When I think about a moment in a game that deeply affected me – I'm talking tears streaming down my face, an ache in my chest, just inconsolable – one scene always comes to mind. Standing at the docking bay, looking out over the Normandy ship, Shepard quietly reflects on everything they've been through with the crew in Mass Effect 3. The final fight is on the horizon and the fate of the galaxy still hangs in the balance, but right now, it's all about appreciating the time they were able to spend with those they care about. "The best times of my life were spent on that ship. Been a damn good ride," Garrus says, before walking away with the rest of the party. "The best," Shepard replies shortly after, as they stand alone before their ship. I couldn't have put it better myself. Playing through the trilogy really was a damn good ride all those years ago, and it still is just as engaging to play now as it ever was.
It's a moment that's forever lodged in my heart, and just writing about it is getting me all choked up again. If I even hear a single note from the score that plays during their conversation, tears are almost always guaranteed. This month marks 12 years since the release of Mass Effect 3, and 11 since the arrival of the Citadel DLC that brought us this particular scene. The anniversary of its launch got me thinking about how much I needed the expansion when it came around, and even after all these years, nothing has ever really topped BioWare's swansong addition that let me say a proper goodbye to my favorite sci-fi RPG trilogy. When it comes to expansions, Mass Effect 3: Citadel is still the very best in my eyes.
