Video games: Critical 'Mass'

Near the beginning of "Mass Effect 3," an emotional scene takes place when Cmdr. Shepard encounters a frightened boy on Earth. A feeling of hopelessness pervades the encounter; Shepard can't do anything to help, and the child knows it. The galaxy didn't prepare for the Reaper invasion, and defeat seems inevitable. The scribes at BioWare never abandon this tone throughout "Mass Effect 3," leading to a dark story that beats mercilessly to the pulse of war and the death it delivers.

While the universe's fight for survival is the backbone of this drama -- a masterfully written examination of war and the toll it takes -- Shepard's humanity is often reflected in key moments along the way. As bleak as this story is, it's offset by war sequences so large in scale and beautifully animated that you cannot help but look upon them in awe. The Reapers are often bigger than a city's tallest skyscraper. Space battles consist of hundreds of vessels, gigantic volleys of laser fire and cinematic shots that owe a debt to both "Star Wars" and "Battlestar Galactica."

I was left speechless at the end of this story. I won't divulge the feeling that washed over me during the final sequence, but I absolutely love how it concludes. Most of the major plot points and character side stories -- even those harking back to "Mass Effect 1" -- resolve. Some of these characters feel like old friends or family members, and it's remarkable how much emotion these fictional beings evoke.

Despite its more emotional narrative, "Mass Effect" hasn't lost its edge on the battlefield. While most of the gameplay mechanics carry over from "Mass Effect 2" with little alteration (a decision I have no qualms with), the addition of melee strikes opens up new combat strategies and allows players to abandon cover. Squadmate AI is more independent, moving freely on the battlefield and engaging enemies intelligently without waiting for orders. This is a great thing, since the enemy forces are often greater in number and coordinating their attacks. Movement is necessary, and while the cover mechanic works better than it did in past incarnations, it's still not perfect.

Off the battlefield, Shepard rounds up troops and resources to fuel the war effort. This mechanic highlights the epic quality of this galactic conflict, and gives players a strategic experience that seeps into almost every mission. Some of this is handled through main story missions, side quests and planet scanning. Don't worry, scanning isn't the time-consuming nightmare it used to be.

Friends can also lend a hand to your war effort through new four-player co-op missions. Like any good multiplayer game, every match and kill bring experience points, and players can pass the time by leveling up their character, modding weapons and purchasing gear, upgrades and even character skins.

For two full games, we heard about the Reapers. "Mass Effect 3" shows us how great this threat is to the inhabitants of this fictional universe and to the players who must face off against it. I guided Shepard across three massive games spanning more than 100 hours, and feel BioWare has delivered one of the most intricately crafted stories in the history of the medium. After getting to know these characters so well, it'll be hard to leave this universe behind, but it's been one hell of a ride.