5087 réponses à ce sujet

[delta_vee]

Going way back (again), @frypan

Nobody is being critical regarding development of games, opting instead for glowing previews, so no feedback was forthcoming to suggest a problem might arise from the direction taken.

There are plenty of places which give good, solid, critical views of games. It's just that they're not, well, mainstream. There's a whole flowering of actual criticism, as opposed to mere reviews, but most of the places engaged in it are small and out of the way. I hate to get all hipster-y, but the bigger the site, the less I'm interested in what they have to say.

Edit: Ah, bloody hell and back again.

Modifié par delta_vee, 08 juin 2012 - 03:58 .

[frypan]

@Delta_Vee

You're right - the paragon option I proposed was a bit too close to what we got in ME3. Fapmaster has the right idea for renegades, I guess I was looking for something similar for paragons.

The key is not to confirm or deny the original decision, which stands as is. I guess I'm thinking more precisely of an affirmation of the philosophy that drove the decision, and a set of unexpected consequences to play those out on. The narrative drives forward in unanticipated ways that further the options to pursue or reject that philosophy.

Maybe I'm just stating the bleeding obvious though - I had a nasty suspicion that was the case after writing that post. Bioware do that everytime a conversation is locked out or opened by a previous mission's decision anyway, although theirs is a bit more compartmentalised overall.

EDIT: And you're right about criticism there Delta_Vee. I'm only just figuring out where to look now - apart from this thread of course. Any more tips on the best places would be gratefully received.

Modifié par frypan, 08 juin 2012 - 04:00 .

[KitaSaturnyne]

@Fapmaster

Sounds awesome! Just, um, reign it in a bit?

I don't think that the renegade character developments encapsulate shooting innocent people. Even when confronted with Conrad Verner, the worst Shepard can do is shoot him in the foot. It just seems so far outside the realm of the character, even if they're played with the renegade mesquite sauce of justice. Shepard is a warrior and a politician, despite any reluctance to the latter.

It just seems like too much to me. Perhaps I'm being too myopic about this.

@drayfish

I was under the impression that the ME3 equivalent to the Genesis DLC was a series of menus that took you through the various major plot choices, but I'm probably wrong about this too.

Where's the vanilla milk? I'm not blocking another scene until I get my vanilla milk and some trail mix, dammit!

EDIT: @delta_vee

I promise I'm going to start MP3 tomorrow. Still interested in an opinion, or have you made your decision yet?

Modifié par KitaSaturnyne, 08 juin 2012 - 04:06 .

[delta_vee]

frypan wrote...

The key is not to confirm or deny the original decision, which stands as is. I guess I'm thinking more precisely of an affirmation of the philosophy that drove the decision, and a set of unexpected consequences to play those out on. The narrative drives forward in unanticipated ways that further the options to pursue or reject that philosophy.

That right there is a very useful thing, but requires a commitment of resources which I don't think Bioware were willing and/or able to put forth.

Also, my list is ever-growing. Newer additions include: Brainy Gamer, Kill Screen, Medium Difficulty, Nightmare Mode, Gamefront (surprisingly), Forbes (especially Erik Kain, who loves Dark Souls (drink!) as much as you or I), and Tom Bissell's pieces at Grantland. Also, wherever Leigh Alexander is writing, which is many places.

Edit:

@Kita

Yes, still interested in your opinion. Hawk's slight recalcitrance has tipped the balance towards no, but only slightly. You're currently sitting as (near) tiebreaker.

Modifié par delta_vee, 08 juin 2012 - 04:09 .

[drayfish]

@ KitaSaturnyne:

Yes, you're absolutely right about the menus. I guess what I meant was that I suspect (and as with about 90 percent of my comments lately I'm speculating wildly) that for many first time players, outside of any narrative context, that menu would be mystifying. Did you kill Wrex on Virmire to stop the Genophage? for example; I can imagine most new players having no idea who that was or what any of it meant, and therefore making a choice that they neither understood nor could remember later in game anyway.

