<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
third	O
major	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
series	O
and	O
the	O
final	O
installment	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
trilogy	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2012	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
entitled	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Special	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
was	O
later	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
to	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
import	O
a	O
completed	O
saved	O
game	O
into	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
that	O
influences	O
the	O
plot	O
by	O
taking	O
previous	O
decisions	O
into	O
account	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
general	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
revolves	O
around	O
increasing	O
military	O
strength	O
by	O
completing	O
missions	O
and	O
gathering	O
resources	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
score	O
was	O
written	O
by	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
composers	O
,	O
who	O
aimed	O
for	O
a	O
balance	O
between	O
the	O
orchestral	O
sound	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
the	O
synthesizer-driven	O
sound	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
also	O
supports	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
,	O
ranging	O
from	O
minor	O
in-game	O
items	O
to	O
more	O
significant	O
plot-related	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Notable	O
packs	O
include	O
From	B-Application
Ashes	I-Application
,	O
Leviathan	B-Application
,	O
Omega	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Citadel	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
for	O
its	O
art	O
direction	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
emotional	O
depth	O
,	O
improved	O
combat	O
,	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
and	O
voice	O
acting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
standalone	O
sequel	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
:	I-Application
Andromeda	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2021	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
remastered	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
control	O
of	O
Commander	O
Shepard	O
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
a	O
completed	O
saved	O
game	O
from	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
character	O
from	O
that	O
game	O
can	O
be	O
imported	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
importing	O
an	O
old	O
character	O
,	O
decisions	O
from	O
prior	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
titles	O
are	O
carried	O
over	O
,	O
which	O
impacts	O
the	O
plot	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
has	O
three	O
pre-set	O
campaign	O
modes	O
:	O
Action	O
,	O
Story	O
,	O
and	O
RPG	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
Kinect	B-Algorithm
,	O
customization	O
choices	O
can	O
be	O
made	O
verbally	O
instead	O
of	O
selected	O
using	O
a	O
controller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
primary	O
mode	O
of	O
transportation	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
a	O
star	O
ship	O
called	O
Normandy	O
SR-2	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
general	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
revolves	O
around	O
increasing	O
"	O
Effective	O
Military	O
Strength	O
"	O
(	O
EMS	O
)	O
to	O
prepare	O
for	O
its	O
final	O
mission	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
TMS	O
is	O
increased	O
by	O
acquiring	O
"	O
War	O
Assets	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
include	O
accomplishments	O
from	O
all	O
three	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
games	O
,	O
whereas	O
RR	O
is	O
increased	O
by	O
playing	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unless	O
it	O
is	O
set	O
to	O
Action	O
Mode	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
interacts	O
with	O
non-player	O
characters	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
by	O
using	O
a	O
radial	O
command	O
menu	O
where	O
dialog	O
options	O
depend	O
on	O
wheel	O
direction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
Shepard	O
was	O
imported	O
from	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
achieved	O
a	O
love	O
interest	O
in	O
each	O
of	O
the	O
prior	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
games	O
,	O
then	O
both	O
characters	O
vie	O
for	O
Shepard	O
's	O
attention	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
some	O
