Someone With Mass wrote...
If people are really expecting Mass Effect to be like one of those classic RPGs, they're barking up the wrong tree.
Me? I can't care less.
I play the game for the character developments and the story, not for pointless stats and inventory systems.
You've got alot of problem in your statements here...
1. There's no such thing as a "classic RPG". An RPG is an RPG, there's no "New and improved!" version. ME2 isn't an RPG, it's a Shooter. It fails all of the fundamental basics of an RPG, the character is completely undefined, the character has no inherent skill. Oblivion is an adventure game. Slapping the acronym on a box and screaming "We're the new RPG!" doesn't make it so, if it plays like a Shooter or an Adventure game then that's what it is.
2. If the "Stats and inventory are pointless", then your designer has failed. Your designer was unable to develop a balanced functional system. If a stat or inventory item goes in, then it should serve some defined purpose within the game. Bethseda is the poster child for designers who can't design, they include all kinds of stats and then make the entire game player skill dependent making the stats irrelevant. They include a ton of completely useless inventory items, like forks and spoons. Yet they can't manage to even make their "Radiant AI!" remember you just saved the town 30 seconds ago.
I *really* don't understand why people try to make RPG = story, Adventure games are about story, RPG's are a great deal more complicated. Adventure games are centered around telling you a story and letting you use your skills, RPGs are about your character's skills, and his progression as he pursues some goal.