Since Bioware is capitalizing on the size, which is twice as big as the previous DLC released, the extra content promises to deliver a new set of weapons to your arsenal, new characters including a Turian female leader named Nyreen Kandros, and lots of enemies to your disposal. The rest of the game will be yours to discover beginning tomorrow, as it will be up to Aria T’loak and Commander Shepard to take back Omega from the Illusive Man.

Today, Bioware has launched a trailer for the Omega DLC in anticipation of the official release tomorrow, and it’s reported that a live demo will be streaming live at 1:30 p.m. PST.

First, here are some details on another DLC for your downloading pleasure. BioWare just released the new “Groundside Resistance” add-on, which is available for $2. What it does is bring seven new weapons to your arsenal and is available on Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and PC. The DLC includes the following new weaponry for Shepard: the Executioner pistol, the Venom shotgun, N7 Typhoon assault rifle, Kishock Harpoon gun, Striker assault rifle, Acolyte pistol, and the N7 Piranha shotgun.

Now back to the announcement that could have your hands wrapped around Aria’s body next month, I mean Shepards hands, but what’s the difference, right? BioWare also announced that the Omega single-player DLC for Mass Effect 3 will be released on November 27 for all platforms. BioWare has talked about the DLC before, but have been reluctant on unveiling details about it, only saying that it will involve Aria and her fight for retaking Omega from the Illusive Man.

So will this offer an opportunity to hit the sack with Aria? It’s just my speculation, but wouldn’t that be worth the asking price of $15 for the Omega DLC?

Mass Effect 3: Omega DLC

Credit: Bioware

Massive spoilers for ME3 follow. You have been warned.

As most of you probably already know, Mass Effect 3 pulls out a literal Deus Ex Machine during its final 20 minutes as a luminous God Child appears out of no where to reveal he’s been behind the trilogy’s Reaper threat all along. The literary conceit of having an ever bigger bad guy behind the bad guy the heroes have been fighting all along is as old as the written form. Hell, Final Fantasy games make use of it so often it’s become something of a running gag.

My personal take on the God Child’s 11th hour appearance wasn’t my biggest problem with ME3’s ending, rather, it was the overwhelming lack of understanding the writers seemed to have with the universe and the characters they had created.

Commander Shepard, who has essentially been fighting for the right to self-determination for the past three games, suddenly throws all previously established character motivation right out the window and easily accepts the choices the God Child throws his way without so much as a blinking red Renegade option popping up to give us the opportunity to smack this little bastard upside the head.

Among the many hundreds of theories that have popped up online, one seems to have taken root: Commander Shepard is indoctrinated and everything that happens after he gets his by Sovereigns beam is an elaborate scheme by the Reapers to get Shepard to hand them victory. Fans have pointed out the voices messing with Shepard’s mind, the gun that suddenly doesn’t run out of ammo, Anderson magically beating you to the Citadel, the Illusive Man somehow turning up out of nowhere, Joker abandoning the field of battle with team members onboard the Normandy that were fighting alongside you mere minutes ago… The list goes on.

Now, something unprecedented is about to happen. In a statement released on their official website, Mass Effect developer Bioware has apparently caved in to fan pressure and is getting ready to do something that has never been done before: change the ending to an already released game via downloadable content. (Source: blog.bioware.com)

What do you guys think? Psyched about getting some actual closure? Perhaps even a happy ending? Did Mass Effect’s ending need to be changed or was it fine as it was? And what impact will this decision have down the line?

Perhaps the most important question of all: Considering all the hints dropped in-game that the ending we got might have been “just a dream,” could this have been Bioware’s goal all along? Purposely release as awful an ending as possible, wait for fan uproar…then charge 10 bucks for a brand new DLC ending? If so, Bioware now finds itself in a true Catch-22 situation: damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

It’s not often that a video game franchise can claim to have reached the end. Milking franchises till the teat runs dry is a popular business practice in the industry. As long as there’s a few more bucks to squeeze out of a brand name, publishers will keep shoving sequels out the door. It’s a rare event for a mega-franchise such as Mass Effect to be allowed to reach a proper conclusion. Granted, the game’s ending, which is already the ongoing subject of vast Internet moaning and the genesis behind several Facebook pages dedicated to persuading Bioware to release entirely different DLC-exclusive conclusions, does not preclude the possibility of further game’s set in the Mass Effect universe. However, Commander Shepard’s tale is indeed over.