conversations	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
prompted	O
with	O
a	O
context-sensitive	B-Application
interrupt	O
option	O
that	O
offers	O
a	O
temporary	O
alternative	O
to	O
what	O
is	O
available	O
on	O
the	O
dialog	O
wheel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Over	O
the	O
course	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
dialog	O
and	O
narrative	O
decisions	O
result	O
in	O
"	O
Reputation	O
Points	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
added	O
together	O
and	O
unlock	O
further	O
decision-making	O
and	O
dialog	O
options	O
as	O
they	O
accumulate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combat	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
real-time	O
but	O
also	O
allows	O
for	O
pausing	O
to	O
aim	O
,	O
change	O
weapons	O
,	O
or	O
use	O
skills	O
from	O
a	O
menu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shepard	O
is	O
typically	O
accompanied	O
by	O
two	O
squad	O
members	O
who	O
are	O
controlled	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
;	O
however	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
still	O
order	O
them	O
into	O
position	O
or	O
choose	O
their	O
powers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kinect	B-Algorithm
users	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
issue	O
these	O
commands	O
verbally	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
includes	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
called	O
"	O
Galaxy	O
at	O
War	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
trilogy	O
is	O
set	O
within	O
the	O
Milky	O
Way	O
galaxy	O
during	O
the	O
22nd	O
century	O
,	O
where	O
interstellar	O
travel	O
is	O
possible	O
through	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
mass	O
transit	O
devices	O
called	O
mass	O
relays	O
,	O
a	O
technology	O
believed	O
to	O
have	O
been	O
built	O
by	O
an	O
extinct	O
alien	O
race	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Protheans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
conglomerate	O
body	O
of	O
governments	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
Council	O
controls	O
a	O
large	O
percentage	O
of	O
the	O
galaxy	O
and	O
is	O
responsible	O
for	O
maintaining	O
law	O
and	O
order	O
among	O
races	O
of	O
the	O
galactic	O
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Races	O
that	O
belong	O
to	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
Council	O
include	O
humans	O
,	O
asari	O
,	O
salarians	O
and	O
turians	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
alien	O
races	O
include	O
the	O
warlike	O
reptilian	O
krogan	O
,	O
the	O
nomadic	O
environmental	O
suited	O
quarians	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
wayward	O
creations	O
,	O
a	O
race	O
of	O
networked	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligences	I-Application
known	O
as	O
the	O
geth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
begins	O
in	O
2186	O
,	O
six	O
months	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
protagonist	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
Commander	O
Shepard	O
(	O
Mark	O
Meer	O
or	O
Jennifer	O
Hale	O
)	O
,	O
an	O
elite	O
human	O
soldier	O
who	O
is	O
Commanding	O
Officer	O
of	O
the	O
Normandy	O
SR-2	O
starship	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
exact	O
roster	O
can	O
vary	O
,	O
Shepard	O
's	O
squad	O
members	O
generally	O
include	O
Systems	O
Alliance	O
officers	O
Ashley	O
Williams	O
(	O
Kimberly	O
Brooks	O
)	O
or	O
Kaidan	O
Alenko	O
(	O
Raphael	O
Sbarge	O
)	O
,	O
Systems	O
Alliance	O
marine	O
James	O
Vega	O
(	O
Freddie	O
Prinze	O
Jr.	O
)	O
,	O
asari	O
information	O
broker	O
and	O
researcher	O
Liara	O
T'Soni	O
(	O
Ali	O
Hillis	O
)	O
,	O
turian	O
military	O
adviser	O
Garrus	O
Vakarian	O
(	O
Brandon	O
Keener	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
Normandy	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
EDI	O
(	O
Tricia	O
Helfer	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
quarian	O
engineer	O
Tali'Zorah	O
(	O
Ash	O
Sroka	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Prothean	O
endling	O
Javik	O
(	O
Ike	O
Amadi	O
)	O
is	O
included	O
as	O
an	O
optional	O
squad	O
member	O
by	O
default	O
with	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
characters	O
include	O
Systems	O
Alliance	O
admirals	O
David	O
Anderson	O
(	O
Keith	O
David	O
)	O
and	O
Steven	O
Hackett	O
(	O
Lance	O
Henriksen	O
)	O
,	O
Normandy	O
pilot	O
Jeff	O
"	O
Joker	O
"	O
Moreau	O
(	O
Seth	O
Green	O
)	O
,	O
Cerberus	O
leader	O
the	O
Illusive	O
Man	O
(	O
Martin	O
Sheen	O
)	O
,	O
Cerberus	O
assassin	O
Kai	O
Leng	O
(	O
Troy	O
Baker	O
)	O
,	O
Citadel	B-Application
