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[Solo]

the 'dumbed down' elements in ME2 are great, I reckon.

the guys behind the game obviously realised what most people were playing the game for, and it wasn't for the shitty item management and in-depth leveling systems.

Im not even talking about this. Im talking about stuff like:

- the gimping of biotic skills. Both in their effectiveness (charge? dont make me laugh) and in their number (Id love for someone to give me one valid reason why we've had the number of skills we can research drop from about 15 down to 5). Biotics are woefully underpowered in ME2.
- the complete removal of the mako and the side planets. Goodbye, sense of exploration. I cannot believe people hated this but accept something as terrible as the planet scanning crap. Oh yes, this is lots of fun, spinning a planet around and firing probes. In ME1, despite the cut-and-paste style of the side planet bases, you at least had that feeling of visiting uncharted and isolated planets. Now, that is gone.

Yes, they removed things that were shitty and needed removing, like the inventory system. But then they kept on slashing and removed shit they had no reason to whatsoever. The mako and the side planets didnt need removing, they needed to be addressed and brought up to the standard of the rest of the game.

 

[∀ Narayan]

the 'dumbed down' elements in ME2 are great, I reckon.

the guys behind the game obviously realised what most people were playing the game for, and it wasn't for the shitty item management and in-depth leveling systems. It was for the dialogue, the choices, the characters and the presentation. It takes some serious balls to say 'you know what? people didn't like the inventory/mako/gimped (unleveled) weapons, so fuck it, we don't need any of that shit. our combat system wasn't that great either, so let's uproot that and fix it as well. here's what was good about Mass Effect 1 with out any of the poorly implemented lip-service to our previous games."

there's room for games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect to coexist, and I'm glad Hudson and the rest of his team realised it.

I completely agree. I look at the changes from the first game as improvements. The majority of refinements made for ME2 make it feel like a completely different game. Hell, it is a completely different game. I feel as though ME2 is what ME1 should have been from the get-go.

Granted, I've yet to finish the game - and I'm not that far to begin with. So, my opinion is subject to change.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

granted, I'm playing as a Soldier, so I haven't really experimented too much with my squad's biotics.

 

[Solo]

My post sounds really negative :lol Im not hating on the game. In fact, thats my point. It hurts me all the more to see the sequel blow the original out of the water in so many ways, only to regress in others.

 

[MMaRsu]

Not to mention the fact they did away with elevator rides for loading screens. Gah.. why fucking loading screens.

 

[Shinjitsu]

For the people bitching about the Mako removal. For one, the Mako sucked, it really did. Second they are adding in the Hammerhead soon, rumor is next week.

Not to mention the fact they did away with elevator rides for loading screens. Gah.. why fucking loading screens.

The loading screens take me about 5-10 seconds on PC. I don't really see how this would be an issue, even with it loaded on a 360HD.

 

[Solo]

Not to mention the fact they did away with elevator rides for loading screens. Gah.. why fucking loading screens.

Indeed. Elevator rides are looking pretty good right now. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.

 

[MMaRsu]

For the people bitching about the Mako removal. For one, the Mako sucked, it really did. Second they are adding in the Hammerhead soon, rumor is next week.


The loading screens take me about 5-10 seconds on PC. I don't really see how this would be an issue, even with it loaded on a 360HD.

It just takes you out of the game. It's not neccesary.

 

[EatChildren]

For the people bitching about the Mako removal. For one, the Mako sucked, it really did. Second they are adding in the Hammerhead soon, rumor is next week.

I loved the Mako but hated the planet design. I think what people really miss, whether they realise it or not, is the sense of exploration and isolate.

Even with the Mako hatred there was something adventurous about being put smack dab in the middle of nowhere. It kind of echoed the likes of the Mars rover; a large, alien world of true unknown.

I love ME2 so far and agree with nearly every change made, but I do miss that feeling. It was something that helped break the fast pace of the main quests. Even stuff like walking around the Citadel wasnt the same in comparsion. The uncharted worlds and Mako exploration made you feel like the universe was big and unexplored. A vast galaxy, and kinda lonely, in the good way.

Sure you could be gunning down waves of geth on some beautiful hand crafted world, but there was a certain magic of just sitting in your Mako on a lifeless rock, staring up into a sky filled with stars and a giant burning sun.

It made me feel like I was the first one there, regardless of whether I was or not. ME2 makes me feel like everywhere I go is already populated and explored.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

granted, I'm playing as a Soldier, so I haven't really experimented too much with my squad's biotics.

You don't really need them until Hardcore or Insanity. Then it becomes a sweet game of right powers at the right time or you die. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Not to mention the fact they did away with elevator rides for loading screens. Gah.. why fucking loading screens.

