While they had entertained the idea of allowing players to continue with a dead Shepard in ME3 while beginning development on ME2, they had already decided against that before they released ME2. Hence why one of the ME2 tips on the loading screens talks about being able to import into ME3... "if you survive".
I'm struggling to finish Mass Effect
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While they had entertained the idea of allowing players to continue with a dead Shepard in ME3 while beginning development on ME2, they had already decided against that before they released ME2. Hence why one of the ME2 tips on the loading screens talks about being able to import into ME3... "if you survive".
...I don't remember that. Really?
Anyway, yeah, I have conflicted feelings when it comes to the Mako portions of the game. The whole concept of being able to go from solar system to solar system and find explorable planets was simply awesome, and really helped flesh out the theme and aesthetic of the setting. There was this combination of loneliness, discovery, and abrupt action to the exploration itself that resulted in incredible atmosphere. And planet exploration as a vessel with which to deliver side-quests and lore is just cool overall.
The execution, though, simply wasn't very good. There wasn't enough meaningful content there, the gameplay was sloppy, and repetition set in rather quickly. I really can't blame BioWare too much for this, though. In the ways the planet exploration works, it actually works fairly well; in the ways it doesn't, it's almost hard to imagine anything dramatically better without making serious compromises elsewhere.
So for me, the concept was neat, but it became mind-numbingly tedious after doing it a handful of times. I'd like to see an example of someone doing it right.
No, I don't get it either. The core gameplay is vastly improved with ME2. The RPG mechanics perhaps aren't quite fleshed out enough, but I wouldn't consider ME1's more "fleshed out" as much as having more superficial layers (with the end result being slightly deeper and much messier).
I feel like the people who accuse ME2 of "dudebroing the franchise" are actually inadvertently making an argument for dudebroing.
People bitch about ME3's ending, but the fact is the series is amazing. A poor ending is a shitty thing to bring up when the ride there was so great. The gameplay is really fun and the world is immersive.
This is a videogame series, chill out on the "story" ending. I would never turn someone off to this series simply because the ending is bad.
To answer OP's question, ME2 & especially ME3 have improved gameplay. But ME1 has the best rpg elements.
It goes like this:
ME1 = best rpg
ME2 = best environments and quests
ME3 = best gameplay
This is a videogame series, chill out on the "story" ending. I would never turn someone off to this series simply because the ending is bad.
To answer OP's question, ME2 & especially ME3 have improved gameplay. But ME1 has the best rpg elements.
It goes like this:
ME1 = best rpg
ME2 = best environments and quests
ME3 = best gameplay
Almost nothing happens in the first 20 minutes. You didn't even give the game a chance.
Also, the song during the ending credits of ME1 was awesome. I sat through the credits when I first beat it.
Dark Octave
Banned
That part glitched out for me and I had to go to an earlier save. Luckily I had one.
Cheers bud. Its so ambient and atmospheric, it really does feel like space if you know what i mean.
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
Matriarch Dilinaga is the worst. The worst.
Jawmuncher
Member
Pretty much agree with you on all fronts. Especially the ending for ME3. A bad ending is a bad ending. But like you said the ride there was great so when 95% of the game was excellent, I can forgive an ending.
DC1
Member
We are friends for life.
You'll like the final mission in mass effect 1, so keep going.
vagabondarts
Member
I remember that part. After you get past it things accelerate super fast. You're right at the tail end of a lot of tedium in the heart of the game, to my recollection.
Push through it, the final act is great
Push through it, the final act is great
Captain Tuttle
Member
Exactly this, I'm actually playing through it right now for about the fifth time. Not the most technically impressive game but a great introduction to a fantastic trilogy.
I like the Mako although the first thing I do when I land on a planet is open up my map and mark the closest point of interest, drive to it and then mark the next one. That driving around looking for things blindly stuff is for the birds.
Edit: ME2 is great, love the characters. ME3 was really good too up to the last 5 minutes (but the patch lessened the pain). I'd say play through them just so you can play The Citadel DLC, best I've ever played.
