83 réponses à ce sujet

[Steelcan]

I know that little has been released about the next ME game and most of what we know is speculation on the little bits that have come out.  However I am noticing something about the information we are getting, and I'm not entirely liking what I'm hearing.  To be honest it reminds me a lot of the build up to a game I was looking forwards to but ended up disappointed by.

Halo 4

Now hear me out.

Both are games that are/were developed by a studio new to it.  BioWare Montreal did ME3's MP and Omega DLC (more on that later) and 343 is filled with Bungie vets who worked on Halo.  Both are supposed to be new directions.  Halo 4 is said to be the start of the "Reclaimer" Saga.  And much of what we have heard about ME:Next seems to be similarly geared to a new story in the universe.

Now this could just be PR talk sounding similar, but I am concerned.

Mostly because Halo 4 was a bit of a misstep for the franchise, yes it sold very well and is undeniably a decent game.  However, it didn't feel like a Halo game to me in all honesty.  Sure the guns and species and characters were from the same universe, but it was all off.

Now I am probably being a bit premature in diagnosing ME:Next with a similar fate, but so far based on what we have seen not from the game itself but from the studio making it... I am not filled with confidence.

ME3's MP was a pretty solid outing and the gameplay of ME3 made it enjoyable, so I am not as worried on that front, but based on the studio's outing into story, Omega, I am more concerned.

While Omega had some nice moments, class interrupt, influencing Aria, etc... ultimately it fell short.  It had no really compelling characters, the story was entirely predicatable, there were no real choices in it, it feel both disjointed from the main game AND like it had been cut out to be sold as DLC.

So this does not fill me with confidence.  Now I'm not sure, and I doubt it has been announced, which members of the writing team are working where so I may be unjustified in worrying. 


Just thought I'd share my thoughts...... at 2:30 in the morning......

anyone else have these concerns?

[Nitrocuban]

If Omega was and still is the best they can do, ME4 is doomed.
Omega is a linear shooter with dull plott, not enough content for the $ and mediocre gameplay compared to Citadel.
They have to try harder for ME4 or the franchise will loose old fans and won't gain new ones.

[shodiswe]

Nitrocuban wrote...

If Omega was and still is the best they can do, ME4 is doomed.
Omega is a linear shooter with dull plott, not enough content for the $ and mediocre gameplay compared to Citadel.
They have to try harder for ME4 or the franchise will loose old fans and won't gain new ones.

Considering the scenario of a Cerberus controled Omega it's hard to make it any different. You still do some talking... But if the place is supposed controled by an enemy and you are trying to evict them.... Then shooting is very likely unless you can force their surender or departure or death using some kind of Deus EXmachina...
It was an ok DLC imo.


What I liked with the Citadel DLC was that it wasn't a completely overrun area, there were still civilians living their lives there, not even aware of the shadowy conspiracies happening around them.

It gave more of a secretagent feel. With security scanners and spylike features and options. Glimpses of normality and the people Shepard is supposedly trying to save and protect.

Havig gdifferent scenarios for variety is nice.

Modifié par shodiswe, 01 février 2014 - 02:07 .

[shodiswe]

I hope we can get something nice and interesting.

One thing this new engine might be able to provide is destructible environments.

You build up your own hideout or base of operations then at some point in the game the badguys come rushing and start demolishing your home!

"Not my fishtank!" Hopefully it wouldn't be to scripted and repetitive.

It may not be that important to the storytelling but I would probably find it enjoyable to try and protect my characters home.

Garrus and Zaeed had some crazy suggestions on security arrangements.

Modifié par shodiswe, 01 février 2014 - 02:16 .

[Barquiel]

Can't say. MP was better than expected and Omega wasn't awful. I was actually pretty pleased with how Omega handled story telling, choices (compared to other DLC) and the squadmates. The combat was great, as was the level design. It was just too pricey. Sure...there were a few clumsy things and it felt a bit weird to me that your squad wasn't included at all in Omega (I think we can't blame the writers here), but I guess at this point I welcome fresh eyes to the franchise.

Modifié par Barquiel, 01 février 2014 - 02:51 .