Security	O
(	O
C-Sec	O
)	O
Commander	O
Armando-Owen	O
Bailey	O
(	O
Michael	O
Hogan	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
asari	O
crime	O
boss	O
Aria	O
T'Loak	O
(	O
Carrie-Ann	O
Moss	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
necessary	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
establishes	O
alternate	O
characters	O
as	O
replacements	O
for	O
previously-deceased	O
characters	O
who	O
otherwise	O
would	O
have	O
significant	O
roles	O
in	O
the	O
plot	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
Urdnot	O
Wreav	O
will	O
emerge	O
as	O
the	O
krogan	O
leader	O
instead	O
of	O
Urdnot	O
Wrex	O
,	O
Padok	O
Wiks	O
will	O
appear	O
instead	O
of	O
Mordin	O
as	O
the	O
salarian	O
scientist	O
working	O
to	O
cure	O
the	O
genophage	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
facsimile	O
of	O
Legion	O
occupied	O
by	O
a	O
geth	O
virtual	B-General_Concept
intelligence	I-General_Concept
(	O
VI	O
)	O
will	O
be	O
encountered	O
by	O
Shepard	O
if	O
Legion	O
is	O
unable	O
to	O
appear	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Afterwards	O
,	O
Shepard	O
foils	O
a	O
Cerberus	O
coup	O
led	O
by	O
Kai	O
Leng	O
to	O
take	O
over	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shepard	O
is	O
subsequently	O
summoned	O
to	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
by	O
the	O
asari	O
councilor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Accompanied	O
by	O
EDI	O
,	O
Shepard	O
assaults	O
the	O
Cerberus	O
space	O
station	O
,	O
kills	O
Leng	O
,	O
and	O
learns	O
from	O
Vendetta	O
that	O
the	O
Catalyst	O
is	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
itself	O
,	O
which	O
the	O
Reapers	O
have	O
captured	O
after	O
successfully	O
indoctrinating	O
the	O
Illusive	O
Man	O
,	O
who	O
abandoned	O
the	O
station	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
assault	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Alliance	O
and	O
its	O
allies	O
launch	O
an	O
all-out	O
assault	O
on	O
the	O
Reapers	O
in	O
a	O
last-ditch	O
effort	O
to	O
retake	O
Earth	O
and	O
activate	O
the	O
Crucible	O
by	O
joining	O
it	O
with	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shepard	O
eventually	O
reaches	O
a	O
Reaper	O
transportation	O
beam	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
,	O
and	O
after	O
dealing	O
with	O
the	O
Illusive	O
Man	O
,	O
attempts	O
to	O
activate	O
the	O
Crucible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shepard	O
is	O
lifted	O
to	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
's	O
pinnacle	O
instead	O
,	O
and	O
meets	O
a	O
childlike	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
that	O
declares	O
itself	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
Catalyst	O
,	O
who	O
presents	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
options	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
on	O
how	O
to	O
deal	O
with	O
its	O
creation	O
,	O
the	O
Reapers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
(	O
EA	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
stages	O
of	O
development	O
on	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
began	O
before	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
for	O
consoles	B-Application
that	O
were	O
nearing	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
their	O
lifespans	O
,	O
BioWare	O
focused	O
more	O
on	O
optimizing	O
gameplay	O
and	O
storytelling	O
than	O
pushing	O
the	O
technology	O
forward	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
design	O
process	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
referenced	O
critical	O
feedback	O
to	O
help	O
guide	O
their	O
creative	O
decisions	O
,	O
an	O
approach	O
they	O
also	O
utilized	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
many	O
fans	O
complained	O
that	O
role-playing	O
systems	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
were	O
oversimplified	O
,	O
so	O
BioWare	O
added	O
back	O
more	O
character	O
customization	O
options	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
major	O
strategy	O
was	O
to	O
make	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
more	O
user-friendly	O
for	O
new	O
players	O
,	O
something	O
that	O
BioWare	O
felt	O
they	O
did	O
a	O
bad	O
job	O
of	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
Hudson	O
's	O
primary	O
goals	O
for	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
was	O
to	O
improve	O
combat	O
,	O
hoping	O
to	O
turn	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
into	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
shooters	O
on	O
the	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
required	O
over	O
40,000	O
