form of overcoming their organic limitations. I went off on what the Catylsis said because when I listened to him/her/it. I found no real reason for it to lie to me by that point in time. So yeah, I took its words for what they were and tried my best to decided from there. Weighed the possible pros and cons for each. Then well, Synthesis was the best one. Again all of this is personal thoughts here and that's just the ending I went with. So yeah. Also if any of you are gonna 'TRY' and convince me otherwise. Don't waste your breath there, I'm set on this belief and that's; that's. P.S.S: And I mumbled on again, sorry bout that. Anyways good video either way from one of many Mass Effect fans here. 😩🤌
It's the only ending I acknowledge. I usually install the happy ending mod, too. It removes the whole child scene and makes destory the only one you get. Sheppard is the one putting the plack up on the wall, but it's for Anderson.
@patrickcoleman6429 to me synthesis just made no sense. U can't tell me a godlike intelligence that absorbed trillions upon trillions of beings collective intelligence, including the cycle that came up with the idea of the crucible. Didn't think it was possible or an option till now. "OH well they weren't ready". Synthesis to me just feels like a quick throw in idea so they had more options at the end. Not to mention choosing synthesis basically says your forgiving the reapers for killing all your freinds. Now we're all just gunna hold hands and dance around a tree together lol
@@austinnapper4284 "Not to mention choosing synthesis basically says your forgiving the reapers for killing all your freinds. Now we're all just gunna hold hands and dance around a tree together lol" Thats... a reach. You don't have to forgive someone in order to stop a war. I also don't think anyone that picks the destroy option has a right to comment on how to treat friends, seeing as you backstab the Geth/Legion and EDI. I mean, good god, the mod that allows only that to happen is called the "happy ending" mod. Sociopathic, almost. All endings have their downsides, that's the point - there is no "happy ending", no easy choice, apart from if you're emotionally and mentally stunted, i guess. "to me synthesis just made no sense. U can't tell me a godlike intelligence that absorbed trillions upon trillions of beings collective intelligence, including the cycle that came up with the idea of the crucible. Didn't think it was possible or an option till now. "OH well they weren't ready"" Then you didn't understand what was being said. SC literally said they had thought of it, and tried it before, but it didn't work, as it had to be voluntary. Since Shepard has been the ONLY person EVER to be in that position, she was ready to voluntarily be able to make that choice. Literally, Shepard changed the parameters. Its.... not difficult to listen to what is being told to you...
@@LilyMoonWitchmaybe not but that’s what a true hero does if they have the power to destroy their enemies they won’t use it even if they’d die for it to happen
I know Emma doesn't read RUclips comments but want to say just the same: Have been watching since the beginning and watching your emotionally honest reactions to everything has been a wonderful trip through it all again. Looking forward to Andromeda which is a fun ride despite not living up to its potential. Thanks!!
ICYMI, there's a fourth option which isn't directly mentioned. I leave it as an exercise for the student to determine what that fourth option is, and the results of selecting that option.
Nice ME trilogy playthough bring back memories but everytime I played ME3 I always chooses destroy over control and synthesis because not only Shepard will survive if your war assets is 80% or higher its because its make sense. Choosing control would mean that Shepard would died but be reborn as a reaper master control ai and he/she would order the reapers to stand down and rebuild what they destroyed but the peace probably wouldn't last because somewhere down the line there a chance that Shepard ai might turn evil and order the reapers to attack organics and the whole thing would happen again. I would never chose synthesis because it didn't feel right because you practically be changing everyone in the galaxy without their knowledge or consent and sure the reapers would stand down and shared what they know about the other races they destroyed eons ago but changing everyone in half synthetic without their knowledge and consent isn't worth it. Destroy is the right decision because the reapers are a threat and they need to go and sure that the geth will died and Legion's sacrifice is in vain and E.D.I will died and she just learning how to be human it sucks, sad and unfortunate but its a sacrifice worth paying. And sure the synthetics can be rebuild and chances that they may cause chaos in the future but I pretty sure that it might get settled i mean look at the rachni wars and the krogan rebellions those were big galactic wars but they got settled. So my opinion is that destroy is the best solution
Well that’s the best part about games with multiple paths and endings you can choose the one that best suits your interpretation of shepherd. I don’t mind the destroy ending but I personally have never chosen it synthesis or control all the way,even though I usually play renegade lol, reason being (and short answer so I don’t have to give a long paragraph)is it just seems like such a waste to me, the geth, edi, the reapers technology and all the knowledge from the civilizations they harvested before, not to mention the possibilities of what could happen after synthesis I find way too interesting not to pick. But that’s my opinion also I know every fandom has their toxic members but some in Mass Effect go to far when it comes to the endings especially destroy apparently, I saw a play through a while back,lady said she lost a chunk of subscribers after her play through and got a bunch of angry comments for not choosing the destroy ending
@@v5k456jh3 exactly that why I never chose synthesis because it not worth changing everyone in the galaxy just to get information about all the races the reapers destroyed eons ago
@@v5k456jh3 the fact that you wouldnt be willing to evolve is what the catalyst meant when he said that organics were not ready before. The entire game is revolved around conflict resolution through understanding, if you play that way it should yield enough war assets to get that option. Shepard helping the galaxy come together in such a way proves that they are ready for synthesis. It's an interesting moral conundrum to think about and i think the series has a lot of value by being so thought provoking even now.
The whole “im proud of you” scene kills me. The only think that I dislike about it is how quickly Hackett interrupts it. As a player we need to sit with the moment for a few seconds longer, listening to that mournful piano. It’s just such a beautiful moment and an amazing sendoff to the father figure of the saga
Thanks for the ride 😢💔 Best gaming experience I've ever watched. It is an incredible journey and you gave it the 'respect' I look for when deciding to choose a Mass Effect Trilogy playthrough to watch. I love it when let's players get immersed in the games' Universe and want to soak up as much of it as they can. You did that and it made the experience so much more enriching. I have watched more than a few playthroughs of this trilogy and yours was certainly the most thorough. Every note, audio log, piece of loot etc, you looked for and I appreciated that 🤓 I was happy to hear in your "Love Letter to The Mass Effect Trilogy" that you planned to play the Legendary Edition. I do so look forward to that. It's been a while since that video though and things change but I hope somehow that remains part of your plan. On a side note, the Love Letter video isn't listed within the Mass Effect 3 playlist. Well, onto your Mass Effect Andromeda playthrough now. I've only ever watched that game once, so I've still got a lot to experience and I'm pretty sure I've found the right gamer to provide that 😊 I know Andromeda is not going to be the experience that Mass Effect Trilogy provided, but to be fair no other game has. There's a lot of good games, but none has the recipe quite like Mass Effect 😟
I am happy players now get this experience, when it first came out, we were robbed of this. Players had to raise a big stink to get at least some cohesive ending.
Nah... You don't have to redo your makeup. You look great! 🙂 Even after all the years of playthroughs I've had, the game still hits me as well. It's all good though. It let's me know "I...AM...ALIVE!"
