Mass Effect Megathread: He said "I should go." Do I sound like that? - Games

[QUOTE=The_J_Hat;45084738]And what's wrong with that? Sure, it has some ridiculous moments, but it's meant to be fun and lighthearted. There was a lot of bad blood between the fans and Bioware, as you know. This was a good way to restore a little of that relationship. [editline]12th June 2014[/editline] Then again, you know this as well as I do.[/QUOTE] While I doubt my perspective is the same as his, I suppose mine might give a bit of insight, as someone who doesn't really like the Citadel DLC that much. I don't have an exact problem with it myself. Infact I think for what it is, its great. Its a solid game piece that's funny (though I didn't care for the humor) and caters to fan-service. Its not offensive in any sort of way. My concern is if the games as a whole, will evolve into that. Its doubtful, but I also know that Bioware would be desperate to bring back their fans and to my knowledge, the Citadel DLC was beloved by all. It just begs the question of if perhaps they might be willing to dumb down writing further and become very goofy, for the sake of that appeal. Sure, that's not to say a goofy series can't be good/fun, or even tell an intelligent story or have its smart moments (Saints Row). But that's not why I got into Mass Effect. I got into it for a serious story that knew when to have a joke or two, and different tones; but played it straight. Citadel had a bit of serious moments but was far more into that goofy fan-service because that was the whole point, to make an apology statement and cater to what people cared about. But at the same time you're entirely right, its intended tone and message was clear (though I do not feel the advertising was.) and I don't think anyone can fault Bioware for it, I legitimately doubt they will carry that goofy tone over. But success leads to one thing to another.

[QUOTE=The_J_Hat;45084738]And what's wrong with that? Sure, it has some ridiculous moments, but it's meant to be fun and lighthearted. There was a lot of bad blood between the fans and Bioware, as you know. This was a good way to restore a little of that relationship. [/QUOTE] Granted, in every work of fiction I experience I like callbacks and funny references, but I like them as long as they are subtle and don't dominate whatever I'm watching or reading that much. Up to that point the Mass Effect series was quite effective with that: every reference to the past games were blended uncanningly into the flow of the story (like Mordin singing again while working for the cure on the Normandy or Joker and Shepard noting the lack of windows on the Geth dreadnought). The greatest qualm I have with the Citadel DLC is that it pretty much looks like one of those rabid fangirls every videogame and anime has these days wrote one of those over the top fanfictions you'd laugh at for how convenient they are. A good fanfiction, but a fanfiction nevertheless. Granted, I've found the Citadel DLC funny in more than one point and it surely makes good use of the characters. But enough is enough. Also, the arc villain could had been used far better. Also, as a Mass Effect fan, I don't really like being seen as a dog to be thrown a bone at just in an effort to make me happy and make me forget about how much mishandled Mass Effect 3 was, Ah, and the Leviathan DLC is another attempt from the developers to please the fanbase that fell on its face pretty quickly

The new Mass Effect looks good, graphically speaking

[QUOTE=EliaMoroes;45090144]G The greatest qualm I have with the Citadel DLC is that it pretty much looks like one of those rabid fangirls every videogame and anime has these days wrote one of those over the top fanfictions you'd laugh at for how convenient they are. A good fanfiction, but a fanfiction nevertheless. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I'll give you that. In fact, used a very similar description when describing the DLC to a friend.

I think the only thing about Citadel that [I]really[/I] hit me as possibly non-canon/implausible was the whole Shepard-Clone thing. I mean, through the early parts of Mass Effect 2, they delve into all of this backstory about how the Lazarus-Project was specifically [I]not[/I] based on cloning, how it took billions of credits and the best minds that the galaxy had to offer to finally piece the real Shepard together...and--poof, turns out Cerberus had a physically-seamless clone all along! That part kinda threw me off a bit. Even though the rest of the DLC felt clever and overall fantastic.

I recently purchased Mass Effect 2 in the Steam sale (have never played the ME series) and all I can ask so far is, is it really such a bug infested mess as I'm seeing? 4th time now I have randomly gotten stuck on scenery and I see no way of solving the problem other than loading a previous save (which takes me miles back from where I had got to). Is there a quicksave feature?

