Mass Effect 3 marked the final chapter in the sci-fi adventures of Commander Shepard. And boy, did it cause quite the kerfuffle. Fans were outraged by the ending. But, wasn't the outcry a testament to how involved fans became in this universe? Had BioWare not done so much right over the course of three games, the trilogy could have ended with a far worse fate: no one giving a damn.

Controversy aside, Mass Effect 3 provided one hell of a shooter-RPG experience. The drama reached new heights as the story took players to often-surprising places. The addition of online multiplayer proved not to be the scarlet letter fans had feared. Instead, Mass Effect 3's tight on-the-battlefield shooting and tactics made it possible for the mode to be as fun and addictive as it ended up being.

Fans will likely debate the ending for eons to come, especially whenever the next Mass Effect game is revealed. And when that day comes, fans will likely have their interest piqued--proving how successful BioWare's ambitious blend of shooting and cinematic, story-driven role-playing truly was.

The Shacknews Best of 2012 Awards were determined by ballot voting across the entire Shacknews staff. Andrew, Garnett, Jeff, John, Ryan, Steve, and Tyler voted for Mass Effect 3, earning it 295 points and the 6th place position on our list. Stay tuned all week as we reveal all our winners.