NOTE: I think this is wrong thread? It focues on Thane Cure but also goes over ME2, ending, Vega, etc... So I'll delete. This is like my first time getting on here. haha.
I’m sorry ahead of time if I upset anyone. I’ve been mulling over this for a few weeks now, and I felt the need to express my opinion. You have every right to your own, of course, and I respect it, but the following will be strongly worded and forceful to make more of an impact on the developers. So I sincerely hope I don’t offend. And I know it’s a repeat of what you’ve probably heard, but I hope I expanded some.
Sorry that this is so long, but I have a lot to say on the way the characters, particularly LIs and ESPECIALLY Thane and Jacob were handled, but as a quick answer:
Yes, I think there should be the option. If there isn’t, the topic should be expanded on, the romance should be expanded on, and there should be SOME SORT of recognition after Thane’s death. Shep can break tables or Garrus can offer some kind of comfort, but a scribble on a wall does not really cut it. Death was heroic, but also kinda ‘aye’ since he saved one Salarian you probably could’ve protected and Mordin kinda saved billions of lives if you make certain choices. (Ah, see there! Your choices affect the outcome. Now where’s that with Thane/Jacob/ME2 LIs in general? There’s some, more than most to be fair, and I appreciate it. But you could’ve gone a step further, as you did with Kaidan/Ashley/Liara/Tali/Garrus/etc) Prayer scene was great, beautiful for sure, but there’s nothing special for those who romanced him. Same thing with his dialogue before in the hospital. An interrupt, weird moany groping in public, and a few ‘sihas’ does not do justice to the previous romance. And why in the world is his cup still in Life Support? And I know Shep doesn’t exactly have the BILLIONS of resources Illusive Man got, but if a whole person can be revived or a centuries long genophage ended, why can’t some wet lung tissue be fixed?
Just because you personally won't be choosing the "cure" path does not mean it should
automatically be removed as an option. Likewise, simply because you dislike Thane should not eliminate other possibilities for the few who didn't stick with ME1 LIs or pre-romance Garrus in ME2. It is not a forced choice simply because it’s available, and though I can see how it could change your overall view of the game, I personally believe that his death was the copout instead of a miracle cure being the lazy way out (as it typically is in books/movie/games/etc. Horrible illness? Well, no worries, POOF you’re a-okay after all the drama. No. I see that’s a problem. But here, it’s not completely “sudden” after the hints/foreshadowing and it wouldn’t be a total “miracle” by just going unexplained. There’d [hopefully] be history, context, and more explanation to make the cure believable. I’m in disbelief about a lot of stuff in the game, but most people seem to be fine that Shep was “suddenly” given a “miracle” when the Illusive Man saved him. It’s different, but it can be related. Because it’s explained, and it gives you a character you obviously care about and a way to continue the game, you’re fine with it. This is how Thane’s cure will be for a few others. Clear, possible, explained, and a continuation to a good character, a great romance, and a decent game that just needs the replay value it would receive with some DLCs.) And Bioware can get more money and keep a lot of fans. I know I’m not the only one refusing to pre-order their games. This is worse than using the same two or three dungeons the entire time. And they’d better not just ignore everything in DA:2 when they make the third one. ME2, though my personal favorite, was definitely the “Lion King 1 and ½” of the series. So you just sit in jail for six months, and all the characters you so painstakingly brought together just sit around and hibernate? I’m fine with no one accepting that the Reapers are coming, even though chunks of insect aliens floating around in deep space, but I feel like, despite the good story and interesting history and new characters and expansion of older characters and a more intense hatred for Cerberus, not much was carried on to ME3.
I'm going to address this mostly as a response to Thane as an LI (as he was for my Fem!shep in ME2), but the highlight on the romance is just isolated evidence of the growing lack of choice in ME3. I still thought it was a pretty game, still fun to play, but as the 'finale' to one of my favorite series, it was a let down for $83. (The art book doesn't even include Thane. Guess I have to pick up the big version.) Especially after all the choice and actual roleplaying in previous games. DA:O is a great example. How many endings were there, as a whole and for each romance individually? Romance is not the center of the game, but it is an integral part that allows for a little extra fun and for a larger fanbase. If I wanted a game with a rather rigid plot, PC customization (levels, appearance, name), basic "romance", and a dialogue option between "good/paragon" and "bad/renegade", I could play larger, longer games like Skyrim. The extra options and customization in earlier Bioware games is what makes them a little extra special.
I feel he was introduced at a bad time. Kaidan, Ashley, Liara (until DLC) are not really around. So fans clung to older characters, especially favorites like Garrus. Garrus being made a romance option for Fem!sheps stole the light from Thane, despite Thane being, imo, a great character. I found Garrus, though loved, to be too "bro-y" so I went with Thane and actually enjoyed him. Better render of the assassin (a little stereotypical as the mature, remorseful one, but I loved him) than Kai Leng was (as a little more typical asian ninja assassin; I did enjoy his design though.) He is more than an assassin, more than his terminal illness, more than a remorseful father. He is not defined by his syndrome and I don’t think a cure would just ruin his character. You can get tragedy, sorrow, drama, etc. without death. The suffering itself should have been expanded on. “Less strenuous” and a failing cardiovascular system doesn’t really explain the pain Thane is going through as he basically drowns over time.