Most of the loading screens depict what is going on: a drop, pick up, docking, etc. The main advantage of a loading screen over an elevator ride is that the elevator rides had hard coded lengths to mask the loading. Loading screens can be quicker or longer depending on whether you're running the game off disc or hard drive.

 

[∀ Narayan]

Fuck elevators. I like the loading screens.

Most of the loading screens depict what is going on: a drop, pick up, docking, etc. The main advantage of a loading screen over an elevator ride is that the elevator rides had hard coded lengths to mask the loading. Loading screens can be quicker or longer depending on whether you're running the game off disc or hard drive.

This.

 

[Shinjitsu]

Fuck elevators. I like the loading screens.


This.

Thank god,felt like I was going into this alone.=P

 

[Lostconfused]

Most of the loading screens depict what is going on: a drop, pick up, docking, etc. The main advantage of a loading screen over an elevator ride is that the elevator rides had hard coded lengths to mask the loading. Loading screens can be quicker or longer depending on whether you're running the game off disc or hard drive.

Unless its on PC. Because then I only see the first few seconds of the video. I saw the Normandy elevator going down a floor only once and that was pretty much at the end of the game.

 

[Ducarmel]

Yeah the lack of exploration does suck, especially since in ME1 they said the Terminus system is the Wild West is full of bounty hunters, looters and pirates. We don't get to experience any of this.

 

[Shinjitsu]

nvm

 

[MMaRsu]

nvm

Damn son

lol nice stealth edit meltdown

 

[Darklord]

Yeah the lack of exploration does suck, especially since in ME1 they said the Terminus system is the Wild West is full of bounty hunters, looters and pirates. We don't get to experience any of this.

Yeah I wanted to roam around barren wastelands with nothing to do and fight pirates in identical small square bases. Fuck Bioware.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Yeah the lack of exploration does suck, especially since in ME1 they said the Terminus system is the Wild West is full of bounty hunters, looters and pirates. We don't get to experience any of this.

What exploration? The first game was barren except for the points of interest on each map. And of these points of interest, they were either resources for the fetch quests or one of four building templates with enemies in them. The anomaly missions at least have variety even if you are just dropped into them. Apparently people have a hard time finding them, though. I must have done at least ten by now (it's hard to tell the difference between missions started from your inbox and anomaly missions sometimes) and unless some new clusters open up at the end of the game, that's about how many there are.

Yeah I wanted to roam around barren wastelands with nothing to do and fight pirates in identical small square bases. Fuck Bioware.

It's like we have one mind... Only my side talks too much.

 

[Zzoram]

Is scanning really that bad? I'm scared to even start it now :lol (haven't done it yet)

I've spent about 6 hours just scanning planets for minerals and I think I'm only half way done, if that. I haven't needed to do this, I have WAY more minerals than I've needed to spend on upgrades, but I couldn't help myself. I'm a completionist.

 

[JKTrix]

Re: Scanning

Adam Sessler thinks that if they made Scanning fun, it would break the economy system.

 

[Pumpkins]

Im not even talking about this. Im talking about stuff like:

- the gimping of biotic skills. Both in their effectiveness (charge? dont make me laugh) and in their number (Id love for someone to give me one valid reason why we've had the number of skills we can research drop from about 15 down to 5). Biotics are woefully underpowered in ME2.
- the complete removal of the mako and the side planets. Goodbye, sense of exploration. I cannot believe people hated this but accept something as terrible as the planet scanning crap. Oh yes, this is lots of fun, spinning a planet around and firing probes. In ME1, despite the cut-and-paste style of the side planet bases, you at least had that feeling of visiting uncharted and isolated planets. Now, that is gone.

I think biotics flow a lot better now, they're a seamless part of combat. I'm playing Vanguard, so I'll usually throw a few biotic pulls then finish the guy with the heavy pistol. To me it feels good, and biotics recharge a lot faster than they did in ME1 (at least, from what I can remember).

Also, I think I'm the only user on GAF that likes the planet scanning in ME2. To me it feels satisfying to find a huge mineral stash so that I can use the findings to help research upgrades.

 

[Shinjitsu]

Damn son

lol nice stealth edit meltdown

lol did you see/let alone understand any of my drunken meltdown?=P

 

[Ricker]

Really,really hate the Archangel section...escort mission on a timer,ughh,my worst nightmare after QTE`s...

 

[adamsapple]

holy shit there's people defending the damn minute long elevator rides here ? :lol

 

[MMaRsu]

holy shit there's people defending the damn minute long elevator rides here ? :lol

No I'm defending not taking you out of the immersion with a loading screen or a mission over screen.

