Mass Effect 3

My day at E3 started off great, because I sat in on a live demonstration of Mass Effect 3. Then my day got even better, because I had a chance to play through the demo level for myself.

The mission I played saw Commander Shepard on the Salarian homeworld in an effort to win more allies in the war against the Reapers. The objective is to ensure that a fertile female Krogan gets to safety. Yes, we finally get to see a female Krogan, and while she looks similar to the males, she is draped in blue fabric covering her body, face, and head. Over the radio, Wrex tells Shepard to get her out of there... but he obviously won't be doing that in your game if he died back in ME 1.

The female is in a separate pod that ascends the Salarian buildings, and Shepard needs to deactivate locks along the way so the pod can continue moving. Of course, it isn't that simple; Cerberus forces are attacking, so Shepard gets to try out his new combat maneuvers. My favorite change is the addition of the omni-blade, which BioWare describes as a kind of holographic switchblade that makes melee attacks more satisfying. Instead of just rifle-butting enemies in close quarters, holding down the melee button triggers a brutal move that makes Shepard impale his opponent with the powerful attack.

Grenades also make a return, but they are better implemented than they were in the original Mass Effect. They arc over cover, and I use them to flush enemies out into the open (where they promptly get concussive blasted). I'm playing as the soldier class, so I also have access to the Adrenaline Rush ability to slow down time. This comes in handy when one of the Cerberus troops showed up with a shield that seems impenetrable. While my squad stays behind and draws his fire, I sneak up beside him, activate Adrenaline Rush, and take him out before he has a chance to do any real damage.

One key piece of story information is revealed during these battles. After Liara makes a remark about Cerberus' persistance, Shepard responds: "They're indoctrinated. They'll do anything." Whether the Illusive Man is also under Reaper control is unknown, but it would definitely help explain why Cerberus is working against the one human who can save the galaxy.

So, how does Mass Effect 3 feel? It definitely isn't the drastic change in gameplay we experienced from Mass Effect 1 to 2. However, it isn't exactly the same. The evasive roll adds a new degree of mobility, and the omni-blade is neat. Even better, it looks like each character's abilty trees will allow for much more differentiation and choice than before.

I've been a fan of Mass Effect ever since the original released, so I would probably be excited for the final entry either way...but this isn't just the fan in me talking. Mass Effect 3 seems like a fantastic game from the time I spent playing, and I can't wait to go through the entire thing.

See all of the latest ME 3 videos and screenshots here, and check out exclusive features at our Mass Effect 3 hub!