I'm glad that we went back and started from the beginning after ME2 didn't grab us, but I can't say yet whether I recommend it in general. There have been some interesting things with characters, and with subverting expectations, but nothing I would yet describe as earth shattering. Then again, that may be because I'm spoiled for so much. So at the moment, I don't think I can say definitively "yes you must play this", but it may be too soon.