The music is great too.
need4speed
Banned
I remember the good old days when you could snipe with a shotgun and use a sniper rifle as shotgun, good times.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
I've been playing through the entire series again, played 1 & 2 numerous times and just reached 3, in what will be my second time through, and I'd say this pretty is accurate.
Is the Leviathan DLC worth $10? I bought citadel and I'm assuming the Omega DLC is not worth $15.
Coffee Dog
Banned
Yeah, leviathan is pretty good and it makes the ending not incomprehensible bullshit, just dumb.
Captain Tuttle
Member
Basically this, I enjoyed it. Never bought Omega though, didn't hear good things about it on GAF.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
Omega is totally missable. I can see getting it if you absolutely adore the combat in ME3 and just can't get enough, but the characters and story is pretty terrible, and it adds pretty much nothing to the overall plot.
You do get 2 new optional powers, though.
I agree, I guess bad endings dont really mean much to me if the rest was alot of fun.
I'm on my 5th playthrough of of the trilogy.
One thing I need to explain about the decisions is that people are upset becaues the big choices you make at the end of the first 2 games don't have a direct impact on the overall ending. Bioware bit off more than the could chew so overpromised and underdelivered here. However, the smaller decisions about your squadmates across all three games are definitely reflected in how they each end up.
At the very least finish ME and start ME2. Seeing your custom character and how it influences the setting of the second game is really is a unique and exciting experience.
One thing I need to explain about the decisions is that people are upset becaues the big choices you make at the end of the first 2 games don't have a direct impact on the overall ending. Bioware bit off more than the could chew so overpromised and underdelivered here. However, the smaller decisions about your squadmates across all three games are definitely reflected in how they each end up.
At the very least finish ME and start ME2. Seeing your custom character and how it influences the setting of the second game is really is a unique and exciting experience.
Mass Effect on the PC had a much more manageable inventory system and the keyboard and mouse controls fit the mechanics a bit better than it's console counterpart. Playing on a PC helps with the little things that bring Mass Effect down on a console platform, so it's worth looking at if someone in this thread is considering a first run at this game.
DC1
Member
sooo...
Its ok to have the most satisfying, MOST comfortable 18 hour ride to Disney Land only to have it rain hard for the entity of your two day pass?
Stop talking about the "Journey" as if its the game itself.
In a vacuum ME1 was awesome for it's vision and story. Not so much for it's technical application.
In a vacuum ME2 improved on every freaken aspect and was mechanically and visually impressive. Any opinion contrary to this is bate for a finicky trout.
In a vacuum ME3 is a very similar game to ME2... but slightly thinner. .possibly malnourished. Even if you didn't play ME1 or 2, the ending gave you a wtf head scratcher kind of moment. But again, why would anyone truly care if they didn't invest the sweat into 1 and 2
As a collective, the ME series is a cluster mess of ruined greatness that must be consumed by all (along with Bioware PR hyped tissue paper promises shortly after completing ME2 before you play ME3).
The "Journey" should be required study for future game developers however should never be replicated in storyboard/product release.
Goldenroad
Member
It's roughly a 4 hour game if you choose to not do any of the side missions and skip through inconsequential dialogue. It should not be that much of a struggle if you just want to hit the main story beats. You almost never have to use the Mako except for on Noveria.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
And to think I found them all at least twice.
Irate Drake
Neo Member
I never got past the first hub area (the city whatever it is). I just cant get interested in this series I havent played the other two yet either.
Maybe one day...
Maybe one day...
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
I'm not sure. I just went through it again and did everything (I think). Scanned and explored every planet, found all the materials, writings, prothean discs, both DLCs, all the sidequests, and topped out about halfway through level 57.
I remember when I last played through the game (right before ME2 came out I believe), I did it on new game plus and hit level 60 somewhere on Ilos. Of course that was a while ago and records from that era are spotty at best.
edit: And for my recent runthrough I killed everything on foot except for 2 or 3 geth foot soldiers.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Doesn't that sound about right? You can hit high 50s on a single playthrough, but the final 3 - 4 levels are a massive stretch in XP. You'll hit 60 on the second playthrough via NG+ around Virmire or Ilos.
