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I was actually quite confused once I thought I died to that bigass laser beam.

Once I got onto the "Citadel", I noticed that I could reload my gun, but I would never run out of bullets if I just kept firing over and over. That clued me in immediately that I was indoctrinated and dreaming.

Further proof was the black tendrils coming out of everywhere when I was talking to Illusive Man.

Then, when I noticed I had a gunshot wound in the same place as Anderson for some reason.

I actually really liked the ending because I noticed it for what it was - a fake.

Prestly said on the Bioware Social forums that they will "reveal more" about the game once enough time has passed for everyone who bought the game on release to experience the ending for themselves.

An incredibly clever move by Bioware, and I applaud them for it. I cannot wait for what actually happens.

I just wonder what will happen to those who picked the two wrong options (Synthesis and Control). I picked Destroy because it was clear that "destroy all the geth, EDI, and you because you are half synthetic" was a ploy, and when Shephard said "so the Illusive Man got it right after all" was clearly a trick.

Until then, I will likely either import my ME3 character and play the game again to get to level 60 and just enjoy the best game I've ever played some more, or start again as a Sentinel or Engineer. I've been an Infiltrator since ME1.

Oh, also, I thought it was even more clear when you didn't actually get a save after the ending. Time actually reverts back to before you attack the Illusive Mans base, even on your save profile. Its like it never even happened and you failed on your mission. The game reverts back to your earlier save just like it would if you died on the last mission in ME2.

There really is no reason for spoiler tags - the thread says spoilers on it.

You were indoctrinated right from the point where you got hit by Harbingers laser.

Proof....

1. You never run out of bullets in your Carnifex pistol after that point. You can reload, but you can fire thousands of rounds without ever reloading.

2. The black tendrils are cluing you in that you are under the very heavy effects of indoctrination, just like they were effecting you in your dreams. The child has always been the Reapers just fething with your head - it was never real.

3. When you shoot Anderson in the gut, you also get shot in the gut for no reason whatsoever.

4. When you are talking to the God Child, he tries to make the "Destroy the Reapers" option the least attractive, and even makes Shephard say "So the Illusive Man was right after all..." to take you away from even thinking of it.

5. The Synthesis Option is to bring the weak-minded and people who can't decide to come to a compromise. This option is the same as trying to control the Reapers - they still win.

Once you realize that the entire level after you get hit by Harbinger is a dream and you are indoctrinated, it all makes sense. Bioware wouldn't do this to their game, they are too intelligent.

They have effectively indoctrinated and fooled 2/3 of the people that played their game. That is why after the game "ends", you revert back to before you attack the Illusive Mans base. They are likely working on the canon, DLC ending.

Bioware already said earlier that they want everyone to experience the "fake" ending before they say anything.

corpsesarefun wrote:

Karon wrote:
Once you realize that the entire level after you get hit by Harbinger is a dream and you are indoctrinated, it all makes sense. Bioware wouldn't do this to their game, they are too intelligent.

I haven't played the game and I don't care about the quality of it's ending but this really just sounds like you're in denial.

Ok

LordofHats wrote:I actually think the structure of how endings are unlocked disproves the indoctrination theory (I actually did not know this information prior to an hour ago).

If your War Assests are below 1,750, you can't make a choice at the end of the game. The choice is made automatically by shepard (control or destroy) based on your decision at the end of ME2. That's actually kind of odd, cause the ME2 paragon choice results in the Renegade ending while the ME2 Renegade choice results in the Paragon ending? At the same time no Renegade or Paragon value is directly attributed to the ME3 endings, its just assumed by fans (unless I'm forgetting something).

The Synthesis choice is only available if your War Assets are at least 2,500.

I see no reason for Bioware to structure the ending this way if its all just a dream.

Yet in the end the reaper kid is portrayed as offering 'salvation through destruction!'.

Its not really an odd concept on its face. The Christian Apocalypse has some pretty rough gak in it. Pretty much everyone dies before JC comes back and makes it all okay with his savior-i-ness. The idea of change going hand in hand with the destruction of the old is an ancient cultural concept.