And I know I'd still love to know what MP3 is like - even if I've not played the second. I was a big fan of 1st back in its day.




EDIT: ...'Back in its day'. Good lord, I sound like I'm a thousand years old.

'Why I was just saying to the Pacmans the other day: I remember a time when that Donkey Kong fellow was throwing barrels all over the place. Not putting on neckties and trying to become a respectable cart-racer. It's a damned disgrace it is!'

Modifié par drayfish, 08 juin 2012 - 04:29 .

[KitaSaturnyne]

@drayfish

I'd like to recommend again that you obtain the first two games and play them each through to completion. You won't be sorry.

I don't doubt the menus would be horribly confusing out of context.

"Did you save Wrex on Virmire?"

"Uh... was there a place called Virmire in New Vegas?"

@drayfish, delta_vee

I'll absolutely play the game and get back to you. I can say though, that it's graphically beautiful, and the opening scene that you get upon booting the game up for the first time is surreal, though it's an annoyance that you don't seem to be able to skip said scene when you're first subjected to it. Watching Max's alcoholic behavior is engrossing though, and speaks volumes about his character with very little dialogue.

[Seijin8]

@delta_vee: "Also, no job description for me on the AWTR game? Aw."

Downsizing, sorry, dude No, seriously, you and many others have added so much content to this thread that your name(s) go without saying. The problem is, I cannot conceive of a plot big enough to contain the wealth of ideagasms we've seen in this thread, and hiring any of you part-time just seems... tacky.

In seriousness, I am astounded at the level of understanding and resulting dialogue that has come from the now 127 pages of this thread. My only fear is that, having been so enlightened to the fundamentals of narrative plot construction and massive slew of deep concepts involved in good sotrytelling, as well as the font of ideas about the future of games, well... I don't expect any game made in my lifetime to be able to encompass even a tiny portion of that brilliance.

Modifié par Seijin8, 08 juin 2012 - 04:55 .

[Fapmaster5000]

KitaSaturnyne wrote...

@Fapmaster

Sounds awesome! Just, um, reign it in a bit?

I don't think that the renegade character developments encapsulate shooting innocent people. Even when confronted with Conrad Verner, the worst Shepard can do is shoot him in the foot. It just seems so far outside the realm of the character, even if they're played with the renegade mesquite sauce of justice. Shepard is a warrior and a politician, despite any reluctance to the latter.

It just seems like too much to me. Perhaps I'm being too myopic about this.

Well, it wouldn't be just "What, disagree?  Answer to the Carnifex of Justice!"  BLAM!

Basically, it would play out like such:

Some time in the game, Shepard would be called back to the Citadel by the council with a very formal letter.  (Very formal, as remarked on by NPC #3.)  Upon arrival, Shepard would be informed that priority docking was denied, and he'd have to hoof it to the scheduled meeting (making him late).  Any attempt for clarification would be denied, and if he pulled the Spectre card, it would be refused as "suspended pending investigation".  Attempts to clarify this would be denied as well, for the same reasons as before.

On the Citadel, Shepard would be greeted by a crowd of anti-Shep protestors rallying people in the refugee camps, talking up his crimes (or "crimes") and demanding a new, better face for the war effort.  Shepard can't get ahold of anybody, and has to push through some infuriating people, even while being smeared, in real time, on the television walls.

Upon arrival in the Presidium embassies, he would find the meeting cancelled, with a low level functionary informing him that the council can't be seen with him right now due to prevailing opinion.  They must retain the support of their people in this war, after all, and right now, he's a liability.  Shepard can argue his point, emphasize how much he's done to save the galaxy, but gets the bureacratic run around, informed that he's a tool (and no longer a useful one), and eventually given a complimentary "escort" out of the Presidium, to some ward.