First time I played this I was depressed for weeks. It did with so many people phycologists actually coined the phrase the mass effect effect, because how many people started needing antidepressants after playing the game and because of the game. I remember going to the midnight release, I chose control to save edi and the geth, this was before synthesis was released as a update dlc. The part that hurt so freaking bad wasn't because my character died, no that makes a good ending by adding possible realism and emotional depth. What hurt was the pain it caused Tali, she was so hurt not coming with and losing me and how it hurt the crew losing me and my buddies Grunt and Garrus. We'll all were my buddies but especially those two. Yeah I know it's a game but doesn't matter, for years I pretended it was real and imagined it, it's the same when your a kid with Christmas or the tooth fairy etc... depending on your religion. Those aren't real but it still hurt you bad when you found out, when you lost them it still hurt. Same goes for booms you read or sad movies that aren't based on true stories. Etc... hope I'm explaining it well, I have autism so it's difficult sometimes to articulate well.
A fellow Synthesis enjoyer :) I understand and respect the other choices and why folks chose them but to me this was the right call for the galaxy as a whole!
Loved your video. You know it's a hell of game when it brings out that much emotion in you. I went through the same thing when I played it. I just got so attached to the characters. Femshep is probably my favorite character of all time. For that reason, I only liked the ending where she lives.
It's the gift of all great artists to know when to stop. Right there, after the Shep-Anderson farewell. Have Shep see the Crucible go off as they're sitting next to Anderson, see the Reapers fall, smile and fade knowing he/she won. Cut to some scenes of remembrance, slideshows of outcomes, roll credits. Would've been fine. They nailed it up til then. Everything after that farewell feels like it's too much. Just one man's opinion.
I’m with you. Played the original ME3 the day it came out and love it up to that moment. Anderson saying “you did well child. I’m proud of you” was the catharsis for Shepard and the player. It tied that moment all the way back to the beginning of ME1 serving under Anderson. Ending it there would have been full circle, making your commanding officer proud. At the time, up to this moment I was even ok with the suicide run to the beam up the citadel. In the original version of the ending when Harbinger blast the rushing party there is no cutscene where you see your team take the shuttle out of there. The moment was incredibly epic, rushing to the beam and after the blast feeling like your teammates and everyone else rushing were all dead. Everything that happens after this moment with Anderson is what made the ending so unbelievable terrible at the time.
That should've been the Paragon ending IMO. No Starchild, no "Oh, it'll also destroy the Geth and EDI", no nonsense. You and Anderson just watch the Crucible dock with the Citadel, and as it fires, tearing itself apart in the process, you get to see the Reapers finally being destroyed. From there, cut to the epiogue, credits, and maybe, if your War Assets were high enough, the slightest tease that Shepard may have survived. As for non-Paragons, I feel like, if they really wanted to make an ending where all the player's choices feel like they realy mattered, they'd have to make at least two other completely different ending sequences. Maybe doubt is cast on the Crucible's effectiveness, and if you have enough Renegade points, you can propose an alternate, more ruthless strategy of luring all the Reapers to Earth with the Crucible as bait, and then destroying the Sol Relay to take out the entire System. If you don't have enough Paragon _or_ Renegade points, on the other hand, perhaps there can be an Indoctrination Theory-type ending, where you side with the Illusive Man, and either get put down by one of your Squadmates, or "successfully take control of the Reapers", with the ending having ominous overtones heavily implying that not everything is as it seems.
I still consider synthesis is a lie, basically turning everyone in the galaxy into a husk and what you see is a vision the reapers want you to see, the illusive man hints at the deception when he says "I wish you could see it the way I do, so perfect", except what he was seeing was what the reapers wanted him to see. And the question I think a lot of players seem to avoid is why the secret ending is only available in the destroy ending.
If someone wants to elevate my being to the apex of evolution without my consent, I'm good with it. And at the same time, essentially end conflict between synths and organics FOREVER, then great!
I thought that too, and then she walked resolutely toward the Synthesis ending. A few minutes later I put it together - she said in a previous stream she was going to play Legendary Edition, and I bet she decided earlier that she would save the Destroy ending for that so she'd have something to look forward to :)
@@soundofnellody262 I don't think so, but when presented with the 3 choices from the Catalyst, I think she decided to save the Destroy ending for next time, maybe as motivation to play Legendary Edition. But then again, short of Shepard dying, Synthesis is pretty much the best overall ending so maybe she genuinely chose it. With the Destroy ending Shepard might live, but you also genocide the Geth, murder EDI and countless people on the Citadel, plus synthetics are very likely just going to rise up again just like in every other cycle, rendering it a sort of pointless sacrifice. Synthesis saves everyone, turns the Reapers to good, and basically makes the whole galaxy into a big Kumbaya Circle of everyone getting along and evolving together. I just wish Shep didn't have to die for it, then it would be perfect :/
@@VisionQuest057 Thank you for your answer. I can't really imagine Ema is taking destroy-ending since it would be against everything she stood for in this game. Maybe to see how it works out. But not by heart. In my opinion all 3 endings are legit for very different reasons. Of course I have my favourite. As everyone has, I guess. I am also at peace with Shepard dying. The big hero-death is a not unusual trope for storydriven games like this . Besides, I like bitter-sweet endings. Shepards story has a nice closure.
@@soundofnellody262 Yeah thinking about it, I kind of really wish the Destroy ending weren't the "Canon" ending; Shepard's story ends here and there should be no more games made (which could only tarnish Shepard's image IMO; Die as a hero or live to see yourself become the villain and all of that). I think the Synthesis ending should be Canon, but then how would they continue to make more games? It kind of closes off the universe, barring prequels (which very rarely work well, unless done like the Deus Ex series was). Shepard doesn't need to die necessarily, but their saga is complete and should stay that way.
in all my own play throughs from the original ending, to the added endings, only ever done destroy, but part of the fun seeing what people do, nothing wrong with that. if you believe the catalyst, synth is too creepy to me, no more being an individual if your connected to everyone and forcing everyone to be enhanced and control is just being harbinger 2.0 and still the reapers are still around with both of those endings. can you imagine walking around and husk and all the other reaper turned races walking around with you, nope too creepy for me.
Bro everyone saying why did they have to kill Edi and the geth with the destroy ending it’s not hard lol if destroy didn’t eliminate all synthetics it wouldn’t be an internal struggle now would it? Everyone would just pick destroy without hesitation it’s obvious why BioWare did that 😂
I didnt even read the comments yet but I know already there a r a lot of snivelers crying "oh.. no destroy ending buhuuu.. its the only ending that makes sense.. its the only ending that counts.. its the only ending you ever are alowed to take.. buhuu..how could you?? you didnt understand the game.. you suck .. red is the only way to go and dont dare you not to choose that..buhuu..cry cry cry... bla bla bla" to all that people: 🤮
Oh look, another ME3 ending comments section full of "you picked the wrong ending, you're as bad as the reapers" BS. Freaking gamers man. You'd think they'd grow up and learn its just a game.
"Synthesis is the perfect solution" so was Saren thinking, but the logic behind it fails right after when the Catalyst itself says "it can't be... forced" and what a surprise, you're just doing that forcing Synthesis on everything and everyone. So in the end, with Synthesis, Shepard played right into the Catalyst and the Reapers hand while doing the opposite in the entirety of the 3 games. And while I think that Destroy ending is the best solution, I still like Control because it offers the best outcome for everyone, organics and synthetics combined without the "forced merging" involved and Shepard still lives (kind of) in a state of godhood while maintaining the same values and mindset that defined her/his character, weither it be paragon or renegade
The catalyst didnt literally mean to get consent from every individual, thats such an oversimplification of what he was saying. He meant that organics had to be ready for it as a whole, and the galactic state that a full paragon shepard would bring is one that resolved age old conflicts through understanding, especially the quarian and geth war. At that point organics were ready for the responsibility to cooperate with synthetics and each other.
