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Mass Effect 2 is 10 Years Old
- Thread starter EatChildren
- Start date
One of the best games and sequels ever made.
USGamer did a cool retrospective on Garrus's place in the trilogy, but specifically 2. Looking back, it is impressive how a sequel to a game less than three years old was able to build up nostalgia for Garrus.
USGamer did a cool retrospective on Garrus's place in the trilogy, but specifically 2. Looking back, it is impressive how a sequel to a game less than three years old was able to build up nostalgia for Garrus.
The customization was great. Granted, I haven't played ME2 for years now, but from what I remember the best squad mates were the ones with assault rifles. Everyone else, regardless of their powers, was just not that great. ME3 really turned that around by making powers much more important and I think every party member had at least one power that could combo. This actually made characters like Kaidan incredibly good because he had two powers that combo'd with both "schools" (tech and biotic)... and to top it off, access to assault rifles.
I was recently thinking about the weapon system for Shepard themselves and how well it's done compared to similar modern RPGs that try to let the player do everything. In a game like Skyrim I feel the removal of classes makes the leveling system and character building feel shallower compared to earlier installments. It's too easy to be anything and there aren't many meaninful choices to be made. BioWare did it right by letting you use (almost) every weapon you wanted to use, but with drawbacks depending on your class and skillset. These drawbacks were impactful, but never to the point of crippling you. A power based class like the Adept could still use heavier weapons like assault rifles, sniper rifles and shotguns, but the heavier the weapon(s), the longer their cooldowns would be. Yet not every assault rifle has the same weight, nor the same handling. And that's not even touching on the mods that influence weight, recoil, etc. All this really forced the player to seriously consider their strategy. For example:
"I'm a Vanguard, so I'm all about charging in and blasting enemies with my shotgun. This does leave me at a disadvantage at ranges my Charge can't reach, which was something of an issue in previous levels. I could equip a sniper rifle, but this extends the cooldown on Charge by a few seconds. I need to use Charge as often as possible because it recharges my barriers and I won't survive long without them in close combat. Can I compensate by being smarter about where and when I Charge? Or should I give up on the sniper rifle entirely and settle for a scoped handgun?"
Et cetera, et cetera.
The funny thing is that the Mass Effect series is famous for its meaninful choices and resulting replayability. But I played through ME3 a dozen times making mostly the same choices every time—it was the combat that made me play the game over and over.
I've been thinking about going back for another playthrough for a while now, but I keep deciding against it since I already have something of a backlog going. This thread really makes me want to say fuck it and dive back in though.
OP
OP
Yes. AFAIK it uses peer to peer networking though, so you'll be matched with whoever around the world and might get an assortment of lag.
But yes, I agree with everything you said. ME3's multiplayer is one of my all time favourites, and I certainly never expected it to be. Tight, snappy, rewarding combat with a great breadth of character builds and variety. Had the charm of a fighting game or MOBA in the sense of a large roster composed of unique characters with special abilities, but the interactivity of a real time shooter. Love love loved it.
OP
OP
I loved them all except for the last hour of 3 (so bad it made me not play them again for 5 years). 1 is still my favorite as it just felt more like something unique and new, and it's world building and narrative we're far more interesting to me. 2 was more fun to play, and was more "blockbuster" like, but it felt like it dropped a lot of the cool world building from the first.
a better way to say this: 1 felt like areally good Star Trek episode. 2 And 3 felt like Star Wars movies. All good, but I prefer star trek
a better way to say this: 1 felt like areally good Star Trek episode. 2 And 3 felt like Star Wars movies. All good, but I prefer star trek
The game that made me really care about the other characters. Garrus, Tali, Liara, Mordin, Thane, Legion... Imaginary friends who got to share space with me, long after someone should have any.
Three is my favourite, but ME2 is the first of them I played and still has a very strong place in my all time best list. An absolute triumph of character writing and the best final dungeon of all time.
Im trying to find my ME1 save on 360 but It not here! :(
Should I just start fresh?
Should I just start fresh?
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This was the beginning of the end for Bioware. Despite being a great game. I will always point to this game when I am critical of them. A great RPG dev reduced to basically action game leftovers. Terrible.
And yet it features some of their best character writing in any of their games and a ton of meaningful interactions and choices.
In terms of actually role playing a character, ME2 was far stronger than Me1 in that respect.
While the character-driven narrative of ME2 is simply superb, I put more time Into ME3. Why? On account of the multiplayer, a ridiculously engaging horde. Together with the refined combat, the combo system in ME3 is so innovative. It makes teamwork so dynamic. I have no idea why other games haven't copied it. It's pure genius.