In the ward, the new Spectre "taking over" meets with Shep, and explains that she's the only person willing to touch his current toxic persona, and that he's "made a lot of hard calls" and that "a lot of people don't agree".  If Shepard argues, she agrees, and even states that she respects him, but that it would probably be better if he just hand over any active plans for the Crucible missions and step back and help "from the sidelines" for a while.

At this point, Shepard leaves (or storms out) and tries to get with the Council, being rebuffed in more and more infuriating ways (unless he succeeds in eating crow and playing up the charm options).  Simultaneously, the Council releases a statement that starts to throw him under the bus, and when he tries to leave the ward, he gets TMZ-ambushed by an angry crowd of people whom he had wronged and a camera.  If Shepard throws a punch (which Renegade Shepard has done) the crowd goes wild and attacks him (someone produces a knife).  If Shepard uses lethal force (justified), he's still killing civilians on the Citadel in a fight he started, and now has to clear his name with a side-mission.

Anywho, while working on this, I did come up with some good lines (since Renegade Shep is a badass, so should his people be, too):

Hackett: "Damn it, Commander, we can't afford this kind of mess.  You need to cool your temper, check your head, and get back in this fight.  We need you on this, but we can't afford your baggage."

Garrus:  "Do you ever get tired of it, Shepard?  You pull them out of the fire, time and again, and they complain about the bruises.  I say next time, you should let them cook a little longer.  It might change their opinion."

Javik: "In my cycle, such people were conscripted into Shock Infantry and used as cannon fodder."

VS (If Loyal): "Did I ever sound like that, Commander?  I'm sorry."  *pause* "Well, sorry, and glad you never shot me.  Never again, sir.  I have your back."

Shepard (to Council, when asked why Cerberus would set him up):  "Because I worked with the Illusive Man.  He knows who I am, and what I can do.  I'm the only thing in this galaxy - not you, not the Reapers - that he is scared of.  He knows I can beat him, and so he's trying to get me out of the game.  Apparently, he has more faith that you do."

Shepard (to Council, after producing proof): "I am so very sick of this.  You politic and posture, and protect your interests, and the galaxy burns down around you.   Well, if I'm toxic, fine, I'll take a walk.  I'll walk right back to my ship, and go fight my stupid pointless battle right next to your stupid pointless battle.  Otherwise, shut this down and back my calls.  I've stopped the Reapers twice, I've gutted Cerberus, I've stopped the Rachni, I've fixed/ended the genophage, I've saved your asses twice, I've been killed and clawed my way back from hell, and all I've ever asked is the resources to keep fighting your war.  I'm the best you have.  I'm all you have.  You said you wanted me out in front of this, and I am, so get behind me!"

And finally, as an ambient conversation on the Normandy:

Garrus: "... I was waiting for the Commander to tell the Council that if they didn't sit down and play nice, he was going to turn the Citadel around and take it home.  And you know what?  He/she would have."

James: "The Commander is the hardest piece of work ever to come out of the N7 program.  I've heard that he/she can eat a handfull of sand and **** out a diamond.  No joke."

Tali: "When I was back on the fleet, there was a story going around about a 'Shepard Drive'-"

Garrus: "Oh, this is going to be good."

Tali: "Apparently, the Normandy has a second stealth drive, powered by incompetant crewmembers that the Commander ejects from the rear airlock."

James: "Please tell me you didn't correct them, Sparks.  That kind of story needs to be told."

Tali:  "No, I did.  I told them it that it only happened once, and that Crewman Preston was not ejected from the airlock to propel the ship, but because the Commander was out of ammunition."

Garrus: "Oh, that's too good.  Airlock fired, relativistic kill vehicles made out of incompetant crewmen?  No one tell Javik about this, or he might just act happy for once."

Modifié par Fapmaster5000, 08 juin 2012 - 05:03 .

[Seijin8]

@Fapmaster5000: Friggin beautiful, especially the incompetent superluminal ammo. Love it!

It would be great if BW could add DLC of this type - taking place well ahead of the major story events, just to add to the real persona of the character.

