Terror_K wrote...
Ramus Quaritch wrote...
Regardless of how you feel about the presence of RPG elements in ME3, there is one area that I can say Bioware has changed in both ME2 and (presumably) ME3. ME2 and ME3 have changed the "feel" and "spirit" of the Mass Effect universe. Mass Effect 1 felt like a 1980's science fiction movie (with better graphics). Everything from the music, to the art and architecture styles, the exploration, and some of the campy-ness (while still being serious where necessary) screamed 80s sci fi to me. And that was a huge part of ME1's appeal to me. It had that unique charm that I just don't find in most games today.
ME2 and (from what I've seen) ME3 have gone away from that. They are more like modern science fiction blockbusters in music, aesthetics, and style. Personally, I would have liked the sequels to have retained at least some of that classic 80s feel. That whole new VGA trailer seemed like a Michael Bay movie to me. Before you all jump on me, I know that ME3 is more intelligent than a Michael Bay movie (I certainly hope so). And I think it will be a satisfying conclusion to an epic trilogy. But it is indicative of the shift in style that, in my personal opinion, takes away from the charm that the first game gave the series. I know ME3 is the Reaper invasion, so it's going to be a different style. But I still do miss the first game's style and would have liked at least some of it to carry through in the sequels.
I feel largely the same way, though I would say ME2 and what I've seen from ME3 still retain a certain degree of that classic sci-fi vibe, but merely that it's been twisted style with to be more "modern Hollywood action blockbuster" in some respects. The visual style still seems consistent with what ME1 set, and the direction overall seems more Ridley Scott than Michael Bay. But overall the tone and feel of it has shifted to a less mature, more bombastic style, and sometimes it just feels like they want things to be "badass!!1" too often at the expense of logic and consistency. Style seems to rule over substance with ME2 onwards.
I suppose a good analogy would be that it doesn't feel like the Michael Bay reboot that DA2 did compared to DAO, but more like a different, younger director has come onto the project after a veteran sci-fi director was in charge of the first one. As if they're somewhat trying to carry on in the same style and not reboot the thing, but want to introduce their own new ideas and more modern, action-oriented direction techniques at the same time. ME1 was like the Star Trek movies featuring the original TOS cast, while ME2 and ME3 is come across more like Star Trek: Nemesis.
Star Trek: Nemesis? Ouch! That's a low-blow!
You make a compelling point, though, in that ME1 and and ME2 appear to be the products of two entirely different creative teams. For all it's flaws, ME1 just sells its universe better than ME2 in a way I can't really explain. Yes, exploring the overly-mountainous and barren planets with the Mako could be tedious at times, but at least it created the idea that there was a universe you could explore. And by exploring you might come across some interesting sidequests, like the rogue AI on the Citadel, the derelict spacecraft where a woman had gone crazy and massacred the entire crew, or negotiating a hostage situation. ME2 gave you "sidequests" (and I'm being exceedingly generous in my use of that word) such as "I'm hungry! Get me a fish!" and "My krogan boyfriend is reciting bad poetry! Make him stop!"
As for ME3 RPG elements, well...like ME2, I predict you'll be able to take up the role of a Shepard who hoses the galaxy down with bullets while being a nice chap, or a Shepard who hoses the galaxy down with bullets while being a jerk, with absolutely no divergence whatsoever. There will be a little XP number squirreled away somewhere, and when that little number gets higher than anotherlittle number, you'll get a skill point. That skill point will allow to you kill a typical enemy in seven seconds or so, as opposed to eight or nine seconds.
That's about it.





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