“When faced with becoming nothing, we fight for everything.”  This quote is one of the driving forces in “Mass Effect 3”, the third and final game in the “Mass Effect” trilogy.  
   Reapers, an ancient and powerful race, have come to wipe out all organic and synthetic life forms in the galaxy.  You play as Commander Shepard, a legendary soldier who must now recruit a galactic army filled with every species in the galaxy just to stand a chance against the reapers. 
   The story is powerful, and shows a real sense of extinction.  Many people die and no matter how fast you act, how big your army is, or even how good a plan you have, you can’t save everyone.  This weighs heavily on Shepard and the player, and I cried more times than I care to admit during my playthrough. 
   The combat is finely tuned and remains entertaining throughout the course of the 40+ hour game.  The introduction of a new “heavy melee” system works extremely well, with each punch feeling angry and brutal.  It feels exactly how it should and is a very welcome addition.
   Not all is well however. “Mass Effect 3” includes a multiplayer option for the first time in the series and while it isn’t terrible, it feels unnecessary and unpolished.
   Still, “Mass Effect 3” beaks new ground in storytelling due to the way it handles saved games.  See, if it detects save files from the first 2 “Mass Effect’s”, it will take the choices you made and radically alter the story in “Mass Effect 3”.  Seriously, it’s a really awesome way to make it feel like your own personal story and I wish it was featured in more games.
   “Mass Effect 3” is a true masterpiece if there ever was one.  It is not only a great game; it is an event.  The “Mass Effect” series already has a place amongst the greatest Sci-Fi stories.  “Mass Effect 3” cements that place.