Mass Effect 3 Box Art

This game was released on March 09, 2012 and is no longer available to pre-order. Any incentives that were offered are listed below.

Mass Effect 3 is the final installment in Bioware’s critically acclaimed sci-fi saga. Having defeated the Collectors in the previous game, Commander Shepard now has to face the real enemy – the Reapers. The machine race invades the galaxy, and Earth is the first world to fall. Predictably, it’s up to Shepard to rally the galactic civilizations against the most powerful enemy they ever faced.

Since ME3 is the last part of the series, your choices have a much bigger impact on the story. You can import save data from the previous two games, so the fate of the galaxy depends on your actions throughout the entire trilogy. According to Bioware, one of the endings even has Shepard losing to Reapers, thus dooming all intelligent life to extinction.

List of Mass Effect 3 preorder bonuses

Pre-order Mass Effect 3 at the following retailers to receive exclusive bonuses:

  • Gamestop: in-game N7 Warfare GearN7 Valkyrie Rifle (accurate and powerful) and N7 Defender Armor (stores extra ammo and provides additional shields).
  • Origin: a powerful in-game AT12 Raider Shotgun.
  • Amazon and Walmart: both are giving away $10 store credit with the Standard Edition.

In addition, all Mass Effect 3 preorders will get the M55 Argus Rifle: “the high-powered Argus rifle is an excellent close-range weapon, and its rapid bursts of fire conserve ammunition during lengthy conflicts”.

UK gamers can acquire the N7 Warfare Gear pack at GAME, with all other British retailers offering only the aforementioned Argus rifle.

N7 Collector’s Edition

Mass Effect 3 - N7 Collector's Edition

N7 Collector’s Edition costs $79.99 and includes a plethora of physical and digital items:

  • Collectible metal case featuring commemorative Commander Shepard artwork.
  • 70-page hardbound art book with hundreds of unique illustrations from Bioware’s artists.
  • Limited edition Mass Effect comic by Dark Horse Comics with unique cover artwork.
  • Exclusive N7 fabric patch.
  • Exclusive 4×6 lithographic print featuring a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork.
  • A rich collection of in-game content that can’t be found anywhere else:
    • N7 Arsenal Pack: bring the firepower with the N7 Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, SMG, and Pistol.
    • Robotic Dog: a faithful sidekick to keep you company on board the Normandy.
    • Squadmate Alternate Outfit Pack: new appearances for your favorite squad members.
    • N7 Hoodie: for Commander Shepard’s casual days on board the Normandy.
  • Mass Effect 3 extended digital soundtrack.
  • Xbox Live Normandy prop for your Avatar (available with Xbox 360 versions only).
  • A collection of forum and social badges, avatars, and perks.

This edition of Mass Effect 3 is available for pre-order at participating retailers (Gamestop, BestBuy, and Walmart) in limited quantities.

N7 Digital Deluxe Edition

Gamers who prefer digital distribution over physical copies, or live in a location where ME3 Collector’s Edition is unavailable, might be interested in the N7 Digital Deluxe Edition. It carries the same price tag ($80) and contains all the in-game content that the N7 Collector’s Edition does, although you will be missing out on all the material goodies.

  • 70-page digital art book.
  • Digital Mass Effect comic by Dark Horse Comics.
  • Digital version of the lithographic print featuring unique artwork.
  • The same in-game content as in the Collector’s Edition:
    • N7 Arsenal Pack: includes the N7 Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, SMG, and Pistol.
    • Robotic Dog: a faithful sidekick to keep you company on board the Normandy.
    • Squadmate Alternate Outfit Pack: new appearances for your squad members.
    • N7 Hoodie: for Commander Shepard’s casual days on the Normandy.
  • Mass Effect 3 extended digital soundtrack.
  • A collection of forum and social badges, avatars, and perks.

Mass Effect 3 Digital Deluxe Edition is available at Origin and Amazon Game Downloads.

Gameplay changes

The gameplay of Mass Effect 3 isn’t drastically different from that of ME2, but rather improves upon it. The combat is faster, the enemies are smarter and coordinate better, and Shepard can move around the battlefield easier. The game is also more challenging – as game producer Casey Hudson put it, “Normal is the new Veteran”.

ME3 offers the players more freedom in customizing their character without going back to the messy inventory system of the first game. This is achieved by means of larger skill trees and bringing back the weapon modifications.

Other notable changes include the return of grenades, class-specific melee attacks capable of one-hit kills, and an overhaul of the tedious mining mini-game from ME2.

Squad Leader trailer

This gameplay trailer previews the combat in Mass Effect 3. Featuring Shepard, Garrus aka the “Calibrations Guy”, and Liara who rejoins your team, versus some Cerberus mercenaries.

Mass Effect 3 is scheduled for release on March 6, 2012 in North America, and March 9 in Europe.

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