lines	O
of	O
dialog	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
comparison	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
featured	O
approximately	O
20,000	O
lines	O
while	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
featured	O
25,000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
BioWare	O
noted	O
that	O
this	O
approach	O
,	O
combined	O
with	O
the	O
sheer	O
volume	B-Algorithm
of	O
dialog	O
,	O
made	O
it	O
difficult	O
to	O
consistently	O
capture	O
the	O
proper	O
intonation	O
and	O
volume	B-Algorithm
of	O
each	O
line	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
help	O
reduce	O
these	O
kinds	O
of	O
errors	O
,	O
they	O
developed	O
their	O
own	O
technology	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Intensity	O
Volume	B-Algorithm
Matrix	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
listed	O
out	O
each	O
line	O
and	O
the	O
appropriate	O
tone	O
associated	O
with	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Sasha	O
Dikicyan	O
,	O
Sam	O
Hulick	O
,	O
Christopher	O
Lennertz	O
,	O
Clint	O
Mansell	O
,	O
and	O
Cris	O
Velasco	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Everyone	O
except	O
for	O
Mansell	O
was	O
a	O
returning	O
composer	O
;	O
Hulick	O
contributed	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
games	O
and	O
Dikicyan	O
,	O
Lennertz	O
,	O
and	O
Velasco	O
scored	O
some	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jack	O
Wall	O
,	O
the	O
lead	O
composer	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
and	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
had	O
no	O
involvement	O
in	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Hulick	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
aimed	O
for	O
a	O
balance	O
between	O
the	O
orchestral	O
sound	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
the	O
synthesizer-driven	O
sound	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
planned	O
as	O
a	O
project	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
finished	O
in	O
under	O
two	O
years	O
,	O
by	O
March	O
2011	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
clear	O
that	O
more	O
development	O
time	O
was	O
required	O
,	O
so	O
BioWare	O
moved	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
date	O
from	O
Q4	O
2011	O
to	O
Q1	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mac	O
Walters	O
,	O
who	O
served	O
as	O
co-lead	O
writer	O
on	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
with	O
Drew	O
Karpyshyn	O
,	O
was	O
the	O
lead	O
writer	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Karpyshyn	O
departed	O
from	O
the	O
series	O
after	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
work	O
on	O
Star	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
The	I-Protocol
Old	I-Protocol
Republic	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
prior	O
games	O
allowed	O
players	O
to	O
choose	O
from	O
different	O
outcomes	O
,	O
the	O
writers	O
had	O
to	O
account	O
for	O
many	O
possible	O
variables	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
in	O
anticipation	O
of	O
this	O
challenge	O
,	O
they	O
preemptively	O
locked	O
in	O
certain	O
story	O
arcs	O
to	O
ensure	O
that	O
all	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
playthroughs	O
had	O
at	O
least	O
some	O
commonalities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2011	O
,	O
a	O
private	O
beta	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
leaked	O
onto	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
players	O
to	O
access	O
unreleased	O
plot	O
details	O
,	O
and	O
forced	O
BioWare	O
to	O
alter	O
some	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
story	O
at	O
the	O
last	O
minute	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
overall	O
narrative	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
went	O
through	O
multiple	O
redrafts	O
before	O
being	O
finalized	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
ending	O
sequences	O
involving	O
the	O
Reapers	O
were	O
considered	O
but	O
ultimately	O
abandoned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
ideas	O
for	O
an	O
ending	O
included	O
:	O
Shepard	O
being	O
confronted	O
by	O
either	O
Ashley	O
or	O
Kaidan	O
after	O
being	O
willingly	O
modified	O
by	O
Reaper	O
technology	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
have	O
echoed	O
the	O
character	O
arc	O
and	O
downfall	O
of	O
Saren	O
Arterius	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
;	O
the	O
Illusive	O
Man	O
transforming	O
into	O
a	O
Reaper	O
creature	O
akin	O
to	O
Saren	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
for	O
a	O
final	O
boss	O
fight	O
;	O
and	O
