37 réponses à ce sujet

[nickgb]

I want to preface this by saying that I read all the doom-gloom stuff on BSN prior to playing the game, and was especially disappointed with the autodialogue and the day one DLC. My hopes, once high, had been crushed. Still, I figured there would be tradeoffs, and even if Mass Effect 3 was a downgrade from Mass Effect 2, I would be able to conclude the trilogy and at least somewhat enjoy the experience. I still got the game under this line of thinking.

I was wrong - I'm loving the experience. I'm not an easy person to please, too. Some people are claiming the game "isn't a Mass Effect game", so I want to clear up the main areas of contention there.

Autodialogue

Yes, it's an issue, and probably the biggest flaw other than the face import issue in the game. Your Shepard will talk more on his own than he ever has, and in some very rare instances, it will be something you didn't want him to say. 90% of the time, however, the autodialogue largely consists of smaller, neutral portions of a conversation which didn't contribute much. Moreover, autodialogue is hardly 95% of all dialogue or whatever others are claiming - it's a lot, but most major decisions in a conversation still are generally left up to you and I've never had any serious conversation in which I didn't have at least one say (you often have plenty of dialogue wheel options in bigger conversations).

What Bioware did here was a step back and frankly it's a design flaw. But it is not gamebreaking, doesn't remove all semblance of "your Shepard", and doesn't ruin the interactivity of the game.

Face import issue

This is also the main issue that I had with the game, and I think it's also a very avoidable flaw that Bioware simply overlooked. With that being said, the options available in ME 3 allowed me to largely recreate the face I had with Shepard before, and while it felt slightly alien at first, that quickly dissipated. The personality was the same, and the looks were largely as well.

Again, this too was a flaw. But again, this too doesn't make it "not your Shepard" or ruin the game.

Mass Effect feel

I have heard a ton of people claim that the game isn't Mass Effect anymore, or it doesn't feel like it. It feels like "Gears of War" or something other, they claim.

This, by far, is the silliest accusation thrown out yet. To some people, there may be a change - and it's subjective, so that's their opinion. But in terms of how much the game has actually changed, there's very little. First off, the action sequences are very similar to Mass Effect 2, with some customization, streamlining, and new features added. None of these change the very basic RPG elements that were present before, and it does not feel radically different, again, than the prior games.

Gears of War and other shooter-story based games don't allow you any form of interactive dialogue, bar generally any decisions, and give very little information about the world outside of tidbits you here. Mass Effect has always had a generally well written codex, with a huge amount of detail about the world and its background. Moreover, dialogue in the game largely expands on the setting and characters even more, giving you the feeling that you're actually in the game's setting.

Despite what people have said, this hasn't changed. The codex is still in the game, and it's got far more information than it had in either Mass Effect 1 or 2. Dialogue still is generally very deep, with lots of interaction and a ton of information that's presented as well. The overall feel of being in another setting (and being able to influence it) has not significantly changed at all.

Story


I haven't beaten it yet and I've heard very bad things about the ending. Other than that, though, the story is very traditional Mass Effect, and so far it's very interesting. While the ending may or may not be crap - I honestly don't know - building up to that to me, story-wise, is the most important part, and thus far the game has done an excellent job of that. A movie, book, or game can have an amazing exposition/climax and an awful ending but still have a great story in my books, so long as the former outweighs the latter.

By most accounts, and my own experience, that appears to be case. And again, over 10 hours into the game, and there are no major discrepancies that make this a non-ME story.

Companions

You can still talk to them. The Zaaed treatment happens on the Normandy after missions, but you can have traditional conversations on the Citadel after major missions and from time to time still talk to them on the Normandy. The interactions are certainly different, but not radically so, and not a downgrade. Once again, it's fairly traditional Mass Effect with a few twists/changes.


If you didn't play or didn't like the other two Mass Effects then I wouldn't suggest this game. If you played them and are a fan, and are hesitant because "it's not a Mass Effect", I advise you to give it a try. Watching streams and videos, which worried me at first, really does not capture the experience.

[Wulfram]

Thanks for this. It's good to hear from someone who at least recognises the auto-dialogue issue and still enjoys the game - much more reassuring than all the reviews which just don't mention it.

[Brightspoon]

A very balanced review. Glad to hear that the auto-dialogue doesn't compromise the overall experience!

