Mass Effect 2

[Weenis]

No release date yet, but the first teaser trailer has hit the net.
oIOaJA-apis

[patcooper]

I read it will not be coming out until 2010

[Weenis]

I read it will not be coming out until 2010

Supposedly we'll be getting a release date at GDC this year.

I wouldn't be shocked if it was holiday 09...

[STDSkillz]

Cerberus eh? Now I'm glad I read the second book.

[BeeRand]

I'll give anything that Bioware does a chance, but I didn't think the first one was that great. The story was excellent and so was the dialogue element, but the combat seemed like it was done half-ass. And the portions of the game in which you were driving a vehicle were absolutely awful.

If they expand on the original idea and improve the combat as well as eliminate the vehicles, it will be amazing.

[Weenis]

I'll give anything that Bioware does a chance, but I didn't think the first one was that great. The story was excellent and so was the dialogue element, but the combat seemed like it was done half-ass. And the portions of the game in which you were driving a vehicle were absolutely awful.

If they expand on the original idea and improve the combat as well as eliminate the vehicles, it will be amazing.

I don't think they'd eliminate the vehicles, but I hope they'll at least fix them(it).

I guess the main changes in 2 will be tweaks to the engine and combat systems... The game isn't going to fundamentally change, so they should have plenty of time to refine the engine.

[STDSkillz]

I'm wondering what's up with the Geth in the Normandy armor.

[Weenis]

I'm wondering what's up with the Geth in the Normandy armor.

A guess...

The Normandy was destroyed, Sheppard presumed dead, and the geth made armor out of the wreckage?

I wonder if we'll even play as Sheppard in this one?

[STDSkillz]

A guess...

The Normandy was destroyed, Sheppard presumed dead, and the geth made armor out of the wreckage?

I wonder if we'll even play as Sheppard in this one?

My theory is the Alliance (or maybe Cerberus) took several of the dead Geth bodies and reprogrammed them for their own use.

I know for a fact that many fans will feel that it's a "cop out" if Shepard dies right off the bat. Bioware told everyone to hold on to their old ME savegame, too, so I don't think Shepard is dead. I'm thinking he (or she) has been declared dead by the Alliance in order to more easily be a spy and move through the galaxy undetected.

[Archetype]

Let me be the first to say:

FUCK MASS EFFECT.

[STDSkillz]

As in "Fuck, Mass Effect was good?" I concur.

[Archetype]

I hated it. It was like Fable, I followed that shit waiting for it to come out, and when it did, I beat it in 20 hours? Fuck that. I don't want my extras to be driving around on 20 barren planets doing the same thing over and over again.

[STDSkillz]

I didn't realize 20 hours was so short. But, then again, I don't exactly play tons of RPGs. Got about the same amount of playtime from the first two KOTORs and those may be my favorite games of all time.

[Archetype]

Blame Morrowind. I think I clocked close to 100 hours when I finished, and I still didn't do everything I could have. Plus, I thought the first KOTOR was at least 40hrs. I didn't have a problem with either, but when you take a game like Mass Effect, and purport it to be the biggest game ever created, I expect it to actually take a hefty amount of time to finish.

[BeeRand]

Blame Morrowind. I think I clocked close to 100 hours when I finished, and I still didn't do everything I could have. Plus, I thought the first KOTOR was at least 40hrs. I didn't have a problem with either, but when you take a game like Mass Effect, and purport it to be the biggest game ever created, I expect it to actually take a hefty amount of time to finish.

Absolutely agree with you. Morrowind completely changed my perception of RPGs. I remember climbing a set of stairs and jumping off of it for literally hours on end to get my acrobatic skill higher, lol. I also remember killing the entire town of Balmora and proclaiming myself king. What a fantastic game. Only flaw was the market system where you had to spend hours upon hours "trading down" with the creep to sell anything of value.

