mass effect

[Zeus]

didnt see a thread on this, so thought i'd start one

my views on mass effect (having nearly finished it), are that its good fun, but has a few problems.
one is the inventory system, which is most disapointing, and related to this is the loot generation system - which is random (for about 10 hours or so in the middle of the game, one of my characters didnt get a single armour upgrade, for example. everyone else upgraded several times, but she didnt get anything).
The combat is generally a bit easy in my opinion. I think this is because the AI isn't great, and the enemies arnt tough enough to make up for it. so in general trash fights you tear them apart. even the 2 teammates with me (despite not having any 'combat' type talents between them) are quite capable of tearing through most of the enemies without any assistance from me - and without using cover or tactics most of the time either. i'll play it on a higher difficulty setting next and see if that remedies this problem.
edit: having just finished the game, it unlocks Hardcore, which has the description "most enemies scaled up based on the player's level" - so i'm guessing that should solve it

There's also a slight issue that some of the side quests arn't well explained in the in-game dialogue, and you have to look through the journal to find out details such as where you're meant to go. not a major thing, i guess i'm just used to games that spell it out in the dialogue, and treat the journal as a reminder in case you forget.

However, those few problems aside, i think its great.
The storyline is well done in general, and its nice that they've setup a completely new universe for it rather than using an existing one, since it lets them do whatever they want.
the combat, except for being too easy, is nicely done - with a variety of upgradeable weapons that are useful in different situations. the different character classes all have uses too (for example, the asari scientist i have with me, despite being unable to use assault rifles and such, can do a nice job of turning a fight around by disabling and/or killing enemies using her weird abilities)
the characters are all interesting, with their own backstories and sidequests going on - whether its the krogan merc that would like to find a cure for the genetic plague thats killing his race, or the scientist that just wants to find out more about the ancient races who's ruins your fighting through.
the way they do achievements is cool too - they actually affect gameplay, rather than just getting you gamer points. for example, for getting 150 assault rifle kills, i've unlocked assault rifles for all my characters, even ones that couldnt usually use assault rifles.

 

[Treebeard]

I started off struggling with it. I didn't relate to the characters at all. They felt like painted by numbers Starship Trooper all American types. No character at all.

After reaching the Citadel though and taking on a couple of alien party members its all got much better.

The story is good albeit typical Star Trek fare. Tons of political intrigue and hot alien babes. Lots of interesting characters (the alien ones, the human ones are crap). Anyone familiar with brilliant Planescape: Torment will be at home here. Lots of dialogue; in fact a fair percentage of the game is like watching a film rather than playing a game. Think a cross between Planescape and KOTOR.

Graphically great but with framerate issues and some UT3Engine texture popup.

Not liking the combat much. It feels like a tacted on FPS after-thought because the GoW combat mechanic is all the rage. Shame really as the KOTOR and NW2 combat system worked great. Limited classes as well and the combat seems to be geared more for the combat types rather than the Jedi style biotic class.

The planetary system is great. Its almost a game in itself travelling to different solar systems and scanning and landing on the many planets. Landing on a planet and exploring in the ATV type thingy is good fun and is worth the effort for the resources and equipment that can be found as well as finishing the mission objectives.

All in all really liking it so far apart from the need to fill these games with American jocks and the iffy combat.

 

[Zeus]

i quite like the combat, personally. i was glad they hadn't done it like kotor/nwn, since although thats ok, its nice to have a change.
and at mid/high levels, biotics are very powerful picking up enemies and making them just hang there doing nothing while you shoot the hell out of them, for example made the last boss fight much easier

 

[Treebeard]

My guy is full Biotic and my lift and throw skill is getting there. Taking damage is a pain though, even with the shield ability.

