Mass Effect 1 and 2

[GostHacked]

I bought a whole whack of games through Steam's sales over the last Christmas holidays and I am just starting to get into ME1. I am not normally one for RPGs, because I really hate leveling up the character and I more often than not chose wrong upgrades for the characters. This time it really is fun to level up. The stats at least mean something and are making a difference in dialogue with others, and combat.

The dialogue is simply some of the best I've encountered as well. With the great voice acting, it does not feel cheesy at all. Also the environments are stunning. The Citadel city ship you encounter is grand, it is hard to get a sense of scale on how big that thing really is. Mind blowingly large. Personally I love to see that kind of thing.. it has that wow factor for sure. Simply left in awe when seeing some of this stuff that the developers have created. One can easily lose themselves in the game and not feel like they are wasting time, it is very satisfying.

The one thing I find really intriguing about the game is that when you are finished ME1 and depending on what you do, that determines your start point on ME2. Can't wait to get into that.

Some incredible plot twists that caught me off guard and well, got me a little angry (crew member shot and killed another crew member, so I let the bitch rot on the planet and got out of there before the nuke went off)

Expecting great things about ME2 when I get ME1 done. I think at the moment I am about half way done. If you like space based scifi rpg games, then get this one.

[DrGreenthumb]

I bought a whole whack of games through Steam's sales over the last Christmas holidays and I am just starting to get into ME1. I am not normally one for RPGs, because I really hate leveling up the character and I more often than not chose wrong upgrades for the characters. This time it really is fun to level up. The stats at least mean something and are making a difference in dialogue with others, and combat.

The dialogue is simply some of the best I've encountered as well. With the great voice acting, it does not feel cheesy at all. Also the environments are stunning. The Citadel city ship you encounter is grand, it is hard to get a sense of scale on how big that thing really is. Mind blowingly large. Personally I love to see that kind of thing.. it has that wow factor for sure. Simply left in awe when seeing some of this stuff that the developers have created. One can easily lose themselves in the game and not feel like they are wasting time, it is very satisfying.

The one thing I find really intriguing about the game is that when you are finished ME1 and depending on what you do, that determines your start point on ME2. Can't wait to get into that.

Some incredible plot twists that caught me off guard and well, got me a little angry (crew member shot and killed another crew member, so I let the bitch rot on the planet and got out of there before the nuke went off)

Expecting great things about ME2 when I get ME1 done. I think at the moment I am about half way done. If you like space based scifi rpg games, then get this one.

Great games, Bioware I believe? They make great RPG's. Have you played any of their Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic games? Also Bioshock 1 and 2 are fantastic immersive games made by 2K.

[GostHacked]

Great games, Bioware I believe? They make great RPG's. Have you played any of their Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic games? Also Bioshock 1 and 2 are fantastic immersive games made by 2K.

Indeed Bioware. They have made some great stuff in the past. I did play KOTOR 1 for a bit, but easily got tired of it. Not sure why. Bioshock 1 was awesome, 2 lacked some of the nice elements that were in 1... like the talking dispensers.

[Moonlight Graham]

Friggin loved Bioware's Star Wars KOTOR games. Was excited for Mass Effect 1 and bought when it came out, but it just didn't hook me and all the tons of backstory and dialogue seemed boring compared to Star Wars.

Rented Mass Effect 2, the beginning is amazing & is so movie-like in the gameplay, seemed much-improved over #1. May buy #2 one day & finish it.

For some reason in both games Shepard's voice bugs me. He delivers the dialogue a bit robotic & emotionless compared to the other amazing voice-actors.

[GostHacked]

Friggin loved Bioware's Star Wars KOTOR games. Was excited for Mass Effect 1 and bought when it came out, but it just didn't hook me and all the tons of backstory and dialogue seemed boring compared to Star Wars.

The backstory really comes together in the middle and gets better. Like any RPG, you need to get set up with story and such. It is a grand story, huge. I wanted to check out the few star systems I had yet to explore, but I triggered the ending plot sequence without really knowing. The Geth may be done, but now .. the Reapers I am guessing in #2.

Rented Mass Effect 2, the beginning is amazing & is so movie-like in the gameplay, seemed much-improved over #1. May buy #2 one day & finish it.

Just finished ME1 last night, so now I am downloading #2 off Steam. Can't wait!!

For some reason in both games Shepard's voice bugs me. He delivers the dialogue a bit robotic & emotionless compared to the other amazing voice-actors.

I agree 100% here. His voice is the only one that seems rather dry and unemotional when speaking. Every other voice actor put a lot of life into the character.

[kimmy]

I fell completely in love with the first Knights Of The Old Republic game, and have been addicted to Bioware's RPG games (KOTOR, Mass Effect and sequel, Dragon Age and sequel) ever since. I found out while I was playing KOTOR that it was programmed at a studio about a 10 minute walk from where I was living, which was pretty mindblowing. I think most of Bioware's work is still done at their location in southwest Edmonton, although they've added a couple of other locations as well.