For me it still doesn't make it right to choose that and impose synthesis on everything, for all we know the Catalyst is just coercing Shepard to do it without giving the whole logic behind it other than "it's the perfect solution for peace" And like I said in another topic, I really hope that all the husks, marauders, banshees, brutes and cannibals will enjoy their new life as a merged organic/synthetic and not go crazy over what they've become Also, in Destroy and Control we know what happens with the Catalysm, it's either destroyed or replaced by Shepard. In Synthesis we don't know what it'll do, what can prevent it from flipping a switch and make all life subservient to it, like a hivemind which is exactly what it reminds me. I'd rather choose the refusal ending than synthesis
@@ZrodyApo the catalyst isnt a deceiving organic being, it is an AI that was made to find the best solution to resolve the conflict between organics and synthetics. Shepard making up there with the catalyst introduced a new variable to the catalyst and it concluded that the current solution was ineffective because organics would eventually destroy the reapers and dooming themselves to more chaos. The catalyst has every reason to be truthful because it calculated its eventual doom. The catalyst is most likely the synthetic part that shepard "merges" with so that the process can happen, which means it's also destroyed along with Shepard. Synthesis is essentially a refined version of what the reapers have already been doing and that the only reason that its available now is because at that point organics have finally caught up to synthetics and are ready to evolve. In this universe the catalyst states that Synthesis is the inevitable final evolution of all life so regardless of what ending you choose Synthesis either happens, or life is eventually doomed through another organic/synthetic war.
@@paradox_4094 I still don't trust it, from my perspective the Catalyst coerce Shepard into thinking that Synthesis is the best outcome, it says that they tried a similar solution before and it didn't work because it can't be forced, while Synthesis ending just does that, it is forced on everyone without even knowing what happens, only Shepard knows it and decide to choose that for the entire galaxy. I'd rather destroy the reaper or control them, even refusal ending is better than Synthesis imo
@@ZrodyApo the catalyst means forced as in they harvested organics for it and also lacked the means for it but tried anyway. Shepard would be the first willing organic with the means to do it (the crucible) and also consider what tye word crucible means. Bioware didnt choose the name because it sounded cool. Its because it's intended use is creation; it takes elements of various organic and synthetic life and creates something new. Destroy and control do no create anything but instead does the opposite or retains the status quo with new leadership.
@@dajointcf4803 exactly, ive been seeing more people playing for the first time not choose destroy at the end. I feel like the controversy and endless youtube videos of the indoctrination thoery gave everyone at the time a huge bias.
@@paradox_4094 something about forcing bilions of people to change without their consent seams kinda icky to me... makes you no better than the reapers
in the end, you fell in the final Reaper trap. if you remember back to ME1 and final confrontation with Saren, he describes synthesis with almost exact same words as Starchild does. So either Saren was right all along or Shepard got harvested at the end
Or Saren was indoctrinated but had a solution to the threat in mind just like TIM with control and the obvious destroy idea. The problem was them being indoctrinated and the galaxy not being ready, but Shepard introduced a new variable with the crucible and resolutions to conflicts throughout the game. The indoctrination theory was cool when it came out but after time passed it just feels like a cope because people didnt like the ending. The reaper harvest is just a metaphor for the cycle of life and mortal beings chaotic resistance to the inevitable. The endings are fine and more interesting to talk about because they are all moral positions to a solution and everyone has their own reasoning for their decisions.
@@l33tspaniard he wanted to work with the reapers because he didn't think we could win a war and understood that the reapers were at the apex of advanced life. Now take that idea with an indoctrinated mind and you get subservience instead of a simple worth with. 🙄 this isn't hard to understand
EDI's speech says otherwise. BW added those for every ending to clarify that they are all real. Synthesis just looks too utopian. But, as Catalyst said, this will be done eventually, with Shepard, or without.
I just cannot pick Synthesis i did once just to see it, but it just seem evil to me, force this kinda change on trillions of beings, without any others opinions. It´s the option the reapers want and only have there word that it´s "good" so the reapers won, with this option imo. It just seems like the worst of the options imo If Synthesis become canon for ME4 that alone will make me pass on the game.
i think the canon is destroy, any of the others just seam like reaper ideal endings... think about it saren wanted synthesis and he was indoctrinated, we can assume sovereign was the one who gave him the idea and then the ilusive man who wanted control was also indoctrinated, and from javik we know the protheans who were indoctrinated wanted to control the reapers. my point is i find it dificult to take anything that the ai who created the reapers says as anything but a lie
To be honest, I think this ending is pretty lame (in my opinion) and hardly the cannon one. As Mordin stated in Mass Effect 2, all technology is created to surpass limitations, which leads to cultural growth and understanding. If you have no weaknesses, you have no reason to look to evolve and seek solutions to your own limitations, which leads to cultural stagnation. We are not made to have perfect comprehension of everything, neither do synthethics. Also the second biggest problem on it is the fact that it's a huge plot breaker. If there's no more weaknesses, limitations, and no more existence differences between organics and synthethics, there's really not much room for developing a good story because you just turned the entire universe into something totally different, something more static, monotonous. It's surely a more emotional choice, since most people choose this ending in order to preserve the Geth and EDI's lives, but in the big picture it's really problematic.
@@hianwilliansnone of the endings are canon and since the trilogy ended anyways it doesn’t matter if they can’t develop a good story because the story is already over
It's the logical choice for someone who has a paragon leaning and has a notion that, had they themselves been in that same situation as Shepard, self sacrifice for the greater good, was always the right choice. It's not until you have had time to digest the ending and had a serious look at all the implications and all the events that proceeded the meeting with the catalyst, examinined the dialogue with the catalyst itself and why the catalyst looked the way it did, that you may realise how manipulated you were in choosing the Synthisis ending.
@@terrypeck3948 Disagree with it being a paragon choice. I consider imposing Synthesis on everyone (even civilizations without technology) without their consent completely against a Paragon being. No option is perfect but I consider Synthesis the worst option (even over shooting the kid)
@@LOTRFAN33 Agree fully. Anyways who knows if Synthesis just gives reapers full control of all living beings. Even if not so, one being can't make decision for everyone. I say Destroy is only option here. Though i didn't like even that too much since it killed EDI and the Geth.