an	O
ending	O
revolving	O
around	O
the	O
Reapers	O
 '	O
attempts	O
to	O
stop	O
organics	O
from	O
utilizing	O
dark	O
energy	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
cumulative	O
entropic	O
effect	O
that	O
would	O
hasten	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
universe	O
,	O
or	O
to	O
prevent	O
the	O
universe	O
's	O
inevitable	O
descent	O
into	O
the	O
opposite	O
of	O
the	O
Big	B-Application
Bang	I-Application
by	O
focusing	O
their	O
attention	O
on	O
organic	O
species	O
with	O
biotic	O
potential	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
scrapped	O
ending	O
saw	O
Shepard	O
discover	O
a	O
Reaper	O
queen	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
trapped	O
somewhere	O
in	O
the	O
Citadel	B-Application
and	O
then	O
be	O
prompted	O
with	O
three	O
choices	O
on	O
how	O
to	O
deal	O
with	O
the	O
queen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
offers	O
expanded	O
content	O
for	O
players	O
who	O
are	O
interested	O
in	O
having	O
their	O
Shepard	O
pursue	O
same-sex	O
relationships	O
with	O
non-player	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
on	O
December	O
11	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
at	O
the	O
Spike	O
Video	O
Game	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Leading	O
to	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
promoted	O
with	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
video	O
content	O
,	O
beginning	O
with	O
a	O
reveal	O
trailer	O
in	O
2010	O
and	O
ending	O
with	O
a	O
teaser	O
trailer	O
called	O
Take	O
Back	O
Earth	O
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
one	O
promotional	O
campaign	O
,	O
EA	O
launched	O
early	O
copies	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
into	O
space	O
using	O
weather	O
balloons	O
that	O
were	O
equipped	O
with	O
GPS	O
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
its	O
marketing	O
cycle	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
subject	O
to	O
numerous	O
leaks	O
;	O
most	O
significantly	O
,	O
a	O
private	O
beta	O
unintentionally	O
became	O
available	O
to	O
players	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
in	O
November	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
and	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
BioWare	O
promoted	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
with	O
both	O
male	O
and	O
female	O
versions	O
of	O
Commander	O
Shepard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
help	O
decide	O
the	O
official	O
FemShep	O
model	O
,	O
BioWare	O
asked	O
fans	O
to	O
choose	O
between	O
five	O
prototypes	O
on	O
Facebook	B-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
standard	O
version	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
players	O
could	O
also	O
purchase	O
a	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
and	O
Digital	O
Deluxe	O
Edition	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
in-game	O
bonuses	O
and	O
unlockable	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Digital	O
Deluxe	O
Edition	O
was	O
exclusively	O
available	O
through	O
Origin	B-Operating_System
,	O
EA	O
's	O
online	O
distribution	O
and	O
digital	O
rights	O
management	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
those	O
who	O
pre-ordered	O
the	O
game	O
from	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
were	O
granted	O
the	O
M-55	O
Argus	O
assault	O
weapon	O
and	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
PlayStation	B-Device
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
scheduled	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
late	O
2011	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
official	O
release	O
date	O
was	O
eventually	O
moved	O
to	O
March	O
6	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
only	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
order	O
to	O
run	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
on	O
Windows	O
,	O
players	O
were	O
required	O
to	O
install	O
Origin	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
18	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
a	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
releases	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
November	O
30	O
and	O
Japan	O
on	O
December	O
6	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
became	O
backwards	O
compatible	O
with	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
November	O
7	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remaster	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
trilogy	O
,	O
entitled	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
May	O