Just how fluid can an evolving "serial" storyline be without adverse effects on the audience's tolerance/desire of replay? I have no idea. Missions like this (assuming an ending worth seeing) could make for exceptional DLC, though it really would retroactively change the tenor of later conversations.

[KitaSaturnyne]

@Fapmaster

Okay, you've sold me. Thanks for the EC-style clarification.

No insult intended, of course!

"Turn the Citadel around and take it home". Priceless!

EDIT: I'm about to school drayfish in the art of random thoughtbombs. I just realized that I would have really enjoyed it if Septimus were to be named a council member, should the player renegade the original council out of the games.

Modifié par KitaSaturnyne, 08 juin 2012 - 05:18 .

[Hawk227]

So, I checked the forum a few times this afternoon and there hadn't been a post in 10hours, now I check in and it's been 2 new pages!?

@Seijin8

Game assets? I'm honored, though I'm pretty sure go-fer is more my level.

@ delta_vee

I never had that convo with Haas. I loved the stealth (would replay whole levels to get the 'Ghost' achievement, while taking out all the bad guys) and always chose to sneak in rather than walk through the front door. After I finish RDR I'll give it a try. My favorite convo was probably Darrow without the CASIE. Having it just highlighted the fickleness of their responses. I actually did worse against Taggart with it.

Another nice thing about the ME3 debacle was being alerted to Kain, Hornshaw, and Lincoln. I'm not into fantasy so much, so Kain perspective is a little lost on me, but I still enjoy his posts.

Re: Max Payne 3

I mentioned this a few pages back, but in case it was missed... I largely agree with Hornshaw on MP3. I acknowledge every fault he does, but don't see all of them as quite as damning. My biggest issue was really the pacing. They create this beautiful and interesting world (in Sao Paulo), but you're too busy blasting dozens of villains (or getting bored by cutscenes) to really experience it. That said, the combat is quite fun when it isn't exhausting, and it looks beautiful. It's got that Rockstar grit (but without the Remedy era nuance). My recommendation: Rent/borrow it.

In regards to ME3, the fact that decisions didn't lock out content was probably my biggest non-ending complaint. The Rachni replacement was ridiculous. We were supposedly making huge world changing decisions, but none of the content changed. I don't think there should have been less content, just different content (like Fapmaster's proposal).

EDIT:

@Fapmaster

Well done. Very well done.

Modifié par Hawk227, 08 juin 2012 - 05:22 .

[delta_vee]

Seijin8 wrote...

@delta_vee: "Also, no job description for me on the AWTR game? Aw."

Downsizing, sorry, dude No, seriously, you and many others have added so much content to this thread that your name(s) go without saying. The problem is, I cannot conceive of a plot big enough to contain the wealth of ideagasms we've seen in this thread, and hiring any of you part-time just seems... tacky.

Well, we do live in the age of Kickstarter...

In seriousness, I am astounded at the level of understanding and resulting dialogue that has come from the now 127 pages of this thread. My only fear is that, having been so enlightened to the fundamentals of narrative plot construction and massive slew of deep concepts involved in good sotrytelling, as well as the font of ideas about the future of games, well... I don't expect any game made in my lifetime to be able to encompass even a tiny portion of that brilliance.

Seriously, though, the trick is (I believe) paring down the possibility space of all that you could make into what you have to make to produce something great within its own scope. If nothing else, what I've seen in this thread has utterly convinced me they had all the tools at their disposal, but suffered oh-so-greatly from their lack of foresight, their lack of planning, their lack of ultimate direction before those wavefunctions were collapsed.

Foresight. Prometheus. Fire. Dammit, now I'm thinking about Dark Souls (drink!). Such purity of vision. And to think they did all that with a fraction of ME3's budget...

@Fapmaster5000

I laughed at those ambient lines. A deep belly laugh that woke my girlfriend up. She's mad at you now.