Mass Effect was still good though. I didn't expect anything more than 20-30 hours out of it so that didn't disappoint me. Fable sucked fierce though. Critics were hailing it as the be-all end-all of open-ended, "morrowind-style" RPGs and it was like 15 hours long. I was soooo let down by that release. And the sequel was even worse! It sat on my shelf as a paper weight while I waited two months for Lionhead to un-fuck it with the patch.

[Weenis]

Absolutely agree with you. Morrowind completely changed my perception of RPGs. I remember climbing a set of stairs and jumping off of it for literally hours on end to get my acrobatic skill higher, lol.

That's why games like Morrowind bore me. Level grinding or walking form one place to the other for 100 hours isn't my idea of fun.

Give me a game with a superior story like Mass Effect or Fable 2.

[BeeRand]

That's why games like Morrowind bore me. Level grinding or walking form one place to the other for 100 hours isn't my idea of fun.

Give me a game with a superior story like Mass Effect or Fable 2.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the great story of those games, but at the same time, gameplay should be a priority. Fable 2 was so bugged and glitchy that for many people, it was unplayable pre-patch. Sloppy.

Fallout 3 came out around the same time and is infinitely better.

[Archangel]

*boner*

Seriously, if they make it last, say, 70 hours or so and add some tweaks (better vehicle sections, maybe some space combat), this could be the greatest game ever.

But then, I'm the kind of guy who's logged 150 hours in Fallout 3 and 240 hours in Final Fantasy XII, so what do I know.

[STDSkillz]

I'm feeling the hype from this game too damned much. But with Drew Karpyshyn on the writing team, I can rest assured the story will kick ass. Seriously: KOTOR 1, both the Darth Bane books (with the third one on the way), Jade Empire, and everything Mass Effect related--the man knows how to write a good story.

[Archetype]

That's why games like Morrowind bore me. Level grinding or walking form one place to the other for 100 hours isn't my idea of fun.

Give me a game with a superior story like Mass Effect or Fable 2.
I could see an argument for Mass Effect, but Fable and Fable 2 can suck on my long bone. Better story my fucking ass.

Also, Oblivion cut down on the walking and was still a good 80-100 or so hours.

[BeeRand]

I could see an argument for Mass Effect, but Fable and Fable 2 can suck on my long bone. Better story my fucking ass.

Also, Oblivion cut down on the walking and was still a good 80-100 or so hours.

My only bone of contention with Oblivion was the change they made in regards to monster level scaling. I would have preferred that they place the level on some dungeons ridiculously high to control your entrance rather than level all monsters according to your level. Almost made it pointless to get stronger beyond a certain point.

Archangel, I couldn't really get into FFXII. I was really letdown by the aeon system which, unless you can elighten me, seemed impossible to use in a meaningful encounter. However, I played at least 100 hours of FFX (30 of that was blitzball). Personally, I thought X was the better game.

[Archangel]

I liked X better, as well, but I only logged 220 hours on that one, so I used XII as the example.

[Draven X 23]

I read that you should keep your Mass Effect saves for the next game. How does that work for the multi-platform?

[Weenis]

I read that you should keep your Mass Effect saves for the next game. How does that work for the multi-platform?

You probably can just keep your customized Sheppard the same.

Maybe you can even start with your original stats like when you start a new game and use the same character?

None of that stuff would really be a big loss for non 360 users.

[Archangel]

Um... because there are no stats or trophies on the PC or PS3?

[Weenis]

Mass Effect 2 announced for early 2010, might still be 360 exclusive.

While officially announcing Mass Effect 2 (http://www.joystiq.com/tag/mass-effect-2/) -- a game we already knew to be in development for some time now (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/joystiq-interview-biowares-ray-muzyka-talks-mass-effect-2-dlc/) -- to the world, publisher EA confirmed the franchise's continuation on the Xbox 360 and PC platforms, while staying mum on PS3. Notably, Matt Atwood of BioWare told CVG (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=184788) last month, "I believe we'll be Xbox 360 exclusive for at least a short period of time. We're still working out the details on that, but we've had a great relationship with Microsoft and done very well."