Whether you’ve casually played the first two games in the series or devoured each one by playing both the Paragon and Renegade paths, Mass Effect 3 has something for everybody. Longtime fans will be richly rewarded for their loyalty. Newcomers will appreciate the game’s presentation but won’t be as moved by some of the series’ more emotional payoffs. Character deaths and the resolution of ongoing plots are tailor-made for true fans rather than casual observers. Your faithful reviewer is secure enough to admit he cried on two different occasions during his time with Mass Effect 3. Whoops, my inherent wussyness is showing. Quick! Gotta blurt out something epically manly!

My Shepard totally tapped dat ass! Then he made out with a Krogan. CUZ THAT’S HOW HE ROLLS!

Ok, now that I’ve managed to offend every single reader with an X chromosome… wait, we have female readers, right? The Evil Tormenting Bosses assured me writing for Yell! was a great way to meet chicks. Then again, they also promised me a paycheck and yet I’m still living out of the copy room, using the photocopier on an infinite print loop for warmth at night and sustaining myself with carbon paper fettuccine. ANYWAY! Here’s Yell! Magazine’s review of Mass Effect 3, available on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. For review purposes, the PC version was used. For enhanced girly weeping during the sad parts, a Crazy Cat Lady-size tub of Rocky Road was used.

Read about the story of Mass Effect 3 after the jump…

Yell! Rating (x/5 Skulls):

[rating:4.5]

Published by:

Electronic Arts

Developed by:

BioWare

Year Released:

March 6, 2012

Also Available On:

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Genre:

RPG

Official URL:

Mass Effect 3 Official

Artwork by Dogsfather on deviantART

Part of being the resident Yell! Magazine geek is being knowledgeable when it comes to the latest gadgets. Also, daily beatings in the mail room with the severed tail of a diseased badger. But enough about my love life! It’s the beginning of a brand new year, which means all the things we count on to get through our boring, meaningless lives will soon be getting upgrades, sequels, and reinventions. The yearly CES just closed its doors and all the 2011 models are making way for the hot, young trophy wives of 2012. It’s time for slimmer TVs, new iterations of old gaming consoles, the same old junk as last year only with a higher roman numeral next to their names!

Therefore, in the spirit of looking ahead, your faithful reviewer is proud to present all the stuff that your inner loot whore will spend her hard-earned cash on in the months to come. It’s TheMatt’s 2012 Stuff That I Want You To Buy Me list! Haven’t I earned a little reward for all my hard work? Haven’t I provided my faithful readers with continual mirth and merriment? Didn’t I tickle you in that one spot that one time with that one thing that you really like? Yeah, you know who you are… you dirty little bitch!

Dirty little bitch. Also goes by Sir Pounce A Lot.

So without further ado, here’s a list of things that will make your neighbors blush with envy, demonstrate that you are indeed the proud owner of a Y-chromosome, and cause random women to toss their sexy underthings at you with reckless abandon. (Warning: results may vary depending on your inherent sexiness.)

FOR THE CAVEMAN

Watching TV is an essential part of my diet. It’s full of vitamins, fiber, and all that other good stuff 9 of 10 doctors recommend. With the second half of The Walking Dead’s Season 2 debuting soon, I need to seriously step up my TV intake. Luckily, I have the cure! And the cure is more cowbell! Or quite possibly one of LG’s amazing, super-thin OLED television screens.

It’s the Kate Moss of televisions.

I saw these babies unveiled at CES and my jaw instantly dropped to the floor. I cast awkward glances at my 60-inch Sharp LED like she was an aging trophy wife and I just saw a hot 20-something winking at me as she walked by. Needless to say, I immediately started drawing plans that will invariably lead to the untimely and mysterious demise of Mrs. TheMatt in a tragic sledgehammer-to-the-face accident. Can you imagine catching the latest UFC bout on this thing? Or playing the latest, hottest video games? Can you imagine completely ignoring your significant other’s complaints about your lack of intimacy, piss poor hygiene, and the number of potato chips stuck in the sofa cushions while having your eyes caressed by this heaven-sent television and grunting out occasional responses like Tim Taylor? Sign me up!

For the gamer on the next jump…

Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games debuted its first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V. The game will be set in the city of Los Santos, the fictional version of Los Angeles. This will actually be a more detailed version of the Los Santos than 2004s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Watch the trailer here at Yell! Magazine.

Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Selection

The Wii exclusive titles, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles are coming to the PlayStation 3 as Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Selection. As the name suggests, the games are gonna get an HD coat of paint as well as PlayStation Move support. No release date yet, but stay tuned for more info here at Yell! Magazine.

Assassin’s Creed

People in Hollywood will be trying on their best Assassin’s Creed cosplay soon, because Sony Pictures recently registered 16 domains for an Assassin’s Creed movie. Ubisoft’s own motion pictures division will be overseeing the project to make sure Sony doesn’t screw it up.