@@LOTRFAN33 No argument from me there, of course, you're framing your response from a person who has time to think about the choices with a clear and level head, probably after multiple playthroughs, which is my point exactly. The game doesn't give you that framework to base your decisions on the first playthrough. Don't get me wrong, I have written fan-fiction with the exact argument you've put forward. So no, I'm not saying the act of choosing Sythisis IS paragon, but I do understand why Emalynde chose it.
if you want to go through a trip, you should look into the indoctrination theory. a quick breakdown is that when Harbinger blasts Shepherd on earth she is knocked out and everything else is in her head, a fabrication by the reapers. a final attempt to indoctrinate her, you get Anderson, The Illusive Man, and the Star Child each presenting their arguments, and then you get to choose. Destroy is to reject the reapers, which is why its framed as the bad choice, as this is a reaper illusion to fool you. Control is to be indoctrinated, and synthesis is enslavement, like Saren in ME1. The reapers see your usefulness and so want to enslave you, to be exactly like Saren, their tool of conquest, only stronger. This is why (SPOILERS FOR OTHER ENDINGS) if you choose destroy and have a high enough fleet rating, you get a bonus scene. The scene is of rubble, shooting, and chaos sounds (believed to be back in London). The camera pans around, finding Shepherds burnt armor after the blast from Harbinger, and Shepherd takes a breath, showing she rejected the indoctrination and survived. its just a fan theory but there are all kinds of little hints and evidence. For example, there are a lot of inconsistencies that happen once you get blasted by Harbinger, such as your pistol having infinite ammo without needing a reload, Anderson claiming to have come up the beam after you, but somehow in front of you, the Citadel arms open but Shephard doesn't lose air, the Star Child being the same boy you lost in the first mission and the one you see in your dreams, a representation of your guilt to manipulate you. The reapers never really met or even saw this kid, why would the sprite be identical to him if not to influence you? Even Shephard's wounds seem inconsistent. A reaper blast kills anyone, but she seems to survive, and keeps falling over and passing out, she even seems to bleed to death before meeting the Star Child, at which point she seems more or less okay? anyways, lots of video's that go crazy in depth, but its one of my favorite theories! thanks for a wonderful playthrough! Its been a ride!
@@TheDoctorfat i agree, looking back at the trilogy years later, i have to agree that the indoctrination theory was probably the biggest cope of the decade for gaming.
The "Holy shit. She did it"
ALWAYS gets me 😭
Saaaaaame, it's the only time you ever really hear Hackett swear. And it's on a line to all of the fleets lol. Definitely brings the human out of the Admiral
Thank you for the most wonderful journey through the Mass Effort universe. It’s been such a touching and emotional experience , which never really goes away no matter how many times you play through it. The final chapter’s quality or lack of it, is redeemed by that incredibly moving scene between Anderson and FemShep, and the ultimate choice we have to make at the end, each one leaving a heart ache which can last quite a while. BioWare seems to be making subtle changes in the Legendary edition to allow for a ME 4, which I also noticed were incorporated into the 360 edition of ME3. Thank you again for such a thoughtful and emotional play through. Peace, love and gratitude from Ireland.
I remember playing these missions and skipping sleep entirely. I felt like I would have given up on humanity if I'd come back to it later. I completed the game when the sun was coming up. That was a great moment.
I know what that's like. My longest gaming session ever was the end of ME2 and the start of ME3. 36 hours, stopping only for food and ..... This game trilogy is Nuts good.
@@shaantitus1538 I miss those days.
People often rag on the game for the Normandy picking up people and then leaving without Harbinger just destroying it, but like, because of EDI and the IFF, Harbinger thinks the Normandy is "reaper friend." basically.
Also, the old dude talking to the child in the end? He's voiced by Buzz FUCKING Aldrin. One of the first men to WALK ON THE MOON. What a legendary game and I'm so glad we got to see you experience it for the first time.
True. People always look for something to rag about. Of course some things are a bit "wtf?" like the Normandy-Evac scene. But BioWare did the best they could to repair the damage the botched original ending did. Thats why I can "forgive" something like that easily. Over the years I came to terms with the ending. None is perfect and 100% what I wanted. But I can enjoy them enough. Favourite is control-ending. But everyone likes different ending for different reasons - and that is just as it should be :)
The problem with the Normandy being invisble there even with the IFF, is why not air drop a couple people from tye Normandy as well to improve their chances? I know they tried to fix it but thats probably something they couldve left alone or done differently instead of during the rush into the beam.
Think harbinger had enough to contend with just making sure no one made it to the citadel beam it just couldn't be arsed with the normandy
Allwayes play the game unmodded first. Best game ever. The i mod the shxxx out of it.
Ema... I rarely ever see someone pick the Synthesis path. And you marched towards it with a purpose. I never see someone just know what is the right path and commit.
This has been my favorite playthrough of mass effect I've ever seen.
I'm proud of you. Thank you
Yeah but there's an ending where shep lives. I always have to see that, gives me hope for the future. For future mass effect games where I might be able to shepard again
Because synthesis makes no sense in-game and as a concept thought out by Bioware. The autonomy of every induvidual in the galaxy is just erased - just so EDI and the geth can "live". Every organism from bacteria to giant mammals have had their DNA changed. If synthesis is the final step in evolution then that presupposes that nothing in the galaxy can ever have an environmental change on *ANY* planet again. Do animals still need oxygen? Will plants still create oxygen through photosynthesis? Will leaves die to feed the worms? Will worms have something to eat to enrichen the soil? WHO CARES! EDI LIVES!
Take a look at 44:40 and answer me if that Husk is going to live happily ever after. Now extend that to every Husk, Cannibal and Maurader. It's the most stupid ending of the three that the player can choose but also the most stupid one Bioware made. Anyone choosing Synthesis should go back to Mass Effect 1 and say "Hey Saren, you were right. Let's team up with Sovereign."
@Battouga Hi. I kind of think your opinion seems a bit unfair to impose on a gamer making highly stressful choices in the moment. I'm not invalidating your points, I think you made solid points, but yours comes with having more time to process it all. Try making these choices while playing the game for the first time and doing so while streaming it live 😉
There is not a better blind playthrough of this Trilogy out there, that I know of, in the English language.
It may not have been a canon ending but she stated in another video that her Shep being possibly alive is the ending her playthrough will be ✌️
Great game though hey? It brings the passion out so excuse me if I came across any other way then calm and peaceful. Perhaps I should have stated that like the Elcor right upfront of my reply 😅
This game has so much heart! I am 42 years old but Anderson dying gets me every single time!
It's interesting to point out that these ending weren't the ones originally planned. The originals were hinted back in ME2, referring to how dark energy was causing stars to die, and that the Reaper's original purpose was to prevent the death of the universe.
Did they ever actually follow up on that mission with Tali and the dying star? I honestly can’t remember.
@@aidenrafferty7825 no, it was supposed to lead into the original endings that Drew Karpyshyn had planned, but casey hudson didnt like it and drew left before most of 3's story was written.
From what I read in an interview with the writer of ME 1 and 2, the dark energy idea was still a barebones concept he was kicking around, he had never really moved to flesh it out further, hence it got dropped when Bioware brought in another writer to do ME 3.
@@paradox_4094 fake news, ur spinning the truth. quiet is right, drew was never set on the dark energy ending. They didnt even have a solid conclusion foe any of them. In fact, the writing team had a handful of different endings they had in mind. It was never casey declaring he didnt like the original draft, thats just complete misinformation.
You also left out how the original "drafted" ending had everything to do with the mass effect, and all technologies that use mass effect. Mass effect technology was tearing the foundations of the universe apart. And thats why the reapers came. But why? Why is the mass effect so destructive? What is the reapers plan in this ending? Any explanation would likely be half baked.
even if we got that ending, how would they make it work? Arguably that woulda been a worse ending becus how would they explain the reapers solution? Theyre just constantly wiping out civilization without an actual solution to the problem? Thats why they didnt go with it, cos theres no way to form a concise motivation. Otherwise, it probably woulda been a "just because" conclusion.