[QUOTE=CAPT Opp4;45139986]I think the only thing about Citadel that [I]really[/I] hit me as possibly non-canon/implausible was the whole Shepard-Clone thing. I mean, through the early parts of Mass Effect 2, they delve into all of this backstory about how the Lazarus-Project was specifically [I]not[/I] based on cloning, how it took billions of credits and the best minds that the galaxy had to offer to finally piece the real Shepard together...and--poof, turns out Cerberus had a physically-seamless clone all along! That part kinda threw me off a bit. Even though the rest of the DLC felt clever and overall fantastic.[/QUOTE] The clone itself came straight outta left field, but the reason behind its existence made perfect sense. If the real Shepard needed any kind of replacement parts for any reason, it makes sense to have a perfect replica on hand to get said parts from. That said, for it to have never been needed seems a bit far-fetched, as does its sudden reappearance during the biggest war in 50,000 years.

[QUOTE=Sweeney;45183493]I recently purchased Mass Effect 2 in the Steam sale (have never played the ME series) and all I can ask so far is, is it really such a bug infested mess as I'm seeing? 4th time now I have randomly gotten stuck on scenery and I see no way of solving the problem other than loading a previous save (which takes me miles back from where I had got to). Is there a quicksave feature?[/QUOTE] IIRC, F5 for quicksave and F9 for quickload. You can rebind them if you want. If the game is blocking you from doing manual save (usually during combat when enemies are around), quicksave is temporarily disabled as well.

[QUOTE=Ekalektik_1;45186313]The clone itself came straight outta left field, but the reason behind its existence made perfect sense. If the real Shepard needed any kind of replacement parts for any reason, it makes sense to have a perfect replica on hand to get said parts from. That said, for it to have never been needed seems a bit far-fetched, as does its sudden reappearance during the biggest war in 50,000 years.[/QUOTE] I remember when the clone was introduced, I immediately remembered an old GamesRadar article about ME3 predictions (all of which came true, by the way) and one of them- and even I thought it was far fetched- was having a Shepard clone a la Army of Darkness. [video=youtube;Q0Hmc7eeXjw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Hmc7eeXjw[/video]

[QUOTE=The_J_Hat;45186949]I remember when the clone was introduced, I immediately remembered an old GamesRadar article about ME3 predictions (all of which came true, by the way) and one of them- and even I thought it was far fetched- was having a Shepard clone a la Army of Darkness. [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.gamesradar.com/mass-effect-3-so-what-happens-next/[/url] Okay from that article, not all of it came true, but some of it is nailed so hard that I think they got an advance copy of the script before Mac Walters took a shit on it.

I remember reading a different article than that one. I tried searching it out but couldn't find it.

Has any thing for the story in me4 been confirmed other than "you are gonna play as not-shepard" ?

[QUOTE=Campin Carl;45264156]Has any thing for the story in me4 been confirmed other than "you are gonna play as not-shepard" ?[/QUOTE] It's set in a different area of the galaxy and will apparently be far after the ending of ME3 rather than immediately. The reason people say that is because apparently what happened with Shepard and everyone else is "legend" by that point. [url]http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-27-mass-effect-4-everything-we-know-so-far[/url]

Not much of that is in stone; What we do know is this: humans asari and krogans are represented, N7 is still a thing, the games' mobile hub feature will be retained, it will be a party exploration game, and a general refinement of the original trilogy in general tone and mechanics. The alien races are being completely redesigned to take advantage of the new engine and will have multiple appearances, and at least two new races will be featured. Given the type of suits shown, it's likely the class system will return, as one of suits has integrated weaponry, and another seems to have a jump/flight system. There are new environments and it's a sequel not a prequel. That's pretty much it.

[QUOTE=27X;45265821]It's a sequel not a prequel[/QUOTE] Wait, when did they confirm that? Did I miss something? Last I heard, they were still being all hush-hush about that part.

I hope the story takes a step back from the Galaxy going to be exploded. It'd be good if it was just you and your motley bunch just flying around fixing shit and star trekking, with a bit of that Mass effect 1 element where you end up dealing with really out of control situations that happen on one planet in particular, i.e Noveria's Peak 15.

So they're removing all of the characters from the past three games. I'm starting to have my doubts.