Gears of War 3

If you’re not a Gears of War 3 Season Pass holder, and if you haven’t bought the Horde Command Pack, you’re in luck. Microsoft’s announced a free Gears of War 3 content pack. The Versus Booster Map Pack will give you three of the maps from the Horde Command Pack, and with the Swamp and Clocktower multiplayer maps from the original Gears of War. However, you won’t get any of the extra game modes that came with the Horde Command Pack. The Versus Booster Map Pack will be available for free on November 24th.

DC Universe Online

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, DC Universe Online became free-to-play and available for download on the PlayStation 3. You can still pay $15 a month for a Legendary account to get all available and future content, or spend at least $5 at their store to get a Premium account that includes more slots, capabilities, and options than the free account. If you’re curious and have the free hard drive space, give it a try, but I’d hold off on spending any real money unless you really get into it. Hopefully, this move won’t end like our next story.

LEGO Universe

As one begins a new phase in its life, another dies. Despite implementing a free-to-play model in August, LEGO Universe will be gone on January 31, 2012. They simply didn’t have enough subscribers to keep it alive. I was aware of the game, but to be honest, I heard so little about the game that up until I heard of this story, I thought that the game was still in beta. I admit, though, I’d much rather play with real LEGOs.

Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition

For those who have yet to experience any Fallout: New Vegas, Bethesda is releasing Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition. This version will include all of the currently released add-ons. Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition will be released on February 10th, perfect for that lonely heart on Valentine’s Day.

Grand Theft Auto V

Gran Turismo 5

If you’re still playing Gran Turismo 5, the free “Spec 2” update came out to celebrate the game’s one year anniversary. The update added car interiors, NASCAR, more Photo Mode options, and improved load times. Additionally, next week you can make your Turismo even more Gran with a slew of new downloadable content. You can pick from a pack with 15 new cars for $8, 2 new racing tracks for $5, 90 pieces of racing gear for your virtual character for $3, or 100 new paint colors for $2. That’s a lot of content. You can save a few bucks and get all of it for $12. If you’re not interested in Forza 4, Gran Turismo 5 is now selling at the discounted price of $39.99, and the DLC will be out on October 18th.

Batman: Arkham City

With the Batman: Arkham City launch imminent, WB and Rocksteady announced the Nightwing downloadable content. He will be available on November 1st and includes the “Wayne Manor” and “Main Hall” Challenge Maps. The Robin Bundle Pack will be available on November 22nd. Both character packs will be 560 Microsoft Points in the Xbox Live Marketplace, or $6.99 on the PlayStation Network. But before you get any of this, look for a review of Batman: Arkham City here at Yell! Magazine.

Xbox 360/Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

Is that Xbox 360 hard drive of yours feeling a little cramped? This fall, Microsoft is coming out with a 320GB hard drive replacement for the Xbox 360. The only other way to get that size hard drive is to buy the Gears of War 3 Xbox 360 Bundle, or the Star Wars Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle if that ever comes out. Speaking of Star Wars, the hard drive will come preloaded with a copy of Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. The 320GB hard drive will be compatible with Xbox 360s and will retail for $130. Expect it on store shelves sometime this holiday season.

Duke Nukem Forever

Are you one of the many people who bought Duke Nukem Forever out of some morbid curiosity? Well, if you want a little more out of Duke, you can now get the Hail to the Icons Parody Pack downloadable content. The pack includes three new game modes, and four new multiplayer maps. The DLC is available now in the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points, or $9.99 on the PlayStation Network and the PC.

Uncharted 3/Starhawk

It looks like you’re gonna get a little bonus with your Uncharted 3 this holiday. For those who purchased Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception, will get access to the Starhawk beta. Starhawk is the multiplayer space-based follow-up to Warhawk, Sony’s 2007 multiplayer action game. The beta should be available early 2012. Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception will be out on November 1st.

Mass Effect 3

Bioware confirmed this week that Mass Effect 3 will in fact have multiplayer in the form of extra co-op missions. Thank God it’s not some silly throwaway team deathmatch versus mode no one would play for more than five minutes. The four co-op missions and the multiplayer campaign, Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War, won’t let you play as Commander Shepard and his regular crew. Instead, these missions will support four-player co-op, and you’ll be picking from an elite special forces squad of character classes and races to do missions that will have a direct impact on the main single player campaign. More details on the multiplayer will be revealed before the game launches on March 6th. Stay tuned here at Yell! Magazine for more Mass Effect 3 news.

