The "What are you playing?" topic.

**Monk** · 08-30-2009, 19:09

Originally Posted by frogbeastegg

Ran through the new Mass Effect DLC this evening. Yawn; a bunch of bland FPS MP style scenarios for a game which isn't primarily about combat. There are 3 variations each on four themes: shoot as many enemies as possible in a time limit, survive as long as possible against infinite enemies, run and capture several points on the map as quickly as possible, and kill a set number of enemies as quickly as possible. Most missions can be completed in under 2 minutes. Get first place in all 12 and you get an extra mission: survive until the clock runs down against a horde. Finish that and you have won yourself your own home base, pretty pointless this late in the day.

Back to Samurai Warriors 2 again.

Is it really that bad? I ask simply out of morbid curiosity, it's sitting on xbox live marketplace for a measly five dollars and at that price it's sorta hard not to take a look.. Though the description doesn't inspire much enthusiasm in me. It promises 2-3 hours of more gameplay, but if all that amounts to is shallow combat then I'm not sure it's for me.

When i heard there was a new Mass Effect DLC in the works, i was thrilled. I was expecting another Bring Down the Sky which I absolutely loved. (Lots of combat, a few side quests and a good main story, yes please!) Instead, it sounds as if all they added was a combat focused mini-game. A real shame, i was looking to bring "The Jugglers" out of retirement for another go. They've not seen a run since I tested my sanity on.. well, insanity!

**frogbeastegg** · 08-30-2009, 19:40

Originally Posted by Monk

Is it really that bad?

In a word, yes. You know how much I love Mass Effect.

The only reasons I can think of for getting it are if you are a completionist and must have everything, or if you want to farm a bunch of combat achievements. The DLC has 3 achievements and the ability to launch endless bouts of combat make it easy to chalk up the kills required for the gun and power achievements. I didn't even get that much use out of it as I had 100% before this DLC appeared.

**Greyblades** · 08-31-2009, 15:46

Would it be any use for someone who wants to practice his fighting?

**frogbeastegg** · 08-31-2009, 20:34

Originally Posted by Greyblades

Would it be any use for someone who wants to practice his fighting?

Not entirely. Well, it depends what aspect you want to practise. If it's aiming, running about without cover, and dealing with spammed hordes of goons that spawn without any sense of terrain utilisation, then yes. If it's tactical cover based fighting against enemies pre-placed to create a battle that makes use of the terrain, then no.

It's like Mass Effect trying to do Quake. The arenas have little cover and using it is futile because you're either sprinting around to find markers/enemies, or you are being swarmed on all sides by endless spawns. There's no room for tactics, no time to consider a plan, and no need for them either. I passed all the scenarios by selecting my assault rifle and holding the trigger down, and there were only 2 I didn't get 1st place on at the first attempt. Both of those maps were 'capture the marker' jobs and it took me a bit to find the first marker because they don't bother to mark them on your hud.

If you want to hone your combat skills play on hardcore or insanity. Hardcore is the difficulty where the game truly shines IMO; the enemies have skills and use them frequently meaning your team needs to do likewise, along with using the terrain and the various weapon upgrades. Insanity gets a bit tiresome as too many enemies have immunity and take forever to kill.

**Greyblades** · 08-31-2009, 21:00

I kinda meant practicing using your team to fight, but from the sound of it your on your own for the DLC's missions.

**frogbeastegg** · 08-31-2009, 21:12

Originally Posted by Greyblades

I kinda meant practicing using your team to fight, but from the sound of it your on your own for the DLC's missions.

Your team's there. I totally ignored them the entire time; the AI is good enough at shooting and basic power usage that I didn't need to give orders. On some arenas I could probably have won by standing with my back to a wall and putting the controller down while they did all of the killing for me.

**Xiahou** · 09-01-2009, 03:23

I finished Cursed Mountain, and have to say I really enjoyed it. The setting and the Buddhist themes were both refreshing, but it was the setting that stole the show- abandoned mountain towns and villages, sprawling monasteries, and of course the mountain itself. I was pleased with how well they pulled it off on the Wii's comparatively weak hardware. One of the touches I appreciated was being able to look down on areas you've come through as you progressed through levels. It really helped create a sense of scale and it reinforced the sense of isolation.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The game was a little on the short side, probably less than 15hrs, but I could definitely see myself wanting to play through it again sometime.

**Krauser** · 09-05-2009, 10:26

Originally Posted by Monk

Is it really that bad? I ask simply out of morbid curiosity, it's sitting on xbox live marketplace for a measly five dollars and at that price it's sorta hard not to take a look.. Though the description doesn't inspire much enthusiasm in me. It promises 2-3 hours of more gameplay, but if all that amounts to is shallow combat then I'm not sure it's for me.

Generally, the number of gameplay hours should exceed the cost of the game. Sure, it's just $5, but that can go towards some other future purchase that is really worth it. Too many people get tricked into buying DLC because it's "only" a few dollars. It really adds up over time.

On topic:
I'm going through an RPG phase right now playing Neverwinter Nights, Oblivion, and Mass Effect. Also wishing there were deeper RPGs these days like Baldur's Gate 2. I still play it sometimes, but I've practically memorized everything.