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

[url]http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1309671[/url] Some details from gameinformer. [t]http://i.imgur.com/bT26lyk.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/YuIuXXa.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/CAcAEeT.jpg[/t] [quote] -Around 2185, at the height of galactic progress, unaware of the impending Reaper invasion, several species band together for the "Andromeda Initiative" -Less emphasis on linear, clearly telegraphed environments that tell you a combat encounter is coming (though linear areas are still in the game) -Game Informer's hands on was positive, feel the game has a clearer identity in combat than previous games -Class system is gone; instead you have full access to abilities from all classes, you can mix and match skills from tech, soldier or biotics [B]-No more Paragon/Renegade system[/B] -They want more nuance and subtlety and giving the player more opportunity to express themselves -You can agree or disagree with someone without being punished or cornered into a paragon or renegade choice -The 'Kett' are the main enemy -The team wanted players to experience the first time encountering a new alien species vs already having it established in prior games [B]-Rather than painting them as mortal enemies, BioWare wanted to make them feel foreboding but not ugly as they want you to also empathize with them[/B] -Instead of having "linear slices" of planets that you land on, you explore these planets from the surface to their underbelly -Critical paths, optional planets, major hubs, loyalty missions return -BioWare did not want to repeat having things like mineral nodes and multiple identical outposts scattered across planets -Points of interest include combat encounters, puzzles, narrative beats etc on planets -One planet, called 'Elaaden', is flagged as a possible habitat zone, however the surface is hazardous (no water, extremely hot); you can be pointed in this direction in multiple ways, for example, a Krogan can request the Pathfinder to find a missing colony ship or you can just choose to land on the planet yourself and see what you find [B]-The squadmate with the least amount of lines in Andromeda has more lines than the squadmate with the most amount of lines in ME3[/B] [B]-Emphasis that relationships don't just culminate in a sex scene, but rather characters can just want to get in the sack, while others are interested in long term relationships and others still aren't interested at all. Bioware wanted to capture more "shooting bottles with Garrus" moments in the game, of which there are plenty[/B] [/quote] Sounds pretty damn good to me.

I'm tempted... Even after what happened with Mass Effect 3, I'm so tempted... I'll at least keep my eye on this, see what happens.

Is the Andromeda Initiative site broken for anyone else?

[QUOTE=EcksDee;51324143]What exactly is "mass effect" to you then. I mean they already said that "the smallest squadie in Andromeda has 20% more content than the biggest squadie in ME3" which means their priorities are still on characters and plot.[/QUOTE] If that's the case why is it so hard for them to show us that?

[QUOTE=Loadingue;51324396]If that's the case why is it so hard for them to show us that?[/QUOTE] Probably because trailers like the one we got today are meant for the average gamer, I have no reason to suspect they're going to drop their priorities on characters and world building after DAI.

[QUOTE=EcksDee;51324143]What exactly is "mass effect" to you then. I mean they already said that "the smallest squadie in Andromeda has 20% more content than the biggest squadie in ME3" which means their priorities are still on characters and plot. "mass effect" is a scifi universe where FTL travel and space-magic is possible by manipulating eezo, how can that literally have any "feel" to it when we are [B]in another galaxy[/B][/QUOTE] Not everyone is playing the game because they have no actual IRL friends. While it is a signature staple of the series that demands quite a bit of attention be paid to it, it is not the defining asset in ME's stable, and if you're unable to unfetishize that, you're not really in an objective frame of thought. And those character moments are there, they are as good or even better possibly in a couple of instances as they've ever been. The combat is also up to the level of me3; and that's where it ends. The story is pants on head retarded at points, they have learned nothing from their own missteps or moreover, Halo's missteps and have no combined them into a perfect storm of :what:. Witcher 3 is done and dissected and it's still better than this game can ever hope to be with DLC. There's plenty positive; they have ->*SOME*<-people writing SNPC's who should be, the combat is mostly not suck despite the overhaul and yes SP can be power stacked to utter brokeness and yes some of that will spill over to MP as it did last time, and yes the graphics are jump up and slap your momma good. Seriously, they are that good. The rest of it is mediocre as hell AFAIC, and in an AAA environment where the dev leads feels perfectly comfortable to talk shit about their own fan base incessantly [b]in public[/b] (hi manveer and aaryn) you had better bring the big guns to the table, especially under a development cycle this long, and "it's all been done before, this is our version" is not a viable excuse.

That info dump seems really promising if they stick to their guns.

[QUOTE=RetaDepa;51324695]That info dump seems really promising if they stick to their guns.[/QUOTE] I'll believe it all when I see it tbh.