[frypan]

@Kita,

Your recommendation has me convinced to try the first two. Not so sure about Max's grim demeanour in the third though, I'm all played out with that kind of thing. Also, didnt we see it in Tony Scott's Man on Fire anyway?

&Seijin8

I'm hoping that the discussions here drive me to question and examine the good stuff a bit more in games, and to appreciate some of the older games I played but never appreciated for their work.

Older Bioware titles will definitely get a review, especially as I have dire predictions for the future of big games and will want to spend more time with the older ones. The ME3 ending for me is symptomatic of a future in which games will not have replayability. EA and other companies seem bent on killing the ability to replay their games down the track, unless its on their terms. I even fear that should they choose, in a couple of years if I install DAO, I could find that the server will not allow me to login, or some other such nonsense.

This is probably paranoia, but the trend that started with online activation to protect against piracy has transformed into a method of controlling how and when we play, and how much we pay. That can only lead to bad things.

Feel free to prove me wrong, as it would be nice to think I have misunderstood industry motives. On the plus side, the new system has brought about a way for Bioware to retrospectively address and change things in response to fan feedback, so that is one plus of the online component.

EDIT: Things are moving fast and I have to get back to work. However I have a date with Fapmasters long post this evening.

Modifié par frypan, 08 juin 2012 - 05:18 .

[delta_vee]

@Hawk

You never had the convo with Haas in reception at the police station? Man, you missed out. Nice piece of subtle characterization there. Also, it made that section so much easier.

Also, I spend a lot of time talking to those three guys on Twitter (and occasionally email). They're great. Kain's fantasy leanings are just a matter of taste, but he's got a good eye for game structure and how it meshes with storytelling (or doesn't).

As for locking out content, I think that's almost entirely a resource issue. You have to really commit to doing that, and weave it into the game at a deep level. There are reasons we see it so infrequently outside of interactive fiction, visual novels, and highly procedural games.

/night all

Modifié par delta_vee, 08 juin 2012 - 05:23 .

[drayfish]

Fapmaster5000 wrote...

Garrus: "Do you ever get tired of it, Shepard? You pull them out of the fire, time and again, and they complain about the bruises. I say next time, you should let them cook a little longer. It might change their opinion."

Dammmmmnnnnnn... That is spectacular stuff.

I want this. I want it all. I want Seijin8's battle for the Crucible plans. I want CulturalGeekGirl's squadmates-to-the-end, no matter what. I want KitaSaturnyne's hauntings of Virmire losses past...

The game in my head, put there by you all, has got to be the greatest gaming experience of all time. It's Christmas, and you all have me with my nose pressed against the shop-window, dreaming of all the fun toys...

Modifié par drayfish, 08 juin 2012 - 05:24 .

[KitaSaturnyne]

@frypan

Excellent! I have the feeling you'll enjoy yourself immensely.

@drayfish

Strangely, I think the best gift someone could give you in regards to ME3 is by taking something away... by removing Stubby McLastChoice.

I've also been wondering about the possible symbolism behind the child being hugged and comforted by the Virmire casualty. A reminder to Shepard and the player that they've crossed the line into death, and therefore cannot be saved?

"You can't save us, Commander. Save yourself! Hurry!"

And then a chase where Shepard seeks to reunite with his/ her whole self.

Modifié par KitaSaturnyne, 08 juin 2012 - 05:39 .

[Jorji Costava]

@Fapmaster5000

Let me repeat what everyone else here has already stated and say that your renegade mission sounds fantastic. Even better is the fact that it makes approximately 1,000 times more sense than the Citadel coup. My only suggestion is that it might be easier to link up the mission with the decision to save or not save the Council in ME1, another decision whose handling in ME3 badly needs fixing. It's easier to see an anti-Shepard movement being started in response to the failure to save the council than with the Rachni decision. I don't know if the council races cared much for the rachni. For the most part, they probably believed all the stories about them, so they might not react that negatively to Shepard killing the queen. On the other hand, they wouldn't be too happy with Shepard leaving the council to die and collaborating to set up an all-human council. Some anti-Shepard sentiment is present during the Citadel sequences in ME2, so maybe there's better foreshadowing here.