@@m33tballa In the dark energy draft, the idea was that the reapers were actually iterating on developping a perfect specie which could solve the issue, so basically the galaxy was their petridish that they "cleaned" every 50 millenias in order to start over if no civilization corresponded... I don't remember what was the criteria they were searching to develop, maybe biotics.
The emotional roller coaster of these dam games...AHHH!
I miss is so much!
This part of the game always leaves me in tears 😭
Well done Emalynde, this is my favourite playthrough of Mass Effect on RUclips. Thank you for all of your videos and a huge congratulations on finishing the Mass Effect trilogy! Watching you play Mass Effect for the first time reminded me of playing it for the first time and it was such a joy to see and relate to. Thank you for all of your videos! I'm eager to support any more gaming videos you upload in the future. Nice work and I'm excited to see what you upload next, cheers GabesGames.
9:50 The Tali farewell hits soooo much harder T_T
So just to put my own two cents in. All ending IMO to me are cannon in their own way. You know, because it's a choose your own path kind of game.
No real right answer to which is the 'Right' choice. Because everyone who plays is gonna have their own bias on what the again 'Right' ending choice is.
To say what is the ONLY 'Right' choice in a multiple choice game. No matter what is said otherwise, kind of defeats the purpose of a pick your own choice game like Mass Effect. Again IMO.
P.S: Synthesis for me, Destroy just seems evil to me since I didn't want to off the synthetic, even if it means I guess live at the end. Control I don't mind, but it was the most 'Eh' ending for me. Synthesis was the choice that sounded the most impact filled for me. Since Snythetics get true sentience finally, while humans finally get what they want in the form of overcoming their organic limitations.
I went off on what the Catylsis said because when I listened to him/her/it. I found no real reason for it to lie to me by that point in time. So yeah, I took its words for what they were and tried my best to decided from there. Weighed the possible pros and cons for each. Then well, Synthesis was the best one.
Again all of this is personal thoughts here and that's just the ending I went with. So yeah. Also if any of you are gonna 'TRY' and convince me otherwise. Don't waste your breath there, I'm set on this belief and that's; that's.
P.S.S: And I mumbled on again, sorry bout that. Anyways good video either way from one of many Mass Effect fans here. 😩🤌
Feels so weired to see this ending. Always choose the destroy ending with enough allies so Shepard survieves
It's the only ending I acknowledge. I usually install the happy ending mod, too. It removes the whole child scene and makes destory the only one you get. Sheppard is the one putting the plack up on the wall, but it's for Anderson.
EDI is a feeling being .. to kill her is evil .. Synthesis is a good way .. I guess ..
@patrickcoleman6429 to me synthesis just made no sense. U can't tell me a godlike intelligence that absorbed trillions upon trillions of beings collective intelligence, including the cycle that came up with the idea of the crucible. Didn't think it was possible or an option till now. "OH well they weren't ready". Synthesis to me just feels like a quick throw in idea so they had more options at the end. Not to mention choosing synthesis basically says your forgiving the reapers for killing all your freinds. Now we're all just gunna hold hands and dance around a tree together lol
@@austinnapper4284 "Not to mention choosing synthesis basically says your forgiving the reapers for killing all your freinds. Now we're all just gunna hold hands and dance around a tree together lol"
Thats... a reach. You don't have to forgive someone in order to stop a war. I also don't think anyone that picks the destroy option has a right to comment on how to treat friends, seeing as you backstab the Geth/Legion and EDI. I mean, good god, the mod that allows only that to happen is called the "happy ending" mod. Sociopathic, almost. All endings have their downsides, that's the point - there is no "happy ending", no easy choice, apart from if you're emotionally and mentally stunted, i guess.
"to me synthesis just made no sense. U can't tell me a godlike intelligence that absorbed trillions upon trillions of beings collective intelligence, including the cycle that came up with the idea of the crucible. Didn't think it was possible or an option till now. "OH well they weren't ready""
Then you didn't understand what was being said. SC literally said they had thought of it, and tried it before, but it didn't work, as it had to be voluntary. Since Shepard has been the ONLY person EVER to be in that position, she was ready to voluntarily be able to make that choice. Literally, Shepard changed the parameters. Its.... not difficult to listen to what is being told to you...
@@LilyMoonWitchmaybe not but that’s what a true hero does if they have the power to destroy their enemies they won’t use it even if they’d die for it to happen
I know Emma doesn't read RUclips comments but want to say just the same: Have been watching since the beginning and watching your emotionally honest reactions to everything has been a wonderful trip through it all again. Looking forward to Andromeda which is a fun ride despite not living up to its potential. Thanks!!
I think Synthesis is indeed the right choice/decision.
ICYMI, there's a fourth option which isn't directly mentioned. I leave it as an exercise for the student to determine what that fourth option is, and the results of selecting that option.
Nice ME trilogy playthough bring back memories but everytime I played ME3 I always chooses destroy over control and synthesis because not only Shepard will survive if your war assets is 80% or higher its because its make sense.
Choosing control would mean that Shepard would died but be reborn as a reaper master control ai and he/she would order the reapers to stand down and rebuild what they destroyed but the peace probably wouldn't last because somewhere down the line there a chance that Shepard ai might turn evil and order the reapers to attack organics and the whole thing would happen again.
I would never chose synthesis because it didn't feel right because you practically be changing everyone in the galaxy without their knowledge or consent and sure the reapers would stand down and shared what they know about the other races they destroyed eons ago but changing everyone in half synthetic without their knowledge and consent isn't worth it.
Destroy is the right decision because the reapers are a threat and they need to go and sure that the geth will died and Legion's sacrifice is in vain and E.D.I will died and she just learning how to be human it sucks, sad and unfortunate but its a sacrifice worth paying. And sure the synthetics can be rebuild and chances that they may cause chaos in the future but I pretty sure that it might get settled i mean look at the rachni wars and the krogan rebellions those were big galactic wars but they got settled. So my opinion is that destroy is the best solution
Well that’s the best part about games with multiple paths and endings you can choose the one that best suits your interpretation of shepherd. I don’t mind the destroy ending but I personally have never chosen it synthesis or control all the way,even though I usually play renegade lol, reason being (and short answer so I don’t have to give a long paragraph)is it just seems like such a waste to me, the geth, edi, the reapers technology and all the knowledge from the civilizations they harvested before, not to mention the possibilities of what could happen after synthesis I find way too interesting not to pick. But that’s my opinion
also I know every fandom has their toxic members but some in Mass Effect go to far when it comes to the endings especially destroy apparently, I saw a play through a while back,lady said she lost a chunk of subscribers after her play through and got a bunch of angry comments for not choosing the destroy ending
@@hunterwaguespack3963 damn, losing a ton of subscribers for not picking destroy? That's f***ed up
@@v5k456jh3 exactly that why I never chose synthesis because it not worth changing everyone in the galaxy just to get information about all the races the reapers destroyed eons ago
@@v5k456jh3 the fact that you wouldnt be willing to evolve is what the catalyst meant when he said that organics were not ready before. The entire game is revolved around conflict resolution through understanding, if you play that way it should yield enough war assets to get that option. Shepard helping the galaxy come together in such a way proves that they are ready for synthesis. It's an interesting moral conundrum to think about and i think the series has a lot of value by being so thought provoking even now.
