Mass Effect 3 Co-op Doesn't Suck

I don't know about you, but the prospect of Mass Effect multiplayer
sounded like an apocalypse worse than any Reaper invasion to me. I
didn't care how it connected to the campaign – any kind of online mode
would undoubtedly take attention away from the story, the primary reason
I'm obsessed with the series.


Mass Effect 3's multiplayer is a "you have to see it to believe it" kind
of thing. On the surface, it's a straightforward, four-player survival
mode. I'm tired of killing waves of guys until reinforcements run dry,
so it's a testament to its quality that it made me fall in love with the
game type again.


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What strikes me as interesting about it has little to do with the core
gameplay. The melee combos, biotic abilities, and significant
enhancements to the gun combat certainly help with the enjoyment, but
it's the in-between bits that grabbed my attention. Kills, assists, and
completing the 10 total waves earns you money and experience points,
which you pour into various improvements and unlocks. The fast-paced
personal progression means adding a new skill or biotic bonus after
almost every match. Earning access to cryo ammo – which slows and
freezes enemies – or the biotic ability to knock a group of guys on
their asses convinced me to play another round. In turn, I collected
more cash to blow on items. Naturally, equipping incendiary ammo, a new
shotgun, and a recoil-reducing accessory convinced me to start another
match.


It's a vicious cycle.


The appealing presentation of those item bundles works in Mass Effect
3's favor, too. It's like buying a pack of baseball cards – five random things
are waiting for you underneath the wrapper. Maybe it's Medi-Gel to
revive yourself, or a new character, or a weapon attachment. It's always
good stuff you can use right away.



Bringing it back to Noveria

The pacing and progression of each match sets Mass Effect's multiplayer
apart from similar modes. From time to time you'll be forced to
completely change your game plan. Hacking a computer means sticking to a
set area rather than hunting enemies as usual. Activating communication
terminals presents massive risks – do you take the inefficient route
and take one at a time as a team, or split up to do it quickly while
leaving yourselves vulnerable?


This is a difficult co-op game. It's tough to take down waves and BioWare
demands your cooperation. Enemies are strong, coordinated, and know how
to get around a good defense. Gigantic mechs and guys with shields can
also cause panic within your group. If you're not talking about enemy
positions and where you are, chances are you're going to get put down
where nobody can swoop in for a revive-and-rescue. I died a lot.


There's a lot to get excited about in Mass Effect 3.
I have confidence in the campaign and the co-op caught me off guard. I
want to advance through the low-level bronze challenge, turn my
Infiltrator into a pink-painted badass, and work my way up to the gold
challenges. Suddenly, the conclusion to Shepard's story is part of,
rather than the reason, I can't wait for this one.


Maybe Mass Effect 3 multiplayer won't be the end of the world