That directly helps the case of the indoctrination theory, actually. The bolded part, obviously.

Well, as I've said before, Prestly on the BioSocial forums said that they aware of everyone's concerns and are waiting for people who bought the game to actually finish it and experience the original ending before they say anything.

It is very likely that the Indoctrination theory holds true simply because the level of incompetence and carelessness represented in the final stretch is extremely uncharacteristic for Bioware.

Like, the pistol never having to reload cannot be anything but carelessness if it was intended as the actual ending, which is something I can't believe Bioware would really do.

I would bet that at this point they are putting the finishing touches on the free ending DLC that they've been working on before release and it is just a matter of days at this point.

LordofHats wrote:

Like, the pistol never having to reload cannot be anything but carelessness if it was intended as the actual ending, which is something I can't believe Bioware would really do.

I actually think they did that because from that point on Shepard moves in uber slow mo and can't take cover (and it wouldn't be a first time a gun went infinite ammo at the end in a game). And there's only like, 5? Enemies from that point on to shoot so they probably just never turned it off. After that moment you don't need a gun anymore.

No, because it makes no sense to have a pistol be able to reload but never actually have to do it because it has unlimited ammo in that "clip"

That is why its clear that sequence is a "dream", and Shepard is trying to be quickly indoctrinated instead of gradually over time.

Its this thing called plot armor.

If you think the backlash on this ending is bad, could you imagine the backlash if Shepard just dies and we have no idea what happens?

That's honestly not a hiccup at all because you can say that pretty much for the entire game.

Why didn't that Destroyer just blow up the Normandy along with the two transport vehicles? It was clearly visible.

Because that would suck.

Amaya wrote:The ending doesn't even make sense, especially the Destroy option where Shepard survives, how can anyone take it seriously?

It really doesn't. I still find it hard to believe Bioware isn't just pulling our legs here.

The current ending makes no sense whatsoever when you see Shepard gasp for air (heavily implying he is alive) at the end of the Destroy ending.

I really am confused. This whole fiasco is so uncharacteristic of Bioware when it comes to the Mass Effect series.

Amaya wrote:It's in no small part due to the fact that the ending was only done by 2 individuals not the entire team. One of the writers came out and slammed the ending on the Penny Arcade forums before deleting his comments in order to save his job.

http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/5695/article/mass-effect-3-writer-allegedly-slams-controversial-ending/

All of this would fit SO WELL if they just followed the Indoctrination Theory. They would be called GENIUSES for doing this, and praised beyond belief.

The Theory just works so well with all the signs throughout the game I'm honestly shocked they really just aren't rolling with it.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:

Amaya wrote:Dream 1: No shadows
Dream 2: Some shadows
Dream 3: More shadows

And you call this meaningless?

Tell me you're trolling or haven't played the game.

I can't even beleive you are posting this with a straight face. You are basically saying: "oh sure, the burnt shape on my toast isn't Jesus Christ?! Pfff ya that makes a lot of ing sense"

I'm almost positive you are trolling or entirely inept about this game.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:I'm serious enough to make a wager: Karon if the new ending is the Indoctrination Theory I'll close my account in Dakka forever. If it isn't you close yours. Deal?

I've already expressed my doubt after their FAQ that the Indoctrination Theory is actually true.

I've only explained why it should be true and why it fits so well.

Amaya is connecting an event from ME1 to ME3 that makes a lot of sense and you are discrediting it with "pffff, bs"

Your childish wager to attempt to make this a personal matter is laughable at best.

The Fragile Breath wrote:You guys are going to think I'm crazy, or that I just don't want the theory to be wrong, but I read the whole FAQ, took it in, and honestly, none of it points to the theory being wrong in my eyes. They said they're not changing the ending, that doesn't mean it's wrong. It's true, they're being very vague about everything, and I too assume it's for a reason.

I hope so, for Bioware's sake.