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Post by Mr. Glow on Feb 8, 2010 12:49:17 GMT 1
One of the things I was a little annoyed with was how they treated Anderson. You only see the guy for 5 minutes tops in a 30 hour game. It's just insulting to Mr. David. It also annoyed me how Anderson had really became Udina's bitch no matter what council decision you made. I remember in Mass Effect 1, I forged an all human council, and chose anderson for the chairman, and in Mass Effect 2, all the other members "ignore" him. I only hope he got such a small role because, possibly like Liara and Ash/Kaidan, the writers have a bigger role for him in mind in Mass Effect 3.
I've always wanted the captain in my squad too, so I was really annoyed with his flimsy excuse of being too old. He's only 50. Mordins 50 and that's in salarian years.
Does anybody else think the chance of Liara being a squadmate again in the third game is pretty high?
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Post by Knightfall on Feb 8, 2010 19:11:49 GMT 1
I agree, Mister Glow. Anderson's limited presence was a bit annoying.
Buch and I were talking about how emo he's become, and how no matter what job you gave him in the first game, he's always sad with the outcome. In the military, he's sad with the desk job. As a councilor, he's getting ignored by people that the Alliance put into power.
"I went to go see that Blasto movie oat the other end of the wards. They were sold out by the time I got there...Missed the bus on the way back...This isn't how I planned on spending my twilight years, Shepard."
And I agree with pretty much everything Buch said. I got used to the level-based missions pretty quick, mostly because I started to really like that Mission Accomplished jingle. And I also think the game really benefited from having the RPG elements removed (I never realized how much time I spent juggling useless weapons and omni-gel until I didn't have to do it anymore).
The story was pretty flat. It was mostly centered around making sure that you don't die when you reach the final mission, which was kinda lame to me. I thought it was a resoundingly cliche prospect when I first found out that I'd be spending most of the game making everyone happy, but luckily the loyalty missions were very well done: especially Jack's, which absolutely amazing.
And, again, I HATED the fact that your characters could die in the final mission. It was an interesting concept, but to me the deaths seemed random. I don't mind if they actually die on account of the story (i.e. Wrex or Ashley/Kaidan) but to realize that a partymember died on account of something that I may or may not have done was frustrating as all hell.
But! All this kinda gets drowned out by some phenomenal voice acting, a well-written script (hopefully Mac Walters sticks around for the final game to keep Karpy's ideas in check), and visuals that trump the first game in every way. Every planet feels unique and not just the same one painted a different color. It makes for a great and unique experience.
I would also agree that this is one of the best games I've ever played. I'll have to rethink my top ten list. I loved the KotOR-esque alignment system that actually equated to making you feel evil instead of just a jerk (and all the one-liners that would probably make John McClane take notice). And it bugs me that I'll probably have to wait 2+ years for the next game. Hopefully they'll get it done quick now that they've worked through all the bugs, and hopefully we get some good DLC in the meantime. *Stares at the Cerberus Network*
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Post by Hodster on Feb 8, 2010 22:52:55 GMT 1
I actually loved how the game was centered around surviving a suicide mission. And I love how can die on account that you didn't do something before the suicide mission because you're suppose to prepare for it and do everything you can to prepare.
I agree about Anderson about how he didn't get enough screen time. I also understand why he's not happy so I don't blame him for that.
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Raidos
Serviceman 3rd Class
Posts: 17
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Post by Raidos on Feb 9, 2010 1:24:21 GMT 1
Anderson did get screwed over in ME2, no doubt. But I have a feeling he's gonna have a more important role in ME3. He better.
I partially agree with Hodster about the suicide mission. I think it's a good center point of the story, and I also think it's interesting that you can actually lose crew members if you don't fully prepare. However, I hate how you gather resources to upgrade the ship to prevent the crew from dying. It is time consuming, boring, and just all around unenjoyable. They really could've done better with this.
As for the Collectors... My feelings are mixed. I found them interesting, and I loved the Prothean plot twist, but that's all you know about them aside from a few vague bits of information that really don't add up to mean anything significant. Harbinger is interesting, but it seems like some people believe the head Collector/Collector General is Harbinger (although this may not be the case, and if not just ignore this). The Collector General is NOT Harbinger. Harbinger is a Reaper who telekinetically controls the General, and uses the General's powers to control other Collectors. I wish there was a chance to talk to Harbinger like there was with Sovereign, but at the same time... would the convorsation really be different enough to matter?