I'm not saying I want hardcoded elevator rides back, but yes I'd rather have an elevator ride with some dialogue in it then a loading screen, how is that hard to understand?

 

[adamsapple]

No I'm defending not taking you out of the immersion with a loading screen or a mission over screen.

I'm not saying I want hardcoded elevator rides back, but yes I'd rather have an elevator ride with some dialogue in it then a loading screen, how is that hard to understand?

Let's just call it a difference of opinion. I'm MUCH more happier with 8~10 second loading screens than 60 second elevator rides. Waiting around a minute just to avoid a screen switch isn't exactly what i'd call "remaining in the immersion" either.

 

[kai3345]

holy shit there's people defending the damn minute long elevator rides here ? :lol

Yes, the elevators were great. much better than some shitty loading screen

 

[Shinjitsu]

No I'm defending not taking you out of the immersion with a loading screen or a mission over screen.

I'm not saying I want hardcoded elevator rides back, but yes I'd rather have an elevator ride with some dialogue in it then a loading screen, how is that hard to understand?

It's very hard to understand when the load times are no more than 15 seconds for me, on my laptop.

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRf_bfVWQuw

:lol

 

[Solo]

holy shit there's people defending the damn minute long elevator rides here ? :lol

Not defender, but rather saying that an elevator ride w/squad banter >>> loading screens.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Yeah I wanted to roam around barren wastelands with nothing to do and fight pirates in identical small square bases. Fuck Bioware.

That was biowares failiure of design, one thing a few of us were hoping they'd improve upon. Instead they took it out entirely which is fair enough, but dissapointing.

 

[Ducarmel]

What exploration? The first game was barren except for the points of interest on each map. And of these points of interest, they were either resources for the fetch quests or one of four building templates with enemies in them. The anomaly missions at least have variety even if you are just dropped into them. Apparently people have a hard time finding them, though. I must have done at least ten by now (it's hard to tell the difference between missions started from your inbox and anomaly missions sometimes) and unless some new clusters open up at the end of the game, that's about how many there are.



It's like we have one mind... Only my side talks too much.

Well Mako rides felt like exploring to me, scanning doesn't. In Me2 it just seems smaller, yes it does has variety at least.

 

[JKTrix]

Really,really hate the Archangel section...escort mission on a timer,ughh,my worst nightmare after QTE`s...

Singularity makes this a breeze (on Normal). You can stop vulnerable people from coming up stairs or whatever since the Singularity ball affects whoever walks into it. Also later on when you have to close some doors, Singularity will trap those it effects and allow you time to take down those it doesn't effect. If all you need to do is stop a group of people from moving, Singularity gets that done on the basic units.

 

[MisterAnderson]

Not defender, but rather saying that an elevator ride w/squad banter >>> loading screens.

I'll take the 5-10 second load screens over 30 second elevator rides anyday. And is it me? Or are people being really lenient when talking about the game? I'm seeing barely any spoiler tags as I skim the thread and I think I may have just read something very spoilerish.

 

[∀ Narayan]

No I'm defending not taking you out of the immersion with a loading screen or a mission over screen.

I'm not saying I want hardcoded elevator rides back, but yes I'd rather have an elevator ride with some dialogue in it then a loading screen, how is that hard to understand?

Elevators in Mass Effect 1 broke the immersion for me. 60 second elevator rides? This is supposed to be THE FUTURE.

And I don't really mind the lack of Dragon Age-esque banter during missions. ME is a different kettle of fish compared to DA. You spend a lot more time with team members in DA than you do in ME2.

 

[Zzoram]

Ya I prefer the load screens. The elevator rides were a good idea in theory that ended up being poor in reality. You still get random squad banter just as you're running around towns. The 10-15 second load screens are preferable to the 60+ second elevator rides.

 

[Darklord]

Re: Scanning

Adam Sessler thinks that if they made Scanning fun, it would break the economy system.

"Set aside a couple of hours and just do it, it's like cleaning your room".

Yeah, that's what I want in a game.

 

[Sol..]

People need to go back and PLAY Mass Effect One, the loot sucked, if you think the loot In 2 is worse, really, theres something wrong with you. The loot in ME1 Didn't do shit but slow you down, I played on PC and 360 versions, the inventory was fucking MESS on both. People looking at this shit with nostalgia should go back and play it. it added NOTHING to the game other than tedium.

With that said, I do wish there were a few more guns in the game, I've got all the dlc other than the Dr Pepper shit, and at most theres 3 of each type of gun, other than heavy weapons.

A little drunk at near 10pm on friday here, so be easy on me people, before your rip me apart for my opinion.

loot systems are a game in itself. It's more about the rush of getting cool shit and developing strategy from it. I agree that the equipment menus sucked. It was horrible. But it's not like they couldn't have easily streamlined it. The way it is now I'm kinda just playin' the game. I don't feel like my people are getting powerful. I actually could care less about their development which is just sad for a RPG. There aren't really many interesting weapons or armor either. The diversity is just down and out. Thats why I want my loot back.

 

[adamsapple]

Elevators in Mass Effect 1 broke the immersion for me. 60 second elevator rides? This is supposed to be THE FUTURE.

Bingo.

I'd say getting back to the "game" in 1/6th of the time with a screen switch is a much better way to keep me immersed in the experience than asking me to just keep staring at it for a minute.

As for squad banter, they do that while regularly exploring places now, more than makes up for missing out on the three lines of dialogue in the elevators.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Most of the loading screens depict what is going on: a drop, pick up, docking, etc. The main advantage of a loading screen over an elevator ride is that the elevator rides had hard coded lengths to mask the loading. Loading screens can be quicker or longer depending on whether you're running the game off disc or hard drive.

Yup. I like it.

 

[OMG Aero]

My copy of Mass Effect 2 arrived today, too bad I'm still only at Virmire on my ME1 Insanity play through so I can't actually play it yet.

 

[FrankT]

I'm actually kinda enjoying the mining in the game. Tedious over time to be sure. But I believe they could have made it a bit better with perhaps extreme rare finds with an artifact or something every once in awhile.

Anyhow as far as elevators versus load screens I will take the latter any day of the week.

 

[EatChildren]

Okay, I've only done one loyalty mission so far (Zaeeds) and still have four squadmates to pick up, but I got a little giddy at the reveal of one of the random planet sidequests;

Spoiler

the Collectors appearing in a transmission from a Prothean beacon!

I dont want to know anything about further developments, if any, regarding this later in the game. I just liked it now.

 

[MisterAnderson]

This game is just gorgeous.

Edit: I photoshopped the party heads out of the first one for wallpaper goodness

 

[Durante]

I just started the game a while ago (damn the EU launch date lockout!). I'm happy to report it works very well in 3D, it's one of the most immersive games I've ever played.

One question: With the "Biotic Mastery" skill I gain a percentage bonus on Renegade/Paragon points. Does this also apply to points gained in the future or is it a one-time bonus? If the latter, am I correct in assuming that it makes more sense to invest in this skill only later in the game? Thanks for the help, I need to get an answer on this before deciding my spec.

Oh, and the Blood Dragon Armor is ridiculous :lol

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Well Mako rides felt like exploring to me, scanning doesn't. In Me2 it just seems smaller, yes it does has variety at least.

It may seem smaller because it wastes less of your time (scanning aside), but there is actually more content. You could do everything there is to do in Mass Effect in less than 35 hours. Less than 20 if you skip all the dialogue with X. I'm already at 40 hours in Mass Effect 2, though a few of those have been scanning while posting. I'm probably near the end, but that's already 10 hours more than it took me to finish the first game, without the 30 cookie cutter side missions.

EDIT: Unless you meant a different sort of smaller, in which case, ignore all that.

 

[adamsapple]

Seems like everyone loves using that one eyed visor thing on their Shepards

 

[whatevermort]

If it wasn't for the "party member heads" on the bottom of the screen of the first one, I'd make it my desktop wallpaper.

You could just rub them out in photoshop pretty easily. I can't run photoshop on this computer, so I can't do it. Perhaps somebody else could help? (I would also like this as wallpaper.)

 

[MisterAnderson]

Seems like everyone loves using that one eyed visor thing on their Shepards

Love baggin' me those headshots.

You could just rub them out in photoshop pretty easily. I can't run photoshop on this computer, so I can't do it. Perhaps somebody else could help? (I would also like this as wallpaper.)

You're right I didn't realize it would be that easy. I'll do it right now.

 

[viewtifulsub]

1)Has there been any suggestions for a thread subtitle? I was thinking of something along the lines of "Mass Effect 2 - The Official Thread of Intergalactic Probing" or something.

2) Biotics nerfed hard. My Vanguard is no longer the unstoppable CC and kill everything machine. Looks like its just Pull for me.

3) Disappointed that Bioware still havent manged to nail down the sidequest exploration aspect in ME series. After the first few sectors of scanning; it is already starting to feel chorish.

4) Goddamn the number of quotes in the game is amazing. Already up there with Dragon Age. I had a good laugh at a number of them in the Citadel, particularly

Spoiler

Elcor Hamlet production

and

Spoiler

I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite store on the Citadel