Wave based co-op multiplayer with loot… score!
Battle Scarred – Promote a multiplayer character to the Galaxy at War or import an ME3 character Gamerscore = 25 Unlocked on 01/04/2012
At first I think that I would not think much of the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer offering. While we have seen in the past where traditionally single-player games tack on a multi-player mode often meet with little or no success. While they can ne very good like in BioShock 2 or Assassin’s Creed, or decent ones like The Darkness or Condemned 2, ultimately the communities gravitate to the larger experiences leaving these game with little to know population which will make for a quick and painful multiplayer death. Mass Effect 3 avoided this issue in a number of ways.
By making the multiplayer co-op only it makes it more attractive right off the top. A lot of multiplayer gamers are turned off by the ultra-competitive nature of most first person shooters, by making it co-op, everybody can play and contribute. Also, by making it squads of four it does make it easier to get a party of your own going or to quickly find an available room.
Also, by tying it to your single player progress it gives gamers that added incentive to take part. Once you are in the game you will earn cash and experience to develop your characters and collect random loot for your multiplayer avatars. I for one can be driven to a game by questing for loot, and you can earn the loot packs by in-game credits or real world money, and I have been guilty of spending some of my own cash to build up my players. It is like Christmas because you never know what that pack you purchased will produce.
Due to the controversy surrounding the Mass Effect 3 ending I do want to finish the campaign as quickly as I can, but with the multi-player being so much fun, I cannot help but keep playing it. Hopefully I can find some balance soon so I can get through to Mass Effect 3’s dramatic conclusion!
-SG
