Mass Effect 2 teaser

[Zenicetus]

1. The universe in my analysis was very refreshing, and interesting and the writing was superb. I didn't know what was mediocre about the either of the two. The fact that they had over 2+ hours of just info on the Mass Effect universe for you to read (and listen to with that awesome narrative voice), shows that they put in the effort that made it above mediocre.

I don't disagree with this at all. Like I said, the ME universe was superbly designed, and I think Bioware have done an an excellent job with creating the background worlds in all their original IP products.

My $.02 opinion... I guess I'll be disagreeing with everyone here about the quality of the ME universe design. It was okay as a framework for the game, but original and superbly designed? I guess I've read too much science fiction in my life. To me, the ME universe was nothing more than just a mashup of classic TV and sci fi movie themes.

There is the Star Fleet concept from Trek, with the humans and dominant aliens forming a political alliance. Humans are rash upstarts; not as experienced as the ancient races who have been spacefaring forever, but they're full of spunk and drive. And of course the humans are the heroes of the story. Of all the aliens you see that might have been interesting party members, your actual combat party is composed of the aliens who look most like bipedal humans (with the possible exception of Wrex), so they're easier for a general audience to relate to. Robot servants have rebelled against their masters. Giant insects with a hive queen are a threat. An ancient evil that cleansed the galaxy in the past, is about to return.

These are all tired, tired tropes in science fiction. Bioware did a decent job of throwing it all together and making it stick, but there is nothing especially original or superbly designed in their conception of the future. They just used a bunch of least-common-denominator themes that a wide audience could easily relate to.

The same could be said for Dragon Age. Humans who dominate the story line? Check. Dwarves? Check. Elves? Check. The Holy Trinity of tank, mage, and healer with a rogue on the side? Check. An ancient evil from the past about to return and cause havoc? Check.

Bioware excels in solid execution for their games, not in designing original game worlds. Bioshock was a glorified shooter, and The Witcher had its own problems, but both games were far more original in concept and game world design (IMO).