Bioware’s Mass Effect series is something rare in gaming – a story the player can influence and change in ways both big and small, but one that came to an end in Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect takes place in an original space opera universe, filled with aliens like the warrior Krogan, all-female psychic Asari, the robotic Geth and their nomadic creators the Quarians.

The player controls Commander Shepard, a human soldier tasked with uniting the galaxy in a war against the Reapers, gargantuan creatures that seek to destroy all life. He or she also faces Cerberus, a group of human terrorists seeking to control the Reapers. Joining Shepard is a supporting cast that mostly returns from the previous game. The most memorable new addition is the Prothean Javik, who is only available with DLC. While you can play this game without playing the previous two, it’s recommended to play them first and import saves. This gives you a greater grounding in the game’s world and lets you make crucial decisions yourself.

Mass Effect 3 plays similarly to Mass Effect 2. A hybrid of a RPG and shooter, the RPG mechanics are easy to understand and free of the inventory management and level grinding that plague the genre. Conversations with the game’s many NPCs have multiple options, and feature a morality system based around “paragon” and “renegade” options. These do not correspond to “good” or “evil” so much as “diplomatic” and “pragmatic.” Unfortunately, side quests are sparse and mainly consist of fetch quests. Mass Effect 3 also adds a four-player co-op mode. With just three enemy types and one mode, its multiplayer lacks variety and is only a momentary diversion.

Mass Effect 3 is burdened by an infamously muddled ending, and Bioware sought to answer criticism with the free Extended Cut DLC. The Extended Cut fills in plot holes and better explains the ending. It also adds an epilogue that takes the form of a slideshow. The Extended Cut provides the closure needed at the end of a fantastic serie