GameBanshee Forums

I find mini games, in general, to be either silly, annoying, a bad idea, or all three. I think companies use them so they can say the game is "immersive" and "interactive"

While the hacking/bypass mini games in ME2 were an improvement over the "one size fits all" mini game from ME1 (on the PC version, I've never touched an xBox), they just need to go. But with no Electronics or Decryption skills anymore (and I doubt they will add them back in) they can't make it a skill check. At least in ME1 you could use omni-gel to skip it.

Don't get me started on the worst idea in modern gaming, i.e. planet scanning. I, in all seriousness, gave myself a repetitive stress injury in my right shoulder doing it. Try explaining THAT to a doctor...

Well both games had bad ideas regarding resources. Drive around with the devil spawn that is MAKO for hours, or sign up for wrist surgery, because after scanning all planets you'll need one.

Speaking of scanner.. It was the most obvious sign of programmers lazines, when they kept Miranda's improvement of more sensitive scanner..
On PC we call it mouse sensitivity

I mean, we already had enough clear and obvious signs that this is a console port, with as few improvements as possible (maps.. was anyone EVER lost in ME?!), but god damn that's just laziness incarnate.

Stworca wrote:Drive around with the devil spawn that is MAKO for hours...

I actually didn't mind the MAKO. Found it a fun diversion from the run-&-gun of the rest of the game. You just have to think and plan your way around the maps.

Stworca wrote:Speaking of scanner.. It was the most obvious sign of programmers lazines, when they kept Miranda's improvement of more sensitive scanner..

Why they didn't implement something like a thermal map of the planet, showing you where to scan I'll never know.

The part that insulted me the most about ME2 was all of the help prompts. Like "Press [M] for Map" or "Press [Left Mouse] to Launch a Probe" with no means of turning them off. Maybe the first time you play that's helpful (not for me, but someone), but after a while even the most simple minded drooling moron doesn't need it anymore.

Hmm.. When i played ME1 for the first time i found the help tooltips to be... They didn't tell me anything new, and they didn't answer a single question that i had

In ME2 they didnt bother me at all, because they were not pop ups that you have to click to disable, and until you do you cannot do anything (ME1)

But yes, us PC players are used to customising your game. Mass Effect series offer no customisation at ALL. They're pure console ports. Except for the decissions you make that affect even sequels.. This part is bomb, and i don't think i've seen it in any other RPG

Stworca wrote:Hmm.. When i played ME1 for the first time i found the help tooltips to be... They didn't tell me anything new, and they didn't answer a single question that i had

But in ME1, you could turn them off.

Stworca wrote:In ME2 they didnt bother me at all, because they were not pop ups that you have to click to disable, and until you do you cannot do anything (ME1)

But they ALWAYS appear, no matter how many times you do whatever triggers them...

Stworca wrote:They're pure console ports.

ME1 gets more credit from me for at least trying. You could double click on things to select them, unlike ME2.

Rad wrote:But in ME1, you could turn them off.

I need to start reading the manuals :laugh:

Another topic : How do you think Shep will save the galaxy? I have a few theories myself

Stworca wrote:I need to start reading the manuals :laugh:

I don't think it's in the manual. I remember stumbling onto it pocking around the the settings.

Stworca wrote:Another topic : How do you think Shep will save the galaxy? I have a few theories myself

The only thing I'm fairly sure of is Shep will die.

I can see a epic battle to sneak aboard a Reaper or something to insert a Cerberus developed anti-Reaper virus. Or possibly a deus-ex-machina of some ancient Prothean dodad.

I have little faith in Bioware at this point...

Well i see only two possible ways of dealing with it without extreme cheese.

1. Buy some time way "Banishing" them to the place where they were lurking for 30 000 years (from where Sov tried to get them) naturally shep dies and reapers will return once they find a way.

2. Pyrrhic victory The alliance / others find a weapon that is capable of damaging reapers through their shields, and a full scale galactic defense beginns. They down many, but lose countless lives for each destroyed reaper. With fallout 1 ending (as in - terrible, horrible and bad) of extreme losses or even extinction.. but reapers beign unable to repeat the cycle and so the galaxy would be saved.. for those few left, and new races to come.

