Mass Effect 2 [Xbox 360/PC/PS3]

[Brats]

Mass Effect was indeed dumbed down compared to Bioware's previous offerings, certainly, but, to me, it still felt like an RPG; where as Mass Effect 2 doesn't.

But the only real difference boils down to the fact that ME1 let you mess around with specific armour and upgrades and grind whereas ME2 streamlined the system into upgrades only and dished out XP in set amounts. Neither of these factors are what makes an RPG and RPG though.

Regardless of what people think about the Mako, whether it was fun, whether it was dull, whether they miss it or not, there's no denying it played a key role in the majority of missions and took up a considerable chunk of gameplay time. For those reasons I consider more than a side dish and thought it a fine gameplay accompaniment to the on-foot action and dialogue sections.

That's not my experience at all. Unless I missed some massive Mako sidequest on the main planets, aside from Therum where you rescue Liara, the beginning of Vermire and the run to the Conduit (all of which lasted no more than 20 minutes each) the Mako was barely used. In Feros, Noveria the Mako has a tiny section and on Eden Prime and the Citadel (where most of the time was spent) it doesn't feature at all.

That's not what I'd call a 'key role'.

About grinding, I don't like games that require a player grind in order to progress either, but I do like the option of being able to grind if I so choose, be it to make cash or to experiment with different weapons and abilities. And if it was included as an option then the game would better cater to players like myself without intruding on the gaming sensibilities of others. It's a win-win scenario.

It's not quite win-win. The game has to either increase in difficulty to ensure it doesn't become too easy (at the risk of alienating players who don't want to grind) or it doesn't and grinding does make it too easy (a problem with a game like Borderlands).

Or the third option is the game levels with you like Oblivion, but that brings its own problems too. I believe it's better to have a game which stays at the right difficulty level throughout without the need to grind.

[Prototype]

Charlie loves the Mako because it reminds him of PGR3. I think it's insane to moan about the mako. You couldn't exactly drive it on the omega relay. There was no mission where it was needed. DLC is coming out with it, so stop nitpicking. It didn't play a major role in any of the missions in ME1 as far as I can remember apart from the last one. Were you playing your friends dodgy copy?

[Charlie]

That's not what I'd call a 'key role'.

I ain't played the original in a while, I confess, but I'm sure I remember using the Mako an awful lot, especially during the meatier side missions and sub quests. But then I loved using the Mako so maybe I spent longer roaming around in it than was necessary.

It's not quite win-win. The game has to either increase in difficulty to ensure it doesn't become too easy (at the risk of alienating players who don't want to grind) or it doesn't and grinding does make it too easy (a problem with a game like Borderlands).

Or the third option is the game levels with you like Oblivion, but that brings its own problems too. I believe it's better to have a game which stays at the right difficulty level throughout without the need to grind.

I'm definately not a fan of the Oblivion method of tackling the issue. I say include the option to grind and if players abuse the feature to the extent the game becomes too easy then so be it. They only have themselves to blame. I mean like most modern RPGs these days, the fact the difficulty setting can be changed mid-game means the ability to completely kill any challenge already resides in the players hands.

[Eight Rooks]

I've just watched the gameplay trailer for the Hammerhead missions.

Perhaps it'll play somewhat differently from how I imagine, but I'm still going to stick my neck out here and say oh dear God when will you Mako diehards admit you're wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.

Seriously, though, I'd pay money for it based on the video.

And how long you spend doing something in a game doesn't necessarily have the slightest relation to how 'good' it is. People are prepared to pour hundreds of hours into absolutely meaningless, rote, mindless button-pressing, and yes, in extreme cases it really does mean their belief they're having 'fun' becomes practically irrelevant.

[Charlie]

lol, now you're just trying to bait.

In all seriousness though, and this has been said before, I know, but it's worth repeating; whether something is good, bad, fun or dull is entirely subjective. I probably regard Fable II as my favourite 360 game, but if another person thinks it's dull and unimaginative rubbish, then that's what is to them.

The oldest philosophies and the latest scientific theories tell us the same thing: perception is everything. Indeed mathematical equations regarding quantum physics (the behaviour of matter at the subatomic level) points to the possibility that perception itself creates what we call reality. Sounds crazy, I know, but check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEZtw1yt8Kc

And check this BBC documentary from 5:15 onwards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hs2zrl1lrY

[Prototype]

lol, now you're just trying to bait.

In all seriousness though, and this has been said before, I know, but it's worth repeating; whether something is good, bad, fun or dull is entirely subjective. I probably regard Fable II as my favourite 360 game, but if another person thinks it's dull and unimaginative rubbish, then that's what is to them.

