Mass Effect: Andromeda

I almost forgot how fun Mass Effect 2's Vanguard was. Things are a little boring at first due to you not having enough points to really use any of your powers, but when you do... there's nothing more satisfying than turning a dozen heavily armed mercs into a flaming pile of corpses in under two minutes. Due to actually counting them, I'm also noticing that Mass Effect 2 has a way more dense enemy count than the first game does; the kill count averages 50-100 per main story mission.

Anyway, I'm playing this game on Veteran again, so most encounters are pretty easy. In an effort to amuse myself some more I decided to let my squadmates go through the majority of some levels without me doing anything to see which one gets the most kills (they can only clear N7 missions completely alone; YMIR mechs at the end of many story missions are apparently too much, that's where I have to step in). Results:

Jack's Recruitment- Zaeed vs Garrus. Winner: Zaeed (he was just better with his rifle, Garrus's Overload couldn't quite make up for it; at one point, he actually had to clear a whole room alone after Garrus went Leeroy Jenkins and got shot down).

Tali's Recruitment- Garrus vs Grunt. Winner: Garrus (Incisor >>>> Mattock apparently, and Overload was of course quite a balance changer in his favor. Actually, this one may not have been very fair).

Jacob's Loyalty- Jacob vs Tali. Winner: Tali (killed the majority of both the regular soldiers and the mechs, surprisingly enough; given Jacob's ammo power and biotics, it's kind of embarrassing Tali was able to kill several times as many regular humans as him; he's just really... cautious, with his gun).

edited 7th Jan '14 10:47:58 PM by CPFMfan

It takes a lot of willpower to play a Vanguard and just sit back and let your allies do the killing.

But thats just not as satisfying as using your personal FTL travel power to headbutt a Krogan warlord before putting a shotgun round into his face.

You think the playable character for this game will be as well-written and memorable as Shepard?

Even if they are no one will admit it.

At least not the vocal people.

One thing I hope they do, even though it may be harder to write: Have several playable races.

Or maybe have multiple customizable characters of different races who are constantly brushing each others stories but don't actually interact directly until the end of the game. You play as one for a chapter then switch to the other then the other and you bounce around.

That would be hard but awesome.

While it was truly an awful game, I like how Resident Evil 6 had all the characters meet up and intertwine, it actually felt like each of them had their own separate stories going on beside yours.

I actually would not like having multiple characters. I cannot immerse myself the same way if there are multiple characters because I'm usually roleplaying as "me". Meaning I take the choices I would take in the exact same situation (in the first playthrough, anyway) and try to identify with the character. Having multiple mes would be confusing.

I'm hoping that the character is more customizable than Shepard in case of choices. At least three or four answers available would be better imho than more characters. Not a big fan of the interrupts though. My curiosity let me always take the first one appearing. Instead of a general Karma Meter I'd rather have an individual influence system like in KotOR2. But maybe with characters, groups and races considered. If, for example, you don't save a Volus colony all Volus will be more antagonistic towards you.

What would be really cool is a customizable ship. Or a choice of several ships. An old, rundown one if you're a Quarian, a luxury yacht for when you play as a Rich Bitch and a Spartan ship for a military character, an imposing one for a Boisterous Bruiser and an unassuming ship for a subtle character.

edited 8th Jan '14 9:30:47 AM by Antiteilchen

I don't know, I think that works best for literature, not so much video games.

Only sometimes.

But if I do that, the fights end so quick. It is fun, of course, but there are just not enough enemies in the game to really satisfy my shotgun's bloodlust. Though really, my shotty is just temporary, I'll be reunited with my true love soon on the Collector Cruiser. Or maybe I'll still use the shotgun.

Plus I have this weird need to let my NPC teammates get a respectable amount of kills in pretty much every game I play, even if it would technically be quicker for me to do it. I don't know why. Maybe because it makes the protagonist feel less OP and somewhat dilutes the feeling of It's Up to You.

I don't think Shepard was very well written, especially not in the first and third games. So... yes?

edited 8th Jan '14 9:48:41 AM by CPFMfan

Spoiler Warning had Mordin completly clear one of the rooms with infinite enemies during Garrus recruitment mission all alone while they were busy talking about other stuff.

Edit: As in "Enemies stopped spawning" clearing the room. I didn't even know that was possible.

It was on Insanity which is why I was so suprised.

edited 8th Jan '14 2:44:12 PM by LordofLore

Yeah, that's not exactly all that remarkable, unless it was Insanity. Incinerate works wonders against Blood Pack, and you didn't have to kill that many enemies to keep them from respawning. Most squadmates are capable of similar feats if they're properly leveled and left alone (they require more direction in the third game due to the more complicated combat system, but many missions can still be cleared without the player personally firing a shot).

Oh, on that note, a tip to anyone playing the third game: do not give squadmates the Typhoon if you actually want to play the game yourself. Especially not James or Ashley.

edited 8th Jan '14 2:43:28 PM by CPFMfan

This, James will slaughter everything you throw at him if you give him the Typhoon.

edited 8th Jan '14 7:21:40 PM by TheCuriousFan

Mass Effect 4 supposedly going to be as large as Dragon Age Inquisition

I sure hope so

And just one of Inquisition's areas is supposed to be as big as DA 2, so... yeah, that's pretty good. I'd be happy with that.

edited 22nd Jan '14 12:26:36 PM by kingtiger522

I really hope ME 4 is good.

Though, I'm one of those weird people who had no major issues with any of the games, so it will probably be good enough for me.

You dare genuinely enjoy something and not spread vitriol and lies? And discuss this on the internet, no less?    BURN THE HERETIC!   

I am cautiously highly optimistic for 4. I just have a horrible feeling that the new PC(s) will be received even worse than Raiden was.

At least ME 1 had 12ish rooms on the Citadel. The entire thing was forgettable in 2, and the refugee room was pretty much the only engaging part of it in 3 (not counting the DLC, which was made of win).

edited 22nd Jan '14 4:03:02 PM by TheAirman

Fuck yeah, that's more like it, no more running around the same 12 rooms on the Citadel

edited 22nd Jan '14 3:57:11 PM by stripes-the-zebra

True but you've got to remember that Raiden more than made up for it in MGS4 and Revengeance.

I am a bit concerned about the new lead character though, they've got some massive shoes to fill

Is Shepard really as loved as Solid Snake, though?

I don't think most people are really all that attached to her/him. The Normandy crew, though...

I'm gonna miss Garrus

And Tali

And Wrex

And everyone else really but those three especially

Ditto, but also add James and Javik. We hardly knew thee.

Liara, Tali, Garrus, Wrex, Javik, Joker, EDI, James. You will be missed, you merry band of brothers (and sisters).

Yeah Shepard isn't as much of a character as Snake. I still like him, and he IS a good character IMO, just not a really iconic one who became an out-of-story icon like Snake did.

edited 22nd Jan '14 4:17:15 PM by stripes-the-zebra

Not having them may be beneficial in distancing it from 3.