Mass Effect 3 Ending: 'I Prefer To Live In Denial,' Says Jennifer Hale (FemShep Voice Actor)

By Jacob Kleinman | April 04 2012 4:47 PM

Video game fans and consumers have been up-in-arms over the anti-climactic ending to the Mass Effect trilogy. The open-ended 'space-opera' franchise, developed by Bioware (which is owned by video game publisher EA) known for choice-driven gameplay and complex narrative concluded by presenting the player with three options, which only determine the color of the final explosion. Jennifer Hale, the Canadian voice actor who portrayed the female of version of Mass Effect protagonist, Commander Jane Shepard, spoke to Edge, offering her own take on the ending for the first time. Hale told Edge that she is impressed by the reactions from fans dissapointed by the ending, and hopeful-- though not necessarily optimistic--that Bioware and EA will continue the story

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On April 10th BioWare released the "Resurgence Pack" as a free downloadable content addition for "Mass Effect 3" players. However, speculation stirred when a paid version of the DLC was accidentally released to the public, leaving some fans confused.

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First and foremost, Hale said she was inspired by the actions of disappointed fans who have shown themselves to be highly organized, even raising $80,000 to represent the support they have before donating that money to the gaming charity Child's Play.

I was surprised about the level of passion about the ending, Hale said. But there's something really great about that, too: It says people are invested and they really care and they don't want to let go, which is awesome because I don't, either.

Hale maintained that she has no insider information regarding any additional content Bioware may or may not release for Mass Effect 3, but told Edge that she has not been contacted about recording any more lines for her character, indicating that for now there is no plan to expand the game in order to appease fans.

However, she did admit that she likes to imagine that the Mass Effect adventure isn't over yet, saying I prefer to live in denial about it because it makes me too sad.

In an video interview given seven months ago before the game was released, Hale told Clevver Games that Commander Shepard would return again, adding that the great thing about Bioware is that they listen to what their fans want.

Regarding whether or not Mass Effect 3 needs a new ending, Hale is unsure.

I have mixed feelings, she told Edge. I really respect the team and what they did and how hard they worked. And endings are hard! They're cutting new ground; the players are so involved in this game that to come up with an ending to something everyone's got their hand in is a huge challenge. So maybe it's going to take a little work to get everything sorted in a way that's going to make everybody happy.

In the meantime, Jennifer Hale will go on pretending that Mass Effect 3 is not over, despite the fact that no matter how you play the game Shepard always dies in the end. Hale is busy with other work, providing the voices for multiple characters in both Green Lantern: The Animated Series and The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

This story has been edited at the request of Jennifer Hale. If you are trying to avoid spoilers don't click on articles titled Mass Effect 3 Ending.