Mass Effect

[AggonyDuck]

Is anyone else waiting to get their hands on this game? I'm looking forward with great anticipation for November the 20th. I've got the feeling that Bioware will deliver once again.

[Tratorix]

This game is the main reason I want a 360 now. I've been reading previews on IGN, and if it's 1/3 as good as they say it is, I'll be in heaven. In my perfect world, all RPG's would be made by clones of the development team at Bioware.( Wow, this post really makes me sound like a fanboy. Oh well. )

[Bob the Insane]

I am pretty hyped about it too... It looks like KOTOR on next-gen steroids...

The voice acting in the mvoie clips is sweet...

[Spino]

I'm really looking forward to the day when Mass Effect gets released for the PC... complete with snazzier graphics & extra content. Bioware gave the PC version of Jade Empire a facelift and content injection so I imagine they'll do the same for the PC version of Mass Effect.

I know it sounds silly but one thing that bugs me about Mass Effect are the cheesy sounding voice actors they used for the aliens. Come on now Bioware, modulate a little bit, add some growls or neat effects.. anything to not make them sound like those two bit method actors that co-starred on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Heck, just take a page from the KOTOR book and force gamers to read subtitles whenever aliens speak (most of them anyway).

[Bob the Insane]

Maybe it is the universal translator that had it's voices recorded by those two bit method actors that co-starred on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...

[Tratorix]

I believe I read somewhere that some of the voice work in the previews was not the finalized product. They said some of it was placeholders, as they hadn't gotten all the fianl voicing finished up. I hope thats true, it would be a shame to have cheesy voice acting, the game looks absolutely spectacular otherwise.

[Xiahou]

I'm really looking forward to the day when Mass Effect gets released for the PC... complete with snazzier graphics & extra content. Bioware gave the PC version of Jade Empire a facelift and content injection so I imagine they'll do the same for the PC version of Mass Effect.

I'll definitely be waiting for this one to come out on the PC as well.

[Bob the Insane]

Well it is out!!

Got it yesterday, played all evening...

The short summary... KOTOR on steroids but optimized for shooting rather than lightsabers...

God I wish this was on the PC, you can hear the 360 struggling to deal with it at times. Why in the name of all that is holy they put 512MB rather than 1GB in the box is beyond me... However having said that, it is smooth most of the time and does look great...

The improvement to the way converstion works is really cool, but does not really dramatically change hopw things play out, it simply flows more naturally. Is it an excellent mechanism that I am sure we will see in other games... But it applies only to the conversations and does not really impact the rest of the gameplay...

The combat mechanics are kind of "GRAW lite"... Over the shoulder with a simple cover machanism. I don't think I have full mastered it yet, but my FPS background encourages me to shoot my own weapon rather and giving myself commands. The fact that you can't queue commands for your guys is a bit of a pain, but they shoot back well enough and because combat (so far) is ranged, you do have more thinking time... I have not seen any melee yet, but I think it is in,

Other than the combat mechanic and the coversation mechanism, this is next gen KOTOR, or rather that is the vibe I get from it... It could be the same corridors of the same space stations, only prettier and usually bigger...

I played all evening and I have only done the Eden Prime mission (which is a kind of tutorial as well as plot) and have done a bunch of missions (tasks) on the Citadel space station. Still plenty more to go...

[Papewaio]

Actually conversations do have an effect... your equivalent of light and darkside go up depending on what you say and that has a direct effect on the ending of the game.

Also with things like high charm NPCs will give you more information and/or items... which obviously has a direct effect on game play.

I'm not sure if you need high charm/intimidation to get the alien encounter of the 69th kind. But obviously you have to choose the right conversation elements.

[alman7272]

I bought a 360 for 3 reasons:

1.) Mass Effect
2.) Assassin's Creed
3.) BioShock

I've got about 6hours logged on mass effect and it's awesome thus far, as expected from BioWare.

[AggonyDuck]

Well I finally finished the game and although I'm currently in awe of the game, I must admit that it has its share of flaws. The game can be truly spectacular at its best, but at times it just falls short. The main planets are very nicely done and the main plot is excellent, but the side quests and the explorable planets leave a lot to be desired. The game could had definately used a couple of major sidequests, because at the moment most sidequests follow this pattern: go somewhere and do whatever they tell you to and then come back to fetch the reward. Even when a group of side quests are about the same faction, there is very little connection between them.

About a certain group of sidequests:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

For example you will get the opportunity to fight a group called Cerberus who are responsible for horrid experiments on several planets, yet there is very little connection between the quests about them. I'd imagine if I destroyed approximately ten of their facilities that they would do something about it, but nope. Dunno if their saving the bastards for Mass Effect 2 though.