I'd love to see the second one. Anything less and i'll call it a BS

But i guess bioware will make shepard ten foot tall and shot lazers from his eyes, or something like that oblivion crap where marvin turned into a dragon. Aka "The protheans found a way of turning themselves into anti-reapers, shepard, you do it and save the galaxy".. The only correct answer would be "Screw you guys, i'm going home"

Stworca wrote:2. Pyrrhic victory The alliance / others find a weapon that is capable of damaging reapers through their shields, and a full scale galactic defense beginns. They down many, but lose countless lives for each destroyed reaper. With fallout 1 ending (as in - terrible, horrible and bad) of extreme losses or even extinction.. but reapers beign unable to repeat the cycle and so the galaxy would be saved.. for those few left, and new races to come.

This is good. I like it. Maybe not so extreme, with most of the races and worlds devastated, but able to rebuild.

It will never happen, it's going to be all about saving Earth, but it's a good idea.

Stworca wrote:But i guess bioware will make shepard ten foot tall and shot lazers from his eyes, or something like that oblivion crap where marvin turned into a dragon.

Don't forget shooting lightning out of his ass. Or maybe going the Stargate SG1 route and have him ascend to a higher plane and wish the Reaper out of existence with his awesomeness.

Don't forget shooting lightning out of his ass.

i didn't feel like putting whole Braveheart quote about Wallace, but yes, this is a must have.

Or maybe going the Stargate SG1 route and have him ascend to a higher plane and wish the Reaper out of existence with his awesomeness.

Stargate? I'm affraid you've lost me here. It was the TV show with this bald egyptian guy wearing a golden symbol on his forhead? If so i never watched it.

Stworca wrote:>>> CLIP <<<<

Give me a bit. I'll think up a prediction on how ME3 will unfold that works in terms of what we know so far.

Stworca wrote:Stargate? I'm affraid you've lost me here. It was the TV show with this bald egyptian guy wearing a golden symbol on his forhead? If so i never watched it.

Yes. It was an Ok show, but went downhill late in it's run.

I've ninja-cut-out the info i gave about the idea , please do the same. (don't want some people to know )

I must say that i've liked ME2 intro and Shep's death. The single tune that was played once it happened was awesome, although i'd add a few more. With this beign said, if they want to kill shepard, they'll come up with an idea to do it permanently. And since he can be rebuildt after beign burned by the atmosphere, and hitting the ground after falling from outer space.. I think he'll have to die in a meat grinder or get desintegrated..

If his death will be a regular one, the roof will collapse on me and knock out the remaining one last wisdom point that i have.

A much more likely scenario (and a much better one) would be if he was - for example - banished to some dark corners of the galaxy after dealing with the reapers, and there die a slow, lonely death. Again, much like in fallout 1. (fallout 2 story ruined fallout 1 ending for me)

Edit : Speaking of great endings, try out Age of Wonders. It's a turn based strategy, that has six differend endings. Most of them beign top notch, "good guy turned into undead" one was THE best ending i had the pleasure to witness. There was no cutscene mind you, no voice, only text and music, but it made me sit there for a few minutes. Stunned at how awesome it was. Beating even MGS3 ending. Truly tragic, and this is after you WIN.

The gameplay is average, but it's only this powerfull after you sit there beating a series of tough maps, and know how the whole story progresses.

Stworca wrote:I've ninja-cut-out the info i gave about the idea , please do the same. (don't want some people to know )

Done.

Stworca wrote:I must say that i've liked ME2 intro and Shep's death. The single tune that was played once it happened was awesome, although i'd add a few more.

Oh yes. If they had kept it a secret, it would have been the single best opening to any game, EVER. As it was, it was the best part of ME2.

Stworca wrote:And since he can be rebuildt after beign burned by the atmosphere, and hitting the ground after falling from outer space..

Actually, this is a misconception. Sheps orbital speed was almost zero, so he hit the atmosphere at a relatively low speed. Since reentry heat is caused by friction with the atmosphere, and our orbiters travel at something like 17,000 mph, and since the velocity wasn't anything like that Shep wouldn't generate that much heat. As far as the fall, Shep would hit terminal velocity after the first hundred feet or so. Impact wouldn't be any worse (assuming the planets gravity was 1G) than skydivers whose parachutes don't open. The skeletal damage shown during the reconstruction montage is consistent with this kind of fall.

What really kills Shep is when the suit is breached and it bleeds out quick resulting in asphyxiation. The suit has to use a re-breather since it doesn't have any obvious tanks.

Oh yes. If they had kept it a secret, it would have been the single best opening to any game, EVER. As it was, it was the best part of ME2.

Definitely agree. Spoilers can ruin every epic moment, and turn it into just a great one. Imagine how much better would "We still don't know what's happening with the colonies, or what the hell collectors are.. is it a french dish?!" be than "Omega 4 relay, kill them, now."

