The Video Games Thread II - The Resurrection

[Hereford Wolf]

Mass Effect's new DLC is not supposed to be very good according to reports.....

Has anybody played it yet?

 

[Stan Hullis]

I've never played Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2.

Could someone give an outline of what the game is? The aim? etc etc.

 

[Toon Wolf]

I've never played Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2.

Could someone give an outline of what the game is? The aim? etc etc.

ME and ME2 are sci-fi RPG shooters. Basic aim is to save the world by building a squad of people and developing their skills to progress on to defeating the progressively more difficult opponents. You explore worlds, talk to characters , complete a range of quests and get to pick which character you want to shag...It has moral choices that mean you can play as a 'paragon' (of virtue) meaning you do the right thing all the time, or you can be a 'renegade', which essentially means you are a violent psycopathic cunt. They are fantastically good games, ME2 being IMO the best game ever, but I'd definitely play ME1 first.

I'm sure Hereford, Langdale and others will add more to this description, but it's a start...

 

[Langers]

Yeah, Toon is right with all of that.

Personally, I still think that gaming has a way to go to catch up with film - too much attention is paid to the physics of the game, the visuals etc (well, obviously - it's a game!) but I do find that it's rare to get a genuinely brilliant storyline in a game.

Mass Effect - and particularly the sequel - rewrite the rule book. You care about the characters, and they are brilliantly written. Some of the best bits of ME2 is meeting up with old friends who you spent HOURS with in ME1.

If they ever released an ME game in episodic formats, it'd be torture - imagine beating a boss character, and not knowing what happens next until the next installment! It's one of those 'just 10 more minutes - shit! - it's 3am!' type of games. Time flies when you play it, simply because it's an utter pleasure to play through it.

It is also possible to argue over your favourite character with someone else who's played it. Whereas games might have one or possibly two pretty ace characters, the amount in the Mass Effect universe arguably reaches double figures.

It's just sublime and I cannot wait until ME3.

 

[Psychowolf]

Toon and Langdale sum it up well enough so not much else to add.

However it is to be noted that you don't have to play the first Mass Effect to enjoy the 2nd. I played the first but never finished it and didn't touch it for about 3 years before getting the 2nd in January. I remembered very very little of the first despite seemingly getting quite far in it. If you have no save game to copy over to Mass Effect 2. you just start with a default Shepard (Your character) with a default history of events that transpired in the first game. Everything is explained well enough in the codex (the game worlds encyclopaedia of everything) and the story is pretty easy to get to grips with.

Mass Effect's new DLC is not supposed to be very good according to reports.....

Has anybody played it yet?

After playing the DLC myself I would tend to agree with many of the reports I have read. It's fun and I enjoyed it, but it did feel a little short and lacked a little in the conversation department. If you want an extra hour an half of mostly shooting then it will be good fun. I think most peoples problem though stems from the fact everyone seemingly expected it to be a bit bridge between games 2 and 3 in terms of story. While it does bridge some of the story I don't feel it quite lived to some expectations people had of it.

 

[Langers]

I would strongly disagree with something there, PW. Playing ME2 without knowing about ME1 is like watching Empire Strikes Back without seeing A New Hope. Not impossible, but nowhere near as good. I would strongly urge anyone who wants to play them to make sure they play both in order.

You have two GREAT games there, and both are available for ridiculously low prices. Play through both. I actually envy anyone who is yet to experience either game.

 

[Psychowolf]

Oh without a doubt should definitely play the first if possible. Even my very basic knowledge of the world from the first game helped me enjoy the 2nd more, and by all accounts those that played and completed the first had a richer experience with the 2nd. Just I'm not sure of which consoles Northern owns other than the PS3 indicated in his post and unfortunately Mass Effect 1 isn't available on PS3.

If you do own a 360 though Northern, I would agree that both games are best played in order and with the ability to transfer your save game from the first to second game, It's best buying both games for the 360. Both are available under £10. If only have PS3 though, it's still worth purchasing the 2nd as it's a thoroughly enjoyable game on it's own merits. Providing you like RPG's and Sci-Fi of course.

 

[t3ch]

I just played the second. I enjoyed myself. Didn't care to bother with the first.

 

[Toon Wolf]

Mass Effect 2 is worth it for the greatest thing in video game history- one of the characters (Mordin) singing Gilbert and Sullivan! Genuinely funny, unexpected and original! Genius game design.

 

[Stan Hullis]

You guys have really managed to sell this game well!

My problem is that they don't have ME on PS3. So I may have to just skip to ME2 which I would rather not do but I dont think i could play ME on my laptop

 

[Toon Wolf]

You guys have really managed to sell this game well!

My problem is that they don't have ME on PS3. So I may have to just skip to ME2 which I would rather not do but I dont think i could play ME on my laptop

Just because you don't have the option of playing the first you shouldn't therefore pass up the opportunity to play the 2nd. It'll still be fantastic as a stand alone game and I'm sure there will be enough background info supplied in the story to fill in most of the back story. Play it, you'll love it, it's fabulous entertainment.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Will do Toon.

I have a few games to trade in so will be making my way to HMV at lunchtime today to purchase it and let you know how I find it

 

[Hereford Wolf]

I've never played Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2.

Could someone give an outline of what the game is? The aim? etc etc.

This is all you need to know Nothern....

http://www.metacritic.com/search/all/mass+effect+2/results

 

[Hereford Wolf]

Mass Effect 2 is worth it for the greatest thing in video game history- one of the characters (Mordin) singing Gilbert and Sullivan! Genuinely funny, unexpected and original! Genius game design.

Toon is correct - it is the greatest moment in gaming history. But be warned...there are so many ways to play the game and so many paths to choose from, that you may never see this.

If you've finished the game, and this passed you by, I suggest you look it up on You Tube.

 

[Stan Hullis]

I have just been out on my lunch and picked up a new copy of Mass Effect 2 for £30.

Also picked up a second hand copy of MW2 to play online for £20.

Coupled with the fact i traded two games in I only ended paying £8. Bargain.

I look forward to losing my Mass Effect virginity tonight

 

[Hereford Wolf]

I don't wish to be crude, but we will all want to know who you shagged, and did you get involved in a threesome?!!

 

[Stan Hullis]

Ha!

So I was inadvertently being quite literal when I said I would losing my Mass Effect virginity!

I will report back later!

 

[Stan Hullis]

For the more seasoned ME players out there how do you recommend I approach playing the game for the first time?

Is it a game where you should play to a strategy or is it best to just do whatever takes my fancy at the time?

 

[Toon Wolf]

For the more seasoned ME players out there how do you recommend I approach playing the game for the first time?

Is it a game where you should play to a strategy or is it best to just do whatever takes my fancy at the time?

In order to upgrade weapons, armour etc etc you need to have resources. So when you get the opporunity, survey and mine as many planets as you can otherwise you'll end up fighting the tougher enemies with pea-shooter weapons...The mining gets a little tiresome but it is worth it. Talk to people as much as you can, find out everything you can and in battles use cover all the time!

 

[Hereford Wolf]

Upgrade your mining equipment asap. It makes the job much easier.