In comparison the main quests are excellent and here's where the true production values of the game become apparent. The quests are interesting, the planets are well designed and the plot truly shines. Especially the Finale is propably the best I've ever played. None of the previous Bioware RPG's came even close to sheer awesomeness of the final two and a half hours of gameplay. Hell the best comparison to the Finale is the finales of Star Wars Episode IV and VI, and it might just actually trump that. Even the fight against the final boss is different from other games that I've played, and is something, that everyone should experience on their own. The only problem is that the main plot is rather short.

The NPC's were a bit disappointing. The problem was that they were rather limited in what they had to say and they actually ran out of anything new to say. What they did have to say was excellent stuff, but I wish that they would had more to say. Also another thing that I've missed was the interactions between party members, that somehow still hasn't been brought back from BGII. They were the salt of BG II and I truly miss stuff like that, simply because there was potential for some rather nice banter.

But overall I'm very happy with the game and although it has it flaws, it's still one of the best RPG's I've played. So yes, Bioware did deliver again, although not completely to their full potential.

[Bob the Insane]

Having also finished I can only agree...

[Mailman653]

The more I read about the game, the more I'm into getting it, although with the holidays comming soon, I'll most likely see it during the middle of next month lol. Isnt it game one of a trilogy though? If so, I'm sure they will expand in the 2nd game what they've implemented in the first.

[TinCow]

FYI, Bioware has announced that Mass Effect will be released for the PC in May 2008.

http://www.techspot.com/news/29001-m...to-the-pc.html

[frogbeastegg]

Copying my thoughts on the game over from the "What are you playing?" topic. Once the PC version is out I expect people will be looking for opinions on the game and so it will be helpful to have everything all in one place.

Mass Effect

If I expand that to useful singular words then we're looking at the likes of: OMG!! WOW!! Awesome!! Stunning!! Brilliant!! Gorgeous!! Amazing!! And yes, the double exclamation marks are compulsory.

If we step away from singular words then I'm presently having no qualms about the phrase "Best game I've played on my 360!" or "Best game I've played this year!" or "At last, after years of waiting, an RPG which is completely enthralling!"

If we had for something more personal, and thus more verbose, then I think "Bioware are back!" does very well. Jade Empire was awful. I didn't make it past 2 hours of Neverwinter Nights 2. That's two strikes against the people who made many of my favourite RPGs, and those strikes are their most recent work. I feared their day was done, that the final bastion of the great names from my childhood gaming days was toppled. I avoided playing Mass Effect for half a year because I was terrified of it being the third and final strike.

Bioware are back, woohoo!

I have not loved the opening hours of an RPG so much since KOTOR.

I have not been sucked into a new and fresh world so comprehensively since Baldur's Gate II.

I have not sat there in the opening hours of a game and realised that I'm going to have to play it several times to see everything and then grinned with delight for so, so long.

Yes, it has technical issues. Rampant pop in and pop up, jerky framerates, long loading times. Somehow it's hard to care when the rest of the package is so damned good. Maybe after 20 hours my view on this will change.

The world is rich and unique, populated with well-voiced and well designed characters. The plot is somewhat run of the mill but it's being done in style, and feels fresh, unlike the stale rehash of uber stale rehash that was Jade Empire's predictable dullness.

I'm playing a female character and Bioware appear to have finally, at long last, produced a male character who won't annoy the crap out of me if I follow the romance line. Not a sad past in sight, not a hint of whininess, and he's not self-absorbed to the point of resembling some kind of sponge. He's got a nice voice, too

The combat works. Actually works. 3rd person squad based tactical combat. In an RPG. A Bioware RPG. And it works. I usually find Bioware's combat systems to be a trifle rickety, so this is doubly a surprise.

There's a race of giant space-faring Eyores. Same doleful way of speaking, same sad eyes, vaguely donkey-like appearance. What's not to love? I want one in my party.

I'm leaving citadel station for the first time now. If the game doesn't live up to this amazing start I shall be completely heartbroken.



[Post 2, on having completed the game]

I have completed Mass Effect. 31 hours in 5 days. I feel exhausted. Elated. My hands are trembling. I'm still amazed my 360 hasn't died from such heavy usage.

Next up is .... Mass Effect. What can I say?

This is the first game I've replayed immediately on finishing since KOTOR.

This is that rare, rare thing: a game I would happily buy a console for. If this were the only game I ever played on my 360 I'd be content.

This is the first game in this console generation I'd call 10/10. That makes it one of an exclusive handful of games I'd rate so highly. Even my beloved KOTOR doesn't get that.

There was not one single thing about it I didn't like, which is incredible. Even the tech issues didn't bother me. The rest of the experience was such that frame rate shudders and pop up textures really did not matter. Ordinarily this kind of issue bothers me greatly.

The world was great. The characters were great. The plot was great. The detail was great. The execution was great. The voice acting was great. You get the idea - I loved every second of those 31 hours.

If the replays leave me feeling the same then Mass Effect will edge Planescape: Torment out of the top spot of 'froggy's favourite RPGs', a spot it has occupied for 9 years.