[QUOTE=Monkah;45273998]So they're removing all of the characters from the past three games. I'm starting to have my doubts.[/QUOTE] I think that was pretty-much implied from the very beginning of development. When bioware declared an 'end to Shepard's story', it was reasonable to assume that included [I]all[/I] of the characters associated with the story-arc. [editline]2nd July 2014[/editline] Plus, including old characters would require some-level of save-imports. Which is something they wouldn't do if they were trying to make this game separate from the original trilogy.

[QUOTE=Monkah;45273998]So they're removing all of the characters from the past three games. I'm starting to have my doubts.[/QUOTE] I'm no expert on anything staff-related to Bioware, but if they haven't switched up the teams too much, I bet ME4 still has a chance of being as good as the previous 3 considering those teams could make the previous characters. I want ME3's fluid gameplay, but with ME2 story-quality. And perhaps jetpacks.

So wait, sorry if this has been discussed already but if ME4 is going to be set in the far future, which of ME3's endings is canon? They have to pick one right? [sp]Destroy I'm assuming?[/sp]

Only Control and Destroy are applicable for what we've seen of ME4.

[QUOTE=Campin Carl;45275011]I'm no expert on anything staff-related to Bioware, but if they haven't switched up the teams too much, I bet ME4 still has a chance of being as good as the previous 3 considering those teams could make the previous characters. I want ME3's fluid gameplay, but with ME2 story-quality. And perhaps jetpacks.[/QUOTE] ME4 is being handled by Bioware Montreal, who developed the ME3 multiplayer, whilst Bioware Edmonton, who develop the original trilogy, is working on a new IP. I'm sure there will be some staff crossover but by and large it's in different hands.

[QUOTE=Campin Carl;45275011]I'm no expert on anything staff-related to Bioware, but if they haven't switched up the teams too much, I bet ME4 still has a chance of being as good as the previous 3 considering those teams could make the previous characters. I want ME3's fluid gameplay, but with ME2 story-quality. And perhaps jetpacks.[/QUOTE] The beefed-up Montreal team that did MP is doing the entire game with story and utility assistance from Edmonton, as well as a couple of writers (one of them awesome, one of them not) having overview duties. The build team definitely knows mechanics, their story chops are shaky and untested. So you can expect a huge improvement/tightening on gameplay specifics, but as for the narrative and themes, that remains to be seen. [quote] ending [/quote] Every ending will have value added content, but I sincerely doubt BW is brave enough to make anything gigantic or unique in either case. One, it's expensive to do, two, it might alienate players who don't have access to the content and SWB players are some of the msot whiney and etitled I've ever seen, so you can imagine what kind of trainwreck "sysnthesis players get exclusive access to geth characters, destroy get exclusive access to reaper tech suits and weapons, and control characters get leviathan biotics and weapons" would become, the whining would be audible from space. BW isn't brave enough, and EA isn't going to pay for something like that. What you'll get a probably a one-off mission for each ending that rewards you with a unique gun or power, and that's as far as it will go.

I like to think the team working on ME4 has a giant sign on their storyboard with an arrow pointing to 3's ending that says "NOT THIS!!" :v:

[QUOTE=Monkah;45273998]So they're removing all of the characters from the past three games. I'm starting to have my doubts.[/QUOTE] I'm actually glad that they are not adding old characters just for the sake of adding them. Bioware has created some really interesting characters throughout the series, what makes you think that they won't do it again now?

Beating the squadmates from the past three games is going to be a tall order. Hopefully, they don't turn your ship into the SSV DaddyIssues again.

TBH I would expect to at least hear about Wrex/Liara since they have such long lifespans.

Wrex would require a save import as [sp]he can die in the first game and Wreave would take over.[/sp] Liara is a character who has some pre-determined aspects about her that wouldn't break canon if it was mentioned though.

[QUOTE=The_J_Hat;45287993]Beating the squadmates from the past three games is going to be a tall order. Hopefully, they don't turn your ship into the SSV DaddyIssues again.[/QUOTE] They should really make characters a little more mortal. It was too easy too keep everyone alive and well through most of the games simply by [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_5ulA4puS8]picking up their baggage.[/url] Something like The Walking Dead treatment to character consequences would be kinda nice.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTM8Vct_tgU[/media] Can't tell if this thread is barren or not.