14 DAY TRIAL // Mass Effect 3 delivers a variety of improvements over its predecessors in terms of combat, with the most impressive being the explosions that result from combining different powers, from biotic to electric, flame or cryo ones.
Mass Effect 1 featured a pretty decent experience that relied more on role playing mechanics than shooter ones. Mass Effect 2 turned it around, however, favoring third person shooting over RPG elements.
In the new game, BioWare strikes a great balance in terms of combat, as you can still shoot enemies up or opt to use your array of special powers, from the Vanguard’s Charge to the Infiltrator’s Tactical Cloak.
By far the most satisfying new elements in Mass Effect 3, both in its single-player and multiplayer modes, are the explosions that result from combining powers, including biotic, electric, flame or cryo ones.
While regular difficulty levels don’t bring a big challenge, higher ones, like Insanity during the single-player campaign or Silver and Gold in the multiplayer, definitely require you to pull off damaging combinations, including explosions.
They basically involve combining two different powers, one becoming the source, while the other acts as a detonator.
Setup powers for biotic explosions include singularity, pull, warp, reave or stasis, while detonators consist of Shockwave, warp, charge, reave, or nova. When combined, they result in a big explosion that deals massive damage to biotic barriers, armors, and even regular health.
Depending on your preferred class, you can set up other types of explosions, including electric (tech bursts), flame or cryo ones. They require you to combine powers from these areas, including Overload or Energy Drain, Incinerate, or Cryo Blast, with regular detonators, like grenades, throw, shockwave, charge, nova, slam, carnage or concussive shot.
While these moves require a bit more strategy and teamwork, they might prove instrumental in surviving on tougher difficulty levels, both in the single-player and in the multiplayer modes.