[GimmeDaGun]

Barquiel wrote...

Can't say. MP was better than expected and Omega wasn't awful. I was actually pretty pleased with how Omega handled story telling, choices (compared to other DLC) and the squadmates. The combat was great, as was the level design. It was just too pricey. Sure...there were a few clumsy things and it felt a bit weird to me that your squad wasn't included at all in Omega (I think we can't blame the writers here), but I guess at this point I welcome fresh eyes to the franchise.

I agree with you.

[dreamgazer]

Nitrocuban wrote...

If Omega was and still is the best they can do, ME4 is doomed.
Omega is a linear shooter with dull plott, not enough content for the $ and mediocre gameplay compared to Citadel.
They have to try harder for ME4 or the franchise will loose old fans and won't gain new ones.

Omega had a relatively dull plot, yes, and it's not without a lack of polish that showed in one or two goofy glitches. But it also had some strong role-playing elements and reactivity to gameplay, some solid maps and art design, and two fine "new" characters, Nyreen and a non-indoctrinated Petrovsky.

In terms of writing quality, you can't make that judgment until you know exactly who's writing what.

[SwobyJ]

I know for a fact that at least part of Montreal made/worked on the Citadel DLC.

Not sure how much of them, but they *were* involved and made sure it was completed, at minimum.

Omega just may have been their more focused outing, while Leviathan was more focused Edmonton, and Citadel was both. /guessing

[Steelcan]

EntropicAngel wrote...

I disagree very strongly.

I'm going to bed so I won't line it all out, but I disagree with your opinion of Omega, I thought it was a fine DLC, had fine characters [both Aria and Nureen (?)], and had a fine plot.

Amusingly, you claim it's disjointed yet feels like it's cut. Those are two opposite positions. Something feels like it's cut because it aligns with what's already there. It feels disjointed because it's NOT like what's already there.

Your claims don't convince me, at all.

I don't think you can argue that Nyreen is a fine character, she is a cut out paragon Shep who offers a little info on Turian military practices and then promptly dies for no real good reason.  Aria, well I've never liked Aria.  Petrovsky is a cut out Russian baddie who falls into just about every cliche "smart bad guy" example you can find.  Its plot was absolutely nothing special in any way, no major choices, no reali impact on the rest of the story, Leviathan added in additional context to the Reapers and the Catalyst got an extra line, nothing for Omega, Aria doesn't even stay there.

I pointed that it feels both at the same time which I think is truly pone of its most damning qualities.  The fact that I am saying "why wasn't this in the main game" AND "why am I here"at the same time does not bode well.


I'm not making any claims just expressing my concerns for the future of the franchise.

[Rusty Sandusky]

dreamgazer wrote...

Nitrocuban wrote...

If Omega was and still is the best they can do, ME4 is doomed.
Omega is a linear shooter with dull plott, not enough content for the $ and mediocre gameplay compared to Citadel.
They have to try harder for ME4 or the franchise will loose old fans and won't gain new ones.

Omega had a relatively dull plot, yes, and it's not without a lack of polish that showed in one or two goofy glitches. But it also had some strong role-playing elements and reactivity to gameplay, some solid maps and art design, and two fine "new" characters, Nyreen and a non-indoctrinated Petrovsky.

In terms of writing quality, you can't make that judgment until you know exactly who's writing what.

Yeah, I'm sure they've hired a talented team of writers for ME: I bet there's going to be a generic subtitle here

[GreyLycanTrope]

If Omega's to be taken as indication to begin with, your biggest concern will be how dull the plot is. But as they haven't even given a hint of a plot synopsis yet don't worry too much about it just yet.

[Barquiel]

SwobyJ wrote...

I know for a fact that at least part of Montreal made/worked on the Citadel DLC.

Not sure how much of them, but they *were* involved and made sure it was completed, at minimum.

Omega just may have been their more focused outing, while Leviathan was more focused Edmonton, and Citadel was both. /guessing

True...one of the new writers (Montreal) handled Liara for the citadel DLC because Sylvia left the team before ME3 even shipped (she moved to the DA team). I think her content was well done.