[Shin Yodama]

Well written and informative, without a spoiler in sight. Very many thanks Nickgb

[phimseto]

Nick, we disagree o. The severity of the autodialogue and how it affects the way we play the game, but kudos on a well-written and considered review.

[MadRabbit999]

I remember the dev saying that you had the option of 3 different game modes:

1 For heavy dialogues
2.For a balance between shooting and dialogues
3.Zero dialogues but mainly shooting

Has this changed or it means something else?

[nickgb]

I remember the dev saying that you had the option of 3 different game modes:

1 For heavy dialogues
2.For a balance between shooting and dialogues
3.Zero dialogues but mainly shooting

Has this changed or it means something else?

No. I remember in the demo, you could choose between the three different modes, but that wasn't present when I started the game. I think if you import (which I did), it automatically selects RPG mode for you.

I read up on this a bit before I got the game, though, and the only differences lay in what options the game starts on. You can change them at any time. The dialogue (or autodialogue) remains the same in RPG/story mode.

[marstor05]

at last we get a balanced review. I'm still looking forward to finishing Sheps story no matter what.

[AkiKishi]

"It's life Jim but not as we know it"

[Wulfram]

MadRabbit999 wrote...

I remember the dev saying that you had the option of 3 different game modes:

1 For heavy dialogues
2.For a balance between shooting and dialogues
3.Zero dialogues but mainly shooting

Has this changed or it means something else?

"Story" and "RPG" mode have the same amount of control over dialogue, "Story" just has super easy combat.  Both of them have considerably less control over dialogue than ME2.

"Action" mode automates all (almost all?) dialogue.

[Farbautisonn]

Could... but wont.

[CptBomBom00]

*proud clap* Very well written review.
I gotta wait till Friday for my copy, ugh.

[Acidrain92]

I was expecting to see a rant about how "This isnt Mass Effect anymore and long term fans have been betrayed" but I am glad that you could come up with such a well rounded and thoughtful review that takes cues from both sides.

Yeah. This isn't the same game anymore, but hopefully when I do get to play it, I will still enjoy it for what (I hope) it is, a great game, and a great conclusion to the trilogy.

also, I'd like to hear more about this "Zaeed treatment to squad members after missions" stuff that you were talking about. I trust that it isnt a big deal and that you still get to talk to your squad members very deeply and all that, but im just curious as to the sublteties of this change.

Modifié par Acidrain92, 06 mars 2012 - 12:35 .

[ace1221]

all points in the OP were fair and well reasoned. congratulations!

while i personally prefer the direction ME is going in (im a renegade through and through and barely ever picked the middle dialougue options) i respect your opinion and the impact you believe it has on your experience of the game.

[Geth Unit_X930]

I dont care about auto dialog i just play for the story cause i want to see what happens..

[Repearized Miranda]

Good review!

[Mizar_Panzar]

Repearized Miranda wrote...

Good review!

How can it possibly be a good review when it contains mostly positive stuff about ME3?

EA and Bioware must have bribed the OP with a free copy of ME3.

[TheHarbingerOfYourPerfection]

Thanks, needed this.

[macroberts]

Great review. I agree entirely on the auto-dialogue thing. There's more of it, but it's not stuff that has a huge bearing on the progress of the game. Also, whilst you might think the load of auto-dialogue would make the game a lot more boring, it doesn't. The voice acting is quite good. Male Shepard's voice acting is markedly improved, a lot more emotion than before.

I think you can describe the changes from ME1 to ME2 to ME3 with the words progressively more cinematic. That's my 2 cents anyway.

[Srefanius]

I very much support this thread, I'm 10hours into the game and its just amazing, so mnuch to do and it feels just like ME for me. Auto dialogue could be a big complain for some people but for me this game is so much joy...

[Foxtrot_212]

I support this. My CE Arrives anytime I cant wait to sink my teeth in.

[Repearized Miranda]

Mizar_Panzar wrote...

Repearized Miranda wrote...

Good review!

How can it possibly be a good review when it contains mostly positive stuff about ME3?

EA and Bioware must have bribed the OP with a free copy of ME3.

That's right! I forgot this is BSN afterall!! :happy:

[CodeMyster]

OP gets 1,000,000 credits for informative review