Also, the classes and kits were so well-designed. Even though the skill lines appeared deceptively short and simple, it was possible to build your character in different, meaningful ways. The strengths of some kits would only become apparent over time.For example, at first glance, the Volus Vanguard seemed like a joke. It was until I'd played it for a couple of weeks that I realised how OP it was. Contrary to my expectation, it was the ultimate tank, so beastly I did my Platinum solo with it. Good times.
New Mass Effect can't come soon enough. Thanks for reminding me of the anniversary, Shinobi. I think I might go dust the trilogy down for a replay!
Also, the classes and kits were so well-designed. Even though the skill lines appeared deceptively short and simple, it was possible to build your character in different, meaningful ways. The strengths of some kits would only become apparent over time.For example, at first glance, the Volus Vanguard seemed like a joke. It was until I'd played it for a couple of weeks that I realised how OP it was. Contrary to my expectation, it was the ultimate tank, so beastly I did my Platinum solo with it. Good times.
New Mass Effect can't come soon enough. Thanks for reminding me of the anniversary, Shinobi. I think I might go dust the trilogy down for a replay!
OP
OP
Probably the game of the last decade. An absolute masterpiece of storytelling and game design. Basically a TPS with plenty of tactical options to keep combat deep and interesting with top notch world building and a scale that felt like a Star Trek movie. Never have I felt more like a team on an adventure than in ME2.
People talk about wanting the Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster, but I wonder what they actually want?
Do you want it to be a "warts and all" recreation? Mass Effect 1 gun combat, inventory management, Mako driving etc.
Or do you want it to be a "hits the main points" remake? Modern combat (possibly inspired by Andromeda?) but keep the story, writing, dialogue interactions etc. all in a 4K HDR 60hz beautifully rendered engine.
Would you want the remaster to treat each game in the trilogy the same, or different systems for different games?
Do you want it to be a "warts and all" recreation? Mass Effect 1 gun combat, inventory management, Mako driving etc.
Or do you want it to be a "hits the main points" remake? Modern combat (possibly inspired by Andromeda?) but keep the story, writing, dialogue interactions etc. all in a 4K HDR 60hz beautifully rendered engine.
Would you want the remaster to treat each game in the trilogy the same, or different systems for different games?
I want them to fix the issues like the awful combat, mako driving in the first game etc but knowing EA it will be a lackluster remaster, the same game with higher resolution and FPS
I recently picked up my old copy from my parents' house the other day...been meaning to replay it and now is as good a time as any!
it's a game that changed how i see sci-fi. i cannot see it in my shelf because i feel a urge to replay it, the feeling, the characters and the missions were awe inspiring, it has flaws yes, trimmed down RPG and exploration but the balance still very positive.
it's the best Star Wars game ever made, hehe.
it's the best Star Wars game ever made, hehe.
I want them to re-release Mass Effect 1 and then make two more games that actually follow up on it.
I hated scifi before i tried the ME games recommended by my friends. It changed everything
This game still gets under my skin a bit. I remember that feeling when I realized that all I'm going to get out of a chest is 50xp and an omnigel. Game felt like it was turned into a 3rd person shooter with dialog options. Wrex not being recruitable was the fuck you cherry on top, I needed my bash brother.
I hope you're aware of the psychological effects of such implications!
I listened to this in my album folder again. Man, it's so good.
I don't just want a remaster, I want a director's cut edition of all 3 games with finely combed touch-ups by BioWare's designers and a rearranged/remastered soundtrack managed by Sam Hulick and Jack Wall.
I think ME3's original pieces would benefit greatly from Jack Wall touching them up a bit.
Also, there's a video from last year of Sam and Jack discussing their work on the trilogy. Very insightful stuff. (I've timestamped to talking about ME2)
They talk about Suicide Mission at 34:22
I don't just want a remaster, I want a director's cut edition of all 3 games with finely combed touch-ups by BioWare's designers and a rearranged/remastered soundtrack managed by Sam Hulick and Jack Wall.
I think ME3's original pieces would benefit greatly from Jack Wall touching them up a bit.
Also, there's a video from last year of Sam and Jack discussing their work on the trilogy. Very insightful stuff. (I've timestamped to talking about ME2)
They talk about Suicide Mission at 34:22
Did you catch a series Gametrailer did with the composers of Mass Effect trulogy? That stuff was awesome but I believe it's gone now.
I was just going to post about how wild that it's been 10 years and how this thread has really made me want to give the trilogy a replay. Now I guess it's just a matter of waiting and wondering if it's this gen or next gen
It's sad that it has been a decade since Bioware has made a great game. I have very fond memories of their old games.
But ME1 and 2 were some of the best things (If not the best things) from that generation, and I'm glad we got them.
Too bad that spark is long gone.
But ME1 and 2 were some of the best things (If not the best things) from that generation, and I'm glad we got them.
Too bad that spark is long gone.