[STDSkillz]

Here's (http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/14235013/mass-effect-2/videos/bioware_inv_mass2_32709.html) a video interview that IGN did with a couple of the guys at Bioware about ME 2. And here's (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/967/967506p1.html) an article IGN recently did regarding two demo videos.

[STDSkillz]

BioWare lays out their E3 plans for Mass Effect 2 in this E3 prelude video, giving us an early look at the expansive changes coming to the next chapter in their sci-fi epic.

Link (http://kotaku.com/5256144/biowares-mass-effect-2-e3-prelude)

[NOTKyle]

I'm just starting Mass Effect 1, and having alot of trouble getting into it. I'm so used to Fallout and Oblivion.

[STDSkillz]

Opposite for me.

[NOTKyle]

I really want to, I think I need to get used to the control system and whatnot.

I dig the "playable" cutscenes.

[Ocelot]

Can't wait for this one. The first Mass Effect was brilliant. I'm psyched they're letting us use the same shepard, or at least the same file from the first one.

[Kerjack]

I really want to, I think I need to get used to the control system and whatnot.

I dig the "playable" cutscenes.

While I loved the game the citadel is a little of a overload to be thrown into right at the get go. And the inventory system sucked. But again I loved the game, great story and backstory plus the last few hours of play are a edge of your seat trill ride.

[STDSkillz]

I thought it was very similar to KOTOR and how it just threw you on Taris. It was a bit overwhelming at first; you just gotta persist and you'll be hooked.

[Kerjack]

Agreed. But why are you still here man, get to that party and do it.

[STDSkillz]

Sigh. Fiiiine.

[Kerjack]

If you won't do it for yourself do it for us

[NOTKyle]

Alright I'm putting Mass Effect into the Xbox.

If I'm in bed before 3 I'm going to be disappointed with this game.

[Warden]

Anything Bioware does, I will buy. Only game that I did not enjoy at all was Jade Empire. For some reason, I just could not get into the story at all.

[Change]

Yeah bioware have yet to let me down but i haven't played jade empire.

[Skybase]

While I loved the game the citadel is a little of a overload to be thrown into right at the get go. And the inventory system sucked. But again I loved the game, great story and backstory plus the last few hours of play are a edge of your seat trill ride.

I remember I had to get early the next day, after I beat Mass Effect. I swear I thought it was going to end like 10 times before it actually did. . .and it was all so exciting and climactic that I couldn't stop until I was finished. . .

Oh. . .okay back to Mass Effect. I was up until after 4am finishing it up before I even realized how long I'd been hooked into the ending.

[Ocelot]

New 1 minute trailer

49799.html

Can not wait.

[Kerjack]

Can not wait.


Spa-fucking-looge.

[Change]

*Picks jaw up off floor* Amazing!

[Archangel]

Well, I'm hard.

[STDSkillz]

Here's a good hand's-on article IGN had for ME2:
http://pc.ign.com/articles/991/991786p1.html

What I noticed:

And now for some news that might upset the hardcore Mass Effect fans. Your level from your first Mass Effect game will not carry over into the second game, something done in the interest of maintaining a degree of balance. The decisions you made in the first game will have a major impact on the story for Mass Effect 2. The team is still figuring out what to do with your skills, but those might get reset as well since the option exists to switch classes at the start of Mass Effect 2.

Unfortunate, but understandable.

[Archangel]

WHAT THE FUCK DID I GET TO LEVEL 60 FOR, THEN!!!?!!!11?

[johnnychacski]

Wait I thought i heard when they talked to the guys at E3 it would. Fuck.

[STDSkillz]

Shitload of new gameplay footage:

52551

[johnnychacski]

The first Mass Effect was one of my favorite games, this one is looking as good as the first, I honestly can't wait for it.

[Kerjack]

Mass Effect 2

Reason #1 to keep on living.

[johnnychacski]

Reason #1 and 2 for me.

[Kerjack]

Delicious Carbs are my number 2

[johnnychacski]

Not a bad number 2.

[Le Goat]

I guess I should play Mass Effect, huh?

[Bizz]

I guess I should play Mass Effect, huh?

Yes.