Destroy is canon, that's what you've been meaning to do since ME1, erase the reaper threat.
I enjoyed this playthrough immensely. Thank you.
The whole “im proud of you” scene kills me. The only think that I dislike about it is how quickly Hackett interrupts it. As a player we need to sit with the moment for a few seconds longer, listening to that mournful piano. It’s just such a beautiful moment and an amazing sendoff to the father figure of the saga
RIP Dadmiral Anderson.
Thanks for the ride 😢💔
Best gaming experience I've ever watched. It is an incredible journey and you gave it the 'respect' I look for when deciding to choose a Mass Effect Trilogy playthrough to watch.
I love it when let's players get immersed in the games' Universe and want to soak up as much of it as they can. You did that and it made the experience so much more enriching.
I have watched more than a few playthroughs of this trilogy and yours was certainly the most thorough. Every note, audio log, piece of loot etc, you looked for and I appreciated that 🤓
I was happy to hear in your "Love Letter to The Mass Effect Trilogy" that you planned to play the Legendary Edition. I do so look forward to that. It's been a while since that video though and things change but I hope somehow that remains part of your plan.
On a side note, the Love Letter video isn't listed within the Mass Effect 3 playlist.
Well, onto your Mass Effect Andromeda playthrough now. I've only ever watched that game once, so I've still got a lot to experience and I'm pretty sure I've found the right gamer to provide that 😊
I know Andromeda is not going to be the experience that Mass Effect Trilogy provided, but to be fair no other game has. There's a lot of good games, but none has the recipe quite like Mass Effect 😟
I am happy players now get this experience, when it first came out, we were robbed of this. Players had to raise a big stink to get at least some cohesive ending.
Nah... You don't have to redo your makeup. You look great! 🙂
Even after all the years of playthroughs I've had, the game still hits me as well. It's all good though. It let's me know "I...AM...ALIVE!"
First time I played this I was depressed for weeks. It did with so many people phycologists actually coined the phrase the mass effect effect, because how many people started needing antidepressants after playing the game and because of the game.
I remember going to the midnight release, I chose control to save edi and the geth, this was before synthesis was released as a update dlc.
The part that hurt so freaking bad wasn't because my character died, no that makes a good ending by adding possible realism and emotional depth. What hurt was the pain it caused Tali, she was so hurt not coming with and losing me and how it hurt the crew losing me and my buddies Grunt and Garrus. We'll all were my buddies but especially those two.
Yeah I know it's a game but doesn't matter, for years I pretended it was real and imagined it, it's the same when your a kid with Christmas or the tooth fairy etc... depending on your religion. Those aren't real but it still hurt you bad when you found out, when you lost them it still hurt. Same goes for booms you read or sad movies that aren't based on true stories. Etc... hope I'm explaining it well, I have autism so it's difficult sometimes to articulate well.
they cut shepard and anderson the last conversation i don't know why, search youtube for uncut version, it will make you more tear up
The voice acting is so good! ❤️
A fellow Synthesis enjoyer :) I understand and respect the other choices and why folks chose them but to me this was the right call for the galaxy as a whole!
Loved your video. You know it's a hell of game when it brings out that much emotion in you. I went through the same thing when I played it. I just got so attached to the characters. Femshep is probably my favorite character of all time. For that reason, I only liked the ending where she lives.
i think your the first girld who choose the best solutin synthesis thanks
It's good to be loved, it's Profound... To be Understood. The best ending. To gain wisdom.
Glad you were able to enjoy my favorite game, yeah the end is devastating but it's still the best game
Destroy was the best option. My 2 cents. The star child lied. If your war assets are high enough, Shepard survives. If he could, so could others.
Where’s the implications of the lies? We clearly see from the ending slides that it said the truth
It's the gift of all great artists to know when to stop.
Right there, after the Shep-Anderson farewell. Have Shep see the Crucible go off as they're sitting next to Anderson, see the Reapers fall, smile and fade knowing he/she won.
Cut to some scenes of remembrance, slideshows of outcomes, roll credits. Would've been fine. They nailed it up til then. Everything after that farewell feels like it's too much.
Just one man's opinion.
I’m with you. Played the original ME3 the day it came out and love it up to that moment. Anderson saying “you did well child. I’m proud of you” was the catharsis for Shepard and the player. It tied that moment all the way back to the beginning of ME1 serving under Anderson. Ending it there would have been full circle, making your commanding officer proud. At the time, up to this moment I was even ok with the suicide run to the beam up the citadel. In the original version of the ending when Harbinger blast the rushing party there is no cutscene where you see your team take the shuttle out of there. The moment was incredibly epic, rushing to the beam and after the blast feeling like your teammates and everyone else rushing were all dead. Everything that happens after this moment with Anderson is what made the ending so unbelievable terrible at the time.
That should've been the Paragon ending IMO. No Starchild, no "Oh, it'll also destroy the Geth and EDI", no nonsense. You and Anderson just watch the Crucible dock with the Citadel, and as it fires, tearing itself apart in the process, you get to see the Reapers finally being destroyed. From there, cut to the epiogue, credits, and maybe, if your War Assets were high enough, the slightest tease that Shepard may have survived.
As for non-Paragons, I feel like, if they really wanted to make an ending where all the player's choices feel like they realy mattered, they'd have to make at least two other completely different ending sequences. Maybe doubt is cast on the Crucible's effectiveness, and if you have enough Renegade points, you can propose an alternate, more ruthless strategy of luring all the Reapers to Earth with the Crucible as bait, and then destroying the Sol Relay to take out the entire System. If you don't have enough Paragon _or_ Renegade points, on the other hand, perhaps there can be an Indoctrination Theory-type ending, where you side with the Illusive Man, and either get put down by one of your Squadmates, or "successfully take control of the Reapers", with the ending having ominous overtones heavily implying that not everything is as it seems.
Great choice. Synthesis is the right and correct ending. 😎
Synthesis FTW, yay lol. Anyway great play through really enjoyed the ride
This is a beautiful ending.
Synthesis is my favorite
I still consider synthesis is a lie, basically turning everyone in the galaxy into a husk and what you see is a vision the reapers want you to see, the illusive man hints at the deception when he says "I wish you could see it the way I do, so perfect", except what he was seeing was what the reapers wanted him to see.
And the question I think a lot of players seem to avoid is why the secret ending is only available in the destroy ending.
That wasn’t him anymore due to indoctrination and we don’t know if anything was a lie
@@axelnilsson5124 That's the point, the illusive man saw what the reapers wanted him to see, perfection, but it was an illusion due to indoctrination.
@ they tricked him but due to Shepard being Shepard they could see reality than whatever he saw
YeeYeee!!!! You didnt kill EDI or the geth! and ended an Eon long War. Synthesis all the way!
Synthesis ftw
@@Tjrissi96 I hate synthesis, I wouldn't want to be changed without my say so or even know it was coming
If someone wants to elevate my being to the apex of evolution without my consent, I'm good with it. And at the same time, essentially end conflict between synths and organics FOREVER, then great!
F*ck synthesis. Destroy all the way.
@@AG26498 So just fuck the Geth and EDI?