@Hawk227

I might be the only person here who liked the Taggart conversation, although you're absolutely right that the CASIE didn't help at all. I just liked the fact that it was quite difficult to get through; I appreciated the possibility that sometimes, an NPC could outsmart you (doesn't take much when I'm playing). It's been a long time since I've played through it, though, so maybe I'm remembering it as being better than it was. In subsequent playthroughs, I've also tried to do as much stealth as possible.

Also, I'm changing topics a bit here, but delta_vee just mentioned Tom Bissell, so I thought I'd post these links:

www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7989584/on-rockstar-games-max-payne-3

www.onthemedia.org/2012/mar/30/new-endings/

The first one is Bissell's review of Max Payne 3; I haven't played it myself, but it's been discussed quite a bit here, so I thought I'd post a link to the review for anyone who hasn't already read it.

The second is a link to a short interview with Bissell about the ending fiasco. Apologies if this has already beend discussed, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on this. As much as I like Bissell, I was not that impressed with his argument. His argument seems to be that it's a bad idea to make a new ending for ME3, because given that you've already experienced the bad ending, you will not be able into ideal psychological conditions to experience the new one. Your knowledge of the old ending will color your experience of the new one, defeating the purpose. I don't find this plausible at all: What about director's cuts of movies? Can I not experience the director's cut of Blade Runner in the right way because of my knowledge of the original cut? Am I bound to inevitably hear that bad voice-over narration in my head during every scene ("They don't advertise for killers in the newspaper.")? That doesn't seem right to me.

It's getting quite late here, so apologies in advance if I just drop out of the conversation again.

Modifié par osbornep, 08 juin 2012 - 05:35 .

[Hawk227]

@delta_vee

The easiness was why I never talked to him. The allure of sneaking through the precinct was too strong. Also, I can't tell you how excited I was to find the keycode to the sewer entrance to morgue on a random datapad.

I saw your contribution to Kain's blog regarding Dark Souls. Between your little essay and his numerous posts I'm ever so slightly tempted to pick it up, even though I rather dislike fantasy games.

@drayfish

Agreed. It never ceases to amaze me all the ways that people in this thread have found to improve on what we got. So many things could have been so much better, if only...

[drayfish]

Hawk227 wrote...

@drayfish

Agreed. It never ceases to amaze me all the ways that people in this thread have found to improve on what we got. So many things could have been so much better, if only...

Indeed, Hawk227, I forgot to list your suggestion for the Elcor rescue mission!  That one has to go in the extra-extended imagination-cut too!

[Fapmaster5000]

You know, guys... not to be too trollish, but this thread has a heck of a lot of "speculation for everyone".

Just noting.

[delta_vee]

Of course, I'm still up. Damn (not really) this horrible (wonderful) sleep-depriving (in a good way) thread!

KitaSaturnyne wrote...

I've also been wondering about the possible symbolism behind the child being hugged and comforted by the Virmire casualty. A reminder to Shepard and the player that they've crossed the line into death, and therefore cannot be saved?

"You can't save us, Commander. Save yourself! Hurry!"

And then a chase where Shepard seeks to reunite with his/ her whole self.

As a replacement for the (sledgehammerish) bit with Shepard him/herself embracing and burning with the kiddo? Yeah, that'd be much better.

@osbornep

I don't always agree with Bissell, but he's a helluva writer, and I at least know where he's coming from. His MP3 piece almost made my decision for me. And I can understand his argument about the endings, frankly - we've seen them, many of us have been disgusted by them, and the bar is set ever-so-much higher now to wash the taste from our mouths. Add to that how much we've dissected the rest of the game in its wake, and it really does seem like an uphill battle.