 

[Zeus]

must admit, i dont think i'd like playing a full biotic myself - too much use of cooldown abilities, and having to rely on allies to do the actual damage - and of course, the fact you'll keep dying. :/

 

[Soupytwist]

Got to spend sometime on this while visiting family in the States last week, I thought it was a real letdown. Boring uninspired characters, weak dialog and the combat is really poor. I wish Bioware would stop with 'real time combat' it didn't work well in Jade Empire and it doesn't work on this, stick to the tactical combat of KoToR (with the abilty it pause, stack abilites and control the whole party). It's a shame because I really wanted to like this alot.

On the Plus side I also got to play Rockband, now this is the real deal probably the most enjoyable and totally fun multiplayer game i've played, shame it's not going to be released in the Uk till next year - A certain purchase for me.

 

[Gottaa]

I can see the CUK band storming Rockband now "Chimp Fritters", on the plus side by the time it reaches the UK all the bugs will be ironed out and online will be working

 

[Zeus]

Got to spend sometime on this while visiting family in the States last week, I thought it was a real letdown. Boring uninspired characters, weak dialog and the combat is really poor. I wish Bioware would stop with 'real time combat' it didn't work well in Jade Empire and it doesn't work on this, stick to the tactical combat of KoToR (with the abilty it pause, stack abilites and control the whole party). It's a shame because I really wanted to like this alot.

combat in kotor annoyed me tbh, since all it consisted of (from about 5 minutes in when you got a vibroblade, to the end) was selecting an enemy and saying attack. oh sure, you could throw in power attacks and flurrys, but there was no skill involved on the part of the player. and for a game thats based around combat (as kotor and me are), thats a bit silly. i also felt kotor suffered a lot because it used a slighty-modified d&d system (since it was pretty much a reskinned nwn), and the pc implementation of d&d isnt quite right.

 

[Soupytwist]

I know what you mean. KoToR was totally unbalanced towards melee weapons (Sabres and Blades) whereas the guns were frankly rubbish in comparison. But if they got the balance right I think the system would work really well.

 

[Treebeard]

combat in kotor annoyed me tbh, since all it consisted of (from about 5 minutes in when you got a vibroblade, to the end) was selecting an enemy and saying attack. oh sure, you could throw in power attacks and flurrys, but there was no skill involved on the part of the player. and for a game thats based around combat (as kotor and me are), thats a bit silly. i also felt kotor suffered a lot because it used a slighty-modified d&d system (since it was pretty much a reskinned nwn), and the pc implementation of d&d isnt quite right.

Thats pretty much how combat is in RPG's though mate traditionally. I think if I wanted to play an FPS I would rather play one that did the job properly rather than a half baked attempt. I always found the combat in Baldur's Gate, NWN, KOTOR etc very interactive and not at all like it was simplified to a point of just pressing attack and go. With the huge range of abilities, spells weapons etc there was always something to do to turn the battle.

A party based game needs more control over your party members as the AI always seems to be pretty crap. A lot of the combat seems to consist of party members dieing because they don't have a clue and me finishing the fight alone.

 

[Flight]

SPOILER on XP and replaying the Game (I haven't picked this up yet, btw; just something I picked up reading other sites) :







When you replay the game you can use characters that have finished the game already, like in Chrono trigger. Also, achievements stay with you - Power Gamer gives you 10% bonus to XP, and Completionist gives you 5%. They stack, so 15% total.

Extreme Power Gamer adds another 5%, so if you start a new character you gets a 20% XP bonus out the gate.



edit : couldn't hold out; just been out at 9PM to get it from tescos

 

[Gottaa]

Question for others with Mass Effect cos I know I'm missing somethign obvious

The Decryption thing the explanation flashed up, I didn't get chance to read it and now I'm confused, I start decrypting, a light flashes on a button, I press the button, then it tells me I failed, done it about 5 times now and pretty bored of it as I made an infiltrator which putting points into decryption ...

Oh and do sniper rifles ever stop waggling around so much, I know I've only really just started but I'm finding the sniper rifle both hard to aim and a bugger to even find the target sometimes.

Considering restarting again and just being a soldier, while I'm enjoying psyonics the decrypting and only using pistol and sniper rifle get pretty infuriating.