[Steelcan]

Barquiel wrote...

SwobyJ wrote...

I know for a fact that at least part of Montreal made/worked on the Citadel DLC.

Not sure how much of them, but they *were* involved and made sure it was completed, at minimum.

Omega just may have been their more focused outing, while Leviathan was more focused Edmonton, and Citadel was both. /guessing

True...one of the new writers (Montreal) handled Liara for the citadel DLC because Sylvia left the team before ME3 even shipped (she moved to the DA team). I think her content was well done.

relax I'm not gonna hate on Liara


So Liara's writer left, Weekes is on DA:I, Dumbrow left, ummmmm..... and Mac is staying?

[GreyLycanTrope]

Steelcan wrote...
I don't think you can argue that Nyreen is a fine character, she is a cut out paragon Shep who offers a little info on Turian military practices and then promptly dies for no real good reason.  Aria, well I've never liked Aria.  Petrovsky is a cut out Russian baddie who falls into just about every cliche "smart bad guy" example you can find.  Its plot was absolutely nothing special in any way, no major choices, no reali impact on the rest of the story, Leviathan added in additional context to the Reapers and the Catalyst got an extra line, nothing for Omega, Aria doesn't even stay there.

I'll just chime in that the renegade/paragon dymanic felt a bit flat for me in addition to this. "Let's revisit the philosophical implications behind the game's morality system...before it becomes largely irrelevant later on."

[Barquiel]

I think so (and Casey is project lead again)

[Steelcan]

Barquiel wrote...

I think so (and Casey is project lead again)

So the writers who are (allegedly) responsible for the trainwreck that was ME3's last 10 minutes are staying, but the people who wrote Tuchunka, Rannoch, and some of the better characters aren't?

Next you are gonna tell me Jay Watamaniuk is also on ME still

[dreamgazer]

Steelcan wrote...

So Liara's writer left, Weekes is on DA:I, Dumbrow left, ummmmm..... and Mac is staying?

Exactly: we don't know precisely what's going on with any of the writers, aside from Dombrow leaving for Irrational and ME's writers moving between the teams. Again, remember, we don't even know when it's set or what the actual title is yet. Who knows what else (writer participation) they've kept under wraps. That's the result of the leaks, I believe.

[dreamgazer]

Steelcan wrote...

Next you are gonna tell me Jay Watamaniuk is also on ME still

Yup. Seems that way.

[Steelcan]

dreamgazer wrote...

Steelcan wrote...

Next you are gonna tell me Jay Watamaniuk is also on ME still

Yup. Seems that way.

[Mcfly616]

Steelcan wrote...

I know that little has been released about the next ME game and most of what we know is speculation on the little bits that have come out.  However I am noticing something about the information we are getting, and I'm not entirely liking what I'm hearing.  To be honest it reminds me a lot of the build up to a game I was looking forwards to but ended up disappointed by.

Halo 4

if it reminded me of 343's approach to Halo 4 and it's narrative, I'd be over-the-top ecstatic. I've purchased and owned every single Halo on Day 1 of it's release (including Combat Evolved for the original Xbox on Nov 15, 2001). Halo 4 has the best campaign since the first game in the series. Gameplay wise, it feels just like the Halo I grew up loving, yet it evolved and took a step forward instead of simply remaining the same.

I hope like hell that BW Montreal can do for the next Mass Effect, what 343 Studios did for Halo. 

[Iakus]

Steelcan wrote...

So Liara's writer left, Weekes is on DA:I, Dumbrow left, ummmmm..... and Mac is staying?

Yes, but he's not the Lead Writer.  Now he's the "Narrative Director" .  I have no idea what that means.

[Nitrocuban]

You can like Omega or not.
But Omega did not hit the core of what Mass Effect is but felt more like some generic shooter. And that's what keeps me worried a bit.

[dreamgazer]

Nitrocuban wrote...

You can like Omega or not.
But Omega did not hit the core of what Mass Effect is but felt more like some generic shooter. And that's what keeps me worried a bit.

A "generic shooter" with rewards for exploration, a class-specific interrupt, and observable reactions to your dialogue and gameplay style.