Bring of Mass Effect 2! I want to see where this trilogy goes.

[Bob the Insane]

Wow... Much love there...

I also greatly enjoyed the game, played it heavily to completion...

I think it did rather suffer from side-quest-weakness...

The side quests, even though there some good background stories running through them suffer in comparison to the greatness that is the main plot line... It is pretty obvious when you veer away from the central plot. Few cut sceens, repeated interiors and exteriors, simplifed missions...

My chief gripe in this it that there was really not that many side missions. I took the good guy route and I don't think I left any stone unturned...

I initial impression playing the game was, where is my light saber. But considering the quality of KOTOR that is hardly a bad comparison...

Anyhow, it might be time to give it another try, I have finished GTA4 and nothing else is grabbing my interest right now... Mind you I wouldn't mind waiting for the PC version to have another go...

[frogbeastegg]

Hehe, my initial impression when wandering the Normandy was "Where's my starfighter?!" Mass Effect's early parts reminded me of the between mission sections of wing commander, star lancer, et al. I liked that; it brought back good memories. The scifi setting was well made, and exploring it was a pleasure.

I'd prefer to go through the reused mini-dungeon to find the mercenary with trauma issues and spend a few minutes talking to him and exploring his story than go through a unique dungeon to shoot a generic guy because they didn't have the money to build and implement that story. The tech problems show Bioware were being somewhat overly ambitious as it was, pushing for too much.

With regard to cutscenes and such, I didn't miss them. I looked for someone, found them, talked to them for several minutes in a fully voiced encounter, then did whatever. What more would I want? Where would you put a cutscene? Bringing down the sky was one of the few which I felt did need cutscenes, and they were present. I must admit that overall I am not fond of numerous cutscenes. I prefer them as embellishments at critical moments.

In most RPGs the plot/side quests split is more usually 2/3 plot and 1/3 side quest. Mass Effect had this the other way around; I spent something like 20 hours on the side quests. In the early parts of the game it felt like I couldn't move without finding several side quests, and as I wrapped one up UNC would call me up with another. IMO it felt like it had more side quest than any other Bioware game, except perhaps the gigantic 100 hour behemoth that is Baldur's Gate 2.

Did you reach level 50 on your first playthrough? I did, and I guess that means I found most, if not all, of the side quests, as that is the highest level you can get until your second playthrough.

Thinking about side quests made me realise something - there were comparatively few fetch quests in this game. Many of the missions wrapped up with a report being filed via your galaxy map, or there and then as you found the objective. That is likely responsible for a good part of my enjoyment. I dislike 'go there, then come back' quests.

I was paragon the first time through, so my second playthrough will be renegade. I have my fingers crossed that they have gone a different route to the usual "I will steal your sweets and then kick sand in your face! :evil laugh:" depiction.

[Kekvit Irae]

I got max paragon and max renegade on my first playthrough.

The only things I hate about Mass Effect was A) the Mako drives like Britney Spears on acid, B) the Normandy REALLY needs to install a higher-powered elevator (Seriously, it'll be quicker just to go down a ladder than to use that thing), and C) the texture lag.

[Lehesu]

I liked the game, but had the same gripe against it that I had against Jade Empire. The combat is somewhat unfulfilling. The Mako, which makes up a goodly percentage of the combat, is a terrible role-playing crutch because it doesn't reflect any skill development. Considering that most all of the skills involved combat, it is surprising that such skills got little use compared to other RPGs.

[Monk]

I was paragon the first time through, so my second playthrough will be renegade. I have my fingers crossed that they have gone a different route to the usual "I will steal your sweets and then kick sand in your face! :evil laugh:" depiction.

Renegade is a much funner game. In Kotor and kotor2 I hated being evil, I really did because the game almost guilts you when you did something bad. Like "OMG HOW COULD YOU KILL HIM HE HAD A WIFE AND KIDS!". Mass Effect on the other hand doesn't really guilt you too much when you do something seedy, in fact it rewards you a lot of times with dark humor to go along with your alien-hating, genocide conducting, baby-eating Shepard.

Oh yeah. You remember the News Reporter? The one who ambushes you for an interview?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You get to punch her in the face.

I mean. Come ON! Best game ever for that alone.

The galaxy becomes a very different place if you are renegade, especially if you take the renegade ending to go along with your reign of hilarious terror. To be quite honest ever since I saw the renegade play-through I haven't had it in me go to back to Paragon when I have an itch to play, I still crack up at some parts of the game I know I shouldn't just because of the dialogue the characters respond with.

[frogbeastegg]

Well, I have already (minor spoiler for the first hour)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Punched out the 'crazy' guy who is hiding in the shed with the other scientist. The one who says the end of all life is coming, everyone and everything is doomed, etc.

That was unnervingly funny. "Yeah, well he's a lot calmer now," says my Shepard in a deadpan.

I can't wait until I meet the council.