And once again Gothic 2.. Meeting a dragon if you aren't expecting it? Epic.

Actually, this is a misconception. <snip>
What really kills Shep is when the suit is breached and it bleeds out quick resulting in asphyxiation. The suit has to use a re-breather since it doesn't have any obvious tanks.

Ah. I learned something new

In that case a good and worthy ending would be one from MGS4, snake crawling in the vent shaft, everyone else fighting impossible odds. Except unlike MGS4 there should be no kittens and rainbows (aka happy endings) for squad in ME3. Surviving a third suicide mission would be bad.

Now this may be some heavy wishes, but both previous ME's had more than one ending, so it seems like a standard. And since there won't be any ME4, the last endings should be "bigger".

Although i'd like to have an option where Shepard isn't going to sacrifice himself (not going to happen, but still one and one only ending would be meh).. I know my Shepard wouldn't, even tho he was paragon for the most part, and renegade only when throwing people out of the windows.

Stworca wrote:Although i'd like to have an option where Shepard isn't going to sacrifice himself (not going to happen, but still one and one only ending would be meh).. I know my Shepard wouldn't, even tho he was paragon for the most part, and renegade only when throwing people out of the windows.

I agree. My Shep (mostly Paragon with about 1/3 to 1/2 renegade, ie, Paragade) wouldn't sacrifice herself if she didn't have to. If there was another option, she'd take it, even if it resulted in more friendly casualties. That's what Red Shirts...I mean NPCs are for.

This is a nice, reasonable discussion by the way. Thanks.

Rad wrote:I agree. My Shep (mostly Paragon with about 1/3 to 1/2 renegade, ie, Paragade) wouldn't sacrifice herself if she didn't have to. If there was another option, she'd take it, even if it resulted in more friendly casualties. That's what Red Shirts...I mean NPCs are for.

They had the right idea in fallout 3, allowing a companion die instead of you. Although i wondered why couldn't you tell the mutant or the ghoul to do it, they'd probably even survive

Still, as much as i'd like Shep to find a way to survive, and finally enjoy all the babes that picked on him, then get divorced and forced to pay alimony, then become a junkie and overdose in some slums or another.. I don't realy know what'd become of him should he survive. I mean he just saved the entire galaxy for the third time.. They'd worship him as a god (i would probably, esp. the FEMALE shepard.. is it wrong?).
Normaly characters are limited to saving the galaxy once, and most of them save only a planet or a city.. Shep would have a hat-trick of saving the entire creation and live? Too much.

This is a nice, reasonable discussion by the way. Thanks.

Hey, i like it just as much as you do. Now where are your ME1 and ME2 reviews

Stworca wrote:Hey, i like it just as much as you do. Now where are your ME1 and ME2 reviews

Because I tend to gloss over ME1's issues and over emphasize ME2's problems when I try to review them. I probably will give it a go sometime soon though...

Rad wrote:Because I tend to gloss over ME1's issues and over emphasize ME2's problems when I try to review them. I probably will give it a go sometime soon though...

You'll do just fine. Probably exceptionally well or even amazing, and i'll have to work on my review because it'll be horrible in comparisment. Besides, it's not like anyone on this forum gives a damn. Or even visits it for that matter The three forum members that visit it are all bots that somehow looped and stayed on this hostile, frozen wasteland of a forum.

khem.. On topic..


What puzzles me now are the Rachni. How will the bug-like-creatures help against starships, that will just blast everything from the orbit? My knowledge of ME world is poor, but i'm quite sure that Rachni aren't familiar with anti-air gun controls or star fighter ships.

I admit, i like the fact that you're preparing for ME3 the whole time in ME1 and 2 and not even know it, but while saving an entire race would surely help in fending off invaders, this single race is the only one that will not help at all.

Stworca wrote:What puzzles me now are the Rachni. How will the bug-like-creatures help against starships, that will just blast everything from the orbit? My knowledge of ME world is poor, but i'm quite sure that Rachni aren't familiar with anti-air gun controls or star fighter ships.

Actually, the Rachni you fight on Noveria and elsewhere are insane. Remember they almost defeated the Assari and Salarians before the introduction of the Krogan. They use starships, and I would bet living ones. Remember the news flash in ME2 about ships matching ancient Rachni profiles?

I will agree that Rachni and Geth = shock troops. I would not have a problem spending them like water since both races can replenish themselves quickly, unlike the Krogan, who will have to be used as heavy commandos or un-stealthy special forces troops.