When the news came down from the Bioware camp yesterday that Mass Effect 3 was going to be delayed into the first few months of 2012, the Internet became divided into two groups. The first group was made up of folks relieved that the game would be getting a little extra time to cook before its release, while the second immediately complained that their wait for Commander Shepard’s latest and greatest adventure would be a little longer. Well, look, guys. As much as a delay of a game pains us (we learned that lesson from Duke Nukem Forever and, some time ago, Batman: Arkham Asylum), it really is for the better. Yeah, sometimes a delay is for technical reasons, and sometimes it’s merely to stay out of the way of bigger, badder competition (like practically everyone scooting out of Modern Warfare 2’s range in 2009). But we can assure you, this Mass Effect 3 delay is going to be a good thing. Let’s look at the reasons why.
First off, Mass Effect 3 needs to be HUGE. We’re talking a quantum leap, the same way the second game improved over the first when it came out in early 2010. Many considered it one of the best games of the year, and that didn’t come easy. Bioware took its sweet time making sure every aspect of Shepard’s world was wonderfully captured, from visiting the smallest nightclubs to invading huge planets loaded with deadly enemies. Topping it won’t be easy, so obviously, Bioware just needs a little more time to make sure every part of Mass Effect 3 really delivers as expected. Secondly, let’s take a look at Bioware’s previous release for 2011, Dragon Age II. A great game? Sure, in its own right, it really does have a lot going for it, and several folks are still playing it these days. However, the general criticism is that the game didn’t live up to the original. For some developers, this is a complaint that’s a little hard to take, considering that they always set out to go “bigger and better” than the original game did.
That’s not to say it sucks, but many prefer the experience that Dragon Age: Origins provided the previous year. They obviously don’t want to run into that same problem with Mass Effect 3, so a few extra months should make a world of difference. (Just look at what it did for Rocksteady Studios when they bumped Batman: Arkham Asylum to an end-of-summer release – it’s one of the best comic book based games in existence.) Thirdly, EA wants to make sure that some DLC is in place for the game. Hey, that’s just the nature of business these days. Ask any company how vitally important downloadable content is to a title to keep it fresh (and in some circles, marketable), and most everyone will say it’s of utmost importance. Mass Effect 2 showed the staying power of DLC through some amazing chapters, including Lair of the Shadow Broker and The Arrival. Costly? Yes, but well worth it to fans of the series. Finally, there’s the nature of competition. This holiday season is packed with all sorts of sequels, some of them counting “3”.
We’re talking Uncharted 3, Gears of War 3, Resistance 3…it’s three overload in a way. And let’s not forget Bethesda Softworks’ mega-hit-to-be, Skyrim, the latest in the Elder Scrolls series. That game alone will fulfill many RPG players’ needs for hours at a time, and that could easily chip into Mass Effect’s core audience, even if it’s a completely different type of game. Bioware moving out of the way for a safe early 2012 release is better in the long run, because, by then, the RPG grinders and would-be knights will be seeking new ground to cover – and in will stroll Commander Shepard. And dare we forget Battlefield 3? EA’s banking serious bucks behind that game, and anything that gets in its way – even Mass Effect 3 – could be asking for serious trouble. The fact that Activision hasn’t even uttered a word about the new Modern Warfare game even has us concerned. So, yeah, can’t blame EA there. So, relax. So what if Mass Effect 3 sees a few months of delay? The fact of the matter is, the game will still be worth it in the long run, and Bioware will wrap up this epic space journey the best way they know how. Besides, Shepard never half-assed anything, so why should Bioware?