Thane shouldn't have been the poster character for ME2 if he was going to die as early as he did in ME3. I'm personally fine with him dying; I understand how a "sudden cure" would detract from the buildup and drama in ME2. However, there were several hints of other options (beyond the Hanar) that could have possibly been implemented with proper explanation. Even so, it should have been a topic of discussion with Thane, regardless of but especially if he is romanced. If he doesn't want a lung transplant, can you not at least ask why, even if it does not change his choice?
What about heterosexual F!sheps? Which, yes, some people actually are. I know F!Shep is only 1/5 of your players, and I’m fine with you focusing on the bigger fan base, the more popular characters. You want to please more people and hopefully get better sales. And that’s great, it makes the game an overall better experience for more people. But there are other prominent, though not statistically dominant sections of your fanbase that would
appreciate a little more attention. Not all F!sheps are in fact dudes that wanna look at a hot butt and get lesbian action, nor are all F!sheps lesbians. I’m fine with the lesbian options, but picking between Garrus and Kaidan as the only two male romances is lame, compared to M!sheps multiple hetero options. Also, gay!sheps only get Kaidan or Cortez? F!sheps can’t have Ashley? That seems a little more than “unfair”, used lightly because it is just a videogame, and a good one despite these problems. I’m not a video game developer and for good reason, I don’t have the talent or the skills. I think you just made a big mistake/oversight. What if you didn’t join with the Garrus fans in ME2? What if you killed Kaidan on Virmire? Your character dies alone without the paramour achievement? ESPECIALLY when a great character and one in need of some help are still available from ME2? Even though you create a James Vega, whom I also enjoyed? The flirtation was a perfect way to “move on” from Thane or Jacob (or ya know, you could just go with the exboyfriend Thane was protecting. Not an insult at all...) But he’s not an option, just a tease? I can see why he’d be more of a ‘booty call’ than a romance, but at least make the booty call! Give some sort of choice. I think players deserve a free patch, but I know there are many, including me, who are completely willing to hack over even more cash to get a DLC to fix these mistakes. I don’t want to be punished because I didn’t pick fan favorites. Your games are great, but a lot of fans kind of got ignored and shafted. I like the new elements, even multiplayer, but I worry they are the cause for the woes in the game. I can get on maps and shoot people on COD or Halo. I can’t have a more interesting campaign.
Players are forced a replay of ME3 (which with the ever publicized ending, isn’t much of an excitement, despite some great additions to the game) {I’m not gonna even complain about the Ashes DLC even if it was Day One because I like Javik!
}, ME1 if you killed Kaidan on Virmire, or ME2 if you didn't go with Garrus. Same thing if you romanced Jacob, who I enjoyed in his comic but who's romance in ME2 was pretty horrible. “I love you but I’m a baby daddy so back off” wasn’t very much closure either. At least Thane got a decent romance in ME2. Lot less memes though. But the priiiiize…
I understand fixing the ending first, since almost everyone is riled up about that. I understand it take resources, time, MONEY, etc to make DLCs, but please make some changes to the romances. I love you guys and I’m glad you’ve given us what you have, and I don’t mean to just criticize or make it seem as though fans like me have just been “targeted”. But I do feel fans like me were a little second thought, and it disappoints me. Going to play M!shep for the better story for now, but I hope it’s not too late to see a great trilogy ended in a slightly better way.
To Ignore the Mass Text Melting Your Eyeballs AKA How To Fix Romances (Solely based on hetero!F!sheps, but applies to ALL ME2 romances from Miranda to Kelly ahahah):
1. Cure Thane be an option. I feel it’s almost necessary after uniting him with Kolyat, promising to take him to a desert, seeing hints of the cure being a possibility in ME2 and Lair of the Shadow Broker specifically. If ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE, discussing Thane’s condition more, reviewing his treatment options, declaring his love for Shepard, showing the crew’s/Shepard’s reaction, etc. should ALL be included. Oh, and I want the achievement.
2. More closure for Jacob fans, but honestly I have no idea how to pick up for him after ME2. I feel sorry for his fans, those who liked the comic book, etc. They are an even smaller group than Thane fans and so it was obvious that Bioware didn’t really care what happened with that romance.
3. Maybe some way for Garrus to be available to new players? I lost my Garrus import under all the saves of my Thane playthrough, and after replyaing ME2 so many times, I don’t want to have to go back AGAIN just to have him be an option. Or don’t make me give up importing my choices/going back to ME1 to save Kaidan just so I can have another option. 2:5, 5:8. Really? That’s fair? You could’ve made it a little more even. And please, no more female LIs for F!Shep. We have enough, I promise.
4. Make James Vega a romance option. Preferably bi for the gay!sheps who didn’t really have many options either. This one should be pretty easy. Lola is almost close to Siha. Well the “ah” anyways. *sigh*
Welp, there goes 30 minutes of typing. I'm a goob.
Modifié par Niemalna, 20 mars 2012 - 12:55 .
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