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Post by yargling on Feb 9, 2010 1:32:17 GMT 1
I agree with you're gameplay points, and sortof agree about the main plot. It seemed short than the Mass Effect 1 plot. But that was mixed with the idea of exploring the Mass Effect world further, I reckon - We got to see the Migrant Fleet, talk with a Geth, see the wrecked Krogan homeworld, and got to see the Terminus systems version of the Citadel (Omega).
Overall, main plot alittle weaker than it should have been, I think. But overall plots, good. As for how the moral choices are arranged... I don't really get what you mean about the lack of them in ME 2 vs ME 1.
SPOILERS FOR BOTH MASS EFFECTS
The only 'big' moral choice in ME 1 was whether to let the council live or die, right? And the 'big' choice in ME 2 was where to let the xenophobia Illusive Man take control of technology that COULD save civilization in the milky way, but would also ensure he'd be able to conquer it.
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Post by Mister Buch on Feb 9, 2010 2:39:32 GMT 1
Everything Knightfall said is correct.
I completely agree about - you're making preparations for a mission, and then the mission isn't much cop. My thoughts exactly. I don't see that I needed quite so many Galaxy-class experts, and quite so much time preparing and quite so many death-defying missions.... all just to get ready for an hour-long assault on a poorly-guarded space-station. We just needed better shields on the Normandy.
And I also hate how your crew can die. For me it ruined the sense of achievement - we saved the world!!! Yay!!! But one of us apparently died at some point for reasons we can't fathom... yaaa....y.... I guess. And also the majority of the crew has been liquidized and everyone in the Galaxy hates you........ erm.... yay?
At least my fish were still alive. Mordin perished so that they might live.
It's for these reasons (and my aforementioned issue with the romance carry-over) that I really prefer Mass Effect 1. I'm hoping ME3 will be the best of both worlds - manificent acting, writing and visuals with an epic, thrilling plot. And hey, maybe an antagonist.
About the moral choices being dull in ME2 - well I may have been exaggerating there. But I still found the moral calls way harder and more interesting on ME1. The Council at the end - Virmire - Wrex on Virmire too - the one on Bring Down The Sky. Felt like they carried more impact.
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Post by Hodster on Feb 9, 2010 3:21:59 GMT 1
And I also hate how your crew can die. For me it ruined the sense of achievement - we saved the world!!! I would think that it should ruin the sense of achievement a bit because people under your command died. I liked Harbinger. At first I thought he was the Collector General but the end of the game made it clear (I thought) that he's actually a Reaper. The suicide mission did seem not as big as I thought it would but when I think about it I prepared enough that I could cover everything that the Collectors threw at me.
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Post by Mister Buch on Feb 9, 2010 3:44:33 GMT 1
People under my command died, sure. But they shouldn't, you know? I wasn't expecting them to and I didn't do anything wrong. Unless it's what we were talking about Hodster. If it is, then what I did wrong was a miniscule error in judgement... and I had no idea it would effect anything, let alone main character deaths.
And also - It's supposed to be a grand space adventure... I want to enjoy the ending, and be able to manipulate it confidently! If I don't make any big screw-ups, and I beat the game, I should get a good ending.
Main character deaths should be carefuly-placed emotional hits that propel and improve the storyline - not quick, emotionless last minute punishments for tiny errors.
--
I'm ranting now.
I feel like I sound down on the game. I liked the sidequests immensely, I should say. Every squad collection and every loyalty quest felt like a game in itself. They were all brilliant. Superb. It's the main quest I felt lacking. It kinda has the exact opposite problem to Mass Effect 1!
XD
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Post by Hodster on Feb 9, 2010 4:58:38 GMT 1
And also - It's supposed to be a grand space adventure... I want to enjoy the ending, and be able to manipulate it confidently! If I don't make any big screw-ups, and I beat the game, I should get a good ending. Being able to manipulate it confidently is something I DO NOT want to be able to do. I want to make decisions and later have things happen because of my decisions that I didn't know would happen. Plus you shouldn't be able to manipulate it at least not your first playthrough. After your first playthrough then you learn what you can and can't do and can fix mistakes. But I understand where your comeing from Buch we all want good endings. Also I like how those small mistakes could mean someones life.
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Post by Mister Buch on Feb 9, 2010 5:20:21 GMT 1
Ah well. I disagree. Also the deaths should countfor something. All that happenned was I saw the guy's body in the corner of the screen. Seemed pointless.
But I think I've argued this enough XD
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