14	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
variety	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
released	O
between	O
March	O
2012	O
and	O
April	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
major	O
packs	O
include	O
From	B-Application
Ashes	I-Application
,	O
which	O
adds	O
Javik	O
as	O
a	O
squadmate	O
;	O
Leviathan	B-Application
,	O
which	O
follows	O
the	O
crew	O
of	O
the	O
Normandy	O
as	O
they	O
investigate	O
the	O
Reapers	O
 '	O
origins	O
;	O
Omega	B-Application
,	O
which	O
involves	O
Shepard	O
retaking	O
the	O
space	O
station	O
Omega	B-Application
alongside	O
Aria	O
T'Loak	O
,	O
its	O
former	O
ruler	O
,	O
from	O
Cerberus	O
;	O
and	O
Citadel	B-Application
,	O
which	O
follows	O
the	O
crew	O
of	O
the	O
Normandy	O
on	O
shore	O
leave	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
includes	O
Genesis	O
2	O
and	O
From	B-Application
Ashes	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Of	O
all	O
the	O
packs	O
,	O
Citadel	B-Application
was	O
the	O
best-received	O
,	O
and	O
both	O
Leviathan	B-Application
and	O
Citadel	B-Application
were	O
nominated	O
for	O
Best	O
DLC	B-Protocol
at	O
the	O
Spike	O
Video	O
Game	O
Awards	O
during	O
their	O
respective	O
years	O
of	O
release	O
(	O
2012	O
and	O
2013	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
while	O
the	O
Windows	O
and	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
versions	O
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
from	O
video	O
game	O
publications	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
finished	O
with	O
scores	O
of	O
93	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
,	O
making	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
the	O
highest-rated	B-Application
game	I-Application
of	I-Application
2012	I-Application
on	O
both	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
felt	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
a	O
satisfying	O
conclusion	O
to	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
trilogy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
highlighted	O
the	O
experience	O
of	O
playing	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
with	O
an	O
imported	O
saved	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
piece	O
for	O
Polygon	O
,	O
Arthur	O
Gies	O
opined	O
that	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
engaging	O
without	O
any	O
previous	O
context	O
,	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
more	O
meaningful	O
for	O
players	O
who	O
also	O
played	O
through	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
and	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Club	O
echoed	O
these	O
sentiments	O
and	O
praised	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
allotting	O
each	O
player	O
a	O
degree	O
of	O
flexibility	O
over	O
their	O
choices	O
and	O
the	O
direction	O
of	O
the	O
narrative	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
contrast	O
,	O
Edge	O
felt	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
relied	O
too	O
heavily	O
on	O
events	O
from	O
prior	O
games	O
,	O
which	O
stopped	O
it	O
from	O
standing	O
up	O
as	O
its	O
own	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Game	O
Informer	O
noted	O
that	O
combat	O
was	O
not	O
perfect	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
still	O
positive	O
and	O
concluded	O
that	O
enemy	O
encounters	O
were	O
more	O
intense	O
and	O
interesting	O
than	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
due	O
in	O
part	O
to	O
a	O
greater	O
variety	O
in	O
environment	O
and	O
enemy	O
types	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Machinima	O
also	O
noted	O
numerous	O
bugs	O
,	O
but	O
relented	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
still	O
a	O
memorable	O
experience	O
,	O
citing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
strong	O
characters	O
as	O
compensation	O
for	O
its	O
flaws	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
aspects	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
to	O
receive	O
praise	O
included	O
its	O
art	O
design	O
,	O
music	O
,	O
and	O
voice	O
acting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ending	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
poorly	O
received	O
by	O
players	O
,	O
who	O
felt	O
that	O
it	O
did	O
not	O
meet	O
their	O
expectations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Displeased	O
fans	O
organized	O
an	O
internet	O
campaign	O
called	O
"	O
Retake	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
"	O
to	O
demand	O
a	O
better	O
ending	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
part	O
of	O
which	O
included	O
a	O
charity	O
drive	O