The oldest philosophies and the latest scientific theories tell us the same thing: perception is everything. Indeed mathematical equations regarding quantum physics (the behaviour of matter at the subatomic level) points to the possibility that perception itself creates what we call reality. Sounds crazy, I know, but check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEZtw1yt8Kc

And check this BBC documentary from 5:15 onwards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hs2zrl1lrY

What are your philosophies got to do with this game? Fable 2 was awful with features missing. Did they even bother fixing the co-op? Atleast Mass Effect 2 was something different from the first one. Fable 2 was Fable 1 in HD.

[Charlie]

I'll keep this brief as I don't want to derail the thread for any longer than is necessary. A person's opinion of something, of anything, including videogames, and their unwillingness to understand or inability to accept contrasting opinions has everything to do with philosophy.

As for Fable II, if you believe it's awful, so be it. I can't tell you why should like it, I can only tell you why I like it. Likewise with Mass Effect 2, I'm not saying these are the reasons everybody should be disappointed with it, only why I'm disappointed with it.

[JRMacumber]

I've played through the game twice now, and I think it's probably my favorite game on the 360. This is great for BioWare, because a couple of months ago Dragon Age had that spot. I love that the unwieldy inventory system has been simplified, and the character building is more focused. But, part of me does miss the loot. That isn't enough to derail what is a magnificent achievement in gaming. The plays smooth as silk, looks and sounds amazing, and the story is among the best in video game history.

10/10

[NW2013]

Jamie, I'm the opposite to you...at the moment I'm absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of "additional" quests I have on the go. I've devised a system whereby I'm doing them in order of who is the more "bonable"...it's the only fair way.

Yes, my main mission was to get in Miranda's pants, forget the Collectors. The game is quite realistic, you have to

->Open Spoiler<-

listen to her drone on about her Daddy issues for ages before accomplishing the mission.

Did anyone else just use two members of the team for most of the game? I mainly used Miranda and Garrus. Thing is

->Open Spoiler<-

half of the squad got killed off in the last mission anyway so I'm pleased I invested no time in them

.

Really enjoyed the game overall, played like a demon this week and completed the main story in about 15.5 hours according to the save files. Just doing the side missions and trying to unlock all the upgrades now as I don't want to stop. With regards to DLC could I use it in this file or would I have to start a new game?

Got on with it loads better than ME1, I disliked the controls on the first one a lot. Gave up on it when I gimped myself by deleting all my save files except the one where

->Open Spoiler<-

I was stuck fighting Liara's mother with a really weak team, Ashley and Liara I think it was

and couldn't be bothered to start over. Did think it was annoying in ME2 that if you press 'resume' after dying or even on loading the game it doesn't always load the latest save in terms of time, anyone else experience this? Loading twice was annoying.

Roll on ME3!

[Daragon]

I've been through all that ****, now all she says to me is that she'll 'come by when things are quiet'

I want full on please, don't force me to go hit up that butch lesbo Jack!

[NW2013]

I know, I want another go too but that's all she'll say!

[Charlie]

I wanted Samara myself as I figured a 1000 year old could show me a thing or two in bed, plus she seemed the sort who might be into tantric sex. Yeah, I took the fantasy a bit too far in my mind. But anyway, I was disappointed on discovering she wouldn't go any further than a kiss so bedded Tali instead.

[paul]

Have to say that having started a second playthrough the combat feels like a real chore now. So I'm guessing the only thing that kept me in this game was the storyline.

[Orgun]

http://kotaku.com/5499454/real-scientist-examines-the-science-fiction-of-mass-effect

Michio Kaku discusses some of the tech within Mass Effect

[sj33]

Downloaded the Firewalker DLC from Cerberus, just posting some first impressions.

The Hammerhead is nice, much nicer than the Mako in my opinion - it's much closer to the kind of craft I'd expect to see on something like the Normandy, as opposed to the 'shades of Halo' that was the Mako. It's rather fun to control.

Some critisisms however. The weapon for the craft seems to be quite inaccurate, and there seems to be no way to zoom in (unlike the Mako). It also has a kind of auto-aiming, which seems to aim at some enemy around the corner instead of the one right in front of you. I assume the Hammerhead can be upgraded however. Hopefully.

There is no auto-save during missions, and no quicksave (though I think quicksave is only on the PC version? I've never played the 360 version). Given the inaccurate aiming on the Hammerhead initially, and the fact that you have to start the entire mission over if you die, you find yourself doing the old Mako trick of reversing out of the range of fire, going back in and taking a few shots, repeat.

At the very least, the first couple of missions seem to be item collection missions. Being free DLC, they seem to have avoided having to use voice actors, so there's little in the way of plot.

It's hard to moan about free DLC, and this seems rather nice. But initial impressions are that it is hindered by some minor niggles.