[Addendum] Bissell's one of those critics (and I use the term very particularly here) who is properly engaging in the work of criticism. I don't have to agree with him, all the time if ever, but he writes from both an understanding of the medium and its history, as well as an attempt at a larger perspective which is admirable. I don't like reading only those I agree with in full. It gets boring after a while. All I ask is honest and full engagement with the topic in question - which Bissell does in spades.

Also, you've read Extra Lives, right? It's one of those books I hand out so often I can't keep track of who has my copy.

@Hawk227

You saw my little bit, eh? Cool. Small world. It really was an offhand email, but he wanted to run it. Who am I to say no?

Also, I'm not much one for fantasy, either, especially fantasy RPGs. Give DS a try. The combat mechanics alone are worth the price of admission.

Fapmaster5000 wrote...

You know, guys... not to be too trollish, but this thread has a heck of a lot of "speculation for everyone".

Just noting.

Yeah...speculation as to what the game could have, should have been, instead of what it was. This has to be the definition of backfiring.

Also, the speculations here have renewed my faith in the gaming public. Y'all are great.

Edit: And now I really, actually, truly do have to go to bed, or I'll be such a wreck tomorrow. G'night.

Modifié par delta_vee, 08 juin 2012 - 05:58 .

[Hawk227]

@osbornep

My issue with Taggart was how fickle it was. There would be 2 roughly identical options. One would be successful, and one would result in utter failure. I vaguely remember liking it okay on my first playthrough (sans CASIE), so my negative feelings might be colored by subsequent playthroughs with that upgrade.

Thanks for the Bissell review, I hadn't seen that yet. I forgot how much I enjoyed that everyone spoke Portuguese in MP3. I was sitting there, just as lost as Max was. I also forgot how bizarre and morbid the kill-cam was. I think after a little while I started ignoring it, and just using it as a cue that I was momentarily safe.

@Drayfish

I forgot about that too! I was too busy thinking how much better the Crucible would have been with Seijin8's idea, and how well Fapmaster's idea would have played out.

I'm off to play some RDR before bed. 'Night all.

Modifié par Hawk227, 08 juin 2012 - 06:02 .

[frypan]

@hawk227.

I'm with Delta_Vee on the Dark Souls recommendation. I was told before playing that it should be viewed more as an action game than RPG. And boy, do you get action -of the hand shaking, heart racing sort. Never experienced a game like it.

@Delta_Vee and osbornep.

Thanks for the links. I've been looking around for some meaty criticism in the wake of the ME3 issue. Gaming mags don't seem to have the space, and the mainstream websites are not to be trusted.

Getting a few names and places to look is priceless.

@Fapmaster5000

Wonderful wonderful stuff. Post EC, that is what I want. So much gets fleshed out, and it can play down either a Paragon or the Renagde path.

The only thing I might qualify, and this goes back to the first version, is the role of Khalisi. I paragoned her scene in all three games and the payoff was beautiful. By resisting punching her, I was rewarded with the best minor moment since the Asari on Ilium changed her mind about Feros.

Dont want her baying after Shepherd's blood too much as it might detract from that moment. Put Allers in the role instead..

EDIT: Thank you all for a most stimulating afternoon's discussion. You've inspired me and I'm off for a bit of ME1 and a visit to Virmire. Will Kaiden suffer the same fate as always, or shall I finally be able to leave Ash behind? Hopefully all this discussion of branching narratives will force a change to my usual decision.

Modifié par frypan, 08 juin 2012 - 06:31 .

[Gammazero79]

Doctor Drey..... wut?!

[drayfish]

@ frypan:

Curiously, I've never left Kaiden alive either (my secret shame). If I can bring myself to play through the three games again - I'm sure I will once I shake off my overly-theatrical distaste (that will happen eventually, right?) - I shall have to try leaving Ashley behind too.

I've heard that Kaiden's actually a lot more lively in Mass Effect 3...

Modifié par drayfish, 08 juin 2012 - 07:26 .