It's not really a spoiler because that's simply one of the few interesting things you can find while exploring planets, completely irrevelant to the game's plot. IIRC it's just a destroyed spheral object on pedestal you find on one of those grassy planets (don't remember if it was marked on the map, but probably was). If you click on it a message pops out that says you just had a vision.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
Oh shit, nevermind, misread the original post thinking you were talking about on playthough. You were spot on.
What the hell are you people talking about? Serious question. Because I see this "ME1 is the best because it had RPG elements that ME2/3 lacked" notion splattered all of this thread and every other ME thread, but the point is never ever supported.
ME1 is more of an RPG while ME2/3 is more of a shooter? What the hell does that even mean? The core pillars of combat has been the same throughout the trilogy. The combat in every ME game is a third person shooter with secondary powers, AI squadmates and cover. ME2 is only "more" of a shooter in the sense that it's a "more better" shooter. And roleplaying is not exclusive to ME1 either.
oh my bad. Probably remembered it from one of the early interviews then.
The first had deeper character customization. Skills and equipment choices mainly.
Yep. The inventory, and the looting that naturally comes with it, changes a lot imo.
It's more than the mechanics. In ME1 you often have to traverse the planet to advance the story. Main planets feel more fleshed out in terms of geography; one planet can have say an urban environment as well as snowy wastes. In ME 2 and 3, that scope of the "missions" is gone. And that's another thing: in the sequels it really does feel like you're just completing mission after mission. ME1 feels like you're taking part in acts of the same story.
Combat in the sequels is more Gears-like with loads of crates and low walls to provide cover. In ME1 you often had to find your own cover. In 2 and 3 you can walk into a room and immediately know you're about to get into a shootout; in ME1 the where and when combat pops up can surprise you, keep you on your toes.
It's a hard thing to qualify, just exactly why ME1 is more of an RPG. Yeah, there's the equipment (one thing that the sequels DEFINITELY improved upon) but overall to me it's just the feel of the gameplay: the openness of the environments, the structure of the missions, the layouts of the combat encounters. To me ME1 feels like part of a different series that got thrown out the window when EA bought Bioware. It felt like the spiritual successor to KOTOR, while the sequels feel like they owe a greater debt to cover shooters.
gregor7777
Banned
Yep. ME1 had an awesome ending.
Weyland Y.
Member
Mass Effect 1 to me is like Alien.
Mass Effect 2 to me is like Aliens.
They're both great in their own way. The first game is slower paced, better story telling, different atmosphere. I found it more mysterious. The second game improves on a lot of things compared to the first game but I found it to be more actiony, but in a good way. Fantastic set pieces in that one.
Mass Effect 2 to me is like Aliens.
They're both great in their own way. The first game is slower paced, better story telling, different atmosphere. I found it more mysterious. The second game improves on a lot of things compared to the first game but I found it to be more actiony, but in a good way. Fantastic set pieces in that one.
BRocknRolla
Member
Mass Effect 2 stands as my favorite. While it may lack the depth of character customization, the writing is top notch, the mechanics are definitely better, and I think the characters are stronger (Though I could see disagreement). Whatever ME2 gave up, it more than makes up for it. ME3 unfortunately loses that level of quality and just ends up feeling like a mediocre shooter.
Mass Effect 2 is awesome. I'm having a hard time finishing ME3 though. They tried to include more RPG elements and somehow the result was more shooter-y than ever.
ME3 does both of those things better. ME1 may be very fine toothed with how you allot your skill points (To a detrimental degree I'd say. Increase tech burst by 0.1 meter? Riveting.) but level up enough and you'll end up with pretty much everything filled out. ME3, and to a less degree ME2, forces you to make hard choices with your skills, and the trade-off result in your shepard being very different from someone else's shepard, even if you're both the same class. This becomes very evident in ME3 multiplayer.
ME1 had "loot", if you could call it that. Basically every gun was the same, with minor variances of power and accuracy. If you find one with a high number, you slap that on to make the bars go up, then convert the rest to omni-gel. Meanwhile, the guns in ME2 and ME3 are radically different from each other. Spread, rate of fire, recoil, weight, special damage versus shield/armor, etc. The differences were meaningful and not just a string of Pistol +1 drops hidden within metric tons of vendor trash.