Grand Theft Auto III

This fall, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Rockstar Games is releasing Grand Theft Auto III for Apple and Android phones and devices. But that’s not all, for those with cash to burn, and a love for all things Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar Games is also releasing a limited-edition 1:6 scale figure of GTA III main character Claude to commemorate this occasion. The highly detailed figure will come with his standard bomber-jacket look as well as a prison uniform, and an array of weapons. The figure will set you back a cool $150.

Be sure to check back next Friday on the latest gaming news at Yell! Magazine.

Grand Turismo 5

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Xbox owners will get first crack at the pair of downloadable add-ons for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It’s not so bad, it’s only a 30-day exclusive. Skyrim will be out on November 11th.

Dead Rising 2: Off The Record

Capcom’s Frank West retelling in Dead Rising 2 : Off the Record sounds like a great zombie filled proposition. New areas, weapons, missions, and our favorite wartime photojournalist to boot. All at a bargain price. To sweeten the deal, at the Penny Arcade Expo this week, Capcom announced Sandbox Mode. Finally, you can kill zombies to your heart’s content without having to worry about things like tasks, and time limits. Dead Rising 2: Off the Record will be out on October 11th.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice: Episode 3

Its been almost 3 years since episode 2 came out, and after a long search, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice: Episode 3 finally has a developer. Zeboyd Games, makers of retro style throwback games Breath of Death VII, Cthulhu Saves the World, will be taking the reins, and promises to take the series in a new 8-bit direction. Expect episode 3 some time next year.

Mass Effect 3

This week, Bioware’s Director of Marketing, David Silverman revealed that the nifty Mass Effect: Genesis interactive comic that allowed PS3 players to determine key decisions in part one for Mass Effect 2, won’t be a feature in Mass Effect 3. Instead the story will be recapped with two “Previously on Mass Effect” vignettes. So for newcomers to the series, all those pivotal choices, like who dies, who lives, and who sleeps with who, will be already decided for you. Mass Effect 3 will be out on March 6, 2012. That should give you enough time to play through the first 2 games, or at least part 2. On the bright side, the new default female Commander Shepard looks great.

Gears of War 3

Like most games nowadays, you can pay upfront for season pass to all the upcoming DLC for a title. Gears of War 3 will be no different. 2400 Microsoft Points will get you access to the first 4 downloadable add-ons for the new Gears. That’s a 33% discount. The first content pack is already slated for November. As an added bonus for those who buy in, will also get the “Liquid Metal Weapon Set”. Gears of War 3 will be out on September 20th.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

The limited edition version of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will come with the obligatory orchestral soundtrack, and a gold-colored Wii Remote Plus. I can’t wait to swing around my golden Wii…remote. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be out on November 20th.

Nintendo 3DS

The first wave of free “I’m sorry for making you pay too much for a system” games came out this week. If you bought a 3DS before the August price drop, and updated or connected to the eShop, go download your 10 free NES virtual console games. Simply connect to the eShop, go to “Settings / Other”, and select “Your Downloads”. Scroll down the list to find your free copies of Super Mario Bros, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Wrecking Crew, NES Open Tournament Golf, Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, Zelda II – The Adventure of Link, and Yoshi. There’s still more free games to come in the form of another 10 Gameboy Advance games coming before the end of the year. We’ll let you know when to get your hands on them here at Yell! Magazine.

Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena

For all you Japan RPG aficionados, your favorite high school simulator / role-playing game is taking all your beloved characters and making them fight each other in Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena. The game will take the heroes from Persona 4, and Persona 3 and pit them in mortal combat. If you want more Persona, an enhanced version of Persona 4 is coming to the PlayStation Vita. And of course, series developer Atlus is still hard at work on Persona 5. Get all your esoteric J-RPG news here at Yell! Magazine.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

The contents of the “Hardened Edition” of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 were leaked this week. So what do you get for the extra cash? How about a one year Elite membership that gives you free access to all DLC during the life of the membership. But wait, you also get exclusive emblems, camo, and much much more! Of course it’ll come in a nice shiny metal box with something resembling an art book to boot. That’s all fine and well, but what I’m waiting for is news on the “Prestige Edition”. We’ve gotten night vision goggles, and RC cars. I can’t wait to see how they top that this year. I’m hoping for something more practical, like an army utility vest. That would be sweet!

Red Dead Redemption

If you’ve been itching to get back into some Red Dead, now’s your chance. Rockstar is giving away the Myths and Mavericks add-on. This DLC includes 11 multiplayer maps, and 8 new playable characters. All at the low low price of free. The content will be available for download on September 13th for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Be sure to check back next Friday on the latest gaming news at Yell! Magazine.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim