Forums > Game Forums > Mass Effect > First Impressions
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/7/2008 2:36 PM · Permalink · Report
Alright, this Saturday was almost wholly (at least till evening) dedicated to playing Mass Effect. After about five hours into the game I have this to say.
Good
- This conversion is very good. Drag-n-drop interface, instant Alt-Tabbing, scalable engine makes the game look marvelous and fast on my aged hardware.
- The voice acting is great. And coupled with fantastic face gestures and lip-syncing, which is still not as good as that handmade in Legacy Of Kain series, it creates the most believable characters to date. The characters are simply there.
- Battle is fun.
- Music is totally different from what I had expected. In a good way.
- The in-game encyclopedia, called Codex is a blast to read through, some entries are even voiced!
- Riding the buggy with Ageia suspension physics is cool, but gets old quickly.
- The full support of X-Fi produces excellent results. EAX effects, occlusion effects, lots of cool low frequency booms making the sub go mad. Brilliant use of surround sound!
Bad
- I have completed the Citadel level and I am outraged. Not a single memorable side quest! How can it be? Ridiculous. No amusing stories, no thoughtful tales. Nothing. Just the same predictable crap. Kill the gang leader. Save the sister. Kill the thief. Save me wife. Ugh.
- The planets and boardable vessels are completely lifeless (like dungeons in Oblivion). The only reason for them to exist is for a couple of stupid collecting minigames. I wish you could collect minerals for a reason like in Star Control or Protostar.
- No ship customization?
- The main storyline is simply dull. Maybe it'll become interesting later.
- Battles are fun only if you play them like Gears Of War. If try to actually give orders to your teammates based on their abilities, it will result in a chaotic mess.
- The art design in disgustingly uniformed. No matter if this is an ancient construction by an extinct race or a human laboratory, or is it a Taurian armor or a human vest, they all has the same unified, slick sci-fi look. Will I be visiting other races settlements or homeworlds?
- The conversation system isn't revolutionary in the least. The same old stuff.
- Hacking mini-game is good. But it's used everywhere. Search a body - hacking minigame, survey minerals - hacking minigame, open lock - hacking minigame. What a waste.
- Actually, I can't believe I am saying this. But this game would have benefited more if it tried to be like Elite or Star Control. Complete with mineral harvesting, space battles and ship enhancing. So far it looks like a watered down Kotor combined with a very unattractive space exploration game.
So far so bad. ;-(
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/7/2008 3:17 PM · Permalink · Report
Dude, where in hell do you find time to play all those games?? Seconds ago, you were near to completing Okami; now you are already deep into Mass Effect....
Anyway, I've played the game for 2 hours only, and so far, I'm excited the way I haven't been in a long while. It's just going smoothly, like butter on a slice of bread. The only thing I can complain about is the lack of any physical interactivity, as always in Bioware/Obsidian games. Guys, learn this from Bethesda, and if they learn from you how to write dialogues and create appealing characters, you'll be both making unforgettable games :)
So far, "Mass Effect" is "teh rox". Everything can change, of course. But so far, I'm enchanted.
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/7/2008 3:21 PM · Permalink · Report
Okami will have to wait, I guess. And time is something I have in abundance now, since yesterday I have passed my last Sociology examination and now I am completely free until two exams for the bachelor degrees in the late June.
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/7/2008 3:25 PM · Permalink · Report
now I am completely free until two exams for the bachelor degrees in the late June.
I forgot you were so young, your writing reflects a persona of a more mature age.
Wait till you have a wife and all sorts of jobs you have to take to support the family :()
BurningStickMan (17916) on 6/7/2008 6:34 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St_Martyne wrote--]So far it looks like a watered down Kotor combined with a very unattractive space exploration game. [/Q --end St_Martyne wrote--]
Yep, that's pretty much it. Side worlds will start to repeat themselves (the "ice" world, the "moss" world), the plot is an enormous collection of sci-fi cliches (you'll easily be able to reference a similar movie/book for just about everything), and without the achievement system of the 360, I think those collection missions are now totally useless.
I played the side quests until Lance Henriksen stopped giving me missions, then drilled right through the main plot.
The main game is still worth playing through. Some of the character stories start to get interesting as they get fleshed out (Wrex was always enjoyable), but the side missions are definitely underdeveloped. Especially as the plot progresses, and it makes less and less sense for you to be surveying ore while vastly more important things are going on (that, despite the urgency, patiently wait for your arrival).
Expect no more than KOTOR and you'll be fine.
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/8/2008 9:00 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Just Games Retro wrote--] Expect no more than KOTOR and you'll be fine. [/Q --end Just Games Retro wrote--]
So far I haven't seen anything even reaching to the level of KOTOR. No interesting, unique worlds, no genuinely amusing characters or stories. Where have all the good side quests gone?
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/8/2008 8:59 PM · Permalink · Report
I HATE ELEVATORS!
As if everything else was okay. Yeah, right.
I'll have to take back my words about the decency of the port. While the engine is fast, the inventory management is awful. Why on Earth do I need a third gun to make an exchange between two characters? Why no filter tabs in stores? Why can't I level up my side kicks inside Normandy? Why can't the game tell me that the item is inappropriate for a character before I actually make a purchase?
The plot isn't getting better either. SPOILERS. I've just met a huge man eating plant making zombies out of people and spewing out female commando clones. And to think I have protected the maturity in writing of this very company?
I want to enjoy it. I really do. On the positive note I have visited the Moon! And actually saw a beautiful sprite of Earth in the distance. That was great. Then I had to kill about five dozens of crazy turrets, after which the game asked me to repeat that two more times. SPOILERS END
So much for Mass Effect.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 6/8/2008 9:35 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
Sounds like I will like it. I already lived out my disappointment with Bioware at Jade Empire and at Drew Karpyshyn's books. And since most of the writers I've bothered to remember from Bioware are working on Dragon Age (David Gaider - creator of HK-47, Jolee Bindo and many others - is the lead writer of that), I'm not really expecting anything. So I'm basically starting a tabula rasa with Bioware when it comes to expectations.
All I now expect are extreme facial expressions and Jennifer Hale doing a great performance as the female player character. Concluding from your mini-review here, I expect the game to deliver.
I assume that Bioware is not going to do anything like Troika did in writing (like Bloodlines) in the near future. Although, Mass Effect (Mass Entertainment) was basically the cash-in for Bioware, so Dragon Age might be more deeper for you, when it comes out in 2012.
Edit: "I've just met a huge man eating plant making zombies out of people and spewing out female commando clones."
Uh... what? I can't understand the sentence. He eats plant-making zombies? Or are zombies that eat people and then spew out female commando's?
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/9/2008 3:45 AM · Permalink · Report
All I now expect are extreme facial expressions
And you are going to get them. Best damn facial expressions ever. Every character looks unique and alive. And excellent voice acting, too. Way better than in any other Bioware game.
The writing style is different. Definitely different from what we've been used to in Bioware/Obsidian games. It's much less sophisticated, but I love it. It's natural. Casual. People don't discuss philosophy as much as they chat about everyday matters. But there is great stuff to find there. I can give you plenty of examples, but I'm sure you'll find them yourself when you play it.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 6/9/2008 4:03 AM · Permalink · Report
I'm already positively disposed towards the game. Especially because systemrequirementslab.com gave me a full green bar for this game. I haven't had a full green bar for quite some time. Of course, I have a new computer too, but still - full green bar, gotta count for something.
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/9/2008 6:20 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--] All I now expect are extreme facial expressions and Jennifer Hale doing a great performance as the female player character. [/Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--]
Oh, yeah, she does an excellent job. It's unbelievable how awesome the character I created fit the personality of her voice. I guess, it would have fit in any way, thanks to stunning facial animations, but there's so much genuine emotion in the face and in the voice.
[Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--] I assume that Bioware is not going to do anything like Troika did in writing (like Bloodlines) in the near future. [/Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--]
I really wasn't expecting anything deep. I just wanted to be engaged into the action, complete side quests, visit a bunch of exotic locations. Well, you know the drill. But the side quest system of this game feels nothing better than those hunter quests in Final Fantasy XII. Now that was unexpected.
[Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--] Uh... what? I can't understand the sentence. He eats plant-making zombies? Or are zombies that eat people and then spew out female commando's? [/Q --end Drunken Irishman wrote--]
No. I met a man, while I was eating plant, making zombies and spewing female commandos. Weird stuff, I know. And don't read spoilers, even those as cleverly disguised as mine. ;-)
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/9/2008 3:37 AM · Permalink · Report
6 hours into the game, loving it to death so far. Great story. Great dialogues. Great voice acting. Great character graphics.
And above all, something that I really like in games - lore. They haven't jst created a game; they've created a whole universe. History, geography, races, conflicts, cultures - everything is there, and in detail.
KOTOR with its pre-made Star Wars universe looks nearly childish compared to this.
Indra was here (20747) on 6/9/2008 6:43 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St_Martyne wrote--]As if everything else was okay. Yeah, right.
I'll have to take back my words about the decency of the port. While the engine is fast, the inventory management is awful. Why on Earth do I need a third gun to make an exchange between two characters? Why no filter tabs in stores? Why can't I level up my side kicks inside Normandy? Why can't the game tell me that the item is inappropriate for a character before I actually make a purchase? [/Q --end St_Martyne wrote--]
We detect a disturbance in the force... A new trasher is born....
Muahahaha!
I wonder if my lousy PC can actually play the game? Hmmm.
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/10/2008 2:18 PM · Permalink · Report
The game is finished. It was quite short.
The bottom line is: the game is great as long as you disregard the fact that it was made by the same folks who brought you Baldur's Gate 2 and Knights Of The Old Republic.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 6/10/2008 2:27 PM · Permalink · Report
Are you going to write a review too or are you done with reviews until the end of time?
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/10/2008 2:46 PM · Permalink · Report
Are you going to write a review too or are you done with reviews until the end of time?
Valid point. No Martyne reviews in a really long time. Not cool.
On the other hand, no Irishman reviews either.
Imaginary Gaming Friend Bob: "That's because he's too busy."
Oleg: "Oh, really?"
Bob: "Yes. He doesn't write reviews any more because he's busy discussing choice and consequence RPG mechanics in forums that are being constantly overrun by people who don't give a damn about those things".
Oleg: "..."
Bob: "Yeah, I know. It's as surreal as are dialogues in a badly translated Japanese RPG".
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/10/2008 2:41 PM · Permalink · Report
the game is great as long as you disregard the fact that it was made by the same folks who brought you Baldur's Gate 2 and Knights Of The Old Republic.
You mean it was worse than those, or simply different?
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/10/2008 5:03 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start JazzOleg wrote--] You mean it was worse than those, or simply different? [/Q --end JazzOleg wrote--]
Let me put it this way: if Mass Effect was created by any other company, I wouldn't dare to compare it to Bioware games. It's an outstanding achievement, and saying "it's no KOTOR" won't do anybody any good, right?
But as it is, I have to admit that the game is a pale shadow of what Bioware is (maybe "was" is more appropriate) capable of.
As for review, I really don't know. I tried to write one for STALKER and Katamri Damacy, both ended up filled with stupid cliches and didn't say a word to explain why I loved those games so much.
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/12/2008 8:17 PM · Permalink · Report
Ok. The review is ready. Now if somebody approves a PC platform for the game that would be really swell.
Sicarius (61514) on 6/14/2008 8:38 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
as I already told you, the changes are mostly in favor of the controls.
The mini game to hack a computer has changed from the stupid Simon says thing to a small frogger-like game. The hud has been significantly changed to provide the best use for the mouse and keyboard and there's now a quickslot bar where you can put your abilities and easily access them (in the 360-version you always had to pause and select it). And of course higher resolution and all that stuff. Not even the downloadable content is included on the DVD but will instead be available later as a download.
I point you to this page of Gamespy's review: http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/bioware-rpg/877353p3.html
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/14/2008 12:37 PM · Permalink · Report
Just finished the game. Wonderful, nearly flawless. One of my best gaming experiences in recent years.
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/16/2008 4:06 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start JazzOleg wrote--]Wonderful, nearly flawless. One of my best gaming experiences in recent years. [/Q --end JazzOleg wrote--]
I've read your review just now and I find it very amusing that while our "Good" and "Bad" sections are nearly identical you finish your review with "I love most of the games made by Bioware. And I love "Mass Effect", in a way perhaps even more than the others." I say something like "a company of Bioware’s stature should be ashamed of releasing a game like this".
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/17/2008 5:23 AM · Permalink · Report
I've read your review just now and I find it very amusing that while our "Good" and "Bad" sections are nearly identical you finish your review with "I love most of the games made by Bioware. And I love "Mass Effect", in a way perhaps even more than the others." I say something like "a company of Bioware’s stature should be ashamed of releasing a game like this".