I would've choosen this ending if they dont get glowing skins lol
gotta say, I was expecting you to choose the other ending 😭 that was a good ride though
I thought that too, and then she walked resolutely toward the Synthesis ending. A few minutes later I put it together - she said in a previous stream she was going to play Legendary Edition, and I bet she decided earlier that she would save the Destroy ending for that so she'd have something to look forward to :)
@@VisionQuest057 She knows the different endings already?
@@soundofnellody262 I don't think so, but when presented with the 3 choices from the Catalyst, I think she decided to save the Destroy ending for next time, maybe as motivation to play Legendary Edition. But then again, short of Shepard dying, Synthesis is pretty much the best overall ending so maybe she genuinely chose it. With the Destroy ending Shepard might live, but you also genocide the Geth, murder EDI and countless people on the Citadel, plus synthetics are very likely just going to rise up again just like in every other cycle, rendering it a sort of pointless sacrifice. Synthesis saves everyone, turns the Reapers to good, and basically makes the whole galaxy into a big Kumbaya Circle of everyone getting along and evolving together. I just wish Shep didn't have to die for it, then it would be perfect :/
@@VisionQuest057 Thank you for your answer. I can't really imagine Ema is taking destroy-ending since it would be against everything she stood for in this game. Maybe to see how it works out. But not by heart. In my opinion all 3 endings are legit for very different reasons. Of course I have my favourite. As everyone has, I guess. I am also at peace with Shepard dying. The big hero-death is a not unusual trope for storydriven games like this . Besides, I like bitter-sweet endings. Shepards story has a nice closure.
@@soundofnellody262 Yeah thinking about it, I kind of really wish the Destroy ending weren't the "Canon" ending; Shepard's story ends here and there should be no more games made (which could only tarnish Shepard's image IMO; Die as a hero or live to see yourself become the villain and all of that). I think the Synthesis ending should be Canon, but then how would they continue to make more games? It kind of closes off the universe, barring prequels (which very rarely work well, unless done like the Deus Ex series was). Shepard doesn't need to die necessarily, but their saga is complete and should stay that way.
in all my own play throughs from the original ending, to the added endings, only ever done destroy, but part of the fun seeing what people do, nothing wrong with that. if you believe the catalyst, synth is too creepy to me, no more being an individual if your connected to everyone and forcing everyone to be enhanced and control is just being harbinger 2.0 and still the reapers are still around with both of those endings. can you imagine walking around and husk and all the other reaper turned races walking around with you, nope too creepy for me.
I actually think it's better if you don't use the paragon/renegade dialog options for the illusive man parts. This allows him to have his final words.
Bro everyone saying why did they have to kill Edi and the geth with the destroy ending it’s not hard lol if destroy didn’t eliminate all synthetics it wouldn’t be an internal struggle now would it? Everyone would just pick destroy without hesitation it’s obvious why BioWare did that 😂
I didnt even read the comments yet but I know already there a r a lot of snivelers crying "oh.. no destroy ending buhuuu.. its the only ending that makes sense.. its the only ending that counts.. its the only ending you ever are alowed to take.. buhuu..how could you?? you didnt understand the game.. you suck .. red is the only way to go and dont dare you not to choose that..buhuu..cry cry cry... bla bla bla" to all that people: 🤮
Oh look, another ME3 ending comments section full of "you picked the wrong ending, you're as bad as the reapers" BS. Freaking gamers man. You'd think they'd grow up and learn its just a game.
"Synthesis is the perfect solution" so was Saren thinking, but the logic behind it fails right after when the Catalyst itself says "it can't be... forced" and what a surprise, you're just doing that forcing Synthesis on everything and everyone.
So in the end, with Synthesis, Shepard played right into the Catalyst and the Reapers hand while doing the opposite in the entirety of the 3 games.
And while I think that Destroy ending is the best solution, I still like Control because it offers the best outcome for everyone, organics and synthetics combined without the "forced merging" involved and Shepard still lives (kind of) in a state of godhood while maintaining the same values and mindset that defined her/his character, weither it be paragon or renegade
The catalyst didnt literally mean to get consent from every individual, thats such an oversimplification of what he was saying. He meant that organics had to be ready for it as a whole, and the galactic state that a full paragon shepard would bring is one that resolved age old conflicts through understanding, especially the quarian and geth war. At that point organics were ready for the responsibility to cooperate with synthetics and each other.
For me it still doesn't make it right to choose that and impose synthesis on everything, for all we know the Catalyst is just coercing Shepard to do it without giving the whole logic behind it other than "it's the perfect solution for peace"
And like I said in another topic, I really hope that all the husks, marauders, banshees, brutes and cannibals will enjoy their new life as a merged organic/synthetic and not go crazy over what they've become
Also, in Destroy and Control we know what happens with the Catalysm, it's either destroyed or replaced by Shepard. In Synthesis we don't know what it'll do, what can prevent it from flipping a switch and make all life subservient to it, like a hivemind which is exactly what it reminds me.
I'd rather choose the refusal ending than synthesis
@@ZrodyApo the catalyst isnt a deceiving organic being, it is an AI that was made to find the best solution to resolve the conflict between organics and synthetics. Shepard making up there with the catalyst introduced a new variable to the catalyst and it concluded that the current solution was ineffective because organics would eventually destroy the reapers and dooming themselves to more chaos. The catalyst has every reason to be truthful because it calculated its eventual doom. The catalyst is most likely the synthetic part that shepard "merges" with so that the process can happen, which means it's also destroyed along with Shepard. Synthesis is essentially a refined version of what the reapers have already been doing and that the only reason that its available now is because at that point organics have finally caught up to synthetics and are ready to evolve. In this universe the catalyst states that Synthesis is the inevitable final evolution of all life so regardless of what ending you choose Synthesis either happens, or life is eventually doomed through another organic/synthetic war.
@@paradox_4094 I still don't trust it, from my perspective the Catalyst coerce Shepard into thinking that Synthesis is the best outcome, it says that they tried a similar solution before and it didn't work because it can't be forced, while Synthesis ending just does that, it is forced on everyone without even knowing what happens, only Shepard knows it and decide to choose that for the entire galaxy.
I'd rather destroy the reaper or control them, even refusal ending is better than Synthesis imo
@@ZrodyApo the catalyst means forced as in they harvested organics for it and also lacked the means for it but tried anyway. Shepard would be the first willing organic with the means to do it (the crucible) and also consider what tye word crucible means. Bioware didnt choose the name because it sounded cool. Its because it's intended use is creation; it takes elements of various organic and synthetic life and creates something new. Destroy and control do no create anything but instead does the opposite or retains the status quo with new leadership.
Did not expect you to go with synthesis tbh
really? from the way she talks its obvious she was gonna go with either shynth or control
@@dajointcf4803 exactly, ive been seeing more people playing for the first time not choose destroy at the end. I feel like the controversy and endless youtube videos of the indoctrination thoery gave everyone at the time a huge bias.
@@paradox_4094 so you are not a destroy ending kind of guy?
