The 'Mass Effect 3' Prologue is More Powerful Than Ever, But for the Wrong Reasons The 'Mass Effect 3' Prologue is More Powerful Than Ever, But for the Wrong Reasons The news that many gaming fans had been anticipating for years finally became official on October 21: BioWare is shutting down as part of a series of layoffs at EA. The studio behind some of the 21st century's biggest titles, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, will be closing its gates after over 30 years. Many will mourn this loss, while many others will perhaps celebrate it, considering the decline in quality the studio experienced over the last decade.BioWare Closure and Mass Effect 5 CancellationHowever, it's undeniable that the news is a harsh blow for the industry. The news also confirms that the announced fifth Mass Effect game is officially cancelled. Although it might seem disappointing, it's not particularly surprising either.Moreover, and unlike some of BioWare's other banner franchises, Mass Effect had a pretty perfect ending with Mass Effect 3, the 2012 sci-fi masterpiece that brought Commander Shepard's story to a satisfying close. The game's prologue has long been one of its most celebrated aspects, and it has aged beautifully.Mass Effect 3 Plot Summary and CharactersHowever, after the news of BioWare's fate, the prologue becomes all the more bittersweet and powerful. What Is 'Mass Effect 3' About? Mass Effect 3 continues the story of Commander Shepard (Mark Meer/Jennifer Hale) as they gather a party of allies new and old to fight the Reapers, an ancient race of organic starships that launch extinction-level events every 50,000 years, eradicating all life.After plans for an ancient Prothean weapon are discovered, a last coalition of alien races unites to build it, with Shepard traveling the Milky Way to resolve long-standing conflicts and gather as many allies as possible to aid in the last battle against the Reapers. Many familiar characters return from the previous games, most of whom can be recruited as Shepard's companions aboard the Normandy.Mass Effect 3 Prologue Story and EventsSimilarly, long-standing conflicts, some of which were first introduced all the way back in the first game, finally reach a long-awaited resolution, including the Krogan genophage and the conflict between the Geth and the Quarians. The game ultimately leads to a confrontation at the Citadel, where Shepard confronts a childlike AI and the original creator of the Reapers. The now-iconic ending is highly dependent on the choices made throughout the trilogy. What Happens in the 'Mass Effect 3' Prologue?Mass Effect 3 is well remembered because of its iconic, 25-minute prologue sequence. In it, Shepard awakens on Earth and reunites with old friends, including Admiral Anderson (Keith Davis) and either Kaidan Alenko (Raphael Sbarge) or Ashley Williams (Kimberly Brooks), depending on who survives the effects of the original game. The Prologue is very much a tutorial level, and it's a perfectly constructed one at that.Memorable Mass Effect 3 Ending DetailsHowever, on a storytelling level, it's perhaps one of the most important and harrowing in the history of modern sci-fi. See, the Reapers are invading Earth fast, and so the prologue soon becomes a survival mission. Like most reality-shattering events in real life, the invasion happens quickly and without warning; suddenly, reality shatters, and the world as we know it changes forever. At several points throughout the level, you meet a scared child attempting to survive.Eventually, after you battle hordes of husks, Cannibals, and even a Harvester, you'll make your way to an open space where you'll be rescued by the Normandy. Shepard and Anderson say their goodbyes, as the latter decides to remain on Earth to prepare the defenses against the Reapers, while the former needs to go on a mission to save the entire galaxy. As the Normandy leaves, Shepard's sees the boy again aboard an evacuation ship.Then, the ship is targeted by the laser of a Destroyer, effectively a Reaper, and it explodes, killing everyone on board. That's right, the scared little boy dies right as he's being evacuated, while Shepard can do nothing but watch in horror. The haunting score plays as one final shot of the Earth completely overtaken by the Reapers appears before the title card drops.