Some info on the multiplayer: [quote]-More evolved and refined form of ME3 -Card based economy where you earn XP and credits -There are microtransactions but no real world money is required, you can unlock normally -You still set the map, enemy, as before but you can also activate modifiers that can give you decreased health (for greater reward) or more damage (less reward) -Bioware also plans to release custom crafted missions with unique modifiers that players can't change themselves -These custom missions give you a 3rd currency, "mission funds" which allow you directly purchase items and weapons vs the mercy of random card packs; however these items are only available for a limited time in the store and can change often -In MP, you play as the "Apex Force", a militia strike team from the Nexus -Different enemies require you to use different tactics (some are shield heavy, some use heavy biotics etc) -Playing MP will have advantages for the single player but it absolutely does not affect the ending of the game -New "Prestige" mechanic added: With several types of characters, you earn regular XP and prestige XP. The prestige XP goes into every character of that 'type', for example 'tanky' characters. Earning enough prestige can grant you added health for all tank characters, etc. [/quote]

I do like the sound of a lot of those things. And ME3's multiplayer was pretty damn good, I spent SO many more hours in that mode than the campaign. (though the campaign still had a good amount of content in it IIRC) Ooooh, they're really trying to reel me back in, aren't they? Really tempting me.

I'm pre-ordering it next month. I have my issues with Mass Effect 3, but I've never enjoyed a game series' story and characters as much as I have in this universe.

[B][QUOTE]-No more Paragon/Renegade system[/QUOTE][/B] That's a disappointment, but a lot of games are doing away with karma systems and I haven't really missed them so I guess that's okay.

There's still a web of responses, but they're no longer limited to [bernie] [trump] [so I hear you have an orifice] [I didn't listen to any of that shit cause I'm high as balls right now] and the game still uses those as a means of furthering various things.

[QUOTE=ironman17;51324336]I'm tempted... Even after what happened with Mass Effect 3, I'm so tempted... I'll at least keep my eye on this, see what happens.[/QUOTE] Casey Hudson was the reason for the disaster that was the ending. He is no longer with Bioware Win [editline]8th November 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Loadingue;51324396]If that's the case why is it so hard for them to show us that?[/QUOTE] Cause trailer, and trailer culture has changed from the ME1 trailer of 2006, like it or not.

Im glad paragon/renegade is gone, no more forced to always choose the same option in every dialoque

[QUOTE=EcksDee;51327390]Casey Hudson was the reason for the disaster that was the ending. He is no longer with Bioware Win [editline]8th November 2016[/editline] Cause trailer, and trailer culture has changed from the ME1 trailer of 2006, like it or not.[/QUOTE] Wrong. Mac Walters wrote the ending. Hudson simply approved it.

[QUOTE=27X;51328025]Wrong. Mac Walters wrote the ending. Hudson simply approved it.[/QUOTE] Proof? That ending is so far outside Walters' style that I'm more inclined to believe that him and Hudson wrote it together rather than him doing it alone. And I find it even harder to believe that Hudson would allow Walters to write it on his own without any input from him, being above him in the hierarchy. In any case, it was done without peer review by the other writers, with lods of input from Hudson. There's statements somewhere in the reddit "everything we know about andromeda" thread where Walters or one of the other writers says that they've learnt their lesson from the ME3 ending. The starchild itself was Walters' idea but the execution of the entire thing was Hudson's input.

Wrong on every count. You haven't the faintest. The simplest of google searches reveals Walter's ending on a napkin in the man's own handwriting, which was then transcribed onto a piece of notebook paper, also in his handwriting; secondly he said in a DualShockers interview he wrote the ending himself with the explicit approval of Hudson, and two other writers have stated at cons there was no other input, and privately more writers have said rather more pointed things. Furthermore in a Nerdist/Informer podcast earlier that same year Hudson explicitly stated his goals and responsibilities were method and design implementation specifically and his role in story was to manage how it was presented technologically and making sure they hit parity on every platform as equally as possible and nothing else other than the initial idea for the series to start from.

Now I am not saying this isn't true but can someone help me piece together some parts I am lost on. I assume the leaked script near the game's release was legit, yes? It had full dialouge and writing for THE GUARDIAN which is now The Catalyst. Concept art released also depicts several key areas of the ending including The Catalyst chamber. So I am not here to debate if anyone here is right or wrong. I'm just looking to understand what the hell happened, because this seems like an entire clusterfuck. Did they take the team's original idea/vision and fuck it up near the end or something?

[QUOTE=27X;51328054]Wrong on every count. You haven't the faintest. The simplest of google searches reveals Walter's ending on a napkin in the man's own handwriting which was then transcribed onto a piece of notebook paper, also in his handwriting; secondly he said in a DualShockers interview he wrote the ending himself with the explicit approval of Hudson, and two other writers have stated at cons there was no other input, and privately more writers have said rather more pointed things. Furthermore in a Nerdist podcast earlier that same year Hudson explicitly stated his goals and responsibilities were method and design specifically and his role in story was to manage how it was presented technologically and making sure they hit parity on every platform as equally as possible and nothing else other than the initial idea for the series to start from.[/QUOTE] So why then did Walters' change his style so much at just the ending? I mean if we look at his comics (which are also BASICALLY written without peer review) you don't see random philosophizing and deus ex machina plot devices. It's gotta be more related to the ending being rushed and without oversight than Walters himself being incompetent. Also fair enough even if that's true, it was still Hudson that approved it the trainwreck, and he's not there anymore. [QUOTE=EliaMoroes;51328207]There are delusional fans and then there is [I]you[/I]. Seriously, stop it, it's bad enough I have to read such posts years after the Mass Effect 3 debacle, in a time where I'd hoped everyone would had a clear knowledge of what happened[/QUOTE] Legit what the fuck

[quote] wall of assumptions [/quote] I have zero interest in changing your opinion about the subject. Facts are facts. Your interpretation of them, fanciful or otherwise, is your business.

