Despite the controversy surrounding the ending of Mass Effect 3, one choice does ultimately stand out from the rest. It is entirely up to the player's interpretation to determine which ending they feel is the best conclusion for Shepard's story, but the choice to control the Reapers offers the most satisfying ending to the fight for survival in the Milky Way galaxy.

Mass Effect 3's original ending was hated by fans because it was an unsatisfying conclusion to the story that undermined player choice and left the Milky Way galaxy in a state that made the ending choice seem irrelevant. But when BioWare released the extended cut update, many of those issues were resolved. Whether players chose to destroy all synthetic life, control the Reapers, or synthesize organic and synthetic life, there was an explanation for how that choice impacted the future of the Milky Way galaxy, and the choice to control the Reapers accomplished this better than the alternatives.

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Mass Effect 3's control ending is effectively the trilogy's Paragon ending. If the player chooses to have Shepard assume control of the Reapers the harvest is stopped, the Mass Relay system is rebuilt by the now-benevolent Reapers, and all synthetic life survives. If the player chose to cure the genophage, negotiate a peaceful end to the Geth War and saved the Rachni twice, every race ultimately survives the war with the Reapers in the control ending and life in the Milky Way continues on. The same cannot be said if Shepard destroys all synthetic life in the galaxy or forcibly synthesizes all sentient creatures in the galaxy, both of which have massive ramifications on life moving forward. And it means that The Illusive Man was right.

Mass Effect 3's Control Ending Improves The Illusive Man

Mass Effect Legendary Illusive Man

Cerberus' involvement in Mass Effect 3 feels ham-fisted, but the control ending does strengthen The Illusive Man's role in the story. The Illusive Man believed that humans should control the Reapers, not destroy them, and Mass Effect 3 offers the perspective that the villain actually had a point. The Illusive Man's desire to control the Reapers was along the right idea, but he was ultimately doing it for the wrong reasons in his lust for humanity's superiority. What makes a villain interesting is when their goal makes sense and can be understood, despite how misguided their thought process is. The Illusive Man would have chosen the control ending but, as the Catalyst explains to Commander Shepard, he would have ultimately failed as a result of his indoctrination.

If players opt to go the Paragon route, making Shepard the prototypical hero of the story, the control ending is the obvious choice. Every species survives the invasion of the Reapers, the Mass Relay system within the Milky Way galaxy is restored, and everybody ultimately succeeds in their efforts throughout the trilogy. And as an added bonus, it improves the role of The Illusive Man as a villain in the story. Mass Effect is a series that is ultimately about player choice so there is no wrong decision at the end, but Mass Effect 3's control ending is the closest to a truly successful victory.

Next: Why Mass Effect Legendary Edition Proves The Series Is Still Important