Was gonna spend the daying playing assassins creed but after doing my first assassination I then went to acre and save the citizen missions seem to have transformed from hard sword fights involving no stealth to dull drawn out sword fights with 6 to 8 guards, I'm starting to see what people meant about the combat now ... It's a shame loving the pick pocket and gathering information stuff and the actual assassinations but the citizen stuff just seems dumb, no assassination, no stealth, no planning just sword fighting :/

Mass effect though is goooooodddd, even if I'm struggling with the obvious stuff.

 

[Zeus]

sounds like you understand decryption, but i'll run through it in case.

for opening crates/doors/etc, you get either decryption or electronics - both work the same (and so does salvaging, when you get to that).
light flashes up, you press button quickly (a second or so i think, though it depends on the highest level in the relevant skill of someone in your party), another light flashes up, you press that, etc. starts at 3 flashes, later it goes up to 5 and 7.

sniper rifles do stop waggling, and you also get an ability (assassination) to stop them instantly for a short time and fire one more powerful shot. but they dont stop waggling until quite a bit into the game tbh.
iirc, infiltrator is the tech/combat hybrid. they can be a bit hard work, i agree.
tbh though, i think class choice depends on how much you plan to replay it, to an extent.
I played a soldier, and am kinda wishing i hadnt, since i'd quite like to play a soldier on hardcore- but if i do, then it'll be repeating what i've already done, to an extent.
but if you'll be happy enough with 1 playthrough (or carrying on the same character for hardcore and insane, which is an option too), then a soldier can work out well.

for your party setup, all you *need* in your squad is someone with tech skills (well, dont even need that, but to let you open all boxes and hack all computers its handy ), biotics is handy, but not vital.

Personally, i'd say give it a go on soldier, see how you like it. also bear in mind that if you get 250 (or 150? cant remember) assault rifle skills, you'll unlock the assault rifle talent for all new characters! so could be worth doing that, and then restarting as an infiltrator with assault rifles, if you've got your heart set on being an infiltrator.

 

[Gottaa]

Ahh okay I must just be being too slow. I like the idea of the infiltrator, taking out stuff from a distance but really struggling with the sniper rifle at the moment, it's waggling so much (and really need a target sight before zooming in so I'm in the right area)

Think I'll stick with it and see what I can do, literally just unlocked the sniper rifle option so will put points in that and see what I can do

With one psyonic and one soldier already I just figured I should be something different and being able to open doors seemed a good idea (though it would be nice to be able to throw people around as well)

 

[Treebeard]

Its become one of the games of the year for me on any format.

The depth and richness of the backstory and universe are amazing. You can get lost for hours reading about planets, races, weapons or just exploring all of the different solar systems. The plot has gotten better and better as its gone along and it does a great job of making you feel the centre of everything.

Even the combat has won me over.

One of the best RPG's for a long time and whatever machine you own its one of those games that is worth having a 360 for.

 

[Swither]

Hmmmm.....not sure about this game yet.

On the mission on Nevaria? and the combat is pissing me off.

Not sure about the whole game yet either...seems slow and clunky to me..maybe I've just not got the attention-span anymore for 'adventures'.

Does it get better?

Tempted to trade this in for the Lego Indy game

 

[Rochdale]

They've released patch 1.2 for mass effect now, it comes with a new mission. Patch 1.1 came with a new mission as well so if you fancy dusting the gane off for another go there is a bit of new content.

 

[Zeus]

hmm, i was of the impression they were trying to make people pay for the new mission, which i'm not too keen on considering how short BDtS was (an hour or so, probably less), i wont be paying �10 for something similar...

replaying the game a couple of times on PC recently, as ME2 is out soonish (and as i'm bored of most other games atm :/), and its still quite a lot of fun

 

[Rochdale]

I downloaded the ME2 patch from their website for free, I assume the mission is in that?

I haven't tried it yet.

 

[Corwin]

Pinnacle Station - �3.99 from EA Store, includes patch 1.02, Patch also available as seperate download