I agree that the ending being unexpected is a good thing, I was quite happy with Shepard being dead (and the ending that keeps him alive is stupid in my opinion). An 'everyone lives happily ever after' ending would have seemed pretty damned weak to me.

I don't have a problem with two of the actual endings (the destroy and merge endings), conceptually they're fine, but the actual writing of the scene was poor compared to the rest of the series and big ideas don't excuse poor writing. The ending I do have a problem with (synthesis of man and machine) just took away my suspension of disbelief. The idea that some green beam of light can turn all organics half synthetic and all synthetics half organic seems absurd to me even in a science fiction universe.

Also did anybody else kind of get the feeling they were playing Deus Ex again? The three options to destroy, control or merge...

What you consider poor writing is really just a minor complaint. As for the "green beam of light", as you call it, in my opinion it is no more absurd than the "magical science" of biotics, relays, or most of the "reaper tech". A lot of impossible things happen in Mass Effect, but people suddeningly have a problem with the ending because the technology is so advanced it seems like magic? That's the way all technology feels to those who don't understand it.

No.

In sci fi worlds you create a sense of internal logic, you abide by the rules of your created universe. Inventing a flying spaghetti monster to shit out a beam of light to solve all the worlds problems (although they didn't even do that, as the endings leave so many unanswered problems) is NOT GOOD WRITING. IT IS LAZY. 

Now, if Bioware had set a precedent for this stuff, and had for some reason created an absurdist sci fi world in the first two games (something resembling Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy for example), and in the novels, spin off games, merchandise, cartoons, etc, then it would be acceptable. 

But NOT in the Mass Effect universe. 

If you think bad writing is a 'minor complaint' in a Mass Effect game, well then....you obviously don't understand why Bioware (used to) have such a devoted following. 

I've never thought the writing in any of the Mass Effect games was any better than other games. It's about on par with the Halo and Assassin's Creed series in my opinion.

I find your "flying speghetti monster" point insultingly simplistic. Through all the games and in the books we have been told that the Reaper's cycle has been going on for hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of years. We are talking about technology so advanced that it's creators are god like in their limitless capabilities. The Reapers are these gods' creation to solve a problem.

I just don't get why so many people hate the ending so much. It's not stupid it's just unexpected.

I don't know why you're playing these games if you think the writing is that bad. The gameplay ain't exactly stellar. To each their own, I guess, but I can tell you your opinion on the writing is not shared by many. 

It's not simplistic, it's completely accurate. 

I've written paragraphs about ME3 on other websites and I'm a bit tired of doing it, so while this IS a cop out as I initiated the conversation, I suggest you watch this video. It's fun and informative! Directly addresses your points too. 

Quick point on the Reapers because I can't help myself: they were not introduced to the story to solve a plot problem, unlike the ending. Tthey have a good place in the universe as the 'unkowable' villain (again, detailed in the video below). Take note of the 'socratic exercise' stuff. 

I didn't say I think Mass Effect has bad writing. I said I didn't think it was better than other games. The writing is on par with other decently written games like Halo or Assassin's Creed. I don't see things as black and white. Games don't have to have either good or bad writing. They can't have decent writing and still be enjoyable. I often fully enjoy games with mediocre writing.

Mass Effect's ending is no worse than watching a Assassin's Creed character leave a message in the "DNA memory" for a descendent to unlock with a machine that won't be invented for hundreds of years. But people didn't go into freak out mode over that. I liked Mass Effect 3's ending and no video is going to change my mind.

BTW you forgot to link it, but I doubt I was going to bother to watch it anyway. Nobody's opinion has ever changed my mind, no matter how they rationalize it. If I like something I like it and I don't feel any need to have my opinion validated by the majority. I'm not even sure the majority hates the ending. There is definitely a very loud vocal decent, but with how large the sales numbers where, if everyone was complaining, it would be a deafening roar.

All the complaints I've read around the internet are either minor nitpicks blown way out of proportion or people agry because it didn't turn out the way they had decided it should have. People need to get over themselves and stop acting like Mass Effect is some kind of super scientific and realistic image of the future. The Asari are basically magic wielding space elves that can mate with any species. The Reapers use magic tech to control and communicate across light-years of space. Biotics can create singularities out of thin air. The Protheans can read memories from DNA. That's just a few examples, I'm sure if I replayed the games and compiled a list of impossible displays of tech magic that list would be long.

If you want to complain that after three games of making choices everyone got the same ending unaffected by those choices I'll agree with that. But I didn't think the ending was stupid and I liked that I was surprised. I'm glad they didn't give me a typical "aliens go boom let's go party" ending.

Why is it so hard to let yourself believe that a god like race with limitless power created a device that seems like magic when Mass Effect is full of magic technology you never questioned? Why is it so important to you?

It's like the irrational hate for the Star Wars prequels. I prefer the original trilogy, but the prequels have their moments too. The Mass Effect 3 ending complaints remind me of the midiclorian complaints from Star Wars fans. They hate it so much they claim it ruins the entire franchise. It's funny because Star Wars fans wanted magic and got science and Mass Effect fans wanted science but think they got magic.

People need to just let things go, it's not that important. It's just entertainment. I know everyone wants games to be taken seriously and be considered art. But, it's overreactions like this that show gamers aren't ready for games to go full on art.

What you consider poor writing is really just a minor complaint. As for the "green beam of light", as you call it, in my opinion it is no more absurd than the "magical science" of biotics, relays, or most of the "reaper tech". A lot of impossible things happen in Mass Effect, but people suddeningly have a problem with the ending because the technology is so advanced it seems like magic? That's the way all technology feels to those who don't understand it.

Ah, here it is :(

It's funny because he adresses it all, even down to your 'they're only nitpicky complaints' position :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MlatxLP-xs

Thanks for posting it, but I'm not going to watch 40 minutes of complaints, most of which I doubt I will agree with. I'm not going to watch it or seek out other videos and articles like it for the following very good reason. I liked Mass Effect 3's ending so I'm not in need of information about why it sucked.

Mass Effect 3's ending is polarizing. That means people like it others don't. That means it's a matter of taste and nobody is right or wrong about their opinions on it. Some guy talking for 40 minutes is going to change my mind just like my reasons for liking it aren't going to change your opinion.

I do still suggest that people let it go and stop taking it so serious. Some people are acting like it's some great injustice that they don't like the ending. There are people who hate the ending of the Hunger Games trilogy, I liked it. Any time you have a beloved franchise with people invested in long running characters, when it all comes to an end, there will be people who are disappointed that it didn't go the way they envisioned. Those people need to let it go and realize that it wasn't their job to envision an ending, Bioware where the visionaries and they made it the way they wanted. I liked what they did, you didn't. Both are valid points of view.

Personally I hope they don't change the ending too much because even though it might make fans happy I'd hate to see their art changed by popular vote. Art is supposed to be taken as is.