Apparently spring sprang this weekend. Blossoms were witnessed, sunshine fell on glad shoulders, people enjoyed parks and such.
Why did we not notice? Mass Effect 3's collector's edition arrived and in one word, it's engrossing.
Following two games in the trilogy, the scene is set and your past wins and losses start to make sense.
The Reapers have returned – they arrive every 50,000 years to rid the galaxy of organic life. The game starts on Earth, as those foes attack.
ME3 is designed to twist your emotions, if you have any. The story of Shepard focuses on a little boy who is killed in the opening scene – powerfully manipulative stuff.
Your mission is set, you must unite civilisations for the final assault on the Reapers to save Earth.
Of course, the big question is does the space hamster make a return? The answer is yes. Yes, your furry friend joins you in the Citadel, just maybe not during fights.
We chose to play the more narrative version of the game because of the great scriptwriting and unique characters. You really get to bond with them, and as you can see above, the more social you are, the more you unlock. This is optional, you can get down to shooting if you like.
The Citadel looks as beautiful as ever – we just wish you could roam the place more than the areas you are restricted to.
The music too is well done. Scored by Clint Mansell, it carries over the same theme as in ME1 and 2, but enhances every moment of action.
We really liked the smooth motion of the characters, and the camera angles are perfect and you can interact with the scenery.
Aside from the fight sequences, the details around the periphery make ME3 so rich. You know that your favourite characters from the previous games (if you've played them) will reappear. The love-interest aspect of the game is always a bit of a fun, and in true adult gaming style, you can choose your sexual orientation as we've covered previously.
We haven't finished it just yet, but it's so good, if we could stop writing and get back to it right now we would.
Have you played Mass Effect 3? Tell us in the comments below.