It's up to Shepard and his (or her) team to combat invading troops and save the Krogan, though that proves to be more of a challenge than they expect – especially when a big monstrous walker shows up at the demo's conclusion. Now, noticed that we said "about the same" as the E3 build. That's because Bioware didn't want to come to Comic-Con with the completely same demo. There's actually some new stuff here. Sure, you can use your Omniblade to stab someone fierce with a well-timed attack, but it feels just a slight bit more concentrated here. Still, it'd be nice to determine a location for the stabbing, rather than just a general attack. Can't we head-blade someone? Anyway, minor complaint aside, let's talk about the sweet upgrade tree. It's a completely reworked system that not only lets you adapt from one of three combat classes, but also upgrade and improve accordingly, making yourself ready for whatever challenges lie ahead on your quest to save the Earth.
There are three here – soldier, sentinel and adept – and each one we played around with had someone new to offer. Adept, for instance, gives you access to biotics, enabling you to shoot someone with anti-gravity force and make them float around as they take your bullets. Soldier's better for those who want to get into the action, though. Sentinel's pretty slick, too. Once you choose a class system (which you can do from the main menu), you're given a series of points to spend on you and your deployment team. We went ahead and did this first, and were surprised to find that Bioware had developed a branching system, where you could effectively choose which way you want your character's development and progression to go. For instance, some attacks enable you to have stronger shielding, while others let you work out better pulse shots, in case you're taking on tougher opponents or those carrying around big-ass riot shields. You'll need to make these choices carefully, though the door is swung wide open when it comes to earning more progression points to make your Shepard a better one.
The fact you can choose – and play through – with three different classes changes the way you play Mass Effect 3 each time. Though the missions are the same, how you approach them is quite unique, and should expand replay value – just like the proposed multiplayer options and Kinect support. (Sadly, Bioware was pretty mum on each of those at the event. Soon, though.) What's more, Bioware has put a better emphasis on working with your team, rather than running off like a lone gun. We learned that charging into battle puts Shepard fundamentally at risk, despite the boldness, so it's best to stay with your squad mates and actually work with them to bring down clusters of soldiers. There are some tougher hombres to watch out for here, including the riot shield carrying nut bags and, as mentioned before, that large land walker that wants to tear you to pieces. It's important to watch out for objectives, though.
While you and your friends are fighting soldiers, the female Krogan and Solus are vulnerable. You'll need to make sure they're safe and keep them moving up levels before they take too much damage from invading forces. Bioware has balanced this well, though, so don't expect tremendous amounts of frustration. As usual, Bioware shines in the presentation department. Mass Effect 3 looks just as outstanding as the first two games, but with better outdoor environmental detail and some cool up-close animations, particularly with the Omniblade. Watching Shepard stab someone up-close-and-personal is quite a sight. We also liked some of the smaller things, such as the Star Trek-ish buzz on a virtual doorway, keeping the Krogan safe from harm. We also liked the dialogue, still as spot on as ever, as well as some of the dramatic musical cues, making you feel as if you're really taking part in a hefty sci-fi battle.
Because, duh, you are. After several playthroughs (and some hands-on time with the recently released Legacy add-on for Dragon Age II), we bid farewell to Bioware, but not before snagging a custom-made dog tag or two. Because, y'know, everyone wants to be a space soldier, right? Kudos to Bioware for showing off not only a quality build of its upcoming game, but an improved one over what we've seen before. Mass Effect 3's branching system is bold, and you can literally build Shepard any which way till Sunday. The presentation is definitely cool thus far, and the challenges that await you will keep you plenty busy once March 6 rolls around. Mark that calendar.