It’s no secret that I am very, very excited about the release of Bioware‘s upcoming epic, Mass Effect 3. So excited was I, that I powered through both of the previous titles this week just to get me prepared for what I strongly suspect will be my game of 2012. And I’m not alone, the internet is literally frothing with glee at the prospect of playing once again as Commander Shepard and dicing with Intergalactic evil once more. However, you may be wondering, what’s all the hype about about? Why should you be excited about the finale in Bioware’s Operatic Space Trilogy. Well my dear reader, pull up a seat and divulge!

Please Note: There are alot of Spoilers for the previous two titles in this article, so if you haven’t gotten up to speed with the story you may want to go play them! I’ll wait…done? Good!

The first, and probably most obvious reason, is that this is Shepard’s swan-song, his big finale, his last chance to save the Universe from the threat of The Reapers. Bioware have been very vocal of the fact that this game will finish Shepard’s story, for better or ill and I can guarantee you that tears will be shed at some point in this game. Having built your Shepard through two absolutely stunning stories, the end will be a bittersweet but amazing affair!

In the first game, Shepard defeated The Reaper Sovereign alongside the Alliance and Citadel Fleets in one of the most memorable endgames to date. In the second, he slew the nascant Human-Reaper Hybrid and stopped the nefarious plans of second Reaper Harbinger. He even levelled a Mass Relay and destroyed an entire star system at the end of Arrival to halt the progress of the Universe’s deadliest mechanical menace. But it wasn’t enough, and now the Reapers are here and they are pissed! You will fight these behemoths across the stars, on distant worlds and most importantly on Earth. Colossal Skyscraper-sized Reapers assault you on the ground while some of their more monstrous kin dwarf moons and level cities. This is THE final war against the Reapers and they intend to win!

The Mass Effect series boasts one of gamings finest digital casts both in terms of character and story, and every major player from the previous two games are here to impact the story. Asari-genius Liara T’Soni, Mass Effect allies Kaidan Alenko and Ashley Williams will return, alongside Mass Effect 2′s sexy Australian Operative Miranda Lawson, the ever coniving Illusive Man, everyone’s favourite Turian bro Garrus Vakarian, criminally underused Geth uber-sniper Legion, not to mention Samara, Morinth, Wrex and Grunt, Jack, hyperactive Salarian songster Mordin Solus, David Anderson, Zaeed Massani, Kasumi Goto, Kelly Chambers, Thane Krios and Jacob Taylor are all set to take the stage alongside Shepard, with more characters being revealed all the time. Oh, and Tali’Zorah returns, which makes me happy in my pants (don’t you judge me!)

Mass Effect 2 was lightyear’s beyond the first title in terms of combat and gameplay, with one of the most addictive and fluid combat systems ever attempted in an RPG. Well Mass Effect 3 promises to be even more visceral: Shepards repetoire of moves has been substantially beefed up with dives, combat rolls, executions, situational specific melee, new weapons and an all new combat sound system designed by those nice folks over at DICE. Can you say Dakka Dakka Dakka?

Many mourned Mass Effect 2′s simplifying of the previous games stats and RPG systems (these people are mostly wrong, but there you go), and Bioware have decided to meet both camps half way. Mass Effect 3 will keep it’s fluid combat but also host even more customisation for your Shepard and his Squad. New gear, techs, upgrades and weapons add-ons mean that Mass Effect 3 promises to be one hell of an RPG!

It was a bona-fide feat of gaming perfection when Bioware allowed you to carry your Shepard from the first game into the second, along with all his choices and actions affecting the story in a very deep and personal level. Well it’ll will be amazing to see Bioware handle two games worth of choices in Mass Effect 3. Previous actions like the releasing of The Rachni Queen, the death of Kaiden or Ashley, The reprogramming of the Geth Heretics and the eventual fate of The Collector Base will all have a staggering effect on how Shepard combats the Reapers. Oh,and if you had two seperate love interests in each game, then prepare yourself for a deeply emotional love triangle as both your potential partners battle for Shepards affections.

All the marketing for the Mass Effect series thus far has featured good old Default Male-Shep, which is no bad thing as nobody is better than Commander Shepard. Except maybe the brand new Default Fem-Shep! Bioware decided to reflect the level of choice the game gives players and have finally giving Fem-Shep a suitable fiery and not at all unpleasant visage for the third in the trilogy. Red Heads do it best, and by it I mean save the galaxy from an ancient malevolent evil!

We all remember the Husks from Mass Effect and the terror we felt as they swarmed toward us from every corner intent on beating us to death with our own limbs. We all remember the utterly spectacular, and very creepy, section from Mass Effect 2, stalking through the Dead Reaper only to be assaulted by Husks, Abominations and the always deadly Scions. Well The Reapers have repurposed more races to their vile ends with Batarians and Turians becoming monstrous hulks of flesh and metal intent on eating your face. Yummy!

Bioware have revealed that your former allies from Mass Effect 2, the human-centric organisation Cerberus, have sided with The Reapers and are now out for Shepard’s head. As to why this turn of events has occured, the developers are remaining tight-lipped but no doubt the reasons and developments will be nothing less than enthralling. My bets are on the eventual fate of The Collector Base and The Reaper’s offering Cerberus a shortcut to humanity’s ascension. Plus more of Martin Sheen’s spectacular character The Illusive Man is always a plus!

Watch the above video, and you will see why you need to own this game. A Reaper! A Thresher Maw! Only one can walk away! FIGHT!!!

Mass Effect 3 is due for release on March 9th 2012 with a demo preceding it on February 14th (I have never been so happy to be single on Valentine’s Day!), and we will no doubt be bringing you more in-depth news and reveals in the coming months. Till then, watch the skies!

- Sean ‘I’m Commander Shepard, and this is my favourite site on the Extranet‘ McCarter