These games are almost like interactive movies that are 30+ hours long, and with the high calibre of writing and voice acting they become deeply immersive.

I was really disappointed to find out there wouldn't be any more "Old Republic" single player games, and that they were working on an "Old Republic" MMORPG instead. I have no interest in that stuff. And it seems to me like that field is so saturated that nobody will really care much about yet another MMO anyway.

Some incredible plot twists that caught me off guard and well, got me a little angry (crew member shot and killed another crew member, so I let the bitch rot on the planet and got out of there before the nuke went off)

That confrontation and rather shocking outcome left me so rattled that I literally had to shut off my computer and go take a walk afterward. It's similar to becoming emotionally invested in a fictional character in a movie or a book.

For some reason in both games Shepard's voice bugs me. He delivers the dialogue a bit robotic & emotionless compared to the other amazing voice-actors.

I played through as "female Shepard" and thought she was a terrific voice actress. "Male Shepard" is voice by Mark Meer, who was a fixture of Edmonton improve and fringe theatre (and probably still is) and he's been doing voice work for Bioware for as long as their games have had voice work. But yeah. I found male Shepard kind of blah too.

Which is unfortunate. Most of the other characters are delightful in some way or another.

-k

[August1991]

I fell completely in love with the first Knights Of The Old Republic game, and have been addicted to Bioware's RPG games (KOTOR, Mass Effect and sequel, Dragon Age and sequel) ever since. I found out while I was playing KOTOR that it was programmed at a studio about a 10 minute walk from where I was living, which was pretty mindblowing.

That mere phrase/quote is pathetic/sad. Then, I downloaded Mass Effect 2 and found the Intro/game pointless.

Am I missing something?

[GostHacked]

That mere phrase/quote is pathetic/sad. Then, I downloaded Mass Effect 2 and found the Intro/game pointless.

Am I missing something?

Yeah one hell of a grand story. Most of the way through ME2 now and the story just gets better. It's the first time I really got sucked into an rpg. It's not really meant for the ADHD crowd.

Also Normandy2 has to be one of the best looking space ship designs I have ever seen.

[kimmy]

That mere phrase/quote is pathetic/sad.

Huh/wtf? What are you trying to say/express?

Then, I downloaded Mass Effect 2 and found the Intro/game pointless.

Am I missing something?

You should ask yourself that question every time you post in the Arts and Culture forum, August, and as almost always, the answer is yes.

To put it as politely as possible... maybe video games just aren't for you, August.

But who knows, maybe someday they'll come out with video games where an unattractive French couple discusses existentialism on a smell-looking sofa in a crappy-looking French apartment.

-k

[bloodyminded]

Huh/wtf? What are you trying to say/express?

I believe it was one of those patented August insults that doesn't quite wish to articulate itself. But for the same reason, you never quite know.

To put it as politely as possible... maybe video games just aren't for you, August.

I agree. I'm not a gamer, at all, my entire history in such a world limited to my excellence in "Asteroids" in 1982. But it should be apparent to anyone by now that gaming has become a sophisticated and fascinating pasttime, surprisingly rich, and those not-in-the-know tend to speak on it without considering that they simply do not understand.

("You call that music?" growls the grouchy old crooner-fanboy. )

Plus, my Lady loves them, and she's awesome, so I'm inclined to trust the phenomenon.

Edited May 19, 2011 by bloodyminded

[TimG]

But who knows, maybe someday they'll come out with video games where an unattractive French couple discusses existentialism on a smell-looking sofa in a crappy-looking French apartment.

It could be done:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/puzzle/the-sims-3/video/6309925/the-sims-3-generations--royal-trailer

[GostHacked]

Well finished up ME2 last night, and wow, what a story. I am hoping ME3 will be even more grand.

Quite the longer game compared to the first, but well worth it.

Wonder if we will get another upgraded Normandy. The SR2 is a spectacular ship!

[DrGreenthumb]

Well finished up ME2 last night, and wow, what a story. I am hoping ME3 will be even more grand.

Quite the longer game compared to the first, but well worth it.

Wonder if we will get another upgraded Normandy. The SR2 is a spectacular ship!

You should try the Fable series. All three games are excellent and immersive. I found myself losing track of time and playing till 4 or 5 am regularly. The third installment is especially great. Still working on Bioshock 2, hope to get it done in time for part 3.

[GostHacked]

You should try the Fable series. All three games are excellent and immersive. I found myself losing track of time and playing till 4 or 5 am regularly. The third installment is especially great. Still working on Bioshock 2, hope to get it done in time for part 3.

I can handle the RPGs in a sci-fi setting. I can't get into the 'fantasy' medevil type settings anymore.

[DrGreenthumb]

I can handle the RPGs in a sci-fi setting. I can't get into the 'fantasy' medevil type settings anymore.

I thought that too, until I played Fable. The Halo series has a great storyline too, not an RPG, but a helluva great FPS. The best installment is still the original, but all the Halo games are pretty sweet. Also Half-life 2 is another good one. The Godfather 2 is pretty engaging as well

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