[QUOTE=EcksDee;51328105]So why then did Walters' change his style so much at just the ending? I mean if we look at his comics (which are also BASICALLY written without peer review) you don't see random philosophizing and deus ex machina plot devices. It's gotta be more related to the ending being rushed and without oversight than Walters himself being incompetent. Also fair enough even if that's true, it was still Hudson that approved it the trainwreck, and he's not there anymore.[/QUOTE] There are delusional fans and then there is [I]you[/I]. Seriously, stop it, it's bad enough I have to read such posts years after the Mass Effect 3 debacle, in a time where I'd hoped everyone would had a clear knowledge of what happened

Honestly, I might give Andromeda a try, but I'm not going to get myself hyped for it. Does the whole "Andromeda Initiative" mean that they left before ME3's events kicked off? Just seems kinda shitty because I get the feeling that if that's the case we won't get to see[sp]the united Quarians and Geth or the Post-Genophage cured Krogan.[/sp]

[QUOTE=GordonZombie;51328481]Honestly, I might give Andromeda a try, but I'm not going to get myself hyped for it. Does the whole "Andromeda Initiative" mean that they left before ME3's events kicked off? Just seems kinda shitty because I get the feeling that if that's the case we won't get to see[sp]the united Quarians and Geth or the Post-Genophage cured Krogan.[/sp][/QUOTE] According to the website it's scheduled to leave in 2185, placing it around the events of Mass Effect 2 ergo no events from ME3 had taken place yet.

Considering I played 1 and 2 without dlc (I want to play them again on a clean slate) and that I own 3 but never play it, is there any dlc that I should get for 2 and 3 before I consider restarting my playthrough?

[QUOTE=warmarine;51328625]Considering I played 1 and 2 without dlc (I want to play them again on a clean slate) and that I own 3 but never play it, is there any dlc that I should get for 2 and 3 before I consider restarting my playthrough?[/QUOTE] all of me2 dlc's were good, and they are relevant to plot points in 3

3 has fantastic DLC

[QUOTE=EcksDee;51324143]What exactly is "mass effect" to you then. I mean they already said that "the smallest squadie in Andromeda has 20% more content than the biggest squadie in ME3" which means their priorities are still on characters and plot. "mass effect" is a scifi universe where FTL travel and space-magic is possible by manipulating eezo, how can that literally have any "feel" to it when we are [B]in another galaxy[/B][/QUOTE] It's not about what it actually shows and how it all looks, it's the overall implied tone for the game which is worrying. Rather than a trailer that suggests it'll be an RPG set in a vast sci-fi universe with variety, choices and complexity it gives off a "Things go bad, better fight everything" sort of impression for the game. It entirely focuses on action rather than suggesting there's anything much deeper than that to it. The trailer should have had fewer hostile aliens and more hinting at meaningful interaction with other species or exploration with unique finds. It should have given the impression that it's an RPG and not just a Third-person action game. [QUOTE=GordonZombie;51328481]Honestly, I might give Andromeda a try, but I'm not going to get myself hyped for it. Does the whole "Andromeda Initiative" mean that they left before ME3's events kicked off? Just seems kinda shitty because I get the feeling that if that's the case we won't get to see[sp]the united Quarians and Geth or the Post-Genophage cured Krogan.[/sp][/QUOTE] The whole point of it seems to be that they can outright ignore Mass Effect 3 entirely and don't have to decide which ending is canon and be limited in what they can do with the series.

I'm sure there will be little lore bits from the original mass effect trilogy in there. How could a ship that only left at most a couple years before the reapers come not receive pertinent transmissions from Sol about the happenings? Wouldn't the people be interested to know what the fuck has happened in the 600 years they've been sleeping? You don't think they'd want to do what technological advancements happened. It's only logical that the ships will receive news from home about something pretty large. They may not have to shoehorn in the specifics of how the war ends, but they would be foolish to keep something like that without an explanation. They'd have to at least explain that they're going too fast or some shit.

[QUOTE=nightlord;51329306]It's not about what it actually shows and how it all looks, it's the overall implied tone for the game which is worrying. Rather than a trailer that suggests it'll be an RPG set in a vast sci-fi universe with variety, choices and complexity it gives off a "Things go bad, better fight everything" sort of impression for the game. It entirely focuses on action rather than suggesting there's anything much deeper than that to it. The trailer should have had fewer hostile aliens and more hinting at meaningful interaction with other species or exploration with unique finds. It should have given the impression that it's an RPG and not just a Third-person action game. [/QUOTE] Except what you are describing Andromedas trailer to be, that's exactly how previous mass effect trailers looked like. Epic music playing in background while it shows Shepard shooting shit. Andromedas trailer actually makes it look less like a third person shooter and more like a RPG. I understand about being skeptical about the fairly vague trailer, but this is approaching levels of nitpicking. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBRo7JWy744[/media] [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJvrN6JijuU[/media]