for	O
the	O
organization	O
Child	O
's	O
Play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
5	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
BioWare	O
announced	O
a	O
free	O
DLC	B-Protocol
pack	O
that	O
would	O
expand	O
upon	O
the	O
ending	O
and	O
address	O
criticism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
noteworthy	O
controversies	O
surrounding	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
included	O
accusations	O
of	O
questionable	O
business	O
practices	O
over	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
release	O
From	B-Application
Ashes	I-Application
as	O
day	O
one	O
DLC	B-Protocol
;	O
allegations	O
of	O
conflict	O
of	O
interest	O
involving	O
the	O
casting	O
of	O
video	O
game	O
media	O
personality	O
Jessica	O
Chobot	O
as	O
Diana	O
Allers	O
;	O
objections	O
from	O
some	O
players	O
over	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
expanded	O
same	O
sex	O
romance	O
options	O
for	O
Shepard	O
;	O
the	O
creative	O
decision	O
to	O
utilize	O
a	O
stock	O
photo	O
as	O
the	O
basis	O
of	O
Tali	O
's	O
face	O
;	O
and	O
an	O
online	O
poll	O
to	O
determine	O
the	O
redesigned	O
default	O
appearance	O
of	O
a	O
female	O
Shepard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EA	O
originally	O
shipped	O
3.5	O
million	O
units	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
in	O
its	O
first	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
The	O
NPD	O
Group	O
,	O
it	O
sold	O
1.3	O
million	O
physical	O
copies	O
in	O
its	O
debut	O
month	O
,	O
which	O
amounted	O
to	O
twice	O
the	O
total	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
during	O
its	O
opening	O
month	O
in	O
January	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2012	O
,	O
EA	O
reported	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
grossed	O
over	O
$200	O
million	O
during	O
Q4	O
FY12	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
year-end	O
awards	O
,	O
including	O
Satellite	O
Award	O
for	O
Outstanding	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
RPG	O
at	O
the	O
Spike	O
Video	O
Game	O
Awards	O
,	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
from	O
Game	O
Informer	O
,	O
Best	O
Overall	O
RPG	O
from	O
IGN	O
,	O
and	O
Best	O
Co-Operative	O
Multiplayer	O
and	O
Best	O
Game	O
Cinematography	O
from	O
Inside	O
Gaming	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
years	O
following	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
has	O
received	O
retrospective	O
attention	O
,	O
with	O
much	O
of	O
it	O
focusing	O
on	O
the	O
ending	O
controversy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2018	O
,	O
Lucy	O
O'Brien	O
of	O
IGN	O
posited	O
that	O
BioWare	O
's	O
cooperative	O
response	O
to	O
"	O
Retake	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
"	O
contributed	O
to	O
a	O
paradigm	O
shift	O
in	O
how	O
consumers	O
influence	O
video	O
game	O
developers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wes	O
Fenlon	O
from	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
suggested	O
that	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
helped	O
popularize	O
loot	O
boxes	O
,	O
"	O
the	O
worst	O
monetization	O
gimmick	O
of	O
the	O
2010s	B-Application
"	O
in	O
his	O
opinion	O
,	O
and	O
made	O
it	O
a	O
mainstream	O
feature	O
in	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
controversies	O
surrounding	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
some	O
publications	O
have	O
cited	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
and	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
or	O
most	O
important	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
2010s	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2019	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
ranked	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
2010s	B-Application
by	O
VG247	O
,	O
Forbes	O
,	O
and	O
Den	O
of	O
Geek	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
also	O
identified	O
by	O
VentureBeat	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
defining	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
2010s	B-Application
due	O
to	O
the	O
"	O
firestorm	O
of	O
fans	O
,	O
press	O
,	O
and	O
developers	O
converging	O
into	O
an	O
absolute	O
mess	O
of	O
internet	O
culture	O
"	O
over	O
its	O
ending	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
ultimately	O
became	O
an	O
unexpected	O
monetary	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
February	O
2022	O
,	O
the	O
next	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
universe	O
is	O
currently	O
in	O
pre-production	O
,	O
led	O
by	O
a	O
veteran	O
team	O
at	O
BioWare	O
.	O
</s>
