Mass Effect 3 preorder perks detailed

Mass Effect 3 doesn't hit store shelves until March 6, but BioWare today launched its campaign persuading people to avoid procrastinating on a purchase. The developer confirmed that those who preorder the game will receive a variety of in-game perks for their trouble.

To start with, all preorders at participating retailers will receive access to the M55 Argus Assault Rifle, which fires in short bursts to assist in accurate shooting with little wasted ammo. On top of that, GameStop preorders will come with an exclusive N7 armor and assault rifle combo, while gamers who commit to downloading the PC version from Electronic Arts' Origin storefront will score the rapid-fire AT-12 Raider shotgun.

As for why gamers will need the extra firepower, Mass Effect 3's storyline sees planet Earth under siege. The attackers are the Reapers, a race of heavily armed sentient spacecraft that were central to the plot of the first Mass Effect. The return of the Reapers to the series was concretely revealed in Arrival, the last installment of downloadable content for Mass Effect 2.

In Mass Effect 3, players will once again take on the role of Shepard, who is now on the run from the shadowy pro-human organization Cerberus. To save Earth, Shepard must travel the galaxy trying to rally support from alien civilizations with varying degrees of sympathy.