@@dajointcf4803 i used to when i first played the series, but ive come to appreciate the other options and like synthesis much better than before
@@paradox_4094 something about forcing bilions of people to change without their consent seams kinda icky to me... makes you no better than the reapers
in the end, you fell in the final Reaper trap. if you remember back to ME1 and final confrontation with Saren, he describes synthesis with almost exact same words as Starchild does. So either Saren was right all along or Shepard got harvested at the end
Or Saren was indoctrinated but had a solution to the threat in mind just like TIM with control and the obvious destroy idea. The problem was them being indoctrinated and the galaxy not being ready, but Shepard introduced a new variable with the crucible and resolutions to conflicts throughout the game. The indoctrination theory was cool when it came out but after time passed it just feels like a cope because people didnt like the ending. The reaper harvest is just a metaphor for the cycle of life and mortal beings chaotic resistance to the inevitable. The endings are fine and more interesting to talk about because they are all moral positions to a solution and everyone has their own reasoning for their decisions.
Lord I’m tired of this “argument” 🙄 Saren didn’t want synthesis, he wanted subservience.
@@l33tspaniard he wanted to work with the reapers because he didn't think we could win a war and understood that the reapers were at the apex of advanced life. Now take that idea with an indoctrinated mind and you get subservience instead of a simple worth with. 🙄 this isn't hard to understand
EDI's speech says otherwise. BW added those for every ending to clarify that they are all real.
Synthesis just looks too utopian. But, as Catalyst said, this will be done eventually, with Shepard, or without.
U realise u provednthe repers right with destroy u proved that organics cant go wothout cpmiting genicde against ai justofying every ai uprising
This is my shit.
The Star Child lies to you. You should always destroy the Reapers.
How can we say it lied if we don’t know what happened after? Don’t just assume someone lied for the sake of assuming that
Do a maleshep playthru for legendary edish
I just cannot pick Synthesis i did once just to see it, but it just seem evil to me, force this kinda change on trillions of beings, without any others opinions.
It´s the option the reapers want and only have there word that it´s "good" so the reapers won, with this option imo.
It just seems like the worst of the options imo
If Synthesis become canon for ME4 that alone will make me pass on the game.
i think the canon is destroy, any of the others just seam like reaper ideal endings... think about it saren wanted synthesis and he was indoctrinated, we can assume sovereign was the one who gave him the idea and then the ilusive man who wanted control was also indoctrinated, and from javik we know the protheans who were indoctrinated wanted to control the reapers. my point is i find it dificult to take anything that the ai who created the reapers says as anything but a lie
To be honest, I think this ending is pretty lame (in my opinion) and hardly the cannon one. As Mordin stated in Mass Effect 2, all technology is created to surpass limitations, which leads to cultural growth and understanding. If you have no weaknesses, you have no reason to look to evolve and seek solutions to your own limitations, which leads to cultural stagnation. We are not made to have perfect comprehension of everything, neither do synthethics. Also the second biggest problem on it is the fact that it's a huge plot breaker. If there's no more weaknesses, limitations, and no more existence differences between organics and synthethics, there's really not much room for developing a good story because you just turned the entire universe into something totally different, something more static, monotonous. It's surely a more emotional choice, since most people choose this ending in order to preserve the Geth and EDI's lives, but in the big picture it's really problematic.
K. Its canon, by the way.
@@LilyMoonWitch No, it's not.
@@hianwilliansnone of the endings are canon and since the trilogy ended anyways it doesn’t matter if they can’t develop a good story because the story is already over
@axelnilsson5124 Are you aware that Mass Effect 4 was already announced?
@@hianwillians I am and if they are going to have all endings canon then they would have made a story that could work with and without this ending
All these sacrifices only to let reapers alive
A true hero doesn’t kill their enemies when they have the choice
I picked Synthesis the first time too. Nobody is perfect I guess.
Wasn’t even an option the first time I played, I’ve done them all since though.
It's the logical choice for someone who has a paragon leaning and has a notion that, had they themselves been in that same situation as Shepard, self sacrifice for the greater good, was always the right choice. It's not until you have had time to digest the ending and had a serious look at all the implications and all the events that proceeded the meeting with the catalyst, examinined the dialogue with the catalyst itself and why the catalyst looked the way it did, that you may realise how manipulated you were in choosing the Synthisis ending.
@@terrypeck3948
Disagree with it being a paragon choice. I consider imposing Synthesis on everyone (even civilizations without technology) without their consent completely against a Paragon being. No option is perfect but I consider Synthesis the worst option (even over shooting the kid)
@@LOTRFAN33 Agree fully. Anyways who knows if Synthesis just gives reapers full control of all living beings. Even if not so, one being can't make decision for everyone. I say Destroy is only option here. Though i didn't like even that too much since it killed EDI and the Geth.
@@LOTRFAN33 No argument from me there, of course, you're framing your response from a person who has time to think about the choices with a clear and level head, probably after multiple playthroughs, which is my point exactly. The game doesn't give you that framework to base your decisions on the first playthrough. Don't get me wrong, I have written fan-fiction with the exact argument you've put forward. So no, I'm not saying the act of choosing Sythisis IS paragon, but I do understand why Emalynde chose it.
Didn’t pick destroy🤦🏼♂️
Nor should she. I certainly wouldn't have after all I did for the Geth and EDI... I wouldn't just wipe them out.
@@UncleMilo Synthesis wipes everyone out, and replaces them with similar but different things.
@@smartalec2001 That's a bit of a leap
@@smartalec2001 not even remotely what happens. Life just hits its final evolution and a greater understanding is reached.
@@paradox_4094 Evolution isn't imposed by anyone's decision. Synthesis is invasive and nonconsensual.
if you want to go through a trip, you should look into the indoctrination theory.
a quick breakdown is that when Harbinger blasts Shepherd on earth she is knocked out and everything else is in her head, a fabrication by the reapers. a final attempt to indoctrinate her, you get Anderson, The Illusive Man, and the Star Child each presenting their arguments, and then you get to choose. Destroy is to reject the reapers, which is why its framed as the bad choice, as this is a reaper illusion to fool you. Control is to be indoctrinated, and synthesis is enslavement, like Saren in ME1. The reapers see your usefulness and so want to enslave you, to be exactly like Saren, their tool of conquest, only stronger.
This is why (SPOILERS FOR OTHER ENDINGS) if you choose destroy and have a high enough fleet rating, you get a bonus scene. The scene is of rubble, shooting, and chaos sounds (believed to be back in London). The camera pans around, finding Shepherds burnt armor after the blast from Harbinger, and Shepherd takes a breath, showing she rejected the indoctrination and survived.
its just a fan theory but there are all kinds of little hints and evidence. For example, there are a lot of inconsistencies that happen once you get blasted by Harbinger, such as your pistol having infinite ammo without needing a reload, Anderson claiming to have come up the beam after you, but somehow in front of you, the Citadel arms open but Shephard doesn't lose air, the Star Child being the same boy you lost in the first mission and the one you see in your dreams, a representation of your guilt to manipulate you. The reapers never really met or even saw this kid, why would the sprite be identical to him if not to influence you? Even Shephard's wounds seem inconsistent. A reaper blast kills anyone, but she seems to survive, and keeps falling over and passing out, she even seems to bleed to death before meeting the Star Child, at which point she seems more or less okay?
anyways, lots of video's that go crazy in depth, but its one of my favorite theories!
thanks for a wonderful playthrough!
Its been a ride!
The thing is, the writers have already disproven that theory, so it's a moot point
@@TheDoctorfat i agree, looking back at the trilogy years later, i have to agree that the indoctrination theory was probably the biggest cope of the decade for gaming.
If you want... there's a surprice if you choose the red ending