That's because those bad things bothered you more than they bothered me. For me, there is only one criterion for judging a game - my enjoyment from it. While I'm aware of the flaws of Mass Effect, they didn't prevent me from enjoying the game enormously. In other words, for me the good outweighs the bad heavily in this game.
Indra was here (20747) on 6/17/2008 8:00 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start JazzOleg wrote--] That's because those bad things bothered you more than they bothered me. For me, there is only one criterion for judging a game - my enjoyment from it. [/Q --end JazzOleg wrote--]
Curious. Name one game that actually pissed you off.
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/18/2008 5:25 AM · Permalink · Report
Curious. Name one game that actually pissed you off.
I usually try to concentrate on enjoyable moments in games rather than on non-enjoyable ones. Therefore it happens rarely that a game truly "pisses me off". Of course, there are games I don't like, but I simply don't play them.
I had to check my reviews to track the latest game that sort of pissed me off... "Xianjian Qixia Zhuan 4", due to lack of any innovative elements and dreadfully outdated RPG system.
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/18/2008 9:47 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start JazzOleg wrote--] I usually try to concentrate on enjoyable moments in games rather than on non-enjoyable ones. [/Q --end JazzOleg wrote--]
That's understandable and all. I am sure I enjoyed Mass Effect in the same way and to the extent you have, but when you write a review you, well, have to be... what's that word?
Objective, yes? Or at least try to. You know, saying to yourself something like "Yes, I have enjoyed this game a great deal but let's step back and see how it objectively compares to others". You have an extensive knowledge of past games, why not put it to some advantage?
Every game must be considered in context of other games. In your case, you just love (sometimes justifiably) every game you play, choosing to ignore its flaws. I think your reviews were better when you didn't, and tried to approach them from a bit more skeptic point of view, nitpicking all the fine details.
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/18/2008 10:30 AM · Permalink · Report
but when you write a review you, well, have to be... what's that word?
Objective, yes? Or at least try to.
No, I don't have to. There is no such thing as being objective when you express your opinion about a game. It's "liked it" or '"didn't like it". Liked it - it's great. Didn't like it - it's not. You of all people should understand that.
You have an extensive knowledge of past games, why not put it to some advantage?
I have. I said that Mass Effect has deeper RPG system than Jade Empire, that its universe is more interesting than the one of KOTOR, that it has a new combat system that wasn't implemented yet.
I also mentioned in the Bad section that its locations are too small, unlike some of the previous Bioware games. But I can't give it a lesser score because of that. It's not a big flaw for me. I would have perhaps given it 5 out of 5 if it had bigger locations and more NPCs. The way it is, I gave it 4.5 out of 5.
In your case, you just love (sometimes justifiably) every game you play, choosing to ignore its flaws.
Dude, you did absolutely the same in your review of Witcher.
We are all like that. Every single reviewer here or on any other site. We love games irrationally. And it's good so.
Indra was here (20747) on 6/19/2008 8:23 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start JazzOleg wrote--]Objective, yes? Or at least try to.
No, I don't have to. There is no such thing as being objective when you express your opinion about a game. [/Q --end JazzOleg wrote--]
Hmm. You do have a point there. But that does explain a lot. Many "reviewers" have different idea's on what a review should be (if you come to think about it, its like saying "have idea's on what an opinion should be").
Standardtized-subjective-opinion?
Hmm.
ponders in thought
We are all like that. Every single reviewer here or on any other site.
We? Who are we calling we? :)
Unicorn Lynx (181666) on 6/20/2008 6:03 AM · Permalink · Report
Many "reviewers" have different idea's on what a review should be (if you come to think about it, its like saying "have idea's on what an opinion should be").
Absolutely. That's the beauty of reviewing :)
We? Who are we calling we? :)
Anyone who reviews games here. Including you ;)
The Fabulous King (1332) on 6/18/2008 11:12 AM · Permalink · Report
Martyne: "Every game must be considered in context of other games."
While that sounds like a good ideal to strive for, and I've tried to follow this myself, I just have to ask you this - have you always considered every game you've played in context of other games? Always?
St. Martyne (3648) on 6/18/2008 11:51 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--]Martyne: "Every game must be considered in context of other games."
While that sounds like a good ideal to strive for, and I've tried to follow this myself, I just have to ask you this - have you always considered every game you've played in context of other games? Always? [/Q --end Drunken Irishman wrote--]
Of course not. It's impossible. It's just "a good ideal to strive for".